Home Sweet Home

My time in Sicily is officially over. We arrived in San Diego late last night and were met by my parents who were as ecstatic to see us as we were to see them!  The flights weren't too bad and Pumpkin did great! Now we are just taking a bit of time with family and recovering from jet lag. Some time in the next day or two the house hunting will commence.

I don't think it will fully sink in that we aren't going back to Sicily (at least not any time soon) until we have a place of our own. Still, as of right now it feels so good to be "home."

Captured during our last visit to Taormina

Now that I'm home and with family I think I will finally start to get into the Christmas spirit.  Our last weeks in Sicily were spent in a nearly empty neighborhood (military housing that is closing) with loaner furniture and very few of our worldly possessions, certainly no Christmas decorations.  It didn't  feel like Christmas was coming.  However, today, as we walked into my Grandma's house, adorned with holiday decor I feel a bit of the Christmas spirit coming on.  I'm so glad that we came back in time to spend Christmas with family.

Wow, I did it!!

I set a goal for myself to blog each day for 30 days.  I wasn't sure if I could do it.  Some days were harder than others.  Some days I had a hard time thinking of what to say, other days I was out so late that I barely squeaked by and got my post up in time, but I DID IT!!  I'm so glad I participated in NaBloPoMo and Thirty Days of Thanksgiving.

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving has really helped me focus on how blessed I am, even though I've faced a lot of challenges in the past month.  In addition several of my friends joined in the challenge and I got to connect with them in a new and fun way and get to know them a bit better. I also made new online friends through NaBloPoMo and TDOT. I even had non-blogging friends participating in the TDOT challenge via Facebook!

I'd like to send a special thanks out to my blogging friends and family who participated in Thirty Days of Thanksgiving at:

• Dandelion Days
• Creative Disaster
• My Captivating Images
• Steph Abbott Says
• The Thomas Mother Load
• Thru Catz Eyes

We'll do it again next year.  Mark your calendars for November 2011!!

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 30

An old, beat up scooter in Castelmola

Today I am thankful for:

1. A bit of rest and not having a whole lot to do.  After the rush of packing and moving out doing nothing is bliss.
2. My husband's efforts at getting us checked out of the base.  While I am relaxing he is still running around taking care of things.
3. A trip into Catania this evening.  It hasn't happened yet, but Kebab is on the menu for dinner and I can't wait!
4. Being disciplined enough to blog each day for 30 days!! I did it!

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 29

The view from Castelmola (Single Image HDR)

Today we moved out of the house that has been our home for four years. After everything was packed in the car and the last bit of cleaning done it still felt like my house, like us. Even though our house was a cookie cutter copy like many others, this one was ours.  We made many memories there. I vacillate between feeling wistful at moving on and anxious anticipation for the new adventures to come. I will miss Sicily and it will now and forever be a part of who I am.

Today I am thankful for:

1. Finally being finished with the cleaning and packing
2. Passing our housing inspection with no issues
3. A comfortable room in the Navy Lodge

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 28

In Castelmola (3 shot, handheld HDR)

Today I am thankful for:

1. Good friends who helped us out in a pinch
2. A delicious panino for lunch at Bar Fortuna in Niscemi (always a treat)
3. All of the work my hubbie is doing to help get our house ready for the move

What are you thankful for?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 27

I'm getting a slightly earlier start on my post today.  Last night I got home and logged into my computer at 11:58PM and clicked "publish post" just as the clock turned to midnight.  The time stamp on my post said 11:59PM so I slipped by on the very edge!  I would have been so disappointed if I had messed up my daily blogging for a month 26 days in!  Luckily I made it, and I really can't complain about why I was so late - I was out having fun with people I love!  I'm really going to miss the friends I have here in Sicily.

Yesterday was a great day - I spent the day in Santo Stefano with a great friend enjoying the quaint town and the lovely ceramics they make.  I honestly wanted to buy one of everything to take back to the States with me but I settled for a few small pieces that I can easily ship back.

