Have a Wonderful last Weekend of 2013

Reading with Nonno // Le Stagioni Dell'anno - The Seasons // Contiamo Insieme - Let's Count // L'inventore Pasticcione - The Messy Inventor

I always get confused in the week between Christmas and New Years because Christmas feels so much like the end of the year to me but then New Years drags its heels and takes another week to arrive. 

This weekend is the limbo weekend between the two and we, like many other folk, are still on holiday and enjoying e company of friends and family... That is, until tomorrow when we get in the car for anywhere from 8 to 12 hours to drive back to Milan.  

My plan for the day is to enjoy watching Sera with her grandparents (whom she won't see again for at least some months, poor thing), finish reading my Christmas gifted book Six Years by Harlan Coben, and try to squeeze everything back into the suitcase.

Nonna Gilda climbed up on a ladder yesterday and pulled out some of Fabri's story books from when he was a child for Sera to enjoy. Aren't they wonderfully retro and kitch? We might just have to sneak some of those into the suitcase as well.

I hope you all enjoy the last weekend of 2013!

Winter in Canada

We just got back from our holiday in Canada.


Before we went I had all these wonderful intentions about swimming everyday in my mom's pool, meditating for extended periods and building snowmen in the garden... along with continuing my blog and keeping you all up to date.

Unfortunately, destiny had other plans for me this trip and despite my fantastic form leading up to the trip, Sera and I promptly caught the flu on day three of being in Montreal. We were still ok for the first day and a half at Mont Tremblant where we took advantage of an indoor swimming pool and I had a soak in the outdoor hot tub.

Of course, soaking in a hot tub in -4°c isn't the best thing for the flu (which I still didn't know I had yet) and it then promptly turned into pneumonia.  105°f fever and chills along with a crazy cough and running nose. Aches and pains... you name it! Lucky me!  Spent a fortune at a walk-in clinic in Toronto only to be told I was super-contagious and needed anti-biotics. The doctor also said that if it was 105 the thermometer was broken... well, that's a relief!  We fled Toronto the next day for fear of getting my little nephews sick, that would be the worst! Spent more time driving there and back than actually in Ontario, but I guess even 20 minutes with family is better than nothing.

The rest of the trip in Montreal was a marathon of chicken soup, onesies pyjamas and Sherlock on Netflicks. I can't say it was all bad, cause aside from the cough and laryngitis when else would I get to spend 5 days in pyjamas straight while someone else plays with Sera and keeps her entertained?

We're back home now and preparing for our next trip.  Heading off to Puglia on Saturday to spend time with the Italian family. I hope that at least this time I'll be on my feet and be able to enjoy things a little bit.

Getting healthy is a priority and as soon as I do I promise I'll be back at blogging regularly!

Highlights from the trip:

• playing in the snow
• the hottub, despite its consequences
• spending time with grandma
• watching my nephew Max teach Sera how to make tea
• impromptu dinner at my best friends' house
• Tommy Hilfiger outlet shopping
• Seeing Frozen in English in theatres
• Watching Sera eat sticky maple syrup on snow

Travelling with Kids: The En-Route Packing List

Since Sera was born we've been on a handful of international trips; Canada twice, Japan, Thailand and this week we're heading back to Canada again so that she can experience a true Canadian winter.

Packing for a long-haul flight and an international trip is all about preparation. If you're well prepared the experience can be quite pleasant and almost completely stress free. That's my own goal for us for Saturday.

Essentially you can divide your packing preparation into 2 different categories: en-route and arrived. This post is about the stuff you need en-route.

Pack light. Pack smart. Don't bring anything you don't need. In the case of layovers or rushes to the gate your en-route luggage quickly becomes very, very annoying.  I like a backpack so I can remain hands free or something light and easy on wheels that I can drag along beside me. I also like to take along a stroller.

