Love Thursday: Amore Mio

Shh…don’t tell P, but I snapped this photo of him while he was taste-testing the merluzzo from yesterday’s recipe.


I was across the table from him (not my usual seat) pretending to fiddle with the camera to prepare for upcoming food shots when I zoomed and snapped.

Just so you know, this is 1 in a series of 1. There may not be another for a very long time. Doesn’t sit still much this one. Check out the movement in the fork!

And he’s more than just a pretty face! For more P cuteness, check out Conversations with P. And if you want to read about how we met, it’s in How a Jean Jacket and Some Wind Can Change Your Life.

I hope all of my American readers, at least, are having a nice long holiday weekend–I think I just may take one myself in honor of my birth country. God bless America!

Happy Love Thursday everyone!

65 Beans of Wisdom to “Love Thursday: Amore Mio”
  1. Giulia
    07.05.2007

    LMAO, I’ve taken many photos pretending to fiddle with my camera! So great to finally put a face to the name… ooops, I mean letter. πŸ˜‰ Maybe one day we will learn the rest of the letters.
    We can play hangman or something to figure out his entire name. πŸ™‚

  2. sognatrice
    07.05.2007

    Giulia, hah! We have to be tricky sometimes, don’t we? Usually P catches me and then forbids me to share the photo, but this time he didn’t notice AT ALL. Guess the merluzzo was that good πŸ˜‰

    His full name really isn’t a mystery, but…5 letters…his onomastico just passed (29 giugno)…and there are some clues in this old post as well. Ah, and there’s a frequent commenter here who shares his name.

    Not too hard πŸ˜‰

  3. ViVi
    07.05.2007

    Maybe if we all post about how handsome he is (and he is!) he wouldn’t mind so much! πŸ™‚

  4. Poppy Fields
    07.05.2007

    Oh la la, as they say in France, he is one handsome man. Looks like he’s loving his meal. Happy Love Thursday!

  5. tongue in cheek
    07.05.2007

    What a handsome Husband you have. More pictures please πŸ˜‰

  6. Giulia
    07.05.2007

    “Vanna… can I buy an A…can I buy an O?!” πŸ˜‰ I got it! As soon as you said 5 letters, it’s the first name that came to mind. Before the hints though, I dunno why but I kept thinking to myself that maybe his name was Pietro? Oh, and, I agree with everyone else… he IS a handsome man! πŸ™‚

  7. My Melange
    07.05.2007

    What a cutie! The best shots are always the unexcepted ones. I have a pic of my hunny, it is a pensive shot, taken as he was gazing over the sea when we were in Positano. He didn’t even see it coming and it is one of my favorite pictures….

  8. KC
    07.05.2007

    Complimenti! On both your slyness and your choice of mate. He’s very handsome. N doesn’t want any photos on the blog either. He only agreed to the little one in my sidebar after checking to make sure you couldn’t really see his face it were enlarged. What shrinking violets these men can be!

    (BTW, it was the onomastico that gave the name away for me, not so much the clue about five letters. Does that give me away as a former parochial school girl?)

  9. BecsLifeOnline
    07.05.2007

    Yup, I agree with everyone else as well. That’s one hell of a hot guy you got there! Lucky girl!!! πŸ˜‰

  10. LaurinainItalia
    07.05.2007

    Finalmente! And che bello! It’s funny how Giulia said we’d someday hopefully know the full name of P. I think he is fast becoming the Mr.Big of blogging. (atleast in my blogosphere)Way to go with the sneaky camera pics Carrie! Keep ’em coming!

  11. sognatrice
    07.05.2007

    ViVi, ah, you’re killing me–I can’t tell him I posted this!

    Poppy, hah! I literally laughed out loud there. What can I say, though, the merluzzo *was* quite good πŸ˜‰

    TIC, I can’t promise anything, but I’ll keep trying. I should say that technically, we aren’t married to be clear (just in case my parents read this and get nervous that they missed something).

    Giulia, you got it! Pietro was quite close though, even as regards the onomastico.

    My Melange, I agree on the best shots being spontaneous. Something about zero self-consciousness that makes us all a little cuter, I think πŸ™‚

    KC, I love that N is the same way. I’m lucky in that P never looks at the blog so there’s little chance of him finding out the truth–which means he’ll also have to live without the knowledge that so many women think he’s so darn cute. Oh, and yes, your parochial school plaid skirt is definitely showing right now πŸ˜‰ I put in the 5-letter thing so people wouldn’t go for the other half of the onomastico.

