tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8386739328653833302024-03-14T03:59:06.313-06:00My Life TodayAngiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-84548424989179923932015-04-30T16:02:00.000-06:002015-04-30T16:02:14.625-06:00Moving OnWell, I can't believe how long it's been since I wrote on this blog. Five years of owning and operating The Purple Poppy left me very little time to do anything personal. It is now, with a heavy heart, that I am moving on to new adventures. Dick and I have moved to Simpsonville, South Carolina. Although I am beyond thrilled to be nearer my East Coast buds, it is so sad to leave my Colorado ones behind.<br />
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10 years...that's how long we've been here and it's been a decade filled with both good and bad times...but through it all, it has definitely been an adventure.<br />
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This was our ribbon cutting for The Purple Poppy. This was a great day, and I remember feeling full hope and excitement.</div>
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Donna actually came out and walked a few Bolder Boulders with me. I love that she and I have shared so many incredible moments!!! </div>
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Maureen has been a great neighbor and friend...I will miss her smiling face so much, but am feeling confident that I will see her in South Carolina soon. </div>
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Yikes...turning 50 was a milestone and love that I was able to share that celebration with such awesome friends. I have known Tina for 23 years and she is such a loyal, steadfast friend who always makes me laugh. I have known Rachel for less than 10 years, but she has made a huge impact on me...she is a bright, talented woman filled with sunshine and light!!!</div>
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I can't say enough about this smiling face...my biggest cheerleader when I decided to open my store, a shoulder to cry on (alot), a home that is always open and welcoming...and my very best friend who provided the crown so I could be queen for a week!!!</div>
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Sharing a glass of champagne to celebrate the opening of The Purple Poppy. I couldn't have done it without her. </div>
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A generous heart...sharing her good friends with me as well. Thank you Sally Simerson for all the joy you bring to my life. </div>
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Bolder Boulders, opening stores, traveling around the world, providing a safe place for me to cry, scream, laugh...this sister makes me proud every day. I love her so much, and can't imagine a day without talking to her!!!</div>
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I have spent the last few weeks reminiscing about our life here, but I am ready to join Dick and Kimi in South Carolina and start our new life there.<br />
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<br />Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-12215441407331980952011-11-23T10:52:00.001-07:002011-11-23T10:52:09.197-07:00Fall at The Purple Poppy<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div style='position:relative;width:600px;height:600px;'><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/fall_at_purple_poppy/set?.embedder=3001071&.svc=blogger&id=39508485'><img force='1' border='0' height='600' title='Fall at The Purple Poppy' src='http://embed.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/cid/39508485/id/hpIpyOQP4RGFzPgwM0hDtg/size/y.jpg' alt='Fall at The Purple Poppy' width='600'/></a></div><br/><div><small><a href='http://www.polyvore.com/fall_at_purple_poppy/set?.embedder=3001071&amp;.svc=blogger&amp;id=39508485'>Fall at The Purple Poppy</a> by <a href='http://thepurplepoppy.polyvore.com/?.embedder=3001071&amp;.svc=blogger'>thepurplepoppy</a> featuring <a href='http://www.polyvore.com/waxing_poetic_jewelry/shop?brand=Waxing+Poetic&amp;category_id=60'>waxing poetic jewelry</a></small></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-80079644703541820922010-01-06T12:34:00.002-07:002010-01-06T12:39:33.232-07:002010!!!Wow...can you believe it's a brand new year? So much has happened since my last post...was it really in July??? I am so sorry for the long delay...<div><br /></div><div>The dogs are still growing like crazy! Kimi gets more spoiled every day and the boy just grows and grows and grows!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Big news for us is that I'm opening up a retail store. Yep...The Purple Poppy: Home Decor and Chick Stuff Galore. Which means...that with the opening of the store, I won't have any time to blog and I definitely won't be travelling any. So...you can now follow me (and the store) at www.thepurplepoppy.blogspot.com. I will start posting there soon. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am leaving for Dallas market on January 13, will be there for 5 days then I'll be in Las Vegas for 7 beginning January 30. My landlord is in the process of pulling permits to start the construction on our space so by the time I return from Vegas, construction should have started and I should have something to blog about. </div><div><br /></div><div>See you there! You can also find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lafayette-CO/The-Purple-Poppy-Home-Decor-Accessories/202291304235.</div><div><br /></div><div>Best wishes and a very Happy New Year to all my friends and family who have been following me here!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Angie</div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-86638245493184753952009-07-13T19:00:00.006-06:002009-07-13T19:09:33.965-06:00The Dog Days of SummerCody looking so innocent....who knows what terror he's dreaming up in his head to inflict on us!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzV9syRJFWc9nadHJ1C_o_C2dQHti4KFPDyImMWAGMZuA5NxOIHFzp8ESSy_hzwcZCQ22O18A0sMsu7HRNlTdzbLfs3OAsLJroTHpCxprHwnFfxpcJKNbpX61ytLqPzDe7kDCiV-EFKlu/s1600-h/DSC_0021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358116280957296018" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzV9syRJFWc9nadHJ1C_o_C2dQHti4KFPDyImMWAGMZuA5NxOIHFzp8ESSy_hzwcZCQ22O18A0sMsu7HRNlTdzbLfs3OAsLJroTHpCxprHwnFfxpcJKNbpX61ytLqPzDe7kDCiV-EFKlu/s400/DSC_0021.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Kimi is just over a year and a half years old. She's a real sweety and brings so much joy to our life.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpPPhlQA4FMhXCgiaGu-iWtfVth71tQ02Ye363Js4uNP5lzbSeABkB5ni7qjf0HanoGzNG8mc4ccPNPN5XSHRyWw1xKUDveZb_1aLW3fF74JmNbrvSIua4xGJI6YTpkST6YgmDeqfGa_G/s1600-h/DSC_0017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358116278518757650" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpPPhlQA4FMhXCgiaGu-iWtfVth71tQ02Ye363Js4uNP5lzbSeABkB5ni7qjf0HanoGzNG8mc4ccPNPN5XSHRyWw1xKUDveZb_1aLW3fF74JmNbrvSIua4xGJI6YTpkST6YgmDeqfGa_G/s400/DSC_0017.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The boy again...more plotting, I'm sure!!!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHj5ihlyxY5Eo7CxLL_wq3U-uDSnUoiHZTj5NN_ztF_dK89AJrvpvfwhY9WTgWbCnVtYomYg_neRUqNA5Ug9FCvqXzQ5uN-465VpcbRu_gmL9V6oZSyWxQ0XY0JbCwFREEi0o0R5hAasJi/s1600-h/DSC_0015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358116269408197458" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHj5ihlyxY5Eo7CxLL_wq3U-uDSnUoiHZTj5NN_ztF_dK89AJrvpvfwhY9WTgWbCnVtYomYg_neRUqNA5Ug9FCvqXzQ5uN-465VpcbRu_gmL9V6oZSyWxQ0XY0JbCwFREEi0o0R5hAasJi/s400/DSC_0015.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hmmm...now the two of them may be in cahoots ;)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlEAC0WqycNTkafbtBORW1SuIGBtIO16lXXWmMjsC3ZXt3GbCb82waLCck1WlaypeCLlf6cfPwDRWhiEiKazNqfY0iTj99LvBhYg485jOBUqxZeQLRUm_XoS68lPmDwKleujgRuENrPV1/s1600-h/DSC_0010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358115671081652434" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlEAC0WqycNTkafbtBORW1SuIGBtIO16lXXWmMjsC3ZXt3GbCb82waLCck1WlaypeCLlf6cfPwDRWhiEiKazNqfY0iTj99LvBhYg485jOBUqxZeQLRUm_XoS68lPmDwKleujgRuENrPV1/s400/DSC_0010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Don't let the innocent look deceive you...they are definitely cooking up something!!!!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8y3k3FQUKHZ2mdF_Li3PyzjeoNABLAv4-Ujt75jWvxioiDgMN30_sRPpcKgLRhViWVCNpjnsDF3uHEKxnwNzrvPMR34FbA60FFqT95fnARHd9l1qFTTqxwUCViYT0ZIqQ8B0G-x5zNGdu/s1600-h/DSC_0007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358115664303284866" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8y3k3FQUKHZ2mdF_Li3PyzjeoNABLAv4-Ujt75jWvxioiDgMN30_sRPpcKgLRhViWVCNpjnsDF3uHEKxnwNzrvPMR34FbA60FFqT95fnARHd9l1qFTTqxwUCViYT0ZIqQ8B0G-x5zNGdu/s400/DSC_0007.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Who...us?????<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlybQlvrkjeYcYW84NyuODBTawwgeCHSc6cNP72di2Ozt5N8whSq179QtqhU-P6o9K3ufYfUqPVMkxusvaFGpJ8kfmKcr2X6Owm8E0KiprnQzgocbcUJzGVCx7dUDdJ9L6MiYZUwupjzGR/s1600-h/DSC_0005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358115384340898546" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlybQlvrkjeYcYW84NyuODBTawwgeCHSc6cNP72di2Ozt5N8whSq179QtqhU-P6o9K3ufYfUqPVMkxusvaFGpJ8kfmKcr2X6Owm8E0KiprnQzgocbcUJzGVCx7dUDdJ9L6MiYZUwupjzGR/s400/DSC_0005.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-79603800652603694282009-07-13T15:56:00.010-06:002009-07-13T18:40:36.515-06:00Roma In Less than 48 HoursTwo days is not near long enough to spend in Rome, but unfortunately, that's the only time that Donna, Jason & Regina had since they were all flying out on Monday morning. We tried to pack in as much stuff as possible in the less than 48 hours that we had. We arrived right after noon on Saturday so that only gave Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. We were lucky to have found a B&B in Rome, within a 20 minute walk from the Piazza del Popolo. It was very reasonably priced and beautiful. If you're travelling to Rome anytime soon, definitely give Marco a call and check them out. His wife is a local artist and is quite famous for restoration work on frescoes around Italy. She has done all of the painting in their hotel (<a href="http://www.suitespiazzadelpopolo.com/">Suites Piazza del Popolo)</a>. <div><br /><div></div><div>Here's Marco showing off his breakfast spread. Nothing fancy but plenty of strong espresso, cereal, orange juice, croissants, etc.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwlLPKHCXHHHkZhQMh6srdWzRzSQ2YeIW1-fT1m0-CYCuPja4cqpdohrLnQK74wryPoPdgLM3GXeisNy37Q1lvB09qcpSsCJpZq9QU0YJ8FGTlbiQjLDFfD521hXg3UIlIGeF94TAb-85/s1600-h/DSC_0382.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358076907178216850" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwlLPKHCXHHHkZhQMh6srdWzRzSQ2YeIW1-fT1m0-CYCuPja4cqpdohrLnQK74wryPoPdgLM3GXeisNy37Q1lvB09qcpSsCJpZq9QU0YJ8FGTlbiQjLDFfD521hXg3UIlIGeF94TAb-85/s400/DSC_0382.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><br /><div>The Goldoni room...this is a huge room with a balcony. This is the room Jason & Regina stayed in.</div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4FoY4-PYKmNVQpyByVaNyny86sDC7oujC3xbPUJgm4tDyJPF5vLkuAIQ-QFrAeJgG0viDbbFsMku68WXhBV_L5GsMCOfNU18qFWWVI4mJYRVkrYXIoSTvFcYcKahbfNhXLZT7OL7dQyi/s1600-h/100_0407.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358076911978180754" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4FoY4-PYKmNVQpyByVaNyny86sDC7oujC3xbPUJgm4tDyJPF5vLkuAIQ-QFrAeJgG0viDbbFsMku68WXhBV_L5GsMCOfNU18qFWWVI4mJYRVkrYXIoSTvFcYcKahbfNhXLZT7OL7dQyi/s400/100_0407.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This is the street view from our room. It's a very quiet street so there was no noise at all in our room (on the 3rd floor)...that's the shuttle tracks in the picture. Not only is it a short walk, but there is a shuttle that goes all the way to the Piazza del Popolo....very convenient if the weather is bad.<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL63UfJxWjwmIUYdoQJS6tWSFZM2lw1RpvqRRP_9QNTaZ6swqY8ROVHadS2M1BM5Cikb5QTA7Y4irOa-mwgtEUoaSCRBdPrGUfeEOB5bRZh-Jwc-ZhmIKpPNgzSwiEcu4IGqYDXyCDvwEj/s1600-h/DSC_0383.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358076901384861090" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL63UfJxWjwmIUYdoQJS6tWSFZM2lw1RpvqRRP_9QNTaZ6swqY8ROVHadS2M1BM5Cikb5QTA7Y4irOa-mwgtEUoaSCRBdPrGUfeEOB5bRZh-Jwc-ZhmIKpPNgzSwiEcu4IGqYDXyCDvwEj/s400/DSC_0383.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div>One of our very first views of St. Peter's. Donna had tickets to mass on Pentecost Sunday (with the Pope). I don't have her pictures yet but I promise to post them when I get them from her. The four of us did not go....we just went with her to pick up the tickets and walk around St. Peter's.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCP9XPT7GgpXLmdO684xKuF6NU2DnQW-6PZW-4BB2Gz8ny3Mq2A8zTl6FdIwRxh46ED41EkkG2R5iQQWkB5DiHUkPqh-2okdomvlBrcux09kdXDCwDX85dsgCHD-UH5oydO9_AqSO9Zohm/s1600-h/DSC_0395.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZx1EPH2yVu-d6SYM31PamjCze7JuMUo24WBNzpCTLijZa2xRYI96A_DY89V1pSWXid4feYpqkitbXQlutIeKAgXo3uG_2qIJsCAeBcLeB76cSXCMee7T_Ipmj86bbRAF18_c-jvTn7cI/s1600-h/100_0353.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358076915718070882" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZx1EPH2yVu-d6SYM31PamjCze7JuMUo24WBNzpCTLijZa2xRYI96A_DY89V1pSWXid4feYpqkitbXQlutIeKAgXo3uG_2qIJsCAeBcLeB76cSXCMee7T_Ipmj86bbRAF18_c-jvTn7cI/s400/100_0353.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5o-llIVLj_OFJkcpti5QOCF9v06F7m3NJkHT-7wyHsOGHjasmMgbMSEKL-IXo2SW6_uSLqGH_ABuO37h4I6hv8sWzTdTlo-KlxlIvdAt3SLEN64O939ik3NqWRcKMb4BvwC2wojwffA5/s1600-h/100_0330.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358077222519308930" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5o-llIVLj_OFJkcpti5QOCF9v06F7m3NJkHT-7wyHsOGHjasmMgbMSEKL-IXo2SW6_uSLqGH_ABuO37h4I6hv8sWzTdTlo-KlxlIvdAt3SLEN64O939ik3NqWRcKMb4BvwC2wojwffA5/s400/100_0330.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Sunday morning, the four of us walked to the Vatican to meet Donna after mass. Here's Jason & Regina taking a break across the river from the Castel St. Angelo.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1TFI4oBn69gzobbBfWf2rywDZz4M3tMqA8VNUDcqesiBKZ8xxMmnH_B94dARdGYUlmyv5o6KObThsi1wo1qmIsgAyQtD0fqeUEiwS9T_BlZd-PpLWzWLld4DLqNKVboR3LAHQBFNGuyt/s1600-h/DSC_0387.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358075499058384002" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1TFI4oBn69gzobbBfWf2rywDZz4M3tMqA8VNUDcqesiBKZ8xxMmnH_B94dARdGYUlmyv5o6KObThsi1wo1qmIsgAyQtD0fqeUEiwS9T_BlZd-PpLWzWLld4DLqNKVboR3LAHQBFNGuyt/s400/DSC_0387.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is one of the 10 angel statues along the Ponte Sant'Angelo. All of the angels hold instruments of the passion. This one is titled "Angel with the Garment and Dice."</div><br /><div>The inscription reads: "Super vestimentum meum miserunt sortem" which translates to: For my clothing they cast lots (Psalm 22:18) The significance is found in Mark 15:24, Roman soldiers took Jesus' well-made garments and played dice for them. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhye6soaRb6kJheFUtlR9KZvDjmrk9-rTSN8EM83BE1TKc0lg8vrquhmVEqPVqNycLBBUKF-Z1UBKYa2TtW6Qgc2JNMdoS418ddMiQCkeEgVEYE5ItVodi0QCAIH8R8ArNtkKlcjM0D2szA/s1600-h/DSC_0400.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358075489279707922" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhye6soaRb6kJheFUtlR9KZvDjmrk9-rTSN8EM83BE1TKc0lg8vrquhmVEqPVqNycLBBUKF-Z1UBKYa2TtW6Qgc2JNMdoS418ddMiQCkeEgVEYE5ItVodi0QCAIH8R8ArNtkKlcjM0D2szA/s400/DSC_0400.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Everywhere you go in Rome you will run into priests....<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82PkxTnM5NMS87Q3DsyJYN0b6_NTkm2C7SxPH7SZuuWt9um4pdCpaCipu5PgPyVVzwgyFRLSrjQdi233h0JxDKUDDOAKA_AvbRZPsp6g6Eaho0T8rYk5te4aO71U-y66mXlJNo3VTUT1D/s1600-h/DSC_0406.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358075484917592946" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82PkxTnM5NMS87Q3DsyJYN0b6_NTkm2C7SxPH7SZuuWt9um4pdCpaCipu5PgPyVVzwgyFRLSrjQdi233h0JxDKUDDOAKA_AvbRZPsp6g6Eaho0T8rYk5te4aO71U-y66mXlJNo3VTUT1D/s400/DSC_0406.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Saturday night near the Spanish Steps. My friend Robin over at <a href="http://www.mymelange.net/">My Melange</a> is not a huge fan of Rome but I personally love it. I especially love Saturday nights around the Spanish Steps. There is so much energy and everyone is relaxed, having a good time.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaz5SjWkAY9AfZXUZV7ZiZp_dqYZhDpi67-awWiSY3TAGCPHLwRzhj3hIUurEMjwyw1ZQ8utxR9jm9p2tgPnT9EK9sZf-SnthYUMN7HXkL_nH8cP19emAE1FauhEmNUMyH8uMNYmi1j7Tz/s1600-h/100_0343.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358077219859249714" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaz5SjWkAY9AfZXUZV7ZiZp_dqYZhDpi67-awWiSY3TAGCPHLwRzhj3hIUurEMjwyw1ZQ8utxR9jm9p2tgPnT9EK9sZf-SnthYUMN7HXkL_nH8cP19emAE1FauhEmNUMyH8uMNYmi1j7Tz/s400/100_0343.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Sisters in Rome at the Spanish Steps.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKe5lE8JohT3n56K1ehQtCp4rXttwNER3q2R9zoFQeZmLTHj5VQtyLmD9R_3aFy4F7sZeTexI2MXcQmR2oK427_m85BS-OHQa5Bprjcvno26OA4Rv5nz2orRr3jzz9xsSvCxqDhq71p9-/s1600-h/Angie+%26+Donna+at+Spanish+Steps.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358077595215286578" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKe5lE8JohT3n56K1ehQtCp4rXttwNER3q2R9zoFQeZmLTHj5VQtyLmD9R_3aFy4F7sZeTexI2MXcQmR2oK427_m85BS-OHQa5Bprjcvno26OA4Rv5nz2orRr3jzz9xsSvCxqDhq71p9-/s400/Angie+%26+Donna+at+Spanish+Steps.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Artists in the Piazza Navona.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_wbnmdmGfko_3rhGsB0KG7r2LCXFOiWMx4bGE2PsLW-B4t1yr8ax50TlQLjWZuQaQ45pSk99WD3Z5pR1-lRpXI8W-5o8caQMelXkBn5JlIdC71xEHW60FrLQ1GRyoknmWXoqkXGkwyyy/s1600-h/DSC_0415.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358075480834736642" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_wbnmdmGfko_3rhGsB0KG7r2LCXFOiWMx4bGE2PsLW-B4t1yr8ax50TlQLjWZuQaQ45pSk99WD3Z5pR1-lRpXI8W-5o8caQMelXkBn5JlIdC71xEHW60FrLQ1GRyoknmWXoqkXGkwyyy/s400/DSC_0415.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sisters in Rome again....now we're heading to the Pantheon.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWxDW1_OHeIvqOQbzJUrUviV2rVnxKs-y_-i7eHzxRCfHud__hJhWsvaUXVgvkDZkLtwTmCN65ISQD81JJ1O2c00Krt61Fh_fXKp6nuolzxYkgw0Ev0LkzDr1xVWasp7PPZq9yZ_usIPH/s1600-h/DSC_0416.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358074188697492946" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWxDW1_OHeIvqOQbzJUrUviV2rVnxKs-y_-i7eHzxRCfHud__hJhWsvaUXVgvkDZkLtwTmCN65ISQD81JJ1O2c00Krt61Fh_fXKp6nuolzxYkgw0Ev0LkzDr1xVWasp7PPZq9yZ_usIPH/s400/DSC_0416.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I love this guy on the fountain at the Piazza della Rotonda.