Hygiene; 

Airports and airplanes are notorious for spreading germs and bacteria. It's actually as likely to catch a cold or 24 hour bug on a plane as in a hospital.  This subcategory is essential for peace of mind during and after the flight. Bring along:

• small (less than 100ml) bottle of antibacterial hand sanitiser. Use it to clean the tray tables and armrests of your seats as well as any buttons or other controllers for the entertainment system. Bring it along with you to the bathroom for washing your hands if you go. Aim to clean your own and little one's hands once an hour or so during play and especially before eating.
• Paper face tissues. To be used with the hand sanitiser or for cleaning up small spills, wiping noses and drying tears.  Par for the course with small kids.
• Baby wipes. These are needed for diaper changes, but also come in handy for tones of other uses. 
• Diapers as needed (take more than you think you'll use, plan 1 per hour plus 2 extra)
• moisturiser, lip balm (planes get very dry)
• toothbrushes and small toothpaste
• any prescription medications
• children's fever medication and digital thermometer (it is awful when your child comes down with a fever 2 hours into a 10 hour flight and not being able to do anything about it... bringing this stuff along will make sure that if it happens you're prepared)

Entertainment;

A busy kid is a happy kid and shortly, a sleeping kid. The only moment you're off the hook when travelling with a toddler is when they're asleep so that's your goal for at least part of the fight. Keeping the little angel busy will help you get there.  Here's what works for us:

• Pack little gifts. These can be everyday items or things you were going to bring along anyhow wrapped in colourful paper. Some examples from our past bags are: character printed face tissues, a box of raisins, a sheet of stickers, hair elastics, a small toy, a favourite toy you told then needed to stay at home. When you give these to your child let them unwrap them by themselves. Let them be slow doing it. Then when they get the gift out, let them interact with it however they want. Don't show them what to do. Let them figure it out on their own. Pace yourself. Let them get bored before moving onto the next thing.
• Snacks can double as entertainment. Let the be slow eating the meal and the snacks. Bring along your own healthy snacks and pull them out as necessary... since you're already fighting with jet lag on arrival don't be too strict on mealtimes.
• Electronic toys. Be respectful of your neighbours by making sure you have headphones which are suitable for your child and then go crazy downloading free, fun, educational apps for your kids to explore in-flight. I have some suggestion here and here. Make sure to bring along your charger, some planes have power outlets at your seat.
• No gadgets? No problem! Bring along the headphones anyhow and let your child watch some in flight movies. You can check with your airline before you fly as to what films are playing on your flight and start to get excited about a hour reading your book while the kiddie is mesmerised by the latest Pixar or Disney.
• Colour. Bring along a small pad of paper and a multicoloured pen. I don't recommend crayons, markers o anything similar because you'll spend most of the flight on your hands and knees looking for the yellow marker cap and cleaning up messes.
• Favourite cuddly toy.

Fuel;

The plane needs fuel, but so do you and your family. I mentioned snacks above but I can't stress how important they can be en-route. You may find yourself on a long layover with only a Maconald's in sight (AbuDhabi).  Pack what you would normally snack on at home and a few special snacks too. Put each snack in its own resealable plastic bag and bring along a small container that your child can hold in which you can put small rations. That way if everything does end up spilt all over you're looking at cleaning up 5 crackers, not 50.  Here are some ideas:

• baby carrots
• crackers
• beef jerky/salami sticks
• portable snack cheese
• small juice box (less than 100ml)
• empty sippy cup which you can pour the drinks they give you on board into in order to avoid spilling disasters.

Other Important Items;

You don't know what's going to happen so it's better to be prepared.

• full change of clothes for your child
• change of shirt for you
• bracelet (can also be made of duct tape) attached to your child's wrist with  name and your contact telephone number
• medical information / health cards
• passports
• letter of permission to travel with your child from non accompanying parent if you're not travelling together

Some more tips:

• Make sure all of your liquids (toothpaste, hand sanitiser, moisturiser, lip balm, medications, juice box etc.) are less than 100ml in size and separated from the rest of your carry-on in a Ziploc bag when you go through security check.
• Don't bring along heavy books or magazines to read during the flight. Download the digital copy or just read what you find on board - if you get a chance to read at all in between entertaining your little one.
• Do your best to make sure that your child doesn't kick the seat in front of him/her or get too wild during the flight.  This is not the best time to take a break from parenting and good manners, even if it is a start to your holiday. Taking your child for a walk to the bathroom with you if they need to calm down at any point during the flight can really help out. Sometimes distraction is the best way to avoid misbehaviour.
• Make the day you travel into an adventure. Even though you know that the security check is a hassle, you can make it seem fun to your child by using a bit of imagination. Point out all the unusual things that you can see in an airport. Talk about how the airplane food is cool cause it's on it's own trays. Enjoy looking out the window together. Ask your child questions about what is happening... you might just end up seeing the day as a fun family day out!

