A Giorno Chiaro!

Sherman likes the view too!

A Clear Day!

Vineyards and citrus - smells so good!



I’ll bet the blue sky in the picture above the ship – the Royal Caribbean – in my last post gives you the impression that it was a pretty day, right? Well not so! Compared to today, it was just a so-so weather day. At least it wasn’t raining that day, but yesterday was a rainy and very windy one, which means there’s always a good chance that the following day would turn out to be as pretty as a picture. And sure enough . . . look what we got! I woke up this morning to such a perfect day. The drive to my Italian class this morning was breathtaking. Now why couldn’t the weather have been like this for Jim’s visit on Monday?

Today we learned how to say things in the “past tense” . . . which is very helpful. Little by little (poco poco) this beginning attempt at Italian is actually making some sense. Yesterday, I was even able to tell our landlord (not needing the past tense form) that we couldn’t come for Sunday dinner this weekend because we are in the middle of Lent, and we would have to wait until after Easter. Believe me, it wasn’t a very elegant sentence, but we got the message across to Luigi and that in itself is a huge victory! Yeah-who!

I forgot to mention in my post on Monday that our nice neighbor just behind and below us, with the beautiful vineyard and lemon trees, threw up some lemons for us to “catch” in overhand pitch style, like a baseball while Jim was visiting.l! (unlike last week when he passed them up to us in a bag using a long tree branch)  The lemons are as big as softballs! Unfortunately, Jim couldn’t take them with him on the ship. Our neighbor asked us if we’re enjoying the lemons, and of course they are so delicious and thanks to my "baby" Italian, we at least were able to tell him that in Italian - i limoni molto deliziosi! Grazie mille (Your lemons are very delicious - thank you so much!)



A picture of the long tree branches used to pass the lemons in a bag



Italians use lemon juice on everything! Steak, fish, veggies, salad . . . you name it! The lemons here are not as bitter as American lemons. A very nice dressing for a salad, for example, is to add some of these fabulous lemon slices (some of the juice mixed in) tossed with a little olive oil some salt and pepper added, for a yummy local fare. We eat this (without the lemon slices) each time we have dinner at our landlord’s house; so light and refreshing.



Our neighbor's beautiful yard! Our view from our middle terrace last week.





Here we are in front of our house


It so great to have friends visit! We hope to have so many more visitors come to our home.
What fun to have Jim see where we live and picture our lives.

Time Stops For No Man?

After countless . . . conversations over the past few months trying to remember the last time we actually saw our friend Jim Barnett, his ship finally came in, (ha) to the Port of Naples, that is! A few months ago he contacted us on face book to let us know that he would be in the Mediterranean in early April and that his ship would be docking in Naples! How amazing is that?! At the time I was thinking, “Wow, that’s awhile from now.” It’ll be half-way through Lent, all that much closer to finding out about the Board results, and there could even be the possibility of sunshine and nice weather in the forecast by then. These were some of my thoughts! It’s been a harsh winter – heavy-duty winds that move any and everything in their path and most of the time the cold, biting rain to go along with it!

But, sure enough, before we knew it the day arrived. The night before, the phone rang and there was his familiar voice saying my name, “Tami? It’s Jim Barnett,” as though we had just talked to each other a year or so ago. But, “it is we who use time; time is not measured . . . it is just the tool for measurement”, and for us – suddenly – 25 + years were filled in and there we were, talking as though it was as natural as anything. Where had all that time gone? Well, we had used it all up!

Earlier that Sunday afternoon, Papa and I spent a number of hours driving my little car all around Naples (risking our lives for friendship, mind you [ha]), making sure we knew where we were going and how to get to the port (for sure), how to find at least a few of the historic sites to show him, and double-checking our time-line for getting him back to the ship on time. Monday morning traffic in Naples is busy and crazy, so of course we wanted to be prepared! We parked at the port where the ship would be docked the next morning at 0700 and went up the stairs to the new shopping galleria. The grand opening is scheduled for next week. That was unexpected and fun! We were able to acclimate easily after that and then figure out the best way to get home. We wanted to bring Jim to our house as well and show him Pozzuoli and a little of our area. Isn't that amazing!

Jim is traveling with Royal Caribbean International, assistant in charge of the music for the entire ship of over 5000 people - something like that - and will be in the Mediterranean for the next several months. They'll be in and out of Naples at least 10 times or so! We are really looking forward to a number of visits together.

