|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Altaira
Superuser
Mar 7 2025, 5:15pm
Post #1 of 55
(15136 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Benvenuto to this week's Festa Venerdi!
|
Can't Post
|
|
First, I'd like to say grazie to gramma for tending the bar last week. Hugs!! 
As you may have guessed by now, B.G. and I were in La Bella Roma. We had an unused ticket we had to use, and he's always wanted to see Rome, so off we went! Much sightseeing was done and much pasta, prosecco, and tiramisu was consumed, many times. *hic*
Back home now to mild spring weather and weeds getting bolder. Of course, like much of this part of the globe, we're holding our breath for that last blast of winter that usually hits at least once in March, sometimes in April, and *gasp* occasionally in May which is just plain rude if you ask me.
How about you? What country did you spend the week in? Any fun plans for the weekend? B.G. and I will be watching cricket and I'll venture out into the yard to take inventory on the boldest weeds and do some selective removal.
The buffet today is piled high with alfredos, antipasti, and tiramisu, and the bar is prepped for lots of aperol spritzes and many corks have been popped on yummy bottles of Dorwinion prosecco (revealing a secret recipe the Elves have been keeping to themselves for far to long).
I'll leave you with a smile. The hotel we stayed at had some resident cats, and also had many statues of one of Rome's symbols: the lion. Look closely and you'll see a cute kitty who was basically daring anyone to mess with him/her, lol.
*kicks juke box* That's Amore by Deano starts to play (loved that man).
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!  
|
|
|
dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 7 2025, 6:00pm
Post #2 of 55
(15075 views)
Shortcut
|
*scoops a plate of chicken alfredo* Now that I must try - thank you, Altaira!
This must have been the best time to visit the old City, with Spring in the air and not so many tourists crowding the streets! 
And I see that "void" between the lion's legs - those of us who are kept by "voids" know how well they can conceal themselves.
This past week, no sooner had I finished painting the dining room, than my handyman friend appeared with his young helper, to paint the stairwell and upper and lower hallways, both walls and ceilings. The color they used for the walls? Oh my. I'd gotten a gallon of a light beige, they measured and found they would need a bit more, I still had 3/4 gallon of the medium beige I'd used on the wainscot in the dining room, so... we mixed the two colors! I like the new color, and there's plenty left over for touch-ups.
Didn't your area recently have a bit more snow, Altaira?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
|
|
|
Altaira
Superuser
Mar 7 2025, 6:08pm
Post #3 of 55
(15073 views)
Shortcut
|
And perfect that you have some left over for touch-ups if needed. Don't you love it when things work out that way?
No snow here yet, though they're saying there's still a chance of very light snow this afternoon. We did get some rain yesterday, which almost certainly meant snow in even slightly higher elevations this time of year. Either way, icy or watery, the moisture is welcome!
Have a great weekend admiring your work!
|
|
|
Annael
Elvenhome
Mar 7 2025, 6:14pm
Post #4 of 55
(15076 views)
Shortcut
|
come stai?
what a fun little jaunt!
As for what country I spent the week in, I woke up out of sleep (alarm clock, had to meet friends for a walk early) and realized I was in a recurrent dream, if that's the right word for a dream where you keep dreaming about the same thing, only it seems to be a story I'm telling myself while I'm asleep. First time I was actively planning a trip, and it keeps evolving. The trip is to travel to the UK and meet up with Eledhwen, then get on a boat to Norway and see Draupne, except the geography is quite different and it's almost as if the UK is off the coast of Canada and going to Norway is a 4-day trip across the ocean, plus most of Europe is entirely gone! So from Norway I was going to get on another ship and travel east and south along the remaining coastline (Afghanistan is now on the coast). Most of the areas to the east have not been visited by many folks in a long time and it's very scary and dangerous to go there. Eventually I was aiming to end up on some islands in the South Pacific. In last night's dream, there was some artifact from Middle-earth that needed to be taken somewhere to the West (not the Ring), and I volunteered, saying "I'm going West!" When I woke up I thought it was a real trip - I've been planning two upcoming trips - and thought "but no, I'm going east . . ."
