Sunday Lunch at Il Cacciatore

We had time after cousin Pete left to catch up with our friends Ed and Carol before they returned to the states.  Ed and Carol brought their visiting friends Fred and Grace over for a big Sunday lunch at Il Cacciatore.  Good thing I made reservations,  They were turning people away. 

 

Ed (in dark grey) and Fred

 

 

Grace in blue and Carol

 

And now some food.  Ben and I split ravioli, while the others each had a pasta.  We shared a cut steak, vegetables and salad. 

 

 

Roxanna who was pregnant is back at work now.  I am happy to report that she had a son, Edward.  Everyone is doing well.  It was a great meal and always fun to meet someone new.

Boxes Arrive

Shortly after we got back from Rome two boxes arrived.  One of them was mailed by friend Ruth in November.  She was told it should arrive in early December.  If a package is much bigger than a magazine or a paperback book it goes to a private delivery service rather than the post office.  When I know that someone is sending us something, I give them our GPS coordinates and phone number to write on the package.  Well Ruth had this info.  The week the package was expected, Ben got a phone call.  Of course it was all in Italian.  He didn’t understand much and I was not around.  Two days later as I was going down the hill I saw the package delivery guy driving up.  I phoned Ben to put him on alert.  Ben heard him drive in the drive, but by the time Ben got up and walked out the back  door (less than 30 seconds) the guy was scooting out the drive.  No ‘we tried to deliver’ note, Hell he didn’t even get out of his vehicle.  So the next day we drove to the office of package delivery service.  They had no record of the package.  We waited and waited, thinking the package would turn up or the guy would show up and try again or maybe it would be left at the restaurant for us.  Nothing.  Since a similar thing happened to the box that our neighbor Jane sent last year except her box made it back to Virginia, I finally wrote Ruth and told her the sad story.  She had spent a HUGE amount of money to send it and there were books in there!  BOOKS.  Oh, my heart was sad.  Books!  I wailed.  Books!!  So off we went to Rome.  I found the used book store and spent $75 on 10 used paperback books but was happy.  And then we came home and 2 days later look what turned up.

 

 

Not only did we get the box of books from Ruth but also a box that my cousin Bonnie and Pete had sent before they knew they were coming to Italy.  They sent the 3 bags of Cheetos and the great calendar from the Ocean City museum.  Everything in their box was in good shape.  No telling what happened to the box Ruth sent.  It was wet and mildew was already growing on it.  Two of the books were pretty wet and had already been attacked by mildew. 

 

So any way I have been reading.  When we moved, I brought over one Charlie Chan mystery and had read it.  When Ruth was asking what I wanted to read I suggested him.  Does anyone remember watching Charlie Chan movies on TV back in the 60s?  I loved them and have really enjoyed the books.  And then there is Monsieur Pamplemousse.  That series is written by Michael Bond, the man who wrote the Paddington Bear series.  Monsieur Pamplemousse was a detective in the undercover squad of the Paris police but retired from there.  He and his bloodhound, Pomme Frites now go undercover to do restaurant reviews for a guidebook.  I have been reading this series for years now. The one I just finished (which was the most water damaged) is Monsieur Pamplemousse and the militant mid-wives.  Well, I always enjoy reading about France and French restaurants but this one had several references to Krispy Kreme doughnuts.  At the time of the writing they must have been available in Paris.  But it doesn’t seem like it now.   I had to google them.  Krispy Kreme is all over London and nearby but I could not find an outlet in Paris.  Maybe if the exchange rate improves I’ll just tell Ben that the hot light is on and I’ll be back in a few days and drive on over. 

Until then I have a nice supply of books, Cheetos and some Miller Lite beer.  A cheery fire and I’m all set.  Thanks to my friend and cousin.

More Random Pictures

 

Lumber.  Don’t know why the metal had been put in the ends.

 

 

We have had some very nice sunsets.  At this time of year as it is setting it comes in the bedroom window and hits the wall. 

 

 

This is one of the very clear days that we had recently.  Just to the left of the center you can see the two towers in Siena.  It was a very clear day.

January weather and heating costs

Winter months are always very difficult for me.  To be frank, I hate winter.  I really would be hard pressed to come up with much that I even closely like about the season.  Fall ranks right up there next to winter in my dislike list.  I know I don’t cope well with light/sun deprivation.  I really hate snow.  I doubt I could manage further north of here.  I know I would be much happier further south, like maybe somewhere in the southern hemisphere…

Anyway, enough moaning.  On the whole winter has not been too bad here.  There was a snow in December and a few days of cold after that.  Then in January, we had 2 more dustings of snow.  There was a string of days (about 10) when it did not get above 40 degrees during the day, and two nights when it was in the 20s.  But other than that it has been moderate. 

 

 

 

Right now, Friday, February 5 and Saturday, February 6 we have had two days of rain.  When we lived in the DC/northern Virginia area when it would rain like this one of the TV weather men, Topper Shutt, always liked to make the rain/snow conversion.  What do my friends in DC think??? 15 to 20 inches??  Does that sound about right?  I am so glad I’m not there.

 

The other reason this time of year is difficult is that it seems to be a time of GIANT money sucking.  I mean it is like the bank accounts (all of them) are hemorrhaging and will soon need life support.  This year the car has been the most needy!  In these 6 weeks we have probably spent $3000. on car related items.  Not that the car is ill.   That includes a speeding ticket from August that just arrived and car insurance.  We get our car insurance from an American outfit but still it is $1800 for a 5 year old car.  I am still facing car tax, 150 Euros due in April. 

