Thursday, March 31, 2011

You Know What They Say About Fools...






It's better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and leave no doubt.--Mark Twain

However big the fool, there is always a bigger fool to admire him. -- Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux

[Politicians] never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge. -- Thomas Reed

[Sadly] Sometimes one likes foolish people for their folly, better than wise people for their wisdom. -- Elizabeth Gaskell


There is more hope for a stupid fool than for someone who speaks without thinking. -- Proverbs 29:20

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. -- Proverbs 12:15

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Family


Papa
We must see God in the faces of our children and give God's love to our children!




My grandpa (Starr Pop) holding his great-great-granddaughter, Karis. (Fall'04)




"A family is a lot like a pond. If one person in the family does something - be it positive or negative, good or bad, it's like dropping a pebble in the pond - there's a ripple effect - like the ripples in a pond that fan out in all directions. (a pebble of love, a pebble of forgiveness, a pebble of happiness) That's the way it is with families -- what happens to one of us, happens to all of us!"

~Papa and Mimi ~





Five Generations

Four Generations

 




Misha Rose - just born! (Oct'05)

Our two sons
and their first-born daughters

Karis Lei - just born! (July'04)
  

 
  




A family picture in front of my parent's house Oct'09



 
 

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Our Four Grandchildren!

Many have asked me when I was going to post some pictures of our grandchildren. "Soon, I promise," I kept saying. So here you are. I've finally posted a few of my favorites.


Misha, Elijah and Ella Pelikan are the children of our first son, Jesse, and his lovely wife Elina.



Our newest addition, 1-year-old "bella" Ella
 A grandmother is a mother who has a second chance.
-- Author Unknown


Ella's big sister, 5-year-old Misha



Handsome 3-year-old Elijah





Pretty Cousin Karis

 Karis was the little girl we had always hoped for. She is our first grandchild and a little girl, at that, after having two boys. It was so exciting! She is the daughter of our youngest son, John, and his wonderful wife Rondi.
Karis captured all of our hearts!







 6-year-old Karis




Grandmothers are just "antique" little girls.
-- Author Unknown



More like sisters than cousins!





If nothing is going well, call your grandmother. 
-- Italian Proverb






Misha with her brother Elijah










Christmas Cousins


It's impossible to describe what it's like being away from these little love-bugs, but we are missing them more and more with each passing day. We are storing up hugs and kisses for them and the next time we see all 4 if them, it will take days and days before we unload them all from our hearts!
Love, love, love, Mimi & Papa

Friday, March 25, 2011

Spring Ahead in Italy

That God once loved a garden we learn in Holy writ.
And seeing gardens in the Spring I well can credit it

~Winifred Mary Letts


In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.
 ~Margaret Atwood


The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.
 ~Henry Van Dyke





*Don't forget, for those of us in Italy, it is time to spring ahead this weekend! The time changes officially at 2 a.m. Sunday, Mar 27. Set your clocks ahead one hour.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Great Idea For Wet Boots & Shoes!

I saw this great idea today for wet boots and shoes as I was perusing the Martha Stewart webpage, and just had to share!

"Make a boot tray by the door even better: Fill it with stones (found at garden centers). Ice and snow [mud & rain] will melt and drain through the rocks to the bottom of the tray, so your boots won't stand in a puddle. Most of the moisture will evaporate, but you should clean out the tray regularly."




Groovy! As Papa is so fond of saying these days!

The rainy days of April and May sure mess up the carpet with muddy, caked on foot prints. (or in our case here in Italy, the tile, which then becomes very slippery!) This seems like a great solution.



 *note that on my side-bar I have a link to an *organizing tip of the day* from the same website. Just for fun! Check back from time to time to see what other interesting things I add for our enjoyment.  =)

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Grocery Shopping in Italy

So far, today has been an enjoyable Naples day. I woke up to nice weather and what was to be the beginning of my second term of Italian, by driving through the town of Pozzuoli and then a short but scenic drive down the coast before arriving at the NATO base to start class by 9:00. Before leaving class today our ‘professoressa’ asked us what we were doing after class (in Italian, of course). My answer - grocery shopping on the way home at a large, American-style, Italian supermarket, by the name of Ipercoop (pronounced EE-per-cope). We are fortunate to have one conveniently located very near our home.


coin-releasable shopping carts

Let start me begin by saying that buying groceries at this kind of Italian supermarket is pretty much the same as it is in any stateside supermarket, with a few exceptions. You can see one of them in this picture.
Some enormous Italian supermarkets (kind of like a Wal-Mart) will charge you 1 Euro for a cart. You'll need a 1 Euro coin to free the cart so you can push it around the store. Once you return the cart and lock it into place, your coin pops back out and is returned to you. And, yes, I did have my 1 Euro coin handy for the cart today. Believe me, there have been times when we’ve had to get back in the car and drive home just because we didn’t have a coin. So far I’ve not seen these kinds of carts in the small supermarkets in Italy, thank goodness.