It really hit me as we were walking through the various shops that I won't have the chance to go back, at least not anytime soon. I've been in Sicily for four years and I'm used to knowing that I can go back to the places I love, but it finally sunk in that our time here is nearly up.  We only have a few more days.  No time for repeats! It made me wistful but also grateful that I have had so many wonderful experiences and to make the most of the time that I have left.

Some of the beautiful ceramics available in Santo Stefano

 My hubbie and I spent the evening with another group of friends for Thanksgiving (the sequel).  My friend cooked a delicious turkey and everyone brought side dishes and their leftovers from Thanksgiving.  It was a fantastic meal with great company!

Today has been another exciting, fun filled day!  After running a few errands Les & I headed up to Castelmola and Taormina to say our goodbyes to these lovely towns and do a bit more shopping.  We finished the day up with a stop at a going away party for another friend.

So, with all that in mind, today I am thankful for:

1. The time I've spent in Sicily, the beautiful places I've seen, and the wonderful people I've met
2. A fantastic day out with my hubbie
3. The AWESOME Gabs bag that my hubbie encouraged me to buy :)

What are you thankful for?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 26

Today I am thankful for:

1. An awesome day out with a friend
2. Exploring a new place
3. A fantastic evening & dinner with more friends

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 25

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope you have a day filled with joy, love, and friendship.  We were honored to be invited to a friend's home for the most unique Thanksgiving I have ever had.  It was a mixture of Sicilian, German, Swiss, and American.  All wonderful people, and of course delicious food.  We had a fantastic afternoon.  Now we are home and I'm reflecting on everything I truly have to be thankful for.

Today I am thankful for:

1. Wonderful people to spend Thanksgiving with
2. A truly unique Thanksgiving experience
3. Not having to cook the entire meal by myself without all of my wonderful kitchen tools that are somewhere along their journey to San Diego
4. A fantastic family who I can't wait to see when I get back to the States

What are you thankful for today?

My First Blog Award!

Today one of my dear friends (Sheena @ Dandelion Days) awarded me with the Stylish Blogger Award!

Thank you, Sheena!

Rules for accepting the stylish blogger award:

1. Thank and link back to the person who sent you the award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this on to 13 other wonderful bloggers.
4. Contact the selected bloggers and tell them about their award.

7 (very random) Things About Me

1. I love to cook but I don't think I'd ever want to be a professional chef. I might study to become a chef, but I don't think I could do it for a living.
2. I love to travel and take pictures (big shocker, I know) and would love to find a way to meld these passions into a career.
3. I studied music in college.  I didn't finish the degree (went for business instead) but I play piano and clarinet and would love to play in an ensemble again one day.
4. I had a pet rat growing up.  His name was snowball, he was all white and he was adorable.
5. In my first apartment my first pet was named Sushi. He was a beautiful Betta.  One of my Lithuanian roommates suggested the name and it stuck.
6. I love VeggieTales (and I don't have kids)
7. I really don't like overhead lights, they don't create any ambiance at all and I avoid them whenever possible.

My nominees for the Stylish Blogger Award:

1. Thru Catz Eyes
2. Jessica Rodgers Photography
3. MLP Studio
4. Living the Impossible
5. Steph Abbott Says
6. An American in Rome
7. Orangette
8. Everybody Likes Sandwiches
9. Smitten Kitchen
10. Eat Make Read
11. Whipped
12. Sicilian Simplicity
13. The Swell Life

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 24

Insignia of a U.S. Navy 1st Class Petty Officer - residing on my husband's collar

Today I am thankful for:

1. The opportunity to witness the frocking ceremony where my husband became a 1st Class Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy
2. A delicious dinner that used up a few more of the supplies in our pantry (Pasta with Cannellini Beans & Artichokes)
3. The upcoming long weekend (our last in Sicily!!)

