Love Thursday: Ventagli from Anna Maria
My neighbor Anna Maria is always bringing me something from oranges and lemons to (I’m not making this up) wood for the fireplace.
The prettiest things she’s brought me, though, have to be these:
They are called “ventagli” which means “fans” but you really can’t miss the love in them, can you?
Happy Love Thursday everyone!
What’s the last suprise gift you have given or received?
27 Beans of Wisdom to “Love Thursday: Ventagli from Anna Maria”
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.
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Morning Michelle,
Well on Tuesday evening, i recieved a beautiful Vacuum cleaner. Yeah i have a very romantic Italian too!
xx Jenny
You have no idea how much I would *love* that surprise! Dog hair is the worst!
What delicious looking pastries! My mind trick to remember ventagli means fans is that if you break it down, it could translate into “garlic wind”! It makes me think about the olden days when ladies did use fans.
Hah, great trick 🙂
Those look both gorgeous and delicious! What a thoughtful neighbor.
Aimee’s last blog post..Missing Moscow
Anna Maria is the best!
My neighbor brought me a bag of clams last Summer. His older brother was on a clamming spree and my neighbor had had his full off them. He promises that this Summer I will be stuck with the majority of the clams. Seems I love them and he just took them to keep piece with his Big Bro!
Lucky, lucky you…I love clams!!!
Mmmm… those look good! What a sweet neighbor you have! On Sunday my boyfriend’s sister surprised me with a little plate of the most beautiful marzipan fruit after I was admiring them in a bakery we stopped at. Beautiful cherries, fennel, a banana, an orange, and some unidentifiable green thing (I think it might be a fig). They are too sweet (literally and visually) for me to eat, so I have just been admiring them every day and thinking of now nice it is to give and receive those little surprises in life. There is so much love to be shared in the world, and sometimes in the smallest ways!
Laura’s last blog post..Carnevale Photos & Videos
So true, Laura. Living here with such wonderful neighbors really reminds me how special people are and how every gift means something grand 🙂
Hi Michelle…Such a thoughtful neighbour, and delicious delights. You are soo lucky to have good neighbours. Not like that here…
They either are so busy, or just shut themselves away…and if smile at someone, they think you are mad 🙂 🙂
Take Care and enjoy !
anne’s last blog post..A walk with a difference…
That’s too bad…you need some nice Italian neighbors 🙂
“Cicerchiata” and “frittelle” for Carnevale. To be honest I find it a little embarrassing because I’m not good at cakes, biscuits, etc. and it’s difficult to know what to give in return! (Never been brought wood, though!) Those “ventagli” look beautiful.
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I hear you! I can bake, but I’m still shy to take “foreign” baked goods around since they’re so different!
The pastries look gorgeous! But he only surprise for me this week, was the 26 inches of new snow over night on Monday! I can’t wait to my return to Italy in June!
Deb R’s last blog post..The Day After the Storm.
Yikes! That *is* quite a surprise!
My dear girlfriend dragged me out of the office yesterday for 10 minutes and bought me a latte. The best kind of friends always know what you need even before you do, don’t you agree?
Happy Love Thursday!
Katie in MA’s last blog post..Love isn’t always all that complicated.
Indeed, Katie! What a *great* surprise 🙂
I LOVE those, but I’ve never known what they were called. I’ve always called them elephant ear cookies. 🙂
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That’s a pretty cute name too 🙂
I’m sure they taste as beautiful as they are. Oh, I definitely see the love!
vchelle’s last blog post..Pray for me…
Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Lovely! I like her name too. 😉
It is a pretty name, isn’t it? And so lovely when her friends call her from outside in one, looong breath 😉
Looks yummy. HLT !!!
Se’Lah’s last blog post..I love you all the way to God’s house…
And also to you 🙂
What a wonderful neighbor — these look delicious! Any chance you might coax a recipe from her?
anno’s last blog post..Toward a Grand Unified Theory of Omelets (just notes, barring unforeseen developments)
Fingers crossed….
What a wonderful neighbor.
ventagli look so delicious, and very pretty too.
Cheers,
Elra
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So purty indeed…and delicious too 🙂
Happy Love Thursday Michelle! Yes, you can’t help but see the love. What a great neighbor you have.
The last surprise gift I got – My baby brother who went off to AK and then cut contact with all his family for six years… well just this last week I was given a tip and found him on a forum… I left a note, and he responded! He is well and happy, and I am overjoyed to say this is the greatest gift I have received in a looong time. Still waiting to see if he wants to come back into the arms of his hopeful family… but. He is well and I am grateful.
Amber’s last blog post..Veggie Wars
Wow. What an *excellent* surprise! Best wishes to you and your family 🙂
She made these? From scratch? How lucky are you?
Pretty darn lucky, as always 🙂
Nice neighbor! On valentine’s day I surprised my hubby and boys with chocolates and cards…
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Lucky boys 🙂
When I was young, I remember friends bringing over whatever was fresh from their garden..I miss those days.
Love your YUMMYYYY taste of love!
Tanya’s last blog post..Mia puffy hearts her Ita
Garden gifts are *definitely* appreciated 🙂
I love these. 🙂
maryann’s last blog post..Welcome to Our 2nd Annual Festa Italiana! I’m Bringing the Struffoli!
Me too Maryann 🙂
Wow do those look yummy. I’d say you have a wonderful neighbor. She’s a keeper!!
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Absolutely!
Being dropped off at the front door due to the rain – I’m having some arthritic problems and this was unexpected and greatly appreciated!
And speaking of Love Thursday – I put together romance excerpts for my writing students today – that seems like a good Love Thursday activity!
jen of a2eatwrite’s last blog post..What’s Cooking Wednesday: Blogger Aid Cookbook Recipe – You Decide!
Awesome Jen, although I’m sorry to hear about your arthritis acting up…the crazy weather *can’t* help 🙁
Hi Michelle! These look fabulous! Anna Maria is obviously a great friend!
Lulu’s last blog post..They tried to make me go to rehab, but I said no, no, no!
She’s *such* a sweetheart! I’m very lucky 🙂
I like the sound of your neighbour. Is this gifting a oneway theing or do you reciprocate?
Art Brighton’s last blog post..Patti Plinko and Her Boy
Oh I also take Anna Maria little things, especially eggs from our chickens 🙂
your neighbor is a true gem!
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Agreed!
The best recent gift? An unexpected visit from three very sweet children who were so happy to see me, that it made me smile ear to ear.
Aw, how cute! Lucky you 🙂
This is a late comment but I just had to add it. After reading this I told my father, who is in the process of moving, that when we move we should find some good Italian neighbors (my Italian grandparents had some in Boston, they were great!). Granted we live in California so unlikely, but I can wish! The current neighbors are weird, quiet, stare a lot, dislike if we literally go one day without raking (guess what, the leaves are going to fall tomorrow, too. Accept it. Nature want’s your lawn to be decorated), and when they do talk to you it’s to stick their fingers all up in your business and then gossip to each other about it. Unpleasant to say the least. I don’t know, maybe it’s because we are originally east coast folk, but the neighbors we’ve had out here are just…weird.
So long story short, I would like to adopt your neighbor 🙂