spices at the market

Perfect timing ... I need to re-stock my kitchen for holiday baking!

Catnaps

Spent part of last weekend at a friend's home ... caught Lola (momma cat) snoozing while her kittens were elsewhere.  

It REALLY does exist!

Homer Simpson's legendary beer really does exist ...

a fine German brew (so I am told).

The Catanian puppet

DH and I saw this last weekend while at a local festival.  The puppet is known as "Il Catanese" and represents a citizen from Catania, Sicily,  The elephant is the symbol of the city and is a reminder of Hannabal crossing the Alps with his elephants.  The puppet is about two and a half feet tall from shoe soles to top of the feathers. 

As seen at Berlin (Tegal) airport

Just thought this was nifty to see inside the terminal ...

On the beach near Giardini-Naxos

Went to the beach two weekends ago with some Sicilian friends ... first time either DH or I have been to the beach in nearly four years.   The beach is lot different than the ones in San Diego ... lots of small rocks rather than sand.  Both DH and I are going to get water shoes before we go again.
I'll need to put on sunscreen as well ... ended up with a second-degree burn.... lots of small blisters.  Oh well ... so life goes.

Buying figs in Belpasso

We passed this vendor on the way to work -- haven't seen him before two weeks ago.  Most local vendors set up near the top of town or on the main road coming down from the top.  Others drive through town either in the morning or evening with small (very small) trucks and loud speakers letting people know what is being offered.  This one is closer to the bottom of Belpasso.

The figs were pretty great!

Weeding the roof

Results of birds and prickly pears ....

DH was able to remove most of the cacti from the rain gutters... but not all.

Spaceship over Etna

The winds blowing around Etna cause this cloud formation.

Did anyone else think of the movie "Independence Day" when seeing this?

Easy Peasy Turkey dinner tonight

It's hot here .... too hot to be in the kitchen for long.

Tried out a recipe that a friend shared a couple years ago (yup ... it's been hangin out that long waiting to be tried) ... it's a keeper!

Turkey breast
1 package of onion soup mix
1 can cranberry sauce (I used whole-berry, but you can used jellied too)

Put the thawed turkey breast in a slow cooker.
Mix the sauce and the soup mix together and spread over the  turkey.
Cook on high for an hour or two -- then on low for 4 to 6 hours.
Baste occasionally.

Can thicken the juices with cornstarch ... we just drizzled some over the turkey slices.

Made up some top-of-the-stove stuffing mix to go along with the turkey, and added some fresh nectarines from the market.   Works for us...plus there's turkey to make into sandwiches for work tomorrow.

KFC Russian-style

Hey!  It's KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) ... in Moscow, Russia. 

 "It's chicken tonight!"

DH and I spent most of June visiting Berlin and then taking a river cruise up the Volga from Moscow to St. Petersburg. 

DS even managed to get leave approved to join us for the entire trip.

We had a GREAT time!

My guest book

I found this lined journal in the British Museum shop one trip to London.

The flap is magnetized - so it stays closed.

Not long before DH and I married, we had dinner with

one of my high school teachers and his wife.

They had the tradition of having all their guests sign a guest book ...

including notes who the guests were, the meal, the occasion ... whatever they wanted to remember.

I added this quote after an E-sister mentioned it ...

 though for my next guest book,

I think I will modify it to read "home" rather than "house".

Eyelashes again!

Cute eyelashes!

Saw this car at the mechanic's lot the other day ...

Espresso makers in cars ??

Fiat plans to add in-car espresso makers to its new 500L cars.... only the European editions though. 

I have to wonder about the logic behind the idea ... haven't driven much in the rest of Europe, but here in Sicily drivers have enough distractions without adding in this.  Granted, the announcement said that the espresso maker would only work when the car was stopped .... that's just a challenge for some one to figure out a way  around it.

Here is the link for more information: 
 http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblogpost-tech.aspx?post=7df474e2-1330-442b-9c0d-44db4f537d79

My Scenic is a goner!

The after-math of a rainy night and wash-outs on a narrow road.

Mechanic told my husband it will cost more to fix

than to buy a different car.

Farewell my little Renault Scenic.

Brotwort seller in Berlin

Visited Berlin (Germany) last month with DH, DS and a co-worker (who lived 11 years there .. our own personal tour guide!)  Saw this guy at a couple of the tourist spots we visited.  Carries all that he needs to sell wonderful German sausages to passers-by. 

 Yum!!

Richard Dawson ..

Nope ... I haven't fallen off the ends of the world .... though sure couldn't prove it from the demands in my life.  

Watching "Hogan's Heros" and "Family Feud" were staples in my life for many years ... loved Richard Dawson.  He will be missed greatly.

Saw this online on 3 June 2012 ... when it wa still "yes", no" or "maybe".

Honoring St Agatha

St Agatha is Catania's (nearest major city) patron saint.

The main Duomo (cathedral) in Catania is dedicated to her.

The last time DH and I visited the Duomo,

 the altar was banked by flowers in honor of St. Agatha.

Boneless??

