Thankful

Thanksgiving 2009 was wonderful. It's been peaceful, low-key and relaxing, without much stress, other than my looming final week of my statistics class, which is bound to give me at least a few gray hairs. Really, compared to most people, I live a very blessed life. The things I am grateful for don't change much over the years; you know, the normal stuff (for me) like food, clothes, friends, a warm bed, loving family, etc. This year, there are few more things I'm grateful for (in no particular order):

Fabio
Seattle
rain
full-time job
two cars
Mexican food
grocery store options
comfortable furniture
computers
Internet
cell phones
ipods
Catalina's hair salon in Sunnyside
blogs
facebook
Cake Boss

I could keep going, but don't want to bore you. Here are a few pictures (I'm grateful for cameras too, but I have to say, I've taken better pictures!) from our weekend at home. Dane and Bridget were our "rival couple" this weekend. Just kidding. We always have fun with the "Nannapussus." (Inside joke.)



Mom and dad's food is always the best:


A good part of the weekend was spent doing this:


A few things I didn't get pictures of that are note worthy:

-Rock Band
-Me and Bridget working out together twice (for me, a feat; for Bridget, the norm)
-Fabio creating mom's Relief Society DVD
-Me and Bridget helping mom put up the Christmas tree and decorations
-Pumpkin Pie Cake...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm........Fabio had four pieces. That says A LOT.
-Me and Bridget taking turns riding cramped in the back of the SUV so all six of us could take one car to the Tri-Cities.

A super weekend. Now, bring on Christmas!!!

Christmas Italian Style

Buon Natale! In Italy, November 22 officially marks the start of the Christmas season. So...at our house, it's Christmas time! Fabio made the traditional petolle, a fried bread that is made only once a year...on November 22. I have to say, I was very impressed. Although it's a simple recipe, it involved yeast and frying, two things Fabio never works with. The end result was delicious, and way too indulgent. We allowed ourselved 5 each, but I stopped after 4. Whoa.

Apparently, the tradition is that the sheep herders come down into the city from mountains at this time of year and play their bagpipes for money, since they don't have a job during the late fall/winter. Fabio found some of this music online and we listened to it as he slaved away making petolle. I'll spare you the bagpipe music, but here are some photos of our petolle experience:









While Fabio was planning our heart attacks, I was trying to counter balance the effects by making a vegetable paella (a Spanish rice dish) using quinoa instead of rice. Although it was pretty delicious, I think next time I'll use rice. Quinoa is healthier, but rice is just more comfort foodish. Since I had my camera out, and the paella was a lot of work, I decided to snap a photo:



BUON NATALE A TUTTI!

Reason #1 to Love Seattle-Pike Place Market

Fabio and I played tourist a few weeks ago. We actually go to Pike Place frequently, but this time I took my camera.





This is mostly for la mamma, who will be shocked at how expensive mussels are here!


Our favorite, $10 and $15 fower bouquets:


Used bookstores. SO Seattle-ish.