Again, they are out of order. I am going to figure out how they load for the next time and try to make it cronological. This blogging thing is fun.
Something Alessandra picked. It now sits in the kitchen waiting to be used.
The rose bushes.
Through the vines and prickles for this shot. You better appreciate it.
The beautiful Marche Region.
Alessandra e Bella, picking rosehips.
The van and the horizon. 
Me and the Shrouded House.
The rosehips we picked! I had no basket. 
On the trek back to the van. Sarah gratefully holds Mom's bouquet.
The picnic! Mom's taking a deserved rest.
Climbing trees after the picnic.
Bouquet with a piece of rock I horribly stole from the Shrouded House.
My bouquet half done.
My bouquet all done! For mom! Happy Thanksgiving, ma.
Me and the trees!
This little shack I noticed. I think this was a camping area of somesort and they kept the wood in there. I prefer to think an elf lives there and if I catch him on a full moon I will get his treasure.
Art. O yea, I'm calling it that.
These little shells were attached to the deadening plants. I think it is very weird to sea shells where there is no water. There are little animals in them, like slugs, and they attach to the plants to eat them. Cute!
Trees!
Leo e Bella
View from the area where we picnic'd.
The children climbing.
Closeup of a rosehip I broke open. We are in the process of making marmalade with the ones we picked!
Closeup of the Shrouded House.
Leo, Katrine's boy, Benedetta, walking to the Shrouded House.
Marche! The region Urbino is in is called Marche. If you click this picture and make it bigger you can see a giant M imprinted in one of the hills. I noticed as we drove and neither Alessandra nor Katrine had seen if before or knew what it was for. We assumed Marche.
Sarah a le cane, Bella.
The Shrouded House from the Road, in approach not retreat. 
I bambino in l'automobile.
Post from Ottobre 11, 2009:
I would like to give thanks for this side of the world and its beautiful distractions.
As you may have guessed, there was no great feast among the native Italians and an invading force causing a wonderful holiday that include all of my favourite food. Canadian Thanksgiving is one of my favourite holidays. I get to drive home and see my family and eat turkey and pie and potatoes and not eat cranberries or those things Marta makes. (Just kidding. I love your cooking.) I often get two Thanksgivings at home. One with my family and one with Brianne and her mom and some friends. That means two times the food, the love, the thanksgiving and magic of friends.
Thanksgiving was very hard to miss.
However, yesterday afternoon, a friend of Alessandra's came with her son, who is Benedetta's age, and her van. Katrine drove and talked with Alessandra in the front. They often switched between Italian and German, and somtimes English with me. I am continuously amazed at people knowing more than two languages. More than one, at times. Anways, there is only one seat in the back of the van and it was reserved for Sarah with a car seat. Leo, Benny, the other child whose name I never got, me and Bella, the dog, all crawled in and found a comfy spot.
We started driving out of the town. It was wonderful to take a step back from where I have made my home. The town is nestled between two hills and surrounded by mountains and farmland. You can see distant towns nestled between other hills as you drive out of Urbino.
The road is very small and I often wondered how things would go down if another car came our way. Driving the winding roads was wonderful! We rolled around in the back like an arcade game, the front two seats knocking us back, Sarah as an obstacle. Some of the trees are changing colour and it all reminded me of driving out to the farm when I was a kid. On the last road we were always allowed to take off our seatbelt. This also reminded me of the time my cousin Brian got his head stuck between the seats. But this is another story for another time.
Allora, we arrived at what I assume used to be a house. It was a white shamble covered in all sorts of vines and trees. I went to look inside and got all sorts of prickles and thorns. There are many roses in the Italian countryside. There were no flowers anymore, only the thorns. We walked for some time down an undrivable road. The children loved it! Leo is often hooked to his Nintendo DS and he didn't even ask about it. Benedetta and the little boy played games that can only exist inside a childs head, and Sarah was tired and wanted all the flowers I picked. But I told her I was not finished making the bouquet. And I told her they were for my mother, so she could not have them. The whole time we walked I could only think about Thanksgiving. I knew my family was having it that night. I was very happy, though, out in the woods and it felt like fall and I was with people who I had much fun with, and it felt like home. Not like my home, but like a new home. We found a good spot for our picnic and ate white cake and grapes. Oh, speaking of which, there is no such thing as a seedless grape her, as far as I can tell. Eating can be hard work, but it's worth it. I could hear gunshots; they echoed in the hills like fireworks do in the River Valley. I asked what they could be hunting and Katrine laughed and said there was truly nothing here to hunt! But probably hare and deer. I think there is little wildlife in this part. There you go dad, no good hunting in Italy, you're better off there.
