tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35423869838542751352024-03-13T11:22:08.683+00:00Castelvecchioall about me, things that I like, people and places that signed my life. i love travelling, cooking, painting, interior decoration, recycle e up-cycle of furniture. follow my adventures!Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-86389988564615694052020-10-01T13:27:00.000+01:002020-10-01T13:27:13.436+01:00Childhood memories of a long journey down to Sicily<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ksmqz1zDXZw/X3XKGEdldGI/AAAAAAAAAZw/itYi_F3k8hgryMjF-RfAuhvvjf8jG9KHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/StrettoMessinaCS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ksmqz1zDXZw/X3XKGEdldGI/AAAAAAAAAZw/itYi_F3k8hgryMjF-RfAuhvvjf8jG9KHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/StrettoMessinaCS.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The clear water of the Stretto from the Sicilian coast (ph. credits Corrado Salvo)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Sicily again... last summer my not anymore little niece lived the same experience that it's a sweet memory of my childhood. She drove by car, with her dad, my brother and her grandma, my mother, to the family house in Sicily. Definitely for her it was not the adventurous journey that I remember and not even a daylong drive as I always lived with my family.<div><br /></div><div> My father side of the family is a mix between Romagna and Sicily, the most hot blood people among the great variety of Italians. My grandfather was born in the Northern part of Sicily, the area of Messina, the town close to the Stretto, that sea passage so full of legends: Scilla and Cariddi. </div><div><br />I remember when I was a child, we used to drive down from Rome taking a whole day to reach Sicily, we always took the ferry late in the night and my brother and I woke up when the car entered the boat. Everything seemed a bit mysterious and scary, I remember we were looking forward to jumping out of the car and run to the top ferry deck, breathing in the warm breeze and looking down to the black sea imagining that Scilla or Cariddi would come and grab our feet to take us down in the dark waves. Jiggling at our fears, we arrived in Messina too soon, ready to fall asleep for the last 40 km before reaching the family home. The sweet smell of jasmine that were grown on the Sicilian coast for the production of the essence, used for making perfumes, was the last memory before falling asleep again. </div><div><br /></div><div>If I close my eyes I can still remember that smell that to me means the beauty of Sicily.</div><div>Do you have a sweet memory of your childhood that you keep always in your heart?</div><div><br /></div><div>ML xx</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div>Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-24063338606928237622013-10-19T16:21:00.002+01:002013-10-19T16:21:54.774+01:00a secret ingredient<br />
Back after a while to my cooking sessions... in the last few months my kitchen was completely ripped off and redone with a bit of troubles but now it's working fine, and I'm back enjoying cooking for family and friends.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sherry rich scones</td></tr>
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I know my husband love to be woken up by the smell of baking cakes. He loves piping hot scones with home made raspberry jam, another specialty of the house :) (his in that case) so I really want to make him a surprise, if only...<br />
I was kneading my scones when I realized there was no milk in the house, too late I was already hands-on and I had to quickly find a solutions because the dough would started to rise anyway. Add water? Boring. Add another liquid? yes, but which one... Sherry!! That is known among my English family as my "secret" ingredient, because I'm able to use it in almost anything: meat, mushrooms, cakes, fruit salad, never tried in a soup but you never know...<br />
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Here is the recipe, hope you give it a try ;)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the scones ready for the oven</td></tr>
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225 g of self-raising flour<br />
a pinch of salt<br />
50 g of butter (I usually recommend to reduce to half the quantity of fat, but not in this case especially if you do without milk)<br />
25 g of caster sugar<br />
50 g of sultanas<br />
1 medium egg. beaten with enough Sherry yo make 150 ml liquid<br />
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Pre-heat the oven to 220C and put some baking paper on a baking tray.<br />
Mix flour, salt and rub in the butter till it is completely absorbed by the flour. Add egg and Sherry leaving a little aside from brushing the tops. I forgot that time as you can see from the photos, but they taste good anyway.<br />
The dough will be of a lightly pink colour and should be soft and spongy but not sticking to your fingers.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pink dough</td></tr>
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Knead lightly on a floured surface and roll out to 1 1/2 cm in thickness, cut out with a round biscuit cutter, if haven't any use a glass or a coffee cup.<br />
Re-roll the trimmings and cut more scones.<br />
Brush the tops with the egg and cherry mix and bake in <br />
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warm oven for 10 mins or till they become golden brown on top.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the scones just out of the oven</td></tr>
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Have them with home made jam, any red fruit will be good, but the raspberry one is my favorite.<br />
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Enjoy them with coffee or tea.<br />
ML xx<br />
<br />Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-49387920225425359832013-10-19T15:22:00.001+01:002013-10-19T16:38:17.448+01:00Cantine FlorioLong time ago I promised I would have dedicated a post to Cantine Florio, eventually I kept my promise and here we are to talk about the visit of the famous cellars.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">doors of the shop </td></tr>
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The visit of the Cantine Florio is a must do if you stop in Marsala, 10 euro well spent for the guided tour, there is also the opportunity to do it in English, our guide was Sarah, she is very good and jaunty, with a wide knowledge of wines and wine making.<br />
The cellars are located in a huge <i>baglio</i> in front of the sea, on the outskirts of Marsala in an area where other cellars are located.<br />
The cellars are enormous with packed-earth floor and lines of piled <i>barriques</i> that forms corridors <i> </i>that went to America at the beginning of the XX century for an exhibition and few other stuff.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the cellar</td></tr>
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where you walk through. Those cellars have been rebuilt after Second World War because they were severely damaged during the bombing of the area, unfortunately most of the Marsala production went lost, but they saved a huge barrel<br />
The symbol of the Florio family - a sick lion in search of relief - refers to their main activity: they were chemists and they had the government permission for selling quinine to treat malaria a very common disease in the late XIX century in many areas of the South of Italy.<br />
There are more memorabilia of Garibaldi and Mille's landing here rather than in the actual <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Florio family emblem</td></tr>
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Garibaldi's museum in the town centre.<br />
Going through we spotted a <i>barrique</i> filled the same day my husband was born, great coincidence!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a special <i>barrique</i></td></tr>
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Don't miss the tasting at the end of the tour: it's really emotional involving, I had shivers tasting those superb Marsala wines! Better to do in small groups as far as possible, you need silence to meditate those wines.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wine tasting</td></tr>
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So don't wait any longer go and enjoy a glass of Marsala!<br />
Cheers,<br />
ML xxCastel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0Marsala Trapani, Italy37.798044999999988 12.43701559999999537.597324999999991 12.114292099999995 37.998764999999985 12.759739099999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-49089998561320008212013-10-19T14:18:00.001+01:002013-10-19T16:38:55.908+01:00Auditore - a little village on the boarder<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Auditore Town Hall</td></tr>
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If I'm back to posting on the blog I should really thank Lisa from <a href="http://www.renovatingitaly.com/">Renovating Italy</a>, her last post it's so emotionally powerful that really gave me the kick to get back and write something about my beloved Italy.<br />