Looking at her ... I would swear that Indy is boneless
the way she contorts herself.

Check out the face!

This is over the main entrance to the Mother Church in Ferla.
I keyed in on the face at the bottom ... didn't even notice the one at the top.
Wish I knew the meaning is behind the emblem....

Etna's at it again!

DH was at home when this happened -- watched the lava as it flared up.

Good Friday, 2012

Our Lady of Sorrows during the Good Friday procession in Ferla, Sicily.
DH and I hadn't seen this procession before.  It was quite impressive.

Palm Sunday

Carrying and waving palms ... this is one of many celebrants in the town of Gangi.

Such joy ....

Another in St Giuseppe's parade ....I love the joy on the man's face.
The first part of the parade is the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt.

And out like a lamb ....

Now the wildflowers are beginning to pop out ....

In like a lion ....

We had a freak storm last week ... flooding, roads washed out, power outages, stores closed the next day to recover from wind damages ...
this is our balony about 20 minutes after the storm hit Belpasso.

St Giuseppe parade - Scicli

St Joseph is one of the most important saints here in Sicily.  His saint day is March 17th.

Scicli in the southern part of the island has a fantastic parade every year.

The horses are decorated with huge or elaborate floral displays.

Sailing ... sailing ... I think ...

A tropical storm went through last week ....
less than an hour earlier, I had driven through this intersection
 and there was only a couple inches of water.
  Now just about every car in the photo has died due to water intrusion.

Fresh orange juice!

Freshly squeezed tarocco (related to blood oranges) juice!  Good stuff!

The first year I was stationed here before, DS was only 8 that year.  He strolled into the kitchen while I was squeezing orange juice and asked what I was doing.   I told him I was making orange juice.
Instant response ... "No you're not!. I know what orange juice looks like!!"
Took some convincing ... but he finally tried the juice .... and liked it.

Birra ?

saw this while visiting one of our favorite restaurants ...

Lessons learned

A friend recently reminded me of an experience she had with her ex-husband ... some people need a bit more time to learn some important lessons.   "M" okayed my sharing this with all of you.  Smiles!


"My ex drove me crazy. We had in our first apartment a laundry hamper in the corner, not along a wall, in a corner - this is important to visualize... because even grandma, if need be, could throw a clothing item in the general direction and "make the basket"... everyone could make the basket ... except my ex.

Well, since he was so lazy, he would leave his underwear on the side of the bed... not even try to "shoot". There they lay, day after day - and after much poking and prodding and praying he would just get his
dirty underwear in the basket, I realized something else had to be done, for I was just fed up that he could not get it thru his thick head.

At the time we were both teachers, he was at the high school and I was at an elementary.  My start time was about 2 hours after his.... I was able to get the laundry started, dinner started, house tidied, etc.

I had to figure out something to have him stop irritating me with this... so this is what happened.

I had to go to work (inservice workshop) one day super early, so I was out of the house before him. The inservice was being held at our school, not off site. About 1 hour into the session the secretary comes and gets me - there was a phone call from my husband. I tell her not now, take a message, if important, and I went back to the conference. Shortly after, she returned saying he needed to talk to me.  I was frustrated at that time and I excused myself and went to the office.

On the other end he was just livid... he could not find any of his underwear and he was running late to get to work. He inquired "Did you throw them out?" and I said no, that I had to get back to my meeting... and hung up.

No kidding... about 10 minutes later, she comes back and gets me... I slip out the back and answer the phone. He (who also had a temper) was so ticked at this time... I answer the phone and he asks "I have searched this place from one end to the other and can't find my underwear.. what did you do with them...'

I could tell he was "at the end of his rope" so I said.. you didn't search everywhere... because you would have found them... go check the freezer and don't call me again". I at this point waited in the office, because I knew that phone was going to ring and by now I have told the secretary what was going on. Sure enough.. the phone rang and she said... guess who.... and I answered.

With a screaming person on the other end... I got him to "shut up" long enough to explain. I asked him "How many times have I asked you to put your dirty underwear in the basket?   Since you find it necessary to leave them at your bedside day after day when I have asked nicely for you to pick them up and "make a basket" I decided to fix the problem."

I took my large 5 qt pan, fill it with water, and shoved each pair of his underwear in the pan, and shoved the pan in the freezer. Yes I did.

So he finds this pan, has to take it to the bathtub, start running hot water to break up the block of ice, get one pair "freed" and then wring them out... followed by standing there with my hair dryer to try to dry them so he can yet get to work on time.

He got them "close enough" in his mind... because he was now "super ticked" and running late.

He got dressed and flew out the door....

Only to get to work and have the school secretary there send him home... I guess close enough wasn't - especially when he work Khaki pants and he had the "I wet myself" look upon entering school!!

He never left his underwear on the floor ever again."

Hello Birdie!

Magpie (bird) looking (and finding) bugs ... lots of bugs.
Magpies are super common  here and in southern Spain ...
Indy hates them ... they like to dive bomb her

Duck curls ...