I'm headed to Colorado in May, in fact. I told my cousins I wanted to do something outdoorsy and they said "in May that could be snowshoeing or swimming!" I'll watch the weather to see what to pack.
This week was all about quilts. I don't quilt myself but friends do, and we have a great quilt museum nearby that I went to twice because they had a wonderful exhibit that only went through last weekend, and then I went back with a friend who was up from Seattle yesterday, and then to the local quilting supplies store which was having a sale and she bought much fabric.
We hit 60F last week but it's gotten down to just above freezing at night again. Daffs and tulips are sticking their greenery up but no flowers yet. Sweet peas have gone in.
I've got a lot of editing work on my plate at the moment, mostly from my French client. I've been working hard on my own French and am starting to think in it (and talk to the cat in it: "est-ce que tu es un chat noir? Qu'est-ce que tu fait? Tu veux manger? Ouais je t'aime p'tit!")
I'll try an aperol spritz with that special prosecco, grazie mille!
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
(This post was edited by Annael on Mar 7 2025, 6:17pm)
|
|
|
dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 7 2025, 6:17pm
Post #5 of 55
(15067 views)
Shortcut
|
I'll be prepping for the next project: a gentle green on the living room walls. I want to get the painting all out of the way so I can concentrate on garden work, too! Now, where are those weeds...
May your teams win!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
|
|
|
dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 7 2025, 6:33pm
Post #6 of 55
(15062 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Les chats noir sont merveilleux.
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Especially when they look straight at you, those green eyes shining out of the darkness.
That is a fun recurrent dream! I wonder if future ones will let you actually take the trip.
Quilts are fascinating, I'm amazed at the detail and excellent stitchery that go into some of them. It's a beautiful art form.
Do your cousins live on the plains, or in the mountains of Colorado? Just beware of Spring rains there!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
|
|
|
noWizardme
Half-elven
Mar 7 2025, 6:33pm
Post #7 of 55
(15064 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Well, I went to see a Spanish magician
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Well, I went to see a Spanish magician. It was a fine act but a bit confusing. He said that as his last trick he'd disappear in a count of three. He went uno, duo.... and then vanished without a tres.
Quite a shock - have you got any sherry?
~~~~~~
"I am not made for querulous pests." Frodo 'Spooner' Baggins.
|
|
|
dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 7 2025, 6:49pm
Post #8 of 55
(15062 views)
Shortcut
|
Two German spies walk into a British pub during WWII. One of them says to the barkeep: "We would like two whiskeys, please." The barkeep says: "Dry?" He replies, "Nein! Zwei!"
Oops....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
|
|
|
noWizardme
Half-elven
Mar 7 2025, 6:57pm
Post #9 of 55
(15061 views)
Shortcut
|
World War II again. A German solider has been captured...
British Soldier: So Jerry, have you got a wife at home?
German Solider: Wife? Nein.
British Soldier: blimey mate, where's your iron cross!?
~~~~~~
"I am not made for querulous pests." Frodo 'Spooner' Baggins.
|
|
|
noWizardme
Half-elven
Mar 7 2025, 7:11pm
Post #10 of 55
(15058 views)
Shortcut
|
I was in Basel and we were walking past a cake shop. My host said "You know that speech by President Kennedy where he said 'Ich bin ein Berliner'? Well in Swiss German that means 'I am a jam doughnut'."
I said this was a wind-up and she swore it wasn't, and so I ended up going into the shop to test it.
"Zwei Berliner bitte."
And I'm sold two jam doughnuts. So it's true.
"It's a good thing he didn't make that speech in Paris," my host reflected as we ate the doughnuts, "because 'ich bin ein Pariser' means 'I am a condom'."
I decided to believe her this time.
~~~~~~
"I am not made for querulous pests." Frodo 'Spooner' Baggins.
