It's been a busy week as we have been freed from the 200 meters around our homes. Having the freedom to take a walk has lightened my mood a bit even as I am still bracing for what might yet come. I haven’t yet ventured to the bigger cities in our area as we still … Continue reading Easing Up…Snippets from our first days of freedom after lockdown.

From the edge of town, the mountain is called Bisalta for it's two peaks. I can't wait to be able to walk here again. For now it's still off limits...10 days to go! I cried myself to sleep last night. After our 7th week of lock down, the ups and downs of the week, the … Continue reading Attitude Adjustment Part Two…Lessons I'm Learning

Another week of quarantine has passed and when I woke up this morning I found a message or rather a picture from my brother on my phone. The picture looks across Lake Washington at the Bellevue city skyline with the Cascade Mountains in the background. It is a beautiful day and I know exactly where … Continue reading A Recipe for an Attitude Adjustment

Forza, means strength in Italian,  Forza used in our daily vocabulary means to be strong.  It's something you would say to someone going through a major illness, to someone who is grieving, going through a particularly stressful situation.  Forza Italia is what we in Italy need to hear right now but it's also the name of … Continue reading Another Week inside…Forza!

  I am sitting in the doctor’s office for what feels like the millionth time over the past couple months. We got about two feet of snow over the weekend and it’s freezing outside. Listening to the chatter it is easy for me to zone out as most of the conversation is in Piemontese (local … Continue reading Abbia Pazienza…Have Patience

Girl's night out is a celebration and a reason to celebrate!  It always includes an aperitivo and in the summertime when it's hot and we feel like eating light, it can be turned into an apericena.  Heavy appetizers, drinks and my expat girlfriends makes for a happy evening.  Living in Italy I have learned to … Continue reading L'aperitivo… Cultural Comfort and Girls Night Out!

I always joke that I am a good American...I am a mutt.  I am exactly what America is about, the melting pot. My father's side of the family were colonists prior to the American Revolution and my mom's family is part of the massive wave of immigration that started after about 1890 and continued well … Continue reading American Mutt

Italians have a great market culture.  In Seattle, I grew up going to the Pike Place Market but going there was an event.  I went frequently enough but only because my dad loved it and took us there on weekends with him.  The farmers markets that seem to have sprung up everywhere in the states, … Continue reading Mini Market…

Back at home and suffering from jet lag I am so happy to sleep in my own bed.  You already know how it was made if you have read Buona Notte.  Pillow talk is an important aspect of  a happy relationship and the key to this is a good pillow in addition good company. When buying … Continue reading Pillow Talk