Happy New Year from Calabria!

1. Fireworks #1, 2. B, 3. u, 4. O, 5. N, 6. 2, 7. zero, 8. zero, 9. 9, 10. a, 11. N, 12. n, 13. O

P and I spent a nice quiet evening at home with the fireplace going and the pooches snoozing, often on my lap. We had a fabulous dinner (as always) and then watched from the balcony as about 10 different fireworks displays erupted down in the coastal villages at midnight.

‘Twas perfect indeed.

How will/did you celebrate?

See you on Monday!

35 Beans of Wisdom to “Happy New Year from Calabria!”
  1. 01.01.2009

    Happy New Year to you! We’re not quite in the New Year yet here in the US… a little over three hours to go.

    Coleen’s last blog post..Happy New Year!

    Hope you had a great evening Coleen!

  2. 01.01.2009

    Wish you all a very happy new year !!

    Abhishek’s last blog post..Technorati With own Advertising Network

    Thanks, and same to you! Thanks for stopping by!

  3. Happy New Years to you too!

    My very pregnant self will be perched on the bed eating a pint of white chocolate truffle raspberry ice cream while flipping through the channels and whining that there’s nothing good on tv while my husband plays video games and intermittently pops into the bedroom to pester me with the light saber that “santa” just brought him for christmas. What was santa thinking?

    judy haley (coffeejitters)’s last blog post..A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: CoffeeJitters’ Best Photos of 2008

    Hah, sometimes Santa really doesn’t realize how much power he has…and there was nothing on TV here either.

  4. 01.01.2009

    Sometimes it is nicer just to stay inside on a snowy night like this, with a glass of excellent wine/champagne, friends and good food. See you in 2009!!!!

    No snow here, but there was some excellent wine 😉

  5. 01.01.2009

    That is the coolest collage!! Happy New Year to you too!!

    I am at home eating delicious Greek Gods Honey Pomegranate ice cream about to pop in a DVD. I usually stay home for New Year’s Eve due to all the fireworks here. I need to keep out of the smoke (which gets pretty bad) due to my allergies. I was watching the fireworks shoot off from my house until the sky opened up and it started down pouring. I am sure the fireworks will continue though (at least at midnight). Three and a half hours still to go here. Auguri!!

    girasoli’s last blog post..happy new year!!

    Hope you had a lovely evening and kept the smoke out! We’re actually rather lucky that the ones here are far enough away that we don’t get smoke *or* the ridiculously loud booms (and the doggies are so happy about the latter) 🙂

  6. 01.01.2009

    I’m ringing in the New Year with a book. Major excitement here at casa softdrink. 😉

    Happy 2009!!

    softdrink’s last blog post..Happy 2009!

    I’ve done that, and had one of my best new year’s celebrations ever 🙂

  7. 01.01.2009

    Happy New Year to you, Michelle and family. I am here in Northampton, Massachusetts spending a quiet New Years with friends and family. No big meals tonight. Tomorrow I will make a meal for dad in Holyoke.

    Buon Anno Nuovo!

    JenniferRafferty’s last blog post..Cal’s Coffee Cake Mix

    Sounds great, Jennifer! Enjoy 🙂

  8. 01.01.2009

    And a very, very Happy New Year to you and “P” -from here in wintry central Pennsylvania! (No place like home, ya know!)

    Agreed Jeni! Happy 2009 to you and yours 🙂

  9. 01.01.2009

    Happy New Year, Michelle! 😀

    ThePurpleFoodie’s last blog post..Lavender Shortbread and Some Changes…

    Thanks! Same to you 🙂

  10. Gil
    01.01.2009

    We didn’t leave the house all day as we were snowed in at home in Eastern Connecticut waiting for the plow guy to clear the driveway. My wife made some delicious lobster Neuberg to go with a little wine for dinner. After which we watched the celebrations on tv and I tormented the cats.

    Happy and Healthy New Year to you two!

    Cats love to be tormented, don’t they? Sounds like a cozy day and evening, Gil 🙂

  11. 01.01.2009

    Buon anno e tanti auguri.
    Spent an unquiet evening here in Rome – fireworks from sundown until 3 or 4 – but with friends having a nice dinner. Today was to be a sleep in day but I swear all the bells in Rome began ringing at 0800. Being a bit irreverant here but if you’re going to pray for World Peace there must surely be a quieter way of doing it.