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWItGVBqHrdm88Nf5pE_cTuZ_c5HCx6hHMHl-sBBwOwWz8VjLrr26K53BRlf-joW6T8SfI9DMbgeNlfYLmTgYDUkyuwEZfssc-AIyBPdm9JhSolO5uJiDTN5sZrx4h7EEgw3dPVAE8UQte/s1600-h/DSC_0423.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358074179792053666" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWItGVBqHrdm88Nf5pE_cTuZ_c5HCx6hHMHl-sBBwOwWz8VjLrr26K53BRlf-joW6T8SfI9DMbgeNlfYLmTgYDUkyuwEZfssc-AIyBPdm9JhSolO5uJiDTN5sZrx4h7EEgw3dPVAE8UQte/s400/DSC_0423.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>A great view of the Pantheon's oculus....it's only source of light and it's open to the weather allowing rain to enter and fall to the floor, where it is carried away through drains.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4tHqU4vNrZyqUzO6UxJHmSDPRPesFwjj-7fT5M7XxekFziTsxC8wPNB1gnpmU6XF-4vkLfo-oNlO6Aw7BBiBxzGrQRrSlgjQu4UMQT2PiRfdBKcP3fNbTPq6GUcrg8QxDYr3WXWg1fXt/s1600-h/DSC_0431.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358074176164404162" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4tHqU4vNrZyqUzO6UxJHmSDPRPesFwjj-7fT5M7XxekFziTsxC8wPNB1gnpmU6XF-4vkLfo-oNlO6Aw7BBiBxzGrQRrSlgjQu4UMQT2PiRfdBKcP3fNbTPq6GUcrg8QxDYr3WXWg1fXt/s400/DSC_0431.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />One of the fun things about being in Rome on this particular Sunday was the Giro d'Italia was finishing up. We did not spend much time watching the race but it was fun to be there amongst the crowds. This is along the Via del Corso...for my cycling friends...two names you might recognize:</div><div> </div><div>Allesandro Petacchi who won several stages in the Giro and<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCZ09pvN-J1V3Q_5WRWdlaxZx3p0B6GsroyyLLeOpbXa-xkao1xB4iMvxdQr4efdZFetLvQkTXPumd0PwS46rwBedsEeV5yzmqHcVpLbA9kISLK8Td_nC1sN4luK9ffH-Ww8TGK43ceHa/s1600-h/DSC_0452.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358107147591888562" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCZ09pvN-J1V3Q_5WRWdlaxZx3p0B6GsroyyLLeOpbXa-xkao1xB4iMvxdQr4efdZFetLvQkTXPumd0PwS46rwBedsEeV5yzmqHcVpLbA9kISLK8Td_nC1sN4luK9ffH-Ww8TGK43ceHa/s400/DSC_0452.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBAqtVRzHxZQZglkaFO_0zNzNtb8S84sGUNuM9PcspC1yOIcBKKnT_zUaYupPjUUyZiVgf6eExMjuWpovn1SqjlqHFE0Ec5A4rh54hmKMEgKE7_0uHHvxRMyRctrkqWauXhXQFFXDD2si/s1600-h/DSC_0440.JPG"></a>Michael Barry of Team Columbia.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPFzRHAtC7Fn_cRsLAqU-9v-frbpExZUDBcuLViovANFd84dYtDeKjg-GxE7-TII0SLlZbiisRSTaEnwH-PsLFQYW-Ab88xvFWcE1SawfCnyeHS-rItuxSZK2zuu_3UUntyILHlZ3Cl1z/s1600-h/DSC_0442.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358107137779233394" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPFzRHAtC7Fn_cRsLAqU-9v-frbpExZUDBcuLViovANFd84dYtDeKjg-GxE7-TII0SLlZbiisRSTaEnwH-PsLFQYW-Ab88xvFWcE1SawfCnyeHS-rItuxSZK2zuu_3UUntyILHlZ3Cl1z/s400/DSC_0442.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />My peeps cheering the cyclists along the Via del Corso!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzy0Xh8uvYyuAewwkiZ5MnzxWzKXicQWz7KaQXetGA_WMM73al0U_38RXUo-42E1r9ikve8XNH7i2oZ06sDDHrSVCt5amXUTQIYbogseYjqnRWXM9TbZ5GKQRNzrVahTYSQBaPbdyS4Ui/s1600-h/DSC_0460.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358073379656557858" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzy0Xh8uvYyuAewwkiZ5MnzxWzKXicQWz7KaQXetGA_WMM73al0U_38RXUo-42E1r9ikve8XNH7i2oZ06sDDHrSVCt5amXUTQIYbogseYjqnRWXM9TbZ5GKQRNzrVahTYSQBaPbdyS4Ui/s400/DSC_0460.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />Donna, Jason & Regina having fun with the local Arma dei Carabinieri...the Italian National Polizia! Those Italians definitely have a sense of humor!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMQvfgXd4B0JTF4Sbt-II05pv7ieEviWDOEUZzV1YMtokCajXEt-47TvaI5qMz0J6TaJvh0HUXL12735QIyCjIbkFW8PWWpbAC6o0cCWov4CgVaCxeJ15Z2Q2vxY951soKXkKw06qqHx6/s1600-h/100_0391.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358074163110488818" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMQvfgXd4B0JTF4Sbt-II05pv7ieEviWDOEUZzV1YMtokCajXEt-47TvaI5qMz0J6TaJvh0HUXL12735QIyCjIbkFW8PWWpbAC6o0cCWov4CgVaCxeJ15Z2Q2vxY951soKXkKw06qqHx6/s400/100_0391.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Fans at the Giro finish line.<br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZNehU5Y0S2QpQd6EddcNBJKI3tlbZC9HS2B4rEhiku3dNJBuOt5ffN9A4-rKSOuorZhxVbfej4AqgN104x2HuisXmaB5iTfragKXPY3aMhxYZMnLIS6tlBqbf5F1Wtvsn6rxGX2s6iBY/s1600-h/100_0392.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358073387447366658" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZNehU5Y0S2QpQd6EddcNBJKI3tlbZC9HS2B4rEhiku3dNJBuOt5ffN9A4-rKSOuorZhxVbfej4AqgN104x2HuisXmaB5iTfragKXPY3aMhxYZMnLIS6tlBqbf5F1Wtvsn6rxGX2s6iBY/s400/100_0392.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />A giro car at the Victor Emmanuel Memorial. This was the 100th anniversary of the Giro.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6GMb6sMLcs0TBYRuBUIBkAvsaZcw64UcK6gYhF6uJv7FvYwwZB3J2tO5jtSFwkpud488Xcpr7o20B9D6CLxKZj-sa7ldxSkk8GWZf0NSJO6eKpGfCEFg4PwoS7zh2en4mtgzXwe7-M9x/s1600-h/DSC_0466.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358073368245371570" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6GMb6sMLcs0TBYRuBUIBkAvsaZcw64UcK6gYhF6uJv7FvYwwZB3J2tO5jtSFwkpud488Xcpr7o20B9D6CLxKZj-sa7ldxSkk8GWZf0NSJO6eKpGfCEFg4PwoS7zh2en4mtgzXwe7-M9x/s400/DSC_0466.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Approaching the colloseum...all of those people are there for the Giro...not the colloseum.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihBIKpluKdVDUP0VUpO9mptAI_u_j0EjugFBRhv_IFhoGyKvWnnGaO2gXmbW-jKp5woxke2J2f3_unvSxOiIxOrharQcB6RYy6bJLqlrLHWSshYaPwXsj68JDGiPMqbTcsdunrJjvvART/s1600-h/DSC_0479.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358073360586918210" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihBIKpluKdVDUP0VUpO9mptAI_u_j0EjugFBRhv_IFhoGyKvWnnGaO2gXmbW-jKp5woxke2J2f3_unvSxOiIxOrharQcB6RYy6bJLqlrLHWSshYaPwXsj68JDGiPMqbTcsdunrJjvvART/s400/DSC_0479.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Monday morning....Donna, Jason & Regina are all off to the airport and Dick and I are heading north. Arrivederci Italy!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgy91IVMGQfNNUYcPcvq0NWER1ELg0HWRG3nCSt0bAk74WZEMnxKplkMtY0zSKRT0ZdT6rS-kaWGps_DLNlq16KgusupVzngr68tRAysORQ3HfjMfZ-6fyGX6R60o3WabTq1vED7I087a/s1600-h/DSC_0504.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358073358949527794" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgy91IVMGQfNNUYcPcvq0NWER1ELg0HWRG3nCSt0bAk74WZEMnxKplkMtY0zSKRT0ZdT6rS-kaWGps_DLNlq16KgusupVzngr68tRAysORQ3HfjMfZ-6fyGX6R60o3WabTq1vED7I087a/s400/DSC_0504.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-2474455109425846802009-07-08T15:16:00.012-06:002009-07-08T16:13:20.236-06:00Venice - The City on Water<div>Paris continues to be my all time favorite city but when I go to Italy I get conflicted. I love Rome for it's ancient ruins and the energy of the city. I love Florence for the art and the beautiful Tuscan countryside. But when it comes right down to it, I think my favorite Italian city is Venice. I love everything about it...the water, the colors, the fact that it's so original....so I won't bore you today with much commentary...just photos.<br /><br />My peeps waiting for our water taxi. We had just driven 3 1/2 hours from our villa to arrive here...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OiB0MZzHReuZvJvHMUiGXctjzhZ2WBCqVMHqqJyvFb8upUiLVx53az_oVME_PT_m-JIdD4tVJsHSdL4JSiDXRxpjPqgIVRe7TzdZUvCyZdId1dMOlPv2n6Na-Vv7CHbl0LqaNscJMsoE/s1600-h/DSC_0005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356208046562953970" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OiB0MZzHReuZvJvHMUiGXctjzhZ2WBCqVMHqqJyvFb8upUiLVx53az_oVME_PT_m-JIdD4tVJsHSdL4JSiDXRxpjPqgIVRe7TzdZUvCyZdId1dMOlPv2n6Na-Vv7CHbl0LqaNscJMsoE/s400/DSC_0005.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>Our first glimpse...sun washed buildings<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSIE-zMYeoOqoYb40fviii2DR4eSNJjFMhd_iZrNcnN0sjqURFu1du46W9FDVkkry0E82nbl-fzeTsy5Jm1MhNUBt8fdUJ00b5vIbTcwhC7qFtASEGmJ2so5gUiUmKatVtPB0VFXWw6s4/s1600-h/DSC_0035.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356208040027808434" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSIE-zMYeoOqoYb40fviii2DR4eSNJjFMhd_iZrNcnN0sjqURFu1du46W9FDVkkry0E82nbl-fzeTsy5Jm1MhNUBt8fdUJ00b5vIbTcwhC7qFtASEGmJ2so5gUiUmKatVtPB0VFXWw6s4/s400/DSC_0035.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>narrow waterways...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASXc1Qk2hFe6KVpm2e8epVXSX35wCFTZj8ieWULvDc1epKubj9ery61xMHG2k1wTnG3kqsscS7yVnLF4P0QlNo5Ij-lcKMEOEC3OwWpIkM-O04nxP5tvLHVMv3X1cs5UkuQZccAHW2m8s/s1600-h/100_0233.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356208052740469794" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASXc1Qk2hFe6KVpm2e8epVXSX35wCFTZj8ieWULvDc1epKubj9ery61xMHG2k1wTnG3kqsscS7yVnLF4P0QlNo5Ij-lcKMEOEC3OwWpIkM-O04nxP5tvLHVMv3X1cs5UkuQZccAHW2m8s/s400/100_0233.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Brilliant colors....</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbFb374BBi5bklyzd34ZHaXOeFeEVnLSaJScZfMornhww4PBVbVYGdZVwtbppiYRai6iTEi64vZyO_Qb5xeDafVKBCXkwBzklHaOgTDIdTUgaTl5PH4fq8qG-WtS-6K6kVNQcfjRlq_tO/s1600-h/DSC_0040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356207664219109650" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbFb374BBi5bklyzd34ZHaXOeFeEVnLSaJScZfMornhww4PBVbVYGdZVwtbppiYRai6iTEi64vZyO_Qb5xeDafVKBCXkwBzklHaOgTDIdTUgaTl5PH4fq8qG-WtS-6K6kVNQcfjRlq_tO/s400/DSC_0040.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Al Fresco dining on a canal...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtH66-S7zjd0WeeXkbW2xef0650aiGsl7Q6B7ZGCU4SnH_-wFb1zcto2VKpsy1VCjuhYWC4-rQRpA2jvn_8AC0QnVvyIDeVh2E6jsitN45m_Rxp8H4pWL1Pcyd_ND9MoZ11ERM2tys2mB/s1600-h/DSC_0043.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356207657561307314" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUtH66-S7zjd0WeeXkbW2xef0650aiGsl7Q6B7ZGCU4SnH_-wFb1zcto2VKpsy1VCjuhYWC4-rQRpA2jvn_8AC0QnVvyIDeVh2E6jsitN45m_Rxp8H4pWL1Pcyd_ND9MoZ11ERM2tys2mB/s400/DSC_0043.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Boats tied up....waiting.....<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxeY96DOTdHf6R_Su-IRWn4UzqafMCdMjb4nC08_TCIHERxXCGt_tkTHiKOBNaSN5TrnOH1LqAwLQZCSqTXmaqrR5oEY56woQf78W6QxpZXhpYML5ad99X8ejsx8K9vZ1b7RDwyvgyR5S/s1600-h/DSC_0056.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356207652097540066" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxxeY96DOTdHf6R_Su-IRWn4UzqafMCdMjb4nC08_TCIHERxXCGt_tkTHiKOBNaSN5TrnOH1LqAwLQZCSqTXmaqrR5oEY56woQf78W6QxpZXhpYML5ad99X8ejsx8K9vZ1b7RDwyvgyR5S/s400/DSC_0056.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />More al fresco dining!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMqyFZ-wcIuakowEiChK2pld6jJ1goamCxcYT0i68awQFBKLRBX2p3HsTydCmmEMsgUsUL7FYKG_czQm64xluz2WzTCX0HZMpQO_AOkbKSu1WDICWMKqrY42bOsoqGcD10CM_CqsOFzXK/s1600-h/DSC_0072.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356207240523746658" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMqyFZ-wcIuakowEiChK2pld6jJ1goamCxcYT0i68awQFBKLRBX2p3HsTydCmmEMsgUsUL7FYKG_czQm64xluz2WzTCX0HZMpQO_AOkbKSu1WDICWMKqrY42bOsoqGcD10CM_CqsOFzXK/s400/DSC_0072.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Gondolas waiting for couples to be romanced down the gentle canals....<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi920WuA6OXyi_irW42YmMnvtty3TQ844jYHc9ioWcA8i8mSgf2azmNS27B6fydYr0FtAhaxhRp5DzJwx8uIbq54rnBr-kzWlGnU4H2XN1GxThIjQ2VMYnc_rvHB18xl-zBQR_IP275yfnS/s1600-h/DSC_0074.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356207232891185746" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi920WuA6OXyi_irW42YmMnvtty3TQ844jYHc9ioWcA8i8mSgf2azmNS27B6fydYr0FtAhaxhRp5DzJwx8uIbq54rnBr-kzWlGnU4H2XN1GxThIjQ2VMYnc_rvHB18xl-zBQR_IP275yfnS/s400/DSC_0074.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our first glimpse of Piazza San Marco...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrf507k5BE4Oe1zOJ11zsPlFX9sAqCeyf-TR4t_gSrkIqCAveOsMq7c8Ut1dqNzSZsul1aExRQ02cV7UHBXcklES7yx2S2owhq9s7zimQJwCMpklhFmq7YlvzQLFm_g48acH33Cde-_BZ/s1600-h/DSC_0107.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356214106764973554" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrf507k5BE4Oe1zOJ11zsPlFX9sAqCeyf-TR4t_gSrkIqCAveOsMq7c8Ut1dqNzSZsul1aExRQ02cV7UHBXcklES7yx2S2owhq9s7zimQJwCMpklhFmq7YlvzQLFm_g48acH33Cde-_BZ/s400/DSC_0107.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Narrow alleys...</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSLpl9e9JohYOI33vcoaoGX1r6YM_ye3bHloKeoVNWXlIugygt6IQ6oBELbqeQ8JSHZj8WHyJfB94Z0gu1Hc08zq9ieQAYICXS6WNoX_QP39ZWK1jTYikaYDH4QLd3fvWDZ6SCgkVkjnA/s1600-h/DSC_0111.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356205795678053138" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSLpl9e9JohYOI33vcoaoGX1r6YM_ye3bHloKeoVNWXlIugygt6IQ6oBELbqeQ8JSHZj8WHyJfB94Z0gu1Hc08zq9ieQAYICXS6WNoX_QP39ZWK1jTYikaYDH4QLd3fvWDZ6SCgkVkjnA/s400/DSC_0111.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Two sisters in Venice!!!</div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8pCFqPLyPJphb1_i08HImMVMr208frEYAQcj9fHnMmLXnFy2Zq74dx5F3eYCIJQKU3u6SVRMRV8-pXF5Kct2nE7SO85eAG05bk7505n_ipnVXZnCoiesiUoIqtAAe7GvJzT4IfqJbtlL/s1600-h/DSC_0126.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356205788803839074" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8pCFqPLyPJphb1_i08HImMVMr208frEYAQcj9fHnMmLXnFy2Zq74dx5F3eYCIJQKU3u6SVRMRV8-pXF5Kct2nE7SO85eAG05bk7505n_ipnVXZnCoiesiUoIqtAAe7GvJzT4IfqJbtlL/s400/DSC_0126.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My honey bunny and me at Piazza San Marco.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVIGd1E0XeNBZy3JsWLRCuqRUM4s7QluMS2-vtaBdvCapR_nJnf5TCdF4Xe04lpH52fmOZqDb6gmgkaKJ-wJ8CmtU2mtBNIOQBAT5gcROfl-wUudT5rhckCYnETS4CamH0vfqo06LxpC4/s1600-h/DSC_0138.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356205786624216658" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVIGd1E0XeNBZy3JsWLRCuqRUM4s7QluMS2-vtaBdvCapR_nJnf5TCdF4Xe04lpH52fmOZqDb6gmgkaKJ-wJ8CmtU2mtBNIOQBAT5gcROfl-wUudT5rhckCYnETS4CamH0vfqo06LxpC4/s400/DSC_0138.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Domes of San Marco Basilica...taken from the Campanile. Luckily for us, no climbing...this tower has an elevator!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9f-iXf6fvge1LZL_d1jCzcKb_4Ao1S-9_iKzqyv6t4DIKtnuuLfvo86t-khb7Egu0GxUxLBXdJu5DJql_u4xAjdiyLT9EVyK4s4c__tex103IaJEtF7L1FgV6KFURSNdP7YjUYl3KAdU/s1600-h/DSC_0160.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356205778277285714" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9f-iXf6fvge1LZL_d1jCzcKb_4Ao1S-9_iKzqyv6t4DIKtnuuLfvo86t-khb7Egu0GxUxLBXdJu5DJql_u4xAjdiyLT9EVyK4s4c__tex103IaJEtF7L1FgV6KFURSNdP7YjUYl3KAdU/s400/DSC_0160.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Gondolier taking a break....<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2t5kCqSsOGo-ree-09jYdElTtZg-OOzD7LUnHXrgZb2uakXLpElq_Hnz1CZj7icxcEjdiTNmemVF4bVeqmBILttPc0k_G1T6stYGfBt_9DWRfL000h-4p_wZ4TaDQ04MaAIvX5tsyFjTo/s1600-h/DSC_0205.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356205771662935522" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2t5kCqSsOGo-ree-09jYdElTtZg-OOzD7LUnHXrgZb2uakXLpElq_Hnz1CZj7icxcEjdiTNmemVF4bVeqmBILttPc0k_G1T6stYGfBt_9DWRfL000h-4p_wZ4TaDQ04MaAIvX5tsyFjTo/s400/DSC_0205.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div> </div><div>Pretty red dresses on canals...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwaDvBYHQTXhw_TPdQM2FvAkBfVHZKD_91Kf17TSPkIXYSV4-8MjqDQTmWpHj0ltIVdmt2Ho6K9g3LuBYtlyeBHulhx57j1XEFSN6XbMpetoXzymEF_h2vM7MFP5BzDzvdzi9Uy9lXNVC/s1600-h/DSC_0221.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356203915380944370" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwaDvBYHQTXhw_TPdQM2FvAkBfVHZKD_91Kf17TSPkIXYSV4-8MjqDQTmWpHj0ltIVdmt2Ho6K9g3LuBYtlyeBHulhx57j1XEFSN6XbMpetoXzymEF_h2vM7MFP5BzDzvdzi9Uy9lXNVC/s400/DSC_0221.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />Now the sun is starting to set and the colors are getting richer, deeper.....<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCd7XgziSy8Lewm-S5BdX8BxNmRrk5-243ngk2XLmZvjDRSqro3heWCFBchgDejVfdlWHYtw0uiHoNCPDJaGbpiSIUQc_QdKZCG06gKxztSao8LwNaHNiUJsysc0yxfu7-iCYpXJCYUh-/s1600-h/DSC_0217.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356203922453473298" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPCd7XgziSy8Lewm-S5BdX8BxNmRrk5-243ngk2XLmZvjDRSqro3heWCFBchgDejVfdlWHYtw0uiHoNCPDJaGbpiSIUQc_QdKZCG06gKxztSao8LwNaHNiUJsysc0yxfu7-iCYpXJCYUh-/s400/DSC_0217.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The city takes on a much softer feeling at night...the air is cooler and the water seems more gentle without the sun beating down on it....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqAwjcEhkBV3rA1bGkVkBT_n3ph_E9RpxWqO_Qyi5nkdZ39gbOhbrq_n8tWi1DrftkKnv0jkI97XgkoNefFpwnMPghnuWyQApUhrMatzJFdDmkepIyIolyDf7nmNfb0ug6eW-dphrkYbx/s1600-h/DSC_0234.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356203909953554226" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqAwjcEhkBV3rA1bGkVkBT_n3ph_E9RpxWqO_Qyi5nkdZ39gbOhbrq_n8tWi1DrftkKnv0jkI97XgkoNefFpwnMPghnuWyQApUhrMatzJFdDmkepIyIolyDf7nmNfb0ug6eW-dphrkYbx/s400/DSC_0234.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The sky begins to glow upon the Grand Canal as we say Arrivederci!<br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiXP6laslSHS8q_aevG4HAGQ2irMoepZvdeRVpM8xGk4A49P9amJN9dj6cmpilEApNZTU4QhrDQ26F68adhfhcNcRzmaFrjMB5DX3DKOL6M_BFqtEVeA3JcsqfPG93ZmdnIIOrJNvaRbK/s1600-h/DSC_0238.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356203904541042034" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiXP6laslSHS8q_aevG4HAGQ2irMoepZvdeRVpM8xGk4A49P9amJN9dj6cmpilEApNZTU4QhrDQ26F68adhfhcNcRzmaFrjMB5DX3DKOL6M_BFqtEVeA3JcsqfPG93ZmdnIIOrJNvaRbK/s400/DSC_0238.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Tired, but happy, tourists speeding down the canal ...for a long drive back to our villa!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAFzfcUHMXRd-Dc2BZXy_2qjyA6iCPQBQ6aKdikS4WBT2RAWW34MR-95WD8iwCiVk3ErDfex1aWhwPJtRhLZPxr60gY3-wN0Z5OKG8byoqGtB6Lf4WMhIaPtHe4-5mkFGl52q6MDUJRKz/s1600-h/DSC_0260.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356203893272269522" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAFzfcUHMXRd-Dc2BZXy_2qjyA6iCPQBQ6aKdikS4WBT2RAWW34MR-95WD8iwCiVk3ErDfex1aWhwPJtRhLZPxr60gY3-wN0Z5OKG8byoqGtB6Lf4WMhIaPtHe4-5mkFGl52q6MDUJRKz/s400/DSC_0260.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-14403616939364772422009-07-08T12:03:00.012-06:002009-07-08T14:14:11.971-06:00A day in FlorenceIt's Tuesday so we must be in Florence! We took our lives into our hands and let Dick drive us into Florence. It's always a harrowing experience but even more so during morning rush hour traffic. We had 10:30 a.m. reservations to see Michelangelo's <em>David</em> at the Accademia. What an incredible piece of art. No pictures allowed so you'll just have to head over to Florence and see him in person. Once that was checked off our list, we headed down to the Duomo.