We picked him up at 0900, spent the day just like we planned it and had an absolutely wonderful time together - as if time had somehow stopped or skipped along the mountain tops. We each have had our deep "valley" experiences, but somehow they didn't matter - on Monday!

Since arriving in Naples we keep hearing that this is the place where the Apostle Paul first stepped ashore before his last long journey on foot to Rome on the Appian Way!

When Paul was taken to Rome as a prisoner, Luke tells us in Acts 28:15 that Paul was coming up the Appian Way from Naples with his guards, and that the Christians in Rome “had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged.”

Papa and I had heard that there was a marker somewhere in the Port of Pozzuoli (5 minutes from our house) to mark this momentous occassion, but in our previous attempts had not been able to find it. But on Monday - with Jim - we found it!  On the left and in the center are the markers for the Apostle Paul, and on the right is a marker for the visit for Pope John Paul IIwhen he visited this same historic spot.  Beautiful!

~The butterfly counts not months but moments, 

and has time enough.~

Hum a Song of Friendship

"This guy found this baby hummingbird after it was attacked, and he nursed it . . .back to health until it decided to stay and be his pet. Very charming video,

and be sure to have your sound on. The song in the background is almost as

good as the video itself." ENJOY :-)


http://www.wimp.com/babyhummingbird


ps . . . thanks to Sue Dietrich for sending this to me today! Loved it and had to share!

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

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

 

 

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

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.

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.  =)

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!

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.

*************************************************************



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! 

http://www.loveyoufather.com/around-the-world/index.html 

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 ~

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+

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

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!"

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!

The True Meaning of Valentine's Day



St. Valentine the Martyr



St. Valentine is a martyr from before the year 312, commemorated on this 14th of February. He was probably martyred on that date, but nothing else is known of him. (A priest of Rome named Valentine, and bishop of Ternia also named Valentine), are both commemorated on 14th of February, and are now generally assumed that be the same person. In many parts of Europe, it was once said that birds began to pair off for the nesting season in mid-February. Since our forebears often spoke of a given day by naming a saint connected with it rather than by giving the month and the number of the day, we find them saying that birds choose their mates on St. Valentine's Day.

Historians have speculated that St. Valentine came to be given this title because his feast day fell around the time of Lupercalia, a pagan Roman festival of carnal love that later took on a more Christian character as well as the saint's name. For this to happen – if it is true – St. Valentine must have been highly regarded by the early Roman Christians. The saint is described as a brave, righteous and wise man and a kind and conscientious friend to those in need.

According to tradition, St. Valentine also cared deeply for the young: He taught lovers to read and write letters to one another, presented flowers to newlyweds and helped married couples in difficulties. As a priest in the 3rd century, and according to legend, St. Valentine ignored Emperor Claudius’ decree that no more marriages were to take place. Claudius had forbidden marriages because he believed that they cut down on his potential crop of soldiers. St. Valentine, viewing this as unjust, continued to marry people, encouraging Christian soldiers to marry their girlfriends despite the imperial prohibition, was caught in the act and sentenced to death. It is even said that a girl, one whom St. Valentine had healed of blindness, fell in love with him and visited him every night in prison. Before his execution on February 14th, he sent a note to the girl and signed it “From your Valentine.”

Permit me to reprint a portion of an article written last February 14, 2010 [Sunday] - Bulletin 15, Volume XLVII


Love and Forgiveness
Written by the Very Rev. Vladimir Berzonsky



"The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and forgiving sin and rebellion" (Numbers 14:18)



"All too rare that Forgiveness Sunday opening onto the Great Lent falls on the same day when our nation celebrates Valentine's Day -- and so serendipitous to merge those great spiritual virtues into one. Several legends surround St. Valentine, who is as elusive as our beloved St. Nicholas and almost as beloved -- at least in his legacy of love. Let's take the best known tale. It records him as a priest or maybe bishop imprisoned in Rome by Emperor Claudius II, and condemned to execution [as written above]. His meals were served by the daughter of the jailer, and it seems that he left on his tray for the girl to take away a brief message signed: from your Valentine.