 

Besides the car there is the cost of heating.  We had a delivery of gas just as we came home from Rome.  I have been watching our usage and I figure we use about 10 Euros or 300 Euros a month in heating, cooking and for hot water in the winter.  That is $420 a month for a 4 room house that is kept at 60 degrees.  Toasty warm huh?  Add to that 100 Euros or $140 a month for electricity, 50 Euros or $70 for phone and internet connection.  $15 a month in TV tax.  $20 a month in garbage tax.  So let’s see that’s $665 a month in the winter not including rent to live here.  Oh I forgot the wood that we burn to warm up one big room.  probably another $100 worth a month.  Just another reason not to like winter!

 

I have been thinking about these things as we prepare to make a trip in March to Giulianova where we are planning to move in September. 

 

A map for those of you who are curious about where we are moving.  Pushpin on left is where we are now, pushpin on right is where we will be going.

So we are going over to scout out apartments, eat Chinese food and seafood and watch the last game of the ACC basketball tournament on my computer using the fast internet connection in the lobby of the Best Western.  And they had a pretty good rate, 58 Euros a night.  We hope to line up a place with this trip but I am sure that might be pie in the sky.  Many places are rented by the week in the summer and then switch to a 9 month rental for the off season.  (September through April or May) We are hoping to find one of those and then start looking for a longer term rental when we are there.

 

And now I will leave you with the uplifting sentence that my friend Janice Kelly wrote on her FaceBook page last week.  ‘We are on the Spring side of Winter’.

Julie and Julia

I have watched the movie Julie and Julia twice now.  I am delighted that Meryl Streep was nominated for an Oscar.  I think she really nailed Julia Child.  That was a hard role to fill since so many people did watch Julia on TV.  I have also been going on line and reading the original blog that was behind the movie.  (hey, I have a lot of spare time in the winter)  And of course all this reading about food and Julia, and the cold weather brings up my favorite dish… wait for it…Julia Childs’ Best Beef Stew.  It takes 5 days to make and my excitement just builds the entire time.  (I can see my former office mate, Chef Mike rolling his eyes.  He felt the same way about Cuban sandwiches though.)  There is marinating and browning, then more marinating, braising, cooling and finally a little more cooking.  And here’s the happy man and Julia’s Best Beef Stew (I put a biscuit crust on it this time)

 

 

Hmmm good and steamy warm!

Winter sunsets

On our few non-rainy, non-foggy days we have had some great sunsets.

 

That little twig in the middle is the pussy willow that is starting to open.

 

 

Yes I did use a filter with this but it truly looked very much like this.  The whole area was just bathed in a golden light.

Odds and ends pictures

 

 

The monastery where St. Francis stayed near Cortona

 

Near where we take Italian lessons in Arezzo.

 

 

 

The dog that can’t bother to walk in Siena

No I haven’t vanished.

Sorry it has been so long since I posted anything.  We’ve been busy and I was possessed by an art project.  Possible pictures of it later.   As always there are a number of posts.  You might have to click on ‘older posts’ to see them all.  I mean you don’t want to miss the last of food in Rome.

Any way… we are alive and well.  Currently only taking care of Chino, our Brit cat and hoping it won’t snow.  Burning wood in the fireplace every night like it is growing out in the wood shed.  Trying not to spend money.  And counting the months until we have to move.  February is almost here.  The end of August will be here so soon.  Sounds like 7 months to me.  I am thinking of offfering a real deal to anyone who wants to come help us move.  Anyone interested???  Just boxes, no furniture.

Cousin Pete’s Visit, Part 1

When we returned, besides our friend Carol meeting us at the train station in Arezzo, my cousin Pete was there too.  Good thing Carol had rented a station wagon.  She got us all back to the farm. 

Pete is the son of my cousin Tony and his wife Dee.  For those of you who don’t know, most of my cousins on my father’s side grew up together in the town of Ocean City, New Jersey. (And most of them still live there)  I grew up several states away.  Growing up, we would visit every couple years.  Once I married my first husband I saw that side of my family even less.  It wasn’t until I took up with Ben and we lived in the northern Virginia area, closer to OCNJ, that I started to see more of everyone living there.   We stayed at cousin Tim’s (Tony’s brother) house right before moving to Italy.  Bonnie and Pete drove us to the QM2 for our journey to Italy.  Since we all share our Italian heritage I have wanted all of them to visit.  The first one to come was Jeanne, sister of Tony, about 4 weeks after we moved to Italy.  Then Bonnie and Pete came before New Years but only saw us in Rome.  And now 2 weeks later here was Pete.  How great! 

Reading back over this I can see the confusion.  Our family seems to like the same name sometimes.  There is my Uncle Ben, his son Ben and his son Ben along with MY Ben.  And then there is Pete Ault who married cousin Bonnie and Pete Taccarino, the son of my cousin Tony.  Got that?

Pete (the cousin) had been in Europe since early December visiting with his girlfriend, Simi in Slovakia.  She was back in school and he had some time to kill before his commercial diving school started so he came to visit us.

After dropping off suitcases and getting the heat turned on, we packed Pete in the car for a trip back to Arezzo to the Esselunga with a stop on the way back to pick up our newest 4 footed charge, Chino. 

 

 

We ended the day with dinner at Paolo’s.

 

 

Oh yeah, two peas in a pod.  Keep in mind, Pete is my cousin.  Not Ben’s.  We all had a big time.

Cousin Pete’s Visit, Part 2

My cousin Pete was visiting us for a few days in early January.  We put him to work splitting wood.

 

 

Made sure he got to meet some other people.  Dinner with Carol and Ed.

 

 

And a trip to Siena.

 

 

Look for part 3