    Willym’s last blog post..Il Ciclo di Mesi – Gennaio

    OK 8 am is ridiculous on New Year’s Day! We have the baby Jesus roaming around (obviously in the arms of someone) accompanied by bagpipes, but I didn’t hear those until just a few minutes ago (it’s nearly 11 am now) so perhaps he slept in like a good little lad 😉

    FYI for a kind donation, you can have the baby Jesus placed on your beds for luck, I suppose, in the new year…feel free to discuss 😉

  12. Happy New Year Michelle!

    I was in bed with a cold but I heard all the fireworks. Rome really goes all out.

    nyc/caribbean ragazza’s last blog post..Happy New Year!!

    Oh no, sorry about your cold…but I hope you’re all recovered from your Tuscan sun adventure 😉

  13. 01.01.2009

    Happy New Year from a not so sunny South Africa. All the very best for 2009 🙂

    Not sunny here today either…great for doing nothing 🙂

  14. 01.01.2009

    I ate every single thing that the Italians said brought luck, health, fortune and three helpings of the money bringer. Today I have still not digested any of it. So what if I get rich but have permanent heartburn and tummy cramps? Will it make me look like Donald Trump?

    Judith in Umbria’s last blog post..A Warning

    Oh what a horrible thought. Please just keep an eye on your hair.

  15. 01.01.2009

    Saw the new year in with yet another feast at my house shared with two other families. Does the eating never end?! luckily we were on our own at lunch today and I had cicorie…it’s time to detox! 😉

    Best wishes for the new year to you, Paolo and the dogs from me, F, G, D, the dogs, the cats, the rabbit and the hamster!

    saretta’s last blog post..Happy New Year 2009

    Aw my best to the whole menagerie!

  16. 01.01.2009

    Happy new Year you both…we stayed in with my son, daughter-in-law and children, had a few some champagne, and then bed….

    anne’s last blog post..Christmas Present to my hubby……

    Sounds lovely Anne 🙂

  17. Happy New Year to you, Michelle! We’re having a low key holiday, which is how I like it. We watched the “Ball” drop in our PJs with a bottle of good champagne.

    Hope your 2009 is filled with health, happiness and prosperity!

    Susan at Sticky,Gooey,Creamy,Chewy’s last blog post..Sad News…..

    I love PJs. A lot. Thanks for the wishes, Susan…same to you and yours!

  18. 01.01.2009

    Happy New Year!!! We went over a friends house, played Tabu, ate too much and drank wine and Prosecco!! Paying for it today…but well worth it!!!!

    My Melange’s last blog post..Miss DIor Cherie

    I love that game! Hope you’re recovering….

  19. NZ Mobiles
    01.01.2009

    Happy New Year! I spent mine asleep in bed, with the extra sleep I was able to wake up early and buy some bargains without the ques.

    Bargains are a great way to start the year!

  20. 01.01.2009

    How fantastic to discover a new blog on the first day of a new year!

    I’ve wanted to move to Italy for years. Now I can live vicariously through you and perhaps reach the tipping point. Thanks for sharing!

    Happy New Year.

    Welcome Emma! Looking forward to getting to know you better 🙂

  21. 01.01.2009

    Just hanging out eating pizza and playing Wii with the girls. Was a pretty perfect evening if you ask me.

    Shan’s last blog post..let’s review, shall we

    Does sound perfect! Pizza is always good in my book 😉

  22. 01.01.2009

    Happy New Year, Michelle! We had a similar evening – delicious dinner, time to play with the guinea pigs, the family snuggled together watching Buffy episodes. We watched the ball drop, kissed and hugged and went to sleep.

    jen of a2eatwrite’s last blog post..What’s Cooking Wednesday: Chicken Pot Pie a la Nigella

    Sounds like my kind of night Jen 🙂

  23. 01.02.2009

    Happy New Year Michelle! End of a quiet New Year’s Day here in PA watching Penn State in the Rose Bowl. Looking forward to following your blog in 2009!

    Dana

    dana kaplan’s last blog post..Buon Natale a Tutti!

    WE ARE! I’m sure you know how to respond 😉 Thanks for coming by Dana 🙂

  24. Michelle, P and the pooches…

    Happy New Year from sunny Arizona! We spent the New Year like 90 year olds. I made shrimp scampi over rice with a side of fresh spinach and then we watched several movies in a row sitting in the lazy boy recliners. Strawberry cheesecake (not home made) for desert with a hot cup of tea and we were set. Now we’re just deciding on when we want to go back to work.

