entra

We had to be in Milan two
weekends in a row. 1. I needed
some Uniqlo warm clothes and
UPS couldn't find Brallo and
Amazon doesn't carry much
Kiehls and 2. Zaven had a
doctor's appointment
We were super stealthy -
masked up and didn't doddle -
no food - in and out.
Lula came with and was a total
celebrity. Avalon takes Fawn
everywhere and I know Italians
take their dogs into stores but
we never did that with Baci. I
think I was worried about him
peeing or pooing. Lula is a girl
and doesn't mark but she is a
country girl and barks at her
image in mirrors or people she
doesn't know or anything
strange or new. I was
apprehensive, but she did
great! Definitely wanted to
smell everything and everyone -
I bought her a short leash after
her first city visit. "No reason
for your dog to be more than a
meter away from you, " Daisy's
Trainer. Words of wisdom. Not
only to wrangle in the sniffing
and keep her out of people's
personal space but also
because she lunged at a pigeon
in front of the Duomo and
about took my ring finger off
because her leash was wrapped
around it. I am pretty sure she
broke it - it has been weeks
and it still hurts.

20 February 2021
Milano, Italia

Still in lockdown - red. orange.
yellow zones - are confusing
and the rules change daily. So
just don't leave or go out
unless you need groceries or
are desperate for warm
clothes/Uniqlo. They are
vaccinating the 80+ people and
the 60+ in impacted areas. The
world is not fun with masks /
covid.'

Biznonna Update:
We met with an architect and
she is drawing up plans. We
have begun working on the
Biznonna Villa. It is actually
going faster than expected. We
removal and demolition takes
zero skills. Just time and muscle.
We started to cut the branches
off the apple trees in the
orchard. We will keep the big
walnut and cherry trees but cut
most of the million green apple
trees down. We will leave the
trees at the end of the property
to afford us some privacy and
shade. The trunks will be
removed when we level and dig
out for the swimming pool. It is
wonderful to be able to go over
there and make a big fat mess
of dust and rubble and then
come back to this house / the
old Rifugio - which is comfy
and clean. Being able to do the
work and not have to live in it is
a luxury.
Check out a sneak peak of an
after in the domed studio -
scroll down to see the after
Biznonna

202 1 | January More Snow

Lula visits Milan and looks
longlingly at the swarms of
pigeons

(pre-pigeon-lunge-broken-finger -
the damn nylon leash is in frame -
new-lovely-leather -
non-finger-breaking in frame above)

Speaking of a not fun world.
Unable to hang out with real
people we have Saturday
Night online game nights with
Elena & Eric in England. to
add to our gaming
experience we have
incorporated wigs and hats.
We have never looked better.

One last snow photo. I hope.

Hike, prosecco, sun & cheese

Everyone in Lombardia 'should
be' vaccinated by June. This
hope is keeping me going.

In our 3rd wave lock down. Uff.

6 & 7 March 2021
Brallo, Italia

Villa Leonetti in Progress

Tomorrow starts another 3
weeks of hard lock down. I am
over it. Joe gets vaccinated on
Tuesday. There is hope.

A warm and sunny Spring like
day in Pavia with Lula. I bet
she will love going to the river
in the Summer, but for now
the currents are high and fast
and I don't want to risk it. So
no water dogging for Lulylloo.

14 March 2021
Pavia, Italy

Because our cases are going
up and we will be back in lock
down from Monday through
Easter all restaurants and
bars are closed. But happily
you can get cocktails and
beers to go. It was a huge,
socially distanced (mostly)
party in Pavia - knowing there
is a lock down coming just
makes people desperate to
socialize, be out, come out
more, feels like it is counter
intuitive. I gave up on type of
applied logic with covid rules.
A balmy evening and it felt
almost normal. Except the
masks.

Drinking cocktails to go on the
church steps.

13 March 2021
Pavia

How did you get covid?
Because my dog is so ding
dang cute and irresistible!

I try to bring dog wipes and
remember to wipe her after
she has been given some
street stranger lovin'. But I
forget and then I cuddle and
kiss her.
So if I get covid (again?), we
know why.

They are practically cuddling!

Like cats and dogs. But it is
getting better. Lu gets lots of
treats and cuddles when she
doesn't lunge for the cats and
so it's ok if we know they will
be running into each other. If
it's a surprise meeting
instincts (to chase and run)
kick in.
Fribble, WTH. Figalily is the
bravest and Babaloo is still
indignant and hisses at ME for
bringing a dog home.

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