Hopefully these its of advice will help take away a bit of the travel stress on your next flight with a toddler and that every thing goes to plan on our trip!

BuonViaggio!!

What I've Been Doing Wednesday

Has it really been a week since I've posted? Naughty me!  Here's a quick catchup on what you've missed:

Sera started 'Sezione Primavera' which is a grade between Pre-school and Kindergarten for kids born from January to May. In Italy the grade a child is in is determined by the year they were born and not from September to September like in Canada.  Sera was born in 2011 so can't qualify for real Kindergarten but is too old for Preschool/daycare cause she's basically at the same level as the kids born 28 days earlier than her.  Sezione Primavera is for the kids born from January though the springtime of the year following who will turn three this year but don't officially qualify for actual Kindergarten.

All this said, the insermento* is going horribly.  Sera seems to hate her class and cries a lot every morning when I drop her off. This morning she grabbed onto my leg and told me 'I don't like school.' through her tears.  It's really tough for both of us.  My heart breaks a little and when I leave I stand outside the door until I hear her stop crying. The teachers say she doesn't cry long but instead curls up and tries to sleep on the couch... which I imagine can't be easy in a small room with twenty loud and crazy kids.  I hope it gets better soon especially since last year she loved her old school and was very excited to go every morning.

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When the weather gets colder and the leaves start changing colours I have a few things I always instinctively do.  I start researching soup recipes, thinking about getting out my winter clothes (though I never do until it's too late and I'm freezing in the house in a tank-top) and I drag out my pink-polka dot bag with all of my knitting needles.  That's my official cue that the fall has arrived.

This week I have started a new project... a scarf and hat for Sera. The wool was gifted to me by an amazing crochet artist friend and x-neighbour named Daniela Cerri several years ago for my birthday and has been crying out to be used now for ages. It's very woolly and fluffy and I've used an amazing pompom tutorial for some creative finishes so keep your eyes open for the completed work... In the meantime here's a peek.... though it's not quite finished Sera has told me 'It's my favorite!'


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On a spiritual journey update I have started Yoga classes on Mondays and an definitely enjoying them. The practise is pretty much one-on-one with the teacher and is very very meditation centred. It's good because I'm already quite involved in my daily meditations so it's just a bonus that I have even more clarity during the class.  Speaking of meditation, a new series with Deepak Chopra 'The Secrets of Mediattion' started on Monday so I'm super excited for that. It's not to late to join in and it's really really accessible to beginners. And it's free!  The last 21 day meditation challenge I did with Deva Premal and Miten was surprising.  I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did and definitely didn't expect to adopt a mantra practise, but by day 6 I was 100% loving it. It's taught me that it's worth trying something new and letting go of your prejudices.

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Here's a quick list on the rest of what's been keeping me away from you:

What I've been watching: Continuum Season 2

What I've been reading: A brilliant article on Painful Periods and an alternative to disposable sanitary products by Christina at A Clean Plate - I had been meaning to write a similar article but couldn't have said it better. She talks about diet at the beginning of the article but then goes onto talking about something I love love love...

What I've been working on: Animating the kiss scene from Hick!

What app I've been using: Duolingo to brush up on my French. It's so embarrassing to have come from Quebec and not speak a word!

Where I've been: We spent the weekend in Piemonte near Barolo drinking amazing wines and eating tartufo with friends. Yum!


*inserimento is a period of time where a child is introduced slowly to a new school environment by gradually increasing the time away from the mother on a daily basis.  This period normally lasts 2 weeks.

A Tuscan Sun

 We just got back from 5 days in Tuscany.  What a wonderfully relaxing trip!

After arriving at Le Tegole, located near Riparbella with its own private 2km driveway, I didn't move at all except to venture out to some of the wonderful restaurants nearby... and why would I? The agroturismo is actually a collection of 11 farm houses on a hill that have been converted into rooms and apartments.  We had a place with it's own large kitchen, master bedroom and bath.  The structure also boasts its own restaurant, bar, two swimming pools a children's play area and a tennis court. We stayed there along with some other friends and when Sera wasn't swimming or swinging and sliding, she was playing happily with our friends' daughters or exploring the large grounds.

