Bleeding Espresso

11 April 2008

weekend homework: a chat with the universe

Cu stavi mutu non po’ essiri servutu.
~ Calabrian proverb

Loosely translated, if you don’t speak up, you can’t get what you want.

Or if you prefer, tell the universe what you want.

Or, as my friend Tina wrote recently,

Thoughts become things.

Go. Think. Tell.

Buon weekend!

P.S. Go check out this week’s La Buona Cucina Americana recipe:
Barbecue Baked Beans with Bacon from Sara of Ms Adventures in Italy!

Related posts:

1. how to make an american expat in italy happy
2. What’s Cooking Wednesday: Green Beans, Pancetta, and Potatoes
3. love thursday: bringing home the bacon
4. tour del gelato in badolato, calabria

21 beans of wisdom »

21 beans of wisdom to “weekend homework: a chat with the universe”

1. Gil on 11 Apr 2008 at 6:40 am #

   These photos are absolutely beautiful. The flowers are a good sign that good weather is here. Enjoy!

   Thanks Gil; it was supposed to be sunny and 26 degrees here today but they changed the forecast on us last night…overcast and a bit cooler than that. Oh well. I’ll be complaining about the heat soon enough

2. Gil on 11 Apr 2008 at 8:16 am #

   If we didn’t complain about the weather we’d either be dead or brainless.

   Hah! I’d *much* rather complain then

3. Mary on 11 Apr 2008 at 9:08 am #

   Beautiful pictures!

   Mary’s last blog post..I’m ready

   Thanks Mary

4. running42k on 11 Apr 2008 at 11:12 am #

   Great pictures. Enjoy your weekend as well.

   running42k’s last blog post..It’s what? Friday

   Thanks, same to you

5. Bella Baita View on 11 Apr 2008 at 11:14 am #

   I love the keyhole photo with the flowers peeping through. always a pleasure stopping by.

   Bella Baita View’s last blog post..Trek to Torino to Eataly

   I pass by that a few times a day with the dogs; finally remembered to bring the camera

6. Diane Mandy on 11 Apr 2008 at 12:58 pm #

   You also have a great weekend!

   Diane Mandy’s last blog post..What I didn’t blog about this week

   Thanks Diane!

7. Kristen on 11 Apr 2008 at 1:37 pm #

   Love your new look too!!

   Thanks Kristen

8. Lucy on 11 Apr 2008 at 2:12 pm #

   Came to visit! Was at Niki’s now here.
   I was told if you didn’t let out negative thoughts or if you held
   anger inside that you would get a maltia, sickness in side.
   So I always try and be vocal! I hope who ever is voted for will do Italy some good.
   Love the pictures. Have a nice longggg weekend.

   Lucy’s last blog post..More Cemetery – La Croce

   Thanks for stopping by Lucy; I sure hope we get lucky in this weekend’s elections….

9. jody on 11 Apr 2008 at 2:15 pm #

   Oh, that first photo is to die for!! Just lovely.

   jody’s last blog post..Sleeping on a boat

   Thanks Jody

10. Stefanie on 11 Apr 2008 at 2:27 pm #

    Sort of like “The Secret,” right? But without needing Oprah to endorse it. In any case, it’s excellent advice.
    (Also, beautiful photos!)

    Stefanie’s last blog post..WWHPD?

    Yes, I prefer Law of Attraction to Secret hype And thanks!

11. themommykelly on 11 Apr 2008 at 2:37 pm #

    You, cara mia, are a fantastic photographer. I love these shots… and the proverbs are pretty cool too! Have a wonderful Calabrian weekend!

    themommykelly’s last blog post..Flaunt It Friday: A Few of Your Favorite Things

    Thank you! Hope you have a lovely weekend as well

12. Robin on 11 Apr 2008 at 6:15 pm #

    The pictures are beautiful! You’re a great photographer. And I smiled at the captions you’ve got along with them. Have a wonderful weekend!

    Thank you Robin

13. AscenderRisesAbove on 11 Apr 2008 at 8:19 pm #

    what a delightful photo – peeking through that tiny window. I want to look through there!

    Thanks; glad you like it

14. Linda on 11 Apr 2008 at 10:20 pm #

    Really loved that first pic. And as someone mentioned before, what you said reminds me of The Secret but less annoying
    Ah! We have to think real hard this weekend…

    Linda’s last blog post..Chock full of political nuts

    Thanks Linda, and yes, I’ll be thinking *very* hard over the next few days

15. Karina on 12 Apr 2008 at 3:56 am #

    I just loved the pics. So peaceful and quiet.