 Trash can for the gloves, scale/sticker printing machine

Today I realized there are really just a few more differences worth pointing out, and they happen in the produce section of the store. I had to put these little disposable plastic gloves on while handling loose fruits and vegetables (makes perfect sense, really). So, that’s the first thing. Next, of course, you find plastic bags (near the plastic gloves) and fill them with your desired fruits and veggies, but then . . . here’s the catch, you have to look for and remember the code on the bins' label! Then walk over to a different area (still remembering the code of your desired produce), place your bag on the scale and push the button that corresponds to that code (usually a number, or a number and a picture), and then wait for the printed sticker to come out of the scale/sticker-machine and stick it on to your plastic bag.

The amazing thing is you did this whole thing in complete silence, not knowing a word of Italian; or, as in my case, starting to be able to read a little Italian.

However, and this is a BIG however, today I messed up big time and somehow forgot I was in an Italian supermarket and I didn’t put the little stickers on the plastic bags of apples and oranges. Maybe they just looked too yummy! It took forever in the check-out line, and when I finally plopped my purchases onto the conveyor to slide up to the checker, she was pointing judgmentally at my plastic bags, obviously trying to tell me that I needed stickers and must go back. I certainly didn’t want to have someone at the store do it for me, so I just told her never mind – not with words, mind you, all with hand gestures that she must have easily understood. People behind me were already getting impatient and starting not to like me very much. They were probably thinking something like, “Who is this stupid American that doesn’t even know that she should put the stickers on her produce?”

The other difference in an Italian supermarket is that you might have to pay a small amount for a bag to carry your purchases, but today I didn’t have to . . . although I did have to ask for the bags for some reason. I had to tell the checker that I wanted two bags. Everyone else seemed to have their own eco-friendly-reusable bags. (*note to self . . . next time buy a few of these bags!) After the items are scanned they were shoved into a holding area where you are expected to bag them yourself. This is best accomplished with two people (but not today), one to do the bagging and the other to try to figure out how much to pay. Paying isn't always as easy as just holding out a bill larger than you think you'll need; Italy is habitually short of small change, so it's likely that they'll pester you for your coins. Ugg! Then, as soon as you're done paying, like I was today, the next person’s groceries begin to move into a holding area sectioned off next to yours; and since this "foreigner" was evidentially taking far too long! Whew! By now, I just wanted to get out of there and “practice” this again another time.

Little by little I’ll get better at this; just not today. It was still kind of fun though!

Monday, March 21, 2011

March Equinox & Father's Day in Italy

March 21 is the 80th day of the year (81st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar -- the March equinox. There are 285 days remaining until the end of the year. An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earths's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth's equinox. Basically, these are the days where sunrise and sunset are closest to being exactly 12 hours apart.
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St. Joseph and the Christ Child

Two days ago, on March 19, Italy celebrated Father's Day! We just learned of this yesterday as Papa and I were doing our usual run through the commisary and base exchange after church. Our Orthodox church service is early, 0800, and we arrive at 0700 for the 'preparation service' that Fr. Phil must do beforehand. We usually finish up by a little after 9:00 and hang around for fellowship and coffee for a little while; however, the commissary doesn't open until 10:00. It's very convenient, since it's right next the the chapel, although 35 minutes from our house. So on our way home yesterday, after our trek through the stores, we ran into a lovely employee of the Base Exchange who got to telling us about some personal things in her life, but also how her family had just been together on Saturday to celebrate Father's Day, Festa del Papà, and the Saint of the Day, (Santo del Giorno) San Giuseppe - Saint Joseph, the earthly father of our Lord! Every year on this day all those who are named after Guiseppe, which, it Italy, seems like every fifth person or so (ha) will celebrate their onomastico - their Saint's day or "name day," in a way that is very similar to the way they celebrate their birthday.


