gatto che pesca

Corner view "Home sweet home"

2011-11-09T10:18:00.000+01:00

I've been for the first part of my life an "alley cat", and "did it my way": a typical 70's girl who travelled backpacking around America an part of Europe... Then I stop in Italy and funded a family and became a quite mother and housewife. Of all the home chores, I found that washing the dishes its something I like: it allows me to meditate, to think about the things I did and about what I will do afterwards... as a Buddhist monk quotes: "Each bowl I wash, each poem I compose, each time I invite a bell to sound is a miracle, each has exactly the same value. One day, while washing a bowl, I felt that my movements were as sacred and respectful as bathing a newborn Buddha".
I enjoy crafting, and love my "craft corner"...and love Winter, sipping a warm cup of tea with my family.
Yes. This is what I call "Home sweet Home"

corner view "Whatever..."

2011-10-19T22:32:00.000+02:00

Love this week CV! Well, can I write about whatever likes me? Ok.
I will talk about my likes:
_I love Pirates film. From the "Crimson Pirate" to Jack Sparrow (In "Pirates of the Caribean I saw some scenes that remembers me the "Crimson"! )
- Making crafts for sell or for the love to do them. Of course with my cat at my side!
- Cooking for my family and friends.
- To know that in half an hour I am in Rome. And that I can throw a coin in the fountain every time I wish!!
_ Love trees...An old big tree brings me memories of my childhood. If there is another life "after" I wish to be a tree. May be an olive tree like this.
_ And of course, I love all my bloggers friends!

Sandro Moscogiuri: VOGUE FASHION'S NIGHT OUT

2011-09-16T15:16:00.002+02:00

Just a little prom for my favorite photographer that happens to be my son!

Sandro Moscogiuri: VOGUE FASHION'S NIGHT OUT

corner view "trios"

2011-08-03T18:32:00.000+02:00

Trios? "The tres caballeros"! In Spanish, of course!

corner View "A positive thought for bad moments"

2011-06-24T20:01:00.000+02:00

I am still with my foot in cast and I will be sitting, or lying with my foot up for the next 15 days; but I do not think about it as a "bad moment", since I think there are people "who really have problems"; yes, if there is a positive thought for bad moments, this is mine. I have time to make things, like my crafts, to read or re read some of my favorite books, or a lot of Donald Duck stripes our son grew up with, or to do just nothing. I cannot remember when it has been the last time I had all this time for myself. And this is the other positive thought!!
Thanks to all my blogger friends that from time to time stop by!!
Have a wonderful weekend!!

corner View "M"

2011-06-03T19:34:00.000+02:00

No picture, since I am working with an old laptop inherited from my son, in this belated CV.
Well I have some M:

MALLEOLUS: I've fractured the left one. Foot in cast for... I don't know. It's my first fracture ever!
MARVELLOUS Friends: Those I have in the blogosphere.
MARITO(husband) Oh poor thing!! He is experiencing the hard life of a housewife! Oh, not that he in the past haven't been aware of the fatigue of housekeeping; but one thing is to be understanding and another is to know the managment: the bills, the weekly house cleaning and changing of tablecloths and sheets, the most convenient schedule for washing and ironing saving the energy bill... And the cooking! Italians love to eat, as everybody kows. The first course (pasta) the second (meat, poultry, fish or cheese) the salads and fruit. This for lunch and supper! So, the question, twice a day is: What can I do for lunch? What can I do for supper?

MAMMA MIA!!!

Have a wonderful week end, my friends!!

Corner View "Favorite Fiction"

2011-05-25T13:59:00.000+02:00

This is part of the shelf where I place my books in Spanish. At the left, there is "Moby Dick". In English. Along with "Treasure Island" and all the books of Louisa May Alcott were my favorites. I think that because of them, I wished to learn another lenguages and to travel. Anyway, Moby Dick is in my heart, I was fascinated by the tattooed Queequed; but mostly, because I "collect" opening lines and "Call me Ishmael" along with Garcia Marquez's "Chronicle of a Death Foretold": "The day they killed Santiago Nasar got up at 5.30, after attending the day before the wedding of Angela Vicario" I think are the best of my "collection".
Anyway, apart my love for Moby Dick as a book... I can understand Captain Ahab: I've badly injured my ankle two days ago. Now I am walking around home as if I have an wooden leg!lol

Corner View "Room"

2011-05-18T19:42:00.001+02:00

Room... It makes me think about Virginia Woolf's "A room of her own"; but also it makes me reflects about the place or the places we live in. Our son's room, with the rough table where he works, the "cantina", a big room in front of our holiday house where we our friends gathers for a grill. Our home's living room and the corner where I keep the things I love: friends gifts, a clivia which remembers me a person I love, a drawing made especially for me by my son. And an art work: two rooms made out of two containers.

Corner View "Motion"

2011-05-11T14:08:00.001+02:00

I've been introduced to the works of Robert Breer by my son some years ago; he was preparing his thesis at the School of Art, and I've helped him translating. Robert Breer was one of his favorit artist, as is a non conventional animator, like him. Breer has been working for all his life on the study of the form and movement. He started as a painter; but during some years in Paris, he became influences by the works of the pioneers of the cinema, and startated exploring the kinetic art.

Corner View " Time"

2011-04-06T17:18:00.000+02:00

Talking about "time" at CV... Well, we can talk about statistics: they say that we spend something like half of our lifetime sleeping. Wouldn't be wonderful if at least half of that time we could spend it dreaming?
"Play it again Sam"... again and again... "as time goes by"... and make me dream!

Corner View "Reflection"

2011-03-30T16:17:00.000+02:00


Abruzzo (Italy)

Reflection... New and Old. A medieval portal reflected on a modern one.

Corner View "Four legged"

2011-03-23T12:13:00.000+01:00

Our super spoiled cat, Ciro

Four legged sometimes are best friends than more than one "two legged". Cats are my favourite four legged friends. Why? They are misteroius, crazy, selfish... and soooo charming you can forgive them anything, even if that "anything" it's a precious vase crashed or a rare plant munched or boken; he/she look at you with that round eyes and that rosy nose up as saying: "Oh my, who did all that mess? and then he arches the back, start rubbing around you and... after all, "Who minds about that old vase?

Corner View "Communication"

2011-03-16T15:45:00.004+01:00

Rome, Italy, street artists

Vulci, Italy. Dancers

Rome, Italy. Children's art.

Rome, Italy. Multicultural event.

For CV "Communication" I choose to show some ways people communicate. A young people Street Band that performs playing and dancing communicate the joy of life.
Dance it's another way to communicate through the body, and to assist to this performance at Vulci, an antique Etruscan city, means a total immersion in the spirit of the place.
And what to say about the way children communicates through they doodles? Well, this is art!
To conclude. It's there better way to communicate than being together hand in hand in a merry go round with people of different nations and different languages?.

Corner View "Wood"

2011-03-09T00:27:00.000+01:00

son's rough wood working table (with cat eating thyme!)

olive wood hand made spoons

olive wood handmade cutting boards

ancient wood handmade toys


old wood cellar's door

Wood it's one of my favorite materials. A wood floor or an old wood table makes your house warm and cosy and the wax smell brings childhood memories. I love too the old, battered cellar's doors or the olive wood objects so popular in Italy. And what about those humble handmade toys? Now we can found them at the museums, since consumism made them "out" for our technologized children!

Corner View "Kitchen counter"

2011-03-03T18:10:00.001+01:00

Well, if a piece of wood about 40cm x 60 can be called "counter", then I have one in my kitchen. Anyway, big enough to have both salt's jars, olive oil, and of course, the sugar bowl, the coffee jar and the coffee machines which includes the cappuccino maker one... yes, we drink a lot of coffee.