Hard to believe DH had gotten a hair cut the day before ...
yup, the barber missed a sector.

Belpasso rules!

Outside the Belpasso Calcio (soccer club) office

Assume your position!

It gets a wee bit chilly in the apt ... especially with the snow level not too far above us.
DH  (of course, I do too, but not as much) spends quite a bit of time this way.

Sunrise on Groundhog Day

woke up really early this morning ... watched the sunrise while Indy drank bird-flavo​red water (from the bird bath)

Calming sight



my favorite voltive .. so calming to watch it flicker



It's the Year of the Dragon!

Gong Xi Fa Ca!

It is the traditional greeting meaning “wishing you prosperity”

Happy Chinese New Year to all of you!

Have been putting together several dishes
 to enjoy for our Chinese dinner.

Store shelves during trucker strike

Cold shelves in a local store ... trucker strike is having quite an effect.

Gas lines during trucker strike

A friend waiting for gas during this week's trucker's strike .... DH and I heard a rumor last night that a gas station (not the station in this picture) we go past most days got a delivery last night and was going to open at 7:00am this morning (he's normally not open on Sundays).  So we were up and on our way by 5:30am to sit outside his station and see if the rumor was true.  Another friend joined us in line ... and a few others that drove by joined the line as well.  It was TRUE!!  At 7am, he opened -- there were only about 5 cars in line at that point .. but everyone started calling to let others know gas was available.   The attendant said he got about 2000 liters of gasoline last night ... DH heard this afternoon that the station we gassed up was empty by 9am.

Another side of Indy ....

Indy doesn't cope well with loud noises ...

there were either thunder or fireworks outside ...

here she is burrowing into DH's side

pop ... fizz ... oh ... ah ...

The fireworks DH bought to welcome in New Year's ...

friends hosted a potluck and several guys brought fireworks to share. 

My favorites are the chrystanum ones.

Making Jalapeno Poppers

DH making jalenpeno poppers to take to a friend's for New Year's potluck and fireworks.



Ho Ho Ho in Nuremburg

Santa and Rudolph DH and I saw while visiting this year's

Nuremburg Christmas Market.

He gave candy to the kids whether or not he was given money.

DH and I stopped by to see him everyday we were in town.

Ho Ho Ho ... Merry Christmas everyone.

Buon Natale, Auguri and Happy New Year!

easy-peasy hummus and pita chips

Not a clue where I picked up this recipe, I've tried a bunch over the years since living in Bahrain.
Have made this recipe a few times .... and I think it's wonderful!!  It's a keeper in my house!
Dip can be made and refrigerated 5-days ahead and the chips can be kept in a resealable bag for about a week.    Neither one lasts that long in our home.
This is one of the things I'm taking this to a friend's home for a Christmas day potluck. 

Dip:
1 lemon
1 (15-oz) can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/4-cup tahini
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 teas. vegetable oil
1/2-teas. ground cumin
1/8-teas. cayenne pepper
1/4-teas. salt
1/4-cup water
olive oil and chopped parsley for garnish

Pita chips:
6 pita bread rounds
1/4-cup olive oil
garlic salt (I generally use a little garlic powder and kosher salt ...salt is a must, the chips are really bland without some type of salt)
pepper
2 TB dried herbs such as basil or oregano (my personal favorite is basil)

To make the dip:
Squeeze the lemon and put 1/4-cup of the  juice into a blender or food processor.  Use any leftover juice however you please.

Add everything else other than the garnish ingredients in with the lemon juice and process until smooth; pausing when necessary to scrape down the sides with a spatula.

Put the hummus in a small bowl or shallow platter and drizzle with oilive oil.  Sprinkle with parsley.  It can sit at room temperature for up to four hours.

To make the chips:
Heat oven to 400-degrees.

Cut the pita rounds into 6-wedges and then separate each wedges into two pieces.
Can use small cookie cutters instead of cutting into wedges if you want the chips to be fancy.

Arrange the pita pieces on two baking sheets.  Brush the tops with olive oil, then sprinke with some garlic salt, pepper and dried herbs.

Bake the chips for about 7-minutes or until lightly browned.  Rotating trays halfway through the baking.
Cool the chips.

Leftover chips can be stored for up to a week in a resealable bag (ours never last that long). 

Santa Pup

Santa Pup DH and I saw while visiting Mineo

 (a hill town about an hour from where we live)

GIGGLE AND THE GOATS

A friend sent this to me last year ... I think it's adorable!

Street view

Looking out of the window from my doctor's office ...



Keeping the mice away?

I have missed you all!   Computer and camera both went wonky ... and work, well .. let's just say that work has been challenging.  

Didn't have much time to surf the web -did get lots done around home.

 When the weather started getting colder here (this was taken in October or so), DH and I moved our cilantro and jalapeno pepper pot  from the terrace into the kitchen.  

 The colder weather also means cold floors ... so Indy has a few towels around so she can nap in comfort in sunshine.

We've used up all the cilantro .. but still have a few jalapenos to use soon ... and then I'll move the pot back outside until next spring.