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One day in early autumn I took my husband on a drive among those fantastic hills that are the border between Romagna and Marche, where my grand parents came from and where I used to go visiting older relatives or cemeteries with them at least once in the summer when I was I little child.<br />
I don't remember the places but I absolutely cannot forget how my grand father got animated as soon as the car stopped in the village square and he jumped out and greeted the people who was coming to say hello to him. It was like being brought into the past and being a little observer who nobody took any notice of. I enjoyed that atmosphere which brought my child like being into an ancient past, I loved to hear their stories and I loved the smile on my grandfather face.<br />
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Anyway, going back to that famous trip with my husband, we didn't really plan to stop in Auditore, when I saw the edge of town sign on the road I immediately turned the car and stopped in front of the Town Hall (<i>Comune)</i>. As I said, I really did not remember the place, but as I breathed the air every thing seemed familiar.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0IwFYhl-oyo/UmJchG66vPI/AAAAAAAAAPM/Z7U6iXpNdGY/s1600/MLiPhone+2011+102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0IwFYhl-oyo/UmJchG66vPI/AAAAAAAAAPM/Z7U6iXpNdGY/s320/MLiPhone+2011+102.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the road up to the church belvedere</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">coloured houses </td></tr>
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We walked around the small streets of the tiny village, not coming across many people, but the noises from the houses kept us company. We arrived at the village bar (as far as I could remember just one in the main square under the church) and I loved the yellow curtain waiving in the breeze. We entered for a coffee but surprising nobody was there serving, two old men sitting at the table pretending to play cards but probably keeping an eye on the place, after we searched for somebody, eventually came in our help: "Go next door, you'll find someone". We exited the modern bar (what a pity they re-modern the old little bar osteria so full of colour, for an impersonal all granite and wood modern version of a bar) and entered a tiny little grocery and bakery with a wonderful smell of freshly cooked bread. First thing the man behind the counter told us, serving an old woman in front of him: "I'll be with you in a minute". How did he know we were in the bar craving for a coffee only a second ago? The two old men? a secret camera or bell informing him of any movement next door? No, there was no sign of technology in that little shop, he knew.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the bar and the bakery shop (the door with the yellow curtain on the side)</td></tr>
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Eventually he made us a coffee which was at all memorable, in the mean time in the bakery we bought a slice of <i>spianata</i>, an oily and flavorsome white pizza that is made locally with lots of lard (ahime'!). After our drink we both enjoyed the spianata sitting on the belvedere in front of the church, it tasted so good.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spianata with a view</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Montefeltro hills</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the village walls</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IvfcJFta_RE/UmJdSXYyvUI/AAAAAAAAAPs/PXptRx_qh_o/s1600/MLiPhone+2011+122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IvfcJFta_RE/UmJdSXYyvUI/AAAAAAAAAPs/PXptRx_qh_o/s320/MLiPhone+2011+122.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a tiny window</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b7U8m6wkbsE/UmJdgGB_23I/AAAAAAAAAP0/HuUgbFAem-I/s1600/MLiPhone+2011+124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b7U8m6wkbsE/UmJdgGB_23I/AAAAAAAAAP0/HuUgbFAem-I/s320/MLiPhone+2011+124.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">buildings opposite the Town Hall</td></tr>
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What did that unexpected stop leave in my memory and my heart? It brought back the stories my grandfather used to tell me about those places and his youth, which was nothing similar to mine. But it also made me enjoy fantastic views of<br />
my beloved homeland.<br />
Worthless to say, I'm in love with Italy. :)<br />
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Enjoy your journey in Italy every bit of that country is worth visiting regardless the bad propaganda the unhappy political situation of the moment can make.<br />
Hope you enjoyed it.<br />
Love,<br />
ML xxCastel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com061020 Auditore Pesaro and Urbino, Italy43.8220162 12.57175489999997443.8220162 12.571754899999974 43.8220162 12.571754899999974tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-59041785050975934092013-04-11T11:57:00.001+01:002013-10-19T16:39:44.823+01:00Rainy days # 2Even if a bit of sun came out in the last weekend it's still so freezing cold that summer and Italy in general seem so remote<br />
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In my last post I was sharing with you a project I realized during that terrible cold and snowy season. Here it is another one, the bad weather kept me really busy at home!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7uRDUgHTh4/UWaIahO29fI/AAAAAAAAAOM/PuZWJRVhdJw/s1600/foto+%252812%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7uRDUgHTh4/UWaIahO29fI/AAAAAAAAAOM/PuZWJRVhdJw/s320/foto+%252812%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gone sailing</td></tr>
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It was long time that I really wanted to repaint the bathroom, it started out as a plain white toilet, which looked like an hospital one, plain white, spartan, the only touch of colour was the shower curtain that recalls the mixed blue mosaic floor. Recently I decided to be brave and try a bold colour on two of the walls, not all of them because it's a tiny room and it will look even more tiny with colorful walls. I chose an aviation blue that never turned out to be the same every layer of paint I put. It really annoyed me and I was determined to go back to white and do not bother with it anymore, but white looked so terribly sad...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> 5 cm masking tape </td></tr>
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There is a little boat hanging on the bathroom wall, a lovely decoration I bought in an amazing art gallery in Cromer, <a href="http://www.thegardenhousegallery.co.uk/">The Garden House</a>, the striped sail give me the inspiration. Moreover, I'm always been a bit obsessed with stripes, I love them, they remind me the summer, of the colorful beach seats that you can find in Italy. So I began to figure out a possible stripe solution, not easy to realize, I have to be precise and neat, so a put it off for a while, thinking of different solutions, but none satisfy me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_P4QDfJc_bk/UWaINyu9oQI/AAAAAAAAAOE/q_LFv_0FLb4/s1600/foto+%252811%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_P4QDfJc_bk/UWaINyu9oQI/AAAAAAAAAOE/q_LFv_0FLb4/s200/foto+%252811%2529.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">work in progress</td></tr>
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After a lot of thinking, and a lot of drawing I finally fully dedicated myself to it. It only took a day and a half, and the big job is putting the masking tape up, for painting I used a sponge I found in my husband painting kit, I wanted an uneven white since the blue never came out even in the first place.<br />
I love how it looks: so summery, fresh and romantic with the old mirror, my mother in love gave me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3Yseom_bvE/UWaHMEW8pjI/AAAAAAAAAN0/8SSr8Ak0lqA/s1600/foto+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_3Yseom_bvE/UWaHMEW8pjI/AAAAAAAAAN0/8SSr8Ak0lqA/s320/foto+%25289%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the old mirror</td></tr>
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Have you got any decoration ongoing?<br />
ML<br />
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Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-63645963039514084272013-04-11T10:33:00.000+01:002013-10-19T16:40:36.986+01:00Rainy days # 1I keep on putting off my posting sequel about Sicily, because with such a bad weather it's really hard to look at the photos taken when I was on holiday and don't feel miserable...<br />
Yes miserable weather till now, no plan to go back to Italy at the moment and plenty of energy to spend in the house restoration.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jF_UZBIAjkI/UWWLPDViesI/AAAAAAAAAMg/qQgiRQelkW8/s1600/ml+iPhone+dec+2039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jF_UZBIAjkI/UWWLPDViesI/AAAAAAAAAMg/qQgiRQelkW8/s320/ml+iPhone+dec+2039.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">before - outside</td></tr>
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Therefore I'd like to share a couple of projects I realized recently.<br />