What are you thankful for?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 23

In Catania

Today I am thankful for:

1. My husband getting promoted!! I am so proud of him!
2. A productive day - got a bit more of the house clean and ready to move out
3. A fantastic celebratory Sushi dinner

What are you thankful for?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 22

I had fun playing with my husband's 50mm f/1.8 lens this morning - the control over depth of field is awesome!

Today I am thankful for:

1. Creative outlets - At least I still have my camera with me! I do miss my craft supplies, though.
2. A good chat with my mom (can't wait to be in the same time zone!!)
3. Grilled artichokes - I learned the method at a cooking class last week and they came out soooo good! I look forward to sharing this tasty preparation with my Stateside friends and family.

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 21

The Colorful Catania Market (captured last night)

Today I am thankful for:

1. Finding a few more goodies to pack back to the States with me (unsweetened Lindt cocoa powder & Erbolario Te' Verde Perfume)
2. Being able to celebrate the baptism of a friend's son with a delicious lunch and great people
3. Leftovers for dinner and not having to cook beyond reheating

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 20

Today I am thankful for:

1. A good night of sleep
2. A good afternoon out and about with my hubbie
3. A fun evening with friends

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 19

At Bar Salerno in Mineo for my morning snack

As my time in Sicily draws to an end I am determined to savor every moment - often literally!  Normally I would exercise some amount of self control but moderation has gone out the window.

For example, when I first got to Sicily I was enamored by the cannolo - a tube-like crispy shell filled with sweetened ricotta cheese.  As the years past I somehow lost my pressing desire for cannoli and often nibbled on other sweets.  However, as my time here is soon to end I have reaffirmed my love affair with cannoli and have been having them whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Of course I can get cannoli in the States (I even know of a pretty decent place in Little Italy in San Diego) but even though they are good they cannot compare to getting them in Sicily!! This is why this morning, after my trip to the weekly market in Mineo I made the last minute decision to stop at one of my favorite bars for a mid-morning snack.  The opportunity may not present itself again, and I'm glad I took the time to go, sit, and savor.

Today I am thankful for:

1. The sweet Sicilian moments when I can sit with a cappuccino and enjoy a decadent treat
2. Cappuccino
3. Cannoli
4. Market day bounty - all sorts of fresh yummies
5. The internet - I love how it allows me to stay connected with family, old and new friends, and share my love of photography
6. A Twitter mention that I got a few days ago from Jessica @italylogue "Wow. Have been paging through the photography portfolio of @angandrieux & am in love. Gorgeous pics of #Italy & food! http://bit.ly/93oGty" So cool!!

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 18

Today I am thankful for:

1. A day at home to get things done around the house (not terribly fun, but necessary)
2. My hubbie getting off work at a reasonable hour
3. My hubbie running to the store to get fixings for dinner

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 17

The view from L'Antica Tenuta Malerba - an organic farm know for their amazing sheep's milk ricotta cheese

Today I am thankful for:

1. The opportunity to attend an amazing cooking class
2. The delicious food that I learned how to cook AND got to eat
3. The appreciation I've gained while living in Sicily for fresh, seasonal food

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 16

I love a man who loves his cat :)

Today I am thankful for:

1. My husband
2. As of today we have been married seven years and haven't killed each other yet :)
3. My hubbie getting the day off of work so we could spend our anniversary together
4. An awesome morning/early afternoon going to a Ricotta Cheese Workshop
5. A fantastic meal at the workshop with, you guessed it, lots of delicious ricotta cheese
6. An afternoon snooze

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 15

Snapshots from last night's dinner at Borgo Antico Agriturismo

Today I am thankful for:

1. Free classes on base
2. An easy housing inspection
3. Dinner tonight with friends
4. Making it 1/2 way through the month, blogging every single day!!

What are you thankful for today

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 14

I like color! If you didn't already know that about me, now you do. I think that is why I gravitate toward buying pack upon pack of colorful pens, and why I own at least three sets of high-end markers.  When it comes to photography as much as I love the drama of black & white  I will often color back in a little piece. I can't deal with blah.