    Have a wonderful year and thanks for all the great writing and photos last year. Can’t wait for 2009!!

    Love,
    Salena and Eddie

    Salena of The Daily Rant’s last blog post..Another Year, Another 365 Days

    Thanks so much! Looking forward to your adventures, words, and photos as always 🙂

  25. awedree
    01.02.2009

    Happy New Year to you and P, too!!!

    I spent NYE at my brother’s awesome party. Lots of great food, cocktails, music and dancing and catching up with people I hadn’t seen in ages.

    Anxious for 2009!

    Have a wonderful weekend 🙂

    Ooh fun! Hope all is well with you!

  26. 01.02.2009

    happy new year to you waaaaay over there
    across the sea, michelle.

    looking forward to visiting italy
    through your eyes
    again next year.

    🙂

    i have enjoyed watching you expand your blog,
    writing here
    and there.

    may 2009 bring you many opportunities
    and
    much happiness.

    somepinkflowers’s last blog post..how to use wild things as an excuse for practically anything

    Thanks and much the same to you, cara 🙂

  27. 01.02.2009

    Happy New Year to you and your family. Celebrating with friends at home and playing cards is the tradition in Greece to find out who the lucky one will be in the new year.

    Ivy’s last blog post..Happy New Year!!! BloggerAid: Because we can Cook..

    Ooh I hope it’s you Ivy 🙂

  28. 01.02.2009

    Spent the evening at a traditional Scottish ceilidh, including whisky and Auld Lang Syne at midnight.

    Andy Hayes’s last blog post..The World’s Best Small Country

    Ciao Andy! Sounds like a fabulous way to spend the evening! Thanks for stopping by 🙂

  29. 01.03.2009

    Happy New Year! We had a low-key celebration with the kids, aunts, uncles and cousins. Now we’re all looking forward to 2009. Hope you are too!

    bonggamom’s last blog post..Quotes on hope

    Absolutely Bonggamom! Thanks for stopping by 🙂

  30. 01.03.2009

    We went out for Indian food and had a small feast ending with a delicious floater coffee. After we had ordered the coffee the manager/owner (?) came over to offer us a complimentary drink, so we each had a lovely glass of red wine.

    Kalee’s last blog post..Bikini And A Sweater?

    Sounds like a lovely evening with a nice surprise at the end 🙂

  31. 01.03.2009

    We spent our NYE with friends, the first one we’ve spent away from home in 7 years, I think. Usually, we stay in and try to avoid all the explosives in the street, all the smoke AND all the drunk drivers, but we decided to brave it this year and had a very nice time. Made it back home safe and sound-whew! Cuddled up in front of a fireplace with snoozing puppies sounds great too! Happy New Year, and thanks for stopping by my blog yesterday!

    Dreamybee’s last blog post..Happy New Year!

    Glad you had a great night! And thank you for coming by to visit 🙂

  32. Imani
    01.04.2009

    Bellezza!

    Buon anno! Tanti Auguri a te, Paolo, Stella e Luna. Tante belle cose!

    Imani

    Grazie bella! Hope 2009 is going well for you 🙂

  33. 01.04.2009

    Happy, Happy New Year, Michelle! Or, as we say in the Philippines, Maligayang Bagong Taon! I wish you all the best for the New Year. Good food, good wine, good conversation, good books, good music, good movies, good times in 2009! 😀

    Tarie’s last blog post..Author Interview: Ronica Stromberg

    What a fabulous wish Tarie…thanks, and same to you!

  34. 01.04.2009

    Happy New Year, Michelle. I hope 2009 brings you everything you would wish for yourself and those you love. A little bit of “Peace on Earth” wouldn’t go amiss either, would it???

    casalba’s last blog post..Buon Natale

    So true, so true. Let’s hope for peace above all 🙂

  35. 01.05.2009

    Love the photo collage. I spent New Year’s Eve at a party financed by Food Buzz. (A good friend recently started a food blog, and won a slot in their 24-24-24 game this time around.) It was a lovely evening of local food, local booze, and local and not-local friends.

    Happy New Year!!

    Stefanie’s last blog post..I suppose I still have a few hours to make that "Soul Mate in ’08" thing happen, but I’m totally not holding my breath.

    Ooh that sounds like fun Stefanie! Anything with “Food” in the title sounds good to me though 😉

Michelle KaminskyMichelle 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

Calabria travel guide by Michelle Fabio

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