Corner view "Blue"

2011-02-23T22:46:00.000+01:00

Nicoletta Costa's blue cat

Famous song "Volare" (In the blue painted of blue)

For this week CV I have an illustration and a song. The illustration it's one of my favorite children's illustrators, Nicoletta Costa, a nice and sweet person and a great and talented artist with wich I share the love for cats.
The second picture it's a karaoke during a patronal festivity, the song it's the famous "Volare" from Domenico Modugno. I love the English version by Dean Martin.

corner view "Saint Valentine's Day"

2011-02-17T20:44:00.001+01:00

Terni

Terni, Public Library

Terni, Modern Architecture

Terni, Industrial Area, now Museum

Saint Valentine's Day deserves a romantic post. Oh, yes, I am a romantic old lady; but for this CV I choose to show you some places where this festivity has begin.
Our holiday home is near Tuscany and Umbria, so every Summer we like to take one day tour and re-discover the many towns and villages, because we know that there is always something new to see.
Last Summer, we wento to Terni, an ancient city of Umbria. In modern times became an important industrial area; but it's also the place where Saint Valentine was born, became bishop and have been martyred about AD 197. His relics are at the Basilic of Saint Valentin at Terni.

CV "Improvising"

2010-12-09T18:56:00.001+01:00

Improvising it's my second name! Especially when it concerns two things I love: cooking and traveling.

When I go to my grocer and ask him what he brought from the market today, seems all clear to me: Hmm... Those string beans, steamed and sautè with olive oil and garlic will garnish the fish or meat... those red tomatoes are good for the spaghettis... Oh, I am such a good lunch planner!!

Once at home, the string beans will end up mixed with boiled potatoes and eggs, the red tomatoes will join the onions and the celery in a broth for the fish... and the spaghettis will be dressed with butter and parmesan!!

Improvising travel it's most difficult: I have a husband who Must Know Where he will go, What he will see and When he will be back... But sometimes I bribe him... As when I took him to this wonderful place...http://www.centrobotanicomoutan.it/cbm/index.asp?lang=EN

corner view "rain"

2010-12-02T23:32:00.000+01:00

I love rain, I always did, since I was born in a tropical place North of Argentina. I really miss those furious Summer storms. Here in central Italy, rains are not as frequently as they are in other places, as it does not happen to have so much rain as we are having in the last four weeks.
We spent this year part of the Autumn at our holiday home... This is my favorite spot, the kitchen window. I really love to sip a cup of tea or coffee as I follow the clouds in the sky and the wood's changing colors; and in absolute silence, hear only the sound of the rain on the gables and on the stones of the tiny streets of the village...

Hello!

2010-11-25T20:24:00.000+01:00

It has been a long blog break... In the meantime, I did a lot of things: Started again doing miniatures , I made a mini-closet a dear friend from Argentina asked me to do for her, I made also a lot of strawberries I send along with it to all the women of my family, said good by to our son that left the "nest" for Paris, and of course spoiling our super spoiled cat, Ciro.
See you all!

corner view "Daily"

2010-06-17T01:30:00.000+02:00

This week theme for CV is "Daily", and here I am at 1.17am writing my post. (I've been at a pizza dinner with friends).
What's Daily for me? Well, its being called by the postman who instead of the daily bills brought me an envelope of Jane of "Spain Daily"! That darling woman sent me the photo I won at her givaway... The rest of the day? Routine; like cooking, going to the grocer or to the baker for bread, washing the dishes...and CRAFTING!!!
Have a wonderful day! Good night. Yawwwwwnnnn....

corner view "animals"

2010-04-28T15:42:00.002+02:00

"Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this." This is one of my favorite quotes, and our cat Ciro (Cyrus, in italian pronounce like "Cheero") remember us everyday!

It happened at the begining of the Summer, thirteen years ago; we've just moved here, in an appartament on the fourth floor, and one morning I started to hear the mewling of a kitten. Thinking it was the kitten of the many stray cats that lived in the building gardens, I didn't care until the afternoon when the mewling subsided, and I went down to see. On the top of a tall pine tree there was a black and white kitten: That furry boy Ciro: lazy, crazy, funny, playful, spoiled, loves to eat thyme, paper balls to play, hide on the closets, sleep on our knees...and doesn't like children, (well, at least ONE fault!)

The bunny's name is Aladino. It's the pet of our neighbor at the Summer home and the sweetest of the creatures; he is always by his mistress and "torment" her with bites on her legs, she call "kisses". He used to wander safely alone around the tiny village, until a couple of years ago when he desapeared. For one week everybody kept searching for him. He had been stolen, but the person who took him back said he found him and that the bunny was "mad" since he bited his children. Hmm...we believed only he bited!

Remember the story of "Molly"? Well, you can see her with her human friend, the person who adopted her. On her rump you can see the scar of the surgery she underwent. Her master bought her a pink bandana because a lot of people mistaked for a male dog!

corner view "Earth Day"

2010-04-21T16:08:00.000+02:00

I've always desagreed with "one day" celebrations; because I think every day we should be aware, in this case, that the Earth, that "big blue marble" floating in the space, it's the only planet we have and if we do wrong in one point, say, deforesting the Amazon, in Europe we will have some problems to breath. Right now, for example, the cloud of the Iceland volcano it's causing problems in the air traffic of all Europe.
So, how I wish to celebrate Earth Day? Well, wishing that this tree which I've been watching in the last twenty years, growing and changing with every season, will be watched by the generations that will follow me. Happy Earth Day!

corner view giveaway

2010-04-20T22:21:00.000+02:00

Together with L'Atelier and Skylar I am the fortunate winner of CV anniversary's givaway. I choose this photography from Jane's last post. Yep! this picture, will be in my kitchen! Thanks Jane!

Happy anniversary, CV!

2010-04-14T14:47:00.000+02:00

This flowers are for Jane, who with her "Corner View's" weekly appointment kept together a comunity of bloggers from 11 to... over 60 years.
Thanks to CV I had the opportunity to know some wonderful people and some of them became close friends via chat. It has been also an opportunity to keep my blog updated, fighting the lazyness sometimes assault me!lol
What post I choose to share and celebrate with you all? "Miniature Worlds". Why? Because talks about nostalgia, homesickness, fraternal ties and bittersweet memories.

corner view "Spring"

2010-03-31T17:28:00.003+02:00

Spring in Rome... the poppies that blooms on the old walls, and a glimpse of the Colosseum behind a... really I don't remember what the name of that plant it is; but I loved the sight! Anyway, if somebody can identify it I will appreciate!
Happy day, my friends!
Oh my! that's a cherry!!! what a shame!
Not, it's not a cherry! Help me! lol

corner view "front door"

2010-03-17T16:13:00.000+01:00

This week "Corner View" theme is "Front door". This photography is from last Summer archive, since my camera is without battery, and it's the front door of our holiday house, shortly after it has been put on; it's not antique like the house's stones; but it will resists for a lot of years, and won't be scratched by that furry boy, Ciro!
See more CV at Jane's.

corner view "miniature worlds"

2010-03-10T14:12:00.005+01:00

(pictures and art works by Patricia Salas)

For this week's theme for CV, "miniature world", I have a story and two pictures (not mine!).

Once upon a time, there were two teen girls. Most of the time, they were feuding; nevertheless, they walked together for some years, and one day their paths took different ways: the eldest started to travel, and later became a (house)wife a mother and a crafter and ended up living in Italy.

The younger became a wife, a mother, a grandmother and an artist and remained to live in her country.

The years of adulthood brought them closer and in the last thirty years, they have always been in touch, first through the letters, then through internet, telling each other about their lives.

So, one day, the crafter told the artist she started to do miniatures, that she loved to fill these tiny wardrobes with dresses, and do miniquilts for the beds.

The artist asked the crafter to send some of them... And in this way, three pieces of humble miniature crossed "the pond" all the way to Argentina and became pieces of art. The end...(for now!)

More art works, here. And for more Corner Views, here

Esta semana el tema de "Corner View" es: "mundos en miniatura". Contribuyo con un cuento y dos fotografías (no son mías).

Había una vez dos chicas que se la pasaban discutiendo todo el tiempo. Por algunos años caminaron juntas, hasta que un dia, sus caminos se separaron.

La mayor, empezó a viajar, y más tarde fue esposa, madre y artesana y termino viviendo en Italia.

