Rome in a day

It's always fun when friends come to Italy and are in Rome so we have an excuse to go up on the train for a visit! Monday was just that sort of day. We left from Villa Claudia station and were surprised to be able to sit with Maria (Italian) and Carla (American) (Ernesto's wife and cousin). It was great fun sitting and speaking a mixture of Italian and English since Caroline is actually American. She has retired here to live and it was great getting to know her on our ride. We arrived at Termini in Rome in what seemed like record time since we were talking the entire time. We parted ways and made our way down into the bowels (yes it seemed that way) of the station to the metro platforms. Our trip to Lepanto station was very quick (only 5 stops) and we were surprised to find that the hotel where we were meeting Liz was only a half a block away!

Our plan was to have lunch and then on to St. Peter's Square/Vatican City. We ended up eating at a restaurant that was recommended by Rick Steves and he was spot on as usual. It was so good! It is called L'Isola della Pizza and located at Via degli Scipioni 47. We had an assortment of antipasti and pizzas. Mike had pappardelle con conghiale (wild boar) which is a specialty of theirs. It was wonderful!

We walked our lunch off by continuing on down the street to Vatican City. Passing through the double archway brought us into St. Peter's Square. Even though it was spitting rain on us and the skies were gray, the grand scene before us was much to behold. The line to tour the Basilica seemed long but moved along very quickly. A pit stop to the conveniently located toilets at the base of the steps and we were on our way up into the Basilica. As you enter, you can see the beautiful yet stirring Pieta. I remember looking at it as my mother told me about it as I looked in our Catholic Bible when I was a little girl. Now I was seeing it in person! Michael and I had studied the construction of the building, the dome and the many parts last year in Art History but walking through it was so much to take in. The paintings and sculptures are exquisite and in a large scale to be in keeping with the size of the structure. I wish we could have attended a mass there. I'm no longer Catholic but it would have been such a peaceful and special experience... maybe next time.

Once we emerged, we visited the gift shop (of course), took some pictures, then walked out of the square, through the archway and down the street. Umbrellas were popping up as the rain was stronger. This drove us into Bar Moretti to have cappuccinos and ice cream. The coffees were great as were the gelatos BUT this was one of those tourist moments where we didn't see a menu and ended up paying obnoxious prices for the privilege of sitting down. Warning to all: see the menu before sitting no matter how much rain is falling! We're all old-timers here and still got taken in... 

The sky continued pouring rain as we walked back to the hotel and then we made our way to the metro and gratefully joined the throngs of people on their way back towards Termini. We made it in time for the 7:08pm train back to Nettuno and had McDonald's for dinner. An American ending to an Italian day.

A new year, new week and it's a bit quieter here in Italy

A new year has begun. Kristen is back at Penn State and we have to get back to life as a 3 family instead of a 4 family. Sadness will come and go. More frequently at the beginning and then will subside as the countdown until Summer break approaches. Meanwhile, we're here in Italy and life for us is as normal as normal can be while living in a foreign country. Michael and I will resume school here tomorrow since we decided that a one day grace period to ease back into our schedule. Besides, I have time today to look ahead at assignments and organize our materials. A good idea all around!


The best part of this plan is I can sit and collect my thoughts about the new year and my goals. So often, as a mother, I ignore my own thoughts, dreams, hopes, goals and get caught up in everyone else's. A friend just shared this feeling with me this morning and I so agree with her on this. This is the sort of mindset that causes us to lose sight of ourselves. This is one of the big reasons why I haven't been exercising or concentrating on improving my health. Of course, it's not the only reason but it plays a huge role in the rut we fall into.  I believe that the first and biggest step to making a change in my life has been that I need to come to the realization and commitment to change and not lose sight of this.


Another part of the plan is to take time to be creative. That has always been something that increases my happiness quotient a hundredfold. The colors in fabrics, threads and yarns are so beautiful and varied that they create an inner peace in me. 


Kristen has asked me to do a photo a day from home and post it on Facebook for her like a good friend of ours has been doing. That way she will still feel connected to us even though she is so far away. I just changed my profile pic here to one she took while we visited Philadelphia. She and I both love taking pictures of birds. Who knows why? It's a sickness or addiction for us and we laugh every time we come upon yet another picture of yet another bird of some sort.


Meanwhile, the doggies are barking because one of the men is outside driving about with a mower and they are going crazy. I guess my quiet is gone for now, sigh....

Ridiculous funny moments with our family

Opening presents brings the usual take your time comments from the parents but this year Sissy joined in with those admonishments to her brother. Take your time! Make the moments last!

