Olive Oil

Hey you!

I generally think of food as a sometimes-pleasant diversion of necessity. Yes, I realize that is blasphemous for some, but . . . I mean, I like a great tasting and smelling meal, especially when shared with a friend, but I am not too difficult to please in this area. And I generally prefer working to cooking.

However, for some reason, my friends here in Italia seem to be more interested in food than I ever noticed people being before. Maybe it is because when I am living in the country in Texas, I spend most of my time alone; whereas living in the city of Florence, Italy, I have easy access to a whole lot more people. Is this normal – so much time going into the preparation of food? Yes, I suspect it has been for centuries now.

And, while I liked eating olive oil before, I am now in the country famous for its love of all things olive. I took this image tonight at the Coop (grocery store) just outside of Porta Beccaria in Florence. It shows that there are lots more olive oils available than I ever saw in the States before. Here in Tuscana, they really celebrate the new crop each fall. Good fresh olive oil is green, not yellow. Italians eat it on everything. In fact, I remember my Italian friend Grazia offering me some melanzana (eggplant) one evening and then giving me an odd look of disbelief mixed with disapproval because I was too lazy to add olive oil.

I love it now – and am learning the joys of adding it to practically everything I eat now.
Buon appetito!

Picnic in Piazza Santa Croce - Florence, Italy

Today was one of those incredibly beautiful autumn days that feel a bit summery. At least while in the sun. Even though most buildings in Florence average only four or five stories tall, the streets are rather narrow, usually with one-way traffic only. Some places probably never see the sun. It can be difficult to photograph this city’s charms, and even more difficult to know how to dress if one plans to be out for more than two hours.

However, this afternoon was to be enjoyed and I invited my friend Lisa O’Neil over for a picnic. We packed a traditional Tuscan lunch and took downstairs with us a blanket, porcelain plates, real forks, food, and glasses of wine. And we spent the standard amount of time for Italians to relax and enjoy a meal – longer than most Americans would have. It was truly lovely. And the piazza (square) was full of life.

Shortly after we returned out picnic items to my home, we went out to the Coop – the most affordable grocery store around us. Lisa had not been before and I wanted to help her learn more about the city. The Coop is beyond the central historical center of Florence, just outside/east of the Porta Beccaria.

Relationships Most Important - Laughter, Love, and Food

This past weekend I felt even more fortunata than before. A friend of a friend needed someone to take pictures at his daughter's first birthday party, so I filled in. Momma mia! This home was high in the sky with a 360-degree deck featuring a panoramic view of the city of Florence and the surrounding mountains -- absolutely fantastic! And so much art throughout this home.

The party was fun, even though I knew no one. People were so warm and friendly. One charming older woman tried to teach me the difference in Italian accents -- when your mouth says "ehh" by moving the lower lip downward, you sound as though you are from the south of Italy, but up here in Florence, one would move the mouth to the side when uttering this vowel sound. All rather charming, although when we finished having fun with the "noises" and lip pulls, I forgot what was the actual word that contained this sound!

After the party, I enjoyed three shots of Grappa with the baby's grandfather and one of his close friends. I was so comfortable here, it was almost like hanging out with my father and his fellow pilot buddies. The parents loaded me up with dolci (sweets), meat, and pizza, as well as two long sandwiches. And I also received an open invitation to return for the views.

I hope you enjoy this image, even though there was a cloud over Firenze's Duomo. If you would like to see many of my other Italian images, please visit:
www.istockphoto.com/borsheim

Incidently, 'Happy Birthday' in Italian = Buon Compleanno
(anno means 'year' so I wonder if 'birthday' translates to 'completed year'? -- hmmmm)