I walked on some paths alone and came across a little fountain and a great tree covered in Ivy. Ivy grows like mad here. It's very beautiful, especially in the forest. After eating and exploring, we walked back up. I took a different route. I did not know where it turned up but Bella followed me so I knew I'd be safe. I ended up right back at the Shrouded House. How lucky is that?
Alessandra had been picking from different plants all day and she wanted some rosehips to make marmalade. We picked off of about four different trees and got a big plasic container full. However, I am not well trained in the picking of rosehips. Their thorns have left marks all over my right hand. There is one scratch right where I hold a pen. Gah. It was great though. We ate some and it reminded me of picking Saskatoons in the valley. I would pick at one tree, Alessandra another, and the hills were so quiet and the nature was so still. It was very peaceful. We drove down to a park where we played. Bella loved it. They started calling her Bella il Lupo, Bella the Wolf. Sarah loves the swings. At parks it is almost all she does. I work out my arms pushing her and she is happy. Perfecto. Leo and I also had an epic sword fight with two large sticks. He won because I got dust in my eye. A valiant fight, it was.
After the park we hopped into the pinball van and drove up the roads with the window down. Leo and I stuck our heads out and felt the chill Italian wind in our hair. After a while he had drool running across his cheek like rain across a car window. It was hilarious.
Coming back to Urbino was even better than seeing it we left. The night had come and the town was lit up. The whole town is the same colour, and it goes up in layers, so you can see a beautiful, ancient town from top to bottom as you come to it. The lights made it very beautiful and unique. At that moment I remembered meeting a woman that morning. She was from America and had heard I was Canadian. She has a son in the girls' school. We talked for a few minutes and she said, with that serious conviction people get when they talk about something they truly believe, "This is a special place. There are other great places in Italy, but this place is special."
I saw this last night.
We stopped at the supermarket to pick up some things Alessandra can only get with a car and Katrine and her son came for dinner. We cooked tortelini and had tomatoes with fresh basil and olive oil. Katrine brought some wine that comes straight from the farm with no treatments. It was so amazing. I asked her if I could get a couple bottles to send home and she said it would probably not taste the same once it got there because it is not treated to travel. So just trust me; it was great.
The children went to play after dinner and we drank the wine and talked for about an hour. It was great to laugh and joke. Alessandra and Katrine are great friends with each other and great fun. I played them Diana Krall, most importantly I played Peel Me a Grape. Sarah had started peeling her grape at the picnic and was wiping the skin on her mothers pants. Not to say that Sarah is high maintenance, but this song is perfect for her. It was a very fun night and interesting and new. I was relaxed and at peace with being here. If I can make it through Thanksgiving, I can make it through 8 more months.
However, I continue to dream in Canada. Last night I had the kids at mom and dad's. I had to make toast in a frying pan and Dad wore a fishing hat.
Anyways, I am now going to add some picture to previous posts and some new ones. Finally!
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I also hope you gave many thanks to having your friends, your land and each others laughter. I hope you give thanks for these things everyday. They are very special, and trust me, you would miss them with all your heart if you were seperated.
As you may have guessed, there was no great feast among the native Italians and an invading force causing a wonderful holiday that include all of my favourite food. Canadian Thanksgiving is one of my favourite holidays. I get to drive home and see my family and eat turkey and pie and potatoes and not eat cranberries or those things Marta makes. (Just kidding. I love your cooking.) I often get two Thanksgivings at home. One with my family and one with Brianne and her mom and some friends. That means two times the food, the love, the thanksgiving and magic of friends.
Thanksgiving was very hard to miss.
However, yesterday afternoon, a friend of Alessandra's came with her son, who is Benedetta's age, and her van. Katrine drove and talked with Alessandra in the front. They often switched between Italian and German, and somtimes English with me. I am continuously amazed at people knowing more than two languages. More than one, at times. Anways, there is only one seat in the back of the van and it was reserved for Sarah with a car seat. Leo, Benny, the other child whose name I never got, me and Bella, the dog, all crawled in and found a comfy spot.
We started driving out of the town. It was wonderful to take a step back from where I have made my home. The town is nestled between two hills and surrounded by mountains and farmland. You can see distant towns nestled between other hills as you drive out of Urbino.
The road is very small and I often wondered how things would go down if another car came our way. Driving the winding roads was wonderful! We rolled around in the back like an arcade game, the front two seats knocking us back, Sarah as an obstacle. Some of the trees are changing colour and it all reminded me of driving out to the farm when I was a kid. On the last road we were always allowed to take off our seatbelt. This also reminded me of the time my cousin Brian got his head stuck between the seats. But this is another story for another time.