(This post was edited by noWizardme on Mar 7 2025, 7:11pm)
|
|
|
Annael
Elvenhome
Mar 7 2025, 7:25pm
Post #11 of 55
(15051 views)
Shortcut
|
of my very first chat noir, Mandu, is of a flowering weigela bush. He's hidden in the shadow under the bush so all you can see is a pair of green eyes that exactly match the green of the leaves.
My cousins live in Lone Tree, SE Denver. I'm also going to visit my bestie's youngest son, who is one of my "other nephews," so I can meet his children - he has a 3-year-old daughter and a new baby boy. They're in Denver as well. And a friend who lives between Denver & Boulder will meet me for dinner one night. Hopefully we won't encounter any flooding!
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
|
|
|
Annael
Elvenhome
Mar 7 2025, 7:33pm
Post #12 of 55
(15046 views)
Shortcut
|
I had heard that about "Ich bin ein Berliner" - the correct wording would have been "Ich bin Berliner," right?
Thanks for the new slang word; I yell foreign insults at drivers who annoy me. Although after my cousin taught me some VERY naughty phrases in Italian, I had a dream that I'd used them on someone who spoke Italian and . . . yeah, one does have to watch it.
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
|
|
|
Annael
Elvenhome
Mar 7 2025, 7:35pm
Post #13 of 55
(15043 views)
Shortcut
|
how do you know that your joke qualifies as a Dad joke?
It should be apparent.
I am a dreamer of words, of written words.
-- Gaston Bachelard
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
|
|
|
Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 7 2025, 8:14pm
Post #14 of 55
(15032 views)
Shortcut
|
(Taranaki Anniversary, when the first settler ship arrived in 1840 to found New Plymouth) so I have a long weekend of doing nothing ... except feeding my brother's cat while he's away.
I think a cheeky mimosa will start the day off nicely, thank you barkeep. Have a great weekend, everyone!
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
|
|
|
Greenwood Hobbit
Valinor
Mar 7 2025, 9:12pm
Post #15 of 55
(15013 views)
Shortcut
|
|
I always have room for tiramisu!
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
So glad you had a great time in Rome. I'm immersed in Venice at the moment - not literally, I don't fancy the state of those canals! - as I'm revisiting Donna Leon's crime thrillers set in La Serenissima. It's interesting that Rome's emblem is a lion; I would have thought, with the Romulus and Remus story, it would have been a wolf. I suppose lions were regarded as more noble!
Our spring weather has been kind here so far, but I'm waiting nervously for the sting in winter's tail. There's still time... My windowsill tomatoes have germinated and I picked up some bargain foxglove plants in a local supermarket which will be planted in the front garden this weekend. Usually they seed themselves, but i think there's too much ground cover in the front for the seeds to actually reach the soil! The one garden foxglove survivor will have some company soon.
I can't think of any other Italian songs apart from Mambo Italiano, and I've already offered that up to a fiesta - aaah, let me see - how about this? A bit crazy, but fun and somewhat Italian. Cheers, folks! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgwa-Wc03RI
(This post was edited by dernwyn on Mar 7 2025, 11:32pm)
|
|
|
noWizardme
Half-elven
Mar 7 2025, 9:40pm
Post #16 of 55
(15001 views)
Shortcut
|
. I had heard that about "Ich bin ein Berliner" - the correct wording would have been "Ich bin Berliner," right?
I think so. But my German has got terribly rusty....
Thanks for the new slang word; I yell foreign insults at drivers who annoy me. Although after my cousin taught me some VERY naughty phrases in Italian, I had a dream that I'd used them on someone who spoke Italian and . . . yeah, one does have to watch it.
Yes, very easy to have an unintended effect swearing in a foreign language (even in the waking world) , unless one is much more fluent than I ever was. Too easy to have an unintended effect - being far ruder than you meant, or being unintentionally funny.
