Our Olive Harvest in Umbria Yields Gold!
What a glorious experience from start to finish! When I’d taken a closer look at our trees back in late summer, I knew this year’s [...]
Italian Holiday Greetings are Easy but Come with a Few Warnings!
Have no fear! Italian holiday greetings aren’t difficult. In fact, you can probably nail them all within a mere thirty minute’s practice. Then you need [...]
Prosecco vs Champagne in International Competition
This is the story of a Prosecco that took on Champagne and other sparkling wines and prevailed! Don’t get me wrong, I love champagne. Veuve [...]
Meet Our Italian Cat Family
Consider this a birth announcement of sorts. Yes, our Italian cat family has grown from two to three with the addition of little Olivia! And [...]
Now You Can Adopt a Sheep
Yes, you can adopt a sheep in Italy, even if you’re halfway across the world. And by doing so, you [...]
La Porta dei Parchi – An Organic Farm Ahead of Its Time
Organic farming was a unique concept forty years ago. Looking back to the late seventies and early eighties, I remember how organic products were a [...]
Join Me for a Tour of an Inspiring Organic Farm in Abruzzo
Go deep. This is becoming my mantra here in Italy. The potential for rich experiences is plentiful. But it’s easy to zoom by, to just take [...]
Italian Faces Etched with Emotion
I love faces. And Italian faces are endlessly fascinating to me. Being married to an Italian has taught me firsthand that the passion that is [...]
La Giostra di Cavalleresca di Sulmona – Don’t Miss It!
Guess who scored a press pass to La Giostra di Cavalleresca di Sulmona? That would be lucky, lucky yours truly, thanks to Saint Novelia, my [...]
Back in the Kitchen with Novelia for Spaghetti alla Chitarra!
A chitarra that makes pasta, not music? I argue that it makes both, especially after another guided journey in “la cucina” with my dear friend [...]
Letting Your Story Unfold
I’ve recently returned from a major writers’ conference in NYC and my brain is still on fire with all that I learned from a vast [...]
Pietrantonj is Abruzzo’s Oldest Winery
One thing leads to another. This is becoming my motto in life, with one additional clarifier. One thing leads to another when you give yourself [...]
Fall in Love with Novelia and Fettuccine “a mano”
Am I a lucky man or not? After you view the video contained in this post, I believe you’ll quickly respond in the affirmative. Just [...]
Learning Italian? Lighten Up with Music.
I’ve taken to utilizing Italian music to round out my knowledge of Italian. If you’re on the journey to achieve some kind of competency when [...]
The Rich Fishing History of Abruzzo’s Trabocchi
Image by Lorenabacchilega of Creative Commons Trabocchi are “fishing machines” dating back to the 18th century. At least that’s the earliest documentation attesting to their existence. Some [...]
A Symphony of Italian Hand Gestures
A beauty to behold. Yes, Italian hand gestures contain a fluidity and artistry that continues to amaze me. Italians must have something built into their [...]
Italian Bike Life – Dress As You Please
I’ve been meaning to tackle this subject for quite a while, and even today’s post is only a beginning to a fuller visual essay on [...]
Speaking of Tongues…
Fair warning: if you’re a fan and believer in religious relics, you might want to skip this week’s blog post. I’m dedicated to sharing the [...]