    Bec, why thank you. P would be so happy to know, if he were ever allowed to πŸ˜‰

    Laura, if you really want to keep the mystery going, you’ll have to avoid reading my clues above. No comment on the whole Mr Big thing b/c then he’d really not be happy about this whole blog thing πŸ˜‰

  12. -R-
    07.05.2007

    Thanks for sharing a picture. He looks like the perfect Italian guy to me. I love the blurry fork!

  13. bella
    07.05.2007

    Handsome indeed. You two make a very cute couple. And living in Italy? You’re both so lucky!!

  14. somepinkflowers
    07.05.2007

    starts with a P…
    has five letters…
    his name is here…

    is it POPPY?
    is your cutie-cute husband’s name POPPY?

    πŸ™‚

    HAHA!

  15. Sara
    07.05.2007

    Cute boy!

    So, again, why was it exactly that you moved to Italy? πŸ˜‰

  16. The Other Girl
    07.05.2007

    “Honey, come taste the merluzzo. And take your shirt off first!” Well played, sognatrice. Well played.

  17. nyc/caribbean ragazza
    07.05.2007

    I’m sure you know this but your man is fine (for the non-Americans that is slang for very attractive, as in Denzel is fine).

    Nice work on the undercover photo thing. πŸ™‚

  18. Kathy
    07.05.2007

    Very handsome! And I love how you managed to take the picture…good thing he doesn’t read your blog!

  19. The (Mis)Adventures of a Single City Chick
    07.05.2007

    Ahhhhhhh. You’ve got to love those classic Italian features. πŸ™‚ Care to airmail me something similar? LOL!

    Christina

  20. Annika
    07.05.2007

    Oh you two will make the most beautiful babies πŸ™‚

    Although you’re mean. Not only are you photographing him without him knowing, AND publishing the photo on the web, you just had to do a nude picture. Or perhaps he always eats naked? Perhaps he’s a nudist, which is why we’ve never been allowed to see him before? Bring on the photos! πŸ˜€

  21. sognatrice
    07.05.2007

    R, I’m rather partial to the fork as well. Couldn’t have planned that better actually.

    Bella, yes we are quite lucky. Thanks πŸ™‚

    SPF, get this girl a prize! Oh wait. You wrote “Poppy.” Close, but….

    Sara, hee hee. You must realize, though, that I was in Italy for a year and a half before I met P. He may have something to do with why I haven’t left yet, though πŸ˜‰

    TheOG, my reaction after reading your comment was literally, I swear, a sinister laugh. And then I raised one eyebrow just for good measure.

    NYC, hey, thanks for bringing up Denzel–always a welcome addition to any blog post πŸ™‚

    Kathy, yes, I’m very lucky he doesn’t check out the blog. With my luck, tonight he’ll ask me what I’ve been up to. Ah! I hear him coming now as I’m typing this!

    Christina, yes I do rather enjoy this classic Italian look; we have plenty of it here if you’d like to take a bit of a vacation πŸ˜‰

    Annika, too funny. Actually P has his shirt off very rarely, but it’s been so hot that he whips it off as soon as he comes in the door these days. And then, you know, eats, obviously πŸ˜‰ I doubt we’ll be having a nude photo spread anytime soon considering I haven’t gotten clearance on the face just yet….

  22. JennieBoo
    07.05.2007

    He reminds me of Adrian Brody, one of my favorite actors.

    P is very handsome!

    You’re a lucky woman!

    Enjoy! πŸ™‚

  23. qualcosa di bello
    07.05.2007

    NICE JOB!! why you sneaky, sneaky girl…using food to manipulate a man – well done!

  24. goodthomas
    07.05.2007

    Boy, when desiring to be photogenic, it certainly helps to be immensely good looking, as P is. Goodness, as a man, I would kill to look like that.

    Black and white photography and a twirling fork don’t hurt an image’s appeal either.

    Well done (on all five accounts).

  25. sognatrice
    07.05.2007

    Jennie, that’s funny you mention Adrian Brody–one of my American friends has said that as well. I can see it, especially from this angle. My P has deep brown eyes though πŸ™‚

    Qualcosa, you know what they say–the way to a man’s photo….

    gt, why thank you, from P and me (even though I’ll wait a good long while until I tell him how handsome everyone finds him) πŸ™‚ I just love black and whites. I need to do more of them.

  26. sognatrice
    07.05.2007

    Aw heck now that I wrote that last comment, I looked up Brody–first of all, it’s “Adrien” (my apologies) and I really can’t tell what color eyes he has. Anyway, P’s are darker, I know that.

  27. it's me, Val
    07.05.2007

    He is quite the cutie! Great picture. Happy love Thursday to you, too!!