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There was that old box that was of my husband grandmother, apparently she used to carry around her stuff, when as a young girl she used to work as a cook. It must have been forgotten for many years before it arrived at our house, when it already looked battered and well worn out.<br />
My husband kept on telling me that it was originally used to keep a dinnerware completed with all the necessary cutlery, not the modern versions with no serving dishes that you can find in the shops today, but rather an ancient version plenty of dishes and serving tools that nowadays we don't even know what they are made for. So I started to look at that old box with renovated interest.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rEMpPM8vYoo/UWWLmA6GT8I/AAAAAAAAAMw/gCowPMr8nP8/s1600/ml+iPhone+dec+1948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rEMpPM8vYoo/UWWLmA6GT8I/AAAAAAAAAMw/gCowPMr8nP8/s320/ml+iPhone+dec+1948.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">before - inside</td></tr>
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It was covered in a thick material painted in a sad brown colour, which at first looked like a well worn out leather. Cover it again in leather would have been too costly, so I went for some material in neutral colour, which perfectly matches the colour palette of the house. Ripped off the old material I discovered a nice sturdy wooden box with quite a strong personality, a real pity to cover it up! But the inside was a real disaster, in order to be used it really needed a complete restyling. When I bought the material to cover the box I matched a bold toile de jouy in cream and black with gallantry<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-smUZGtnYa4c/UWaDHDs5Y2I/AAAAAAAAANc/24FdS1l_krw/s1600/foto+(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-smUZGtnYa4c/UWaDHDs5Y2I/AAAAAAAAANc/24FdS1l_krw/s320/foto+(8).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after - outside</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OoKzEGiYGiM/UWaAvbgZR1I/AAAAAAAAANQ/T5yU3I16Csg/s1600/foto+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OoKzEGiYGiM/UWaAvbgZR1I/AAAAAAAAANQ/T5yU3I16Csg/s320/foto+(7).JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after - inside</td></tr>
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scenes, because I really wanted something that stood out from the severe shape of the wooden box.<br />
I completely covered the inside with the toile, trying to give continuity to the pattern An inside shelf at mid height was missing, my husband cut a thick piece of MDF to size and it fitted perfectly as shelf, I covered with the same toile and...voila' it's finished! Perfect to store table linens and possibly a new dinnerware, still undecided between transferware or botanic decor.<br />
Do you like to recuperate old family piece of furniture? Have you done any recently?<br />
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MLCastel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-40349760958944171542013-03-19T15:03:00.002+00:002013-10-19T16:41:00.157+01:00Dad's Day in ItalyThis morning when I opened Facebook I read so many post on my friends' walls dedicated to their fathers. I was nicely impressed, it seems that family is still important in everybody's life.<br />
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Dad's day used to be a great celebration when I was a little child, at school they made us prepare a little gift for our dads, I was always thrilled by the moment when my dad, back from work in the evening, would have opened it and said how lovely it was, but I was always secretly producing my personal version of dad's gift to give to him afterwards and enjoy his surprise, that one was the one most appreciated!<br />
Then for a while the celebration was moved to the first of May, celebrating in conjunction with Labour's Day, but I wanted a special day to celebrate my dad! Eventually, it came back on the 19th of March, but time passed and I was not anymore producing a gift at school. I miss that age, because I miss my dad.<br />
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Every dad is special but mine, was SO special. I adored him, this photo is probably the second photo I took in my life, he was in the garden of the house in Sicily, near the succulents corner he created that is not anymore there, with Tell, the English setter he really adored. I remember him worrying that the dog was in the shot.<br />
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He taught me to think out of the box when a teacher was imposing her point of view, he taught me to speak with people listening to what they have to say, he taught me to love animals, the great passion of his life. He taught me that honesty is the most important thing to pursue in life. He taught me to enjoy the beauty of nature, to appreciate art, to read a lot because we never stop learning.He taught me to love chocolate...<br />
I miss him so much.<br />
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Happy Dad's day wherever you are<br />
love<br />
MLCastel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-87157068788482820152013-03-05T10:00:00.001+00:002013-10-19T16:42:03.125+01:00West of Sicily: MarsalaThere are so many bits and bobs I've started to write down in the past months and haven't go time to finished...<br />
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As usual I'm celebrating my adored Sicily. Why mine? I can proudly say that a quarter of my blood is Sicilian.<br />
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Last September we spent a holiday in Sicily, we visited the western part, landing in Trapani airport where we rent a car and traveled around. If you want to visit Sicily, unless you are staying in a big city, bear in mind that you need a car, distances are not so enormous but there are not good connections. Trapani airport is a small one, we queued for a while but not due to the personnel of the rent a car but due to disorganized customers. Coming back there were severe controls on the weight of the hand luggage, so be careful not to buy too many things, otherwise you have to leave them there. The civil airport shares the runway with the military one, recently quite busy, if there is a little delay the risk is that it takes longer due to closure of the flying zone.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsala Chiesa Madre from via Vaccari (B&B Il Profumo del Sale)</td></tr>
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Firstly we stopped in Marsala for few days, I've been pleasantly surprised by that lively and elegant town, located in the extreme western bit of Sicily. In Marsala we stayed in a lovely B&B <a href="http://www.ilprofumodelsale.it/index.html">Il Profumo del Sale</a>, right in the town centre, few steps away from the Cathedral square, near the "circolo" strictly for men only, where everyday I always spotted an elegant and old man reading the newspaper. He looked like<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057091/"> <span id="goog_1071506643"></span>Il Gattopardo</a>.<br />
The owner of the B&B, Celsa is an active lady from the North of Italy who chose to live in Sicily, she used to run a restaurant so you will never be disappointed by the breakfast she prepares. Follow her precious suggestions for itineraries, she knows the area and what is worth visiting.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-97jK6iJMYMg/UTW76Ab1Z_I/AAAAAAAAALY/pIqEz2_uo6o/s1600/ml+iPhone+dec+1382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-97jK6iJMYMg/UTW76Ab1Z_I/AAAAAAAAALY/pIqEz2_uo6o/s400/ml+iPhone+dec+1382.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsala enoteca Sirena Ubriaca: the best aperitif</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsala San Lorenzo Osteria</td></tr>
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We tried all the nice restaurants in town, avoiding those that offer touristic menu, worth to mention for a very good service and good food and very nice cosy atmosphere is San Lorenzo Osteria. If you'd rather have an aperitif, stop at <span id="goog_819208493"></span><a href="http://www.lasirenaubriaca.it/DoveSiamo.php"><span id="goog_144731141"></span>La Sirena Ubriaca<span id="goog_144731142"></span></a><span id="goog_819208494"></span> try a tasting of Marsala wines and you won't be disappointed, meanwhile enjoy the "struscio" (a real ritual in that town!), much better that the more than packed Mercato del pesce, which is a proper fish market in the morning and in the evening becomes the heart of the local movida.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsala "struscio" at Porta Garibaldi</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsala fish market by night</td></tr>
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A must do visit is the <a href="http://www.duca.it/cantineflorio/">Cantine Florio</a>, a journey through the history of Sicily, of wine production and of a great family, the Florio. But this is a long story and I will talk about it in another post...</div>
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See you soon<br />
ML<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsala fish market during the day</td></tr>
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Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0Marsala Province of Trapani, Italy37.798044999999988 12.43701559999999537.597323999999986 12.114292099999995 37.998765999999989 12.759739099999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-8199636254073868092013-02-25T23:31:00.001+00:002013-10-19T16:43:05.793+01:00Here we are...again!Hello everybody,<br />
