Martedi, Tuesday, July 30, 2013
I should have known about the Italian palate. I should have known after 25 years of living here: the Italians ONLY love Italian food. Plain, simple. NO goo. Enjoying each foodstuff as a separate jewel which needs no primping.
I fixed an 'all American' dinner, as best one can do without such American staples as sour cream for baked potato. At any rate: not one Italian opted for- my home made version of sour cream, or chives on their potato. One chose pancetta bits , my bacon bit replacement. I also sauteed onions which caramelized along with funghi (mushrooms) ala butter and garlic. Needless to say: I ate those solo with my filet. My one success of prosituting a 'pure menu' : was roasting and slicing almonds which were added to the green beans with of course: butter and garlic. Not much. Just a hint. Yeah, for ONE dish. The filet, well peppered, salted and of course with garlic..... was eaten with gusto. I was told never to salt a filet prior to cooking it, as it robs the meat of its juiciness. Gotta love the Italians! They do know their food. Topping off the menu was music by Lee Ann Rimes and a CD with Liza Minelli and Robert de Niro... with all songs "New York".
Next year: hambergers! and cole slaw.
After a big terrential rain, the lake is at its most glorious. The rain cleans the air, leaving it crisp, bright, colorful and utterly sparkling. This morning I peered out from my window onto the lake, and saw a lake alive with white caps. Tons and tons of them. This is a lake with a life of its own: continually transporting folks on all kinds of boats, hydrofoils and car ferries as in days of old. No bridges to compromise the incredible natural beautiful which beckons folks from near, far and over the centuries. The air is fresh, not hot, not cold and the sun is shining brightly among us.
Went for a morning passagiata.... stroll into the village, stopping at Fusi Sfusi. Love that name. (Pronounced "Fooz ee SFooz ee") It is fun to say and the gal who owns it is a new friend of this summer, Nadia. She has such a warm, friendly and happy disposition. She glows. Of course, being the froth junkie that I am: I ordered my favorite "Latte macchiato". Another regular, Anna came in and she is becoming a new friend. Anna asked Nadia about the last few days, and Nadia signed with the 'heaviness of the last few days.' Her husband had a bad back and needs Nadia to walk him anywhere. I know what that feels like after having spent a year - 25 years ago, NOT walking! Then, she said that her 15 year old daughter may need to have some screws put into her shoulder. But, Nadia is not a negative person.
I told her the story of when I broke my ankle- 8 years ago. I have no concept of time, so I really haven't a clue of how many years ago it was. I fell over a dog gate over the Christmas holidays and CRUNCH... my foot was caddywhompus. At any rate, I had a plate put in my ankle and after two years of FEELING it , decided to have the metal plate which was 7 screws LONG removed. Since that broken ankle cost more than $20,000 in medical bills: I decided not to throw away the plate. I took it to the jeweler who put in 7 little diamonds in each screw hole and made it into a pin. I looked like a 7 star general. The plate even has the registration number printed on. So, although that pin is not worth much money, I think of it as my $20,000 pin. Nadia loved that story. I told her if we are going to spend our time on earth breathing: why not do it with a SMILE. The amount of time doesn't change: just the quality. To which Nadia responded "I love your philosophy of life." No wonder she is my new friend.
I am now back at my home.... looking out into the lake and the mountains are in view on the other side.
The water is ALIGHT with sparkles.... there is so much movement from this morning's white caps, that is is glistening aloud. It is taking my breath away, actually. The tops of the mountains still have little valleys of snow where no trees live. The green is like a deep emerald green velvet, with patches of lime green terraces of grass or with dark green triangles, indicating the peaks and angles of the mountain. Of course, there are palm trees, just in good measure- to make the picture, a stunning one. The cypress and palms grow vertically and stately and emphasize that I live in a vertical world here in Italy.
I live in a most horizontal world in Florida.
Happy Tuesday and smiles, as always
Judy
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