Like the story about Samuel Goldwyn getting cross with colleagues and saying "You guys think I know f--- nothing, but in fact I know f--- all!"
~~~~~~
"I am not made for querulous pests." Frodo 'Spooner' Baggins.
|
|
|
Kimi
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 7 2025, 9:43pm
Post #17 of 55
(15000 views)
Shortcut
|
I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves - and the cat is very sweet. I haven't been to Rome for many years, but do have some fond memories. And Prosecco is always welcome :)
We've had some lovely early autumn weather here this week, with crisp mornings and sunny days. The slightly cooler temperatures and lower humidity generally give me an energy boost (had the best run in ages yesterday), and the last few days have seen a fit of preserving, using some of our garden bounty. I made a big batch of tomato soup, now in the freezer for winter; am about to freeze some more aubergine slices; and this morning we made large amounts of tray-roasted vegetables, which will also be pulled out in winter. We have access to a small wild blackberry patch that's very hit-and-miss, but Mr Kimi gathered a nice bowlful yesterday, enough for two desserts, so I'm making blackberry cobbler tonight and we'll have a blackberry Eton Mess next week. Homemade icecream with our own strawberries is imminent. I've also made ginger syrup - not home-grown, but delicious on pancakes. And we bottled our cider - need to wait for maturity to see if it's drinkable! I plan to dehydrate some apples for winter, too.
Our beetroot have come on well, so I made a dish we enjoy at this time of year, with roasted beetroot, goat cheese and walnuts. Very tasty, but I tend to forget that eating a *lot* of beetroot has some colourful after-effects :)
Wishing everyone a pleasant weekend.
The Passing of Mistress Rose
My historical novels
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
|
|
|
Kimi
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 7 2025, 9:52pm
Post #18 of 55
(14996 views)
Shortcut
|
was my first thought. Then I actually read your post, and saw what long weekend it was :)
Enjoy your extra day off!
The Passing of Mistress Rose
My historical novels
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
|
|
|
Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 7 2025, 11:13pm
Post #19 of 55
(14974 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Do you have a method for freezing pumpkin?
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
I've been told to just cut it and freeze, but I wonder if it should be roasted first, to get a better result when it's thawed.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
|
|
|
dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 7 2025, 11:20pm
Post #20 of 55
(14973 views)
Shortcut
|
|
I can easily imagine that picture!
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Those green eyes...!
You'll be in the plains and foothills, so you'll probably be going swimming! I sometimes think of the flash floods that can happen in the canyons, remembering the near escape Aunt Dora's parents had.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
|
|
|
dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 7 2025, 11:25pm
Post #21 of 55
(14973 views)
Shortcut
|
He gets to go away for the long weekend, and you have to stay and kitty-sit?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
|
|
|
Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 7 2025, 11:28pm
Post #22 of 55
(14972 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Sorry to get your hopes up! :D /
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
|
|
|
Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 7 2025, 11:30pm
Post #23 of 55
(14973 views)
Shortcut
|
I get to pat a cat (for a couple of times before he swipes at me) without having 24/7 care of him, so it works out.
Actually the little beggar did get me this morning. I knew he was reaching his limit re pats but I thought I could another one in before stopping.
Turns out, I could not.
I did, however, find the Betadine antiseptic in their bathroom.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Fantasy novel - The Arcanist's Tattoo
My LOTR fan-fiction
|
|
|
dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 7 2025, 11:37pm
Post #24 of 55
(14970 views)
Shortcut
|
with wanting to plant something when March gets warm: that too-often late cold snap.
That's a young Michael Caine - and why have I never heard of that movie before! Looks like I can stream it...! Thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
|
|
|
dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 7 2025, 11:43pm
Post #25 of 55
(14969 views)
Shortcut
|
I know exactly what you mean. I love it, but it doesn't exactly love me! There are places here where one can get a beetroot, feta and walnut salad, such a delicious combination.
Do you have your own cider-press? I've seen only the huge ones in local barns.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
|
|
|
|
|
1