<br /><div></div><br /><div>The Duomo (The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore)is one of the main reasons people visit Florence. Designed by Brunelleschi its construction started in 1296 and took almost 150 years to complete. It is 153 m long and 38 m wide making it the 4th largest cathedral of the world. The exterior is faced with marble panels in various shades of green and pink bordered by white and has an elaborate 19th century Gothic Revival facade by. </div><br /><div>The cathedral complex includes the Baptistry and Giotto's Campanile. The three buildings are part of the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE covering the Historic Centre of Florence . The basilica is one of Italy's largest churches, and until the modern era, the dome was one of the largest in the world, being surpassed in width only by that of the Pantheon in Rome. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7aqWPwJvQ2yyxqXA28hJQY7laJG-fyuXgh0qYzBouTKA_WMMsvheMV0fpo61lrqybIgJm31tOxrXHqpKKhLXivE5ioA72YKnZIyPH7UXrPKZDjIdTgsgQUi_srPvUJwlZfjnHeroluos/s1600-h/100_0145.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356158502908798098" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7aqWPwJvQ2yyxqXA28hJQY7laJG-fyuXgh0qYzBouTKA_WMMsvheMV0fpo61lrqybIgJm31tOxrXHqpKKhLXivE5ioA72YKnZIyPH7UXrPKZDjIdTgsgQUi_srPvUJwlZfjnHeroluos/s400/100_0145.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />The line to go into the Duomo. It was scorching hot on this day so we decided to bypass the crowds that were going into the Duomo....<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBge4hceVMoYsKQH_kafV1JOF5OI6NznjFfi5CeL3zOi1qJkgtLItTsNevtuvsnIfusYuzEOHBEDFOTGwoHNypE-PzfuF8JN8j-XTM80bthMz7ELNStY0pwj3NGEp3Mu1uR-EvdTMXYFd/s1600-h/DSC_0280.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356159233087311234" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBge4hceVMoYsKQH_kafV1JOF5OI6NznjFfi5CeL3zOi1qJkgtLItTsNevtuvsnIfusYuzEOHBEDFOTGwoHNypE-PzfuF8JN8j-XTM80bthMz7ELNStY0pwj3NGEp3Mu1uR-EvdTMXYFd/s400/DSC_0280.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>and make a climb instead to cupola. 463 steps to the top...but it was one of the highlights of our visit to Florence. </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTs-4KApF35uW-CQyltGPgwItuay6KtnxAKzOnV3v_wCH1uXtXyrIhFPpGQOj9yFcZgPpNlX5bjZQ9hLycCx16Kojxf_U6K2LN1Q4-iojJ2SGOlWJ-Fj7Ne4zg8LwFXZi3flQWrKBZt-1/s1600-h/DSC_0317.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356155617002659970" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTs-4KApF35uW-CQyltGPgwItuay6KtnxAKzOnV3v_wCH1uXtXyrIhFPpGQOj9yFcZgPpNlX5bjZQ9hLycCx16Kojxf_U6K2LN1Q4-iojJ2SGOlWJ-Fj7Ne4zg8LwFXZi3flQWrKBZt-1/s400/DSC_0317.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Once inside, you are treated to the magnificent paintings of the inside of the Dome...it's amazing because you are up close and personal to these beautiful pieces of art...although they are pretty scary depictions of heaven and hell.<br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaNuOc-1dFj3VWEg6ZAysUsfiYKu0eEtzybYKygkW_e8lWjuNJVjaiLjm0JeyIP0iaT2iQF4S8-rPdhtkjsAvJIZrqc7FBwe7SzT2G2UmH1GWYwQZTk1KAKEbvrI-mFK6FZ43sF6QiEVj/s1600-h/DSC_0285.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356159240911571266" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaNuOc-1dFj3VWEg6ZAysUsfiYKu0eEtzybYKygkW_e8lWjuNJVjaiLjm0JeyIP0iaT2iQF4S8-rPdhtkjsAvJIZrqc7FBwe7SzT2G2UmH1GWYwQZTk1KAKEbvrI-mFK6FZ43sF6QiEVj/s400/DSC_0285.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>The obligatory group shot of us outside the cupola....the beautiful tuscan hills behind us. We had beautiful weather the entire week...although the day in Florence was the warmest.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tGbRk6t3htYIbxcsfnD0-QLejCuLKSCS17_qmBXnKa85WIe1hwWSFnFxecenmFBzUaS6zhl2zAzfKcKNGRPLrckVGtJVJ2WhnCevyDFUyZSOZ-Tqm5kZXJbfFGq26uVyg-q661yA5AKM/s1600-h/DSC_0299.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356159247330661122" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tGbRk6t3htYIbxcsfnD0-QLejCuLKSCS17_qmBXnKa85WIe1hwWSFnFxecenmFBzUaS6zhl2zAzfKcKNGRPLrckVGtJVJ2WhnCevyDFUyZSOZ-Tqm5kZXJbfFGq26uVyg-q661yA5AKM/s400/DSC_0299.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div>A view of Giotto's Campanile from the Duomo.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieq2DjMQPQqe7MaSnLB_WE0isx5Cl2aqpGKczlXHpejVy0tgT_5JoTC0XaQ1IDPCjkM5iGIBwkGDSygDoqnyCOBw_sh5v3uRsciJ9-gDq6TN3jTEvCZwRV64dtnYRpet18qGBgmuE5cRmb/s1600-h/100_0153.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356158528012389490" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieq2DjMQPQqe7MaSnLB_WE0isx5Cl2aqpGKczlXHpejVy0tgT_5JoTC0XaQ1IDPCjkM5iGIBwkGDSygDoqnyCOBw_sh5v3uRsciJ9-gDq6TN3jTEvCZwRV64dtnYRpet18qGBgmuE5cRmb/s400/100_0153.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Another beautiful Catholic Church, the Basilica of Santa Croce, is seen the distance.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVuKoBeSFEgbqoBtyhqLLLnsidBS8PqF2qGyn3cDLGfWiinGrEM4wuQwEjvbJgtVVz0fwh1Q68bTuOevpUbyMR6QqzCA406vgMNGFh4cIjP8DZMcntGOM0nfb3QQyre1t-yjJmCOnvwCG/s1600-h/100_0152.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356158513302345234" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVuKoBeSFEgbqoBtyhqLLLnsidBS8PqF2qGyn3cDLGfWiinGrEM4wuQwEjvbJgtVVz0fwh1Q68bTuOevpUbyMR6QqzCA406vgMNGFh4cIjP8DZMcntGOM0nfb3QQyre1t-yjJmCOnvwCG/s400/100_0152.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>The Uffizi Gallery in the distance. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPAY-KeuIy-Nxmvgbf-gY7bqr4kanNFIa3JYQXbmnnAKWfMGfgFh7PDj5unqjz3F2rASkLkidzJS7i_LOQSJztreNQbC1tW0hm2ok9L4JdUBpbQFKAjFUzkYjTHhKflnsan9mqBjjUzWT/s1600-h/100_0151.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356158509536880242" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPAY-KeuIy-Nxmvgbf-gY7bqr4kanNFIa3JYQXbmnnAKWfMGfgFh7PDj5unqjz3F2rASkLkidzJS7i_LOQSJztreNQbC1tW0hm2ok9L4JdUBpbQFKAjFUzkYjTHhKflnsan9mqBjjUzWT/s400/100_0151.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div>One last look through an ancient window.</div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIggQl9Hy8a3hPCVkqw7TrWQYBivvJiHCvBLmMYvC-Ewu7rxucQ5b9UXacyz-sdIID4tzo-faTxZjMjY5C17zsD9cItRZ7BmtfNp4QTRnqhRGpRfM21Wx07E2uFa15Cm1GEHonBTMwQiS/s1600-h/DSC_0309.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356155610544845154" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIggQl9Hy8a3hPCVkqw7TrWQYBivvJiHCvBLmMYvC-Ewu7rxucQ5b9UXacyz-sdIID4tzo-faTxZjMjY5C17zsD9cItRZ7BmtfNp4QTRnqhRGpRfM21Wx07E2uFa15Cm1GEHonBTMwQiS/s400/DSC_0309.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>With the cupola climb behind us, it is time to head out to the Piazza Dell Signora, a popular spot for tourists and one of the city’s most splendid piazzas which has been the hub of Florence political life since the 13th century. It is filled with replicas of famous sculptures and historical buildings including Palazzo Vecchio, a copy of Michelangelo’s David and the Neptune fountain.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2ZhE47KiUykyixOEw1QwAaOfUb-DNSCnOvZvKbQwoJKAm8QbZS7xFTzzKfOxV1H6fgIzzyUicDAWnAOk_krmFgs7ZLso_uSJKNfJIhI-PStM7C882homnKjrH18uFIV0a1-vzcACCN0S/s1600-h/DSC_0342.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356161391672792306" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2ZhE47KiUykyixOEw1QwAaOfUb-DNSCnOvZvKbQwoJKAm8QbZS7xFTzzKfOxV1H6fgIzzyUicDAWnAOk_krmFgs7ZLso_uSJKNfJIhI-PStM7C882homnKjrH18uFIV0a1-vzcACCN0S/s400/DSC_0342.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />One of the things I love about travelling in Europe (or anywhere else) is being able to watch the world go by. I love this pic taken at the Piazza della Signora because it's an example of how diverse the world is...and how wonderful it is to visit places that you can experience all of the different cultures surrounding you.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTakQ0iPuRoAVb7W-jTH7BK81DvXYrzcu2EPO0sJyfoo-KU7BFpR0muhkmzV0tstYI4Dhic1fHmTpRlxI8z_Khy4kftrpEGNUrR1zYUgbt7h4Sk7sFclujtmOrTPVstWjXHCx6Q7EVG4B/s1600-h/DSC_0362.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356155126734870386" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTakQ0iPuRoAVb7W-jTH7BK81DvXYrzcu2EPO0sJyfoo-KU7BFpR0muhkmzV0tstYI4Dhic1fHmTpRlxI8z_Khy4kftrpEGNUrR1zYUgbt7h4Sk7sFclujtmOrTPVstWjXHCx6Q7EVG4B/s400/DSC_0362.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><br /><div>It's a hot day, remember? So a little bit of R&R is needed at the piazza.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDCKZAYf7SObCrocyKMOcNoKArqaNiiK4T_VsstRCfLf-vTEC7MiI2bklwUWrHheI4LOZSmqtBEk9DKeBnrqftrS_7_G5zLDVda_jqPHHfXqsieIkwFj_fyI7iz3ut9JQHelh3e7e3D3a/s1600-h/DSC_0366.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356161058691953634" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDCKZAYf7SObCrocyKMOcNoKArqaNiiK4T_VsstRCfLf-vTEC7MiI2bklwUWrHheI4LOZSmqtBEk9DKeBnrqftrS_7_G5zLDVda_jqPHHfXqsieIkwFj_fyI7iz3ut9JQHelh3e7e3D3a/s400/DSC_0366.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>After our quick break at the piazza, we headed off to find lunch and something cold to drink. I don't know what the actually Italian name of this restaurant is, but we all got a kick out of the English translation.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HCqCYu55MlTIJ6xM4aB1eTHiFDHnWtN6tTvmhl2iW59EMyfBGfVuJ43Mr_WOw2ztEMYcBWAqlE4JQK67J7ULlbT4ku-OTTYewjpTz_dmx1Zf9-0X9bO6-HNwTbpI-tck6Qjzbb1bCfY-/s1600-h/DSC_0320.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356155107816999666" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HCqCYu55MlTIJ6xM4aB1eTHiFDHnWtN6tTvmhl2iW59EMyfBGfVuJ43Mr_WOw2ztEMYcBWAqlE4JQK67J7ULlbT4ku-OTTYewjpTz_dmx1Zf9-0X9bO6-HNwTbpI-tck6Qjzbb1bCfY-/s400/DSC_0320.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We finally made it to the Basilica de Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church . The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls and is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machavelli and Marconi, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories. It is also the largest Franciscan church in the world but unfortunately, today was not our day to visit. The church was surrounded by Italian secret police because the Italian President was visiting that very same day. Oh well...maybe next time!<br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcwKBCEgVSqFgxWwf4A_UH4ZPbuNYE7_at4-SB8fOlDiWO4xXT5U8kww_RF7nKoi5zQMKrd3i_H629Oa_ic9OO7JVBqpr15mSHj3ufwcouU2pe09cwBbHKNbcDbvbUEa0aRm0VvUIHqj2/s1600-h/DSC_0325.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356155117722098146" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcwKBCEgVSqFgxWwf4A_UH4ZPbuNYE7_at4-SB8fOlDiWO4xXT5U8kww_RF7nKoi5zQMKrd3i_H629Oa_ic9OO7JVBqpr15mSHj3ufwcouU2pe09cwBbHKNbcDbvbUEa0aRm0VvUIHqj2/s400/DSC_0325.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I love the "living statues" all around Europe. This guy had just finished getting prepped...it must have been 100 degrees and he was sweating like crazy but once he got all of his gear on he was strictly professional. The amount of work that these guys put into these is amazing! Donna was the lucky recipient of his attentions since she's the one who dropped the coin in his basket.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtCwnCUcffZ3UKdDxFYZ-LGnNHQiFLKx35Qzna9Zh5jiDFt3c72lEj4uVMKsTK7XBcDSCyZEF_ZVloaaaCzfn6ufOmA7XZM8Zhvqyh7MnafEL1oF-ycESR9kV_Wcemi3S6KbnIgw4tgM/s1600-h/DSC_0380.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356154390107143266" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtCwnCUcffZ3UKdDxFYZ-LGnNHQiFLKx35Qzna9Zh5jiDFt3c72lEj4uVMKsTK7XBcDSCyZEF_ZVloaaaCzfn6ufOmA7XZM8Zhvqyh7MnafEL1oF-ycESR9kV_Wcemi3S6KbnIgw4tgM/s400/DSC_0380.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Two sisters in Florence!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAaFBTF-MSCTasvNd3Zqa-pOjGeBvkT9m0HEqTexg09KyBTNVrmAhJ3gNhCGi1581hJTxZ-XE4m596hpKEjO8w8Sx3JJETfY2MXEQALAwdQ48hTQoh1WRB0skyGU8tabM_Y7znSjfk5QV/s1600-h/DSC_0390.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356184709404496818" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAaFBTF-MSCTasvNd3Zqa-pOjGeBvkT9m0HEqTexg09KyBTNVrmAhJ3gNhCGi1581hJTxZ-XE4m596hpKEjO8w8Sx3JJETfY2MXEQALAwdQ48hTQoh1WRB0skyGU8tabM_Y7znSjfk5QV/s400/DSC_0390.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div> A scorching day on the Ponte Vecchio.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMt-mqedleaMHKL58SmoH5qybMDa7CNgPQhOSnN9-6pJ1QBsw9q6-lesJAU4cBo12_j10NGDiVQUn4l9xVTVtJoagSGUrT5bg7xXI5FajqK60VhIEG5ny7QbnctsN6AIBkBptvKcgapojT/s1600-h/DSC_0394.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356154408020184786" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMt-mqedleaMHKL58SmoH5qybMDa7CNgPQhOSnN9-6pJ1QBsw9q6-lesJAU4cBo12_j10NGDiVQUn4l9xVTVtJoagSGUrT5bg7xXI5FajqK60VhIEG5ny7QbnctsN6AIBkBptvKcgapojT/s400/DSC_0394.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Ciao!</div><div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-17768534369057328582009-07-08T09:46:00.006-06:002009-07-08T12:03:45.516-06:00Relaxation in Italy7 days isn't near enough time to spend in Italy (or Tuscany for that matter). It's difficult trying to balance relaxing time with tourist time...especially for first time visitors like Donna, Jason & Regina. Luckily, the temps were high (close to 100) on somedays so those were perfect days to lunch in Montespertoli then hang out by the pool...drink some limoncello...and just enjoy the pleasure of renting a villa in Tuscany.<br /><br />Jason, Jennifer and Donna strolling through Montespertoli.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDc6Hvb8UCh1gSNUyDxqcDRpuAIgIapIAYGOlmxtGmITGQldsqBBvBc8iEzCQri33xmVS-P_xVH0RyeqWXvIqEpOqhz7W-xsn1kcGDDFpf1pbZIkHGx7zP9kVLsCpqYol_uQJ6pdpmxM/s1600-h/DSC_0335.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356126895839890754" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDc6Hvb8UCh1gSNUyDxqcDRpuAIgIapIAYGOlmxtGmITGQldsqBBvBc8iEzCQri33xmVS-P_xVH0RyeqWXvIqEpOqhz7W-xsn1kcGDDFpf1pbZIkHGx7zP9kVLsCpqYol_uQJ6pdpmxM/s400/DSC_0335.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The girls striking a pose...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm203Hrc4X72aeEZpwWp3yk6PJkCM3AuPKsUqwCHDq5Ej7fa0mRmwk9O2Y-4csR7OTSjDqPrC9Lx0LEKtZs4XKed86JSRTDJd8I-LUd9LEtWToqw8m6YfgWkw66RASvGpXw6uYeha4PTY/s1600-h/DSC_0325.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356125861504587794" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm203Hrc4X72aeEZpwWp3yk6PJkCM3AuPKsUqwCHDq5Ej7fa0mRmwk9O2Y-4csR7OTSjDqPrC9Lx0LEKtZs4XKed86JSRTDJd8I-LUd9LEtWToqw8m6YfgWkw66RASvGpXw6uYeha4PTY/s400/DSC_0325.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A toast to Tuscany!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWshqxKAYcp0K9zu3zl1-83BwMGD0Hh3y5XDkgmFXuKxdOqLOQK4byogRkU6ZBvdk8TUQTHMQepdNjMvBVyhfmnoWz29pvF0Gnf-6WvF9uP1HLDZypNMbizObh_PMsM-EiRBGTqvZaNs/s1600-h/DSC_0318.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356120243964411410" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWshqxKAYcp0K9zu3zl1-83BwMGD0Hh3y5XDkgmFXuKxdOqLOQK4byogRkU6ZBvdk8TUQTHMQepdNjMvBVyhfmnoWz29pvF0Gnf-6WvF9uP1HLDZypNMbizObh_PMsM-EiRBGTqvZaNs/s400/DSC_0318.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Giuseppe, our favorite waiter at our favorite restaurant, joining us in an afternoon toast!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxDlkUoy-1CSrZe1yq8wvl1KOCQjjzrQ9IWJ6Rp4G8Fb-0MsyKo3Ibo5iyckWEJpybNrW4GGm4fPzRQSiPkbxTV_4iU2Fq0Th_E-Sl_w2y5oSWAlhtSsTvUD9NrhJYkpG7ZM6Zsgyq2c/s1600-h/DSC_0315.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356120239696706962" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxDlkUoy-1CSrZe1yq8wvl1KOCQjjzrQ9IWJ6Rp4G8Fb-0MsyKo3Ibo5iyckWEJpybNrW4GGm4fPzRQSiPkbxTV_4iU2Fq0Th_E-Sl_w2y5oSWAlhtSsTvUD9NrhJYkpG7ZM6Zsgyq2c/s400/DSC_0315.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Jason & Donna checking out the limoncello supply.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTNDdUW0nQUea4iDoUJ8QGJuRkr0lA9MIUF3THoODrTOR6L2uaACO6qvW1-fw01CGmRHBYaxmlXHwN1EHX4XXYk_n42NGRrt_ZccVBw9k5KjzlNuWzz0i9d62UMFDUixOoxyclfkXYn0/s1600-h/DSC_0319.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356120251388931154" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTNDdUW0nQUea4iDoUJ8QGJuRkr0lA9MIUF3THoODrTOR6L2uaACO6qvW1-fw01CGmRHBYaxmlXHwN1EHX4XXYk_n42NGRrt_ZccVBw9k5KjzlNuWzz0i9d62UMFDUixOoxyclfkXYn0/s400/DSC_0319.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Proof that limoncello brings out the goofiness in people....we were supposed to go to Pisa on this particular day but we were running late after a trip to the Ugolini vineyard and lunch so we decided to hang out in Montespertoli then hit the pool....here's the girls making our own "leaning tower".<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTT_9ppr7RpXJ6xf92jv-qNCpOtiQomBd9a3K-yvX8MWF6mk3LSikFKFCty9nLGstEG4R4r7WphmbdIEbE9h9OAsV6HiFRgB-d9JNBJHHk-Zb5dj3MWI2IycoMf9agaKxISlL40dIfdA/s1600-h/DSC_0324.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356125869329209778" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTT_9ppr7RpXJ6xf92jv-qNCpOtiQomBd9a3K-yvX8MWF6mk3LSikFKFCty9nLGstEG4R4r7WphmbdIEbE9h9OAsV6HiFRgB-d9JNBJHHk-Zb5dj3MWI2IycoMf9agaKxISlL40dIfdA/s400/DSC_0324.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Striking another pose for the boys :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKCKrMJQdVSLbccrl5jgD96E6iWCCe9bO6QV0qQEYop161P-rRRTqprzhn5L0Rhn_yiPr5DFJ4nkaUhg1NkzCbAPQIFf5jRKabdmUItTLjpa-WQCPE75_if72ZAnidqoy-3W9umUbg6k/s1600-h/DSC_0331.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356125854463549746" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKCKrMJQdVSLbccrl5jgD96E6iWCCe9bO6QV0qQEYop161P-rRRTqprzhn5L0Rhn_yiPr5DFJ4nkaUhg1NkzCbAPQIFf5jRKabdmUItTLjpa-WQCPE75_if72ZAnidqoy-3W9umUbg6k/s400/DSC_0331.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Limoncello will apparently also make you skip arm and arm through foreign streets....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeoNepSceDTEAicD0WvW7JyJrHZZa08m1bu_tkV8C6wHPUIvHG43dCyxNcWA7yXUm6nxO4YiIUTud6tyDRrt3L9Y11VJp0AqSAwo_ASDXE6gpjMiWDe6iwRSrmWsAzX9Utk1AOqd0E2Q/s1600-h/DSC_0323.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356125876548825922" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeoNepSceDTEAicD0WvW7JyJrHZZa08m1bu_tkV8C6wHPUIvHG43dCyxNcWA7yXUm6nxO4YiIUTud6tyDRrt3L9Y11VJp0AqSAwo_ASDXE6gpjMiWDe6iwRSrmWsAzX9Utk1AOqd0E2Q/s400/DSC_0323.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Whew, it's hot so now we have to move to the pool....<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAjSTGb3XQoOOf2RwMN4Q1O-AWNZyYAQbbpTISXLlWFzRvOy_nrJLiddxsTmezqdQYOHZHvm7noRMZut7JyzVBCshQHczvlUAfyWV-gi3g1K5-mF5JL8a2XgwGDZB4IFGZ16VEYlOmvw/s1600-h/100_0112.