a member of the asparagus family! Great mouth feel, delicious -- cut off the roots, boil lightly, then serve drizzled with olive oil and lemon....mmmm!
Love,
Alexandra
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
A new veggie!
It looks like grass, it tastes like (very tasty) grass, but it's...
a member of the asparagus family! Great mouth feel, delicious -- cut off the roots, boil lightly, then serve drizzled with olive oil and lemon....mmmm!
Love,
Alexandra
a member of the asparagus family! Great mouth feel, delicious -- cut off the roots, boil lightly, then serve drizzled with olive oil and lemon....mmmm!
Love,
Alexandra
The Father of Them All
Okay, well not of them all, but a pretty important dad...St. Joseph, that is. You guessed it! Yesterday was St. Joseph's feast day, and time for another Mass -- and where else but in St. Joseph's church?
Sadly, I didn't get to go...I was feeling a bit poorly (just a cold & I'm fine now), but I did get to see the church (usually open only once a year) last Friday for a talk that the church gave on the art as it relates to liturgy. So...you get the benefit of pictures!
The church has a rather interesting history which is intimately associated with the confraternity of carpenters -- the "falegnami." They are first noted in Todi in the 1200s, at which point they met in a church within the walls (San Giorgio?). Later on, maybe the 1400s, they were moved outside the walls to Sant'Antonio...and then even further to Sant'Antonino (I don't know where that one is, but Sant'Antonio is just by the middle school; it's an adorable, small chapel-sized church).
In the early 1600s, a member of the order died and left his house (inside the walls) to the order, with a stipulation that the property be used for a church. And construction started! By about 1630, the work was completed, and they had a brand-new church to be dedicated to Saint Joseph (San Giuseppe), their patron saint. All the frescoes depict scenes from the life of Joseph -- very unusual for a church.
Love,
Sadly, I didn't get to go...I was feeling a bit poorly (just a cold & I'm fine now), but I did get to see the church (usually open only once a year) last Friday for a talk that the church gave on the art as it relates to liturgy. So...you get the benefit of pictures!
The church has a rather interesting history which is intimately associated with the confraternity of carpenters -- the "falegnami." They are first noted in Todi in the 1200s, at which point they met in a church within the walls (San Giorgio?). Later on, maybe the 1400s, they were moved outside the walls to Sant'Antonio...and then even further to Sant'Antonino (I don't know where that one is, but Sant'Antonio is just by the middle school; it's an adorable, small chapel-sized church).
In the early 1600s, a member of the order died and left his house (inside the walls) to the order, with a stipulation that the property be used for a church. And construction started! By about 1630, the work was completed, and they had a brand-new church to be dedicated to Saint Joseph (San Giuseppe), their patron saint. All the frescoes depict scenes from the life of Joseph -- very unusual for a church.
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| Altar piece to the side of the congregation |
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| Main altarpiece |
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| Right-hand side altarpiece |
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| Ceiling fresco; the rest of the ceiling was never finished...budget problems! |
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| Organ, installed around 1720 |
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| To the left of the main altar |
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| To the right of the main altar |
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| This is a costume from the order dating to the early 1600s! |
Alexandra
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Decisions, decisions!
Next weekend I have to make a really, really tough decision (or be in two places at once) and I'm having a hard time with it. What would you do?
Option 1. Participate in Archery Festival in Todi.
This is a two-day festival that will feature medieval costumes, archery demonstrations, the works. It's kind of to make up for the lack of Carnevale celebrations this year.
Option 2. Participate in the Fiat 500 rally.
This is a two-day festival. Saturday they will drive from Mantignana to Perugia, visit the Rocca Paolina, and then return to Mantignana for dinner. Sunday they will drive to Umbertide and visit the fortress there; they'll return to Mantignana and visit the medieval castle there. Then they'll have lunch and depart.
I have never been to Mantignana or Umbertide, but I have been to Perugia & seen the Rocca Paolina (which is cool) several times at this point. There will be about 50-80 cars involved!
