This is Captain. He lives across from us and visits often for treats.
He's real big on just lazing around, as cats do.He loves me! He really loves me!!
Well the treats I give him anyway, lol!
Well the treats I give him anyway, lol!
Full happy tummy now!
BirdwatchingI went inside to get something to drink, and he stole my chair!
So I picked him up and plopped him on another chair!
He wasn't really thrilled about that...
But he's lazy and decided it was ok afterall.
Zzzzzzzzz......So I read my book and Captain snoozed!
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The Honey Lemon bread was great! Here is the bread machine recipe for it:
2 lb loaf
1 cup, plus 1 Tbsp water
1/4 cup honey
2 Tbsp margarine or butter
4 cups bread flour
2 Tbsp dry milk
2 tsp grated lemon peel
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp quick active dry yeast
Place ingredients in your machine per your recommended manufacturer's instructions. I used the basic cycle, light crust.
Remember that I said I was making French baguettes?
They were seriously the best EVER!!! Ohmygosh good!!
But...I set off the smoke detector. It's really, really loud!
There wasn't even any discernable smoke!! But the egg I brushed the bread with didn't agree with it. So next time I'll turn on the vent and crack the kitchen window. Still, totally worth it. I'm a bread Goddess!!!***********************************************
Friday was a crazy busy day! Bella had school, but Thomas had the day off for a 4 day weekend. We ran around all over town....
Like to the mini mall, which had a jewelry store that caught my eye.
I wonder what could be in this box???
This is a really crummy picture of truly gorgeous jewelry!! I saw it and thought, that's mine!!! It's so wonderfully sparkly and I love it!!! LOVE IT!Emisfero is in this mall and we got to take our time buying our favorite Italian goodies. They have a salami there that is pee-your-pants-good. We got three packages on Friday. Two are gone. 'Nuff said. We also got some cheese, pickles, veggies, fresh mozzerella cheese (which tastes COMPLETELY different than the crap we get in the states!!), all kinds of stuff. Their produce is so mind boggling fresh too! I saw plums with green leaves still on them!
The fruit salad was expensive, but worth it!
I'm not sure what these are. I thought they were prickly pears, but when I looked online they only show red ones. So, I'm not sure. But they're delish!!! They kind of taste pear-appleish. Very soft, lots of hard seeds, lightly sweet.
Just look at these beautiful pomegranates!!! I love Italy!
I also picked up this european toaster. We do have 110 plugs here, but it's recommended that for things that heat up a lot (like hair dryers, toasters, etc) that you get 220 appliances.
It is SO cool because...
It has these baskets that you can use for plain bread, OR to make a hot, toasted sandwich!! Plus, no more digging out that bagel or English muffin that gets stuck. Isn't that ingenious???We also picked up some goodies for The Bella for Christmas as I'm wayyyyy behind schedule on shopping. Normally I'm done by August!
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At the PX, they are having all kinds of sales on summer stuff. This was the last Disney Princess bistro set.
I also got a cell phone. This is a pay-as-you-go phone, but I need an Italian number for the school to reach me if need be and if I need to get a hold of Thomas. The sales girl picked out the color (which I didn't care about) and said it was "hot". Whatever, Paris!!
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Bella totally loves school! She loves everything about it - her teachers, her new friends, playing outside for recess, eating lunches from home - everything! There is a meeting with her teacher next week, to go over the program, explain how it works, etc. I'm looking forward to it! I'm sure Bella has made an impression by now, lol!*************************************************
Here is Bella's bistro set in the back yard. She was thrilled!!
I moved things around a bit and LOVE how our backyard looks!! I've always wanted to have a gazebo and it's so handy to have nice shade when you're just out relaxing. It's such a peaceful place to read too!!!
I love it!!I also:
* colored my hair, so that looks fabulous again!
* made a macaroni salad for the unit's BBQ, which everyone loved. It was nice to meet some of the other wives!
* set up our new bank's online banking and transferred ALL our bills to it and changed the phone number and address. Then did the bills on the 1st. That alone took me all morning!!
* received my last item that was backordered forever from Stampin' Up.
* received a big order of clothes I ordered online. It's so nice to have something DIFFERENT to wear as I've been wearing the same suitcase of clothes for almost two months. Boring!!
Some things that are finally going our way:
* Our truck is here!!! I hate being without a vehicle!
* Thomas got in his debit card and pin for our new bank and I got my pin. I should have my own debit card any day now.
* Our internet was "hardwired" to the house Friday afternoon. I haven't plugged the computer into it yet as I'd have to move the dining room table wayyyy across the room, but supposedly it will now be faster and more reliable. Cool beans!
* Our front door blinds, which we've been waiting for since we moved in, are on order and should be in momentarily as well!
* And best of all...OUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS ARE IN ITALY!!! They arrived at port on Thursday! Two containers, the size of train boxcars, arrived in Vicenza on Friday, but neither of them were ours. Italians don't have labor day, so although the transportation office will be closed, the people moving the containers should get it up here (it's about 9 hours away or so). So...we should have our stuff sometime next week!!! MY BED! MY STAMPING STUFF! MY BED!!!!!! Woooo Hoooo!
I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff, but that's the way it goes when you don't blog for a couple of days and are on the move non-stop, lol! I'm looking forward to a very quiet, and relaxing rest of the weekend as we were out all day on Friday and I've been cooking, cleaning and doing laundry most of today. I just wanna plop on the couch and watch a movie tonight!!
