One Scheme of Happiness

Contest #1 Winner Announcement!

I just loved your answers to last week's contest, when you all shared your fond thoughts of Italy.  Reading them was so much fun for me, as I sit here munching pasta and longing for gelato and canals and figs and lemoncello.  Thanks to everyone who played! 

It made me think back on our days in Italy, first way back in 2005...

At Trevi Fountain, in Rome...of course, we threw coins.

 

Among the ruins...

(what the heck am I doing there?  Holding up the sky?)

Sailing the Amalfi Coast...

 

And then, our visit to Venice in 2008...we rode a gondola through the canals...

 

...crossed Rialto Bridge...

 

...and faced off against the lions...

 

I am ready to go back! 

But enough fond memories. 

We have a winner!

Congrats to.....SHIRLEY!!! 

Shirley, I'll be sending you an email.  Please send back your mailing address and I'll get your book out to you soon!

Stick around, we'll have another contest on Friday (and shhhh....the prize will be yarn!)

Those Tough Venetian Pigeons

 

11/26/08: It was way too cold for the  pigeons to be splashing about in the water, but there they go.  Nothing fazed them.

Looking Up

 

11/26/08: Venice loves wee naked boy-cherubs.  We found them flitting about everywhere.  Here they prance over an otherwise nondescript doorway.

But Wait! There's More!

For Spacedlaw...

 

11/26/08: Mars ~ proudly boasting the best (and biggest) butt we found in Venice.

  Although Neptune's wasn't shabby either.

Pillars of Death

 

11/26/08: In the mid-1800s, it was between these two pillars in St. Mark's square that the executions would take place.  Superstitious locals still refuse to walk between the pillars of St. Mark's winged lion and St. Teodoro.  They take the loooong way around.

Lion vs. Lion

11/26/08: Outside St. Mark's.

 

Hail to the conquering beast.

Nom Nom Nom

 
11/27/08:  Relief on the side of St. Mark's in Venice.  Beware the shoulder munching lions.

***************************

Today: The knitting is still secret.  The Mom is recovering well (thanks for all of your sweet comments).  I got to see old friends this weekend.

 

Now I am writing a final paper.  Get thee away from me, Internet, until the writings be done.  Then bring me a cocktail.  And cheese on toast.

In the Castello

 

Morning chores.

Ugly Man on a Church

 

11/27/08:  Not quite a gargoyle...some wretched demon perhaps? 

How to Find San Marco

 

Follow the signs.

 

Try not to lose your way.

 

Mind the water, now.

 

Through a crevase.

 

And another...

 

Over a bridge.

 

Past a church.

And a canal or three or eight or twelve...

 

This way, follow me...