After 3 nights we moved further towards Florence to visit my hubby's cousins in Certaldo. When we were there we didn't do much more than spend time with family, but we did stay at the lovely hotel Certaldo which is an old mill on the river that passes through the town.  It too had a pool and though the weather was changing we still managed to get in another dip.  

I love going to Tuscany because regardless as to whether you're touring, visiting friends or family you're always going to manage to eat and drink well, and even the drive from one spot to another is breathtaking. 

Postcards from Cattolica

We just got back from a sunny week on the beach in Cattolica, Italy. Despite the name, this resort town is not a haven for religious zealots, quite the contrary in fact, unlike most cities in Italy I didn't see a single church during our stay.

No, the Catholic religion isn't the main draw for this resort town. The main draw is the beach. And oh! How the Italians worship their beloved Mare and Spiaggia you might start thinking that this was a religious experience after-all! The entire seafront is tiled with stabilimenti balinear (bathing establishments... private access beaches) each one with rows upon rows of sun chairs and umbrellas set up like pews to worship the sun and sea. This resort city did start out as a stop on pilgrimages (hence the name) but has been a tourist haven and beach destination since the end of the first world war.  Each hotel is affiliated with a beach and when you arrive the first day you're given your seat (back row for us) for the rest of your stay. You can leave your sand toys and towels overnight and find them fresh and ready the next day for more fun in the sun.

Cattolica is not a place I would have enjoyed a few years ago.  The beaches are crowded despite having rented your own little space.  The water isn't crystal or clear or even blue for that matter, but more of a cloudy forest green.  The sand is nicer than I've seen on Puglia's free beaches in that it's cleaned daily (you're paying for that too) but it's nothing compared to my exotic beach experiences of Australia and Thailand or my childhood memories of time spent in Florida or New England.  Regardless, it was sandy enough for Sera to enjoy playing in the shade for hours on end every morning of our stay and get herself breaded with it like a squirming ,laughing chicken breast, ready for the fryer.

In the evenings the city cools down but the nightlife really heats up. After dinner swarms of people take to the pedestrian shopping streets and boardwalk which seem to stretch all the way to Rimini and beyond and just wander around, trying to digest the traditionally abundant vacation food consumed.  I have to admit that we overate as well, consuming starters, first and second courses at every meal, including breakfast!  There were young people everywhere and bars and restaurants were full but there wasn't the same rowdy feeling you can sense in cities like Las Vegas or several islands of Greece.  All in all it seemed like a place for young people on beach based holidays, families with children and teens who hadn't quite ventured out on their own yet, but who were allowed to socialise with the friends they'd met on vacation after sundown without chaperone's.

As a young mum (I like that saying better than a mother of young children as it implies that I'm young as well), the place was fantastic and a perfect family destination. Sera had the time of her life!  In every waking moment the girl was having a blast.  Between jumping in the city's play-fountain, swimming in the sea, playing in the sand, splashing in the pool, making friends in baby-dance, playing in the kids' room and consuming as much ice cream as she could manage the girl just barely had enough time to get in her naps and overnight sleep.  She seemed carefree and entertained the entire time.

Now, that's not to say that I was carefree and entertained. Going on holiday with a two-year-old is not much different than staying at home with a two year old in that it's a lot of work for mum. If Sera was in the pool I was in the pool monitoring her jumps and dives (she's getting quite good but I'm still terrified she'll smash into the wall).  If she was playing in the sand I was on 'stay in the shade Sera!' and brushing sand from her eyes mode.  If she was in the ocean I was on the lookout for crabs, stones she could step on, and her head bobbing under. In other words, lots of hard work... but seeing how much fun she was having and in the moments I did just relax and let things go I was totally and completely happy.

The reason we chose Cattolica this year also had a lot to do with Sera's grandparents and the proximity to their home in Puglia. Cattolica is just about half way driving for all of us.  I think that with the way things went this week we'll probably think about doing the same thing next year.  Maybe we'll see you there!

Gardaland with a 2 year old

We were in Gardaland recently having received tickets as a gift from a friend some of the questions I'm asked by any other mums and dads I mention it to is 'did Sera enjoy it / did you have fun / how was it?' so here goes:

Gardaland is Italy's biggest and well known theme park located next to a whole bunch of newer theme parks by Lago di Garda, a 1.5 hour drive from Milan.  The lake in itself hosts a billion reasons for visiting, but the theme park attracts even more tourists to the area and those who are looking to spend part of the day getting away from all that natural beauty.