Option 3. If I were to go for Sunday's excursion, it would mean getting up early and being out the door by about 7 or 7:30 (tough for a night owl like me!). That would allow me to enjoy the archery festival in Todi on Saturday, though -- but the kids will be in school in the morning, and that's the sort of thing that's even more fun with children.
So: what would you do??? Both of these activities are rare opportunities. Most rallies are much further away, which I'm not excited about driving in my sweet little thing -- I don't want to push it too much!!! Comment below to help me decide.
Love,
Alexandra
Option 1. Participate in Archery Festival in Todi.
This is a two-day festival that will feature medieval costumes, archery demonstrations, the works. It's kind of to make up for the lack of Carnevale celebrations this year.
Option 2. Participate in the Fiat 500 rally.
This is a two-day festival. Saturday they will drive from Mantignana to Perugia, visit the Rocca Paolina, and then return to Mantignana for dinner. Sunday they will drive to Umbertide and visit the fortress there; they'll return to Mantignana and visit the medieval castle there. Then they'll have lunch and depart.
I have never been to Mantignana or Umbertide, but I have been to Perugia & seen the Rocca Paolina (which is cool) several times at this point. There will be about 50-80 cars involved!
Option 3. If I were to go for Sunday's excursion, it would mean getting up early and being out the door by about 7 or 7:30 (tough for a night owl like me!). That would allow me to enjoy the archery festival in Todi on Saturday, though -- but the kids will be in school in the morning, and that's the sort of thing that's even more fun with children.
So: what would you do??? Both of these activities are rare opportunities. Most rallies are much further away, which I'm not excited about driving in my sweet little thing -- I don't want to push it too much!!! Comment below to help me decide.
Love,
Alexandra
Friday, March 15, 2013
Spring is coming!
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| Outside the post office |
Love,
Alexandra |
| My walk to the grocery store. |
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| The building on the left is the Chiesa del Monte, featured in the post "Via Crucis" |
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| Even under the clouds you can see the green hills |
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Visions of Sartorial Splendor
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| Samuel with his car |
The sarta's name is Edwina, and she's the most beautiful woman: about 35 to 40, lovely dark hair, and such a pretty face. She has three boys, ages 2, 7, and 12. The 2-year-old (Samuel) was in there today. His riding toy (mechanized) took up about 1/10th of the floor space, and he moved it so frequently and rapidly that he effectively took up the entire floor space! He was absolutely adorable, bellowing, "Pronti, VIA!" ("Ready, GO!").
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| Samuel and Edwina |
Eleanor tried on her costume, and I have to say that Edwina takes her work seriously: where I would have made a sack with square-ish sleeves, Eleanor's costume has inset, slightly puffed sleeves, bust darts, and a sweetheart neckline. Amazing!
Just wait until you see the pictures of us...but it won't be until after Good Friday!
Love,
Alexandra
Swim team
Recently, I joined a swim team. Unfortunately, it is quite a long way off (it's in Pantalla, about 20 minutes away). Here are some funny aspects:
Ciao,
Florence
- The pool is exactly 16 meters long (roughly 17.5 yards or 52.5 feet) -- not very long, in other words
- There are just over 20 people on my team
- They all wear black or navy blue swim suits- there are literally 2 people who wear colored swim suits, and I'm one of them
- The parents have to wear plastic bags over their feet if they want to see the swim practice
- There is a foot bath between the pool deck and the changing room (and it is COOOOLD)
- There are little changing cubicles, but NOBODY closes the door when they are using said changing cupboards
- There are hairdryers glued to the wall (like the ones you would find in hotels) and you are expected to use them
- EVERYBODY takes a shower after swim practice
Ciao,
Florence
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Bike Race!
Yesterday, after our field trip (to be blogged about later), James & I went down to the village to see a bike race that was coming through town. I thought they were being kind on the poor fools, because it didn't actually go through centro. Turns out, the sadistic course planners had other things in mind.
One of the articles I read said, "the course offers something for everyone," which -- based on what I can see / already know of it means, "the course offers everyone his or her own personal version of hell."
When we arrived in the village, just outside the Porta Romana, there were a few bystanders and several policemen and volunteer traffic directors. We waited. And waited. And got an update on the location of the riders ("just a few minutes away!"). And waited. It's a good thing I had (as ever) some knitting in my purse!
