Ciao friends. I guess it's about time I got around to blogging again. The rainy season seems to have set in around these parts of the world. Last year it pretty much rained all of October and November. While I'm not loving the constant soggy shoes and crappy hair days, I am loving the cooler temperatures. And, as if to make up for so much rain, October brings along something I love almost more than my husband (Kidding. But I might consider it a tie)...THE VICENZA CHOCOLATE FESTIVAAAAALLLL!!!!! I shall start the count down tomorrow.
Earlier this week, we caught a break from the rain and I met with some ladies at one of my favorite places to feast.
And I don't use the term "feast" lightly. Their lasagna is so delicioso. I would have licked my plate if I knew no one was watching. Candle lit dinners are also beginning to become a regular thing because the days are getting shorter and shorter. Soon enough it will be pitch black at 5:30.
I tend to turn to baking as my form of meditation. It clears my head. I've had quite a few "frazzle" moments lately, so I've been baking more than usual. Since my waistline doesn't love bi-weekly loaves of banana nut bread, I've been trying to make my recipes a little bit healthier. I attempted some healthy(er) pumpkin cookies on Friday. People, let me just say "if it's not broke, don't fix it". Some things in life are better with butter, white sugar, and bleached all-purpose flour.
Early this morning we zipped up the rain slickers and headed to a nearby town for their monthly antique market. While I didn't find any goods on this trip, I plan on giving it another shot later on. After refueling with a cappuccino and a brioche, we headed to a fun Harvesting Party at Le Pignole.
This little guy was waiting at the door to greet us.
Le Pignole is one of my favorite wineries I've visited so far. The owners are incredibly friendly and they always make it such a fun experience. The party started out with a welcome drink, and in true Italian fashion, everything was running a "little" behind.
Throughout the afternoon we snacked on cured meats, cheese, and bread. They also had some delicious beans and a minestrone soup. Everything was excellent, and of course the wine was amazing.
Part of the entertainment at the party was folk music and dancing. And then...
We hiked up this little hill...
And picked these grapes! Ok, I'll admit, I didn't pick any grapes for the harvest, but I'll blame that on the lack of scissors. I did, however, do a little "quality control" and tasted a few just to make sure they were ok. I think they'll make some fine wine. ;)
We left the party a little early, but it was such a fun experience with really fun ladies! Back on post, I signed up for a photography class that starts this Thursday. I can't wait to see what I learn. It's going to be focused on travel photography...perfecto! Now I just need to plan some more trips so I can try out my new skills. I'm thinking London for Thanskgiving? We'll see what pans out!
Ciao for now!
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