Allora, we arrived at what I assume used to be a house. It was a white shamble covered in all sorts of vines and trees. I went to look inside and got all sorts of prickles and thorns. There are many roses in the Italian countryside. There were no flowers anymore, only the thorns. We walked for some time down an undrivable road. The children loved it! Leo is often hooked to his Nintendo DS and he didn't even ask about it. Benedetta and the little boy played games that can only exist inside a childs head, and Sarah was tired and wanted all the flowers I picked. But I told her I was not finished making the bouquet. And I told her they were for my mother, so she could not have them. The whole time we walked I could only think about Thanksgiving. I knew my family was having it that night. I was very happy, though, out in the woods and it felt like fall and I was with people who I had much fun with, and it felt like home. Not like my home, but like a new home. We found a good spot for our picnic and ate white cake and grapes. Oh, speaking of which, there is no such thing as a seedless grape her, as far as I can tell. Eating can be hard work, but it's worth it. I could hear gunshots; they echoed in the hills like fireworks do in the River Valley. I asked what they could be hunting and Katrine laughed and said there was truly nothing here to hunt! But probably hare and deer. I think there is little wildlife in this part. There you go dad, no good hunting in Italy, you're better off there.
I walked on some paths alone and came across a little fountain and a great tree covered in Ivy. Ivy grows like mad here. It's very beautiful, especially in the forest. After eating and exploring, we walked back up. I took a different route. I did not know where it turned up but Bella followed me so I knew I'd be safe. I ended up right back at the Shrouded House. How lucky is that?
Alessandra had been picking from different plants all day and she wanted some rosehips to make marmalade. We picked off of about four different trees and got a big plasic container full. However, I am not well trained in the picking of rosehips. Their thorns have left marks all over my right hand. There is one scratch right where I hold a pen. Gah. It was great though. We ate some and it reminded me of picking Saskatoons in the valley. I would pick at one tree, Alessandra another, and the hills were so quiet and the nature was so still. It was very peaceful. We drove down to a park where we played. Bella loved it. They started calling her Bella il Lupo, Bella the Wolf. Sarah loves the swings. At parks it is almost all she does. I work out my arms pushing her and she is happy. Perfecto. Leo and I also had an epic sword fight with two large sticks. He won because I got dust in my eye. A valiant fight, it was.
After the park we hopped into the pinball van and drove up the roads with the window down. Leo and I stuck our heads out and felt the chill Italian wind in our hair. After a while he had drool running across his cheek like rain across a car window. It was hilarious.
Coming back to Urbino was even better than seeing it we left. The night had come and the town was lit up. The whole town is the same colour, and it goes up in layers, so you can see a beautiful, ancient town from top to bottom as you come to it. The lights made it very beautiful and unique. At that moment I remembered meeting a woman that morning. She was from America and had heard I was Canadian. She has a son in the girls' school. We talked for a few minutes and she said, with that serious conviction people get when they talk about something they truly believe, "This is a special place. There are other great places in Italy, but this place is special."
I saw this last night.
We stopped at the supermarket to pick up some things Alessandra can only get with a car and Katrine and her son came for dinner. We cooked tortelini and had tomatoes with fresh basil and olive oil. Katrine brought some wine that comes straight from the farm with no treatments. It was so amazing. I asked her if I could get a couple bottles to send home and she said it would probably not taste the same once it got there because it is not treated to travel. So just trust me; it was great.
The children went to play after dinner and we drank the wine and talked for about an hour. It was great to laugh and joke. Alessandra and Katrine are great friends with each other and great fun. I played them Diana Krall, most importantly I played Peel Me a Grape. Sarah had started peeling her grape at the picnic and was wiping the skin on her mothers pants. Not to say that Sarah is high maintenance, but this song is perfect for her. It was a very fun night and interesting and new. I was relaxed and at peace with being here. If I can make it through Thanksgiving, I can make it through 8 more months.
However, I continue to dream in Canada. Last night I had the kids at mom and dad's. I had to make toast in a frying pan and Dad wore a fishing hat.
Anyways, I am now going to add some picture to previous posts and some new ones. Finally!
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I also hope you gave many thanks to having your friends, your land and each others laughter. I hope you give thanks for these things everyday. They are very special, and trust me, you would miss them with all your heart if you were seperated.
Wonderfully descriptive of your special day, Carrie!!
ReplyDeleteIt was not the same without out you! Marta found a new recipe for the yams and they were delicious.
Dianne