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... even if you are very few, but I'm not discouraged, one day maybe someone will be interested in what I'm saying :)<br />
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So, what happened in in such a long time? Five months of silence, it's definitely a long time.<br />
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First of all I traveled a lot to and from Italy, many things happened I became auntie of a lovely girl, I literally adore her and I go back to Italy whenever I can to spend time with her.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e1NYFrO8nXo/USvwk7abzTI/AAAAAAAAALA/FSXPR3C2ClA/s1600/aunt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e1NYFrO8nXo/USvwk7abzTI/AAAAAAAAALA/FSXPR3C2ClA/s320/aunt.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[source Pinterest]</td></tr>
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In the new year, with my husband we started our own company, it's really thrilling, so many things to think about, evaluate, but I'm so happy to share this experience with him.<br />
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love<br />
ML<br />
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<br />Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-10012026517992813852012-09-15T00:17:00.000+01:002013-10-19T16:43:38.645+01:00Pinot Noir on Pesaro Hills<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The first time I tasted the Focara wine, I've been completely blown away by that velvety, smooth translucent ruby drink and I thought "can wine be so good!". Yes it can, refined and delicate, with a strong personality Focara Pinot Noir doesn't need to scream its qualities, they are perceived at the first sip.<br />
I don't like those strongly, muscular red wines that need to be chewed rather than drunk, I don't like to look at the glass which I can't see through. I won't ever be able to say I love Sangiovese, even if it's the grape variety mainly produced in Romagna, the area where I was born and where I came back to live after growing up in Rome.<br />
I definitely love the pinot noir produced in the Fattoria Mancini, a few kilometers from the Marche and Romagna boundary, which as far as the landscape is concerned it is just an administrative whim that was fought over by the two warring families, the Montefeltro and Malatesta.<br />
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<a href="http://www.fattoriamancini.com/en/index.htm">Fattoria Mancini</a> is a family run winery located in the Natural Park of Monte San Bartolo, a pearl on the Adriatic coast that the tourists usually coming on the Riviera Romagnola never explore. At the beginning of XIX century that area was identified as ideal for growing Pinot Noir by the Napoleonic administration, who then occupied the Papal State for nearly a century. The Mancini family bought the land in the second half of the XIX century and preserved and reproduced the original Pinot Noir introduced during the French domination. Today that grape is recognized as D.O.C. (controlled origin denomination)<br />
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You arrive at a working winery and everything is as it should be, no posh structure or manicured gardens, a well preserved country house, where clearly the wine production is the core business as the several large wooden barrels lined up in state.<br />
Inside the tasting room a coolness prevails above any other sensation, no pretentious and newly made smelling oak furniture, a mainly white empty space which gives room to the main character, the wine. Photos of the vineyards decorate the white walls, with a didactic purpose rather than pure complacency.<br />
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On our visit we were greeted by two perfect English speaking women (a rarity in that area), later we discover one was the owner's wife, a young and friendly New Zealand winemaker. They offered us to taste some wine, this is the first time I experienced a producer who really wanted to know what you think about their wine and not telling you what to think.<br />
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There is only one regret, during last year they changed the labels on some of their wines, it's true the new ones give figurative information of where the wine is produced and the history of that piece of land, but the old ones have got such a strong personality that really make you recognize their wine among thousands of bottles.<br />
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Which is your favorite wine?Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0Strada dei Colli, 35, 61122 Pesaro, Province of Pesaro and Urbina, Italy43.8854925 12.93373143.884062 12.9312635 43.886922999999996 12.9361985tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-38996787122059561762012-08-29T20:19:00.001+01:002013-10-19T16:44:27.246+01:00Fiorenzuola di Focara<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jOfTxBFXW_A/UD5O28pyZ9I/AAAAAAAAAJU/ezmR-eWqOIo/s1600/varie+lavoro+2009+047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jOfTxBFXW_A/UD5O28pyZ9I/AAAAAAAAAJU/ezmR-eWqOIo/s200/varie+lavoro+2009+047.jpg" width="150" /></a>10 kilometers away from the over-crowded Riviera Romagnola there is the small village of Focara, perched on a rocky headland on the Adriatic coast in the Park of San Bartolo. The village is quiet with just a bar, a grocery store which sells everything and a restaurant, a little archway marks the entrance to the path that leads to the beach several metres below.<br />
The name of Focara was added to a commonly spreaded Italian name Fiorenzuola, which means flourishing, due to the tradition of lighting fires to signal to mariners.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the bell tower</td></tr>
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It is a Roman settlement that has always had a strategic role due to its location, built between the X and XII centuries along with the castles of Casteldimezzo, Gradara and Granarola, was part of the defensive system in the border area between the Church of Ravenna and that of Pesaro and then, among the Malatesta possessions of Rimini and of Pesaro. In the XII century was built the church of St. Andrew, of which remains only the bell tower, in the church were present works of fine workmanship, but a violent earthquake in August 1916 destroyed it.<br />
In the charming village there are architectural relics of the past, interesting the main door of the village is where there are the verses of Dante's Divina Comedia (Inferno, canto XXVIII) describing a dark betrayal that happened off in this sea.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">passage to the beach, no signal directs you just a blue sea</td></tr>
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Visit the lovely village of Fiorenzuola di Focara all over the year, in the summer if you fancy a swim in the unusually clear water of the Adriatic sea, walk down to the beach 500 metres away or take the shuttle (only in the morning), it's a steep road but worth doing it. The best period I would suggest for you to visit this village is in one of those clear and crispy early spring days, when the sky is pure blue and the wind still has the coolness of the snow on the mountains.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a door knob</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the beach in the winter</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">timetable of the bus to the beach</td></tr>
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<br />Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com061121 Fiorenzuola di Focara Province of Pesaro and Urbina, Italy43.9512607 12.820857943.948402699999995 12.8159224 43.9541187 12.8257934tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-10208541881029274582012-08-20T21:59:00.000+01:002013-10-19T16:45:10.075+01:00a precious collectionI don't remember how many years ago I bought my husband a small purse in the small Tuscan village of Sovana, a little hand-made treasure, that he always carries with him.<br />
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It became a tradition, now that we got married, to exchange something that we love to collect on our wedding anniversary, so it came that he started his personal collection of hand made purse called "tacco".<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the parcel Giuseppe Fanara sent me </td></tr>
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The artisan who made them is Giuseppe Fanara of <a href="http://www.ilbussettofirenze.com/index.php?lang=EN">Il Bussetto</a>, an artisan who works leather in his workshop in Florence, who has been really helpful with me when I called him wondering if he was selling on line. His simply replied "Deve venire a bottega (must come to the workshop)", flying from London to Florence just to buy a purse! it doesn't matter how exquisitely it is manufactured, the plan sounded a bit over the top. Anyway, I told him the whole story and he offered to send the gift to me through the post, since I was planning to be back in Italy sometime I told him I would think about it and I'd call him back. When eventually I went back to Italy for few days I immediately called him and I didn't need to tell him the whole story again he perfectly remember the romantic issue and offered to send them the following day. In two days I had an orange and a green purses for my husband collection, just before his arrival in Italy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"tacchi"</td></tr>
