The Old Broad Abroad

(October 13, 2011)

Two or three times I have been a guest for lunch (“pranzo”) or dinner (“cena”) at the table of Robespier, the patriarch of the family and Paola’s father, when he has served pasta alla carbonara. It is a “bacon and eggs” sauce for pasta, without a speck of tomatoes, and his . . . → Read More: Finally—my Pasta alla Carbonara lesson from Robespier!

(9 October 2011)

Later in the day, after the Infiorata party in Graziella’s garage, the activity in the Piazza Vallegloria turned to Via Cappuccini, the steep little street leading up to the old monastery and the Roman arch. Beginning just two weeks prior to the Infiorata last June, Paola had been commissioned . . . → Read More: Paola’s art–telling the story of Spello’s “gold”

Today, February 2 (Groundhog Day!), my horoscope in the morning paper read: “Capricorn: today is a 9. You’re exceptionally powerful in your communications. How will you use the power of your word? A blog, book project, podcast or video could be interesting.”

Nothing quite like a subtle reminder that the pending blogs from . . . → Read More: The post-Infiorata celebration–all together once more in Graziella’s garage

When Alain picked me up at the airport in Florence—with my boot cast, carry-on, checked bag and cane along for the ride—he quickly delivered me to Anne’s home, near the Rifredi station just one stop from the main Florence station. My plan was to spend the night with Anne and Alain, and then Alain . . . → Read More: “Dancing with Scorpions”—not a favorite dance of mine

It’s been nearly 2 months since I returned home from Spello, and began to enjoy sleeping in my own bed again! Mike continues to travel for work, but not at the pace that prompted him to suggest that I go to Spello to recover from my Achilles tendon surgery. It was quite an adventure . . . → Read More: Contented at home, holidays over, and ready to get to work!

I had to leave Spello a day before my flight home to Sacramento, since even the earliest train from Spello would arrive too late to get me to my flight in Florence on time if I left the day of my flight. My house was cleaned thoroughly, the refrigerator was empty and turned off, . . . → Read More: “The Last Supper,” in Filippo and Suzanna’s garden

Since meeting Fabio Tedesco with Mike in Yosemite a few years ago, I always try to include a visit to Bologna to see him, and he calls me his “American mamma.” He is a “foodie,” and also he loves the US, always saving his vacation days to come every year to hike, drive, and . . . → Read More: A quick trip to Bologna to see my “Italian son,” Fabio

Once Melba was gone, I had less than two weeks to work on the projects for the house, and one of the ones I was most interested in getting done was replacing the yellow “shower door” glass in the two side windows in the kitchen. Not only did they lessen and color the light . . . → Read More: A big change in the kitchen—new windows!

On 4 July, it was time for us to get on a train from Spello and travel back to Florence, where Melba would begin her flight home the next morning. She was all packed and ready to go, so we departed after a last lunch and shared beer here at my place in Spello, . . . → Read More: Finally, Melba’s time in Italy runs out

We had passed through the small town of Norcia on our drive to the Piano Grande di Castelluccio, and Leonardo stopped on our way back to give us a look around the town. This is known as the “Pork Capital” of Italy, where much of the processed pork is produced. The proscuitto, salami, pancetta, . . . → Read More: In Norcia, “Pork (and cinghiale) Rules!”