Archive for the ‘love’ Category
The Heart As Symbol for Love and Valentine’s Day
Ever wonder how the heart became a symbol for love and especially for Valentine’s Day? Well here you go.
Read on...almond blossoms mean never having to say you’re sorry (sort of)
My grandparents were bickerers.
Together, they were one of those couples that couldn’t have a normal conversation about anything without snipping, snapping, growling, or worse. I’m sure you know one of these couples. Maybe you’re even in one.
Sure there was love between them, but their expression of that love left a lot to be desired for me personally. Worked for them, apparently, so more power to them.
I decided early on, though, that I didn’t want to have that sort of relationship (does anyone really *want* that?) but we all have to accept that arguing (sometimes in “outdoor voices”) is a part of life, especially in close personal relationships.
But it’s how we deal with those arguments that matters.
P and I are going on three years together and for us, it’s a continual learning process, and I hope it always stays that way. We’re both becoming better at not taking out bad moods on the other and with talking through our true feelings–those feelings underlying what *seems* to be the problem but really has nothing to do with much of anything.
But we’re not perfect. And thank goodness for the first almond blossoms of the season when one of us is less perfect than the other.
Just so you know, though, P *does* bring me the first almond blossoms of the season even when things are peachy keen. See here.
Difficult times always create opportunities for you
to experience more love in your life.
~ Barbara de Angelis
Happy Love Thursday,
and may you pass all of your relationship tests with flying colors.
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[tags] love, amore, love thursday, almond blossoms, blossoms, almonds, mandorla, flowers, barbara de angelis[/tags]
love *is* all around
P is currently working on a house for a Swiss man, so I have been taking photos and sending them by email to the new owner to keep him up to date on the progress.
Of course this gives me an excuse to wander around a bit and take more village photos–but as it turns out, I don’t have to roam very far from that house to remind me that love really *is* all around.
These are all a few steps from where P parks his motorino:
These images are overseen by a gorgeous stone angel who is on la Chiesa di San Nicola, the center of the small quadrant of the village that the families of both P and me are from.
The church was built in 1239 and is mentioned by name in George Gissing’s classic travel memoir By the Ionian Sea: Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy; the author had happened upon the church’s parroco on a train, which led Gissing to write:
I would ask nothing better than to visit him, some autumn-tide,
when grapes are ripening above the Ionian Sea.
I wonder if Gissing ever did get the pleasure of having this face look down upon him.
Happy Love Thursday everyone!
**If you haven’t yet, remember to check out my welcome post and find out about how you can win a $30 Amazon.com gift certificate!**
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[tags] love thursday, hearts, angels, george gissing, by the ionian sea, ionian sea, badolato, san nicola, chiese, churches[/tags]
12 Christmas Memories: Part V
And now the last installment of my 12 Christmas Memories meme:
10. Best Christmas Present Ever
I know it might seem strange for me to name an afghan as my best Christmas present ever, but it was (and I know Shannon understands). I really wish I had it here with me (it’s in storage in the US) so I could take a photo for you. And better yet, curl up with it.
I was around 10 years old when my mom started promising afghans, crocheted by her, for my brother and me. I’d occasionally see her working on the little squares that were to make up mine throughout the year–different shades of pink, flowers, typical girly stuff. As Christmas drew closer and her time was taken up by cookies though, she made it pretty clear that they wouldn’t be done for the holidays.
But then while unwrapping gifts, I got to a big old clumsy box that I assumed was a coat. As I lifted the lid, what to my wondering eyes should appear?
My very own pink-and-white flowered afghan.
Even at that young age, I had some idea of just how much work went into every single square that made up that thing, and I just felt so special and loved that my mom would surrender sleep and other more enjoyable activities (which she surely did) to stitch and stitch and stitch just to make it all happen for Christmas.
A warm fuzzy wrapped up in a warm fuzzy, if you will.
Must get that afghan here. Love it love it love it so.
11. Falling Asleep on Pap’s Presents
OK, this one isn’t a memory so much as a really cute photo that unfortunately I don’t have with me to scan for you.
When I was just a wee lass I suppose I became overwhelmed with the Christmas goings-on quite easily and so I stopped to rest just a moment.
Right on top of all my grandfather’s presents.
I was out for a few hours, apparently, and he just had to wait to see what Santa brought him.
What a trooper, eh?
It’s a really cute picture, I promise.
12. My First Christmas with P
Nothing too spectacular happened, but 2005 was our first holiday season together and that alone made it magical.
On Christmas Eve, we went out for pizza of all things, which I actually thought was a fun tradition to start–only then the restaurant wasn’t open the following year. So now I’ll always remember that first Christmas Eve all that much more.
It was rather romantic actually as the fireplace was going and we were the only ones in the place besides the owners and their family who joined us after a while. Then we went around visiting some friends in the village but were home by midnight; and despite growing up opening gifts on Christmas day, I just couldn’t wait any longer for P to open his, so at my insistence we did gifts around 1 a.m.
He had never gotten a stocking before! Can you believe it? So I was sure to stuff it with all kinds of exciting things like shaving cream and razors.
And I wrapped every single thing individually. Hah!
Then Christmas Day we spent with P’s sister and her family (they have two children) and P’s parents–always wonderful to see children enjoying Christmas, isn’t it?
Like I said, nothing too special for that first Christmas…other than the company of course. And that’s really what it’s all about for me. Those warm, cozy feelings of love that stick with you for a lifetime as my dear friend Wanderlust Scarlett so kindly reminded me by tagging me with this meme.
Honestly, I can’t tell you how much writing this and taking photos around my house has helped me get into the holiday spirit. It’s been so wonderful to remember all of the great holiday seasons I’ve been lucky to have and makes being away from home at this time of year just a little easier.
So thank you, thank you, thank you Wanderlust Scarlett and I wish the happiest of holiday seasons to you all!
mio amore and me
Lately I’ve gotten a few requests for photos of P from friends and family, so I figured it was time to post another. You can also see another photo of him in my post Amore Mio in case you missed it.
Now here’s the thing. I’m not very good at the holding out the camera in front of us and getting a good photo thing, so nine times out of ten P loses part of his head. And he didn’t help things this time either as he thought the photo was already taken and turned his head before the click.
But I still kind of like it anyway.
This was taken last Saturday at the Feast of Santa Caterina di Alessandria. Why yes, I do have more photos. Stay tuned!
Today I’m thankful for:
P.
Happy Love Thursday everyone!
P.S. Remember to check out the posts in the Dolce Italiano Contest and comment to enter the drawing to win a personalized, signed copy of Dolce Italiano by Gina DePalma:
Mosaic Biscotti, Sara’s Ms Adventures in Italy
Chocolate Kisses, Ilva’s Lucullian Delights
Ricotta Pound Cake, Here!
Chestnut Brownies, Shelley’s At Home in Rome
And tomorrow head over to Jenn’s The Leftover Queen to see what she has baking!
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[tags]love, amore, love thursday, nablopomo, 30 days of thanks[/tags]
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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