The park itself boasts loads of rides and attractions for teens and adults and I think that that's really it's main draw.  There are a whole load of thrill rides and roller coasters and the yearly investment seems to be in those types of attractions. I guess the target audience isn't parents of little kiddies, but rather the 6 and over crown, and especially the 14 and over crowd.

In terms of the little guys, there is an area called fantasy land with a few train rides, a banana 'boat' which spins, but not on water, some horse ride, a few plane rides and other really really boring rides for the parents but which toddlers really enjoy.  Sera was frightened by one of the plane rides but I was on it with her so it was fine.  In other areas of the park you can find shows including a Madagascar branded circus act, a magic show with bubbles and a puppet show that the little ones can enjoy. There are also two carousels, a Pirates of the Caribbean copy and a magic house that gives the illusion of flipping upside down, all of which a 2 year old can ride on.... though at times on some of the rides I was thinking that we were being quite irresponsible parents subjecting Sera to strong images and ideas. I was terrified of the sea monster at the end of the pirate ride and Sera just said 'again!'.

We had lunch at the burger restaurant Covo dei Bucaneri near the pirates ride and later, after Sera fell asleep from all the fun we had a surprisingly good dinner (I had steak) at the Locanda di Corsaro Nero, also near the pirate ride.  Though the prices are more expensive than outside the park, both lunch and dinner exceeded expectations and far surpassed anything I ever ate at a Disney resort.

Sera really enjoyed the day and we had a great time watching her enjoy herself.  Her favourite by far was one of the carousels where every time it stopped she got to choose another animal or seat without having to get off and get back in line. She liked the princess carriage the most.

Seeing how it's so close I figure we'll probably go back another time, maybe when she's 6 or so so that she can enjoy more of the rides and have a stronger memory of the day.  I'm happy we didn't pay for the tickets however as there was a vast majority of the park we didn't get to see or enjoy yet.  All in all it was a really lovely day and I'd give it a 8 out of 10 and recommend it to friends.

Lido di Segirno

We spent this past Sunday at the Lido di Segrino after purchasing a promotional package for entry and lunch.  On their website you can see similar promotions from 20-25€ depending on what you're interested in doing or eating.

It takes about 50 minutes to drive from Milan and can be a nice family day out. We waded in the beautiful lake, ate a light lunch, swam in the little pool and even went out for a canoe ride.

If I'm being entirely critical however I'd have to say that we probably wouldn't return.  With only a little tiny bit of effort the place could have been amazing and instead the establishment had overlooked some critical details. The shoreline wasn't maintained well with the grass only cut and polished until about 15 meters to the water and then inexplicably left overgrown. There was also some very large sharp rocks which could have easily been moved out of the way of potential bathers and bits of rubbish which had floated ashore that was not removed. The pool is very small at roughly 3x6 meters in diameter, about 110cm deep at all parts and wasn't supervised. Therefore it was full of rowdy teenagers and adults splashing jumping and generally being anti-social (and quite dangerous actually).  At the restaurant the waiter was confused and couldn't remember table numbers.  The bathrooms weren't clean (a pet-peeve of mine, it can ruin my day).

On the plus side, lakes are not really appreciated in Italy the same way they are in Canada and I was thrilled to be able to share some time in a canoe with the people I love most.  We did encounter some high winds on the way back to shore and only just beat a storm (check out the sky in the photo!), but it was still a lot of fun. Especially since I wasn't the one paddling!

It's a bit of a shame because the place could have been a 10 out of 10 in terms of a family fun day, but instead it can only claim a 6 out of 10 and for just silly reasons. I hope that they figure out some of these issues so that we can go back and check it out another time but as it is now, I'll keep looking for my paradise by the lake.

off to Friuli - part 2

this is part 2 of our Friuliano wine trip... for part 1 click here
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Sera woke us on Friday morning and we all went downstairs for breakfast in our cottage's kitchen. Our friends soon joined us and we enjoyed bread, coffee, tea, fruit and cookies before heading out.

Our first stop was the cantina comunale in Cormons

Later on we went to the Cantina and had a break in their courtyard.

