Un Compleanno Per Mamma...A Birthday For Mom...

At 96 years she is still amazing!  A sweet and gentle Lady,  always wanting to keep herself looking lovely... nails done,  hair too... and jewelry of course.  We are so lucky to have her,  and Anna,  with her unwavering commitment to taking good care of Mom.  Seeing to Mom's needs and overseeing the care by her sweet caregivers  takes a lot of time and effort,  yet she wouldn't have it any other way.  I am so grateful,  and I know that Frances and Paul are as well.  We had a good celebration for her birthday... Anna and Nicola hard at work making Wood Fired Pizza's.  Paul and Edy brought Meatballs from the restaurant.  Giulietta and I both made a cake.  Hers was Triple Chocolate,  which she made completely by herself ( at 8 years of age... (WOW) and it was delicious,  she is following in the footsteps of an entire family of Chef's, Cooks,  and Foodies.  Mine was a Vanilla Cake  filled with Vanilla Pastry Cream and Fresh Blueberry Compote.  I Painted the cake with little blue (Mom's favorite color)  rosebuds which matched the plate that I served it on.  Surrounded by immediate family and loved ones,  once again we celebrated our wonderful Mother.

Incontri Primaverili… Springtime Gatherings…

Food, friends and family… lots of that around here lately.  Dining al fresco is always the choice,  even with this unseasonably cool spring weather.  A chilly Memorial Day came and went,  and summer is almost here… hard to believe … not quite ready for that.