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356126898630006514" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAjSTGb3XQoOOf2RwMN4Q1O-AWNZyYAQbbpTISXLlWFzRvOy_nrJLiddxsTmezqdQYOHZHvm7noRMZut7JyzVBCshQHczvlUAfyWV-gi3g1K5-mF5JL8a2XgwGDZB4IFGZ16VEYlOmvw/s400/100_0112.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Jason perfecting the art of keeping pool toys on your head with no hands!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-V0RcK7TfhmUWeV2lyLBg7R02SCb_CNZJgu7ZNQDvzmfbCjDpH-qhbUaDyR41XP6MoeGEDU4qLbAmZLpc8L_diCAx3Nwy3GOhmjz8IWIm-0ABsSgmklhgf1MCPDrqMPrWjA_inZCYnA/s1600-h/100_0129.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356126918918840914" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-V0RcK7TfhmUWeV2lyLBg7R02SCb_CNZJgu7ZNQDvzmfbCjDpH-qhbUaDyR41XP6MoeGEDU4qLbAmZLpc8L_diCAx3Nwy3GOhmjz8IWIm-0ABsSgmklhgf1MCPDrqMPrWjA_inZCYnA/s400/100_0129.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Moving on from limoncello to red wine!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TPDp1VKmOBrjm2gnUyPAChfjkG6QA0I_dkTjaTbDqbJBW9SU0eeJ8mle2-VNckxwZgpKV_X67FOReLpL0qM30lPSkedd9D1MfwjZ1pegFBhgvXADcABh6RGZiRI7BeaNySiVaEoj8ig/s1600-h/100_0127.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356126911625689714" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TPDp1VKmOBrjm2gnUyPAChfjkG6QA0I_dkTjaTbDqbJBW9SU0eeJ8mle2-VNckxwZgpKV_X67FOReLpL0qM30lPSkedd9D1MfwjZ1pegFBhgvXADcABh6RGZiRI7BeaNySiVaEoj8ig/s400/100_0127.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A friendly game of "volleyball"...<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HwRd3dhsjtHEkoA42d1VFMxO7Ctx0F4164G2gYu772JDJr0guC-97OIN_iUKbufg1HF1Qb-Q3I3wBU4ZohSiubcR4jQBthB_yVpE6R9evQclanb0z1cdT3TOEtgbddYxwuREWo8_2iY/s1600-h/100_0122.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356126907352763506" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HwRd3dhsjtHEkoA42d1VFMxO7Ctx0F4164G2gYu772JDJr0guC-97OIN_iUKbufg1HF1Qb-Q3I3wBU4ZohSiubcR4jQBthB_yVpE6R9evQclanb0z1cdT3TOEtgbddYxwuREWo8_2iY/s400/100_0122.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Fun in the sun!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4rZH5kja6S1GRQ3niMeZDY0RWrcxDjta6vpmp-pofWKxwri_NPZrKcn53rjj087OvYaaIY0gNs7Z7pIiLdvghf1rIhftMXE9oL9AaqzNT9yWQw05UtsB-VOrkcN2few7kkOaNNftmA4/s1600-h/100_0132.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356127701760003922" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4rZH5kja6S1GRQ3niMeZDY0RWrcxDjta6vpmp-pofWKxwri_NPZrKcn53rjj087OvYaaIY0gNs7Z7pIiLdvghf1rIhftMXE9oL9AaqzNT9yWQw05UtsB-VOrkcN2few7kkOaNNftmA4/s400/100_0132.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-76320337265523739922009-07-07T14:15:00.008-06:002009-07-07T17:01:02.825-06:00SienaI can't believe I'm actually getting several posts done in one day! We found ourselves in Sienna two days. We first visited on Sunday, after our day in San Gimignano. Unfortunately, it was late afternoon and we really didn't have enough time to explore the city. So, we ventured back on Wednesday to try our luck again. The most interesting part of our day was driving around the city trying to find someplace to park. Come to find out, Wednesday is market day in Siena so the city was packed. We finally got all settled in and started our journey through Siena.<br /><br /><br /><br />Siena is another Tuscan town that was settled in the time of Etruscans. At one time, it was a major city of banking and the financial industry. In time, it fell to Florence and it's great reign came to end.<br /><br /><br /><br />Our first view of the city through the trees....sigh.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQLyplvEbj6rL1bl62hjNvdDKCQoQcOfK5dZyITl4DCg7f9B7yBwGf9Jqz3g42SwevhM8OEWToMMTRCqE0zcEDjAXana25RUiIuuSegyqkuDGWKuey6d_JgBnR5rbuVdiIliZ4Wsk1sY/s1600-h/DSC_0406.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355851286892913266" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQLyplvEbj6rL1bl62hjNvdDKCQoQcOfK5dZyITl4DCg7f9B7yBwGf9Jqz3g42SwevhM8OEWToMMTRCqE0zcEDjAXana25RUiIuuSegyqkuDGWKuey6d_JgBnR5rbuVdiIliZ4Wsk1sY/s320/DSC_0406.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9X83UWfE5Ggdsk_4dyrsBvW82Lbs5Lf4ZM1pVSmsfEKys8ZHRm6moHRK-ZSRzPDk2lwYopJwMiBxlF2NmshAMrzV081Pf8h4raaS66TVqbNjMin5p2L_H-XyYxmDn-TzfPzmXvx3ppkA/s1600-h/DSC_0003.JPG"></a><br /><br /><div>Jason, Donna and Regina checking out the local fruit.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPy-UyM5fJ7xs-RjHPXBkJ9bEleCN2bhm2ppefVYvyAp-OXhrNy4GklPBjT0e1jvKOgcONXDW9P8qEQ0Tn9cTcI7pKjwZiljnZO6Ul1D0i3aWSI9fTk_CqeDUtU2T1MrpkLenfWwB9qSU/s1600-h/DSC_0457.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355819244091967602" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPy-UyM5fJ7xs-RjHPXBkJ9bEleCN2bhm2ppefVYvyAp-OXhrNy4GklPBjT0e1jvKOgcONXDW9P8qEQ0Tn9cTcI7pKjwZiljnZO6Ul1D0i3aWSI9fTk_CqeDUtU2T1MrpkLenfWwB9qSU/s320/DSC_0457.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Fruit too beautiful not to take a picture of....<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUlfmnXG8Kf1ZCx-6TXdU9B_RLG4F9ZpFt-kvr3t6qtsgeEnXGMWrYfcTiSB6IvA-Hv6oTBV_fUTnCYSQkXsnMdH4o9sYUObbbNhDOxAZZ8Bg23YSF8lPe0bqGpoi6ciQNut1oN_xQ6U/s1600-h/100_0172.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355847904342274658" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUlfmnXG8Kf1ZCx-6TXdU9B_RLG4F9ZpFt-kvr3t6qtsgeEnXGMWrYfcTiSB6IvA-Hv6oTBV_fUTnCYSQkXsnMdH4o9sYUObbbNhDOxAZZ8Bg23YSF8lPe0bqGpoi6ciQNut1oN_xQ6U/s320/100_0172.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Jason and Dick obviously enjoying some Italian humor.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJO-oRpOw6AY6roUdIIluUckBs7em45BTIGCSGeaUvs3Ipq-2OfMjqeAog5yoT5KJ33NOv2elp4o1qzedhpvnUaTOahL3b-LGfDlIcgqqhDjxihbKFZBaLnPwhx38pGji1xs4weKFEKc/s1600-h/DSC_0003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355847892585395362" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJO-oRpOw6AY6roUdIIluUckBs7em45BTIGCSGeaUvs3Ipq-2OfMjqeAog5yoT5KJ33NOv2elp4o1qzedhpvnUaTOahL3b-LGfDlIcgqqhDjxihbKFZBaLnPwhx38pGji1xs4weKFEKc/s320/DSC_0003.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div><br />The Torre del Mangia. Built in 1325-1348, it is located in the Piazza del Campo, Siena's premier square, adiacent to the Palazzo Pubblico(Town Hall). When built it was one of the tallest secular towers in mediaeval Italy.<br /><br />The marble loggia, known as Cappella di Piazza, was added in 1352 as a vow for the Holy Virgin by the Sienese survivors from the Black Death. The tower is visible from all parts of Siena and was built to be the exact same height as the Duomo di Siena as a sign that the church and the state had equal amounts of power.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7cYAJY35nrQdSsDfRkaWn3tg7FSDbMsis5w68dRGRcpMknsbrW7JXG2j3A2sVs53nhXNHGL_lSL9EkrJQwTvSVDvDbmKfc6eW5cs2KslJzprXPr9mJ59Zs7wVTsKxSRw6J4f8_VPTaE/s1600-h/DSC_0465.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355847480732453474" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7cYAJY35nrQdSsDfRkaWn3tg7FSDbMsis5w68dRGRcpMknsbrW7JXG2j3A2sVs53nhXNHGL_lSL9EkrJQwTvSVDvDbmKfc6eW5cs2KslJzprXPr9mJ59Zs7wVTsKxSRw6J4f8_VPTaE/s320/DSC_0465.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The walls of the tower are approximatelty 11 ft. thick on each side. The stairwell up to the top of the tower is cramped and most visitors need to duck their heads at some point on the way up the tower. There is little room for two way traffic on the stairs, so only 25 visitors at a time are allowed to enter the tower...here's two of them now!</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpCEkVXzGTyFXYxVYl15rnMxE00bb1d27lqluNOzcukJj14AgJl_G8gWbZjvDyY2MVzV23AQrAw-pR4jwJDHWRTPpYFuBmw1hmSaawM5aOMcE2enUmqwt9WUYJtgWLFqpbiBPRynzd90/s1600-h/DSC_0475.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355819235923305106" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpCEkVXzGTyFXYxVYl15rnMxE00bb1d27lqluNOzcukJj14AgJl_G8gWbZjvDyY2MVzV23AQrAw-pR4jwJDHWRTPpYFuBmw1hmSaawM5aOMcE2enUmqwt9WUYJtgWLFqpbiBPRynzd90/s320/DSC_0475.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The girls hanging out at the top of the Torre del Mangia<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Js9NXcxq5w53Yg1lm-uwpAhfP5kJdsNeNaT2Fn_IniSV7FF0Am1Wkxd2zAQlstq-rnPBl68Ls8cnJ6GvOy_4Rb3o3GMC43RaLWu8rlcPYcPzB_HQeKx3Ak5fXU7s1YlN56HxefcgryE/s1600-h/100_0182.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355847921322290546" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Js9NXcxq5w53Yg1lm-uwpAhfP5kJdsNeNaT2Fn_IniSV7FF0Am1Wkxd2zAQlstq-rnPBl68Ls8cnJ6GvOy_4Rb3o3GMC43RaLWu8rlcPYcPzB_HQeKx3Ak5fXU7s1YlN56HxefcgryE/s320/100_0182.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>Another day...another tower climbed by these two sisters.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs454FKzJZi9GjZjjSsd0WTD2j58Y6fAWw1537YvVCLLL0rI3UlBTWNLNeyYykztCC3fe-oAAzCnAEvwavD2jgsehJ4h-7_zWjlzB5_dk6zaAMuiF4YwZmStOChHBNFXZ5W1wR97m1beY/s1600-h/100_0179.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355847910074492786" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs454FKzJZi9GjZjjSsd0WTD2j58Y6fAWw1537YvVCLLL0rI3UlBTWNLNeyYykztCC3fe-oAAzCnAEvwavD2jgsehJ4h-7_zWjlzB5_dk6zaAMuiF4YwZmStOChHBNFXZ5W1wR97m1beY/s320/100_0179.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>I love Siena's rooftops...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqbr7m57cj8n7trqvIBOMV8Olpb7_9Lez7vfBhvKbCV8L78KvMHYLvnob-dxrRozMHeSa2RtKHx7elr6Q1q6KEDuh6HRXVM_oqsVoO3kIauMXVF-v1gfC_ngWD8EC838XJi6soDe2YBo/s1600-h/DSC_0491.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355819226250359922" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqbr7m57cj8n7trqvIBOMV8Olpb7_9Lez7vfBhvKbCV8L78KvMHYLvnob-dxrRozMHeSa2RtKHx7elr6Q1q6KEDuh6HRXVM_oqsVoO3kIauMXVF-v1gfC_ngWD8EC838XJi6soDe2YBo/s320/DSC_0491.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Jason and Donna persuing the counryside...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbd9Ct4OFZb-hqEJJqEqAvblXHuHC_45dlM5jmD90J2i_YiVaNe1AjqO29EFUWff7_cA_47dppnxgu6hyphenhyphen8LGOp1lJ1AQ1Qw8boAxvfl4a0diFZMOf4DVg5hRmyuopRpqHNgNdNcZnBERE/s1600-h/DSC_0505.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355818394646977026" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbd9Ct4OFZb-hqEJJqEqAvblXHuHC_45dlM5jmD90J2i_YiVaNe1AjqO29EFUWff7_cA_47dppnxgu6hyphenhyphen8LGOp1lJ1AQ1Qw8boAxvfl4a0diFZMOf4DVg5hRmyuopRpqHNgNdNcZnBERE/s320/DSC_0505.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>A view from an ancient window...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE5cBTG7qALbEu0GkXhnZlpWfbx28mEM9OVyJDeyrQszg6aBYaRuF0HUMxtMgaxk8fS7UwJ3MYzZUJ5O7K3lOxbjjd_GQOdEuDL5Gy1i1gS49UvP9GPJncCwaZlU3yEIJHPzT6pDzxn8/s1600-h/DSC_0504.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355818386184464930" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE5cBTG7qALbEu0GkXhnZlpWfbx28mEM9OVyJDeyrQszg6aBYaRuF0HUMxtMgaxk8fS7UwJ3MYzZUJ5O7K3lOxbjjd_GQOdEuDL5Gy1i1gS49UvP9GPJncCwaZlU3yEIJHPzT6pDzxn8/s320/DSC_0504.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The Piazza del Campo from the top of the Torre del Mangia. The Campo is the town square and is famous for hosting the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palio_di_Siena">Palio </a>horse race.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH1Ul2iUK3YikcM-nGEoAXYm_9OayyVIfkf0wvE8S_u45SxB_SHgmUkaf23lzN60TzKKKFpVAySbkJwkeFVuQt-Iamj0f7U-LRTaW9ABFEzoSfW17iZhzoA58b1bInNGfmpT-9aNUHxw/s1600-h/DSC_0494.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355818374008706818" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH1Ul2iUK3YikcM-nGEoAXYm_9OayyVIfkf0wvE8S_u45SxB_SHgmUkaf23lzN60TzKKKFpVAySbkJwkeFVuQt-Iamj0f7U-LRTaW9ABFEzoSfW17iZhzoA58b1bInNGfmpT-9aNUHxw/s320/DSC_0494.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><br />I have no idea what was going on but it was quite a treat to see this group in their costumes...complete with drums and monks.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeotf0M6yeawLasnM2ZcVGX9UT0W88LoF-VMZgHNbRlyy7d7E52UEuG-SpGM4KmiznXvQpHFYbz4eSqjlZMTZvM8DD7UXL58mBM0Nx9cs-5e6Rcj1NWUvtNaqUcZLaiCVycZDDUfar3c/s1600-h/DSC_0427.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355847470573401666" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeotf0M6yeawLasnM2ZcVGX9UT0W88LoF-VMZgHNbRlyy7d7E52UEuG-SpGM4KmiznXvQpHFYbz4eSqjlZMTZvM8DD7UXL58mBM0Nx9cs-5e6Rcj1NWUvtNaqUcZLaiCVycZDDUfar3c/s320/DSC_0427.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The Duomo del Siena<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIAU0QJeRNOjRcQqO9gtBHWo55QgJA9QWvDY7RaYweUiIY9nj_UASABmP2k_BF0G7Z4OdSHe4ILSvo9Yr5kDSiXUNkmq6k6JDTTvXudzSwDy5CScIkoeGhUmtPxufK3gnCcgoIV1p9_s/s1600-h/DSC_0430.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355820521676273986" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIAU0QJeRNOjRcQqO9gtBHWo55QgJA9QWvDY7RaYweUiIY9nj_UASABmP2k_BF0G7Z4OdSHe4ILSvo9Yr5kDSiXUNkmq6k6JDTTvXudzSwDy5CScIkoeGhUmtPxufK3gnCcgoIV1p9_s/s320/DSC_0430.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In the interior the pictorial effect of the black and white marble stripes on the walls and columns strikes the eye. Black and white are the colours of the civic coat of arms of Siena. The inlaid marble mosaic floor is one of the most ornate of its kind in Italy, covering the whole floor of the cathedral. This undertaking went on from the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries, and about forty artists made their contribution. It is truly a spectacular church to see in person. Unfortunately, it's hard to take pictures so I don't have anything that does it justice.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJYpX9zK-9ye8ZQquWAZpzqQWGf78KGqBAJfGOCPHvwvVzfoRPuftYM8ye-H2ek0nEEJeFgabLmBRxMr87BvkcRxwJOfAr8Gk3LS56Ae0uBrHThVxMrw3xlJ7St09FRi6kovcwl7oIH4/s1600-h/DSC_0439.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355820519813032850" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJYpX9zK-9ye8ZQquWAZpzqQWGf78KGqBAJfGOCPHvwvVzfoRPuftYM8ye-H2ek0nEEJeFgabLmBRxMr87BvkcRxwJOfAr8Gk3LS56Ae0uBrHThVxMrw3xlJ7St09FRi6kovcwl7oIH4/s320/DSC_0439.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br />This is my favorite part of the Duomo...The Piccolomini Library, housing precious illuminated choir books and frescoes painted by the Umbrian Bernardino di betto, called Pinturicchio, probably based on designs by Raphael.</div><br /><div><br />The visual impact of these very colourful frescoes is stunning. The frescoes tell the story of the life of Siena's favourite son, cardinal Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who eventually became Pope Pius II. He was the uncle of cardinal Francesco Piccolomini Todeschini (then archbishop of Siena and the future pope Pius III), who commissioned this library in 1492 as a repository of the books and the manuscript collection of his uncle. The ceiling is covered with painted panels of mythological subjects. They were executed between 1502 and 1503 by Pinturicchio and his assistants.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>To see these frescoes in person is amazing...they are extremely bright and colorful and look like they were painted yesterday.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RSrW1Lk6KSZDfUVhhkTiuJBaNkeXAJs857bAi6IVtVFk0oYxHKjW0UoD-A9caqvJBzJ_9BZVlcLm25BklyyDqeyEXw0-P8GH130iSjwuAG2MSRdWWpmaIhsDKdKYewSQJwJl6v64BdA/s1600-h/DSC_0444.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355819247010743554" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RSrW1Lk6KSZDfUVhhkTiuJBaNkeXAJs857bAi6IVtVFk0oYxHKjW0UoD-A9caqvJBzJ_9BZVlcLm25BklyyDqeyEXw0-P8GH130iSjwuAG2MSRdWWpmaIhsDKdKYewSQJwJl6v64BdA/s320/DSC_0444.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The amazing ceiling:</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xIhfgUZQbJX44KNio-qo4X5A2YpcFanRo44ZAuOmBIUF9oi3NcGUTLWVqLEUGx4uAEBTH0CSfCEyGwQPnIdhyphenhyphenyCoWPQGh6nqBRx7r5ixJBAwwEOwN0NBuDKqeqa6mD10AkvjqO1qtQc/s1600-h/DSC_0446.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355856412523368370" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xIhfgUZQbJX44KNio-qo4X5A2YpcFanRo44ZAuOmBIUF9oi3NcGUTLWVqLEUGx4uAEBTH0CSfCEyGwQPnIdhyphenhyphenyCoWPQGh6nqBRx7r5ixJBAwwEOwN0NBuDKqeqa6mD10AkvjqO1qtQc/s400/DSC_0446.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-88690644937892093712009-07-06T12:09:00.005-06:002009-07-08T12:03:45.516-06:00The Continuing Italy SagaHere I am again! Let's pretend that it's Sunday, May 24 and I am returning from a wonderful day spent with friends in San Gimignano. San Gimi is one of my all time favorite Tuscan towns. The town originally had 72 towers, giving it the nickname "Manhattan of Tuscany". Only 15 remain today...one of which Jason, Regina, Donna and I climbed. San Gimi is also known for it's local products: ceramics, olive oil, saffron and Vernaccia wine (a high quality white wine made exclusively in this medieval town).<br /><br />Jason & Dick exploring the wee alleys of San Gimi:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1f8yLqsNb9ir1RoMGL3N4FuUw27BeKEJUQ9TYmS6FMG_RWcCPLrUh5yu49x_y0mp75PZlLP2HJC-lGGP974pPvsEBcMjp9YwDihDW142OBAXJ7CVqruqRGWeZV9wVBbuMy-lihYRin_s/s1600-h/DSC_0240.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355773269766841474" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1f8yLqsNb9ir1RoMGL3N4FuUw27BeKEJUQ9TYmS6FMG_RWcCPLrUh5yu49x_y0mp75PZlLP2HJC-lGGP974pPvsEBcMjp9YwDihDW142OBAXJ7CVqruqRGWeZV9wVBbuMy-lihYRin_s/s400/DSC_0240.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There are fun courtyards with doors to peer around...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrfRNWamSEIYaAh95nviQEujl8AVj8yLF200QosIoEHJYqIZUiwQrZfqsT_T-BPPRsWW68fNvRr4I2t8pRo03cZdoVRuNbFJ8itPzfuUGj_BYF-_g2tpbt9nq5AlwYBHudpDQWlCQZp8/s1600-h/DSC_0232.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355773258758275698" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyrfRNWamSEIYaAh95nviQEujl8AVj8yLF200QosIoEHJYqIZUiwQrZfqsT_T-BPPRsWW68fNvRr4I2t8pRo03cZdoVRuNbFJ8itPzfuUGj_BYF-_g2tpbt9nq5AlwYBHudpDQWlCQZp8/s400/DSC_0232.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and gas lamps and frescoes to admire....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBEkOGe0MsO1nAs9vHm-JtcCBMYzKDnGv_AtEDMmEw3pjSd6GZV2M2k-ZjVQixFHZYGx3k9Y1UCVRamyrWFfjz_ybmEMjsBSWQVix6NdG8LdbU3-ye7c0gc2jE8WzzStZoNiZR0gbDI8/s1600-h/DSC_0222.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355772804351225426" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBEkOGe0MsO1nAs9vHm-JtcCBMYzKDnGv_AtEDMmEw3pjSd6GZV2M2k-ZjVQixFHZYGx3k9Y1UCVRamyrWFfjz_ybmEMjsBSWQVix6NdG8LdbU3-ye7c0gc2jE8WzzStZoNiZR0gbDI8/s400/DSC_0222.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />many towers to climb....<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtmWOjhK9zvzhjQ5kUEgK691jJrKVbobf6txHk9DASCPn8TrE7qucYyjD7UaOpGWPaJd5cYQwYEVjhBxzcHKVJFZLVWyFKb6dgUFBvawAxKMXQIKmjxDzLuqSQ36OChy54q8I2x999qs/s1600-h/DSC_0214.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355772801735229682" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtmWOjhK9zvzhjQ5kUEgK691jJrKVbobf6txHk9DASCPn8TrE7qucYyjD7UaOpGWPaJd5cYQwYEVjhBxzcHKVJFZLVWyFKb6dgUFBvawAxKMXQIKmjxDzLuqSQ36OChy54q8I2x999qs/s400/DSC_0214.