La más joven, fue esposa, madre, abuela y artista y siguio viviendo en su pais.

Los años de la madurez (y la lejanía) las acercó y fue asi que en los últimos treinta años a través de cartas primero, de internet después, se contaban de sus respectivas vidas.

Un dia, la artesana contó a la artista que había empezado a trabajar con las miniaturas, que le encantaba llenar esos roperitos con ropita chiquita, o hacer mini-cubrecamas para las camitas.

La artista pidió a la artesana de que le enviara algunos mueblecitos... Y asi, tres humildes miniaturas, cruzaron "el charco" hasta Argentina, y se convirtieron en piezas de arte. Fin... (Por ahora)

swap!

2010-02-28T20:57:00.002+01:00

Michela is hosting a swap and I am participating! (despite Juanita Tortilla's advise!) lol

Evviva!!! (Hooray!) Today (really Saturday) I've got my swap parcel: My sweet swap partner, Sandra sent me these beautiful things: an "eau de lavand pour la peau du visage" ("lavender water for the face"; but in French sounds soooo charming!) lavender chocolat (I hurried to take the pic; tooo yummmy!) and... Those beautiful crocheted earrings she makes!... What can I say? Thanks Sandra, and thanks Michela for hosting this swap... What's the next?

corner view "coffee companion"

2010-02-28T15:26:00.002+01:00

Edward Hopper's works are on exhibition in Rome. I love his works and I'd have liked to see some of those great landscapes, (there were three or four) the urban scenes ... and most af all the "nightahawks", which has been recreated at the exhibition, so...what better "coffee companion" than the solitary gentleman despicted in Hopper's masterpiece? What we and the man talk about? Well he was not a talkative one, and then...there was my husband with me!

corner view " street photography"

2010-02-24T15:32:00.002+01:00

For this week "Corner View", I choose some pictures from my archive because the card's camera its having some problems and I couldn't upload the pics I took especially for CV. Oh the technology!

Anyway, this are street photographies taken last year, and show a new town (where we live) and a medieval one, where we have a house. There is my neighbor and a friend while putting the flowers of wild fennel to dry, and my house all covered as we were remodeling it...Oh, I miss so that place!

Have a nice day my friends!

Snow!

2010-02-16T10:26:00.000+01:00

Last Friday, the snow showed at our town ,after 25 years! Rome was all white too, but couldn't go to take pictures due to the weather conditions. Snow its not an every Winter event, so our cars are not equipped to ride on the snow; therefore, it was a holiday for those whose job is in Rome!
I started taking pics of our yard, and the pine trees, among them, "Ciro's tree", as we found him as a kitten, up the tree you can see in the first pic at right. It lasted for a couple of hours; but it was fun!

corner view "my favorite hangout"

2010-01-26T23:27:00.004+01:00

I think I said it before...This is a place I love, therefore, my favorite hangout: a little medieval town, my holiday home, to chat with the neighbors, to sleep with the hoot of the owls and to wake up with the bird's chirps...so simple and so relaxing!

Corner view "my style"

2010-01-20T09:56:00.002+01:00

Ok, I live in Italy, the country of Valentino, Versace, Armani, etc, I love to walk in Via Condotti and to look at the shop's windows...and to laugh at the prices...Las week, on one of that windows I saw a crocheted scarf...350 euros on sale!!!!Heeeheeeeee!!!

My style? Mostly white shirts (love silk ones), jeans and Timberland style shoes. Where I buy them? Sometimes at my favorite outlet: the weekly market. For the shoes, well, they must be comfortable, since I walk a lot and hate to have sore feet, so I go too to the outlets also. Yes, I am a thrifty style gal!

Happy New Year

2010-01-04T15:17:00.005+01:00

This is the first post of the new year, and I wish to all my blogger friends ( and to two nice persons which comments I've lost, please, write again!)a very happy 2010.

I wish to start with the last image of the 2009: two amigurumis I made following the instructions on the Lion Brand site, with the resolution to make a lot of them!

The next pic is the first of the new year, and a story I wish to tell, because restore my faith in the human genre for a moment.

Her name is Molly and she's been abandoned. She's been wandering around our small city for about two years. Fortunately, nobody make her any harm, on the contrary, being a very sweet dog, was adopted by all, and she learned to be a very educate host out of the snack bar or out of the butcher's , which always had a bit of meat for her. During the Winter she found always a shelter under the porticoes or in bathrooms of the Public Garden, and this was perhaps the cause of her accident. The Public Garden close the gate at sunrise, and Molly, in search of a shelter for the night, attempted to jump it and got one paw trapped between the iron bars of the gate. She was found in the morning badly injured, since she was hunging by the paw, and losing a lot of blood.

A young couple took her to the vet, then she underwent a very costly surgery. Now she is recovering, and exercising her paw. She found a home too, since the young couple adopted her. She accepted to be "domesticated"; but at one condition: everyday she must walk to the snack bar for breakfast and to the butcher's shop for a bit of meat, and to got a pat of all her friends.

This is (also) a craft blog!

2009-12-21T10:49:00.002+01:00

My last craft obsession? Felt food! Everything started when a young lady came to the jewelry shop, wich is also a craft lab, wishing to learn to make felt food, something I had in mind; but using the crochet hooks, since I love amigurumis.

Anyway, I take a look in the Internet, and...another craft obsession took possess of my hands!

Then, there is a friend of mine...She is an artist of the pastries, those real, yummy and beautiful biscuits and cakes, sometimes she makes for friends and that you can admire here.

Then, some weeks ago, I went to see an exhibit (by the way it was Alexander Calder's) and in the museum shop, I spotted that white ceramic tray, make right like the ones in cardboard...Ta daaa! Since I cannot make pastries like her, I'll make a felt cake, some strawberries and cream dollops...and give her as a Christmas present!

So, here there are my first and second (but not last!) attempt to felt food...

Have a nice and busy before Christmas days, my friends!

Corner view "Evening"

2009-12-10T09:57:00.002+01:00

This week "Corner View's" theme is "Evening". Is the part of the day I love...when the journey finish, and we reflect about what we have done, make projects for the following day...or look back sadly because a wonderful day has finished...like my journey at Napoli. On the way back to the train station, I spotted this: the house where Rossini, one of my favorite composers, lived for some years. Fantastic evening!

one day at Napoli

2009-12-08T16:32:00.011+01:00

What have I been up? Well, I've been quite busy working at friend's Serena jewelry shop, and housekeeping.

A week ago it was my birthday, and one of my friends gave me as a gift " an only girls day at Napoli"; so at 8.00 o'clock in the morning, four "girls" left Rome; and at 10.00am they were making breakfast at Napoli with a delicious and caloric napoleatan cake, filled with almond cream and dried fruit.

After that, we started walking in search of San Gregorio Armeno, the street of the nativity scene makers. It's a tiny street, where people from all Italy goes to buy figurines and miniatures to make nativity scenes at home, and of course is tha home of Pulcinella, the red little horns as a fortune amulet, of the pizza and good coffee...and the tiny streets with what is called "the second italian flag": the clothes hunging to dry out of the balconies.

Do not go in this period! as you can see in the pictures, it's too crowded. One of the funniest things, though, is that every year they make caricactures of the politicians.

It was quite tiring; but it was worth the effort! Leaving appart the nasty things and stereotypes, Napoli is a wonderful city, its people are friendly...and the "babà" typical cake soaked with rhum is delicious!

At 6.00 pm; we said "ciao" to the Vesuvio, and took our tired ourselves home.

corner view "Favorite dish"

2009-11-12T15:16:00.004+01:00

My favorite dish? Well, living in Italy, I cook most italian; but I still am an "All LatinAmerican girl"! So, here there are my two favorites among many:

"Carbonada": Typical argentinian dish, you can see some ingredients; pumpkin, scalions, sweet potatos...etc; and not in the picture, the stewing beef...delicious!

Risotto: Italians love rice as much as the "pasta"!