    Karina’s last blog post..Red Light

    Thanks Karina

16. mentalmosaic on 12 Apr 2008 at 10:16 am #

    ‘Tell the Universe what you want.’ Or in Foodie speak, ‘Take your pick from the cosmic menu.’ Food for thought, but I wonder if you still need to tip 15%? Love the photos! ~Tui

    mentalmosaic’s last blog post..Another Slice of Piazza, Beast Meets West and Flashback Friday

    Hah, Tui…I say not if you’re doing the talking in Italy where it’s included in the coperto

17. Sara on 12 Apr 2008 at 6:15 pm #

    They’re all beautiful, but I love the top picture best.

    So are prickly pears native to Italy, or were they something brought over from the New World that escaped cultivation? (Or, heck, is that someone’s garden?) I ask because I was raised in coastal southern California, which is always being compared to Italy in climate, and where they are indigenous and grow wild all over the hills, too, even right next to the sea. In fact they are indigenous to a lot of parts of North America, but I never saw any in Europe — not that I’ve managed to get everywhere in Europe.

    Their flowers are very pretty, too, as I’m sure you know, and they are what is meant most often by the expression “cactus rose.”

    (Having difficulty getting my comment to post. May post many many times; my apologies. Please just pick the one you think is prettiest.)

    Only posted once! Sorry for the trouble though

    Prickly pears grow wild *everywhere* here, and they are called “fichi d’India” or Indian figs…my guess is that they are either indigenous or where brought over by Arabs from the Middle East many centuries ago, but don’t quote me on that

    I’ve heard that the line between southern and northern Italy is drawn by where prickly pears start growing in the wild

18. Paolo on 13 Apr 2008 at 2:20 am #

    I have a really ambivalent relationship to the whole “Law of Attraction” thing. I strongly believe that our attitudes affect the outcomes we achieve… the placebo effect, if nothing else, satisfies the science geek within that there’s something there. And I though I have (sort of grudging) admiration for Oprah, her bandwagons are often kind of cringeworthy bland self-helpism to the max — plus, how can it be a “Secret” and a bestseller?

    The pseudoscience irks me, as does the slavish insistence that “The soul attracts that which it secretly harbors, that which it loves, and also that which it fears.” Are the Iraqis too focused on what they fear (”please don’t slaughter my family”) instead of what they love (”please give me peace and some clean water”)?

    All that being said, it’s been my experience that having really clear intentions set in your mind and filling yourself with confidence (IOW “fake it till you can make it”) does help. At a minimum – as the woman said as she fed her late husband chicken soup – it couldn’t hurt!

    Paolo’s last blog post..The power of positive drinking

    I’ll see you this, and raise you the “self-fulfilling prophecy” idea; I do believe that glooming and dooming draws that toward you as well.

    And I feel the same about the Oprah stuff. She’s an amazing woman, but I avoid even reading her book club selections since they become *so* out there. And I think it’s a real shame that someone (I don’t even know who b/c I won’t link to it!) called this “The Secret.” Particularly when it’s an idea that’s been around for centuries.

    I don’t know how much I buy into my soul attracting things, but I do believe our subconscious does so, so I suppose it’s not too far-fetched for me since I do believe we have souls as well.

    Anyway, the couldn’t hurt thing really sums it up well for me. And the fact that it’s a *much* better way to live than to walk around all negative all the time. Negative Nellies drive me batty.

19. Nadine on 13 Apr 2008 at 10:15 pm #

    Lovely pictures. I love the one with the flower.

    Nadine’s last blog post..My Nephew

    Thanks Nadine! Hope you had a lovely weekend

20. Pat on 15 Apr 2008 at 2:57 am #

    I love that photo of Badolato! What a gorgeous view!
    Do you collect the seaglass along the shore when you are in the marina? It was my favorite souvenir from Siderno.
    My husband loves to eat the prickly pear cactus fruit. It always reminds him of his childhood.

    Ciao, Pat

    Pat’s last blog post..Green-Wood Cemetery and the Civil War Project

    I absolutely collect sea glass Pat, although I don’t have a big collection (don’t go to the beach enough!). It’s so pretty though

    I don’t really eat too many prickly pears though…just not one of my faves.

21. MoscowMom on 18 Apr 2008 at 7:41 pm #

    Really pretty pictures, especially the first… Ah, how I miss Italy!!!!!!!

    MoscowMom’s last blog post..Rest in Peace

    Come back, come back!

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