Archive for 2008
1st of the month featured blogger: november
Yes I know it’s already November 3, but it’s never too late for the 1st of the Month Featured Blogger, is it? Besides, I’ve been busily working on my NaNoWriMo novel–you can keep up with my word count in the sidebar (and if you’re wondering, I decided to go with something brand new and left last year’s novel for another month…but that’s all I’m saying for now!).
This month I’d like you to introduce you (or re-introduce you as the case may be) to Diana Strinati Baur of the blog Creative Structures and of the Baur B & B in Piemonte, northern Italy.
Diane is a wonderful potter and writer who I’ve gotten to know better through an online friend of mine and a real life friend of hers–Gina DePalma, who you’ve already heard a great deal about here through the Dolce Italiano and O Foods for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Contests.
Diana’s attitude toward life is so inspiring and refreshing, but if you’ve caught any of her comments here, you probably already know that. She recently wrote a great post about life after 40 entitled “Sister Girl Tales,” inspired by another of my favorite bloggers, NYC/Caribbean Ragazza.
Here is a snippet of Diana’s post:
I look at myself now and realized it took all of that to become the kind of person who can be content sitting on a hill and creating. I am content with the person I am today. I also wish for myself less work and more joy.
Over the years, [my sister] and I both have started untying the knots of our complicated selves. We both do truly see that getting the most out of these days we have now is of utmost importance. This knowledge forges us together in the strongest of ways.
Staying healthy and happy in mid life is easier with a sister to lean on. And for that, I am eternally grateful.
Here are some of Diana’s gorgeous creations, Japanese drinking bowls:
And a glimpse of her life in Piemonte:
Now go visit Diana and tell her I sent you!
end of october, but still think pink!
Just as you surely remember that September was Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, I’m positive you also know that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
But just because Halloween is here, which means October is coming to a close (how did that happen?!), it doesn’t mean that we have to stop thinking PINK*:
1. Someone asked for Pink…lol, 2. Pink hibiscus…, 3. Gradually Pink, 4. Smile!, 5. :: the pink daisy ::, 6. pink peep bunnies, 7. Pink!, 8. Petal Princess, 9. Pretty Pink Gingham Girls, 10. Pink Rose, 11. Pink Ribbon (close-up), 12. Cherish the pink sky, 13. Hazel Atlas Ripple C/S, 14. sweet melody, 15. Pink Tutus, 16. Pink Delights, 17. Berries Smoothie, 18. Tiny drops on pink flowers, 19. red & pink, 20. PinK, wHy So pINk??
*Special thanks to my dear friend Collette at All Over the Map for the inspiration to create this pink mosaic!
For more information on breast cancer awareness:
Breast Cancer Awareness Tool Kit
National Cancer Institute Breast Cancer Home Page
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Don’t forget to check out Judith’s Peach Crisp, this week’s La Buona Cucina Americana at Think on it! and hey, what great Halloween costumes do you and your children have planned?
Buon weekend and Happy Halloween!
love thursday: the guest waterlily heart
Like many of you, I suspect, I’ve loved waterlilies ever since the first time I saw paintings by Claude Monet.
So imagine my delight when this gorgeous photo showed up in my inbox, sent by Marnie of Country Fried Stitches:
Marnie wanted to share this image of love, “the heart-shaped leaf pointing to the waterlily,” with all of you and kindly granted permission for me to use it here.
Which leads me to this:
If any of you have blogs but don’t do Love Thursday *or* don’t have blogs at all but still want to spread the love, please send your heart photos and images of love to me here, and I’ll publish them with your permission.
Thank so much Marnie, and Happy Love Thursday to all!
What’s Cooking Wednesday: Grilled Tuna
On my birthday, I took a couple pieces of cake to my American neighbors just down the street from me (yes, I have two American neighbors!).
While I was visiting, a neighbor of theirs offered up two gorgeous tuna that her husband had caught that morning–and guess who was, in turn, offered one of these beautiful babies? What a birthday gift!
And so plans for my birthday dinner were adjusted. We had the originally-scheduled pork ribs the following night (delicious as always), and instead had a special treat of grilled tuna (tonno alla griglia) with a side of homemade french fries:
By the by, if you’ve never had homemade french fries made in olive oil, you don’t know what you’re missing–it’s definitely worth the work of peeling and cutting up the potatoes just so. Yes I know gadgets exist that will do that for you, but I find it rather relaxing so I stick to the old-fashioned way.
Grilled Tuna
- 2 tuna filets
- 1 lemon
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- Handful of parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper
1. Prepare grilling area by lighting coals, etc.
2. When grill is about 15 minutes away from being ready, combine olive oil, garlic, and parsley in small bowl.
3. Roll a whole lemon on the counter a few times to loosen up the juice, then cut in half. Squeeze one half over each tuna filet, and then apply marinade to each filet equally.
4. Sprinkle each filet with salt and pepper, and let sit for about 15 minutes.
5. Grill tuna for about 10 minutes on each side, turning only once.
Buon appetito!
NaBloPoMo is a big, fat no-go
It is with deep regret that I announce I won’t be taking part in NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) this November. I had been going back and forth on the decision for weeks (yes, it’s that important dammit!), but I just can’t.
Yes, I’ll be busy writing a novel for NaNoWriMo, but what I *will* do for NaBloPoMo is pledge to visit as many blogs participating in NaBloPoMo as possible throughout the month. My blog reading has really slowed in the past few months, and I’d like to use November to get back in touch with *your* blogs–especially if you’re participating in NaBlo.
So, if you’ve signed up, please let me know in the comments or come find me at the NaBlo site here (I don’t think my profile will be erased or anything, will it?)!
And, hey, maybe I’ll commit to doing Pilates every day instead!
What would you commit to doing every day this November?
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
Calabria Guidebook
Recipes