At Mulin Vecio in Gradisca d'Isonzo I had, sadly to say, the worst dining experience I've ever had while living in Italy.  We initially chose the restaurant because it was recommended by the Slow Food guide, which is normally spot on with reagrds to restaurants and good eating. In this case they couldn't have been more wrong, however and I'm planning to write them to warn them that their reputation is on the line if they keep promoting this establishment.  We had booked a table outside and so when we weren't greeted at the entrance, made our way to the courtyard, where the table was set up for our party. Everyone was hungry and eager to eat and the kids needed to be fed first. When we finally found someone who seemed to be popping in and out of the kitchen (not a waitress exactly) and asked her to heat the baby food, we didn't get a response, just the jar snatched from my friend's hands.

Now, we're lucky that in Italy little kids are accomodated for at all but after our experience with the crayons and the dominoes from the night before you can imagine our surprise at the contrast. Another friend at the table tried to explain the gesture saying that the Friuliani are just brusk like that, but as I suspected, there was more to the story.

The baby food arrived warmed to satisfaction 15 minutes later and we still hadn't seen any wait staff. It seemed as if no one worked there. When we finally did find the waiter and asked for the menu he said there was none (not uncommon for a small restaurant in italy) and began to list the dishes. Pasta and Fagioli, Baccalà con Polenta or Hot Dogs and Crauti.... and that's it. That's all they had!

Well, now having wasted 30 minutes of our lives and the baby eating we couldn't walk out and were stuck with the selection, none of which suitable for either Sera or I.  In the end we ordered 4 pasta fagioli, a salumi plate and a baccala.  After another 30 minutes only teo of the pasta fagioli turned up at the table and the salumi on a styrofoam platter. After having cancelled the others which never arrived we went inside to pay the bill only to discover that the whole debaucle cost 30 euros per person!!  It was infuriating. Not having a written menu meant they could charge whatever they wanted and we'd have to pay it.
Avoid this restaurant!

It was 26 degrees outside and sunny when wre got back to La Subida so Sera and I changed into bathing suits and head down to the pool to check things out.  The main part of the pool was sectioned off as closed but the shallow area was open so we dangled our feet in the very cold water for a while before Sera jumped in for a quick dip. I couldn't handle the temperature and decided that for me up to the knees was fine. Afterwards we played in their garden and playground and then went back tot he room to rest up for dinner.

This photo of gustobase is courtesy of TripAdvisor

We ended up wandering around the town of Cividale del Friuli in search for somewhere to eat. Settling upon Gustobase, an adorable tiny cafe located in Piazza Paolo Diacono, we grabbed a corner boot in the back and proceeded to order pretty much every starter and pasta dish on the menu (afteral, we didn't really have lunch).  The food and service was gorgeous from start to finish, the atmosphere delightful with retro digital clocks and wood panelling, as well as a healthy wine cellar.  This meal entirely made up for lunch!!


gustobase
Piazza Paolo Diacono, 24

33043 Cividale del Friuli, Italy
tel: 0039432731383

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To come in part 3: Trieste, a long walk, Pordenone

off to Friuli - part 1

I meant to post about our weekend trip while away but completely forgot that there was no wifi available during our stay.... here's what I wrote when we were gone:

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Traffic traffic and more traffic awaited us, as it did everyone, on the Italian motorway system Thursday morning. Every time there's a public holiday anywhere close to a weekend (that being any day except for Wednesday) Italians take 'il ponte' or 'the bridge', effectively meaning that they decide not to go to work on the offending Monday or Friday in between the beloved weekend and the freebie day off. That way instead of one day off for gardening or lounging around you get a full 4 to escape the city and have a long-weekend adventure. And, similarly to everything closing down come August, everyone does.

This weekends bridge is due to the liberation from German occupation at the end of World War Two.

Sera slept for most of the cars ride, and we stopped at a rest area sometime after noon to consume the picnic lunch I had packed. Deli meats, bread, mustard packets, fruit, salad (though I forgot the dressing), juice, chips, olives, cheeses.... I got a little carried away at the supermarket since it had been so long since I've had a picnic. We spread a blanket out on the grass and afterwards Sera collected the small windflowers surrounding us.

