Simple Things In Life

After a wonderful Thanksgiving meal, and even better Thanksgiving leftovers, I headed down to Santa Cruz to visit some of my cousins.  I mentioned to my cousin that I got a new camera and I wanted to play with the different settings at sunset out on the Cliffs, meaning La Selva Cliffs.  So, we picked up a play-buddy for my little cousin because watching the sunset for a 4.5 year old is really not that interesting.   

My cousin B on the left with her BFF Jaxon

Little tree-monkey

Future Top Model

Cutie

While they played 'hot lava monster' or whatever the current version is, we looked out over this gorgeous view and enjoyed the fabulousness of our afternoon.

So beautiful and such a wonderful weekend!

Thanksgiving Holiday

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays of the year.  Great food, family and friends, and the start of the holiday season!

Over the years the decorating in our house has changed and gradually downsized, especially during the Fall season.  But no matter what the occasion, whenever we have company, the table is always set for the season.  

This also includes centerpieces for the table and a little festiveness on the side table too.  

But of course, the highlight of Thanksgiving is the meal, and after preparing over the past couple of days, I was looking forward to a fabulous dinner!

The first dish is the antipasto, but I forgot to take a picture.  My Nonni makes it every year and it consists of green peas, tuna, and celery mixed together with sliced eggs, olives, and sometimes anchovies on top.  I am not a fan of anchovies and therefore always ask that they be placed on the side; this year she used shrimp meat as an alternative and it was very tasty.  Next we had soup, a crab bisque.  My mom alternates between pasta and soup, and the soup was excellent this year!

Then of course it is finally time for the main event: the TURKEY!!!

The side dishes are just as important for Thanksgiving...

    Stuffing is a must!

Bourbon soaked cranberries!!

French green beans

Yams and Mashed Potatoes

And last but not least.... Pumpkin Pie!! 

This is the one we ate...so delicious!!!!

Day 14

Once again, we all had breakfast down at the restaurant in Sarricciolo.  Afterwards we went to Aulla to see the street fair, or the mercato.  Here they sold lots of clothes, for all ages, shoes, flowers, cookware, and even bathroom supplies - it was very interesting.  We walked the entire length, grabbed some beverages since it was already so hot, and then split up.  My dad, my cousin Bruno, and my Nonno when to Carrara, which is a town nearby that is famous for the white or blue-gray marble quarried there, including artists like Michelangelo. 

Ivonne, Yuri, mom and myself went back to the house, had lunch, and mom and I proceeded to pack for our trip to Roma.  By the time we were ready to go, my dad, Bruno, and Nonno had returned so we said our good-byes and my dad and Bruno drove us over to Venezia's house.  We met Ivan, then Mario drove us all to Magda's work where we picked her up and headed to the train station.  It was a 4 1/2 hour train ride from La Spezia to Roma, and we crawled right into bed when we arrived at our hotel!

Day 13

On our first day all together in the country, Ivonne took us to our restaurant for breakfast and we once again had cappuccino and pastries.  The first stop of the day was to go back to Saint Giuseppe, where my dad first lived. 

Then we went to Olivola to visit with Zia Nella and then over to Zio Renaldo's where we saw Bruna and her husband Dario and son Lorenzo.  

We returned home for lunch, and then I finally got to meet Zia Glina who came over to the house with her daughter-in-law, Marialla.  

My visit was short because I needed internet access with a printer, so Ivonne took me over to Venezia's house where I used Magda computer to order tickets to visit the Vatican, since mom and I were leaving for Roma the next day with Magda and Ivan.

After I got back home, my cousin Bruno came over and we all went out to dinner at this place called La Locanda.  Our reservations were at 8pm and we did not leave until 12 midnight!  We must have been served 15-20 dishes, mainly seafood varieties.  But I have never eaten so much during one meal in my entire life!  I tried a few new dishes, such as the Bati-Bati, which is a type of shrimp is that is only found in the Ligurian Sea.  And I finally got my seafood risotto! 