Turns out, the riders were condemned to going up the 18% grade (posted, not an exaggeration, I swear) that passes conveniently by the cemetery. I haven't yet had a report on how many decided to call it quits there.
After circling the town, including a few 90-degree turns at speed, they had the dubious pleasure of going down the 15% grade to Ponte Naia. Now, I drive that way to take the kids to volleyball. Bearing in mind the recent financial troubles plaguing Italy, I leave it to you to imagine the road. If it's any assistance, Michael won't ride that road with me because he keeps bumping his head on the ceiling of the car.
Looking at the route, the course notes said that as it happens, it was actually one of the less gruelling days. Now, I love biking, and can't wait to get back out there now that the weather's better, but really? Amazing, that's all I have to say.
I have two videos for you -- one's of the two leaders; the rest of the pack was far behind. The second clip's quite a bit longer -- about 3 1/2 minutes, but there are a couple of things I'd love for you to note. Not knowing in advance, of course I didn't get perfect shots of a few of the silly things. I did give you the whole cavalcade, so you could see the extent of the support vehicles -- and towards the end, a turquoise/pale green car (I think) was going a bit fast, and ended up driving in what would have been the opposing direction lane through the turn, and around the traffic circle the wrong way! In my clip, you can't see the first part, but if you're paying attention you'll see it going around the traffic circle in the wrong direction.
A short time after that, our friendly traffic cop can be heard saying, "Piano, piano!" ("Slowly, slowly!") as the cars are coming through. Unfortunately, I didn't turn my camera in time for you to see his accompanying gestures...
Beforehand, I had no idea of what this race consisted. It turned out to be only the third day of a weeklong trip through Italy. Today's fun included crossing the mountain range -- making yesterday's course look like a walk in the park! For more information, I have this link.
Love,
Alexandra
One of the articles I read said, "the course offers something for everyone," which -- based on what I can see / already know of it means, "the course offers everyone his or her own personal version of hell."
When we arrived in the village, just outside the Porta Romana, there were a few bystanders and several policemen and volunteer traffic directors. We waited. And waited. And got an update on the location of the riders ("just a few minutes away!"). And waited. It's a good thing I had (as ever) some knitting in my purse!
Turns out, the riders were condemned to going up the 18% grade (posted, not an exaggeration, I swear) that passes conveniently by the cemetery. I haven't yet had a report on how many decided to call it quits there.
After circling the town, including a few 90-degree turns at speed, they had the dubious pleasure of going down the 15% grade to Ponte Naia. Now, I drive that way to take the kids to volleyball. Bearing in mind the recent financial troubles plaguing Italy, I leave it to you to imagine the road. If it's any assistance, Michael won't ride that road with me because he keeps bumping his head on the ceiling of the car.
Looking at the route, the course notes said that as it happens, it was actually one of the less gruelling days. Now, I love biking, and can't wait to get back out there now that the weather's better, but really? Amazing, that's all I have to say.
I have two videos for you -- one's of the two leaders; the rest of the pack was far behind. The second clip's quite a bit longer -- about 3 1/2 minutes, but there are a couple of things I'd love for you to note. Not knowing in advance, of course I didn't get perfect shots of a few of the silly things. I did give you the whole cavalcade, so you could see the extent of the support vehicles -- and towards the end, a turquoise/pale green car (I think) was going a bit fast, and ended up driving in what would have been the opposing direction lane through the turn, and around the traffic circle the wrong way! In my clip, you can't see the first part, but if you're paying attention you'll see it going around the traffic circle in the wrong direction.
A short time after that, our friendly traffic cop can be heard saying, "Piano, piano!" ("Slowly, slowly!") as the cars are coming through. Unfortunately, I didn't turn my camera in time for you to see his accompanying gestures...
Beforehand, I had no idea of what this race consisted. It turned out to be only the third day of a weeklong trip through Italy. Today's fun included crossing the mountain range -- making yesterday's course look like a walk in the park! For more information, I have this link.
Love,
Alexandra
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