Packing light?

No!

Presents, cooking provisions (measuring cups & spoons, spices, baking powder and baking soda), shoes and clothes for every possible occasion, electronics galore (including a printer)...well, you get the picture. Believe it or not, when Bill and I went to Oxford last year, we managed with just two carry-on bags apiece. What can I say, winter clothes are simply bulkier than summer ones, and you need more of them!

Dear Customs Officer

I just wanted to let you know that I am bringing things INTO Italy that either appear to be Italian, European, or have been purchased in Italy on a previous trip. So when I do not declare these items upon re-entering the U.S., you will understand.

The purple and red sweaters are merino wool. The Sportiva boots and brogues were bought in America. My friend hand-knit the hat that was modeled after an Italian version I bought here in the States.

I'm taking the Modern architecture guide book back to Italy with me because I plan on taking some walking tours while Bill is doing his research.

The gloves on the right were purchased from a dear little old lady, Alberta, in 2008. There's already a blog written about her. I don't know where the ones on the left are from, but they're gloves, so I'm declaring them before leaving the U.S.

Hopefully, the future blogs will be a little more interesting.

On the para-military nature of children's apparel

I was cleaning closets the other day when I came across my children's dress winter coats and was struck by the consistent use of military detailing in the designs.

This was Catherine's, and later Billy's, first coat. Depending on whether you are dressing a girl or a boy you can button the coat accordingly.


This was Billy's first all-boy coat--a size 3. We have another one just like it in size 5.



Notice the chevron on the sleeve. Three stripes...that must make Billy a Naval Commander!



You would think that this fuschia coat would be exempt from military detailing but note the double-breasted front!



The coat below has a large velvet bow on the back. I thought that this was the only one not militarized, but then Bill pointed out the banding on the cuffs. As for the hat, it looks like it's straight out of a scene from The Sound of Music.



I always thought that with her long hair Catherine should have tried out for the part of Gretl!



This couldn't be more military!



The difference between these coats and children's clothes today is that nowadays kids are dressed in desert camouflage.

Incidentally, while in Europe this summer, my camera got too close to some metal fencing that I was trying to shoot through and I scratched my lens. That's the reason there's a white blotch in the center of nearly every shot. Hmmm...note to self...have to get that fixed.

Lip-smackin' good

This is our 17-1/2 year old dog, Daisy. She is not in good health, is virtually lame, and walks with a stagger when indeed she can walk. When this video was taken, she was recovering from a serious bout of diarrhea which required not one but two medications that put a damper on her already finicky appetite. Now I had been a good doggy-mom during this recent medical episode--I fixed rice, brought home egg drop soup, bought Rice Chex, poured beef broth, but she would have none of it.

We had invited Rob and Roberta over for the Sugar Bowl. I honestly didn't put much effort into the "eats" that night. In fact, I bought a box mix for those gooey lemon bars with the crumb crust that generally you can find at every office pot luck. I decided to give her a taste because she hadn't eaten or drunk anything for a few days. Well, she loved it. If you've ever had them, you know they are rich. The human serving was about 2" x 2". Daisy can eat two or three in a serving. It seemed that these bars were the "gateway" food to more nutritious foods, like canned dog food.

She polished off the pan of lemon gooey bars in just a few days. She likes those little lemon Weight Watcher snacking cakes, too, so for the rest of her days, she will have a gooey lemon treat.

Bon appetit, Daisy!

P.S. She is standing on one of her "islands"--a bath mat that gives her some stability and that can be thrown in the washing machine.