Archive for the ‘scenes from village life’ Category
going to the dogs
Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!
I sure did. I took off Friday as well and played all weekend long–with P, with the pooches, with the blog (notice the slightly different look? Feedreader peeps come on over!) and with some social networking sites. Ooh and I also read lots of Paulo Coelho. Love him!
Anyway, last week I asked you to ask me some questions, and once again, you’ve come up with some great ones, particularly about my feelings about settling here. I’m working on the answers to those too, but today I’m addressing the question of Jen of a2eatwrite:
What do your DOGS like best about living in Italy?
For those who don’t know Luna and Stella, you might want to check out their memes. Yes, my dogs do memes:
Now the girls have talked it over, and they’ve decided that the best part of living in Italy is definitely hanging out with their Papà in the garden. What’s that? You want photographic evidence?
The girls love the open space in the garden where they can play:
And dig:
And chase things:
And drink from the hose, sort of (they’re afraid of it on its own):
And generally nose around the place:
But sometimes they just like to sit and look pretty:
And finally, after a hard afternoon’s play, it’s time to rest:
And just hang out with Papà.
See lots more photos of my babies in my Luna & Stella Flickr set!
So animal caretakers,
what do your little one(s) like best about where they live?
And how did you enjoy the weekend?
tell me do, what’s MOO with you?
When I did the Flickr photo meme, I mentioned that my MOO mini-cards were coming via my mom. Well they’re here!
To remind you, mini-MOO cards are about half the size of normal business cards, and you can choose from your own photos on Flickr for the front (or you can get pre-made MOOs as well). MOO makes more than just mini-MOOs, though–you can also get note cards, greeting cards, postcards, and more.
To be clear, I don’t get any remuneration or anything for telling you about these, but I did promise to come back and let you know what I thought when I saw the MOOs in person . . . and I think I’m in love.
(click on photos to see larger versions)
Seriously, how cute are these?
I got these “free” when I upgraded to a PRO Flickr account, but I’m going to have to order more because I find myself not wanting to give these away, and, um, hello? That *is* the point of them.
Anyway, I was planning on writing this post anyway, but then yesterday I got word from the MOOsers that they are offering a special discount to those placing orders for the first time. This was written in the MOOsletter (their word, not mine):
The code 8DN2MP* will entitle a brand new MOO customer
to 15% off their first order.
So there you have it. Go MOO and save MOOlah to boot.
And tell me do, what has MOOved you lately?
OK, I’ll stop.
Seriously though, tell me what you’ve been loving this summer–blogs, websites, books, food? Share your favorites in the comments!
P.S. If you’re looking for La Buona Cucina Americana, you’ll have to rejoin us in September when we kick start the series again; like good Italians, we’re taking a break throughout August (and even a bit of July).
Buon weekend!
thank heaven for great (italian) neighbors
I’ve been so lucky to have been blessed with great neighbors.
Growing up, Sylvia, the Italian woman next door with four kids of her own, used to bake me a birthday cake *every* year–fancy ones like with a Barbie standing in the middle and stuff.
Even now, she still finds time to send me cards for my birthday and Christmas despite having many, many grandchildren (I’ve lost count!).
Well my buona fortuna continued when I moved here.
I’ve told you about my neighbor Anna Maria before, but I really can’t express how lucky I am to have moved in near her. She is one of the kindest, most generous people I’ve ever known, always giving me something–literally just about every day it’s something new.
Other than the usuals like olive oil, vino, red wine vinegar, lemons, oranges, clementines, and Brasilena, she also supplies me with some special harbingers of the seasons like:
Berrylicious homegrown strawberries and blackberries!
Just look at these gorgeous fragole:
And she also brings me this:
Want a closer look?
Anyone know or care to guess what it is?
(I know some of you know!)
Also, if you have great neighbors you’d like to brag about, do share!
tuesday morning market in calabria: part II
Last Tuesday we visited the weekly market in my village, and now it’s time for a little bargaining lesson.
First you should know that market prices are already lower than in the local stores–but that doesn’t mean you can’t get even better deals.
My first few Tuesdays here, I sat at the corner of the piazza and just watched the old women at work. I figured it was the best way to learn–from the pros.
I’ve often read that touching produce in Italy is a no-no, but apparently no one has told these women.
Or, more likely, the vendors are just too afraid to scold despite their tough exteriors.
Concetta (below) is one of the young old women. She’s in her early 80s, but gets around as well as anyone including me. She always smiles wide and says “Ciao Bella” while stroking the side of my face.
The first time I met her she invited me into her house and showed me photos of her entire family, including children and grandchildren spread throughout Italy, Europe, and South America as well as her husband who has passed on.
Concetta doesn’t live alone though; she lives (in sin!) with her male companion, a widower. By not getting married, she explained to me, she can still collect her deceased husband’s pensions (one from Italy and one from Switzerland). Furba, eh?
Come Tuesday morning, though, Concetta is all business. Her laughlines are well-hidden behind a poker face that truly draws fear in Pasquale, the meat truck guy.
I’ve seen her slap the hand of Totò, the man selling fruit and vegetables from the back of his Ape (AH-peh) when he tried to retrieve a carciofo from her hand.
I’ve also seen her throw up her hands in disgust and stomp away as Turi, the man with the best broccoli (I’m told) yelled after her shouting many numbers.
[The secret is to walk away; if they follow, they really want to sell.]
Concetta knows what she wants and she knows how to get it. She never leaves the market empty-handed, and always with a smile on her face.
Another successful morning for her, and another lesson in village life for me.
So, have you bargained at the market?
Tuesday Morning Market in Calabria: Part I
Every Tuesday morning, vendors of fruit,
vegetables,
herbs,
meats and cheese,
(especially local cheese)
hold a mercatino in the main square of the village.
And when I say morning, if you’re not there before 10 a.m., well, you’ll just have to wait until next week.
Speaking of which, be sure come back next Tuesday for Part II of Tuesday Morning Market in Calabria for a lesson from a pro in how to get a good deal and lots more photos!
What would you buy at the weekly mercatino in my village?
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
