Gardening: We lost the battle in our backyard with the pests (seems like it was snails and slugs), but our front bed is doing great and we now have baby broccoli and purple cauliflower. The lettuce, oregano, thyme, and rosemary are all still going strong and the daffodils are starting to emerge from the ground. I also attempted to transplant some euphorbia from our recent trip to Noto-Antico. Hoping to plant lavender, poppies, and nasturiums soon.Resolving: Still having success with making my bed each day and I have been writing letters (did I ever mention that was also one of my resolutions for this year?).
Learning: Noah is currently obsessed with ancient history thanks to Story of the World and he is having a blast learning how to play basketball. Camille is quickly becoming my Italian translator and in the past week she has starting trying to teach herself to read. I am slowly learning how to use my I-touch. Adam has been spending time plugging our lives into something called Google Calendar and he is trying to convince me it is a good thing. I am just happy to have a good old fashioned calendar on the wall.
Reading: Just finished Manhood for Amateurs. All I can say is that I am still chuckling, mulling, and savoring Chabon's words (who else can write so beautifully about legos?). Interesting to have read it just a few months after reading his wife's book of essays which was equally as engaging. Just started A Room with a View today. How is it possible that I have never read it before? Already enjoying it and eager for the kids to go to bed so I can resume my spot on the couch.
Viewing: Over the weekend we saw Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Blind Side, and It's Complicated. All three were very entertaining. I think we have seen more movies in the past six months than we have in the past six years. I guess it is due to a combination of things: the kids are getting older and enjoy seeing family movies, they are also happy to have a babysitter which means we can venture out to see grown-up movies, and $3 movie tickets are hard to beat (military rate at the on-base theatre, not the Italian rate...I imagine it is much pricier). We tend to get the movies a few weeks after they are released in the States. So if you have recommendations, please share. And speaking of movies, take a look at this interesting list.
Raining: We have had several days of rainy, grey gumbo weather. Which means there has been a lot of reading, painting, writing letters, making snowflakes, and jumping in puddles. I guess this is finally the start of the rainy season. Itching to make a gumbo and maybe even try knitting again. What brightens up your winter days?
Just rented the Taiwanese film Island Etude with lots of scenes of the coastline, all around. Are you able to rent movies?
Tara B.
Sounds good...we'll have to see if the local video place can get it for us or perhaps sign up again with Netflix. Thanks for the recommendation. What have you been reading lately?
Knitting, Baking and Reading work for me on dreary days. The sun finally came out today after 12 straight days of rain. It is glorious! Went with my Culture Vultures to the Legion of Honor in SF to see the Cartier Exhibit. Dazzling is too mild a word to describe it. I should have gone on one of those dreary days!!
Oh - I LOVE the letter writing resolution...there is really nothing like a 'real' letter in the mail.
I always get a chuckle seeing 'my house' on your blog ;) I used find it interesting how all these houses that were exactly the same could be soooo different! Sorry to hear about the garden out back, just means more trips to the market!
i love the movie version of Room With a View so much, but never was able to get into the book! that's always disappointed me. i should try again someday! sorry about losing the backyard battle, but hooray, for the front! and congrats on the continued success of your bed making resolution! i have been meaning for a while to start writing real letters to people. i thought that one letter week sounded like a good plan. but have not made it as far as actually writing, yet!
i love the contrast of the green, green garden and the paper snowflakes in the window :)
I DO so hope you like Room With a View. I LOVE it, and it's just perfect for you living there right now!! But a lot of people don't quite get it or something. Have you read anything else by E.M.? I feel Room with a View is such a different feel than the others. But you should read Where Angels Fear to Tread while you're at it anyway. :)
I do love baking on winter days. Alas, I can eat nothing I bake right now, so I am dreary. Sad.
Am right there with you on the letter writing resolution and have been enjoying seeing letters back now in the post box. Lots to say, but not much time. Books sound very good and films. Lucky girl, they come about 6 months to a year late here and cost double the price. Really want to see that Fantastic Mr. Fox!
Gumbo, hmmm. I found okra at a market in Rome and made some gumbo with it. So good. Okra and yellow squash. Italians don't know what they are missing.
Wow! $3 who can say no to those prices. I loved the Blindside, but have not seen the other two.
I saw "Sherlock Holmes" with my mom and loved it! Not for the family, but could be a good date night. ;)
Ack ! I live in the slug capital of Italy, deepest, darkest, dampest Lomellina. I loathe them too.
I've taken to stalking them at night with a sort of miner's lamp clamped to my head.
Which is ever so slightly obessive now I come to think of it.
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