Reading the gift labels and scritchy scratchy handwriting that was on them brought the laughs after To: Kristen From: Mommy and Salty? Who's Salty... oh, that says "Daddy"! Yeah... fun times!

Not changing traditions has brought many cries from our college girl! Maybe the fact we've just moved to a new home has changed things a bit for the parents. Less energy for Christmas preparations...

Poor Nativity set folks - one visitor to the manger is now footless because Kitty jumped down off the windowsill and this visitor flew onto the floor. They are now a "plegic"! So every time she jumps up there, we holler "no more plegics"! We can't differentiate between para and quadriplegics since they are made of resin and half of the body may break if it hits the floor. Here's hoping for no more tragedies this year.

Butch and Muffin really wanted to join in helping prepare dinner last evening when we were trimming and slicing meat from the full leg of prosciutto. We received 2 of these wonderful things for Christmas and will be able to make our favorite pasta with sugo di prosciutto. Yum! Yes, Kristen, people do say Yum about food!

Watched Julie and Julia again and loved every moment of it. Cooking is a favorite thing with Kristen and me (especially together) and we holler with laughter, sing and dance while doing it. I really miss this when she returns to school!  Yesterday I tested just how high I can sing and my expression must really be something to behold based on their reactions! I passed my usual high note but not without lots of breath support and opening my mouth as wide as possible! Drop that tongue said Kristen - and it worked like magic! By jove I believe she's learned something at college!

Back to the "normal" and Christmas is coming!

Normal. What is normal? Normal is our usual schedule of life but a new home with different needs makes normal abnormal! Adjusting is required. Change is good? Change is stressful. Change is exciting. Life goes on.

School has to be structured but we don't like structure all the time... Such a struggle of inner thoughts and frustrations. Getting down to it is hard but moves along once we start. Homeschooling is interrupted by life. Only my homeschooling friends will relate to these thoughts and frustrations and ideas. Trying to be too much like normal school is not fun and not possible when doing it at home unless you take one room and make that your school room and you closet yourselves in there during specific times. Perhaps that works for some people but we haven't succeeded. Our happiest, most successful strategy is to snuggle in on the couch in the living room. Why not! Good memories will come from learning while sitting side by side on the couch with our doggies close by. I think they're learning a lot too!

The Christmas decorations are sitting patiently waiting in the garage and the corner of the living room will soon be a busy place with a big, beautiful tree. Tonight will be the time for decking the halls and transforming this new house into our home with thoughts of Christmases past and present. Only 12 more days until Kristen arrives!

Catching up on posts - Free books!!!

The doggies are outside barking - will they do this when we move? Will there be enough activity around our house to interest them?

NetGalley and free books I have found through ENT and Inspired Reads via Facebook have kept me occupied and away from sharing our exploits here in Italy. We live a quiet life for the most part. That will soon be changed when we move to the cemetery and there will be opportunities to explore outside and get to know our new home surroundings. Plus, I will have a neighbor who speaks English almost right next door!

Back to the free books though...  It is addictive! The chance to download books for free is hard to refuse. If you've seen our bookshelves in our homes, you'd understand why this is so. There are very few books I've "met" that I don't like!

I'm almost tempted to keep the "real" books packed and just keep my Kindle full. That way, it will be much easier to dust and to pack up again for the next move down the road - whenever and wherever that will take us!

Please take a look at ENT and Inspired Reads, if you dare! I've warned you that it is hard to resist and super addictive. Almost so much so that you'll only be downloading books and never be able to read them all!!!

Moving... again

A cool, crisp day in November. I remember last year sitting and taking a picture of the sunshine on the floor in our dining room. Now I'll be leaving this home to move to the new home on the cemetery grounds. Hopefulness fills my soul with the thoughts of setting up my crafts corner in the new large laundry room. Happiness fills my soul at the thought that Kristen will soon be joining us for the Christmas holiday and we will have adventures in the new kitchen together. Motivation is refilled at the thought of homeschooling in the large living room/dining room where our desktop computer will be centrally located to make online work easier. So many thoughts - I'm ready to get down to business with packing and moving! No matter how many moves we make, there is always the thought that this time/this home will be easier, better... something... yeah...

It's a Wonderful Life by Jesse Goossens

I just finished this wonderful story and was sad that it was over!  Since I am an American living in Europe, I could understand what differences Anna was experiencing with customs and the way things are done in the U.S.  I loved the small town she visited with the friendly people at every new place she visited.  They made her feel at home just as I did by reading the story.  I'd love to live in a small town just like Bakerton!  In such a short time, Anna found a home there and grew to be a part of the big family that a small town is.  I'd recommend this book to anyone who wanted to read a story that made them feel good and to keep an open mind about new things!