There was more traffic after our stop and we didn't actually reach La Subida until around five. Our room turned out to actually be a two story cottage house on the hillside with a gorgeous garden and adorable kitchen with a central fireplace. There was still sun and so we sat on the grass and waited for our friends to arrive.

playing on the grass outside our cottage

But now, onto the wine... We opened the bottles that they had left for us in our rooms for a pre-dinner aperitivo starting with a Fruilano Anzelin 2011; simple, honest and clean as wines go but surprisingly strong at 14%. Accompanied by olives and bruschettini we moved onto another Friulano by Carlo di Pradis with aromatic undertones of medlar fruits, and yellow plums; not at all floral but with a hint of linden berries; definitely a single step up from the Anzelin and clean on the pallet in every way.

afternoon wine tasting with friends and family

We booked dinner at La Subida's Trattoria  itself to be able to take advantage of our location and to learn for ourselves if the reviews were true. On trip advisor they ranked number one and have over 86 'excellent' reviews. The atmosphere was lovely with a nice large fireplace upon entering. We had a table in the back room in the corner and were promptly served gigantic Parmesan cheese 'lollipops', which were delicious and which of course, Sera enjoyed thoroughly.

As a starter we had the prosciutto crudo which was gorgeous, the equivalent of crispy bacon but in salumi form. I had a pasta and followed it up with a beautifully prepared and absolutely delicious tagliata di vitello. Yum!

The wait staff was friendly and very considerate to all our needs. They provided Sera with coloured pencils and a dominoes set (most of which we found in her shirt when we got back to the rom later on... little thief!).

The wine was quite nice too. We switched to reds and tried a 2008 Scioppettino di Prepotto byViarte and the Borgo San Daniele 2006 Arbis Ròs.  The Sciopettino was a ruby-violet with hints of blueberry, blackberries adn raspberries and the the ArbisRòs was a beautiful ruby red with flavors of cherries, raspberries and strawberries.  Two very fruity but not too feminine, clean wines.

To come in part 2: An awful restaurant, visiting cantinas, a cool dip in the pool, a wonderful restaurant....

wine review Wednesday

I'm skipping a single wine review today as tomorrow we're off for a whole wine tour weekend in Fruili with friends.

We're planning to stay at La Subida, with its fantastically famous restaurant and notoriously hospitable hosts. The agroturism is centred in the middle of some of the most prestigious vineyards of Collio Goriziano. It boasts a garden and swimming pool (though I doubt the weather will permit any splashing)' tennis courts, kids' playground and a stables.  Sera will have a chance to meet their horses and run around in the countryside while we enjoy the typical dishes and wines.

We also intend to visit a few cantinas in the region as well as travelling to some old medieval towns and San Daniele to eat their famous prosciutto crudo. Yum!

Check back tomorrow to see how the adventure is going!

Tickled Pink about Color wonder

Though having a toddler is a constant joy and learning adventure, it can also be challenging and at times, let's face it; embarrassing.

A few weeks back we were with some friends and their kids at a lovely restaurant in an agroturismo in Reggio Emilia when the owner of the restaurant in an act of ill-thought-out kindness presented the young ones with their own booth table in the restaurant, large sheets of gleaming white paper and markers in every colour of the rainbow. How lovely! We parents were free to enjoy the evening, sipping the local wines, gorging ourselves on paccheri and tartufo while the kiddies coloured happily in the background.

Only problem was, they also managed to colour the background itself! When the wine was long gone and our bellies were full we rose to collect our little darlings only to find table, chairs, walls and cushions having become an extension to their perception of what seemed to be fair game as far as canvas goes when mum and dad aren't looking on.

Red-faced we tugged the little artists away, gave our apologies (along with a nice tip and the hopes that the markers were the washable kind) and head off into the night.

I don't bring regular markers with me to public places or even friends homes when we're out in the evenings specifically to avoid similar situations. I would sometimes bring coloured pencils but they can need sharpening and somehow get on everything anyhow.

So how does a modern parent avoid this kind of faux-pas while still helping their child to express themselves artistically in a public environment?

Recently we've been packing Color-wonder marker pads and markers in our play bag and taking those with us to restaurants, hotels, to friends' and in the car.They're a brilliant invention in that they only colour on the paper that is made to go with them because the colour appears due to a chemical reaction with the paper itself and otherwise they're transparent. Made by crayola, they are more expensive than regular markers and paper but I love the freedom they give Sera in that I'm not constantly having to police her.

Some kids might find them frustrating at first because it does take a few seconds for the colour to appear after the marker has touched the page, but perhaps that's a bonus because we can teach our kids about creative expression and patience at the same time.