And as for my favorite dish, as object, well, this are our everyday mugs and cups, love them, even the chipped ones!

corner view "Contrasts"

2009-11-04T16:18:00.008+01:00

Contrasts are part of our life, since Adam and Eve. Contrasts are also an old white cord some fisher left on the black rocks, a young green tree on the city's square, and an old one dying on the praire, a cat and a dog, according to leggend, always enemies...And my favorite contrast: the sea at the beginning of the Autumn and at the early Spring.

corner view, "water"

2009-10-29T09:51:00.003+01:00

I am not an aquatic person, perhaps because I can't swim, and my preference goes to the mountain; but I love this is the crater lake: "Lago di Bolsena" in the Viterbo province, around 120kmts from Rome. It has two islands, and is sorrounded by small and nice villages. I do prefer it to the sea...Maybe because of the calm that inspires.

corner view, "My dream"

2009-10-22T09:42:00.003+02:00

When I started traveling in the 70's I have a dream, in this order: To travel across Latin America to live for a while in the U.S.A, to take a ride on the Transiberian, to have a walk on the Great Wall of China, and end up living Spain with my own family, in one of th0se small villages that appeal so much we, New World people.

Well, I can say I know pretty well Latin America, I've been living for a while in the USA, I have a house in a small village even if I don't live there all year round...But the most important of my dreams became true not in Spain but in Italy: I have a family of my own...The Transiberian and the Great Wall can wait for a while!

corner view, "Love"

2009-10-12T09:56:00.003+02:00

Moms are all alike, be they mamma duck or human mamma...and there are no words that can explain these pictures...

corner view, "souvenir"

2009-10-07T09:14:00.004+02:00

Apart from gondola with light and David in plastic, there are other italian favorite souvenir: Food, in this case a variety of Pecorino cheese (hard italian cheese made with sheep milk).

Wine: There is for every taste. I love white ones.

Ceramics: every place in Italy have their own. This are typically from Orvieto, in Umbria.

Crafting and recycling

2009-10-05T14:05:00.008+02:00

What I did with the trillion paper beads I made? Well, with part of it, friend Serena and I decorated the jewelry display we made recycling an old frame, an old lace nigthgown, and a piece of chicken wire; an idea I found here.

The mirror was an anonymus brown one bougth at Ikea that we treated shabby chic, and decorated with one piece of my yo-yo collection and a lavender wand, a Lisa's blog tutorial.

Yes, I confess: (almost) everything I know, I learnt it in the Internet!

corner view, "White"

2009-09-30T09:25:00.005+02:00

Last Sunday was a hot day in Rome; but some museums were free, and it has been ages since I visited the Colosseum for the last time. Yes, it must has been a long time...or the hot weather; but all those stairs to reach the top of the monument, left me without breath, and not only for the beauty of it and the things I saw!

These are some pics I took while sitting here and there to catch some breath: Giulia, Titus daughter, A modern sculpture featuring a little girl, and a modern roman bride.

100th + 1 post

2009-09-24T09:24:00.006+02:00

This was supposed to be the 100th post; but I was on the deadline for the appointment of "Corner View", so I will call this the "100th + 1" post.

I would have love to host, for example a "giveaway"; but since I never did it, I have not experience; but I will do it in the future. For now, I will start saying some things about myself and my blogger friends.

10 things I love (apart from my family and my cat!), and not necessary in that order:

1.- Travel (I've been a backpacking traveling girl in the 70's!)

2.- The Winter (Oh, so happy to be under a cozy quilt reading a good book!)

3.-Rainy days (Most people thinks I am crazy because of this!)

4.-To read ( I am not a snob: love Romance too, but only late Kathleen Woodiwiss's books)

5.- To blog ( Thanks to this I meet every day a lot of interesting people)

6.- Italy (It's my second country. Really I have a hate-love relationship with Italy!)

7.- Friends.- (Loyal friends are hard to find. I am fortunate to have them!)

8.-To cook ( Fortunately, my two men are tall and thin!)

9.-To craft ( Can't stay without some craft in progress!)

10.-To walk (From September to May, preferably on the beach!)

Ten things I don't like:

1.- Summer (Makes me mad!)

2.-Shopping (Every kind of shopping!)

3.-To drive (Though sometimes I am aware it could be useful!)

4.-Bureaucracy (Hate to go to the post-office, or places like that!)

5.-Furs (I have my cat to warm my feet. And he is alive!)

6.-Traffic ( One of the reasons I could leave Italy! The other...well, better I don't speak of it!)lol

7.-Islands (They finish somewhere, I love the great spaces!)

9.-Fish (except shrimps and mussels)

10.-Hipocrisy (Why not say what you think?)

As for my bloggers friends. I wish to thank all of you for your friendship, and for the kindness you show toward this wicked old lady and finally, for the patience with which you read my posts writen in this Spanglish-Maccaroni English!

Here it a list of some of these wonderful people:

Juanita Tortilla

She is a sweet lady living in Switzerland. She makes wonderful crafts and experiments in the kitchen. And have a cat I love!

5 orange potatos and 3 black inkspots

Lisa, and her two Little Ladies are a sort of Fairies. Her blog is something between New Age and a Druid secret diary, she knows almost everything about the proprierties of the plants and flowers. Plants ( and even weeds!) are not the same for me, since I started reading her blog!

An Englishman Abroad

Ian is a young English gentleman, a traveler and a great photographer. Through his awesome pictures one can travel around the world. And I share with him the love for good books.

Vintagepix

Oh, Carolyn is an artist! Her art works are inspirational. She works with every kind of materials; and I love especially her collages.

Spain Daily

Jane, an american living in Spain, and wife to an aspirant torero. She keeps together a comunity of bloggers through her "Corner View" a weekly appointment that allows people to show some flashes of life in pictures. And she is so amusing!

Craft Dinner

Well, with Wendy, we've been close some months ago, thanks to FB and the chat. Then both of us started to work hard. She writes for an online magazine and makes wonderful jewels. As for me, started to collaborate at a friend's jewelry shop. Hope to hear from her soon.

Sans soucis

Jeannette is a young Dutch lady living in Germany. She is a sweet and romantic girl. Her musings awakens my sense of motherhood. I think I will adopt her! She too, is a cat lover!

Skip the chips

Peggy is the crafty mom of Miss Kinder. Her tutorials are wonderful. And she is a good cook too.

Perfect beginning

Joyce is a cheerful person, one I would love to have as a neighbor, so I am happy to have her as a virtual friend!. Her pictures are beautiful.

The heart of words

Tess is a poet, and a young grandmother. She is also a mixed media artist.

Well this are some of the blogs I follow and some of them follow me and keep in touch frequently. There are others I like too, like "What not to crochet", incredible amusing, or "Button Floozies" ( Oh, to own all those buttons!) or "Kids napping? I'm scrapping!", Jessica makes the most wonderful scrapbooks!

Thanks again to everybody, and I am waiting suggestions and advice for a giveaway!

Juanita de la Vega

corner view, "out from the car window"

2009-09-23T09:13:00.010+02:00

We are not car lovers in family: my husband drives just because in Italy public transportations are one of the worst in Europe (his job is in Rome). Our son drives if his fiancèe does not have the car avalaible, and I have the drivers licence but hate to drive! So, the longest travels we do with the car are are those during the Summer or the weekends to go to the house we have in this nice small village 120kmts from Rome; then, we prefer the train for longer travels.

The last, it has been a rainy weekend; but we had to go because we invited some friends for lunch. These are the pics I took along the way (it was not easy with a car at 90kmts/hour of speed!) and what I saw from the window from Rome to Ischia di Castro. My favorite it's the one with the tree: I love to see the seasons change around it: corn, sunflowers, wheat, or just to see it there, alone, among the green hills .

Wow! this is my 100th post! I wished to something special. I will do it in the next!

This is (also) a craft blog!

2009-09-22T09:37:00.002+02:00

When I find something I like to do, I got addicted (I am talking about crafts!). In this last months, my last obsessions are: paper beads and jewelry using recycled materials.

