| October & November 2012 |
| The annual American School of Milan Halloween Party. Zaven isn't pictured because he was volunteering in the Haunted House - cutting off Rael's leg over and over again and traumatizing elementary school children. Joe's mummy costume was GREAT - simple and no make up required. A witch 2 years in a row - boring - next year I think I will be a pirate. My costume criteria are: 1. to keep me warm - so you can't be very scary or sexy and 2. Simple - ie what can I dig out of my closet for the most part. Going to Serole ( where we already have SNOW) this weekend 1. to go to the Truffle Festival with our friends and 2. to finish the dreaded bathroom. Well almost. + we ordered a new wood stove, so hoping that gets done too. Avalon is cruising around the Mediterranean but we have him booked to come down on the day the world ends - if that doesn't happen then we will celebrate Christmas together. I will be going to Romania in a few weeks and then I am thrilled to have my darling cousin Ryan visiting. Yay! 26 ottobre 2012 |
| Spent the evening hanging out withTrillium and Michael. T was rocking a great witch costume from China town. There were TONS of great costumes - raises the bar. ps. I had super teased ratty witch hair - which was lovely the next day |
| Above: On our way to the 82nd Annual Truffle Festival of Alba It was A GORGEOUS DAY. I never tire of this view ~ vineyards and Alps - I just have to pinch myself. The night before, Halloween evening, we arrived in Serole, and it was rainy /snowy and stormy - and we had NO electricity. Nightmare, but since we just have wood stoves & a fireplace to keep us warm, and our cooking stove is gas - it was no biggy. It should have been very spooky, but since we had a ton of candles lit and we were listening to Spanish music it ended up being a very romantic Halloween. At the Truffle Festival , we met up with our friends, the Hooleys and enjoyed lots of local wine and had a wonderful lunch at La Piola and then ran into the Jarvis family who were also there with friends enjoying wine and truffles. What a lovely surprise! The best Truffle Festival so far, I think I say that every year. Right: FINALLY finished the bathroom. Joe is a saint - he retiled and installed the new shower - gorgeous & minimal. Wiring - plumbing - my husband can do anything - blessing/curse. The walls in this 400 year old stone house are not at all straight, so it was a formidable task - he should get 1000 gold stars. And we put in our new wood stove. It took us a while to find one we liked. We love it, it is way more efficient (really warms up the house - like 'damn it is too hot, open the door'- but will be great in the dead of winter) than the beautiful, but crappy, old one. I always bake bread when I am in Serole - I am still experimenting and I was proud of these loaves - I think they look rustic and pretty - and they tasted like they were suppose to (crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside) And far right a wonderful bottle of Nebbiola (my favorite at the moment) to celebrate! 1 November 2012 |
| Happy 15th Birthday Zaven ~ we love you very much! 6 November 2012 |
| I had a great trip to Romania last week - busy and exhausting and came home to host my cousin (2nd but a favorite) Ryan. He has been saying he wants to come visit forever so it is so amazing he is actually here! Yesterday we went to Pavia for aperitivi and today we went to Como, it was beautiful but COLD weather, we took the funicular up to Brunate and we had an insane lunch on the lake. Really a perfect day to sightsee. We have a short work week and will be in Serole specifically to be thankful. On the look out for a turkey. The following week I will be in Budapest - I think/hope last trip until January. Looking forward the Christmas holiday and Avalon's visit! 18 november 2012 |
| What a lovely Thanksgiving at the vacation house. I was and am thankful for so many things. Right: just a few pictures around Serole from my morning post Thanksgiving run. We were just 3 and couldn't find a turkey - you need to order them - which we do for Christmas but time got away from us so we ended up with a super huge chicken - head, feet and not cleaned out - gross - Joe took care of it. And I made an apple pie, salad, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes - basta. It was nice to just be together I saw that La Morra - one of the Barolo region crown jewels was having a little Christmas Market with their German sister city Sulzberg so we drove to Alba first - went to the market - I overheard an American (so rare in that area) saying to someone, who I assume was his guest, "This is what I don't understand, you go on vacation and don't check the weather forecast." It is pretty cold and a lot of people think Italy is warm...we get seasons and up north we get all 4 - it made me giggle because I was thinking, that woman must be the man's sister because who but a close relative would be so openly condescending to their guests? At La Morra we went to their Cantina Communale - their communal wine shop and did some wine tasting and buying - which is always fun. Then stopped at a little bar for an exceptional meat and cheese plate with more Barolo. It was a fun day - any day involving beautiful views, wine and cheese is a good day for me. Next week I go to Budapest ~ less than 24 hours, but it is a grindy trip. Next weekend back to Serole and then we will head up to Germany for our long weekend to visit Av' and the Christmas Markets. The folllowing weekend we have Joe's Christmas party, charity gift wrapping & baking with Shanna. Finally Av' arrives on the 21st and we can celebrate Christmas together! I am looking forward to 3 weeks off :) 22-25 November 2012 |