Today my hubbie and I did a bit of shopping and ended up at H&M.  He was in need of new black socks and I found the perfect ones!  They have a little rim of color at the top. HA!  He can wear them in uniform and no one will know (unless of course they read this).  I love inserting a bit of color into the otherwise drab world of military life.  It is why whenever I'm on base I sign everything with a purple, or green, or pink pen.  Anything but boring ol' blue or black (which is what is usually required).  I actually made a postal clerk's day once by signing with a pretty colored pen.  Poor girl, so deprived of color!! I'm glad I could make her day, though.

Captured in Morro Bay, CA in January 2010

Today I am thankful for:

1. A hubbie who makes breakfast for me
2. A bit of shopping
3. The NEX having everything on my list today (shocking!!)
4. Color!
5. A clean house
6. Anticipation of a fabulous dinner at my favorite agriturismo.

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 13

My plants went to a new home today. I will miss them!

Today I am thankful for:

1. A friend who took my plants - I know she will give them a good home
2. A totally lazy day
3. Naps
4. Homemade Limoncello (made by my hubbie)

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 12

My new lil' moka pot

Today I am thankful for:

1. Coffee
2. A wonderful morning at the market with a friend and her family
3. Yummy, fresh food from the market
4. Progress on finding a place to live in San Diego - nothing set in stone yet, but we are moving in the right direction

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 11

My hubbie - a sailor in the United States Navy

Today I am thankful for:

1. My husband and his service to our country
2. All of the men and women who serve the United States of America in our armed forces

Have you thanked a veteran today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 10

Artist at work in Caltagirone

Today I am thankful for:

1. Coffee and a chat with a friend this afternoon
2. Retail therapy
3. Yummy dinner of pasta with pancetta and spinach
4. Vino

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 9

Pumpkin is feeling playful today!!

Today I am thankful for:

1. Pumpkin pretty much being back to his normal, lovey, playful self
2. My hubbie FINALLY getting off of the watch bill
3. All of the pieces of our move are slowly but surely coming together

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 8

Just down the street from my house...

Today I am thankful for:

1. The opportunity to go to the Caleca factory in Patti to pick up a few more beautiful ceramic dishes before the last of our possessions (that won't fit in our suitcases) head to the States
2. The gorgeous drive to Patti - although it was cloudy I could see mainland Italy and the Aeolian Islands from the highway
3. If all goes well tonight should be our last visit to the vet with Pumpkin (until we go back for his "all clear to fly" health certificate)
4. Crispy fall weather

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 7

Warm Ricotta, YUM!

Today I am thankful for:

1. Last night's fantastic dinner with Sicilian friends in Ragusa
2. The opportunity I've had over the past four years to learn about and taste so many delicious foods native to this area of the world
3. A clean house
4. A (mostly) well kitty
5. A husband who mowed the lawn and washed the car

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 6

Caltagirone Market

Today I am thankful for:

1. A trip to the Caltagirone Market
2. The bounty of fresh produce that we purchased at the market
3. A delicious Italian panino for lunch
4. More improvement in my kitty's health
5. A good night of sleep
6. The opportunity to go out this evening for a delicious Sicilian dinner

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 5

Edna Valley Vineyard in fall 2008

Today I am thankful for:

1. Improvement in my kitty's health
2. Fall weather
3. Knowing when I am going home - we finally got our flight date!!
4. Being able to speak enough Italian to ask for directions AND actually understand them
5. My husband finally having two days off in a row (its been weeks)

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 4

A glimpse of Mt. Etna through the clouds

Today I am thankful for:

1. Eggnog Latte Coffeemate - Its not Starbucks, but it'll do until I get back to the States
2. My trusty 2001 Subaru Legacy GT LTD
3. AWD that keeps me safe while driving in heavy rain
4. No lines at MVRO (essentially the base DMV)
5. A FREE Amazon download of The Incredible Singing Christmas Tree by VeggieTales - it made me smile and I had so much fun listening to it while driving to base this morning
6. Snow on Mt. Etna, so beautiful!