With paper beads (tutorial Here), I am planning to do...well, as soon as I finish my project, I will post about!

Corner view, "September"

2009-09-17T10:51:00.003+02:00

This is the sea I love! Automn clouds, desert beach, an angry Mediterranean Sea...and be back to my walkings! Bienvenido septiembre, Benvenuto settembre, Wellcome September!! I love you!

Holidays,Orvieto magic

2009-09-17T09:52:00.003+02:00

Orvieto it's an inspiring place for all kinds of crafters; but this my favorite spot when I go there: "Mago di Oz" (Wizard of Oz"). He is a big sweet person. With his big hands he makes incredible miniatures. You can see his magic shop here.

Holidays,Umbria

2009-09-08T15:00:00.005+02:00

This is Orvieto , in Umbria; a place I love especially for two things: The Duomo, a masterpiece of architecture and one of the most beautiful in Italy and the Bottega Michelangeli , wood artisans since 18th century, whose art works are really unique.

Holidays

2009-09-01T17:14:00.003+02:00

During the Summer Craft Fair, there is the Parade that features the wedding of one of the members of the Farnese family. I love to see those ladies and pages walking on the tiny streets of the town. It's like to step back in time!

Some days after the Fair, I opened the window, and saw people walking down the street, dressed in 15th century dresses, a man who rided a horse...No, it was not the time machine! Somebody choose the town as a location to make a movie!

Holidays

2009-08-31T09:09:00.002+02:00

This are some pics of the Summer Fair at Ischia di Castro, three days in which crafters show and sell their art works, farmers bring their products: pork and boar sausages, cheese, honey, and a great choice of fresh vegetables.

And then there is the Band! This year was a funny one; they adapted some everyday things to make music, like the expresso moka with a doll in it!

(The ceramic jewels are my son's and fianceè production!)

Holidays

2009-08-28T14:15:00.004+02:00

This is the Ducal Palace of Ischia di Castro. It was built to be together the residence and the Fortress of the Farnese Family, who owned the town, and the planning was made by Antonio di Sangallo the Young (Florence 1484- Rome 1546). This might be the first repairs since then!

Holidays

2009-08-28T09:27:00.004+02:00

I love to read, and to re-read some books I love, so I took along some old loved ones: "The Treasure Island", it was, along with "Litlle Women", one of my favorites. "The Mother" ,its author, Pearl Buck, makes a great description of the peasant's life in China in the early 20th century; and most of all, in this story, the life and the courage of this woman without a name, simply called The Mother. "All things Wise and Wonderful", one of the trilogy of Mr Herriot, The Stranger, where Albert Camus, makes a bitter reflection about mankind, life and death. And my old battered Dictionary, to improve my English.

Ciro cat, instead, during holidays, prefers to walk on the roofs, where he feels he is a CAT!

2009-08-26T16:33:00.002+02:00

Hello everybody! Here I am again! I miss all of you, and thanks to those that visited my little blog while I've been away!

Well, holidays are at the end, I am home trying to survive, in the middle of this hot Summer, to housekeeping, paying bills, going to supermarket and trying to convince my two men and the cat that it's too hot to eat!lol

Anyway, here there is a first sight of my holidays: First Day (and following week): Cleaning and dusting after the house repairs, and Last Day: Our car ready to be loaded for the way back home. In the middle: Summer Fair at the town, beautiful! Orvieto, in Umbria, charming, Middle August pic-nic at the lake...Well, things and pics I will be telling you, as time goes by...

holidays

2009-07-26T17:50:00.002+02:00

Hello everybody! I am at my little village without tv and Internet! I'll check the blog from time to time to see what are you doing in the meantime! ciao

crafting and recycling

2009-07-17T09:11:00.003+02:00

I love recycling, so I am a hoarder! With friend Serena at her shop, we've been making some experiments on shabby chic, and crafting, with some recycled items: an old little brown shelf, a bread cutting board, a bunch of corks of my favorite wines, some old discarded jeans, and the tomatoes can for the spaghettis sauce, an item of which my cupboard it's full, mostly during the winter. I've been experimenting tags, also, for the first time! Very Fun!

weekend

2009-07-13T10:56:00.006+02:00

Viterbo, in the Lazio region, it's a beautiful ancient city full of History, and one of the best preserved medieval towns in central Italy. And of course, there are the little towns and villages that are part of the province, in one of these, we have our holiday home, so this weekend, we went there to see about the works we are doing (new roof and facade) and on the way to Rome, we stop near Viterbo to visit my brother in law and his family. As you can see, we had lunch with our little nephew and niece; the spaghettis with mussels were delicious! After lunch, with the children we went for a walk around the town, and they pointed about some funny things they saw (or imagined) seeing those old doors that seems to have a face. Take a look at the last pic: Yep, it's what it seems to be! You know, in these old towns, there were not bathrooms in the houses. It was only after the second world war that they started to built them, and as the homes were small, they built it outside, as sort of balcony. I don't know the story about the one on the pic ( maybe came down the balcony?!)lol

corner view, "where to reflect"

2009-07-07T16:07:00.001+02:00

This is the window's kitchen of my holiday home, and my favorite spot: A peaceful valley, the swallows that seems to dive into the kitchen, a basket with fresh eggs my neighbor generously gave it to me... And while I cook or taste a cup of coffee looking at all this beauty, I think why people runs after so many futile and superflous things like career, luxury cars, superexpensive jewels or furs...Life could be better if we stop for a while and reflect about how much the little things give us and how little we need to fill our "bare necessities"...

4th of July

2009-07-03T15:45:00.003+02:00

From the country of Pinocchio, spaghetti, "latin lovers"... and Leonardo da Vinci, I wish to all my dear U.S.A bloggers friends a Happy 4th of July!

corner view, "staple food"

2009-07-01T15:33:00.003+02:00

For "corner view" weekly theme. Here, a glimpse at my cupboard: Well, I live in Italy my dear friends!

corner view, "music"

2009-06-23T13:15:00.004+02:00

This week theme at "corner view" it's "music". I love bands and fanfares, maybe because they bring me happy memories of my childhood in South America where bands play in every event, (even funerals!). Here in Italy are a tradition during the festivities of the patron saint or in events like the Rome Marathon, as in the two first pics, and the last one, a trombone who reflects the tower of the city where I live, during the festivities of the patron saint last March.

corner view, "street fashion"

2009-06-15T09:15:00.003+02:00

Well, this week I've been terribly busy with housekeeping, so haven't had the time to go to Via Condotti to peek at Gucci's shop!lol

I went, instead, to the weekly market near home, cheaper than Gucci's!. I love the colors and the smell of fresh fruits and vegetables; and the typical mediterranean way to offer the products: just shouting!lol

Giveaway

2009-06-11T09:35:00.005+02:00

Lisa, a young mom, a her two adorable little ladies, make a lot of handmade felt crafts. Their felt flowers, fruits, owls and other little creatures, are inspired by the observations of the nature that sorround their home...And as the fairies they are, they wish to gift one fortunate friend of the web with one of these sweetie things. Go to 5 Orange Potatoes and enter the Giveaway!

flat self doll

2009-06-04T23:27:00.002+02:00

Well, Flat Juana is on her way to Canada! Her hub and friends wished her a bon voyage!

Corner view, "beach"

2009-05-28T09:34:00.005+02:00

I love legends and mythology, as much as I love to have long walks on the beach from October to May. Near home, I found both: A peaceful walk on late October and the legend of Aeneas who, according to Virgilio's first books of the Aeneid, made landfall somewhere on this beach, and became the progenitor of the Roman people...

corner view, "cityscapes"

2009-05-27T11:15:00.004+02:00

My entry for the week's theme "cityscapes". This is Rome as you can see it from the Gianicolo a roman hill, ( it's not among the seven hills where Rome was built!) From this place, there is one of the most beautiful views of Rome, and while walking, I spotted a young tourist that took her shoes off to take a break, maybe of a long walk around the city.

flat self doll

2009-05-26T09:41:00.005+02:00

Well, here I am again! Ok, I will try to explain the thing: There is an educational project "Flat Stanley Project" created by Dale Hubert, a Canadian teacher, as a kind o penpal activity. Inspired by that, Lisa Vollrath ideated a paper Flat self Doll swap. When I turned my blog into English, (apologizing for all the lapses and some nonsense that maybe I write!)lol, I met a lot of interesting people, and a dear friend: Wendy, of "Craft Dinner". Well, we both are readers of Lisa's blog, so when Wendy saw the paper Flat self Doll, she told me it could be fun to do our Flat selves and make a swap. I say: Yes! And here is Flat Juana ready to leave Italy for Ontario!