  28. Paolo
    07.05.2007

    Michelle, your man lives up to his name. πŸ˜‰ Black and white was an inspired choice here, too – something about him looks very Fifties, not sure if it’s how he wears his hair or what.

    And, unfortunately, the ponte – that very civilized Italian practice – has not made it to the United States. It is a work day, though a quiet one, as much of the Nation is hung over…

  29. Louise
    07.05.2007

    Okay even though I am a happily married woman I can see the beauty in others that being said….DANG your man is HOT!! LOL

    I take pictures without my family knowing too!!! TOO FUNNY!

    Have a fabulous day!!

  30. Nora
    07.05.2007

    Ooooh la la indeed (thanks Poppy Fields).

  31. Kimberly
    07.06.2007

    I’m definitely keen for a “Sognatrice the Spy” series, full of such shots. =)

  32. Kimberly
    07.06.2007

    p.s. His name suits him. =)

  33. Scribbit
    07.06.2007

    If he isn’t just the picture of the handsome Italian man I don’t know what is! Great picture.

  34. cheeky
    07.06.2007

    I love this photo and I think the black and white is fantastic. It does have a very vintage appeal and captures the quintessential “handsome Italian”; P being the handsome Italian. Frame it and show it off!
    Now. . . . for your clever and sneaky ways . . . you’re good, too good and I’m concerned, LOL!
    xo

  35. sognatrice
    07.06.2007

    Val, thanks! Hope your Thursday was full of love πŸ™‚

    Paolo, P tells me all the time that Calabria is 50 years behind America, etc., so perhaps that explains something. Sorry there’s no ponte for you, but I’m sure someday there will be πŸ™‚

    Louise, hee hee…don’t you love how sneaky we get with a camera in our hands? I don’t like my photo taken either, though, so I completely understand–I like it much better from behind the lens πŸ™‚

    Nora, thanks, and that post I promised is coming, I swear!

    Kimberly, what a great idea for a series…hmm….

    Scribbit, and to think P is self-conscious of his classic Italian features. He’ll never believe all this praise, I tell you πŸ˜‰

    Cheeky, not a bad idea on framing. Actually if I combine the “Spy” series with this framing idea, we just may have found a way to cheaply decorate the new place (framing here is *so* inexpensive for some reason!) And, um, I’m good when I want to be πŸ˜‰

  36. stefanie
    07.06.2007

    R is right; he looks like the perfect Italian man. And if I’m right about his name, that’s perfectly Italian, too. πŸ™‚ Glad you let us put a face to the letter, even if you did have to be sneaky about it.

  37. Figs Olives Wine
    07.06.2007

    Great photo and exceptionally handsome P! Love those southern Italian men!

  38. a far away friend
    07.06.2007

    Handsome ! Handsome ! Handsome ! You are soooo sneaky !!! Once again sognatrice, great shot !! You are one lucky gal. Thanks for the 4Th of July Wishes !!

  39. Karen Cole
    07.06.2007

    Italy…..italian food,….italian language….a gorgeous italian man…….do you pinch yourself everyday????

  40. JennieBoo
    07.06.2007
  41. Frances
    07.06.2007

    Wowie wowie zing zing zing – he’s got everything – actually you do **wink **wink
    Waving at you from New York,
    Frances

  42. James Burnett
    07.07.2007

    That’s a great story on how you guys met! Definitely one to tell the grandchildren some day. Fit for a book or a movie. I’d watch it, and I’m usually averse to romance stories.

  43. sognatrice
    07.07.2007

    Stefanie, I rather like P’s name too, especially when I see examples of what it could’ve been every day–Pasquale or Luigi for instance (no offense to those named as such).

    Figs, yes, I’m partial to southern Italian men as well πŸ˜‰

    Friend, glad you approve πŸ˜‰

    Karen, as a matter of fact I do, and I’m happy to report that I feel it every day πŸ™‚

    Jennie, ah! I just wrote 8 things…hmm…I shall do my best.

    Frances, what a reaction! Kind of makes him seem like a superhero πŸ˜‰

    James, grandchildren?! Whoa! Just because *you’re* reproducing….

    Anyway, glad you liked the meeting story. It’d probably be kind of boring in a movie, but if Adrien Brody signed on, it might work πŸ˜‰

    Thanks for stopping by πŸ™‚

  44. anno
    07.07.2007

    Wow. If I thought there was a chance that my M. would look like this after I made cuorcini di merluzzo in bianco, I wouldn’t wait until next week to make it. Gorgeous picture!

  45. sognatrice
    07.07.2007

    Anno, that’s hilarious–thanks for the laugh πŸ™‚

  46. Caroline in Rome
    07.09.2007

    Looks like a really deep, intense Italian.

