What Makes a Home {and a Blogging Home}?

Today, I remembered the day our daughter and her family moved back to the USA, which was several years ago. They kept their house here in Italy, so in the beginning we had to go there frequently. We had to empty the fridge, close windows, and tidy things up. Then we went upstairs to stripContinue reading “What Makes a Home {and a Blogging Home}?”

Goodbye to Our Nonno House

Autumn is slowly creeping into our area. The grape and olive harvests are in full swing. The days are lovely and warm, but not uncomfortably hot. Nights are sometimes cool enough for a light blanket. For some reason, autumn always reminds me of Nonno’s house, our summer home. It’s the house my husband was bornContinue reading “Goodbye to Our Nonno House”

The Golden Years of Worry

The Golden Years are touted as a time of leisure, free from many responsibilities and rigid schedules. A time to enjoy life, and maybe even a little prosperity. But for many seniors, the Golden Years might more accurately be described as the “Worry Years”. Because they often bring fear and concerns about declining health, theContinue reading “The Golden Years of Worry”

Swedish Death Cleaning

Now that both of my parents have passed away, my brothers have been “death cleaning.” I know it hasn’t been easy, especially for my youngest brother who has always lived there. They hired an estate sale agent, which made the process easier and hopefully reduced some of the emotional stress. I don’t have many childhoodContinue reading “Swedish Death Cleaning”

Christmas Clubs and Hard-Times Gifts

In the 1970 musical Scrooge, even that grumpy Christmas-hating miser finally realized that “December the 25th is the dearest day in all the year!” (Watch the trailer here.) I never needed any convincing. Andy Williams singing that Christmas was “the most wonderful time of the year” had always filled our home during the holidays. AndContinue reading “Christmas Clubs and Hard-Times Gifts”

Come in, We’ve been Waiting for You!

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home because nothing brings people together like food! But some people have a real talent for making their kitchen especially welcoming. A special place for reliving fond memories and making new ones with good friends, old and new! Three people stand out in my memory forContinue reading “Come in, We’ve been Waiting for You!”