Monday, August 17, 2009

Fav Things: The Cats








While I was travelling this summer, the kitties went to stay with Mom and Dad. This has actually turned out very well, as they are much better behaved there than they are at home (unless there is something my parents aren't telling me). And even though I have ended up coming and going just as often while my brother's family is here, having the cats out there has been better for them, continuity-wise. Except....
Myrna has been under the weather for some time, and last week, she took an odd turn and just about did her own liver in, so she's been travelling back and forth with me getting round-the-clock attention. Poor Spot isn't very happy with this (he tries to be mad, but the need to snuggle always wins out). I just wanted to say that the cats are among my favorite things, no matter what (and many of you know exactly how much that what entails).
Spot loves to have his picture taken, and will usually produce some adorable pose or smiley face. Myrna, being black and squirmy, is almost impossible to photograph, but once in a while she'll acquiesce. Here is a favorite picture of both Spot and Myrna.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Favorite Things, part 2




Castles
Chateau d'Amboise, France

We don't have stuff like this in the US, so getting to spend several days hanging out next to a chateau is pretty darn cool. I wonder what Chateau d'Amboise looked like before much of it was dismantled while Napoleon had it.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Favorite Things, part 1

Firenze, Italia
view from Piazzale Michelangelo
This is my favorite place. Yeah, there's my yard (which, sadly, has suffered drought and scorch in the last month) and the Farm on Vashon, but this is Florence.
I wish I could explain my feelings for this place, but they are more complicated than I realized.
I've been to Firenze three times:
1. On the bike trip when I was 17--I remember the Mercato San Lorenzo and that's about it. We'd been biking through Germany and France and by Italy things were a blur...until we reached that ferry in Brindisi...but that's another story.
2. I actually majored in Italian. Really useful, I know. I spent most of my junior year of college in Florence. I was homesick. My favorite memories are of wandering everywhere around the center and on the other side of the Arno, people watching and just being an observer, eating almond cookies and the best food on earth.
3. And now 23 years later with a different perspective and my niece in tow--it felt familiar and welcoming, and I could actually speak functional Italian. And I wish I could have stayed.