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I look forward to visiting his workshop in Florence next time I'm in the area.<br />
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If you're planning a trip to Florence, pass by that little artisan shop to discover his little treasures.<br />
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Il Bussetto di Giuseppe Fanara<br />
via Palazzuolo, 136R<br />
Firenze<br />
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Do you have any collection you care for?Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0Via Palazzuolo, 136, 50123 Florence, Italy43.7743565 11.245021343.772923500000005 11.2425538 43.7757895 11.2474888tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-85647098581045428422012-08-20T10:35:00.001+01:002013-10-19T16:45:44.362+01:00Memories of Pantelleria - part 1Pantelleria is a small volcanic island in the Mediterranean sea half way between Tunisia and Sicily, my husband and I spent summer holidays there twice and we fell in love of this fantastic spot in the middle of the sea.<br />
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Pantelleria really remains in our memory as one of the greatest places we ever been since now, where you feel detached from the rest of the world, where nature provides so much richness, from the green covered volcanic hills, planted with grapes, to the open bays with warm thermals from this naturally volcanic island.<br />
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The first time we stayed for a week in a <a href="http://www.pantelleria.com/english/pantelleria/dammuso.asp">dammuso</a> (typical house of the isle) not far from the main village. Not worth renting a car, better a moped due to the roads, to reach the best spots most of them are small off roads. I will never forget the answer of an old man when we were in desperate search of a petrol station to refuel our empty moped while being on the wrong side of the island, he replied "don't worry the road is going down now" the only thing was we didn't know how far we still had to go to get to the only petrol pump, but that comment gave us the idea how relaxing the place was.<br />
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Everyday we would go out and discover new corners of the isle, we really fell in love with the island and each other. There are the ancient dammusi, or the perfectly conceived <a href="http://www.viverepantelleria.it/en/the-giardino-pantesco-symbol-of-the-sacred-relationship-between-man-and-nature.html">giardino pantesco</a>, a real house built just to protect citrus trees from the strength of winter sea winds, creating a little oasis of peace from the constant sea breeze's on the isle of winds.<br />
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Only the other day and ten years later we opened a bottle of Moscato di Pantelleria that we brought back with us. After many years we tasted the same rich, sweet and dense flavors that struck us when we tasted it first in one of the very good restaurants we found on the island.<br />
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And that wine brought back to mind the work of hardworking men who cultivate the vineyard creating small crates around each plant, which is no more than the size of a small bush, and work every day to produce wines as valuable as what we drank after so many years but which preserves aroma and flavor of the sun in Pantelleria.Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0Pantelleria, Province of Trapani, Italy36.8282207 11.940496436.815510700000004 11.920755400000001 36.8409307 11.9602374tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-78149960326078163482012-08-15T20:52:00.001+01:002013-10-19T16:46:18.201+01:00Learning Italian<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last night my husband showed me one of his notebooks of the period he worked in Rome, which is when we actually met, and I found something very funny, a sort of Italian emergency manual that he wrote - with all the possible misspelled words - of his first days, all the words are related to small talk kind of conversation and - of course - food :D<br />
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Have you ever lived abroad without knowing the language of the country?</div>
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Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-62559029093454630812012-08-11T21:37:00.002+01:002013-10-19T16:47:06.730+01:00L'albero di pere di mio NonnoQuando ero bambina il mio frutto favorito era la pera, mi piaceva il succo di pera, mangiavo le pere e detestavo le mele e tutto cio' le riguardasse, insomma una ragazzina forse un po' controcorrente.<br />
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Ad alimentare questa passione era il nonno materno, Augusto, uomo di campagna di poche parole, ma di grande dolcezza. Il nonno che ha regalato a me e mio fratello la prima bicicletta, il nonno che ci veniva a trovare a Roma ad insaputa di tutti, per poi tornare a casa subito il giorno dopo, perche' il lavoro in campagna non si puo' lasciare.</div>
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Con lui si mangiava a mezzogiorno, tutti a tavola e non ammetteva ritardi, e la sera a letto presto spalancando la finestra verso est per essere svegliati dal primo sole. Un nonno che mi ha insegnato ad amare la natura, la terrra con i suoi prodotti, un uomo che mi ha insegnato cos'e' il sacrificio e la dignita'. Un uomo semplice ma di profonda saggezza, che spegneva il televisore per giocare a carte con i nipoti la sera, che raccontava storie di fantasmi per le orecchie spaventate e trepidanti degli adorati nipoti. </div>
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Immancabili le bretelle e il borsalino in testa che toglieva solo quando si sedeva a tavola e andava a dormire, come immancabile e' stato il suo amore per la moglie, Maria, anche quando la malattia aveva offuscato i suoi splendidi occhi verdi. </div>
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Un piccolo uomo dal cuore tenero che negli ultimi anni si inteneriva rileggendo le lettere d'amore che si scambiava con la moglie, che raccontava le lacrime della prima notte di nozze, con una dolcezza che faceva salire le lacrime agli occhi di chi lo ascoltava.</div>
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Sono cresciuta tutte le estati della mia infanzia nella grande casa che aveva comprato con il suo lavoro e di cui andava fiero perche' vi era cresciuta la sua famiglia.</div>
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Nei caldi pomeriggi d'estate sedeva sul lato est della casa all'ombra, proprio sotto la finestra della sua camera e raccontava piu' a se stesso che a chi gli stava accanto i ricordi di vita che riaffioravano alla sua memoria, storie sempre nuove e sempre affascinanti e in quei pomeriggi, senza preavviso troncava il racconto per alzarsi, raggiungere un piccolo albero al di la' dell'aia e portarmi una piccola pera gialla e rosa, che accarezzava con gentilezza e mi porgeva riprendendo il racconto dove l'aveva interrotto, io incerta affondavo i dentini in quel frutto e rimanevo estasiata dalla dolcezza. </div>
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Ancora oggi quando al mercato trovo esposte le pere, che qui chiamano "blush pears", ne prendo in mano una e penso sempre a mio nonno e rivedo il suo sorriso sotto la falda del borsalino.</div>
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When I was a child pears were my favorite fruits and they still are. At that age I hated apples and anything which involved apples, and I loved pears. I still love them eventually I have learnt to appreciate any cake with apples :)</div>
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My grandfather Augusto really fueled my passion for this fruit that he loved too. He was a simple but sage man who adored his family, he'd grown up in close relationship with nature and taught me to love it, to love the products of the earth and to face sacrifice with dignity.</div>
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In the hot summer afternoons he used to seat outside on the east side of the house, in the shade, and tell stories of the past, more to himself than to anyone sitting next to him, often he'd stop telling the story get up, walk quickly to the end of the shaded area, called "aia", pick some fruits form a small tree and come back offering me a tiny yellow and pink pear, caressing it with tenderness. I remember sinking my teeth in the sweetest fruit I'd ever tasted as my grandfather would resume the story where he had stopped minutes earlier.</div>
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Still to this day, when I go shopping and I find some blush pears, I always stop and pick one up, thinking of my grandfather Augusto, I can picture him stilling there smiling at me from under the brim of his hat.</div>
Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-53275696024080411652012-02-01T23:05:00.000+00:002013-10-19T16:47:52.477+01:00Coconut Valentine Biscuits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday before my oven blew up (luckily by the end of next month a new kitchen will be installed :)!!), I was able to cook my husband's favorite biscuits, a very easy recipe I invented to satisfy his great passion for coconut, which is not exactly my favorite ingredient to cook with, in the biscuits' recipe below you will get very nice results.<br />
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First of all the ingredients:<br />
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<li>200 gr self-raising flour </li>
<li>100 gr sugar</li>
<li>50 gr butter</li>
<li>2 tbs grated coconut + some for finishing</li>
<li>1 egg</li>
<li>3 tbs sherry</li>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PknegmbwbUk/TynCO83AAaI/AAAAAAAAAGk/owe7onPm-qE/s1600/foto+(14).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PknegmbwbUk/TynCO83AAaI/AAAAAAAAAGk/owe7onPm-qE/s320/foto+(14).JPG" width="320" /></a>Mix the flour with the sugar in a bowl, add the butter, which is cut in small pieces, and add the egg, mix quickly with your hands till it is all well mix together to form a pastry dough, add the grated coconut and the sherry, don't be too generous with it otherwise you need to add more flour and loose a bit of its delicate taste. Work always quickly with your hands till it gets to a pastry consistence. If you've got time put in the fridge for half an hour, it will be easier to make the biscuits. Put some grated coconut in a tray or large and flat plate, take a small amount of pastry in your hand make a little ball, roll the ball in the grated coconut and put on a baking tray covered with baking paper, cook in pre-heated oven at 180 C for 15' or till they became golden brown. After taking them out of the oven, let the biscuits cool on a tray and put them in an air-proof box only when they are completely cool.<br />
Enjoy them with a glass of vino passito at the end of your meal.<br />
<br />
:)<br />
ML<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-75244001167445508422012-01-05T08:37:00.000+00:002013-10-19T16:48:21.768+01:00To a Wonderful Woman<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I would
have liked to start this year telling you all about the hand made gifts I prepared for my family and friends last Christmas, unfortunately something occurred to
change my plans. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Few days ago my beloved auntie passed away, so suddenly, even if she was unwell for such a long
time, affected by the ravages of Alzheimer disease her memory was slowly fading away, but
her sweet smile never ceased to light her face whenever she met my eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">When we
were little children we used to spend all the summer school holidays at my
grandparents’ house where my aunt Mariannina lived, it was at that time that my
brother started to call her “zia mamma” “auntie-mum” because she really meant
something special to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Going out
with her was always a great experience, she allowed us to do little things that
our parents always deny, often you'd have two little children shouting out of a car window to the cyclists along the road, "you're the last, looser!!", we laugh so hard with her as she lead us in high jinks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">She was a
woman who really taught me to be brave, ok maybe she was not very
successful with me in particular, certainly if I ever climbed a tree is thanks to
her. She was always extremely positive and supportive, she never let you down,
always present, always extremely generous and always able to make you feel
special, at least for her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">After breaking my leg when skying, I will
never forget that she was next to me when I woke up from an operation, even if
she herself had an operation few days before, she traveled from Rimini to Rome, when not being well herself, to
hold my hand and I will never forget that kind and generous spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">She was
unconventional for her age, she got a degree in Pharmacy when women rarely
reached university education, she was driving when very few women had a driving
licence, importantly what she really left was a mark in the life of whoever she met, glowing with her bright and sweet smile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">She decided
to change her career into teaching Maths and Sciences, something she did so well that
people decades after being her students, when meeting her would still addressing her with a “ciao Prof”. My small regret is that I
wish I had such a good Math teacher I wouldn’t be so mathematically challenged now.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB">I was always reprimanding myself on my efforts to calculate simple formula, telling this to her </span>she would always smile back to me, her sweet smile, with a little melancholy in the later years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I will miss
everything about her, during the later years when the disease had left only a shadow of her full beauty and brightness, her eyes of an indefinite colour between
green and light brown, expressed more of her unbound love than what she was actually able to speak
out...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nrbCUx6wbkg/TwoVrwEMa_I/AAAAAAAAAGU/hVK7nVoLSf4/s1600/conLilla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nrbCUx6wbkg/TwoVrwEMa_I/AAAAAAAAAGU/hVK7nVoLSf4/s320/conLilla.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB">ciao my adorated Auntie Mum</span></div>
Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-81148053630224711612011-11-08T15:51:00.000+00:002013-10-19T16:49:06.478+01:00Colourful Autumn<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cauAt7t6guI/TrlLeaIHIrI/AAAAAAAAAFM/SGP6kUUkQYY/s1600/view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cauAt7t6guI/TrlLeaIHIrI/AAAAAAAAAFM/SGP6kUUkQYY/s640/view.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">earth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've been back to Italy for the olive picking season. Small production but exceptional quality for this year's olive oil.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rp-RApazGIY/TrlMxSPpphI/AAAAAAAAAFs/mpNYEILGcTk/s1600/yellowtree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rp-RApazGIY/TrlMxSPpphI/AAAAAAAAAFs/mpNYEILGcTk/s400/yellowtree.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yellow tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Walking around in the fields I took few shots of the marvellous colours in nature.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
I just want to share this experience with you. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-38oDRydoqHc/TrlLOWeSNEI/AAAAAAAAAEs/DGrqwBVu8QE/s1600/mushroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-38oDRydoqHc/TrlLOWeSNEI/AAAAAAAAAEs/DGrqwBVu8QE/s200/mushroom.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mushroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mSIjGa-jQUc/TrlOt4RTEHI/AAAAAAAAAGE/C8u0rVQJvsA/s1600/mushrooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mSIjGa-jQUc/TrlOt4RTEHI/AAAAAAAAAGE/C8u0rVQJvsA/s320/mushrooms.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">other mushrooms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Pics were taken with my mobile, sorry for the poor quality, the colours were actually much better! :)<br />
<br />
Enjoy colourful autumn in Italy<br />
ML<br />
<br /></div>
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</div>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tHWZ4Lb38bs/TrlLh0DNJ7I/AAAAAAAAAFU/DvhbsfvW4D4/s1600/red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tHWZ4Lb38bs/TrlLh0DNJ7I/AAAAAAAAAFU/DvhbsfvW4D4/s320/red.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">red berries</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ByvtCqckDGg/TrlOp2hky4I/AAAAAAAAAF8/kGNSt6m0SvA/s1600/pomegranates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ByvtCqckDGg/TrlOp2hky4I/AAAAAAAAAF8/kGNSt6m0SvA/s200/pomegranates.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pomegranates</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjVKEi7C0W0/TrlLR74r18I/AAAAAAAAAE0/vDgPO5SjC6k/s1600/bush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjVKEi7C0W0/TrlLR74r18I/AAAAAAAAAE0/vDgPO5SjC6k/s400/bush.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pomegranate bush</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vu_vYDj3tjU/TrlLWG7vmcI/AAAAAAAAAE8/T9nd6ru1jaA/s1600/oldappletree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="322" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vu_vYDj3tjU/TrlLWG7vmcI/AAAAAAAAAE8/T9nd6ru1jaA/s400/oldappletree.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex on an old apple tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VSqsxkoyces/TrlLoHxd1kI/AAAAAAAAAFc/cBPaSaYbJGw/s1600/pears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VSqsxkoyces/TrlLoHxd1kI/AAAAAAAAAFc/cBPaSaYbJGw/s640/pears.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"volpina" pears</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kXB2GZH66tE/TrlPbzS-5oI/AAAAAAAAAGM/GYMKdFmacWo/s1600/walnuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kXB2GZH66tE/TrlPbzS-5oI/AAAAAAAAAGM/GYMKdFmacWo/s320/walnuts.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">walnuts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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</div>
Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-16182490372025645932011-10-19T22:07:00.000+01:002013-10-19T16:49:41.715+01:00La Siepe di Melograno<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHVaMR6fg_0/Tnnxr641CLI/AAAAAAAAABQ/9tDwHfu4NmM/s1600/IMG_0074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHVaMR6fg_0/Tnnxr641CLI/AAAAAAAAABQ/9tDwHfu4NmM/s200/IMG_0074.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La casa lato ovest e il silos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Castelvecchio e' una vecchia casa di contadini sulle colline tra Pesaro e Rimini, che appartiene alla mia famiglia da tempo immemore. Il vialetto di ingresso dominato da due vecchissimi pini piantati dalla mia bisnonna Teresa, e' delimitato da una graziosa siepe di melograno, potata con alberelli che spuntano dal corpo centrale. La primavera scorsa mio marito ed io ci siamo cimentati nella potatura. Gran fatica, soprattutto perche' avevamo iniziato il lavoro con strumenti inadeguati, ma grandissima soddisfazione quando finalmente abbiamo finito il nostro lavoro.<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jjnUaoJN70/Tp87tcKcqKI/AAAAAAAAACw/OAfiEti5DN4/s1600/melograno.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="85" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jjnUaoJN70/Tp87tcKcqKI/AAAAAAAAACw/OAfiEti5DN4/s320/melograno.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">work in progress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Spero di raccogliere melograne per fare la gelatina!</div>
<div>
<br />
ML<br />
<br /></div>
Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-5845473255021165942011-10-19T21:58:00.000+01:002011-10-19T21:58:12.409+01:00Permission Marketing - do I dare?Today I received Permission Marketing a book written by Seth Godin in 1997, edited in 2006 he tells me that what he wrote at the dawn of the internet, still held true in 2006. I'm intrigued to find out how he suggests "to build a permission asset instead of yelling at strangers all the time."<br />
I read few other books of Seth Godin, any suggestions about similar authors?<br />
<br />
MLCastel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-83440968686495550732011-10-18T22:15:00.000+01:002012-09-02T21:45:30.981+01:00World Food Day at Borough Market<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Har95_h_8AY/Tp3jUxYVnpI/AAAAAAAAABw/BKyUqIZyWr4/s1600/IMG_0496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Har95_h_8AY/Tp3jUxYVnpI/AAAAAAAAABw/BKyUqIZyWr4/s200/IMG_0496.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Borough Market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What better way of celebrating the World Food Day, which took place last October 16th, than to go food shopping at Borough Market, off the South bank in Central London, as I did with my husband last Saturday. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First of all, few words about the <b>World Food Day</b>, it has been proclaimed by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) to enhance public awareness about the food problem in the world and strengthen solidarity in the struggle against poverty, hunger and malnutrition.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So then, how did I focus my attention on that special day? "I bought local"! In fact Borough Market is a place where you can buy all locally sourced foods, as well as some "exotic" Mediterranean foods (more of that later). </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UZx5dgAxQBo/Tp3lurmmyNI/AAAAAAAAACg/folYlEQ8v4Y/s1600/IMG_0501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UZx5dgAxQBo/Tp3lurmmyNI/AAAAAAAAACg/folYlEQ8v4Y/s200/IMG_0501.jpg" width="149" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pumpkins</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those (I'm talking to the few Italians) who have never experience <a href="http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/">Borough Market</a> I suggest to put in your agenda for next visit to London, it reminds me the open air markets in Rome, like Piazza Vittorio, where I used to go with my dad to buy little birds with amazing singing voices, Ponte Milvio, from where my auntie always brought back a tasty loaf of bread that she named "crocodile" just to amuse her nieces and nephews.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could hear the same loud voices of the stall holders who invite people to buy their products, of the market where I used to go shopping with my mum. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PLNZKUBxDAU/Tp3l3G-VQ-I/AAAAAAAAACo/xXkFdRiarN8/s1600/IMG_0503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PLNZKUBxDAU/Tp3l3G-VQ-I/AAAAAAAAACo/xXkFdRiarN8/s200/IMG_0503.jpg" width="149" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">game</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last Saturday the market was packed with people, who care for what they eat. Lots of tourists but mainly people buying lunch on the go as well as taking the weekly fresh food shopping.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vegetables still had a bit of mud on them, they do not look perfectly made as in the supermarket and the display was artistic.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Autumn vegetables and game meat made a well show of themselves among the sourdough bread, a fantastic display at the fish monger and lots of specialities like goose fat to roast your best potatoes (as written on the jar!) </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-geOdFh4bohU/Tp3lcGIIeiI/AAAAAAAAACQ/JbeLqSRmdhw/s1600/zavoli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="85" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-geOdFh4bohU/Tp3lcGIIeiI/AAAAAAAAACQ/JbeLqSRmdhw/s200/zavoli.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Az. Zavoli, Saludecio (RN) Italy - Mora romagnola cured meat </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the Jubilee Market, among the farmers, there were the Mediterranean traders who sell delicacies such as extravergin olive oil, truffles and, a great discovery, Mora romagnola cured meat made in Rimini (Italy) from <a href="http://www.moraromagnola.eu/ita/">Azienda Zavoli</a> located in Saludecio.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In order not to miss such an experience, you can find below the times of the market and how to get there:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Market is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with Saturday being busiest after 11am. The sensible shopper gets here between 8am and 10am for the pick of the day. Thursday is usually a relaxed shopping day and our demonstration chef is on hand for ideas, tips and demonstrations in the Jubilee Market.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Parking around Borough is limited, but there are plenty of public transport links:</span></span></div>
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<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://assets1.boroughmarket.org.uk/imgs/dot.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 6px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By tube to London Bridge or Borough underground stations</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://assets1.boroughmarket.org.uk/imgs/dot.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 6px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By train to London Bridge mainline station</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://assets1.boroughmarket.org.uk/imgs/dot.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 6px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By bus to London Bridge, Borough High Street or Southwark Street</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://assets1.boroughmarket.org.uk/imgs/dot.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 6px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By foot along the Thames Path on the Southbank or over London Bridge from the City</li>
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Enjoy your food shopping!</div>
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ML</div>
</span></span>Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-45302260453604981012011-10-11T11:37:00.000+01:002011-10-11T11:38:45.117+01:00Kindle in italiano? SIE' di pochi giorni l'annuncio di una versione francese del Kindle, speriamo di non dover aspettare troppo per la versione italiana.<div>
Premetto che sono sempre stata, fin da bambina, una lettrice assidua, adoro l'odore della carta. Quando prendo un libro un libro in mano e' sempre come entrare in un nuovo mondo tutto da scoprire e da costruire con la fantasia. <div>
Lo scorso Natale ho ricevuto in regalo un Kindle, e' stato subito colpo di fulmine. Grande praticita' e maneggevolezza, e' leggero e poco ingombrante, sta comodamente dentro la borsa, la batteria ha un'autonomia tale che ti dimentichi come ricaricarla, puoi passare da un libro all'altro sullo stesso supporto.</div>