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 3

My lunch: cherry tomatoes topped with fresh olive oil (pressed just this week)

Today I am thankful for:

1. A morning cappuccino at one of my favorite bars in Mineo
2. The generosity of a friend who was willing to take time out of her busy day, chat awhile, and help me out by calling the vet and translating for me
3. Fresh olive oil and other yummies from Azienda Agricola Infantino
4. Fresh bread & fresh cherry tomatos
5. My friends (old & new) who are joining me in the Thirty Days of Thanksgiving challenge

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving - Day 2

If you have a blog, consider joining me in the "Thirty Days of Thanksgiving" challenge!  I've started a blogroll of participants in the sidebar.  If you'd like to be added to the list please comment with a link to your blog.  Don't sweat it if you didn't get a chance to start on Nov. 1, just start today!

Today I am thankful for:

1. Signs of improvement in my kitty's heath
2. The peace in my heart and encouragement that comes with observing these signs of improvement
3. Rain
4. A loving and hard-working husband
5. An awesome family

What are you thankful for today?

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving

Last year I attempted to complete a challenge from NaBloPoMo to post 30 times in thirty days using the theme "Thirty Days of Thanksgiving".  I fell a bit behind and only posted 26 times, but the exercise of writing each day and counting my blessing was, well, a blessing. As a result I've decided to make Thirty Days of Thanksgiving an annual feature on this blog.  It helps me recognize all that I have to be thankful for.  I especially need to remind myself of these things now because life hasn't been easy lately. Life challenges have been stacking up and wearing me down, but I feel I need to stop and recognize all I DO have to be thankful for, even in the midst of difficulties.

In case you are wondering what NaBloPoMo is, it stands for National Blog Posting Month. Each month NaBloPoMo presents a specific topic, but November is the only month where writers can post on any topic, as long as they post daily, the goal being to post each day for an entire month.

So, here we go...today I am thankful for:

1. Small Blessings
2. That the gas station nearest to my house was open today, even though it is an Italian holiday
3. Having just enough gas coupons to fill up my tank
4. Seeing a friendly face at the gas station, and having that friend ask how I was doing and really wanting to hear the answer
5. An open farmacia on an Italian holiday
6. A pharmacist who spoke a bit of English
7. And, above all, although my cat is still sick he trying to pull through his illness

Pumpkin Tails: It isn't always La Dolce Vita

Sometimes living in Italy isn't easy or fun.  The past few days have made me wish that I was living stateside more than I can express.  Why?  I have a sick cat and things don't work here the way we are used to them working in the States.

For example - We took Pumpkin to the vet twice on Friday and ultimately brought him home with a catheter and a bag full of medications, including shots.  This wouldn't happen in the States.  They would keep your beloved pet at the vet clinic and tend to them.  It is never fun leaving a pet at the vet, but at least you (hopefully) know they are receiving quality care from someone who knows what they are doing. I don't have a clue what I'm doing.

On top of that there is the language difficulty.  I don't speak very good Italian, and I certainly don't know medical jargon so it is really difficult to communicate effectively with the veterinarian. Finally, of course things had to get worse on a Friday an everything here is closed on the weekend.  Oh, and Monday is an Italian holiday, too.

I'm feeling helpless.  There are symptoms that I won't describe in gory detail here that have me concerned.  I called the vet 5 times before I got through and was told to continue the therapy and bring him in tomorrow morning.  If what I think may be the problem is the problem, well....I don't want to speculate, I'll just freak myself out.

The Vet we are using now is the second one I've seen this week. I don't want to mess up continuity of care, but I don't want to put my cat in danger either.  I don't even know where I'd find a pet emergency clinic, certainly not nearby.  We live far enough out in the country if I found one it would likely be an hour or more away.