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>beautiful views from those towers....the Tuscan countryside is amazingly beautiful...too beautiful to capture in photographs.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2QL3CGQCJUaAEs7aeZNgVgJliVccXvwEmFuEwsfbCeFJEnpOW35_TRD8GSfPzKt85ygyLuDn6tQ5QX23g5xGfiDcMdmduKy9cgOulfoGTMxyouKRfptUhUPgh6SYDMfdEvvR3nYt9zw/s1600-h/DSC_0210.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355772793498905762" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2QL3CGQCJUaAEs7aeZNgVgJliVccXvwEmFuEwsfbCeFJEnpOW35_TRD8GSfPzKt85ygyLuDn6tQ5QX23g5xGfiDcMdmduKy9cgOulfoGTMxyouKRfptUhUPgh6SYDMfdEvvR3nYt9zw/s400/DSC_0210.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and views into piazzas...whew, that's a long way down!!!</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIw4xa_JNdSgwYwtgwHxWWDla6CIFDqiPbaFYreXTD4MjChJ67fmV9WchsTkpY9aqTnXF4sCc6p8UR3ib7kNYZPMoX1l_MYskxfBJnRHN3syeBWIEZZBw8GHw3cQWmEbTiED5mWHJ-r3M/s1600-h/DSC_0191.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355772788002147730" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIw4xa_JNdSgwYwtgwHxWWDla6CIFDqiPbaFYreXTD4MjChJ67fmV9WchsTkpY9aqTnXF4sCc6p8UR3ib7kNYZPMoX1l_MYskxfBJnRHN3syeBWIEZZBw8GHw3cQWmEbTiED5mWHJ-r3M/s400/DSC_0191.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Photo ops for showing off new shoes!!! According to Donna, her new Keens were great shoes for climbing towers.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2cZedN3xlt5l6DqEn37zG9k5Nem1R6jp1M30lvuZOHqzwPChSq4OFVJsOpIJbGpOIwS2UI5_WhyphenhyphenkAtVN26AsLsd8I-LoT-wy1-mS06vxuhGAC-tDOA63TE64D902VPYHAjPRhTQ6Evs/s1600-h/DSC_0187.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355772030321413298" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2cZedN3xlt5l6DqEn37zG9k5Nem1R6jp1M30lvuZOHqzwPChSq4OFVJsOpIJbGpOIwS2UI5_WhyphenhyphenkAtVN26AsLsd8I-LoT-wy1-mS06vxuhGAC-tDOA63TE64D902VPYHAjPRhTQ6Evs/s400/DSC_0187.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Fun ledges for more photo ops....</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpBcTbhwK9ZXqwKS-O5RMa4TyzGOpRqhWYWfDMa9PrDxnEpGbmHwGRFm8VwzMuJs4YjL0NRXNUTdKJCWxBBiE27-WKJyrGH6bnYjoZKUi-AXwNjUu-4UKX7AOfMXCp9EOFrLasaqzm5w/s1600-h/DSC_0184.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355772021554418466" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpBcTbhwK9ZXqwKS-O5RMa4TyzGOpRqhWYWfDMa9PrDxnEpGbmHwGRFm8VwzMuJs4YjL0NRXNUTdKJCWxBBiE27-WKJyrGH6bnYjoZKUi-AXwNjUu-4UKX7AOfMXCp9EOFrLasaqzm5w/s400/DSC_0184.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />breathless laughter as we ascend another tower....</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJ4pEQT5QKFYVaonnCBgcdEAgXOfS-Rl-e2pfiSPYODg1lS19Lq0pgTY4-A-DpkalolSPqDx2-1tH9cbdyU6F8yxPDtHyCBH6Q1mQTBkjS74AG4C4D7c_n7ApaT8aioSnJhu-k79wIWI/s1600-h/DSC_0179.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355772020199168754" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJ4pEQT5QKFYVaonnCBgcdEAgXOfS-Rl-e2pfiSPYODg1lS19Lq0pgTY4-A-DpkalolSPqDx2-1tH9cbdyU6F8yxPDtHyCBH6Q1mQTBkjS74AG4C4D7c_n7ApaT8aioSnJhu-k79wIWI/s400/DSC_0179.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So many places to explore (and eat gelato)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1gpZSjIIWtqkZleMlXta4ebe23ZJR7t4wNHAJZ3uQAlS7wcgyA7s8UKcqAnX8txkTiRgqI2PH6185ei1v249P0ugZEoyPyoQgipMTNv8JRahnGgY5sZf9Sbi9FIOcgUWKcNtl8xnKz8/s1600-h/DSC_0169.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355772016561675458" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1gpZSjIIWtqkZleMlXta4ebe23ZJR7t4wNHAJZ3uQAlS7wcgyA7s8UKcqAnX8txkTiRgqI2PH6185ei1v249P0ugZEoyPyoQgipMTNv8JRahnGgY5sZf9Sbi9FIOcgUWKcNtl8xnKz8/s400/DSC_0169.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />tourists everywhere...<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQsGLdDBHDUNAumKBu1jS5HRQ7HAGBHx8rAEEYjHB8OMMn9NLtZ7zsJxAMyBfQ8c85N9gMEvUBNvz39hsJ07KB8izGMyYXuGBhfqrynTpkhDQRd_bu2o3L6Ygr784tZiUzk8BI5E9b-w/s1600-h/DSC_0156.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355771247254498498" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQsGLdDBHDUNAumKBu1jS5HRQ7HAGBHx8rAEEYjHB8OMMn9NLtZ7zsJxAMyBfQ8c85N9gMEvUBNvz39hsJ07KB8izGMyYXuGBhfqrynTpkhDQRd_bu2o3L6Ygr784tZiUzk8BI5E9b-w/s400/DSC_0156.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />local ceramics....<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_776QpH1aAUfQ0FH1A1PLu6VagCEUQyjpd8l79Eqf5rtYuZ47A68J42XfJra6VGwkuBOjqUgw6kXIk6BoHzOrELyDkbmQ5BWKM0nhTyrJwkczCKcRz74QygB68KucBvA0jexIfWQAmQ/s1600-h/DSC_0153.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355771235986929714" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_776QpH1aAUfQ0FH1A1PLu6VagCEUQyjpd8l79Eqf5rtYuZ47A68J42XfJra6VGwkuBOjqUgw6kXIk6BoHzOrELyDkbmQ5BWKM0nhTyrJwkczCKcRz74QygB68KucBvA0jexIfWQAmQ/s400/DSC_0153.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />yummo...local treats...<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholhyxk4hvhhcfVb_5-6kxd0Pfyji6lpDovZqbKpTcvdyjaKrYFyncor35OM-h-Ur2i6LcJlfYBDNAsT5qzysA2sPke2LL5V61vo40WBn31T9WFN8Y_UWcaTAh7bYMLFzmSWGvGKOl5VY/s1600-h/DSC_0152.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355771233988388386" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholhyxk4hvhhcfVb_5-6kxd0Pfyji6lpDovZqbKpTcvdyjaKrYFyncor35OM-h-Ur2i6LcJlfYBDNAsT5qzysA2sPke2LL5V61vo40WBn31T9WFN8Y_UWcaTAh7bYMLFzmSWGvGKOl5VY/s400/DSC_0152.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />curious doors at the end of streets....I wonder who's lucky enough to live here?<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IxnGp7u3kFaCXgJhOcOxR3qgWWfltCq5FrMzmK8Rfy0KpfqMzcQlgyNJ1J6kBhj1AYkQ3tNrZum5U5qknxTq3Ejo40qpQbcYimGtef2Zk8X2De9b2mO3uWVpelrZdkF5h0hOSwYD9cE/s1600-h/100_0086.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355770667969738098" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IxnGp7u3kFaCXgJhOcOxR3qgWWfltCq5FrMzmK8Rfy0KpfqMzcQlgyNJ1J6kBhj1AYkQ3tNrZum5U5qknxTq3Ejo40qpQbcYimGtef2Zk8X2De9b2mO3uWVpelrZdkF5h0hOSwYD9cE/s400/100_0086.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My peeps: Jennifer, Donna, Dick & Jason posing for their San Gimi pic.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eTt-17T6es4u6Qnk6ufnXXRVxijjxzuAuyBOS7-CwhKuNh_9XHWxLYEMP6ejzKHiXSb9P88hfTWFYcK3I8jRawFhX62KcOyOQ3NYKaXik7NdCp-uRUVJEiQ6uC9-e55gvXMJQzadtFQ/s1600-h/100_0082.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355770658739110882" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eTt-17T6es4u6Qnk6ufnXXRVxijjxzuAuyBOS7-CwhKuNh_9XHWxLYEMP6ejzKHiXSb9P88hfTWFYcK3I8jRawFhX62KcOyOQ3NYKaXik7NdCp-uRUVJEiQ6uC9-e55gvXMJQzadtFQ/s400/100_0082.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />narrow streets all over town....<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyq7dLhE77Yzc68G0mRqZZCm-5PIXw4O8Z_pFd-Z3woPZptS_njHAOu_g11dNqP2FfePWe_7X61xNWQ-GPlthf5wiTVuSIHdWltvlnWHgS9a1RoLerduNcF5LUupc4q6cGDfKt-DVcUs/s1600-h/100_0057.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355770651648086066" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyq7dLhE77Yzc68G0mRqZZCm-5PIXw4O8Z_pFd-Z3woPZptS_njHAOu_g11dNqP2FfePWe_7X61xNWQ-GPlthf5wiTVuSIHdWltvlnWHgS9a1RoLerduNcF5LUupc4q6cGDfKt-DVcUs/s400/100_0057.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hope you enjoyed the little tour of San Gimignano. It is a MUST see if you visit Tuscany!<br /><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-87579003499900195782009-06-11T10:12:00.007-06:002009-07-08T12:03:45.516-06:00Arrival in ItalyWell, finally I have some time to post some trip stuff before I head off to the beach! Our first travel day is always long. Dick and I had the 6:00 a.m. flight out of Denver to D.C. That got us in way early since we weren't leaving for Rome until 6:15 that evening but since there is only one flight to Rome from D.C. every day, I never want to take the chance of missing that flight. Case in point. Jennifer, Jason and Regina were flying from D.C. to JFK to catch their Rome flight.<br /><div></div><br /><div>Here's Dick sharing a pre-Italy glass of wine before they head off:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPX6xwPq2YrL0ZpayL0Vg1aRfEYRf38EQQ1rTKVOEHSEOc-ri5IiiQTR4ODfh1S4R24GigpXwMHp4t37D-5Fj-befo5884w7bq1wb6Jtc2lRjAJD9n2niGhobZex9LausHNgnwIRQcc8/s1600-h/DSC_0001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346105777989466034" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPX6xwPq2YrL0ZpayL0Vg1aRfEYRf38EQQ1rTKVOEHSEOc-ri5IiiQTR4ODfh1S4R24GigpXwMHp4t37D-5Fj-befo5884w7bq1wb6Jtc2lRjAJD9n2niGhobZex9LausHNgnwIRQcc8/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Well, we all leave our wine and go down to their gate to see them off...oh oh....flight to JFK delayed. Dick and I have to go back to our terminal to get ready for our flight but we are communicating by Blackberry. Last we know before we head for Rome is that they are on their way to JFK. Well, we arrive in Rome...along with my sister, Donna, who has made the trip from Houston, through Philly, to Rome. I couldn't believe that she and I were in Italy together....a dream come true for both of us. </div><div><div><div><div> </div><div>But more oh ohs....the rest of our group missed their flight to Rome from JFK. After much wrangling, they have gotten on a flight to Pisa and are expected to land mid morning. So Donna, Dick and I load up our fancy Alfa Romeo station wagon and head up to Tuscany! </div><div><br />Of course, we have to head straight to Montespertoli to Il Mondo Degli Gnomi, our favorite restaurant in all of Italy!!! This is a small pizzeria in the Piazza Popolo in the center of Montespertoli. Rosa and Giuseppe (brother and sister) run the restaurant and welcome us as if it had been just days since they had seen us instead of a whole year. Plenty of pasta and wine later...the rest of our group arrives. Exhausted from their adventure...it took them almost 2 hours just to get a rental car in Pisa...more pasta was had, along with more wine. It was a great way to start our trip. Finally, it's time to head off to our villa. This year we stayed at a place called Villa Castiglione near a town called Fiano and about 8 km from Montespertoli. A little more remote than our villa last year but still great!!! We had a brand new pool which came in handy with temps in the mid 90s this year, and we had great views of San Gimignano.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the front of our villa... you can't really see them in this pic but there were gorgeous roses everywhere!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih47jMHqRiclvkIcVrvnwxgACZk3jKCzjLT67WqJwUPFJG0dT4r4bs2SYpAL9LE-4puk_NGA3IHoVFKvTFbHZ5wWlGS3F4r8KHkPGyjKdyYncM5KwQhoMIVqUJgy-k65xatZWPVsdAqM4/s1600-h/DSC_0262.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346108749528734194" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih47jMHqRiclvkIcVrvnwxgACZk3jKCzjLT67WqJwUPFJG0dT4r4bs2SYpAL9LE-4puk_NGA3IHoVFKvTFbHZ5wWlGS3F4r8KHkPGyjKdyYncM5KwQhoMIVqUJgy-k65xatZWPVsdAqM4/s400/DSC_0262.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>ere's the view from our "backyard". Plenty of olive trees and vineyards on those hills!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jCBoBGLGd1rcuZ3loJNQ9mChjaOtV2VQ9V5QxDNECLCd1TZ1R9b78gEqcdIXxUQzTP9ikP16BBIzXHwCuV48K__iIM2tRUh5tazhZtZTAIZtuAHC6Kh_sgXzqa2KXphgXlISEkiz3hU/s1600-h/DSC_0032.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346108740944288130" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jCBoBGLGd1rcuZ3loJNQ9mChjaOtV2VQ9V5QxDNECLCd1TZ1R9b78gEqcdIXxUQzTP9ikP16BBIzXHwCuV48K__iIM2tRUh5tazhZtZTAIZtuAHC6Kh_sgXzqa2KXphgXlISEkiz3hU/s400/DSC_0032.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div> </div><div>Our awesome pool. It was down the hill a ways so was very private and a fun place to hang out.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8US3e19aJKENdQiRF_WvuzMdqlw999s4Er2Ac12ZuHLj8CRy2zJj9hCIGEKEH9ifERNTnIeu7I2FpwKQQviFgSBF_dZdjCZ7MvqkWy4JcyBl6gxFf-bIqCiz_fTQ3_zTz2cys8rezVHI/s1600-h/DSC_0276.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346108756409923970" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8US3e19aJKENdQiRF_WvuzMdqlw999s4Er2Ac12ZuHLj8CRy2zJj9hCIGEKEH9ifERNTnIeu7I2FpwKQQviFgSBF_dZdjCZ7MvqkWy4JcyBl6gxFf-bIqCiz_fTQ3_zTz2cys8rezVHI/s400/DSC_0276.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>After a long, exhausting day you'd have thought that we would all be in bed early but no, not this group. Dinner was waiting for us at the villa so we had dinner then we started on our wine and our limoncello. We ate, drank, put on music and danced into the wee hours of Italy!</div><div> </div><div>Here's our dinner all prepared and waiting for us: lasagna, salad, bread, wine.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2thzhS16hyphenhyphenTWYr1FXr5h50U7gBDW2_O5mThZmN5w8Q9G4kOA_xpcBKrwxRjPJlO0JS59JPXQFjYgLIb4yh-2MOWM5r_k_uMWSAbbCDfJwDZXdHgkftRiAsu5dbDWxsNKMKkq76Je9Uc8/s1600-h/DSC_0004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346111135033801618" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2thzhS16hyphenhyphenTWYr1FXr5h50U7gBDW2_O5mThZmN5w8Q9G4kOA_xpcBKrwxRjPJlO0JS59JPXQFjYgLIb4yh-2MOWM5r_k_uMWSAbbCDfJwDZXdHgkftRiAsu5dbDWxsNKMKkq76Je9Uc8/s400/DSC_0004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Hanging out on our loggia after dinner.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLVsJdcDQheTsv9H3Dsx4vIiKdpSf-2PcDpzMAZvcTzHn5HUnOONERcMkzubly8khtrkTS3JRBhBZyjK82SriJrHHbgqZfNe5caredsHM67H4T7lKcae3Pw3RdHkoJ7wP-PQ9dneyXZI/s1600-h/DSC_0009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346111141233172130" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLVsJdcDQheTsv9H3Dsx4vIiKdpSf-2PcDpzMAZvcTzHn5HUnOONERcMkzubly8khtrkTS3JRBhBZyjK82SriJrHHbgqZfNe5caredsHM67H4T7lKcae3Pw3RdHkoJ7wP-PQ9dneyXZI/s400/DSC_0009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The girls looking relaxed and happy.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXcrqomnaz3lHq-gY8PYK2vhk3t5yINanB6irEmBGOxwHw08Bs5DMwa01f4F7jacWbW4q_49MiZE2bDwNbgTRx3lrrzyQ4mfJA_b78Fpm7q-73UtfyODC1g2YojCBmswORcTO9lRSQuI/s1600-h/DSC_0017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346111139521162786" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXcrqomnaz3lHq-gY8PYK2vhk3t5yINanB6irEmBGOxwHw08Bs5DMwa01f4F7jacWbW4q_49MiZE2bDwNbgTRx3lrrzyQ4mfJA_b78Fpm7q-73UtfyODC1g2YojCBmswORcTO9lRSQuI/s400/DSC_0017.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div><div>And last, but not least: Donna teaching Dick to dance to her music.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYp1gw9AJxqemb0q76sKfZRkXycI5pWYwjT9wCOIiBTN389s-1-mGeAckct9pDv6XY6oYFPpwNu-ba5NVMgDMPWEi4_SMtMU3IL7NPK2ohoDxcXiXI1g8T4gWwZmq8CYdwmo-xQjs0Ys/s1600-h/DSC_0080.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346111933165669186" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYp1gw9AJxqemb0q76sKfZRkXycI5pWYwjT9wCOIiBTN389s-1-mGeAckct9pDv6XY6oYFPpwNu-ba5NVMgDMPWEi4_SMtMU3IL7NPK2ohoDxcXiXI1g8T4gWwZmq8CYdwmo-xQjs0Ys/s400/DSC_0080.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Stay tuned for more adventures!!<br /><div><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-84111348667468695162009-06-09T17:44:00.004-06:002009-07-08T12:03:45.516-06:00Food, food and more food!We're back!! 17 days away from home feels like forever but we had a great time. I'm trying to catch up on household stuff, bills, etc. before I head off to South Carolina for Sally's big birthday bash, but I hope to get the blog updated before I go so please be patient. I just thought I'd share one thought with you tonight. Normally I'm a pretty healthy eater. I try to watch what I eat...stay away from too many carbs, sugar, etc. but on this trip I really outdid myself. I usually profess to "not like Italian food" in general but it seems like I couldn't get enough pasta and pizza and gelato while in Italy this year. Add alot of yummy Ugolini white fizzy wine....need I say more. Then just when I think I'm out of the woods, we head over to France....the home of frites, frites and more frites. Just as long as it wasn't pasta...I was good. I definitely had my fair share of excellent food and wine so for tonight...here's our before and after shots.<br /><br />Me and Dick before we went to Italy:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPU-0rQASF5HYuRXNGXgU0nAE0PWgoL4Oi625ChHKZdckuiNeVCCV1ade_k-smn5eFM0z-mvMXQT2ZoTXOD_V_ah2GBSda9ywDUDou6MdJ2KzzZdCAZfv56Qluyfsx98JIG06mbMKvcD8/s1600-h/lovers2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345478297176234274" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPU-0rQASF5HYuRXNGXgU0nAE0PWgoL4Oi625ChHKZdckuiNeVCCV1ade_k-smn5eFM0z-mvMXQT2ZoTXOD_V_ah2GBSda9ywDUDou6MdJ2KzzZdCAZfv56Qluyfsx98JIG06mbMKvcD8/s400/lovers2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and now...upon our return!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmwI1O4edHyyKgOjuYeDN3MpWgs5s0OoirEt_PeM6bqbPgLuF1cMtF9JdSrnn15u9xa2wI5BMNt3_rOkTRhIOS0P1pOAurXx3yqONXv5Or_kdAkQWrJxjlYRLmmMZPIM2mdasrnf6srw/s1600-h/Italy+Bellies.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345478290494822802" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmwI1O4edHyyKgOjuYeDN3MpWgs5s0OoirEt_PeM6bqbPgLuF1cMtF9JdSrnn15u9xa2wI5BMNt3_rOkTRhIOS0P1pOAurXx3yqONXv5Or_kdAkQWrJxjlYRLmmMZPIM2mdasrnf6srw/s400/Italy+Bellies.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Hope you enjoyed the update. I promise to post more soon. By the way, both of these statues were in Monte Carlo. The before was at the Jardin Exotique near the Palace. The after is a sculpture near the harbor and the casino.<br /><div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-21548184247103221092009-05-16T14:18:00.003-06:002009-05-16T14:42:39.698-06:00Tell someone you love them!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeSRN90lwBSYwJLM41vYj2efgVO7MJo2DN4r8lPDdLo9iD-R9YwM6kgxr6WTimInf1hhKpaBLJVF8bAT3kfq4b99Q1K25iGf8l-3iOaT_S4bqivWNL9gBHQQDu5uWalSja4wIGq9PIeI/s1600-h/DSC_0004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336521526240397874" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeSRN90lwBSYwJLM41vYj2efgVO7MJo2DN4r8lPDdLo9iD-R9YwM6kgxr6WTimInf1hhKpaBLJVF8bAT3kfq4b99Q1K25iGf8l-3iOaT_S4bqivWNL9gBHQQDu5uWalSja4wIGq9PIeI/s400/DSC_0004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is my dad and me. He died on April 23, 2002. I don't remember when this picture was taken other than it was in my parents' dining room in Louisiana and I was there during a flood. It's not the best picture ever taken of the two of us but I think it truly reflects how we felt about each other...we loved each other!<br /><br />Why am I posting this now? I've never posted anything about losing my dad before but I watched the stupid Grey's Anatomy finale last night...and yes, I broke down at the end, even though I had an inkling of what was coming. If you didn't see it, I won't spoil it but the whole point of the episode is "don't wait...tell the people you love TODAY...tell them how much you love them...tell them what a difference they've made in your life."