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Ho avuto modo di parlare di questo prodotto con piccoli editori italiani che non vedono di buon occhio l'introduzione di questo dispositivo sul mercato italiano, poiche' dicono che azzerera' le loro vendite. E' vero che spesso il prezzo di copertina di un e-book e' di gran lunga inferiore alla versione cartacea, ma ha il grande vantaggio che non e' duplicabile all'infinito.</div>
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Ricordo quando ero studentessa universitaria era sempre un problema reperire vecchie edizioni di libri di cui magari mi interessava soltanto l'introduzione, allora iniziava la tristissima pratica delle fotocopie: una versione master presso la segreteria di dipartimento da fotocopiare. Possibile che l'universita' che dovrebbe insegnare a diffondere la cultura, ad apprezzarla in ogni sua forma, incrementi un ignobile mercato delle fotocopie? Il risultato infatti e' che una volta finito l'esame le fotocopie venivano passate di mano in mano o riciclate. </div>
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Mi domando perche' i testi scolastici, cosi' costosi per le famiglie, non vengano distribuiti anche in una versione elettronica che rappresenta un vantaggio per entrambe le parti: la casa editrice abbatte la riproduzione tramite fotocopia, gli studenti fanno fronte al costo esoritante che hanno raggiunto i libri. </div>
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<i>Il tempo per leggere, come il tempo per amare, dilata il tempo per vivere -</i> D.Pennac</div>
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<i>La gente dice che cio' che conta e' vivere, ma io preferisco leggere -</i> L.P.Smith</div>
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<i>Quanti uomini hanno datato l'inizio di una nuova era della loro vita dalla lettura di un libro</i> - H.D.Thoreau</div>
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<i>La lettura non e' un piacere sostitutivo</i> - A.Nothomb</div>
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<i>Sapere che si ha qualcosa di bello da leggere prima di coricarsi e' una delle sensazioni piu' piacevoli della vita</i> - V.V. Nabokov</div>
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<i>Sapeva leggere. Fu la scoperta piu' importante di tutta la sua vita. Sapeva leggere. Possedeva l'antidoto contro il terribile veleno della vecchiaia</i> - L.Sepulveda</div>
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ML</div>
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Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-75817135484546286912011-10-06T09:09:00.000+01:002011-10-06T09:09:23.274+01:00Think different<a href="http://youtu.be/8rwsuXHA7RA">Apple commercial with Jobs narrating</a>Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-5951622481103396942011-10-05T18:51:00.000+01:002011-10-05T18:51:38.086+01:00How a city restaurant can become a rural pop-up restaurantI've known these guys since I first move to Rimini five years ago. I've always love their straight forward approach to their job, which is selling good food. To coin a phrase they always did want it says on the tin, which is not always true among restaurateurs.<br />
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It is one of the few places that really follows the 0 Km philosophy (reduction of food miles/kilometers before being served) without charging extra to the customers.<br />
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Well, I haven't told you who these aliens are yet... I'm talking about <a href="http://osteriaharissa.blogspot.com/2011/10/menu-ruspante.html">Osteria Harissa</a>.<br />
Once located right in the center of Rimini, in front of the entrance of the Rimini City Museum, as fortune dictates, and due to the rented premises having been sold, they found themselves without a restaurant to host their clients. Marcello, a tenacious guy didn't give up, with Marta, a passionate cook, they create a very simple and easy formula to keep on doing what they like most: cooking and enjoy food and wine with their customers.<br />
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Their first appointment as a pop-up catering will be Sunday 9th of October at lunchtime (@13:00) at a friendly organic farm and vineyard <a href="http://www.valledellelepri.it/english">Valle delle Lepri</a> in Coriano who produce a consistently very good wine, where my favorite one is Fidelio a very fruity Sangiovese Superiore, with a persistent bouquet.<br />
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Unfortunately I won't be there because out of the country but I wish to my friends very good luck for their new adventure!<br />
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MLCastel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3542386983854275135.post-49808457087859222332011-10-02T18:24:00.000+01:002011-10-02T19:02:59.475+01:00Mia Nonna e la Sua Cassetta del Cucito<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WLEW1PDzzNo/ToTN28XROMI/AAAAAAAAABg/Pj5AlQe6pes/s1600/foto+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WLEW1PDzzNo/ToTN28XROMI/AAAAAAAAABg/Pj5AlQe6pes/s200/foto+%25282%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a>Mia nonna Maria, di cui porto in parte il nome, era una donna speciale, come tutte le donne che portano il nome Maria. Nome ormai caduto in disuso, non risulta neanche tra i primi 30 delle classifiche Istat, ma è un nome bellissimo che fa pensare a una donna forte, è il nome della Madonna, qualsiasi sia il vostro credo, non si può non ammettere che Maria è stata una donna forte!<br />
Tornando a mia nonna, era una donna con vivissimi occhi verdi, negli ultimi anni offuscati dalla malattia, ma il ricordo che ho di lei è di una narratrice. Sapeva incantare noi nipoti con i suoi racconti: vita di collegio, storie di santi, storie contadine. Si interessava di tutto, anche di sport, all’epoca penso che fosse una delle poche che seguiva con passione il calcio. Sapeva trovare in tutto ciò che la circondava uno spunto.<br />
Perché vi parlo di lei? Prima di tutto perché è stata un caposaldo della mia infanzia nei mesi estivi trascorsi nella casa di campagna dei nonni, che ora orgogliosamente abito. Perché mi ha ispirato, inconsapevolmente il progetto che vi racconto oggi e perché è stata una grande cuoca e quel po’ di estro in cucina che possiedo lo devo a lei e ai suoi famosi arrosti, che non ho imparato a cucinare.<br />
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Ho trovato in soffitta la cassetta del cucito di mia nonna, non era appassionata di cucito, non ho immagini di lei intenta a ricamare, però mi ricordo quell'anta del grande armadio bianco della dispensa dedicata ai lavori di cucito e maglia. Aveva un’infinità di fili di lana di sfumature diverse che mi divertivo a tirar fuori per metterli in ordine in gradazione di colore… è forse li che ho incominciato a sviluppare un senso del colore che ancor oggi applico quotidianamente anche quando cammino per strada e inorridisco di fronte ad assurdi abbinamenti di cattivo gusto.<br />
In quell’anta dell’armadio era conservata anche la sua macchina da cucire, su un ripiano in alto perché così noi bambini non rischiavamo di farci male.<br />
Impolverata e dall’aria un po’ dimessa la cassetta del cucito ogni volta che andavo in soffitta, sembrava richiamare la mia attenzione. Così non poteva più rimanere, mi sembrava una mancanza di rispetto per mia nonna. Un bel giorno mi son decisa e armata di vernice spray le ho ridato vita. Non volevo un colore banale, volevo qualcosa che comunicasse vitalità e la scelta è caduta sul rosso.<br />
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Prima di tutto ho smontato tutte le giunture metalliche con un cacciavite, poi ho passato una spugna umida anche negli angoli piu' remoti per rimuovere ogni traccia di polvere, dentro quei cassetti mille tesori nascosti, vecchi bottoni di madreperla di ogni dimensione, spille, biglie di vetro. Una volta che tutte le parti erano state ripulite, ho preso la bomboletta spray e ho incominicato a verniciare, per evitare di fare disastri, se non disponete di spazi aperti, utilizzate uno scatolone piu' grande dell'oggetto che volete verniciare e ponetelo all'interno, schermate bene la superficie sottostante e incominciate a spruzzare. Ho lasciato asciugare la parte verniciata prima di muoverla e verniciare l'altro lato, l'attesa, se il luogo e' ben arieggiato, e' breve. Ho verniciato anche l'interno di ciascun cassetto, la parte sottostante della base e i piedini. Una volta terminata la verniciatura, ho riassemblato tutti i pezzi per vedere l'effetto finale, ma rimaneva ancora banale, non mi rappresentava, era troppo severa. Con un pennarello bianco permanente ho cercato l’ispirazione. E l’ispirazione è arrivata: tante piccole margherite a sei petali sparse sulla parte esterna. Per evitare che con l'usura il lavoro si deteriori rapidamente, ho passato una mano di vernice spray trasparente, una volta asciutta ho rimontato i giunti metallici che permettono il movimento dei cassetti.<br />
La cassetta del cucito di mia nonna ha preso vita.<br />
Se avete una cassetta del cucito come questa pensate a rinnovarla con un po’ di colore, spero che la mia esperienza sia di ispirazione.<br />
Buon lavoro,<br />
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ML</div>
Castel Vecchiohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365343291883253575noreply@blogger.com0