Festa del Papa, the Italian name for Father's Day, is celebrated on March 19, St. Joseph's Feast Day in Italy. Households prepare traditional spreads of special Italian breads and cookies. This is the day when families show their gratitude to their fathers with favors and gifts. Here's how to celebrate Father's Day in Italy:

1. Start your Dad's day with a delicious breakfast. Prepare Zeppole, the most common pastry treat for Father's Day in Italy. Gather all the ingredients required for the dish in advance so that you can spend most of your time with dad.


2. Serve the breakfast on a tray decorated with attractive ribbons and a bunch of red roses. The red rose is the traditional flower of Father's Day. Little extra efforts such as this will fascinate your father.

3. Take him out to an elegant restaurant or cafe for a hearty meal. It could be for brunch, lunch or dinner. Choose his favorite Italian or non-Italian restaurant or a new restaurant that serves the cuisine he enjoys.

4. Don't forget dessert. Choose from traditional Italian desserts such as tiramisu, gelato, zabaglione, Zuppa Inglese, cannoli, Genoise cake and so on.

5. Consider treating him to a lavish meal at home by cooking some of his favorite dishes. Remember to include dessert which you can either make at home or order from a nearby bakery.

6. Do away with normal gifts like ties and wallets. Give him a traditional picture of St. Joseph with a handmade card that includes a nice message for him on the inside. Also consider giving him grappa, a strong Italian brandy. Or search for and order a gift online (see Resources below).

7. Reserve your day for him. Time is the most precious thing you can give him. Do some of his favorite things together--hiking, fishing, watching a sports game, going to the movies or whatever else he enjoys.

8. Arrange a party for your dad. Invite family friends and relatives. Prepare a few words for your father in advance to be spoken at the party. Let dad know how much you love him. [ehow.com]

Click to read about Father's Day around the world! 

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Help Yourself to Happiness



Japanese Kanji for - Happiness

Help Yourself to Happiness
by Helen Steiner Rice

Everybody, everywhere
        seeks happiness, it's true,
But finding it and keeping it
        seems difficult to do,
Difficult because we think
        that happiness is found
Only in the places where
        wealth and fame abound---
And so we go on searching
        in "palaces of pleasure"
Seeking recognition
        and monetary treasure,
Unaware that happiness
        is just a "state of mind"
Within the reach of everyone
        who takes the time to be kind---
For in making OTHERS HAPPY
        we will be happy, too.


For the happiness you give away
        returns to "shine on you."



~ click post title to donate to the American Red Cross/Pacific Tsunami - Japan Earthquake disaster relief efforts ~

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Happy Birthday, Rondi!

When we first met you (almost 11 years ago), we knew right away that you were perfect for John. Then when we finally introduced you, there was no doubt in our minds . . . and eventually no doubt for the two of you either! 
You so easily fit with all of us now ~ a special warmth and closeness that grows stronger through the years!


Happy Birthday, Rondi ~ May God Grant You Many Years!


With much love . . . 


Mom & Dad+

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Happy Birthday, Ella

Buon Compleanno, Ella! Today is your very first birthday, but Mimi and Papa are far away in Italia.
We wish we could be there to celebrate with you, but we hope that we will have lots of chances to do that in our future.
It seems like it wasn't that long ago that your mommy and daddy were in the hospital parking lot, unable to make it into the hospital ~ since you decided to make your appearance a little too quickly ~ and daddy delivered you himself . . . in the car!! Wow! What a day!
So here you are one year later, as cute as ever, making us miss you even more!
We love seeing you on Skype and are saving up lots of hugs and kisses for when we see you in person again!


Love, and many, many years! 


 Mimi & Papa

Thursday, March 3, 2011

The Amazing Skidboot - This is why I love Australian Cattle Dogs!



Knowing how much we love our own 9 year-old Australian Cattle Dog, Sherman, our daughter-in-law's mother, Lynne, shared this amazing video with me. As you will see, there is no way I couldn't post it and share it with everyone! It's very special! Skidboot died in the spring of 2007, when he was 15 year's old, but as his owner David said, "He's had a wonderful life!"
This breed is so smart, as you can see. David Hartwig is a living example of humility and integrity, constantly reminding us that we should try to find the joy in all that we do! Also proof that we don't always know how the Lord will use us!

"Life is too precious to be upset!"

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Happy Birthday, Jesse!



In honor of Jesse Pelikan's 37th birthhday today, I want to show this very funny video about cats. Jesse and Elina have an adorable cat named Heidi, so I think they'll get a kick out of this too!

Joy and Laughter, Jess! Happy Birthday!