Mima from Menaggio

It was my first night in Mennagio, just settling in with my new environment. The mountains, water, fresh air, and trees were awe-inspiring as I aimlessly walked through the quaint town. Within moments I found a trattorria with a bustling crowd down a dimly lit alley. Walking in everyone stares at the girl eating alone, but hey I'm used to it by now! The homemade menu had my attention until the smallest little Italian woman with the loudest voice disrupted the dining room. She seemed to know the owners, maybe family, maybe just friends, maybe an every-night patron... who knows. But I soon realized that I took the last un-reserved table and she wanted a seat. This is how one of the best nights on my trip started.

Having eaten almost every meal alone I obviously welcomed the company. She ordered her meal without a flinch and the owner instinctually headed to the yellow wallpapered wall to turn on her favorite game show. The show was similar to older game shows in the US where one person receives a word and their partners guess. As we watched together, she started guessing the words, prompting me to join, commencing my first real Italian language lesson.

A little woman, so full of spunk, was teaching me Italian with her hands, pointing to things in the room, guessing answers on the show, mouthing out the sounds as her dentures plopped in and out of her cheek-to-cheek smile. As our dinner and lesson neared its end we sat and simply smiled at one another. She carefully raised herself, shouted something to the owner about paying, grabbed my hand, and said goodbye. I sat a few more moments before doing the same, soaking in the experience and the beauty of my first evening in Menaggio. The evening where I ate pizza, drank Peroni, and learned Italian from Mima.

Happy Memorial Day

This Memorial Day rings a slightly different tune. We've been at war for what seems an eternity. Just the other day, I completely lost it when hearing Taps on NPR. Celebrating Memorial Day in our nations capital will be something special, while we visit war memorials around the city, many of which I pass on my daily commute. Today I will stop. Today I will remember. Today I will give my silent thanks. Accompanying me to these sites will be my wonderful partner, Wilder, a newly commissioned Army officer, who has taught me so much what it means to serve and support. Thanks to my love and thanks to all who serve and support our country.

DC Herban Garden

Just planted a few herbs to start off my Herban Garden Project. The inspiration behind the garden stems from the fact that we were spending unnecessary money buying the individual packets of herbs from the corner store. And of course I really miss my patio garden from Charleston. The initial four pots will hopefully yield basil, cilantro, chives (and one spring onion from the market), and cat grass for Sebastian.

After planting I ran into a little problem, telling the pots apart. I searched the house for something, anything, to use so I wouldn't have to spend anything extra. Behold the Cork-on-Toothpicks naming system... they will absorb any water and will eventually look nice with a rich herb-ish background. Make sure to use permanent marker if you try this mini-project yourselves!

Bon appétit.

Hand-Bound Books

Latest obsession is hand-sewing paper together to make small booklets. Definitely rusty since college, but the small collection is growing! Book number one is a 13-page unlined journal, with a variation of a saddle-stitch binding with wax string the color of wine, held by a slightly darker green ribbon. Next booklet feature will have a DIY tutorial... needed to perfect the art before sharing!

Lake Como - Mennagio, Italy Part 1

After the storm...