* colored my hair, so that looks fabulous again!
* made a macaroni salad for the unit's BBQ, which everyone loved. It was nice to meet some of the other wives!
* set up our new bank's online banking and transferred ALL our bills to it and changed the phone number and address. Then did the bills on the 1st. That alone took me all morning!!
* received my last item that was backordered forever from Stampin' Up.
* received a big order of clothes I ordered online. It's so nice to have something DIFFERENT to wear as I've been wearing the same suitcase of clothes for almost two months. Boring!!
Some things that are finally going our way:
* Our truck is here!!! I hate being without a vehicle!
* Thomas got in his debit card and pin for our new bank and I got my pin. I should have my own debit card any day now.
* Our internet was "hardwired" to the house Friday afternoon. I haven't plugged the computer into it yet as I'd have to move the dining room table wayyyy across the room, but supposedly it will now be faster and more reliable. Cool beans!
* Our front door blinds, which we've been waiting for since we moved in, are on order and should be in momentarily as well!
* And best of all...OUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS ARE IN ITALY!!! They arrived at port on Thursday! Two containers, the size of train boxcars, arrived in Vicenza on Friday, but neither of them were ours. Italians don't have labor day, so although the transportation office will be closed, the people moving the containers should get it up here (it's about 9 hours away or so). So...we should have our stuff sometime next week!!! MY BED! MY STAMPING STUFF! MY BED!!!!!! Woooo Hoooo!
I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff, but that's the way it goes when you don't blog for a couple of days and are on the move non-stop, lol! I'm looking forward to a very quiet, and relaxing rest of the weekend as we were out all day on Friday and I've been cooking, cleaning and doing laundry most of today. I just wanna plop on the couch and watch a movie tonight!!
18 comments:
You sure have some neet things! You never figured out what the fruit was?
I really need to get myself a break maker.
Oh so busy, it will calm down but not for awhile yet I suspect. My toaster is just like yours:) As for fruit and vegetables find out what days your local markets are and shop there for produce, much better prices!
Prickly pears yes :)
You have Captain captivated already. (and maybe just a little bit spoiled with those treats) Thanks for sharing the video with us fellow cat lovers. :)
Woohoo! Your things are in Italy! I hope they arrive at your new place soon so you can sleep in your own bed again. :)
I'm glad Bella is enjoying school. She did a good job on the coloring, too. I hope she has fun with her friends at her new bistro set. That looks really cute.
The toaster looks cool. I've never seen anything like it before. (i've never been to Italy before either so that might be why...lol)
Have a great weekend and just think....you'll be sleeping in your own bed soon. :)
Hooray for the new bed & your stuff getting. I think your red phone is very chic. I have a red Lotus LG Elite & I lurve it!
xoxo
The backyard looks great, as does that fruit salad. Yay for your household stuff being in the same country you are!
SO happy to hear your stuff in in country at last! Things seem to be turning around for you and it's about time!
You have been busy! that is one cute kitty cat!!!
Jeannie, it is so good to hear from you from w-a-ay across the 'pond'. With you wonderfully happy and upbeat attitude I know this experience of living in Italy will be one that you will look back on years from now with fond affection and memories.
I am so happy that Bella likes her school and her teachers. Maybe she can teach you some of her Italian. Great that things are beginning to get normal for you.
Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog and leave comments. You really are a dear. Bella is a lucky girl to have a fun mom.
Love the pics...especially the back yard ones. Glad things are looking up....loved the jewelry....and the bread looked absolutely to die for. I sold my breadmaker when we moved....may have to rethink that one...and send me the information on letting out the queen in me.
I am so glad you came by my blog. I am in the process of having my blog redesigned by April Showers' Blog Design, and when I went through the "portfolio" back in May or June, to see which blog designs caught my eye, it was this one! I love your blog! You have so much to offer...and it's so purrrrty!
OMG, you have been busy. I loved this post, felt like I was catching up with an old friend! Go glad Bella loves school and all that goes with it!
Chat with you soon...:)
Those things are prickly pears... Figo d'india in My Mother's Italian dialect...
They are my favorite fruit... don't spit the seeds out, and don't chew them, just swallow them... you'll be fine... they don't hurt ya... but rather... are natures broom.
I envy you living in my home country... Everything is better in Italy... it just is!!!
Wow, that is one serious update!! Love the outdoor area (plus kitty). And what gorgeous jewels... wowzer! And you're making me think i need a bread machine... your homemade bread sounds DIVINE.
And YAY that your stuff finally arrived... it only took long enough, but at least it's finally there. Big sigh of relief, I'm sure. :)
Wow.. you are so busy just reading about it all made me tired...
I'm going to need another nap!
I LOVE the gazebo!!! It's so gorgeous!!! Wish I could sit out there with you!!
every single blog post these days from you is a visual FEAST! so glad your stuff is so near, and lovin that gazebo!!!
I've always wanted a bread maker...but then I'd eat way too much bread...it's better than sweets to me!
I'd go crazy without my own mattress for that long!! With how bad my neck and back are, I'd probably have to buy a new one...and with my giant hubby, he'd probably be on the couch b/c there is no way we'd fit in a full!
Awe, I didn't know you did a post about my lazy kitty :) That is his favorite activity I believe, well, that and catching those birds!!! I'm amazed he didn't let you pet him more, I bet he does now though :) Love the toaster too! We've seen those but haven't stopped to look at one, now I want one too! Hahaha Love how that works huh?
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