Simple thoughts

As I told you, I fell like it's a new beginning, this fall season that's coming, soooooo.................I guess it was time for a change, I hope the new template will please you.

   It's official, autumn is here! This morning, for the first time, I felt really cold, the air is cold and dump, the colors all around are darker (and, I find, more welcoming). It's the time of the year I prefer, when it's not that hot, but not so damm cold neither, you love to stay inside with a bunch of friends cooking, or talking before a cup of hot chocolate, or alone reading a good book. For me the real new beginning is right now, when everything is slowing down toward the long cold winter months.

 That's how I felt this morning going back at work after a very nice weekend in Venice, and two days off work! Plus, there's so much going on here, and I don't want to miss a thing, and this is a little distressing.

Anyway, all began last friday. I was home from work, coz I had to do some errands before my two days in Venice, like going for groceries shopping, with Marty help (God, why we have to eat so much? my chart at the supermarket is always one of the fullest!!), had our hairs done, went to the bank and the post office. And then, put things in my bag for my trip.

It has been an amazing weekend, the sky was blue, it was hot and sunny, the company an enjoyable one, the food very good. And what can I say about Venice and the venetian villas? Just breathtaking. Here are some examples of what we enjoyed.

Villa Pisani

Villa Widmann

Villa Malcontenta

all the villas were locate alongside the river Brenta which we navigated on board on this boat, called "burchiello"

In Venice we visited the Theatre La Fenice

and some beautiful places, streets and squares (here called "calle" and "campo") away from the crowded San Marco Square and Basilica (already visited years ago)

The most impressive spot was Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari with painting from Tiziano

and the joyful and colored market of Rialto

I liked very much the visit to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum (me on the terrace)

We stayed at a very nice hotel and we enjoyed some very good fish dishes

See you soon Venice, I know you have so many more surprises stored away for another visit.

Yesterday it was Marty first day at the university. She registered to attend a three years (and two more, optionally) for a bachelor in "art history and art conservation" with a specialization in contemporary art. She came back home yesterday so very excited, so thrilled for this new adventure. And I find myself so excited for her and I'm sure you will understand why I am a so

See you next week with some pics and news about my weekend in Venice.

  That's the name by which Parma and the surrounding area is well known around the world. It's also a place where the slow food philosophy is well rooted, thanks to all the specialties we are proud to call our own,

such as the Parma Ham

  the salame di Felino

the much appreciated culatello

  and the famous Parmesan cheese

  maybe served with the Malvasia white wine

It's not by chance that Parma was choosen to be home of the EFSA, the food authority that control what we europeans eat and drink.

Now, if you want to try some parmesan recipes, here are some at your disposal, but be sure to have the original ingredients!

That's what I tought yesterday. And you know what? It's true. I feel better, my mood is improved so much, today I see everything pink coloured. Maybe because I have lots in mind, Marty has come back from her short vacation in Barcelona and I love to see vacation pics, next week she will register for university, I'll have two days off work, and next weekend I will be in Venice. And this weekend we'll see our friends, just back from their vacation. Life is good.

Normally I like september so very much, it's a quiet month at work, just returning from summer vacation, it's not so hot, and fall is near, which I like.

But right now, at work it's a busy time as never before, so many things are due by the end of the month, I'm forced to work 10 hours a day, and it's so sunny outside, it's a real crime to sit before a pc with all the lights on, dealing daily with problems and problems and problems.....and stupid people!

I don't know, I guess it's just me (I don't get any younger, right?), but in the last years, returning back at work after vacation, it's harder than never before, I find it very difficult to catch my breath again, to be organized with my job, to stay focused on papers and numbers. My mind is wandering in places and times that are not here and now. I already think about next summer, and the possible destinations for another trip abroad. I'd like to speed up my reading schedule, I'm far away from my goal to read at least 50 books by the end of the year (I'm reading the 26th of the list). I'd like to have more time to spend in the kitchen trying new recipes. There are so many exhibitions and concerts I'd be interested in, but I'm just too tired to even think to stay up late so to go.

In a few words, today is one of those days I feel  life is just something happening to others, I'm staring at the window while things happen and I'm not part of it. I hate to feel like this, but it's happening more and more often. My friend Cinzia says it's because getting older you're wiser about duty and pleasure, wasting time and opportunities. At 20 you feel like your life has just began, at 30 that you have lots to do ahed of you, at 40 you're satisfied of what you've accomplished. But approaching 50 at light speed, well it can really punch you in your stomach.

We tried something new lately, ideas stolen from friends or from the web, sometimes with little changings......

meat balls with veggies instead of the usual boiled potatoes

some tarts with mozzarella and tomatoes on baguette bread

rice with broccoli, walnuts and pecorino cheese

I'd like so much to have more times to spend in the kitchen to do some new things and some experiments, to taste my skills and to welcome my friends with a great dinner. I can't wait for this next winter, coz I've planned some invitations to spend nice nights around a table, good food, excellent wines and great conversations.