She is travelling with a paper bag journal I made following the tutorial via Jessica of "Kids napping, I'm scrapping". Arrivederci!

corner view, "modes of transportation"

2009-04-30T12:18:00.006+02:00

A contribution to "Spain daily" theme of this week: "Modes of transportation" Or: The way romans travelled; from B.C to our days. The ancient "biga"(charriot) of the times of "Ben-Hur" and a modern small car easy to drive by the narrow streets of Rome.

summer fair

2009-04-30T10:56:00.004+02:00

During the last week of July, at Ischia di Castro , a nice small town near Tuscany, there is the Summer Fair. For three days people borrow the old "cantina" (the place where they keep the wine barrels) along the tiny medieval streets, to the crafters, artists, people that cook or sell tipical food. At the evening there is a parade with ladies in antique gowns and gentlemen that seems to came right from some pictures of the Renassaince. Charming!

So, I am hoarding my crafts for that event: old jeans bags, pincushions (or scissor's fobs) and two English little ladies a friend gave it to me. I don't know who they are, they came in a printed fabric I cut, stuffed and sew. They don't have a name yet, so I accept suggestions!

Happy Birthday Rome!

2009-04-23T09:43:00.003+02:00

On April 21, Rome had celebrated 2762 years and several events were hold, among them the free entrance to some museums. I went to visit the Capitoline Museum, and even if I visited many times before, I still stand in wonder at the masterpieces exposed there. From the left: The fragments of a colossal sculpture in marble of Emperor Costantine in the courtyard of the museum, the she wolf that according to legend raised the twins Romulus and Remus. Following the murder of Remus, Romulus became the first king of Rome and the sculpture in marble, a copy of an original of Praxisteles, of the Venus Capitoline a beauty of the fourth century BC.

TANGO! (aspettando il Teatro)

2009-04-20T09:50:00.008+02:00

Nonostante che adesso il "gatto che pesca" abbia deciso di fare il suo blog in inglese, (Si era stancato di "miagolare" in italiano con i soliti, anche se cari, quattro gatti!) ci sarà sempre un angolino per quelli che, come nel caso dell'associazione "Per ananke" si impegnano per portare a Pomezia manifestazioni di alto livello culturale.

Lo spettacolo "Tango" che si è tenuto ieri al "Cinema dei preti", racconta un episodio della dittatura argentina, la più feroce di tutte le dittature che hanno insanguinato la nostra America. In un monologo a due, gli attori raccontano le proprie storie: La perdita della libertà, della propria identità, l'orrore delle torture e la passione per il tango.

Questo spettacolo, e i due bravissimi attori, hanno non solo commosso il publico; ma credo che molti spettatori non fossero al corrente di certi agghiaccianti episodi della dittatura. Un pugno nello stomaco e nelle nostre coscienze; ma anche un modo per far sapere e non dimenticare.

La dittatura argentina ha fatto scomparire 30.000 persone, donne, uomini e bambini, e soprattutto neonati; i responsabili di questi crimini hanno ormai fra i 70 e gli 80 anni; uno dei più feroci, Rafael Videla (in piena dittatura fu ricevuto dal Papa!) è stato condannato all' ergastolo per violazione dei diritti umani e furto di neonati, che venivano dati in adozione agli stessi assassini e torturatori dei loro genitori. Nel 1990 ottenne l'indulto, in seguito revocato, e adesso, a 81 anni è agli arresti domiciliari.

L'Italia ha deciso di processare Emilio Massera, 83 anni, per la scomparsa di cittadini italiani durante la dittatura. In Argentina era stato giudicato per gli stessi crimini di Videla; ma dichiarato "incapace di intendere e di volere"(stratagemma che permise a Pinochet di tornare in Cile dalla Spagna dove doveva affrontare un processo e una condanna sicura). Una perizia psichiatrica del 4 marzo di quest'anno, invece, dichiara Massera "in pieno posseso delle sue facoltà mentali" e pertanto, in grado di affrontare un processo.

Per la cronaca: Per la prima volta nella storia del Latinoamerica, un dittatore è stato processato nel banco degli imputati e condannato a scontare 25 anni in carcere: Alberto Fujimori, ex presidente del Perù, per violazione dei dititti umani. Sua la responsabilità, in quanto mandante, del massacro dei Quartieri Alti e dell'Università "La Cantuta", 25 vittime, tra il 1991 e il 1993; la strage fu compiuta dallo "squadrone della morte" "La Colina", controllato dallo stesso Fujimori mentre era presidente.

America (SI, ANCHE NOI SIAMO AMERICANI!) si desta? Speriamo...

Per finire. Questo ciclo di spettacoli si chiama: "ASPETTANDO IL TEATRO" (quello vero, foto in alto a destra).

L'Assessorato alla Cultura del comune de Pomezia ha dimostrato che per fare Cultura non c'è bisogno di spendere una fortuna. Tutti gli spettacoli e le manifestazioni dell'estate scorsa sono state di altissimo livello e soprattutto, GRATIS. Bravissimi!

Ma credo che molti di noi sognano di fare la fila alla biglietteria del NOSTRO TEATRO...

DOMENICA PROSSIMA SI REPLICA A TORVAIANICA!!! NON MANCATE, "IL GATTO CHE PESCA" VE LO CONSIGLIA VIVAMENTE!

PER INFORMAZIONI: per_ananke@libero.it

Cooking day

2009-04-16T09:09:00.002+02:00

Wednesday is cooking and freezing day, so here it is my last week production: Vegetable broth, meatballs, mushroom double crust pie and tuna fish lasagna. And here there are the recipes:

Everything in the kitchen begins with a good broth: This is mine:

In a big pot, put:

1 onion and pin it with 2 clovers

celery, carots, potatos (leave it as soon as they are cooked) bay leaves, and other aromatic leaves of your choice, parsley; and from time to time just toss in the leftovers you have while cleaning the vegetables: the mushroom's stems, lettuce leaves, et cetera. Cover with water and let simmer for about an hour. This broth turns useful to do risotto (rice italian way) or when you wish to warm the meatballs, or chicken.

Meatballs (about 20 small)

First thing, moist a 1/2 cup of bred crumbs with the broth and squeeze it well.

300gr, ground beef

garlic and parsley (minced)

1 egg

grated bread

parmesan cheese and a half onion, minced (optional)

In a bowl, mix all the ingredients, shape meatballs of desired size, and roll them in the grated bread.

In a skillet with about 1/4 cup of oil, sautè until lighlty brown, sprinkle with wine, toss them to make the wine evaporate and add 1 cup of tomato pulp. Let simmer for about 5 minutes and add 1 cup of broth. Cook for about 1/2 an hour.

Tuna fish lasagna (4 persons)

1 can (160gr) tuna fish

1 small onion

1/2 pepper

10 olives

parsley

1 fresh tomato or 1/2 cup pulp

Lasagna pasta (fresh or dried)

Mince the onion and the pepper.In a medium skillet, put the onion, once it's wilted, add the pepper. Crush the tuna fish with a fork and toss in the skillet with the olives and let simmer for 5 minutes. Add the tomatos, and let cook for another 10 minutes, at the end add the parsley.

If the lasagnas are dried, boil them until tender,(2 minutes it's enough) sprinkle them with a mixture of melted butter and sage and put the first layer and the mixture, and follow this way until you'll have three or four layers. This is a dish for those who does not like, or not tollerate, the white sauce (or bechamel).