Nonno was looking forward to it at first too, but then they put the large shell on his plate and since he didn't know what it was, he was not a happy camper, so I took it away.  I believe it was a crab shell, but there was nothing inside, just for decoration.  If you look at Nonno's plate, it's the pinkish color item! Yea, it was that huge!

Day 12 - Venezia Part 2

My second and last day in Venice started with us all having breakfast together in the hotel and then heading out to the last museum that I wanted to visit, Ca'Rezzonico.  Unfortunately we planned for a little too much time to wander around and get lost, but we didn't, and had an hour to spare before the museum even opened.  

I just thought this was such a beautiful window / picturesque scene.

And how cool how they have the market place on the boat!

The museum is an old palazzo located on the Grand Canal and offers the best look at what like was like in Venice during the 1700s, for the rich and famous of course.  

So the first picture is that of the throne room - and although I would love to have sat there, it really looks uncomfortable!  Then the middle picture is a bedroom, and it looked so small!  Lastly is a picture of one of the ceilings, and I just am amazed with how beautiful ceilings are.  

We all walked back to the hotel and before we left mom and I did a little shopping and found some shops that sold Murano glass; so we picked up trinkets for family and ourselves! Then we all headed back to Colecchia.  Since the drive is so long we stopped for lunch at a rest stop, which had a gourmet deli and hot food section - it was like a fancy gas station! On our way back home we stopped off at my cousin Yuri's work and totally surprised him, since he had no idea my parents were going to be visiting.  Then we drove through Aulla and stopped by to see Ivonne, and she started to cry the moment she saw my parents.  Everyone was so emotional, well except me, I just thought it was amusing because I was the organizer of the whole thing and was just so happy it all came together.  And since it was so hot, we all got gelato - even Nonno!  

I was able to show my mom around town while my dad was talking to my cousins.  We walked by some of the buildings my Nonno had shown me and the exact pathway he had taken me on when we first arrived.  And for dinner that night, we had my favorite meal of all time...polenta!!! With chicken, rabbit, and wild boar stew!!!!!!  Absolutely amazing and the perfect meal to welcome my parents to Italy.  Everyone was so excited and beyond shocked that I had organized this little scheme.  And like I said, I have never seen my Nonno smile so much!

Day 11 - Venezia e la sorpresa

My trip to Venezia began at the lovely hour of 6am, and Armando, Nonno, and I drove the 3 1/2 hours across Italy.  Since we arrived well before check-in time, we took a water bus over to St. Mark's Square.  

 

Now, here is the exciting part about the Venezia trip, my parents were also in Venezia!  I was the only one who knew about it and had coordinated with my parents so we would be in the same place at the same time.  

So, Armando, Nonno, and myself got in line to go inside St. Mark's Basilica.  

My parents were on their way but had to walk most of the way since their water bus broke down.  Since they were not nearby I decided to go inside and get tickets to go to the top.  The 3 of us walked up the stairs (Nonno is in such good shape for 85) and we walked around outside and I took some pictures.  

Then we moved to the other side of the church that looks over St. Mark's Square.  I asked Armando to take a picture of Nonno and myself and as I looked over, I spotted my mom and dad down in the square.  I turned to Nonno and tried to point them out but the macular degeneration sort of prevents him from seeing well and I just had to convince him that they were there.  Armando finally came over and spotted them too and gave me a few whacks on the head, which really hurt!  Nonno was so surprised and so happy.  I have honestly never seen him happier in my life.  

Can you find them? They are at the bottom of the lamp post, on your right hand side.  My mom is in a blue-white striped shirt and my dad looks like he is waving and in khaki colors.  

Even though we were all excited to go down so see my parents, I wanted to finish looking around the church and see the exhibits.  

So we did, but we definitely went through the church quickly.  When we found them outside, it was like a movie, well to be honest the entire scene on top of the church was straight out of a movie, but I ran to great my parents.  Everyone was just so happy to see each other and I was very pleased that it all worked out so nicely.  

However, I still wanted to see a lot of things in Venezia so I walked them all over to the Correr Museum. 