<br /><br /><br />I know, I know...we all say that don't we? When something happens...we all say that it won't happen again....<br /><br />I don't need to talk about the pain of losing my dad...everyone has lost someone...everyone has felt grief in some form or another. What I want to say is that I did tell him...from the time he was diagnosed with cancer until the night he died....I told him how much I loved him...how special he was to me...what a difference he made in my life. I told him over and over again as we hugged and cried and laughed and cried.....there was lots of crying. Angry crying when he was diagnosed, happy crying when his treatment was going well and horrible wrenching crying when he died unexpectedly from surgery complications. I can say now that I have no regrets...<br /><br />I know that he died knowing how much he was loved...there was no doubt he knew how much we loved him...because we couldn't stop saying it. Over and over and over again...because we were scared...and we wanted him to know ....<br /><br />...don't wait...don't wait for a diagnosis or a death...say it today. Tell someone right now how much you love them....a spouse, a child, a niece or nephew, a friend...don't let another day go by because you never know ....Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-81173202862875642372009-04-19T15:27:00.003-06:002009-04-19T15:33:58.403-06:00A month to go!Woo hoo...in just over a month, we'll be heading off to Italy again. This time with a whole different groups of friends....and my sister!!! Well my sister isn't final yet but we should know something tomorrow...she's in the process of getting her passport expedited!!! This would be her first trip to Europe and we are both psyched that she's able to join us. This is really a dream come true for her (and me). We'll spend our first week in another villa in Tuscany AND we'll be there during the Montespertoli Chianti Festival....AGAIN!!!!! woo hoo :)<br /><br />Everyone else will be heading home...but my sweety and I are staying an extra week...driving up through the south of France..ending up in Paris for our last weekend. I can't wait!!!!<br /><div><br /></div><div></div><div>I can't wait for a stroll through Lucca<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyw4izvMDFUq4MyxsEIbvbDnJ-YbW8ocT4DT35Eh2B6LJ1HOHc16B8Si6QYIMMtMIuGDG7qXrCjEgzaHmMppT_U8O5JcwNkKTGeHob4i8bRw7kdjUbQ4W1u1nVAzg8N7eEl71O3sO8B8/s1600-h/Girls+in+Lucca.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326518045754472610" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyw4izvMDFUq4MyxsEIbvbDnJ-YbW8ocT4DT35Eh2B6LJ1HOHc16B8Si6QYIMMtMIuGDG7qXrCjEgzaHmMppT_U8O5JcwNkKTGeHob4i8bRw7kdjUbQ4W1u1nVAzg8N7eEl71O3sO8B8/s320/Girls+in+Lucca.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Haggling at ceramics outlets</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxssxNXJih0y1yFOZqnsqK5gJMbkI7iX_w0-15D6OSf8B2DOjIToeXLzWKh3BYFqF7BV08OrsgurxNTNgsQ4OIdXGkRGby0ImApkv9XXZn_pJPZt01pxqHFL-SMtOhwjCkmlhyDf3ATo/s1600-h/Haggling+over+ceramiche.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326518054647114546" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxssxNXJih0y1yFOZqnsqK5gJMbkI7iX_w0-15D6OSf8B2DOjIToeXLzWKh3BYFqF7BV08OrsgurxNTNgsQ4OIdXGkRGby0ImApkv9XXZn_pJPZt01pxqHFL-SMtOhwjCkmlhyDf3ATo/s320/Haggling+over+ceramiche.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /> </div><div>and looking down on Sienna!!!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nrMpiOzk_sRL-DkuohjfolCMUMZEd6YL5DHwZi6KIQ5lfkRpFhyphenhyphenfzlg0zeDv1m4aFn59bGc2d_3dEFZ22gxjVZvjY3InZhYcSQag_geUflgywaRR8CTPQLYir-aKpwq3oOA6x3FPxxE/s1600-h/Siennablog.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326518059196329090" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nrMpiOzk_sRL-DkuohjfolCMUMZEd6YL5DHwZi6KIQ5lfkRpFhyphenhyphenfzlg0zeDv1m4aFn59bGc2d_3dEFZ22gxjVZvjY3InZhYcSQag_geUflgywaRR8CTPQLYir-aKpwq3oOA6x3FPxxE/s320/Siennablog.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-68949544870302102032009-04-14T14:26:00.004-06:002009-04-14T14:31:44.561-06:00When nothing is going on.....just talk about the dogs!!! A trip down memory lane:<br /><br />Remember this cutie? Kimi at 8 weeks:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40oUcf-Re9q0Oip0v-4TS6L08RP9dMYSKDiUiTJju7er8pqd8SxbAxPkTJ7K0d4xAHrj2oPnEr6FIvwGEN66krAVHdoy1MbNqZYaM46WVWO4J99ita6xSpsZa7QjVFtjTboMRUovo_44/s1600-h/Evey+girl+needs+bling+1.23.08.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324646900303290962" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40oUcf-Re9q0Oip0v-4TS6L08RP9dMYSKDiUiTJju7er8pqd8SxbAxPkTJ7K0d4xAHrj2oPnEr6FIvwGEN66krAVHdoy1MbNqZYaM46WVWO4J99ita6xSpsZa7QjVFtjTboMRUovo_44/s320/Evey+girl+needs+bling+1.23.08.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />She's turned into a beautiful 17 month old!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Gu-OaIbznbpky0qKcBKah-VbVYB1G78YdUqSCx33ghF63lh0Ru5sHnZ6TPw_isGUri4bOqUrWwXEeXY0OzHWmXvPGV6zfqn4AXm8nuKs8e7omvBccbOTRnFRgDCv7q9BbmhnwlgBm-w/s1600-h/Pretty+Kimi.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324646905075987954" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Gu-OaIbznbpky0qKcBKah-VbVYB1G78YdUqSCx33ghF63lh0Ru5sHnZ6TPw_isGUri4bOqUrWwXEeXY0OzHWmXvPGV6zfqn4AXm8nuKs8e7omvBccbOTRnFRgDCv7q9BbmhnwlgBm-w/s320/Pretty+Kimi.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and here's Cody @ 8 weeks...another cutie:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwaVR5IhyKmetUxHYolAtYu8bGtW2H3ALPqkYmdwdd_lhZEPCtS8Cb7mxPUdNLKT7HcpCfmzD_x9Y7L4oYcJ1f7INjiXCIEZFJF1yTwzxBwcExSnGoOTwmQ0H6p9LbzBMXYDmWN7p2j0/s1600-h/CIMG1071.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324646913172007682" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwaVR5IhyKmetUxHYolAtYu8bGtW2H3ALPqkYmdwdd_lhZEPCtS8Cb7mxPUdNLKT7HcpCfmzD_x9Y7L4oYcJ1f7INjiXCIEZFJF1yTwzxBwcExSnGoOTwmQ0H6p9LbzBMXYDmWN7p2j0/s320/CIMG1071.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />growing tall at 10 months!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFawywxDJRfz30Wx-SPY8zD7amVX7l8qZgaFx54jgeiQVTjb8zFtBmYg0YD0pBkZodxqkXhDTMniozAgQNLyipe4GfqieBJnGL8heHS92XJ3rSCMVchOElP-yAn3XpYhP9S_M4t_UBp4/s1600-h/Cody+11+months.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324646910635426882" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFawywxDJRfz30Wx-SPY8zD7amVX7l8qZgaFx54jgeiQVTjb8zFtBmYg0YD0pBkZodxqkXhDTMniozAgQNLyipe4GfqieBJnGL8heHS92XJ3rSCMVchOElP-yAn3XpYhP9S_M4t_UBp4/s320/Cody+11+months.JPG" border="0" /></a>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-56204652758103259052009-04-13T11:07:00.006-06:002009-04-13T11:51:33.366-06:00April is Here!Well hello friends!!! I know it's been awhile since I've posted and I do apologize. Life has been busy around here and quite frankly, since going on Facebook, I don't have nearly enough time to spend here in blogland. I am still doing some work with Sally in the furniture biz and that's keeping me pretty busy. I went on my first solo sales calls two weeks ago and it made me so nervous. But I got through it and just need to get myself out there some more and try to sell some furniture. <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div> </div><div>All in all things are going well. Dick has been busy busy busy which is good. The dogs are great...they are growing and still manage to crack me up every day. Here's some recent pics, taken with Teddy, our friend Kristi's new pup.</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>My babies love chasing other dogs and Teddy is way faster than they are.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtgIwSvqIktuK8KORSDrWR5BKnKXSF87jbrq4uUJaFwbp9wlxYdK2fo3bZBvSC8i10gR44fmCBPZnjKZqlcnLs2Z4ee76Otgz1EeEHrlRKeZvJxSXlRlxBvMJIrTPHgavX9TNgYO60CY/s1600-h/DSC_0227.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324227335629264274" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtgIwSvqIktuK8KORSDrWR5BKnKXSF87jbrq4uUJaFwbp9wlxYdK2fo3bZBvSC8i10gR44fmCBPZnjKZqlcnLs2Z4ee76Otgz1EeEHrlRKeZvJxSXlRlxBvMJIrTPHgavX9TNgYO60CY/s320/DSC_0227.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Teddy & Cody waiting for water...Cody's really growing tall. He's still a little skinny squirt but he's got long legs and a long tail<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3YCSOo0JUaHeYif22fvpzyN7QY7DY1-TtrViRVg1gkCrme8RkquWaIOvcNHot3rh0-BglVjuIVws1J1vdwEyDHPrF4BJO6gR4owKFxCnoDdVVQ-89aSIbF9KoGEY4v688moPJ4DFkSM/s1600-h/DSC_0147.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324227330358169586" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3YCSOo0JUaHeYif22fvpzyN7QY7DY1-TtrViRVg1gkCrme8RkquWaIOvcNHot3rh0-BglVjuIVws1J1vdwEyDHPrF4BJO6gR4owKFxCnoDdVVQ-89aSIbF9KoGEY4v688moPJ4DFkSM/s320/DSC_0147.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This is what happens when all the chasing stops! Kimi is still just the sweetest girl and she loves Teddy.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBbdethHcfCer7ngTSqkwwS0XCij0VnrRzKSsuKy306rU25sgwr7v5UK6EpVb8w6EqaUD1CFW9DjOkXNw-R2ICts9tRJWP-XSW5Hx3J90z6PG9Ek_SkY5gzHRDHSZG2qCRvy8w_3E6VY/s1600-h/Worn+out.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324227328165029410" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBbdethHcfCer7ngTSqkwwS0XCij0VnrRzKSsuKy306rU25sgwr7v5UK6EpVb8w6EqaUD1CFW9DjOkXNw-R2ICts9tRJWP-XSW5Hx3J90z6PG9Ek_SkY5gzHRDHSZG2qCRvy8w_3E6VY/s320/Worn+out.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Kimi & Teddy romping in the leaves.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkOjf5RVDthaWls1G-dsseBMYYy4PwURAQyzHloO-YzVvgX4cYFD_-86poNEMxh-o-OEW3Gj3cU3HMq1wBxShP6OPvvyHDPSODrkLIoid0XucU4hqupSheENgW5_lOF6cRPCKLWam79A/s1600-h/THis+is+fun.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324227324821241250" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkOjf5RVDthaWls1G-dsseBMYYy4PwURAQyzHloO-YzVvgX4cYFD_-86poNEMxh-o-OEW3Gj3cU3HMq1wBxShP6OPvvyHDPSODrkLIoid0XucU4hqupSheENgW5_lOF6cRPCKLWam79A/s320/THis+is+fun.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We've got plenty of travel on our plate in the next few months and I promise to be better about positng: I'll be in High Point, NC for furniture market then mom's wedding on May 8 so I'll be spending a whole week down south in Lousiana, then we're off to Italy and France at the end of May, beginning of June and mid June I'm heading back out to South Carolina for a friend's 50th birthday celebration on the beach!!!</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Last weekend, Dick and I spent four days in Charleston, South Carolina. We joined Sally and some of our friends from North Carolina for a 10K race over the Cooper River Bridge. It was great weather and we had a great race. Sally and I are both run/walking these days....my ankle is still not completely well and she's still having back/knee issues but we finished the race and had a great time...that's all that matters! Here's a glimpse into that fun weekend. Here's the house we rented on Isle of Palm. It was perfect for our group. There were six bedrooms with 4 bathrooms and there were 12 of us. The house was perfectly situated with a large living area and kitchen in the middle of the house and of course, those wonderful porches. It was so nice to sleep and wake up to the sound of the ocean! This is the back of the house which faces the water....Dick and Ihad the downstairs bedroom to the right of the porch...perfect!!!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63yqIFZI8UXKcs1-bVp2yw2OeJwTV6U0xWnir1WnCmUPkmTPk0BkKypCplLP692Yl2_qaCGS6uYW907jJO06QJielzwVLHJ2mYgLjL8EryV8Y7EmXH2B7V8ElbbskK82d-furnFlxWT8/s1600-h/Our+house+at+Isle+of+Palm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324230636947265186" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63yqIFZI8UXKcs1-bVp2yw2OeJwTV6U0xWnir1WnCmUPkmTPk0BkKypCplLP692Yl2_qaCGS6uYW907jJO06QJielzwVLHJ2mYgLjL8EryV8Y7EmXH2B7V8ElbbskK82d-furnFlxWT8/s320/Our+house+at+Isle+of+Palm.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>Here we are with Ron and Pam celebrating being together again...it's been almost a year since our Italy adventure so there was lots of catching up to do.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIvbZtdapcLB37To6_24TdIebLNsDMCBpzAMGU4NEwzkuu4sUb5rqEdfSkHe_XiezUQckHKoI6Oah8RQEN_NRbXdiSvMtMJNph1QGMVhF84h3Ae0DdrjqaVTtn1h0Y2ww0RgLvlgRQtw/s1600-h/A+toast.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324229474190746338" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIvbZtdapcLB37To6_24TdIebLNsDMCBpzAMGU4NEwzkuu4sUb5rqEdfSkHe_XiezUQckHKoI6Oah8RQEN_NRbXdiSvMtMJNph1QGMVhF84h3Ae0DdrjqaVTtn1h0Y2ww0RgLvlgRQtw/s320/A+toast.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Here's all the girls...happy to be together again! Stanage, Me, Pam, Sally and Gina.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSSK1VlNjtDVK579DoaAJXlIARUn2xsbObQNcYT7pZUe2GvUIDHlnZ0NUP6RCC0if2NHFkU5wOtpco5qmQeOYEOo_DUAzoikKgGC9jn5BwiIaDWTmSPz5LJbV66gKPtQfi7oapFKezyw/s1600-h/The+girls+upon+arrival.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324230642049785650" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSSK1VlNjtDVK579DoaAJXlIARUn2xsbObQNcYT7pZUe2GvUIDHlnZ0NUP6RCC0if2NHFkU5wOtpco5qmQeOYEOo_DUAzoikKgGC9jn5BwiIaDWTmSPz5LJbV66gKPtQfi7oapFKezyw/s320/The+girls+upon+arrival.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Me and my sweety at the Shem Creek Restaurant...yummy seafood for dinner!!!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBWb7chL4bZ3e699ygSDSIjfEDg5Ji2qbLIi1flDowo1xAqRr2Ie-gvUakUrJ7glg7pBKDKpVt25iIGeBdSqx2DTX18amS4EqNtkZTWu53QEwZYDV6w-BHbFPNa5SKRlFgNNvqlioh1U/s1600-h/Love+at+Cooper.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324230634143547650" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBWb7chL4bZ3e699ygSDSIjfEDg5Ji2qbLIi1flDowo1xAqRr2Ie-gvUakUrJ7glg7pBKDKpVt25iIGeBdSqx2DTX18amS4EqNtkZTWu53QEwZYDV6w-BHbFPNa5SKRlFgNNvqlioh1U/s320/Love+at+Cooper.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>Our first morning there, all the girls headed out to the beach for a walk. It was a beautiful cool morning and we had a great walk.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oFJotxA-y88iNuRmt7Jl5Lbp_39Fr9Wd_hTXbeDH14-0vTiIGyFIgj84mcl6snIGH9fZD8Wb0gG1SqzbVY2tp7CzaHQi5L1r5iInPzHdisvYZODBcdldS1rkSYy5wftzxH-zcIOA9MM/s1600-h/hangin+on+the+pier.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324230627907909570" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oFJotxA-y88iNuRmt7Jl5Lbp_39Fr9Wd_hTXbeDH14-0vTiIGyFIgj84mcl6snIGH9fZD8Wb0gG1SqzbVY2tp7CzaHQi5L1r5iInPzHdisvYZODBcdldS1rkSYy5wftzxH-zcIOA9MM/s320/hangin+on+the+pier.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>It was great being there for a few extra days because we had a chance to explore the lovely city of Charleston. It was stunning this time of year...with the flowers starting to bloom. Pam, Ron, Sally, Dick and I enjoyed a fun day....walking along the water, admiring the beautiful homes and enjoying a yummy yummy lunch of southern food at Jestine's. I had fried okra, collard greens, meatloaf and cornbread...all washed down with some sweet tea and followed by a shared slice of coconut creme pie....it's not very often Iget down home southern cooking and it was delicious!!!!!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuAwxHYZbFI1JobneAYKDGT1gIxhwapNlFYNYB6aV0jmVm9RCUzSx7QRSNuAywezR8YG8wHZrU_tzduogsdmRfb2PoXehElF04KuLPyEm3mfQYGCNE0GbBa9QTum6G0IHIw2SWFqR548/s1600-h/Fun+in+Charleston.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324229477157578706" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuAwxHYZbFI1JobneAYKDGT1gIxhwapNlFYNYB6aV0jmVm9RCUzSx7QRSNuAywezR8YG8wHZrU_tzduogsdmRfb2PoXehElF04KuLPyEm3mfQYGCNE0GbBa9QTum6G0IHIw2SWFqR548/s320/Fun+in+Charleston.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>The running group: Stanage, Joyce, Gina, Sally, Me, Jerry, Pam & Ron. It was a cool morning but the weather was clear and dry. It ended up being a beautiful sunny day...perfect for running a 10k across a bridge.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCa1jThuTBxV9so85GtaSj7FAzO3qdTgJoI_b6y24pf3l0qfSrV1sD47J5O6i6XcpYXvx3vnms8eP_Ymq8Rp896yzrk4qoLXGQJzV7lqystJ6CtpWIjMlAxsobaQgc-IgGvTd19qkNlM8/s1600-h/Getting+ready+to+run.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324229477731931154" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCa1jThuTBxV9so85GtaSj7FAzO3qdTgJoI_b6y24pf3l0qfSrV1sD47J5O6i6XcpYXvx3vnms8eP_Ymq8Rp896yzrk4qoLXGQJzV7lqystJ6CtpWIjMlAxsobaQgc-IgGvTd19qkNlM8/s320/Getting+ready+to+run.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Pam, Sally and I after a liquid lunch at the Windjammer on the beach. After the race we decided to re-hydrate ourselves with margaritas and beer! Seemed like a good idea at the time...LOL.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjucPK7zi12ZiY32nbGZsl38aGhMcZykz62bi4bkn307rxOa55SeLh98b0YLBzXA4MXoI7dluhCL4J-dKZ9Kq99NHebDtbU1HMyndXgROaHKuak4NuFDC-D9shlyt-CwmqzUbl-BqtmA/s1600-h/Liquid+Lunch+Ladies.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324230632646206434" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjucPK7zi12ZiY32nbGZsl38aGhMcZykz62bi4bkn307rxOa55SeLh98b0YLBzXA4MXoI7dluhCL4J-dKZ9Kq99NHebDtbU1HMyndXgROaHKuak4NuFDC-D9shlyt-CwmqzUbl-BqtmA/s320/Liquid+Lunch+Ladies.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our last day...sigh. For most of the group, this trip to the Cooper River Bridge Run has been an annual event for close to 10 years. This was our first invitation to join them and we feel honored to have been included. Thanks y'all!!!! Here's our last meal together...their traditional Sunday breakfast at Joseph's...famous for their HUGE blueberry pancakes.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiQrZVrVCEPkup01WO8w1Ma5YRxlP13tupTZ2Rx4qOVq5E4MvXafRNrTdupWPnEfMjrRpiq_mStQogILbpuVMpGgEGRUWHBrZumGLb2Hlz1JdCSd7lcJEMj53pR-qtqtN_h4BEkYA31w/s1600-h/The+whole+cooper+group.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324230701450250050" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiQrZVrVCEPkup01WO8w1Ma5YRxlP13tupTZ2Rx4qOVq5E4MvXafRNrTdupWPnEfMjrRpiq_mStQogILbpuVMpGgEGRUWHBrZumGLb2Hlz1JdCSd7lcJEMj53pR-qtqtN_h4BEkYA31w/s320/The+whole+cooper+group.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>One last stroll around Charleston before heading home!!! I have really enjoyed the time I've spent in South Cackalacky and am looking forward to Sally's birthday trip in June!!!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-kl72yowwqovwTWByoGNFDmb8RkCxjOfO2a_E5LT0lStpuHppsdmVqIUJORdsBdXQdNXMnMj1A2GBfMXXpdS-CBcQjPI3VwbQHIbrViFXn_D_5fOfBs5Chuv9RovqftB2VIWDPX3NyQ/s1600-h/Last+day+in+SC.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324229482602850162" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-kl72yowwqovwTWByoGNFDmb8RkCxjOfO2a_E5LT0lStpuHppsdmVqIUJORdsBdXQdNXMnMj1A2GBfMXXpdS-CBcQjPI3VwbQHIbrViFXn_D_5fOfBs5Chuv9RovqftB2VIWDPX3NyQ/s320/Last+day+in+SC.