Fall is here...

Ciao a tutti!
Hoping everybody is well and that life treating them as deserved!
Things here have calmed down and life is back to normal after our summer of great holidays and guests...but now fall is here! Days in Rome are still in the mid-high 70s but the nights are down in the low 60s. Please know that I am not complaining - I think this is a lovely time of the year. It is funny when you see some of the Italians this time of the year...you would think that winter was here. I have already started seeing people wandering the streets in down-parkers. It kind-of makes me laugh (and wonder what they will do when winter truly gets here).
Though the leaves have not stated changing yet, the markets have started with the fall colors...take a look:


A display at Campo di Fiori...fall is here...

On the homefront things are also quiet...
Tom is working hard and will be traveling to Switzerland for the next two weeks. On the 15th of October I will be joining him for a week get-away. Though he will be working I get a chance to wander around the lovely area of Lausanne Switzerland and spend beautiful Swiss nights with my honey. I am sure it will be a colorful blog posting when we return.
I have been keeping myself busy with my Italian lessons, my ceramic classes and starting my fall cooking...

• I am proud that my Italian is improving - still not fluent but I am understanding much more than I did a year ago. Though my speach still needs work - it is also coming along. 
• My Ceramics class is still my once-a-week therapy. I am having a lot of fun experimenting with different styles and forms. Presently, I am waiting for a bowl I made to fired so I moved on to an oil painting in the meantime. It's a little scary but also exciting at the same time. Take a look at some of my work...

My last creation - we call it Il Brutto Gatto (the ugly cat)

My pre-firing bowl....

...now to decide how to paint it!

• Since fall is here - it is also time to start cooking more in the kitchen learning and creating some good fall Italian food. Since the temperature has dropped it is definitely time for some good hearty soups - I have started with a wonderful homemade Lentil soup with Guanciale (a form of Italian bacon made from the pigs cheek). The wonderful fall vegetables here in Rome is making my job a lot easier - flavors, flavors, flavors...

Italian Lentil Soup with Guanciale

• Lastly, from the kitchen... For the past few years I have been collecting recipes for Sicilian Caponata (an Italian Eggplant Appetizer - that I remember fondly from my young). I have a recipe from a chef and friend in Richmond - Paolo from Sensi, one from the chef at the Hotel Sant'Andrea Sicily and I have one from magnificent Sicilian cookbook. I have decided to take all three recipes, combine them and make my own version using all the best parts...according to Tom the results we delicious. I have made 2 batches and I am on my way to perfecting an amazing Caponata.

Before signing off I would like to take a small step back in time. As many of you know, Tom & I went back to the US in August for my neice Lisa's wedding. We have received a few photos from that fantastic event - we hope you enjoy...


Tom & I all dressed up...

Dad, Lisa, Steve & Mom
Looking great!

We have to again thank Lisa & Steve for letting us be part of their most amazing day!

Well, that is enough of what's going on here -
We wish everybody a wonderful life until next I post!
Ciao for now!
Abbracci a tutti!
Ron & Tom