Bittersweet Evening!

Tonight was the last night of an English course I've been teaching for the past 16 weeks...18 if you count the holiday times.

We ended up going out for our (second) class dinner, and the waitress plunked a bag down at my place... it had a card inscribed by hand, "Easy peasy lemon squeezy" because they thought it was a cute phrase when I used it -- so I used it often! -- and signed by all of them.

I opened the package, and found...

As it happens, it's a (large) box that I had ordered from Orietta a while ago -- and they hijacked my purchase! I cried, and they laughed, saying, "It's just what you would have picked out yourself, right?" Oh, and they caught it in time for Orietta to write on the back:

I am so very happy that I no longer have two nights gone every week. On the other hand, I'll miss having my sweet class together. Thank goodness it's a small town, and I'll see my students often!

Love,

Alexandra

Time to clean up!

Isn't this fungus amazing?

This morning, a group of people got together at La Rocca to clean up the park. It was a gorgeous day, and the family enjoyed a quick breakfast al fresco at Pianegiani before wandering up to help. I have no idea how many people were there, since it is rather a large place that doesn't have visibility throughout the park -- I'd say probably 30 to 35.

I hadn't been up for quite some time, and they've really been sprucing things up. There are a new play structure, new mats, and new gravel on the paths. Picking up litter helps enormously. Jeremy went off the path, as did Michael & Ashley -- they went for volume (large bottles, etc.) Florence and I, meanwhile, worked hard at getting the small bits of glass off the path to protect the dogs and people who use them.

It was a great way to be part of the community.



Love,

Alexandra

Dance Competition!

Since there wasn't enough going on last weekend, we also had a big dance competition at Ponte Naia. Jeremy and I went for a few hours to check it out. We had a wonderful time watching the different dancers, seeing the different costume styles, etc.

Here's a taste:

Judging!

Love,

Alexandra

Festa di San Fortunato

Last Thursday, I went to a meeting ostensibly to discuss the procession we were doing for one day in the triduum of San Fortunato. We ended up spending 1 3/4 hours discussing the live Nativity, and at the end, Don Riccardo said something along the lines of, "Oh, yes, and we're talking about doing a nice little procession for San Fortunato...if you need costumes sign up & we'll do what we can. Show up around 3 or 4, and we'll start at 5. We've called in some of the bands, etc."

Well, this is what you get with that much planning:

Yes, I made her costume! Jewelry courtesy of Luciana.

We hope Mateo will start teaching Jeremy archery soon.

Doesn't James look handsome?

Eleanor's snood was made the evening of the meeting.

We enjoyed dancing.

Procession.

We had archers.

The confraternities

Flag performers

Who were excellent.

The previous bishop

Can't forget the horses 

Or the pooper scoopers (who took a look and then decided to give it a miss)

And this was just Sunday!

Monday, we had a different procession. We enjoyed a different band (which included Elena's father ... Elena is Florence's friend and swim buddy), Mass with 35 priests and deacons, and the chance to kiss San Fortunato's hand.

The trumpeter is Elena's dad; the drummer with shades is one of our local cops.

Coming out of Mass, we had this to enjoy...

Love,

Alexandra

(Saturday photos courtesy of Michael)