After lunch we all went to the Doge's Palace.  

The photo on the left is of a smaller version of the one located in the Roman Forum, but the legend says if you stick your hand in the mouth, and you are a lier, your hand will be bitten off.  I have to admit, I was too scared to try it!

Mom and I in the prison cells in the Doge's Palace.

But I had finally worn Nonno out and his knees were bothering him so the guys all headed back to the hotel and mom and I ventured around some more.  You would think they would take the water bus back to the hotel, but Nonno is more terrified of the water than he is of dealing with the pain in his knees, so they walked!  Mom and I wandered through Venezia and somehow managed to find out way to the Rialto Bridge.  I did not completely understand why it was so complicated to get around Venezia by foot until I experienced it and there are just so many bridges and canals, that it is very easy to get lost or turned around or both!   

I had one other museum on my list but by the time we found it, it was closed.  We did manage to find our way back to the hotel by foot though, which was quite an accomplishment!  Dinner was fast approaching we all took a walk nearby the hotel and tried to find a place for dinner, but nothing amazing stood out, so we settled on one close by.  After dinner, we walked over to the New Bridge and strolled down the river bank.  

And this just made me laugh because obviously it is easier to travel by boat in Venezia, I just was so surprised to see an ambulance on boat too!

On our way back, mom and I grabbed some gelato and finally went to bed.   

Side Note

I wanted to take a moment and pause from my updates about my trip.  I was so blessed this summer in having the opportunity to go on a wonderful vacation and enjoy it with my Nonno.  We had such an amazing time together and enjoyed every minute of it.  

When I came back from my trip, all aspects of reality came too, including the status of my other grandfather, my mom's dad.  On Thursday July 16, around 2:30am, my grandpa, Lee Baker Jr. passed away.  

He had been fighting Alzheimer's Disease for many years, probably close to a decade.  Since I left for Italy he has been bedbound, no longer talking, and barely eating / drinking.  The Monday before he passed he came down with pneumonia and we all knew it was only going to be a couple of days before his time came.  My mom and I stayed at his house on Monday night; I left Tuesday and returned Wednesday afternoon.  My aunt from Arizona flew up Wednesday too, and that evening my two aunts, my mom, one of my cousins, and myself were gathered around the kitchen table telling stories and enjoying Chinese food.  We all wished we could just wheel Grandpa into the family room so he could hear us all laughing and talking.  

You see my Grandpa was a very quiet man.  We enjoyed a lot of silent moments together but what he enjoyed the most was being with his family and just listening to what they had to say...about anything.  That night I felt okay.  I looked in the driveway and saw all the cars, and thought, this is how it used to be and this is what my grandparents both loved.  Sure enough, once his family was together, Grandpa decided it was time to go.  No, not all of the family were present that night but we had all already said our good-byes in our prayers.  

My mom woke me up right after it happened to let me know.  I just stayed in bed and stared at the wall; I didn't even cry.  We talked for a bit and then I tried to go back to sleep.  I dosed off a few times and had visions of both my grandparents and that would startle me and I would awaken again.  But then I finally fell asleep after I saw them both holding hands and I just felt okay again; like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders.  I miss my grandfather terribly; I miss just sitting with him and enjoying our milkshakes or fries.  I miss tell him stories and hearing him laugh.  Or asking him questions and hearing the interesting responses he came up with in his mind.  I know I am blessed in that I got to spend so much time with my grandfather, but it doesn't ease the hurt.  

I'm reading the eulogy this Friday at the service and will be working on it all week.  It is definitely one of the hardest things I have ever had to write, as was my grandmother's but I am so honored that my family has allowed me this privilege.  It might sound strange but I just have so much to share about it and I just hope I can express it all this week.  And every time I get choked up about it all I think back to what one of my dear friends told me in San Diego when my grandmother passed away: I can still love someone even when they are not physically there anymore, and they can still love me, and now he will always be with me in my own heart.  I know it is simple, but it struck me when she told it.