Shira, Etc.

I finally found an international book swap!!  Yahoo!!!  I only have ten books to share, but I’m going to try to convince Luca’s mom to let me add her vast collection of Italian romance novels so that we can bring in a bigger crowd.  So excited!

 In other news, I planted some pumpkins this weekend!  I’ll take pictures tomorrow.  I planted the seeds a few weeks ago and they’re growing like weeds!!  The ten seedlings no longer fit in my window planter, so I went out to “the back 40” (scene of last year’s tragic “sundried tomato” experience) and started pulling out weeds.  Unfortunately, my brand spanking new shovel purchased last season appears to have gone missing.  (I secretly think that Zio must have stolen it!)  So, I was forced to till the entire plot with a spade. 

Good exercise.  All I have to say is “Thank God for the high-tech gardening gloves Aunt Joan gave me last year!”

I also felt the need to build a tent for my seedlings after last year’s fiasco.  Our plot of garden gets full sun from 8am to 7pm and I know pumpkins are hardy and all, but they just look so hot out there.  I’m sure all the local farmers are getting a good laugh out of my make-shift shade producing apparatus.  But they won’t be laughing when they see the super humongous pumpkins growing in a couple weeks!  MWUAHAHAHAH. 

And, I know the planting season is technically over, but today I bought more seeds.  I can’t help myself!  I’m addicted.  It gives me such satisfaction when the the seeds grow into little plants!  I’m starting research for an asparagus patch.  I hear it’s a major undertaking, but I love asparagus.  Definitely need to invest the 14 euro for the right shovel (pictured bottom right) for that adventure.

I just returned from a month in NYC and a two week eno-gastronomical tour of Italy!  Last weekend we went to the sea for some sun.  It’s summer here in the Langhe!

I wore fishnet stockings today for the first time in my life.  And to work, no less!  It was quite the liberating experience.   

We’re getting business cards made up and I highly enjoy the fact that mine says:

Dott.ssa Shira Crane    International Relations

 Hellow, can we get any hotter?  I always have felt that I deserve a formal title.  And “Doctoressa” is extremely sexy…hence the fishnet stockings.

Okay, okay.  So I haven’t had time to do laundry this week and already used my two pairs of black stockings.  So this morning, as I was running late, I came across these fishnetters and said, “What the heck!  Other ladies at work occasionally wear fishnet stockings (interesting tights are VERY big on the fashion scene here in Alba), and I’m at least 20 years younger than they are, so I think I can get away with it.” 

And I did.   

Happy Chinese New Year!!  What Chinese zodiac are you?  I found these zodiac descriptions to be very accurate–I’m the year of the Rooster and Luca is a Tiger.

Here in Italy it’s Carnival season–confetti in the streets, bugie (little squares of fried dough sometimes filled with jam or nutella) in the pastry shops…

The weather man predicted snow for today, but it doesn’t look like it’s actually going to precipitate–we haven’t had ANY snow at all here; the grass is green! 

I think I may have gotten a new job this morning!!  (I’m 99% sure, just waiting to see tomorrow morning if what they wanted to do about working papers is actually going to work out).  It’s PERFECT.  I’ll give you more details in the next couple days.  Here’s our website to whet your palate:  AlbaBarolo.com

Here is a collection of photos put together by a gourmet guy from Torino, Bob Noto.  The pictures are taken at the tables of different restaurants all around Europe–always within two minutes of the plate being brought to the table.