With all the Coronavirus craziness going on here in Italy and basically being confined to my home village, I have actually decided to try and write a bit again.  For those of you out there reading this, thank you!  If you are wondering why I haven't written in such a long time, I will say … Continue reading What Next…

Wow, it has been awhile since I have written anything.  This, after promising to write more frequently.  Can I just say life has been busy?  I feel like I have been running nonstop since my first tour in March.  I have had a little time at home in between tours but between catching up with … Continue reading Unexpected Treasure

Once again I am home between tours. Spring has finally sprung and I am trying to cram a months worth of house and yard work into a couple of weeks. Today the inside of the house was a mess, as I scrambled to finish weeding and planting before it started raining, I was taking a … Continue reading Home Sweet Home…Amen

Carnevale is still hanging in the air even though lent has begun.  We have lots of Carnaval celebrations all over Italy.  From very small, local celebrations, where costumed children throw fistfuls of recycled paper confetti, creating paper rain, to the elegant costumes donned by Venetians and visitors to the famous city.  Rio di Janeiro and … Continue reading Carnevale di Viareggio

We have made it to the end of another year, or rather the beginning of a new one.  Welcome to 2018!  the last year has gone by in a flash, and the last couple of weeks even more so.  The holidays always seem to be a mad rush.  We have actually taken our winter break … Continue reading Presepe…Nativity Scenes

Today is Halloween...a day that reminds me of my childhood.  The fun of planning a costume and roving the neighborhood with my friends on what was often a blustery evening as it grew dark.  As a rule we were home by 8 pm since we had school the next day.  A week or so before Halloween … Continue reading Happy Halloween…No Translation

  September has begun, and my fall tour season has started. I have to admit I find it difficult to write my blog while I'm on tour, but I am trying!  At this moment I am in Padova starting a Village Italy tour for Rick Steve's Europe. If you didn't already know, I have spent … Continue reading Pausa Pasticceria…Petite Fours in Padova

It is that time of year again when the garden is full of tomatoes and it is time to make la conserva, the base for most of our tomato sauces that we learned from Mauro’s parents. It is truly a labor of love.  We enjoy good food, knowing what is in our food, and in … Continue reading La Conserva…

Fresh green shoots climbing up last year's dried vines... Our Sunday excursion didn't begin as a quest for food...well it did, but not wild food.  We wanted to take a walk and the sun had finally come out after some heavy rain.  We also wanted to pick up a smoked trout from an agriturismo we … Continue reading Livertin…Foraging for Food

Sunday is the only day of the week that is completely free since the kids are in school Monday through Saturday and even then, there is usually homework to be done.  Needless to say, weekend escapes are pretty much impossible during the school year.  Fortunately we have some great places to escape close to home, … Continue reading Sunday Escapes