Double crust mushroom pie

Preheat the oven.

1/2 kg mushrooms

1 medium onion, chopped

1/4 cup bacon, diced.

parsley, thyme (optional) egg, beaten to paint

Wash and chop the mushrooms. In a large skillet, brown the onion, add the bacon and let cook for 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms, and saute until the mushrooms release the juices. In a glass, put 2 spoons of broth and 1 teaspoon of flour or maizena, stir in the mushrooms, and let

cook until creamy. Remove from the heat and set aside until warm.

Now, you can make your own crust or (what I did) use the puffy one you buy and fill it with the mixture. Paint with beaten egg and cook for about 20 minutes at 160°.

spring giveaway

2009-04-15T14:53:00.002+02:00

Aren't this cushions gorgeous? Aren't this fabrics beautiful? Well, two sweet ladies give us the chance to win 2 yards of our choice! Run to their blog, The Farm Chicks and leave a comment for the entry.

"Pay It Forward" project

2009-04-15T14:11:00.004+02:00

This is how it works.

The first three people to leave a comment on my post will receive a surprise handmade gift from me.

All you have to do to take part is to carry on the gift giving to three people.

As soon as the comment is made, do a "Pay it Forward" post on your blog, and carry on the giving.

Of course you will need to request the address detail of the first three people replying, so you can forward on the gift.

Via juanitatortilla

sewing

2009-04-10T23:54:00.004+02:00

This is my very first swap! And this is my very first attempt to make a hand rolled hem hankie for the swap-CHOO presented by Peggy of "Skip the chips" and Iris of "Creative endeavours in a busy life". Two days ago the hankie and the poem (shame on me! it's not handwritten) started the long way to the Maine, where my nice swap partner, Joanie, lives. Hi Joanie!

Italy earthquake

2009-04-10T13:20:00.003+02:00

I wish to thank to the many friends that posted on my blog to know if I and my family were safe after the earthquake. Thanks dear crafter friends! It was very kind of you.

My family and I are all right; but I am so sorrow for all the lives that were taken, many of them young people (L'Aquila has an important university) and children...And I am so angry! I am angry because there is nothing that justify over 280 people killed because most of the houses that caming down, killing all that people were built without rules, with cement of the lowest quality...And what makes more angry, is the fact that once everything is over, no one will pay for it! Oh, this is the case where I wish I really were "Zorro's"daughter!

Wish everybody a Happy Easter with family and friends! And thanks again for your kind toughts.

Room with a view

2009-03-31T11:00:00.002+02:00

This is my "Place in the Heart": a house in a small town near a lake. And this is what I see from one of the room's window: the woods around the medieval part of the town and beyond, an old "casale" (country house) and the lands that sorround it; every season there is a change: Saturday there was a herd of sheeps, but sometimes there were sunflowers or wheath, or corn...

Pretty soon, there will be the sounds of the swallows...

Fusilli amore mio

2009-03-30T11:03:00.004+02:00

This form of pasta is called "fusilli" (spireled shape pasta). This form should be of the best quality if you wish to have a pasta "al dente"(well cooked) because tends to get overcooked.

Here is the recipe:

FUSILLI AL TONNO (tuna fish fusilli)

Ingredients (4persons)

400g pasta

1 can (160g) tuna fish

1/2 cup tomatoes (fresh or drained if canned)

4 spoons extra virgin olive oil

garlic, salt, rosmary, parsley

Put the water to boil, and in the meantime:

In a medium skillet put the oil, sautè the garlic (do no let burn it!). Drain the oil from the can and toss the tuna fish in the skillet, with a fork try to mince the pulp; put 1 teaspoon of rosmary, the tomatoes and salt. Let cook for about 10minutes. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it, put on a bowl, season with olive oil and parsley.

Make it Monday

2009-03-30T10:15:00.004+02:00

Go Make Something is the creator of Make it Monday challenge, a nice way to stimulate the creativity. This Monday theme was: "found objects" and this is what I found and what I make of some of the objects I found while walking on a sidewalk near home.

Okay, what's next?

Next Monday challenge are HATS. I love hats!

Rome Marathon, March, 22nd 2009

2009-03-27T12:02:00.004+01:00

Last post with pics of the Rome Marathon, with some places I love: A street of Trastevere (the other bank of the Tiber), the Borromini's white-corkscrew cupula of Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza (the legend says the form of the lantern is an homage to the Barberini family, whose coat of arms despicte bees, so the lantern could be the sting of a bee) The church, hexagonal, is small and white with concave and convexes interiors. A masterpiece of semplicity.

The artichokes and pumpkin is in the Jewish Ghetto, and the artichokes are a typical dish of the roman-jewish cuisine.

The tower is the one where the legend says the emperor Nero played the lyre while all Rome were in flames.

Rome Marathon, March, 22nd 2009

2009-03-26T12:10:00.007+01:00

These are another pics of the Rome Marathon showing the amusing side of the Fun Run: Dogs, children on bike and prams, two from Calabria (south of Italy) with "sopressata", a tipical calabrian sausage, and a small book shop I discovered along the itinerary and that I'll be visiting soon: saw a lot of old books and vintage cards at a good and convenient price!.

Tombola! (Bingo!)

2009-03-24T10:41:00.006+01:00

This is something I promised to vintagepix, who is an "altered cards" artist.

The origin of this game is related to the Kabbalah. Pico della Mirandola, an Italian Renassaince philosopher known for his amazing memory, was introduced to the study of the Kabbalah, which fascinated him.

These studies became known by the common people, and they started to give them their own interpretation. The dreams or the everyday events, as a tempest or just to strip and fell down, became a sort of kabbalah, associated to a number and in this is the way the game of "lotto"(lottery) was born. Of course it was not legal!

In 1734, the king of Naples decided to legalize the game, afraid that ilegal as it was, the Treasure of the realm lose gains. Of course, the Church desagree with the legalization, and the King was forced to make an agreement: during Christmas, will be forbidden to bet, which will allow people to have the time to go to the Church and pray.

But people from Naples, are known for the resources they have to avoid restrictions!

While waiting for Christmas Eve, they started to put the 90 numbers into a small basket, and to write the numbers on a piece of cardboard. Later, every number was associated to a fact or a name, some are almost scurrilous!.

It was born the "Tombola", whose name means something like "cilinder" the form of the wood pieces where the numbers are printed.

Well, hope it's clear!

Rome Marathon, March, 22nd 2009

2009-03-23T12:20:00.008+01:00

These are some moments of the Rome Marathon. It was a wonderful Spring day, sunny,warm and a little windy and we had a lot of fun. At the end I threw the coin in the Fountain of Trevi, wishing Rome could be everyday like this: people peacefuly walking in the middle of the street enjoying this beautiful city. (Oh, I know I'm asking for a miracle!)

juanitatortilla give away

2009-03-19T16:24:00.003+01:00

This is my contribute to the Juanitatortilla first give away, the J of my first name. The caps are part of my stash. I'm planning to do a lot of pincushions.

give away

2009-03-17T16:44:00.003+01:00

Wow! Juanitatortilla is hosting her first Give Away! For the winner, there'll be a nice pack with some of the nice crafts she does. The theme colour is YELLOW. For details go here .

craft's drawers

2009-03-10T16:29:00.009+01:00

Crafter's drawers are a source not only of inspiration. Some are romantic, some are funny and some are...just weird! (Take a look at those that contains: bones, teeth and a snake skin!)

Surfing in the web, I found a nice blog that is collecting pics about all the things we keep in our drawers. This is (part) of mine: Labels! Together with buttons, lace and yo-yo, I use them on my crazy patchworks crafts.

I cassetti di noi artigiane, non sono solo una fonte di ispirazione. Dentro ci si trova di tutto: alcuni sono romantici, altri divertenti e altri sono...strambi, come quello che il "gatto che pesca" ne ha trovato nel sito di una simpatica signora che pubblica le foto che le artigiane le spediscono. Date un'occhiata a quello che contiene: dentiere, ossa e la pelle di un serpente!