For now I will try to make my cat as comfortable as possible and see what happens. I will pray, and if you pray please pray for Pumpkin or send positive thoughts our way.  At this point I just want him to get well enough to travel so we can move back to the States and take him to a "real" vet.

Playing with light

The other evening while my hubbie and I were out for dinner we had some fun playing with long exposures on the camera.  The first was just a happy accident where the camera clicked off an extra shot and I didn't feel like waiting patiently for it to get enough light so I moved the camera around trying to capture every little bit of light possible.

For this next shot we set the camera's shutter speed to BULB which means that the shutter stays open as long as we are holding the shutter button.  We both tried our hands at making light flowers and this was the best we got. Its not great, I know, be we had fun!

Sometimes photography is just about having fun, not about capturing the next masterpiece.  We had a lot of fun just playing with the light.  I want to encourage you to just have fun with whatever your passion is, be it photography or something else.  You never know what you might come up with!

Ristorante Casablanca

This evening my hubbie took me out for dinner, and we decided on Ristorante Casablanca, an Arab restaurant in Catania.  We have eaten there several times and the food is always fantastic and a nice diversion from typical Sicilian food.  Sicilian food is always wonderful, but growing up in America, the melting pot of the world, my palette often craves different flavors.

If you'd like to check out Ristorante Casablanca they can be found at:

Viale Alcide de Gasperi 181/183, Catania

Parking is ample and easy. If you'd like to see the belly dancing show (we've never been, but I've heard its fun) they have it every Friday night.  Call for reservations at 095-722-5491 or 347403-3366.

If you visit them please let me know what you think!

Kittens!

Today I went up to Azienda Agricola Infantino, a nearby organic farm, for a cooking class and lunch. Each time I have been to Emilio and Mariska's farm has been a wonderful experience.  The company and the food are both wonderful.

Today we enjoyed antipasti of sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, olives, capers, spicy chili paste, and bread.

We got to sample some Balsamic Vinegar - the good stuff from Modena, the kind that you might eat with strawberries.  If you would like to buy some of the "good stuff'" check out the ingredient list.  It should have "mosto d'uva cotto" and that is it!  If it has aceto di vino (wine vinegar), caramel, or anything else you are getting the cheap stuff, even if the price tag says otherwise.

We also enjoyed homemade lasagna, roasted potatoes and vegetables, and a beef roast stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes, all cooked in an outdoor wood-fired oven.  DELICIOUS!

Once the food was out of the oven I was more focused on eating than taking photos, as is usual for me. Since I don't have photos of the rest of the food you'll have to suffice with photos of adorable kittens!!  These precious ones were running around and playing as we were enjoying our meal.  Too cute!!

Mid Yawn :)

Mussels and Mozzarella

The two foods that I ate the most of while in and around Naples were Mussels and Mozzarella.  Both were FANTASTIC!  The Mozzarella di Bufala in the Campania region was some of the best I had ever had and the seafood was delicious and fresh.

I didn't take many photos of the food that I ate (silly me!).  I always seem to remember after I'm halfway through the plate and its never quite as pretty half eaten as it was when I began.  So, you'll have to do with a single photo of Spaghetti con Cozze, Spaghetti with Mussels - a dish I highly recommend if you visit Naples.

I'd also recommend a visit to Fratelli la Bufala if you ever come across one of their restaurants.  We visited their restaurant in Pozzouli, a small suburb of Naples. Apparently they are a chain that originated in the Campania region and their food is awesome.

Around Napoli

We spent a couple of afternoons wandering around the historic center of Naples.  Although it wasn't, shall we say, the most pristine city (check out this article for a bit on Naples trash woes), it did have a unique aura of organized chaos with a bit of refinement hiding just under the surface.  Here are a few photos that I snapped as I wove through the crowed streets and alleyways: