The Bathroom is (mostly) finished!

Need art and towel bars.


We plan to eventually trade the shower curtain for a glass screen.



In the mirror you can see the unpainted door trim and the list of tasks to complete taped to the back of the door.

Our guest bath is once more useable. Dom even took a shower in the tub one morning. We still have a number of tasks to complete but they will mostly get done after we return from Italy at the end of June. We are really pleased with the way it turned out.

Dreaming of Primavera in Italia

Lately I have received grief from several friends about my lack of recent posts. Over a month ago I lamented that it had been a month since the previous one. Now it has been five weeks! My only excuse is that it has been an incredibly busy spring.

Having said that, the garden is still a mess and the bathroom is still in progress but progress has been made on both fronts. In fact, HOURS and DAYS have been spent trying to get both finished before we take off for primavera in Italia. We are leaving later this spring than we have before but we are also staying later than usual. Our departure date is April 27 and we will return June 23. We are mentally ready to leave NOW. I keep looking at the weather in Lucca and seeing high temperatures in the low 60s. It just makes me ache to be there. Even worse is seeing the pictures posted on the other expats in Italy blogs I follow. However, one of the advantages of arriving around May 1 is that the weather should be quite nice by then. We are really looking forward to being there into June when many of the local sagre (festivals) take place as well as being in Partigliano for the local marcia podistica (organized walk).

Spring is coming slowing to the Puget Sound region. Again this weekend the temperatures have been cold. Yesterday it rained steadily but today is a classic March beauty. The skies are blue with only a ruffle of puffy white clouds hanging over the Olympic Mountains. This morning the snow level was quite low but now the sunshine has melted whatever was clinging to the lower slopes. There is a crisp breeze blowing from the north. Lots of birds, mostly robins and juncos, are chirping and fluttering about. Daffodils are nodding graciously and the grape hyacinths are poking their heads above ground. A few days ago I saw that a chipmunk making a mad dash across our parking area and later another one was up on the deck circling the Swiss chard pot. It looks like it should be warmer than it actually is but winter does not want to let go this year.

A few days ago we had a brilliant sunset and I caught this picture of a tug and barge heading north.


After enduring an exceptionally dry January and February (which meant little new snow in the mountains), March has been an excellent month fro skiing. We missed the best weekend of the year (3/7-8) because of other commitments but managed to ski three days at Alpental since then. Last weekend we took my brother’s Charlie’s children, Dano, Kate and Peter, up to my parents’ ski cabin with us. Dano and Kate skied on Saturday and Sunday with Dom and I. On Sunday, Charlie skied with us as well. It was a lot of fun and both the conditions and the weather cooperated pretty well. Peter, the youngest, has thus far refused to learn to ski but I decided that next time he will be forced to participate in the traditional family activity!


Dano and Kate on the hill.


Cool kids after playing out in the snow.

Just to prove progress is being made on the bathroom here are a couple of pictures taken yesterday. I was really thrilled to finally get to the tiling. It is something I actually enjoy doing. Taping and applying the joint compound to the wallboard turned out better than I expected. It is one of those tasks best left to the professionals but I managed to whine my way through it. The reference book we used (Drywall by Myron R. Ferguson) really helped. After sanding the joint compound I applied three coats of primer/sealer followed by two coats of paint. The yellow turned out to be a bit brighter than we anticipated but the addition of white tile in the tub surround, darker tile on the floor and dark cabinets should tone it down a bit. Also the bare bulbs tend to give any paint job a harsh aspect. We really like the way the white subway tile is turning out. The row of accent tile was hand carried from Italy five or six years ago. Nineteen pieces were left over from our bathroom redo and we could not foresee another use for it there. So, two houses later on this side of the Atlantic, we are finally attaching it to a wall. Dom jokes that the entire bathroom was planned around that tile and there is some truth to that.




Of course, the two end walls of the tub surround still need to be tiled plus the floor. Dom needs to install the tub faucet, drain, and shower head. Then the toilet, vanity, linen cabinet, lights and towel bars will be hung. After completing a whole laundry list of other items we hope to have it completely finished by the time we leave in four weeks.

One of the things I am really missing about Italy right now is the food. In particular I miss the handful of favorite restaurants we patronize there. Eating out on Whidbey Island is a bit of a dicey proposition. While there are a number of good, inexpensive spots we find we do not eat out as often here as we do while in Italy. Even what I cook at home does not seem quite the same. As I have said before, American ingredients do not taste the same as Italian ingredients. Insalata caprese (sliced tomatoes and fresh mozzarella) is nearly impossible to duplicate here. Pork chops taste better over there and veal chops are available without going to a specialty store. Let’s not even talk about pizza. I dream of sitting at Ristorante La Fonte waiting for the pizza maker to pull the crisp, bubbly confection from the depths of the wood fired oven…


Brasato

This recipe is a classic winter dish. It seems like I should be doling out springtime recipes but this has been promised to a number of people. It is a fabulous option for feeding a crowd or it makes a wonderful meal to eat now and freeze some leftovers. It is actually better if it is made ahead and the reheated.

1 750ml. bottle hearty red wine (such as Cabernet, Zinfandel or Syrah)
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 3 lb. beef chuck pot roasts
1 large onion, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
1 large stalk celery, chopped
3 garlic cloves, peeled, smashed
1 heaping Tbs. tomato paste
1 14 oz. can beef broth
2 large sprigs fresh sage
2 large sprigs fresh parsley
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. whole black peppercorns

Preheat oven to 300ºF and adjust rack to lower third.

Simmer wine in large saucepan over medium heat until reduced to 1 cup, about 30 minutes.

In a heavy, wide, ovenproof pot heat oil over medium heat. Sprinkle roasts with salt and pepper. Add 1 roast to pot and cook until brown on all sides, about 13 minutes. Transfer to large plate; repeat with remaining roast. Spoon fat from pot.

Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic to pot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté over medium-high heat until vegetables begin to brown, about 6 minutes. Add tomato paste, stir 1 minute. Add broth; bring to boil. Add sage, parsley, bay leaf and peppercorns. Return roasts and any accumulated juices to pot, tucking roasts to fit in single layer. Pour reduced red wine over; cover.

Transfer roasts to oven and braise 1 hour 15 minutes. Turn roast over. Cover and braise until roasts are tender, about 1 hour 15 minutes longer.

The original recipe I used stopped here. I usually do the following:

Refrigerate overnight. Next day, remove roasts and all solid fats. Put juices and vegetable bits in a blender and mix until smooth. Transfer to a saucepan and make gravy using several tablespoons flour and water combined into a smooth paste. Return roasts to original pot, cover with gravy and heat in oven until hot.

I usually serve with roast vegetables (potatoes, onions, parsnips, carrots, Brussel sprouts, etc.—any combination tossed in olive oil, salt and pepper—roasted at 450ºF for 30 minutes or until potatoes are crispy at edges).

This also works well in a crock pot adjusting the liquids as necessary.

Winter Activity

I cannot believe it has been over a month since my last post! It must mean Dom and I have been really busy. It has felt like that but it does not seem like we have much to show for it.

After a very cold, snowy, wet December and early January, the weather here has been very dry. For several weeks there was often light cloud color (similar to the above photo of freighter moving new cranes to Seattle waterfront) but lately it has been clear. This has made for great gardening weather but not so good skiing weather. The clear weather means the mornings are cold and crisp and the afternoons are positively balmy. Today they are expecting a high of around 60 degrees in Seattle. Here on Whidbey Island it will not get that hot but I still plan to move the patio furniture out of the garage and onto the deck. Usually we leave it out there all winter but it never made it back after the big painting project last August.

The local wildlife has been more active the past few weeks. We see deer frequently along the sides of the roads. Signs of smaller creatures (chipmunks and rabbits) are evident in the garden, i.e. nibbled plants. There seem to be dozens of bird species flitting about.

This is the time of the year when the bald eagles seem to be most active. I think they are mating, nest building and staking out territory. Yesterday, two or three were chirruping away, gliding from tree to tree and generally having a jolly time. Actually, their chirruping cries almost sound like whining. After a while it can be rather grating. One of my favorite sights is the eagles flying along the water's edge. Since our house is situated on top of a bluff they are often below the level of the windows and deck. They are really spectacular in flight.

On Wednesday I went to the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. It was spectacular as always but it is sad that this might be the show's last year. Hopefully someone will buy it from the retiring owners. There is always lots of inspiration. I have been wanting to put a fountain in similar to those above but only a single, much shorter column. I have the perfect spot for it at one end of our new flagstone patio so I am starting to gather the materials. We will see how it turns out.

This is a picture of our 16 ft. car trailer. When I started pruning a few weeks ago it was empty. Now I actually have several satellite piles. Pretty soon we will have to make another dump run. One would think that with over an acre of land we would have some place to put all this but really we don't. Yesterday I was carefully cutting out blackberry brambles (the really big, thick stalk ones) and dabbing vine killer on the cut ends. I am hoping this treatment stops them dead or at least slows them down considerably. It is impossible to totally eradicate them and they make one a believer in the idea that vines will take over the earth one day.

The bathroom project is coming along. Believe it or not, the righthand photo shows considerable progress but most of it is hidden under the floor. Dom spent a lot of time "down under." He actually cut a hole in the floor to make it easier to access the crawl space. He is now working on the electical items (lights, fans, outlets). Once that is done it will be on to wallboard. The photo on the left shows the current location of the new bathtub. I might have to plant something around it if it stays there too long.

Here is one of my current favorite recipes. It is a tomato tapenade/bruschetta topping that is really easy to make and easy to adjust to personal taste. It makes a lot but seems to keep in the fridge for a couple weeks. I have also frozen it successfully.

My favorite way to eat it is with crispy toast rounds made from a narrow whole wheat baguette. I slice the bread thin, lay the rounds on a cookie sheet, drizzle them with a little olive oil and put them in a 450 degree oven for about 7-8 minutes. Then I turn the rounds over and bake for another 4-5 minutes until well browned. Let cool and store in a plastic bag. For Pacific Northwest residents: Fred Meyer sells bags of day old, pre-sliced rounds. They are a little thicker than I like but buying the baguettes already sliced take most of the work out of making them.

Other ways to use this is as a pasta sauce (add olive oil) or on top of other vegetables (hot or cold). I also like to roast eggplant rounds (similar to doing toast above) and for lunch I top with a teaspoon of the bruschetta topping.

Easy Bruschetta Topping

1/2 to 3/4 cups raw onion

1-2 cloves garlic (or more!)

1 can quartered artichoke hearts, drained

1 small can black olives or about 1/2 cup pitted olives (any variety)

1 to 1 1/2 cups grilled peppers (I usually make my own but can be purchased in jars)

1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes

optional: 1 green pepperoncino or up to 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

Puree everything in a food processor. I start with the hardest items (onion/garlic) and work to the softest. Do not over process. Buon appetito!

Buon Natale! Merry Christmas!

Whidbey Island Snow - Day 11. More forecast for tonight and tomorrow but then we warm up. Yeah!


Mochie says hi.



Centerpiece on table--roses are real! I cut the buds just before the temperatures plunged. Interestingly, they are yellow/pink roses but bloomed white.



Our Christmas tree and presepio (nativity set).

Have a wonderful holiday and all the best in 2009.

Big Snow of '08 - Day 10

Just over six inches total snow on ground.

Junco pecking at seeds and squirrel tracks.


View of Puget Sound through trees.

We received over an inch last night. Even though it is pretty I am bored with it. Can we please go back to gray rainy days?!?

More Cold and Snow

Yesterday I drove to Seattle as it was the day my father and I were taking my nieces, nephews, sister and sister-in-law to the theater and dining at the Space Needle. This has been an almost annual event for since my oldest niece (now 17) was 4 years old. When I left the house it was only 17 degrees F. Yikes! It is beginning to feel like we live someplace like Chicago rather than the normally balmy Pacific Northwest. Our cold spell has lasted over a week now. Daytime temperatures will be just above freezing during the coming week but it will still be cold enough for ice and snow at night.

From the deck of the Clinton-Mukilteo ferry you could see the "steam" rising off Puget Sound. This is a rare occurance as it usually is not cold enough for this to happen. As you can see the weather started off sunny and bright. By the time I got into Seattle (roads were bare and dry from Mukilteo) it was clouding over. Our group (nine of us!) went to the 5th Avenue Theatre downtown and saw the matinee performance of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. When we came out at 4:30 there was about a 1/2 inch of snow covering everything. It made the lights of downtown Seattle really sparkle. Luckily, the snowstorm was predicted so there were not a lot of cars on the streets.

We made our way back to the parking garage by cutting through the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. While there we stopped in at the Teddy Bear Suite where this picture was taken. At the Space Needle Restaurant we enjoyed another great meal while it continued snowing outside. It was a little like spinning around in a snow globe. This effect was heightened as we rode down in the elevator. We were descending considerably faster than the snowflakes so it looked like they were falling UP!

The drive back to Whidbey Island was long but uneventful. There was snow on the roads the entire journey but since it was still quite cold it was not terribly slippery. It took about 50 minutes to reach the ferry terminal at Mukilteo (vs. 30 min.) and another 45 minutes (vs. 20-25 min.) to get home. The snow on the roads on the island was several inches deep especially after I turned off the highway onto Bush Point Rd./Smugglers Cove Rd. I did not see another car after I turned until just as I was turning onto our street.

We woke up to about 4 inches of new snow for a total of about 5 inches. It snowed off and on all day. Late morning one of our neighbors called to tell us that a pod of orcas heading south. This was the FIRST time we had seen them going past even though we have lived here over three years! Unfortunately we were hosting the neighborhood holiday party at 2 pm so I had little time to watch them. I tried to take pictures but my camera did not have a strong enough zoom.

Every time the snow stops the birds and creatures make forays out from wherever they are hunkered down. Today Dom and I watched a junco hopping up and tugging on dried out wildflowers which caused the seeds to pop out. The bird then pecked at the seeds on the snow before repeating the process. Above are some tracks that were left on bench outside the front door.

After everyone left this evening I noticed the lights on the potted tree on the front porch glowing through the fresh snow. It looks incredibly beautiful outside but we are getting tired of having to put on boots and coats every time we want to go outside. Usually we run outside and get firewood or go up to the garage without jackets and often in our slippers, even when it is raining.

Whidbey Weather or Not

It has been an interesting week weather-wise. We started out last Friday (12/12) with high winds from the south that whipped up the Sound and sent the waves crashing on the beach. Luckily our electricity stayed on. I think the storms two years ago knocked down all the trees that were liable to topple over and take out the power lines.


There were some striking sun breaks late in the day. I once heard this sort of image described as God poking a finger through the clouds.



Late on Saturday (12/13) it began snowing and this is what we woke up to on Sunday. There was only about 2 inches (max!) but oh so pretty.


On Monday (12/14) we tromped down our ravine looking for a possible Christmas tree. There was nothing remotely suitable but it was really pretty standing down in the shadows looking up at the sunshine. We saw deer tracks and a spot where the deer had curled up next to a clump of ferns. Snow covered everything except the deer-sized bare patch.


A close-up shot of the Olympic Mountains with snow from peak to beach. The temperatures kept dropping. Tuesday morning I went for a walk and it was 19 degrees Farenheit when I left at 7:30 am. It never got above freezing that day.


During this patch of cold weather I have been working on some indoor projects. Normally, I paint furniture in the garage. However, it has been too cold in there so I set up a painting area in our oversized entry. On Wednesday I cleaned up, put the dresser back in the guest bedroom and also recovered the chair seat.



Wednesday evening's sunset. Still very cold so not much of Sunday's snow had melted.

On Thursday it warmed up to just above freezing--34 degrees was the warmest I saw all day. The snow melted back a little but more started to fall. This submarine was headed out to the Pacific Ocean as flakes swirled around it. (Did you know you can enlarge any of these pictures by double clicking on it?)

We had more snow last night. Early this morning I was out walking with a neighbor and saw a row of arbor vitae that the deer have cropped. The plants looked quite striking against the white of the snow and the grays of the sky and Sound.

This "Monkey Puzzle" tree looked a little chilly, like it needed more clothes!

There is still not lots of snow but it is once more very cold--about 27 degrees today. The fresh dusting really makes it look Christmasy.

If you are just checking out our blog be sure and check back again next week when I will add some family holiday pics. In the meantime enjoy the season whatever the weather is where you are!

La Cena Italiana di Luisa

Giving the guests a preview of the evening

The antipasto buffet

The second course-Brasato (Italian pot roast)

The aftermath

If you wonder what I have been doing since Thanksgiving, the above pictures show the result of a week's work. The last few years I have donated Italian dinners for 12 guests to annual auctions benefiting a couple of worthy causes. Last night's was sold at the Meerkerk Gardens auction last February.

The menu was as follows:

Antipasto Misto ~ Zardetto Prosecco Brut

Prosciutto
Salame Genovese
Salame Milanese
Three Crostini
~with chopped tomatoes
~with walnut pesto and white beans
~with artichoke paste
Grilled Peppers with Spicy Oil
Grilled Eggplant and zucchini with olive oil, lemon and thyme
Pickled Onions
Olives

Primi Piatti ~Campogrande 2006 Orvieto Classico

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Butter, Sage and Grana Padano cheese
Capellini with Mushroom Sauce

Secondo Piatto ~ Banfi Col di Sasso 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon & Sangiovese e/o A Mano 2006 Primitivo

Brasato (Italian Pot Roast)
Roast Potatoes
Roast Vegetables with Balsamic Vinegar –
Carrots, parsnips and Brussel sprouts

Dolce ~ Falchini Vin Santo del Chianti
e/o Liquore di Limone di Sorrento

Mixed Gelato ~ marsala wine and chocolate
Biscotti with walnuts, chocolate chips and orange

It was all cooked from scratch by yours truly. I even made the squash ravioli!

While I enjoy doing it, the dinners are an incredible amount of work. It takes 4-5 days to prepare everything and then I and a helper cart everything to the winning bidder's home, finish cooking, serve and cleanup. However this one was loads of fun especially as I and my helper knew a number of the guests. It was also the first I have done on Whidbey Island so the trip home afterwards was less than a half hour. Now that it is over I feel like I can finally concentrate on Christmas.

I will be posting some of these recipes on this blog in the near future.

Snow in Partigliano Complicates Departure

Snow in Partigliano - views from our house

Dom with luggage at Gatwick Airport

In the end we had an uneventful trip from Pisa to Seattle. However, Monday the 24th began anything but calmly.

At night we keep the shutters in our bedroom closed but the bedroom door remains open as do the shutters on the window right outside it. When I woke, the first thing I noticed was that the power had been out. It was still half dark but I grabbed my watch and was just able to make out the time—6:50 am. Then I realized there was a strange glow to the light coming in the hall window. I got up and looked outside. SNOW!

Only about an inch had fallen—just enough to nearly cover everything. It looked beautiful and if we had not had a plane to catch later in the morning I would have thought it was a grand adventure. Instead I had to fight down panic even as I was waking up Dom.

The next few hours were interesting. The power seemed “wobbly” so I quickly took a shower. Just as I finished it flickered on and off several times before going off for good for about an hour. Dom put on grubby clothes and went outside to finish up what needed to be done there. We had cold water and the gas burners worked so we had breakfast in the semi-darkness and continued doing things that did not require power.

My biggest worries were Dom getting a shower (how awful to have to fly home without one) and what the roads would be like. Dom was much calmer about it and suggested I call some of our friends who live closer to Lucca. Mary and Orlando were surprised to learn that we had snow as they had nothing. Since they can see down to the road to Lucca they were able to reassure us that it was pretty localized. By this time it was also raining outside and the snow on our patio was becoming thick and sloppy. It seemed that we would be able to reach the airport with few problems.

Finally the lights came back on. Dom was able to get his shower. I was able to iron the clothes I planned to wear. While Dom hand carried the larger bags up to our car in the village parking area I finished doing the dishes and tidying up the house. The utilities were turned off and we were ready to go. Actually, we were ready to go with time to spare so we sat down and watched the news for a while. Shortly after 10 am we grabbed the last of the bags, flipped off the electricity and locked up.

The drive to the airport proved uneventful. By the time we left, enough other cars had been down the hill so the center of the road was merely bare and wet. All the snow disappeared after a couple of miles. By the time we halfway to Lucca there was no sign of it at all. However, when we stopped at the toll plaza outside of Pisa (20 miles away) the attendant asked where it had snowed because somehow the inch of snow managed to stay on the roof of the car all the way there.

We were so early at the airport that we hauled our bags inside and checked in before meeting Rosario (our rental agent) outside to return the car. That took all of thirty seconds so we then had time for cappuccino and pastry before boarding our flight.

The trip to London was smooth as was our transfer from Gatwick Airport to Heathrow Airport. Trolleys at each stop made moving our bags fairly simple. The only glitch came when we boarded the flight to Seattle. The plane was ready to go but apparently we were parked so close to the taxiway that we could not maneuver away from the gate in order to join the take-off queue. It was nearly an hour before the queue diminished enough for us to leave.

We landed in Seattle almost an hour late but we were soon through immigration and customs. My parents met us at baggage claim and we spent the night at their house. The next morning my mother drove us to Mukilteo where we walked on the ferry. Actually, it was more like waddling onto the ferry. With no trolley to help us, hauling our bags on and off the boat proved a challenge. The ferry personnel were practically laughing at us. We must have looked like refugees returning home.

Once the boat docked at Clinton we waddled off and tossed all our bags onto the bus. Whidbey Island has a great bus system. It is free and will drop you anywhere you ask. Thus, we were able to get off right at the end of our long driveway. It was not raining so I waited by the road with the bags while Dom walked down to the house, found his keys and brought the truck back up for me and the luggage.

It was great to finally be home. We spent the rest of Tuesday turning things on, plugging things in, going for groceries and the cat, and unpacking all the bags. We managed to stay awake until after 9 pm before collapsing in bed.

Today is more of the same. We are getting back into the rhythm of island life even as we try to get ready for the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow. We plan to be at my parents’ ski cabin at Snoqualmie Pass for the day checking out the new garage and eating too much turkey and too much pie.

How We Spent Our Summer...

Here is photographic evidence of our major summer projects.

The first two pictures show the spectacular renovation of the steps and patio approaching our house on Whidbey Island. The path from the parking area to the front porch used to be made of large slabs of broken concrete. They led to a concrete patio and a large wood deck front porch. As you can see, we took out all the broken concrete, the concrete patio and half of the wood deck. In its place we put in Montana slate flagstones, a planting bed alongside the house and a gravel path from the parking area. Dom also rebuilt the broken concrete walls by the patio to give them a softer profile. Last Wednesday we put in the sod that wraps around the porch. There used to be large gravel in this area and it was a miserable spot for weeds. This project took us about six weeks. The bulk of the work was finished by the end of July (in time for the annual party) but we still have a few details to finish up when we find the time—a small planter in one corner and painting the new boards on the porch. Piano, piano as the Italians say—slowly, slowly.

The other big project was painting our large (700 s.f.!) deck. It turned out to be a really horrible job. Rather than the week I anticipated, the whole thing eventually took three weeks. Luckily, we had our only really wonderful extended stretch of good weather while I was working away at this. The prep work was the worst of it—scraping and sanding. Luckily power tools helped but it was still a tough, dirty job and most of it was done on my hands and knees. The paint had to be scraped out from between every board and later I had to hand paint between every board. Dom also had to replace at least twenty boards due to damage from rot. It was interesting to watch the edges of the decking just disintegrate when the pressure washer stream hit them. Still, it all looks wonderful now and hopefully it will last for a while. Painting a deck is nearly always a bad idea so when it needs to be done again we just might tear the existing decking off, replace it and stain it. Oh, so much easier to maintain!

Dom also spent time working on the car trailer and his shop. Right now he is trying to get the little shed (where he has his race car body mold) spruced up so he can get some work done in there over the winter. I still have plants to get in the ground this week (mostly from existing pots) and some cutting back of things that are on their last legs. Today I picked about 5 cups of blackberries to freeze and our apple tree is covered with fruit that I want to do something with before the end of the week. Not only has fall arrived but next Monday we are off to Italy again.

We have already decided that next summer we are only going to do maintenance—no big new projects. Things are looking really good outside and it will be fun to just keep it that way. Having said that, there are two bathrooms inside that need updating…