Io ho spedito la mia, se avete qualcosa di divertente nel vostro cassetto e volete metterlo in mostra, inviate una foto a: "What's in your drawers?"

recycling jeans

2009-03-03T16:52:00.002+01:00

What can I do with an old jeans? A blanket for my cat!

sorpresa!

2009-03-03T16:01:00.012+01:00

Oggi ho fatto il solito giro. La posta, il fruttivendolo, due chiacchiere nella bottega di belle arti della mia amica...e il giro dei piccoli supermercati e discount.

E ora le quotazioni della mia borsa della spesa: Niente titoli in ribasso: le pere dal mio fruttivendolo di fiducia, per tutta la stagione invernale non sono scese da 1,99 euro; (tengo duro, non compro!) Al piccolo supermercato, invece, le banane sono in forte discesa, forse perchè rischiavano l'ecceso di muffa: 0,99 (acquisto, ma con cautela!)

I titoli: zucchine, faggiolini, melanzane e altri non di stagione, si sono mantenuti in ascesa costante (aspetto che arrivi la bella stagione e forse compro).

Arrivata allo scaffale latticini, mi aspetta una sorpresa...

... A DISTANZA DI POCHI GIORNI MI TROVO IL LATTE GRANAROLO (quello senza punti, ma al prezzo "politico" di euro 1,19) CON UN AUMENTO DI 6 CENTESIMI!

Qualcuno mi può fornire delle spiegazioni plausibili?

Io intendo chiederle!. Se qualcun altro vuole chiedere spiegazioni, cliccare QUI.

Ma se non vi interessa chiedere delucidazioni sul prezzo, date lo stesso un'occhiata: Ci sono delle ottime ricette!

spaghetti amore mio

2009-02-17T09:09:00.005+01:00

I live with two italians "pasta eater" at lunch and supper (husband and son) and...grrr!! they are tall and thin!

So, I have to invent every day a sauce for them. Fortunatly, I can alternate with rice so I have some "risotto" recipes also. Let's start with the spaghetti:

SPAGHETTI E GAMBERETTI (SHRIMPS) (4 persons)

Ingredients

400 gr spaghetti

300 gr. small shrimps

2 small zucchini

1 onion

2 small tomatos

olive oil

lemon zest

fennel seeds grinded (optional)

parsley

Chop the onions, cut the zucchini in thin rounds, wash and dry the shrimps. In a medium skillet, put a small quantity of olive oil and saute the onions until wilted but not brown. Add the zucchini rounds, and cook for 2 or 3 minutes before adding the shrimps; cut the tomatos in small cubes and toss them without let them cook, at the end add salt always tossing. Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti and when the pasta is done, drain it and pour into the skillet, add the lemon zest and the fennel seeds grinded, tossing it until it get blended with all the ingredients.

Put on a plate, sprinkle with parsley and olive oil. BUON APPETITO!

NOTE: I use "wild fennel flower's powder" instead of fennel seeds; but I don't know if there is easy to find everywhere.

TIPS

The longer the minutes required to cook, the better the pasta.

Instead of shrimps you can use fish like tub gurnard, or sole.

The pasta must be well drained, otherwise it will get overcooked.

Do you wish to take a look to some varieties of pasta shape? Here they are!

Non c'è rosa senza spine?

2009-01-22T22:00:00.006+01:00

Ecco un modo facile facile per fare una rosa da regalare a San Valentino. Questo e molto di più, si trova in QUESTO sito.

libri alterati

2009-01-13T16:01:00.009+01:00

In inglese questa tecnica si chiama "altered art" e appartiene alla categoria "riciclo", della serie "non si butta via niente"; neanche un vecchio libro!

Girando nei soliti siti australiani-anglo-nordamericani, Ciro, che è un gatto poliglotta, ha pescato qua e là delle idee. Alcune decisamente kitsch per il raffinato gusto europeo; ma trattandosi di "arte alterata" nessuno ci vieta di "alterare" a nostra volta!

Karenswhimsy : Ci sono delle belle illustrazioni.

Homecompanion : Ci sono dei bei lavori fatti con diversi tipi di tecnica e materiale

Art-e-zine : Un bel sito ricco di idee, con moltissime illustrazioni e link che portano a visionare il lavoro di vari artisti che si dedicano ad "alterare libri".

idee per san valentino

2009-01-13T15:18:00.009+01:00

Quel romanticone del "Gatto che pesca" è andato in giro per la rete a cercare delle idee per fare un regalo fatto con le sue man...pardon, con le sue zampette medesime alla sua gattina. Ecco quello che ha pescato:

All crafts.com : molti lavoretti facili facili.

All free crafts: Una pagina intera dove si vedono tutti i lavoretti.

About.com : Uno dei miei siti favoriti.

How does your garden grows?: Ci sono dei fiori porta lecca-lecca; molto facili da fare.

Buon divertimento!

mensola invisibile

2009-01-09T22:38:00.002+01:00

Ecco una bella idea che sorprenderà gli amici: una mensola invisibile per i libri.

Come al solito, è un sito in inglese; ma il video è chiarissimo! Lo trovate QUI.

era un jeans

2008-12-21T16:26:00.005+01:00

Nella sua vita anteriore, questo astuccio era un jeans. Una mia amica che sa della mia mania di riciclare tutto mi ha dato un vecchio jeans che girava per casa. Ieri ci siamo trovate vicine di bancarella con una delle sue figlie, durante un mercatino artigianale e per ringraziarla di una sua gentilezza le ho regalato l'astuccio. Insomma, l'ex pantalone è tornato alla sua padrona (o alla sorella) sotto forma di astuccio!

fatto a mano, hecho a mano, handmade

2008-12-14T20:04:00.008+01:00

Ho cercato su Goooooogle dei blog con le parole "fatto a mano" (anche in spagnolo e in inglese". Ecco i risultati della prima pagina:

Fatto a mano: 10 risultati. Il primo riporta un blog molto carino. QUI. I restanti nove risultati sono pubblicità di vendita.

Hecho a mano: Tutti e dieci i risultati riportano blogs di artigiani, forum di artigianato e commercio equo solidale. Un esempio lo trovate QUI in un sito del Paraguay.

Handmade: 50 risultati! con 8 sottorisultati, tutti relativi a diverse forme di artigianato fatto a mano.

Ragazze e ragazzi, diamoci da fare con quelle manine!

riciclare i bottoni

2008-12-11T00:09:00.013+01:00

Chi non ha in casa una scatola piena di bottoni? Sono una risorsa incredibile per piccoli lavori di artigianato. Girando per i blog in inglese; ma riccamente illustrati, ho trovato delle cose veramente deliziose. Il braccialetto è un mio primo esperimento! Ecco i link:

Angelina's trinkets, collezionista di bottoni.

All about the buttons, fa delle piccole calamite. Carino.

Marta Stewart, un mito per le casalinghe del Nordamerica. Ci sono cuscini fatti con delle camice.

Bernina, famoso marchio di macchine da cucire. C'è una collana fatta con i bottoni.

Buttonmad, tante idee per utilizzare i bottoni, anche una collana.

CraftStylish, come organizzare i bottoni...o utilizzarli per fare delle cartoline.

Gunnel, una simpatica signora svedese, fa dei lavoretti molto creativi.

Creative kismet , insegna a fare un braccialetto. Istruttivo e molto illustrado.

Once upon a time, ha dei cuori de-li-zio-si. Con i bottoni, of course!

Perpetualplum's blog, non solo bottoni. Tante idee per riciclare quasi di tutto.

Milomade blog, riciclo veramente creativo.

Small stuff, "robe piccole" o come fare delle cose belle con un pezzettino di feltro e un bottone!

Cut out + keep, altro blog "riciclone".

riciclare i jeans

2008-12-10T13:26:00.011+01:00

Avete in casa dei vecchi jeans? Ecco un campionario di idee (mia produzione); ma non sono le uniche. Al prossimo post! Mi scuso per il posizionamento delle foto. Sto ancora imparando!