To the extent that myth is true, it speaks to both love and forgiveness. Not the passion we think of as love, certainly not the sentiments of all the valentines sent on this day between lovers, but a natural affection, perhaps gratitude for some kindness or sympathy from an innocent maiden for an old gentleman who would soon be put to death. Assuming the saint had imbibed the attributes of the Lord whom had given His life in service, he was slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and forgiving his jailer, the emperor and of course the girl who brought his meals. Is it possible that he could forgive them without loving them? Hardly. Conversely, could he love them as sinners without forgiving them? Again, not so."

Surely, as we give candy and flowers, and we also send cards to our loved ones, for most of us, like St. Valentine, these are expressions of a deeper kind of love - God's Love! Let this Valentine's Day be a reminder to all of us that perhaps we need not just give, but "give up" a little of ourselves for the sake of another to indetifiy with the true meaning of Valentine's Day -

“Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous, love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offense, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Love does not come to an end.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Happy New Year?

That's right! Better late that never, I say . . . Happy New Year!


It' hard to believe that this time last year Papa was miles away beginning his New Year busily taking care of 15 chaplains in Afghanistan! We were more than half-way through his year-long deployment, but the Holidays were making it drag along for both of us, for sure! This year, however, was so much different. It's been so great to be together, and even though there is a great hole in our hearts from missing our family miles across the ocean, it's hard to find the words to describe how great it is just to be with one another again!We welcomed in the 2011 ~ together this time ~ in the most amazing way! We've never seen such fireworks [in person] in our lives! Of course there are extravaganza-type fireworks at Disneyland or the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, but this was different! And from our own terrace in Pozzuoli, Italy, to boot. Since we moved in, we've been hearing from lots of people, "Just wait until New Year's Eve! You will not even believe the fireworks display put on by the Italians!" And let's just say, the Italians did not disappoint!

We could see a panorama of fireworks displayed from one side of the Bay of Pozzuoli to the other! We couldn't even count them all!

At the last minute we invited some friends and their children over to celebrate with us, but we really didn't have any idea what we were about to witness. HAD WE KNOWN, we would have had a full blown firework's-viewing party from our terrace *this year*! We had no idea what we were about to see.



As I was writing this post, I asked Papa what did he do to ring in the New Year when he was in Afghanistan, and he says he barely remembers New Year's Eve last year. He thinks the guys in Afghanistan gathered around the TV to watch the New Year's Eve ball countdown in Time Square with very little fanfare. I do know that he called me to say Happy New Year when it was just midnight and turning to the New Year in North Carolina, but it's not surprising that the whole thing is a bit of a blur for him. He was in the midst of some very busy planning at the time.There are a number of things that I want to *blog* about at the moment, but the time flies by and quickly slips away from me without a word on the page! BAD girl! Nevertheless, here are just a few of the highlights:

• We had the opportunity to meet our very best friends in the whole wide world, Lance & Maureen, in Rome, Italy, for the day on the 4th of January!
• In the past month we also traversed an extremely high mountain to tour the Abbey of Montecassino just south of Rome, which is the monastery established by St. Benedict in 529 AD.

Later that same day we visited an agritourismo, which is a restaurant that's in an old Italian farmhouse and uses 80% of their own produce, wine and meats. It was very charming and delicious!

• I was waiting to hear if my Level I Italian Course at Texas College would have enough people in it (9) to continue. I just heard that the class is a “go” and on Tuesday and Thursday mornings I have officially set out on my journey to learn Italian! Yikes!

It's the second of February today and in keeping with family tradition, tonight Papa and I will watch the movie "Groundhog Day" as we do every Feb 2nd - *Groundhog Day* . . . both Fr. Phil and I really enjoy this movie! Do you think Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow and spring will arrive early this year? Or will we be waiting around until the end of March?


Perhaps William Blake may have been experiencing similar thoughts when he put pen to paper those many years ago as he contemplated the coming of spring . . .


The Spring
William Blake (1783)


O thou with dewy locks, who lookest down
Through the clear windows of the morning, turn
Thine angel eyes upon our western isle,
Which in full choir hails thy approach, O Spring!

The hills tell one another, and the listening
Valleys hear; all our longing eyes are turn’d
Up to thy bright pavilions: issue forth
And let thy holy feet visit our clime!

Come o’er the eastern hills, and let our winds
Kiss thy perfumèd garments; let us taste
Thy morn and evening breath; scatter thy pearls
Upon our lovesick land that mourns for thee.

O deck her forth with thy fair fingers; pour
Thy soft kisses on her bosom; and put
Thy golden crown upon her languish’d head,
Whose modest tresses are bound up for thee.

~