Bleeding Espresso

It’s disturbingly easy for me to fall into a rut and take for granted that what I’m doing is working so long as is it’s not *not* working.

During those times, I like plenty of quiet time to just think.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been examining my writing career and where I want it to go. I’ve realized that I’ve let some goals slip away while focusing simply on making a living.

Through my quiet time, I’ve been re-energized and re-inspired to pursue things that I had kind of forgotten even existed . . . like completing the novel I started a few years ago, or even the other one I started in November with NaNoWriMo, or goodness didn’t I start yet another nearly 10 years ago?

My personal way of organization has a lot to do with lists. When I’m making them, it means I’m in a good place.

I’m happy to report that lately I’ve been making lists and crossing things off like crazy–and I’ve finally realized that something rather interesting happens when I look at a list with lines through many of the items:

I feel like accomplishing even more.

I know it’s good for me to stop and recharge like this every now and again, to refocus and realign my priorities with my actions, but sometimes I forget. I get caught up in the daily grind and end up rather uninspired, unprepared to push myself and take risks. And I don’t like that.

I much prefer feeling ready to take on the big, bad world.

What do you do when you need to recharge?

P.S. Be sure to check out Judith’s Unraised Doughnuts at Think on It!
for this week’s La Buona Cucina Americana recipe.

P.P.S. Click on the photos to see them larger (advised!) and no, this is not one of Stella’s puppies, but he is a cutie, no?

Buon weekend!

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Many people mistakenly believe that the weather in southern Italy is tropical or nearly so. It really isn’t. We do have seasons, although winter brings more rain than snow and spring can seem awfully short before we are thrust into the heat of summer.

Another southern Italian factoid is that most of the houses here are built with stone and/or tile, i.e., with “natural insulation”; central air and heat are only coming into fashion now, but it’s still quite expensive to run because of electricity costs.

And so most of us are “green” without even really trying.

All of this means that if your house isn’t directly in the sun, it can get pretty darned cold inside and stay that way–even now, in the spring when I often have to take *off* layers of clothes to go out with the dogs.

[This cooling effect works a bit in our favor during the summer, although not as much as it seems to work against us in the colder temps.]

Anyway, I am so very pleased to announce that it has been nearly a week since I’ve had to turn on the space heater near my work area, which means spring truly has arrived!

It also means I’ve had to switch to another method of keeping my seat warm:

All natural, and works for us!

Happy Love Thursday everyone!

P.S. Yes this photo sums up my life rather well–
work, pooches, and laundry in the big blue vasca.

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Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. We had marginally nice weather here–warm, the sun peaking out every now and again, but very windy . . . hello scirocco!

So I spent most of the weekend indoors working, trying to get ahead so that when primavera really does come along I won’t feel guilty playing outside.

But don’t worry, I also made time to play inside with the girls; my mom made that just a bit easier for us as these arrived on Friday afternoon:

The girls’ reaction? Utter joy.

Mixed with “Are YOU talkin’ to ME?”

And “Don’t you touch my hedgie!”

And a little break in the action.

And a final, “Grazie Nonna! Ti vogliamo bene!”

I hope you regularly make time to play as well.

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Are you feeling like there’s been a severe lack of canine love around here lately?

Maybe on the blog, but here at home Luna and Stella have only become closer and closer; a little while ago, I showed you how they ganged up to destroy an unsuspecting snowman and started snoozing together in front of the space heater.

Well they’ve since turned their (adopted) sisterly love up a notch or twelve:

Happy Love Thursday everyone!

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Today is the day when the Irish all over the world celebrate the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick.

Italia’s day is coming soon (Wednesday for San Giuseppe to be exact), but far be it from me not to join in the festivities with my Irish brothers and sisters.

After all, I may be just a wee bit Irish as I had a great-great-grandmother by the name of Maggie Kennedy.

I’m not into the green beer thing, I’m afraid, but I will offer up some vino for the occasion; how about a fabulous red from Vino & Co. in Palermo, Sicily?

I personally can’t think of a better excuse to take an empty 5-liter jug and head to a filler station like this one.

This was just a few minutes from our hotel, but unfortunately, Cherrye and I didn’t plan ahead and bring a container large enough–no regular old plastic bottles allowed.

But back to the green-themed day, I also found this page for those of you in need of some last minute party supplies that will also make you laugh as you’re browsing. The faces on some of these models are just hilarious.

And, I guess, effective because a lot of this stuff is actually sold out. Go figure.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to those celebrating!

Visit more Irish dogs here and here.

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