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-77438924278091319502009-03-17T18:11:00.009-06:002009-03-18T13:50:40.905-06:00Italian Cooking Lesson and DinnerWe have a dear friend who is a coach for a local swim team (she also happens to be the grandmother of our cute neighborhood kids and the mother of our cool, hip neighbor). Every year, the swim team holds a dinner/dance/auction...you may remember from <a href="http://aradgirl.blogspot.com/2008/01/funny-story-new-puppy-scooter.html">this </a>post last year...that we came home with a scooter! Luckily, we did not come home with any motor vehicles this year! But we did buy an evening for 6 with the swim coach...for Italian cooking lessons and dinner. What an awesome night this was and we were so lucky to some great friends to share it with!!!<br /><br />Here's the guys - spending more time talking about wine and politics than paying attention to their food preparation!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjOZUxdqEfwA5aQoWu0Rzd3j5Ch1_MLTyjXVIYzdHz9Zk12FptkuBvREnizB_DIsuy-tSUt2s0fSFq9lWGoSywU8tvLQwFkyTt406BabPZYj4H3Gy4eOnQdV7nS5SBO4Yam4GA4pRbMo/s1600-h/DSC_0140.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314599869812862610" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjOZUxdqEfwA5aQoWu0Rzd3j5Ch1_MLTyjXVIYzdHz9Zk12FptkuBvREnizB_DIsuy-tSUt2s0fSFq9lWGoSywU8tvLQwFkyTt406BabPZYj4H3Gy4eOnQdV7nS5SBO4Yam4GA4pRbMo/s320/DSC_0140.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />One of our recipes was an eggplant rollup that was absolutely delish - I don't have a pic of the finished product but here's Donna and I slicing our eggplant.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsDwCYi5OWqT7i5qCylPjkPcvWsa4BbqUnpRA_nL4e4-Nx8hyphenhyphenVeFhyphenhyphenOTputxPpavca_2vLKkaehbe-vwsnOGL0Tclw9Tgm1RJybuIJL062t3KrPDLzKY-9K0bQ_0NgdH4c6mlbg2WTmA/s1600-h/DSC_0149.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314599863328341570" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsDwCYi5OWqT7i5qCylPjkPcvWsa4BbqUnpRA_nL4e4-Nx8hyphenhyphenVeFhyphenhyphenOTputxPpavca_2vLKkaehbe-vwsnOGL0Tclw9Tgm1RJybuIJL062t3KrPDLzKY-9K0bQ_0NgdH4c6mlbg2WTmA/s320/DSC_0149.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The girls are paying much more attention to the food preparation!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKlQRIoGKpb5uEPn8f1KTVz3nWplMuAPNq5psVU2Bo_ZNB40BLbCF2oGmuSMn7qDY-HA-ZMWDX_880a5CQWxwvXgWwR3rEBtyKrZIzzvR8lRULI8J30jepH3mYoSFkZ77kuUsAJZzP-A/s1600-h/DSC_0150.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314599851749300802" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKlQRIoGKpb5uEPn8f1KTVz3nWplMuAPNq5psVU2Bo_ZNB40BLbCF2oGmuSMn7qDY-HA-ZMWDX_880a5CQWxwvXgWwR3rEBtyKrZIzzvR8lRULI8J30jepH3mYoSFkZ77kuUsAJZzP-A/s320/DSC_0150.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Donna and Sally enjoying the great weather, watching our lead chef fry up the eggplant.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tEgixahSdoXCELm08OHmf0z64r8FVx8xIc57RWVf8cJW29ylg78XBSZpW-RoaM4qFarVqwZDNWSht3lxznTBXrU1m5zxe8kvxODEbebH3eMLFBoxlkaeIyCGJyaogA_5kU4eTBGweM4/s1600-h/DSC_0157.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314599837184001842" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tEgixahSdoXCELm08OHmf0z64r8FVx8xIc57RWVf8cJW29ylg78XBSZpW-RoaM4qFarVqwZDNWSht3lxznTBXrU1m5zxe8kvxODEbebH3eMLFBoxlkaeIyCGJyaogA_5kU4eTBGweM4/s320/DSC_0157.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Sally and I sharing a toast.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswbAqGKJa1nS5XRu7584AjCCRnYkctBXywDKxN78RfXZeF-BISx4U0eRm8xOy9qXFyZj3Jq8lwX9RHs3sMDlZJjAhrwS-mctwrol0n2kGXC8Y5tI6_gelhuHIvBu90DpWI1CeKuwGbKw/s1600-h/DSC_0158.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314599204418773602" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswbAqGKJa1nS5XRu7584AjCCRnYkctBXywDKxN78RfXZeF-BISx4U0eRm8xOy9qXFyZj3Jq8lwX9RHs3sMDlZJjAhrwS-mctwrol0n2kGXC8Y5tI6_gelhuHIvBu90DpWI1CeKuwGbKw/s320/DSC_0158.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Part of the group enjoying wine and appetizers.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJr_f0AOWGVMTSNAkUGlgfgqm_15suZBSvwLOQLD8UpDOxcS8r5cS5u2jhy6aohEqaIlYbmJTjQpgzzPWDY-5pp4dpAqGf0CFJVon7e5VYKobQCn_38kSze0oKLRYofoAs8yufXjWAjyU/s1600-h/DSC_0159.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314599190507667010" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJr_f0AOWGVMTSNAkUGlgfgqm_15suZBSvwLOQLD8UpDOxcS8r5cS5u2jhy6aohEqaIlYbmJTjQpgzzPWDY-5pp4dpAqGf0CFJVon7e5VYKobQCn_38kSze0oKLRYofoAs8yufXjWAjyU/s320/DSC_0159.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yummy appetizers: shrimp & garlic.....<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLd66y-jiHcxrLcs3JBvZsYs24KqVrSTIPf7GWxkTMNpqDTIXQDPaUlKqjmpr_G7aM5lMZwmq_6BQX3GU1-vDdo59c1uQGGZpKvv8BhCpCdD4QPaZ_GfO6siluIiZDNT8FSWqBwYwmdU/s1600-h/DSC_0170.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314599177558375570" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLd66y-jiHcxrLcs3JBvZsYs24KqVrSTIPf7GWxkTMNpqDTIXQDPaUlKqjmpr_G7aM5lMZwmq_6BQX3GU1-vDdo59c1uQGGZpKvv8BhCpCdD4QPaZ_GfO6siluIiZDNT8FSWqBwYwmdU/s320/DSC_0170.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's our almost finished project - homemade ravioli. None of us had ever made homemade ravioli before....it was amazingly easy but messy. These happen to be stuffed with a ricotta/basil mixture. A note here: the "boys" decided the ravioli would be best if they added some red wine to the mixture....DO NOT DO THIS IN REAL LIFE!!! Those ravioli were not edible...luckily, the rest of us had made enough to feed the whole crowd!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgUXnW88SBMCOqmozvFUpkGBmevqwHJ60TtpN8qxw30hoWsUBWHLLMhofSczlayEW6ysldmnOCfpdLOjxziBprahl6BJAKgnBCkqFf1DXbzRZ8PYBnsjxnpI9TGfFSpmN-9OX7yeCuPM/s1600-h/DSC_0174.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314598803783091506" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgUXnW88SBMCOqmozvFUpkGBmevqwHJ60TtpN8qxw30hoWsUBWHLLMhofSczlayEW6ysldmnOCfpdLOjxziBprahl6BJAKgnBCkqFf1DXbzRZ8PYBnsjxnpI9TGfFSpmN-9OX7yeCuPM/s320/DSC_0174.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Adding the stuffing to the dough.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZs-8dvy1FBXskBq_PZnXBPC06qeQ3WBmJfRP_eq8PmFgj4xCEuqcoMouCIgIAQRjgEha-ysR1e3LAboNWj4mxkQiZzj0Q8EIlMeMcJs8kDz6E4-Idg8Ej-hw7v6AWDFQT5cINmjcUxC8/s1600-h/DSC_0178.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314598796478395314" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZs-8dvy1FBXskBq_PZnXBPC06qeQ3WBmJfRP_eq8PmFgj4xCEuqcoMouCIgIAQRjgEha-ysR1e3LAboNWj4mxkQiZzj0Q8EIlMeMcJs8kDz6E4-Idg8Ej-hw7v6AWDFQT5cINmjcUxC8/s320/DSC_0178.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Alberto's came out beautifully!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2LFSIr-qwBysAUhXfd-BAorPnjS75WWVtuV9-xV1uFpAgiI4FknAatq_wrGz4D65YxRxRBzwFqKbchFD689bfpoZAuYcUOkqHEPzl1azbpBftGOxAdA0poo0zJfZ8fdQYaOzKFM9RBQ/s1600-h/DSC_0181.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314598789220923970" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2LFSIr-qwBysAUhXfd-BAorPnjS75WWVtuV9-xV1uFpAgiI4FknAatq_wrGz4D65YxRxRBzwFqKbchFD689bfpoZAuYcUOkqHEPzl1azbpBftGOxAdA0poo0zJfZ8fdQYaOzKFM9RBQ/s320/DSC_0181.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A beautiful table set with a nice, fresh Caesar salad and Pelligrino.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zm14J_NLQXZbOVHdRz2KQT6_H5IVNtoKWU-JB6RTszODlGNTJoHa-9xzSlbW1sIng6Q-cdIYg9uYoJm5DVW0PbUD5Aj3F2ajUROobA-JJmt1cxN57hQxktPzYQjVL_DcUPzbor3g0Zs/s1600-h/DSC_0194.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314598227888654626" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zm14J_NLQXZbOVHdRz2KQT6_H5IVNtoKWU-JB6RTszODlGNTJoHa-9xzSlbW1sIng6Q-cdIYg9uYoJm5DVW0PbUD5Aj3F2ajUROobA-JJmt1cxN57hQxktPzYQjVL_DcUPzbor3g0Zs/s320/DSC_0194.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A good time being had by all!!!!!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOfyziQp3M4Urvu-OzOdb8ByThZ_ER9_Uh9DWbeTIpUw-xOAkTnZp26EiC_TVoFPBaL1QcoOn3esApKturX8o6TuOA4_hQdJJT7Y0mUYRylqtuBxRIi2BNdMVyfwq99z2zvQtQI-46nk/s1600-h/DSC_0259.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314598214410038402" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOfyziQp3M4Urvu-OzOdb8ByThZ_ER9_Uh9DWbeTIpUw-xOAkTnZp26EiC_TVoFPBaL1QcoOn3esApKturX8o6TuOA4_hQdJJT7Y0mUYRylqtuBxRIi2BNdMVyfwq99z2zvQtQI-46nk/s320/DSC_0259.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Not only did we make the ravioli, we also made the homemade sauce...yummo.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDzjateiC4JdcpBOWFqceQ0QTPOjpu3JkqJ7sQzNreyayf3D_GzpAJvJ_SwrpRMQpkpN-G628s7_ePhs1bPrxIQf6ofbYI8DzlXlRJ37ckRCo-qGaUF8Oyhvkjxu93rwFt9Zew4qoVW0/s1600-h/DSC_0278.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314597789698671090" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDzjateiC4JdcpBOWFqceQ0QTPOjpu3JkqJ7sQzNreyayf3D_GzpAJvJ_SwrpRMQpkpN-G628s7_ePhs1bPrxIQf6ofbYI8DzlXlRJ37ckRCo-qGaUF8Oyhvkjxu93rwFt9Zew4qoVW0/s320/DSC_0278.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Dick with our amazing hostess. Note the empty Limoncello bottle which was the cause for quite a few headaches the next day.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNh-ywjWgMgBAKjwrmGXyN3nw5PKfzEqR8Huqe8ZAdHhzqwVYLOeqmDuk7ZOYdrVTAiff2eMzX_SWxxr7vin8RE9IIaU8zVjRi2_HTaoLNTK0172ihfUOGS_Z7yFLc0riHNdcB9KZk8k/s1600-h/DSC_0370.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314597776076616994" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNh-ywjWgMgBAKjwrmGXyN3nw5PKfzEqR8Huqe8ZAdHhzqwVYLOeqmDuk7ZOYdrVTAiff2eMzX_SWxxr7vin8RE9IIaU8zVjRi2_HTaoLNTK0172ihfUOGS_Z7yFLc0riHNdcB9KZk8k/s320/DSC_0370.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /> </div><div>Hope you enjoyed a peek into our fun cooking class!!!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-60348242710182035572009-03-17T17:45:00.003-06:002009-03-17T18:10:26.063-06:00Sister's VisitI am always thrilled when my sister comes to visit and recently she's been making it every year for my birthday. This year was no different. As usual, we had beautiful weather and a great time. I'll share more pics and less words in this post but before I tell you about Donna's visit, I need to share something else. My dear friend, Regina, is about the sweetest person who walks the face of the earth and I adore her. Apparently, her mom is just as sweet...I mentioned to Regina during their visit that I loved the scarves her mom had made for Regina and her friends at Christmas time. Well, lo and behold if I don't get two scarves in the mail last week. They are gorgeous, handmade and perfect for our Colorado winters. She made me a red one (I assume to match my red coat) and made me this blue one to match my eyes....isn't that just the sweetest!!!!!! Thanks Regina for mentioning and thanks Clara for your hard work and good heart.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheU5lEpfOFCV3wxKAKNT0AOgUoqUO3z9qB5VxyNTj2037tW_GtOqQAMYBhF4YYP8Y-fZx6gbElJSyS-r7vrN-xOsEIuwCsAir1U67rFGxbXIcYnZ_rVXWYFTSOTwYTks2QE69xu0gCaG0/s1600-h/DSC_0084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314309850965028338" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheU5lEpfOFCV3wxKAKNT0AOgUoqUO3z9qB5VxyNTj2037tW_GtOqQAMYBhF4YYP8Y-fZx6gbElJSyS-r7vrN-xOsEIuwCsAir1U67rFGxbXIcYnZ_rVXWYFTSOTwYTks2QE69xu0gCaG0/s320/DSC_0084.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Now I'm being lazy because my pics got uploaded in the opposite order that I wanted to talk about them but oh well, I'll have to tell the story backwards.<br /><br />Here's Donna and I on Pearl Street in Boulder. It is an awesome pedestrian street with fun shops and restaurants. We did plenty of shopping then finished it off with a glass of wine at the historic Hotel Boulderado. The mall is a great place to hang out on a warm Saturday.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0FYrVKxL3KO4g40OafDqSUa0wkvpqDdvg8rAPV-9su2BmBe4m0PGlJm7Kj0TcE_xhuePQ4cOXeVeIqB3NpBZQI55EZZpVsc84a9cOOCbMK74UUkCEcD2UBeKiterWQ_P5BB86TTeBhE/s1600-h/DSC_0108.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314310305386019202" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0FYrVKxL3KO4g40OafDqSUa0wkvpqDdvg8rAPV-9su2BmBe4m0PGlJm7Kj0TcE_xhuePQ4cOXeVeIqB3NpBZQI55EZZpVsc84a9cOOCbMK74UUkCEcD2UBeKiterWQ_P5BB86TTeBhE/s320/DSC_0108.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's my dear hubby and Donna giving me nice smiles for the camera.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsQMf2vavri6sP8BTj47VFeZtw7aHmFLsf1q25-ZguaKuzXHG3RAhzs97B9RXttPFUcHuU0uQzlD_1DwBMHxt4C8oqKa1rUlKkR3aEtJgBYrYtydHJH1URTi_sZ2k-i7I0tTdShrGD1s/s1600-h/DSC_0102.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314310294317566482" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsQMf2vavri6sP8BTj47VFeZtw7aHmFLsf1q25-ZguaKuzXHG3RAhzs97B9RXttPFUcHuU0uQzlD_1DwBMHxt4C8oqKa1rUlKkR3aEtJgBYrYtydHJH1URTi_sZ2k-i7I0tTdShrGD1s/s320/DSC_0102.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now this is where the story gets kind of backwards because on Friday, Donna and I woke up at the crack of dawn and headed down south to Manitou Springs. What's in Manitou Springs you ask? Well, you can take the cog railway to the summit of Pikes Peak. You may know this but Pikes Peak was the inspiration for "America the Beautiful" and it is a gorgeous ride up to the top. For 115 years, the Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway (the world's highest cog train, the highest Colorado train AND the highest train in the United States) has taken passengers to the 14,110 foot summit of Pikes Peak.<br /><br />Again, these pics are backwards but bear with me. Here's Donna and I on the train coming down the mountain.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMx8cmpCgqojNfKyEqeAClcVh4BBVmW6Gid4Ivz_9bNBnDSpq1ikjwB_oDSBeGQI0k-Tnec9_pGB_Po_FYz511-MbbGy_0f82zGn9hyphenhyphenuFAmJ7nzz66TVZT8aABvGKoExjxPP91hrrBjk/s1600-h/DSC_0079.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314309847300908834" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMx8cmpCgqojNfKyEqeAClcVh4BBVmW6Gid4Ivz_9bNBnDSpq1ikjwB_oDSBeGQI0k-Tnec9_pGB_Po_FYz511-MbbGy_0f82zGn9hyphenhyphenuFAmJ7nzz66TVZT8aABvGKoExjxPP91hrrBjk/s320/DSC_0079.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We had snowy, foggy weather riding up, but the ride down had clearer weather and we were actually able to see some of the beautiful mountains surrounding us.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhod_1qavG_upyIrxEgkBviVyE7-WJXNfEIHxl52A2a4OOyYahxpIXr6mduwXsyozaF01btE_HBWQsApLP_r1LW8aVzDSxYxGe5gIgA0ysK68b1jxxqLvyjCFyWleG61WW3kdixIDgY2xo/s1600-h/DSC_0062.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314309841065897970" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhod_1qavG_upyIrxEgkBviVyE7-WJXNfEIHxl52A2a4OOyYahxpIXr6mduwXsyozaF01btE_HBWQsApLP_r1LW8aVzDSxYxGe5gIgA0ysK68b1jxxqLvyjCFyWleG61WW3kdixIDgY2xo/s320/DSC_0062.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's Donna at the summit. We had gone right through the clouds on the railway, ending up above the cloud line. What a magnificent site!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8Q4PgYxYONnAe3IaNETkkJMahYSY9kRxzusP9jnCRqQmiOu1Y3YifZEzl0gPFr5SjAT7QlzyudVwpvhEJWhEkUwmxuolgl9h_QQBscq-YjWp3Pud6UsNFSgqgYtI3bswv2fyPa35ZLY/s1600-h/DSC_0043.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314309832355033042" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8Q4PgYxYONnAe3IaNETkkJMahYSY9kRxzusP9jnCRqQmiOu1Y3YifZEzl0gPFr5SjAT7QlzyudVwpvhEJWhEkUwmxuolgl9h_QQBscq-YjWp3Pud6UsNFSgqgYtI3bswv2fyPa35ZLY/s320/DSC_0043.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here's our view as we were coming up through the clouds...foggy and snowy below...sunny above.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZN6FAn7I85uPCjnw_ZeTXiAm2gyADqTcU6DMtO3gaO7eFhWmtNhZ1NFvFWv-m1cpP6hUqLZu1DgwdtwsFZCuEcMhYr8HjHj1ZSfLmJL-p-mLQbPgRmKgqheWFkUnfbFvq6gduuPoAuEo/s1600-h/DSC_0025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314309830621197634" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZN6FAn7I85uPCjnw_ZeTXiAm2gyADqTcU6DMtO3gaO7eFhWmtNhZ1NFvFWv-m1cpP6hUqLZu1DgwdtwsFZCuEcMhYr8HjHj1ZSfLmJL-p-mLQbPgRmKgqheWFkUnfbFvq6gduuPoAuEo/s320/DSC_0025.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here's the longest straight part of the ride...you can see how foggy it is, although at this point, the visibility was starting to get better. It's a 1.5 hour ride up the mountain so there's plenty of time for weather changes.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN263ec-A_gCqaC0aVoKxi0GH9WSzKDi3R7ge6ySIsj2Mqczw1-HiLADiVtB_pBH9_MkyI1skIdPqFucQ0mIv4H7hIHB_IkxVSKLR7220oanNQCafg3s9Xg2XtGYY7KauJwQkmqJwtvJc/s1600-h/DSC_0018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314308950942101506" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN263ec-A_gCqaC0aVoKxi0GH9WSzKDi3R7ge6ySIsj2Mqczw1-HiLADiVtB_pBH9_MkyI1skIdPqFucQ0mIv4H7hIHB_IkxVSKLR7220oanNQCafg3s9Xg2XtGYY7KauJwQkmqJwtvJc/s320/DSC_0018.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here's the scenery lower down...no visibility so we had no idea of the beautiful scenery that inspired "America the Beautiful."<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtC57gFqctjD9FnzEC2aTJzBw43MVfinoLf84J_INpkj7VDqxa8GtTSvfraZmv-5eTWNeA63y8DMkwcMgAJM0H2ethdJtVtWjzz0pjqG27Uz-_1uxKvDABnX9KzMdZGFxZqGXEI19Nuk/s1600-h/DSC_0017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314308946057603778" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtC57gFqctjD9FnzEC2aTJzBw43MVfinoLf84J_INpkj7VDqxa8GtTSvfraZmv-5eTWNeA63y8DMkwcMgAJM0H2ethdJtVtWjzz0pjqG27Uz-_1uxKvDABnX9KzMdZGFxZqGXEI19Nuk/s320/DSC_0017.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Warnings about altitude sickness...it is 14,110 feet high!!!!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhio70Ps4ltqTqsXwE6L8dZ2wQzsLMQ9RcFCGpNmW-7MaRPnI6qjtUDv2Fux59c16RfBXJYQYBsKn48z3__2GJCq2TYeTW9xFd4BzH74ZHnsB0lFeTVlUrqI_JZX5jiWKw3nkBRg1r_B0M/s1600-h/DSC_0011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314308941140137362" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhio70Ps4ltqTqsXwE6L8dZ2wQzsLMQ9RcFCGpNmW-7MaRPnI6qjtUDv2Fux59c16RfBXJYQYBsKn48z3__2GJCq2TYeTW9xFd4BzH74ZHnsB0lFeTVlUrqI_JZX5jiWKw3nkBRg1r_B0M/s320/DSC_0011.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Donna waiting outside the train depot for the ticket office to open...I think this is just the cutest little depot...all nestled in the mountains!!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuzDKVaHoyK0b-_HPptveMYzNwDjEhaHrfdMQpR1mfoXaOH6qT0xOX1C4VQLUV9WOyxcJTq3PHU55rahL8-seCPSkPupm8IHTDoRVXD5smtBuDLNjaHtFF3rcMvx1PNDG7Ak8o6HHFy0/s1600-h/DSC_0010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314308935578118834" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuzDKVaHoyK0b-_HPptveMYzNwDjEhaHrfdMQpR1mfoXaOH6qT0xOX1C4VQLUV9WOyxcJTq3PHU55rahL8-seCPSkPupm8IHTDoRVXD5smtBuDLNjaHtFF3rcMvx1PNDG7Ak8o6HHFy0/s320/DSC_0010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBpU_TN-FBPZuTgz0zMR8P950niywQF_GqOre3fQUyii3Ziywx-NT__Cin3_4WhrU36waChwFJnUgN_qmrl24Ti2kbrLhBbK8gvz3KVWchJGMstkfGDgHQnKXcfoUTaq0gDUM0bYc0NI/s1600-h/DSC_0005.