Ethan the Pasta Chef

"Santa" bought me a pasta maker for Christmas.
It is the same brand I used in Italy,
only a bit smaller.
Ethan and I tried it out tonight.
I used basic American unbleached flour
but it worked out pretty well.
We tried both a linguine cut and a spaghetti cut.
Here's Ethan with our spaghetti, ready to go in the pot.
It was delicious!

Christmas Day

Driving home from my sister's,
the light was just perfect on the American Fork temple.
What a beautiful Christmas Day sight!

Houston Christmas

When I was visiting my cousin in Houston,
she took me to see this house near her neighborhood.
No snow, but one has to admire the Christmas spirit!

My Buddy Bertram

This is Bertram the Bison,
at the wheel of my car.
He is a National Parks Bison.
In fact, here he is at Palo Alto National Battlefield:

And also at the top of Port Isabel lighthouse:

I met Bertram in a national parks gift store.
He had a tag on him saying "I am Buddy the Bison and I like to go to parks!"
I LOVE to go to National Parks and so he is a terrific companion.
But Buddy just wasn't his name.
He definitely is a Bertram.
And I intend to take him to a lot of national parks!

Warm November Sunshine

and a gorgeous day for some views of Siena!

Rhinoceros hunt

The contrada of the Selva means "woodland" or "wild",
but the rhinoceros is the animal associated with it.
I found the Selva contrada territory today--
and a lot of rhinoceroses!

Siena's Oddest Fountain

This sticklike pole with an owl sculpture is, indeed,
a FOUNTAIN.
It is the fountain of the Civetta Contrada
("little owl" neighborhood)
of Siena.
All the contradas have a fountain
(and a headquarters and a church
and also a horse stall, where they house the horse
that runs the Palio for them,
the big horse race in July & August).
Most of the fountains are Interesting Designs.
But this one is beyond interesting.
It's quite singular.

Autumn Fog

We've had a very sunny autumn,
but these pictures were taken on a foggy morning in Assisi.

Arezzo Cathedral

I had an afternoon off and I went to Arezzo to see the cathedral.
The weather was lovely, the leaves perfect.

Florentine Detail

I love the door knockers and random faces I see in Italian cities.

Boboli Gardens

I spent a peaceful late fall afternoon in Florence's Boboli Gardens
(they are behind the Pitti palace.)
Normally entrance is fairly expensive,
but I got in free with my museums pass.
I LOVE my museums pass!

Tuscany Color

Why Study Abroad is Worth It

Right now I have a cold,
and I'm tired and feeling a bit discouraged.
However, when I look at photos
of the students in museums,
giving presentations,
and engaged in on-site discovery,
I remember why I'm doing this.

Vegetarian Four Course Meal

To start: a salad of arugula and tomatoes
stuffed with ricotta cheese and herbs

first course: crepes stuffed with spinach and mixed cheeses

second course, eggplant parmigiana

dessert: chocolate souffle with orange and mint sauces

This was just heavenly.
I want to recreate this menu for an Italian dinner for my family
when I get home!!

Piedmont Fall Color

I expected I would miss all canyoning fall color this year
(there's not so much in Tuscany!)
but I spent a weekend in the Piedmont
in mid-October,
and it was gorgeous...

San Giovanni dell'Autostrada

I actually really like ultra-modern churches,
and San Giovanni dell'Autostrada,
near Florence,
was a real treat to visit.

Enchanted Evening in Monteriggioni

Monteriggioni is an utterly charming village
about 20 kilometers or less from Siena.
It is thoroughly touristy
but has good restaurants
and cute shops
and a really nicely preserved town piazza
with a small church,
and best of all,
a completely preserved circuit
of medieval walls with towers.
I was lucky enough to visit on an evening
when I had a rental car at my disposal
(the bus service finishes up much earlier)
so I could linger for late-evening light glow
and full moon rise.
It was gorgeous!