  47. sognatrice
    07.09.2007

    Caroline, remember he’s looking at *la cena* here, so in this context, yes, he’s absolutely deep and intense πŸ˜‰

  48. Judith in Umbria
    07.09.2007

    He’s straight out of the 1950s golden era of cinema. I could easily have been convinced Calabria was the place to be with that face. Unfortunately, I know his dad is married and that’s who I might be suitable for.

    Sigh…

  49. sognatrice
    07.09.2007

    Judith, you’re right in assuming he looks very much like his father, except P is considerably taller (although it wouldn’t be a problem since I’m a gamberetta anyway). Actually P looks just like his grandmother (as judged from an old photo of her framed on the wall)–no offense to Nonna, but the look works *much* better on a man.

    That said, I believe P may have a zio who is libero….

  50. Judith in Umbria
    07.09.2007

    Lo zio Γ¨ bello? Gli piace le donne stranieri? Come si sente dei capelli rossi? La cucina? I gatti?

  51. Judith in Umbria
    07.09.2007

    How about we make that gli piacciono le donne stranieri? In genere, perchΓ© credi mi, se fosse il compagno di questa, non Γ¨ permessa nessun altra.

  52. sognatrice
    07.09.2007

    Judith, first let me say, oh how I hate the verb piacere.

    Next, I’d have to ask lo zio some questions, but I’m guessing foreign, red hair, and mistress of the kitchen are definite pluses.

    The cats? Not so sure, but they must be considered better than rabbits (as pets). My suocera just brought me a coniglio pronto per cucinare this morning….

  53. Judith in Umbria
    07.09.2007

    Cool! Better check out the cat thing. I could be your quasi aunt.

  54. sognatrice
    07.10.2007

    I’m on it. I’ve always wanted a cool American zia!

  55. The Daily Rant
    07.11.2007

    I am THRILLED to finally see a picture of P. And I love that it’s in black and white. He reminds me of my grandfather (who is also Italian) when he was younger. The hairstyle and the nose specifically. And I love that you captured him taste testing – it just completes the picture of a true Italian man. I’m glad he didn’t catch you photographing him, as I’ve been curious for a long time about what he looked like – now I know. Lucky you.

  56. sognatrice
    07.11.2007

    Daily Rant, thanks for commenting! I’m happy I’ve finally gotten a decent shot of P (I have many with his hand partially blocking his face)–and yes, while eating is very fitting. I have to say, also, that I think your Nonno must’ve been quite handsome πŸ˜‰

  57. odessa
    07.29.2007

    I echo everyone’s comments: you’re P is hot, hot, hot.

    Does he have any brothers? *wink,wink*

  58. sognatrice
    07.29.2007

    Odessa, he *does* have two brothers…both married with children. I’ll keep you posted on any developments though πŸ˜‰

  59. odessa
    07.30.2007

    ah, i knew it was too much to ask for a single, unattached brother. hmmm…a cousin perhaps? πŸ˜›

    seriously, i just want to let you know that as a new reader to your blog, i really enjoyed all your entries. will come back regularly for sure!

  60. sognatrice
    07.31.2007

    Odessa, thanks so much for your continued support–I really appreciate it, and I’m happy you’re enjoying your time here πŸ™‚

    And I’ll keep an eye out for a sexy cousin πŸ˜‰

  61. Emsk
    08.17.2007

    What am I doing in Japan???

    Ha fratelli?

  62. sognatrice
    08.17.2007

    Hee hee…sΓ¬ ma sono sposati….

  63. 03.08.2008

    A beautiful shot:) Your life sounds amazing…good to meet you and I look forward to connecting!
    Susan

    organicsyes’s last blog post..Colors in my mind’s eye

    Glad you enjoyed it; I’m really looking forward to getting more into your site as well πŸ™‚

  64. Lizzie
    11.23.2008

    Absolutely love the sneakiness of it :0) brilliant! Sort of thing that I would do. Hee hee. Great to put a face to the name.

    Sneaky is always more fun, isn’t it? πŸ˜‰

  65. 04.09.2011

    I can imagine and visualize your face and his now and It is perfect. Thank you for sharing

    Thanks Connie πŸ™‚


Recipes

 

Homemade apple butter
Green beans, potatoes, and pancetta
Glazed Apple Oatmeal Cinnamon Muffins
Pasta with snails alla calabrese
Onion, Oregano, and Thyme Focaccia
Oatmeal Banana Craisin Muffins
Prosciutto wrapped watermelon with bel paese cheese
Fried eggs with red onion and cheese
Calabrian sausage and fava beans
Ricotta Pound Cake