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-23374905866178564392009-03-11T16:27:00.004-06:002009-03-11T16:46:14.090-06:00Birthday GirlI'm getting some flack for not keeping the blog up to date. I am now completely addicted to Facebook...and there's not much going on to talk about on the blog. Today is my birthday...not important what year...but I do like to celebrate. My DH is out of town but Sally and I are heading down to Denver for a nice dinner at LaSandia. I'll let you know how it turns out....<br /><br />Here's my birthday present to myself...2008 BMW 328xi (need that 4 wheel drive for our Colorado winters...LOL)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Hx3An9Ru72zggldCHiFeV_50alSNrU5qG72nV3-j7d7wVOw8dZD2Wf2zEmK_MnxodkGvISqAVWvsS1FobjUqWZa1m_dNlFXVlVovZM1Qe9Dd3P5EpZi-pUQ6RRoSfNneOlX9rW7BPyQ/s1600-h/DSC_0026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312061354407414866" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Hx3An9Ru72zggldCHiFeV_50alSNrU5qG72nV3-j7d7wVOw8dZD2Wf2zEmK_MnxodkGvISqAVWvsS1FobjUqWZa1m_dNlFXVlVovZM1Qe9Dd3P5EpZi-pUQ6RRoSfNneOlX9rW7BPyQ/s400/DSC_0026.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm becoming quite the ski instructor. Helped Regina out last week then took Sally's niece, Bonnie, up to Vail last Friday. Bonnie had skied before but it was years ago. We started on a blue run up at Lionshead...here we are enjoying the snowy day. Bonnie was quite the trooper!!!! She picked it up again quickly and we ended up having a great day...despite one yard sale fall.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbnSfxenhqlzz3fADpb8mEF6iPI8bMcvvspHJUr4SHm7EB0NOx2TEN5EmYUAT3BGRu8Q-ApO39a3ewR3zEePFDWC8lCenX0BQfNmZKEQ2iMIddvIgn-uJJoh6LCcbEcUx5zqZYAJmK18/s1600-h/Vail+Girls.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312061528494090626" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbnSfxenhqlzz3fADpb8mEF6iPI8bMcvvspHJUr4SHm7EB0NOx2TEN5EmYUAT3BGRu8Q-ApO39a3ewR3zEePFDWC8lCenX0BQfNmZKEQ2iMIddvIgn-uJJoh6LCcbEcUx5zqZYAJmK18/s400/Vail+Girls.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I probably didn't need my helmet on this day...no real risk of running into trees but it helps keep my head warm on snowy days!!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rEHyPuq3E_bUodAxln5hfi9p55A1wZonoc190cyrkD3H6NZzPt3HBFvoWA6xu-6GtLkHue_ydRIhHu4nMxUJB2SeHb9JODwH3Qk0KkmjMAgM1g60HTUf4IiavT4VALqI7VGJeGBPY6A/s1600-h/Angie+at+Vail+w+Bonnie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312061337093858306" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rEHyPuq3E_bUodAxln5hfi9p55A1wZonoc190cyrkD3H6NZzPt3HBFvoWA6xu-6GtLkHue_ydRIhHu4nMxUJB2SeHb9JODwH3Qk0KkmjMAgM1g60HTUf4IiavT4VALqI7VGJeGBPY6A/s400/Angie+at+Vail+w+Bonnie.jpg" border="0" /></a>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-83333361464845724122009-02-23T15:38:00.003-07:002009-02-23T17:56:38.587-07:00While I'm at it....Two weeks ago, I worked with Sally at the furniture market in Las Vegas. And as usual, it was a week of hard work and moderate play!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qIm75S-ogxvJM4CeKnCchdofc__PgWGnWn4_XyRW3Q2xjqnqIU6W-zaUxp7h3l70_39kACwyuz-5ZZ5s2_xgOhlqPAwtRDbg8WizcIAun0tyT0lcKM5MGNlO5cNMqP6hLJVf8Zyjncg/s1600-h/CIMG1937.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306126442317909362" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qIm75S-ogxvJM4CeKnCchdofc__PgWGnWn4_XyRW3Q2xjqnqIU6W-zaUxp7h3l70_39kACwyuz-5ZZ5s2_xgOhlqPAwtRDbg8WizcIAun0tyT0lcKM5MGNlO5cNMqP6hLJVf8Zyjncg/s400/CIMG1937.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We saw Donny & Marie at the Flamingo...had great seats but this how close we got to him after the show. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVx7exhq5y3Ej2LoEUvidUhS8RcEfrYQJXGlLf84R7KNeTkcrUCLZQDLzOb4LAhb06i99fnCiwOJp9W-cUfFJf2SrSsXfHUA3iRbR_6C5wJaHWcf2DCGY8afM-W4TVZRKEjpjZDHOPwI/s1600-h/CIMG1934.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306126435824335618" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVx7exhq5y3Ej2LoEUvidUhS8RcEfrYQJXGlLf84R7KNeTkcrUCLZQDLzOb4LAhb06i99fnCiwOJp9W-cUfFJf2SrSsXfHUA3iRbR_6C5wJaHWcf2DCGY8afM-W4TVZRKEjpjZDHOPwI/s400/CIMG1934.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Girls just wanna have fun!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IZkdGOaDmgs06_eTe8b_D1_q1KNwS-v6PjB8jmdhenBzM20bGPKpSK3X-CRczUMM9qf1p-s3Zsa5O6eIkPF8IMj2ggyqpc7_K_OAHuxaciZpLmhcZE8qN6ysdmTL5lHIHMyj8djg6ng/s1600-h/CIMG1853.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306126427624455266" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6IZkdGOaDmgs06_eTe8b_D1_q1KNwS-v6PjB8jmdhenBzM20bGPKpSK3X-CRczUMM9qf1p-s3Zsa5O6eIkPF8IMj2ggyqpc7_K_OAHuxaciZpLmhcZE8qN6ysdmTL5lHIHMyj8djg6ng/s400/CIMG1853.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-62992634628308668542009-02-23T15:16:00.007-07:002009-02-23T15:36:28.246-07:00I'm Back!As promised, I'm back! It's been a long weekend, and I am so happy it's Monday! Jason & Regina (remember them from our Paris trip?) were out here from Maryland. It was their first trip to Colorado so we spent some time in Boulder then went up to Vail and Beaver Creek to do some skiing!<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div> </div><div>We couldn't have asked for better weather! It was sunny and warm the entire weekend. Friday, Regina took a class while Jason, Dick and I played around in the snow:</div><div> </div><div>Dick and I clowning around on the mountain!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLI54NIhFxec1YvpZkdI5hpx8eq8FZVqCH-E-3_E66CdDlweVLb1NlE3_JM0vGsRqWGDVa9oEqNwxvX05EoyzV7VmfyUe8h7KwggQhqSU1j4SqsRtqIUZ9OnevV1rqe4dyc1SeQDrWHY/s1600-h/100_1447.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306124142886707842" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLI54NIhFxec1YvpZkdI5hpx8eq8FZVqCH-E-3_E66CdDlweVLb1NlE3_JM0vGsRqWGDVa9oEqNwxvX05EoyzV7VmfyUe8h7KwggQhqSU1j4SqsRtqIUZ9OnevV1rqe4dyc1SeQDrWHY/s400/100_1447.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br />Dick and Jason: good buds! Jason hadn't skied in a while but took to it like a pro.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzekqwilGNtrYO44j8xHn3cZxueDpB52ZC8tKN6i5DAEHpMhhvNMCGzMUYcuGgO4HSd_xt8DDjcX5xYDGnjvErE7Q_lsQacjaVU2xstnW9ELPLQncRut1i48gWg-LYkvY57bDhpjpRik/s1600-h/100_1445.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306120810124158034" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzekqwilGNtrYO44j8xHn3cZxueDpB52ZC8tKN6i5DAEHpMhhvNMCGzMUYcuGgO4HSd_xt8DDjcX5xYDGnjvErE7Q_lsQacjaVU2xstnW9ELPLQncRut1i48gWg-LYkvY57bDhpjpRik/s400/100_1445.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6e_okXGTGdfhxy3wB2YG8fOtKe3U9v7k_vbw4VKLwXIVJYV2zYc9-zF4_UvsIpq1pABQ4MC-BvBK9sxzjWHvSyGL9zhibcbc5yQctiHIdna4zXjaHGr3CC91OJ7T22wV6gWKujz2Trl4/s1600-h/100_1447.JPG"></a><br /></div><br /><div>Me and Regina "posing" like the ski bunnies we are.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsprs_aj5EflW_pbQwy19egzZOA8abpFT-pXeRZxAl1bFJ2Kdphne-cCVrmqnjF6IL6BR2lvIpYpKZFRdxBJJonaDr2u9rK7PmcjhyphenhyphenHYF1EBrmMIJicYvZ59Mit6sw7n4QLEFUq5SIC-E/s1600-h/100_1440.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306120801286403154" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsprs_aj5EflW_pbQwy19egzZOA8abpFT-pXeRZxAl1bFJ2Kdphne-cCVrmqnjF6IL6BR2lvIpYpKZFRdxBJJonaDr2u9rK7PmcjhyphenhyphenHYF1EBrmMIJicYvZ59Mit6sw7n4QLEFUq5SIC-E/s400/100_1440.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Rather than spending a second day in lessons, Regina decided to brave it and spend some time with me (then with Dick) learning the fine technique of skiing....LOL! This is the two of us after a hard morning, getting ready for a nice, long lunch break.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9iAryTrerivJxakm0GzUqrLbh_tr55sEkhqJFZb_RFp9Hb5xGHiP_2mU2OkA-Nz0HXSQmEyfTIg_Etbvhj-oB_Nf82rpOyEyrf_Mr8TNPaRvy_KrMb5T6Y0m3TGXzvdHgKB-ASadOvE/s1600-h/CIMG1954.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306123875206633106" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9iAryTrerivJxakm0GzUqrLbh_tr55sEkhqJFZb_RFp9Hb5xGHiP_2mU2OkA-Nz0HXSQmEyfTIg_Etbvhj-oB_Nf82rpOyEyrf_Mr8TNPaRvy_KrMb5T6Y0m3TGXzvdHgKB-ASadOvE/s400/CIMG1954.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Saturday afternoon brought some non-snowsport fun. Regina and I both played around on the bungee trampoline...boy, was it fun. I wish we had pictures of us in action. Regina got some big air and I could do flips!!! Fun Fun Fun!!!!!! Here we are being harnassed up for the action.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHeKIcrJvGS9_tbcm1Nub3y6qRhKTczvugWjP40AI3jE9lnvts-6NkKYoanu_-8Bc4Sgjl7vAWt0r1veHVfVI-4KoZ-P9tRgwVDqHk50pCKpJ4yA7v-1aYTF7ueGPGxcn3nExGvYVmKM/s1600-h/CIMG1957.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306122772398298226" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHeKIcrJvGS9_tbcm1Nub3y6qRhKTczvugWjP40AI3jE9lnvts-6NkKYoanu_-8Bc4Sgjl7vAWt0r1veHVfVI-4KoZ-P9tRgwVDqHk50pCKpJ4yA7v-1aYTF7ueGPGxcn3nExGvYVmKM/s400/CIMG1957.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvZ5dtnLhE8jUSSr4j26wgzlfGnyKUueZJTgYlRNz11C5gdC5iAWm6PkgjV31SZPQxX_NNOuNZ0r_pXR1jhlCcWipHgayKGaUt7cdLMj6O-uCmHhNIORV-9tat0_qI-F2a4Nq2MzxSMQ/s1600-h/CIMG1956.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306122770618490946" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvZ5dtnLhE8jUSSr4j26wgzlfGnyKUueZJTgYlRNz11C5gdC5iAWm6PkgjV31SZPQxX_NNOuNZ0r_pXR1jhlCcWipHgayKGaUt7cdLMj6O-uCmHhNIORV-9tat0_qI-F2a4Nq2MzxSMQ/s400/CIMG1956.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A good day of skiing deserves a great happy hour. Here we're hanging out on the deck at Beaver Creek, drinking margaritas and listening to the band.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwGVdtXpSOhiY_ddzl6VrmU_iDF3Mk38RBb9jc-3As_zJAIQAQFpz8L5ImHSRkE_FbzGP2yrMAJPHgQTdZzWwzgY0drOmCS__TNicuk7rtHPGRJzYEEKwfeQDSvcegj_Gdlx6MBtYOFY/s1600-h/CIMG1961.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306123332687798130" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVwGVdtXpSOhiY_ddzl6VrmU_iDF3Mk38RBb9jc-3As_zJAIQAQFpz8L5ImHSRkE_FbzGP2yrMAJPHgQTdZzWwzgY0drOmCS__TNicuk7rtHPGRJzYEEKwfeQDSvcegj_Gdlx6MBtYOFY/s400/CIMG1961.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>But to top it all off....a dinner of good wine and good food. We shared a plentiful meal of cheese fondue and raclette...yummo!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQj97QPtdE9ge7lMmz1zCka6fcLEpeCg31pX69xppFUvhbtLYl0tubn5zjFQx5AmXLMb0NcdaodoC04PlbR8tgUcPsSZYd4wWcm-ZlkCo3-aASTJ7jnawNvMcCH7DO-uLvTyP-5y5TR0/s1600-h/DSC_0019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306123335749505186" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQj97QPtdE9ge7lMmz1zCka6fcLEpeCg31pX69xppFUvhbtLYl0tubn5zjFQx5AmXLMb0NcdaodoC04PlbR8tgUcPsSZYd4wWcm-ZlkCo3-aASTJ7jnawNvMcCH7DO-uLvTyP-5y5TR0/s400/DSC_0019.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br />Stay tuned for more adventures!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-74327251447253491382009-02-18T16:16:00.001-07:002009-02-18T16:17:01.054-07:00I'm Still hereUgh, so sorry it's been so long since I've posted. I am now on Facebook and that takes up way more time than I care to admit. But I promise within the next few weeks that I will start blogging again so don't give up on me!!!!Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-64576857805633771972009-02-02T10:17:00.003-07:002009-02-02T10:28:01.924-07:00Already February?Good morning and I apologize for not being around for almost a month. It's not that things have been crazy...it's that they haven't. January was a relatively quiet month for us...spending time at the gym and just hanging out. Dick hasn't been travelling since early December and it's been great to have him home. I've started going back to the gym....mostly doing a Body Pump class and walking on the treadmill when I have time. Lots of quality time being spent with the dogs. <div></div><div><br /></div><div>I spent 5 days in Houston with my mom, sis and bff Margaret - shopping for wedding stuff for mom. It was a fun, productive trip and we all had a great time. I even scored a couple of great bargains for myself!!! Here we are on the balcony of my sis's great apartment. Unfortunately, it's a bad pic and you can't see the beautiful view that she has.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKt4GdEvj39KGxfSwbpSlYcZgaIymqyZ6A18UYHqFs5Uwgcu82xeF19MOxpOOXafeZ7KCKcG57ADagmD_8vqKxOMPprEKKON5km2uCCr0b8LaLxO5JFEV48da-_STNFRd0ZfB4xb9img/s1600-h/CIMG1845.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298252448878185058" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKt4GdEvj39KGxfSwbpSlYcZgaIymqyZ6A18UYHqFs5Uwgcu82xeF19MOxpOOXafeZ7KCKcG57ADagmD_8vqKxOMPprEKKON5km2uCCr0b8LaLxO5JFEV48da-_STNFRd0ZfB4xb9img/s400/CIMG1845.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><div>I've been doing a little work for Sally with her new line of accessories and am going to Vegas market with her next week. I promise I'll have pics when I come back. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Jason and Regina will be out here the weekend of February 20 and we're all going up to enjoy some snow sports at Vail. I'll have pics of that trip too!!!</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Lots of trips coming up: Charleston in early April, High Point furniture market in late April, Louisiana for the big wedding, then Italy and then off to South Carolina to celebrate Sally's big ???? birthday!!!! Whew...I'm tired already.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Well, enjoy the week and if you get a chance, check out my Facebook page!</div><br /><br />Here's Sally visiting with Pagli. The three of them actually get along really well once Pagli realized he was smaller and faster than they were and he could fit under furniture! <div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdegIkdTXYhkh_WIwZlI98JL36dS6405acBIbjIKGzPcUmQ4lDeeYG7RIufhkwjScOv5Rm99OSbh_eQKI0CNP6bi7zXuqq8c9qTizXkkiilDfsCoieoCPBU00O9CEMRQ8itqrPhHGkzNE/s1600-h/DSC_0071.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298252461481018786" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdegIkdTXYhkh_WIwZlI98JL36dS6405acBIbjIKGzPcUmQ4lDeeYG7RIufhkwjScOv5Rm99OSbh_eQKI0CNP6bi7zXuqq8c9qTizXkkiilDfsCoieoCPBU00O9CEMRQ8itqrPhHGkzNE/s400/DSC_0071.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-43554523598631717222009-01-10T11:19:00.005-07:002009-01-10T11:37:28.411-07:00Because we have nothing better to do!It's been a pretty slow week around here. Dick is home and we've just been kind of hanging out...running errands, etc. Dick has been playing with his favorite toy:<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0euBzF1BJqZaKDqe8ouoTgOELsufoYMv-1vc1vFTTEHgR4BRCCVnjgqnMbePDzidWEnw9zocIyAEuMCJidZIGM1UVFvEdQH56YKdrhp1DtFpv9kAngxzP5dmnEP4xk_3BptPDoDL8dw/s1600-h/CIMG1838.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289731744727949762" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0euBzF1BJqZaKDqe8ouoTgOELsufoYMv-1vc1vFTTEHgR4BRCCVnjgqnMbePDzidWEnw9zocIyAEuMCJidZIGM1UVFvEdQH56YKdrhp1DtFpv9kAngxzP5dmnEP4xk_3BptPDoDL8dw/s400/CIMG1838.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and we've been hanging out with our favorite entertainment:<br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyr3rAqlywgt37o5-hyoBo2mM1u89Y8-J2SwVEtJt6tckPZ0jgQxO3SkHaBX8F91wUdTmVQwOFzAfV_WgxsZA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-838673932865383330.post-58991196399227217992009-01-02T19:49:00.005-07:002009-01-02T20:14:07.630-07:00Happy New Year 2009!It's been a whirlwind week. We went up to Vail on Monday morning to spend a few days with our friends, Dan and Tina. It was a great week with plenty of great skiing, great food and way too much wine consumed!! <div><div><div><div>A great dinner and crowd at Vendetta's in Vail. I had an excellent Italian seafood stew called Cioppino, an yummy Tiramisu and a great Pinot Noir to wash it all down!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4CMTDs6ZTAGefrf4SpZRHyxXHpoHOrKvDxiNYQ-7Z7A6kAatDp83aTQ5NVrdyO4nrbAnvkExFbMvuizvzjYYI82FVRQnjZYELGLYMi8ixcFmA2b6Uqi7y4g87LBW7EzM9Cy1TW2NIys/s1600-h/NY+Eve+Group.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286895447549383410" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4CMTDs6ZTAGefrf4SpZRHyxXHpoHOrKvDxiNYQ-7Z7A6kAatDp83aTQ5NVrdyO4nrbAnvkExFbMvuizvzjYYI82FVRQnjZYELGLYMi8ixcFmA2b6Uqi7y4g87LBW7EzM9Cy1TW2NIys/s400/NY+Eve+Group.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Checking out the Nutcracker ice sculpture in Vail Village after dinner:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqpMj89EafkdE_qUT-lHD9Dped7lUoxwts5kAGg0XiJR-y98Qk1W0S8ckaEDUXr9_xf92LZ2tjcDeMoaChH9F7TZSULN39aj2f6r8oM3VyBIp40rfIcHbB5pCqG2CscnJFxLDho-_8GI/s1600-h/Nutcracker.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286895460274997298" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqpMj89EafkdE_qUT-lHD9Dped7lUoxwts5kAGg0XiJR-y98Qk1W0S8ckaEDUXr9_xf92LZ2tjcDeMoaChH9F7TZSULN39aj2f6r8oM3VyBIp40rfIcHbB5pCqG2CscnJFxLDho-_8GI/s400/Nutcracker.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Heading home after a rocking New Year's Eve party at Sweet Basil.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xboDrewyq0y3jtGMaBYM9vPcUlR1dBEZnhjQX3YhApwWm3wZ2LWxNagTzbGCCLXfz2-P7BH_PeIkBuaPWSiMXlfj1R_tVmYIXIe9kUAMz99YI2fB1llKAvL34D-cZox_3KNYTh_DKoc/s1600-h/Happy+Trio.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286895450219523538" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xboDrewyq0y3jtGMaBYM9vPcUlR1dBEZnhjQX3YhApwWm3wZ2LWxNagTzbGCCLXfz2-P7BH_PeIkBuaPWSiMXlfj1R_tVmYIXIe9kUAMz99YI2fB1llKAvL34D-cZox_3KNYTh_DKoc/s400/Happy+Trio.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>A little fun in front of the fire!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE42KT5Bfv9MafWc1zxohVGW_Y7cItB483nf2qUwkCVLPi2QcIp6c2RuUSVXvHd8elpMJJzpWXvIHZ5CBeguTjFRu-PnppK0mVtXQTz0fpmZwJw3jGgYzP7uPpsZtUiWRpq_fHA6ILbt8/s1600-h/CIMG1821.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286895464451175378" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE42KT5Bfv9MafWc1zxohVGW_Y7cItB483nf2qUwkCVLPi2QcIp6c2RuUSVXvHd8elpMJJzpWXvIHZ5CBeguTjFRu-PnppK0mVtXQTz0fpmZwJw3jGgYzP7uPpsZtUiWRpq_fHA6ILbt8/s400/CIMG1821.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>And the very best part: blue skies and great snow on the slopes of Vail, Colorado!!!!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BJKi_7xw4TvyrgA-8tn_auXOX_8WMxwM91_xL_F_92raGKjW29MQqaPv712ao9FlEetb8KnsA2ga1jDkl5FtnJKimvsEz_24dozPLE3x7m0lm4I2Z2m3fM2AmpN0bW-l-Yy1A1Aap40/s1600-h/CIMG1833.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286895481962426050" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BJKi_7xw4TvyrgA-8tn_auXOX_8WMxwM91_xL_F_92raGKjW29MQqaPv712ao9FlEetb8KnsA2ga1jDkl5FtnJKimvsEz_24dozPLE3x7m0lm4I2Z2m3fM2AmpN0bW-l-Yy1A1Aap40/s400/CIMG1833.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div>Happy New Year!</div><div><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">Angie</span></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div>Angiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730106132055368032noreply@blogger.com1