Simple thoughts

   It's time for some renovation, inside and out, some cleaning, on our souls as well, and new propositions. It's time to plan some new ideas for our lives, take on new projects and try new experiences. Make new friends, found again the lost old ones, and why not?......maybe renovate the wardrobe.......?




Feeling a new smell in the air I tried new recipes I found on the web, really really good, and they look good, right?







Due to my recently found sense of duty (clean the house, up to the roof) and next days fixed appointments with family and friends, I won't be online for the whole Easter weekend, so...... to all of you and your families.........

   We don't celebrate the day, but Marty surprised us with a very good dessert on Valentine's Day night, and even if I heavily suspect mom gave a hand, it was really nice of her. It's a menthe, yoghurt and chocolate cake.............



The dinner was a rich rice recipe, with veggies, shrimps and eggs, and a green salad

 

Friday I spent the entire evening cleaning my freezer/fridge! My God, it's been ages since the last time, the ice was so thick.......I expected polar bears and penguins to show up any time!

    

Saturday I finally found a nice pair of boots for my bike rides at Pittarello, they are from past collections, but they just suit my case


and a nice yellow waterproff cover for my backpack from Ferrino




Saturday it was dinner for two......Marty and I, coz hubby was at the football game, so we decided it was pizza time!




Yesterday, according to the weather forecasts, was sunny but really cold. The cold couldn't stop us, not in the world, so at 10.30am we met with our friends to partecipate at the annual winter bikers reunion in Berceto (home of the famous Parma-Berceto race).
I was over-dressed, but my knees payed their tribute to the cold wind, this morning they are like stone! The plan was to reach the Pass of Cisa, for a drink before lunch, but the ones coming back said it was -5° up there. We looked at each other and all together said "no way!!!".







We took a stroll in the village, before reaching a snack-bar where we had lunch, typical "focaccia" with Parma ham, pancetta, salame and frittata.







We choose not to stay till the end of the day, because of the cold, and we ride back home before the sun got down. A warm shower, a rich moisturizing body cream, a light soup, and straight to bed with a book.

So.....it seems I survived the weekend...........



Friday night we had dinner with three of my old classmates (don't tell them I called them "old") and their partners, and we had a really great time, lots of laughs and schooltime memories. The dinner itself was great....









Saturday was a day entirely dedicated to the house, groceries shopping in the morning, and a full cleaning in the afternoon. In the evening we had the condo reunion, it wasn't that bad, first of all coz it was short, no discussions, but most of all, thanks to a very good cake baked by a neighbor and good wine. The best part was at the end, our next-door-neighbor invited us to drink some grappa he had. We had a nice time talking with them, they are new in the condo (from last june) so we got to know each other better, and now I'm sure we will get along pretty well with them.



Yesterday afternoon with two couples of friends, we made a short trip to Sabbioneta, about 30 km outside Parma. It's a nice little city, very old, fortified, with a very big antiques market, and lots of history between its walls. It was a sunny and warm day, we enjoyed so much the walk.











While walking in those narrow streets, we talked about a bike trip at the end of april in Provence. We decided to absolutely go, and fixed the date and the details. I can't wait!



One couple had a previous appointment for dinner, but the other one joined us at home for a pizza we ordered at our usual take-away



Today I feel really lazy and sleepy, already dreaming about Provence, not at all about doing my job! Can't wait for the next weekend to relax with friends, spend some time doing what I like, and forget about work!

Last week was a very busy one at work, I didn't have time for anything else, and I just dreamed about the weekend to relax a bit. I even couldn't thing about fix dinner, so I'm glad Marty took care of that. Simple things, just like these









but it was enough to me.

Last saturday night a couple of friends came to spend the evening together, I made some "castagnole" (fried little cakes filled with cream/chocolate) typical of our "carnevale"



and they brought a strawberry cake



We are all tired of the winter already, so we started to think about the next bike trip. We planned a 3/4 days ride to Provence at the end of april, we really hope we can make it!

Today is the "mardì gras" the last day of the carnival, and I'm really happy about it, I'm tired to go home every night just to clean my coat and my hair, lots of boys running around the city with spray and gum guns ready to hit anyone!

Here are some pics from last sunday carnival parade from Busseto

So, what is the food you eat on Christmas days?



Every part of the world has its own traditional food, very different from each other, sometimes it changes from one place to the nearest one. Here it seems that each family has its own tradition, especially for the Christmas Eve dinner, but one thing is clear, the meat is banned from the table.

At my family dinner table, usually you can find

 prawns in pink sauce

 tarts with chhese and salmon

 penne with salmon sauce

 tuna fish in olive oil

  grilled capesante

And at the end you can't miss the very symbol of italian Christmas, the panettone



See you tomorrow for the table on Christmas Day.

I had a very nice sunday yesterday. We met with two couples of friends at the restaurant of a country farm. We had very good food as you can see.....

lasagna



black olive ravioli



roastpork



roasted pork with apples



chocolate and almonds cake

 

Then we took a little walk to visit the local old church but it was too cold and foggy. So we decided to go back to one of the couples' home. We just sat there, before the fire, drinking some good wine (Giovanni is a pro on the subject) and talking. It was very warm and relaxing, sitting there, with friends, while outside was dark, cold and rainy. It was just what I needed (sorry for the blurry pic, blaim the wine for it!).

Nothing really to tell you about, my life is just work, hospital (with a lot of reading) and some sleep. So......

I spent last saturday night at the hospital caring for dad (during the week we have two girls doing that) and when I came back home early sunday morning, I went directly to bed, never mind about lunch. When I woke up, Marty surprised me with a sort of sunday brunch


 little sandwiches with bacon and mushrooms
 and some with wurstel
 eggs and ham
 pasta with veggies and cheese

What can I say? Just that

My best friend lately is coffee, I can keep my eyes open only this way

And this is my dad, I took the photo last april, in his nursing home, he was pretty ok back then even if he didn't talk or walk.

 

I was upset because of his conditions, and now seeing him in a hospital bed with all those tubes inside his body, I whish I could turn back time.

And finally, it was sunday. After I spent the morning with dad, we had our usual sunday special lunch (meaning I have more time to cook) ravioli with mushrooms sauce



and parmesan eggplants



In the afternoon me and hubby went to a country fair, especially dedicated to olive oil and to old and lost species of fruits.







Our friends Remo and Oria presented their products with guided visit to the centenary olive plant.








We had also a testing of various kind of oil, and even if we are not pro, after all the friends' talking, I start to recognize the differences between one oil and another.



It was a sunny day, though very cold, and we enjoyed the open air.



Back home, a great surprise. Marty made pizza, a very good one, lots of ingredients in it



Nice timing dear, I really wasn't in the mood to fix dinner!