Thoughts - A Century Apart

For some reason the First World War has always held a fascination for me - since I first picked up A.J.P. Taylor's book of that name. That "war to end all wars" was, of course, no such thing but it did set the major path for the 20th century socially, politically, geographically and militarily. For some countries, including my own, it was viewed as a coming-of-age as troops were sent to help "the Mother Country".  I won't go into the right or wrong of it all, the death toll or the lost generation that it engendered - it is always easy to do that in hindsight.  Today - April 9th - is observed in Canada as Vimy Ridge Day - a day to remember the sacrifices (3,598 killed and 7,004 wounded) of the Canadian Corps on that Easter Monday in 1917.

My friend Debra has a very moving tribute to the day and the monument that stands at Vimy Ridge today.

Italy is no stranger to earthquakes - some of you may remember that two years ago April 6th we experienced a devastating one here in Italy.   Though it pales in comparison to the quakes that  have taken so many lives and destroyed so much in Japan over the past month I was touched to see this poster on a billboard in our neighbourhood.   I don't think it needs translation and it shows that the people of Italy understand.

09 aprile - Santa Casilda da Toledo

A Mad World, My Masters

If ever Thomas Middleton's title for his 1605 comedy was prophetic it would be today. Except that these days events are far from comedic and seem to be spinning out of control beyond the tragic. I'm almost fearful of picking up a paper or visiting a news website. The turmoil seems never ending and each day brings - even given the media delight in, and inevitable spin on, the "bad" - more fearful events.

Though its hard - and foolish - to try to avoid what is happening around the world something always seems to come along to remind me that there are still good things that abound. And one of them was a posting yesterday from my blog buddy Debra at She Who Seeks.

It is a simple blessing by the Irish mystic, poet and Catholic priest John O'Donohue. I found it lifted my entire day and I hope you will find the same when you click on this link: Beannacht (Blessing).

Thank you Debra for allowing myself to be wrapped in that invisible cloak of love.

18 marzo - San Cirillo di Gerusalemme

Sweet Sharing

I think I may have mentioned in a previous post the Italian tradition of "confetti". Not the paper stuff that is so hard to sweep up and that you find under the couch two years after that really super New Year's Eve party, but the small packets of sugared almonds given as gifts to the guests at weddings, christenings, first communions and other grand events. We were in Firenze for the day on Wednesday and in typical fashion I had an idea where the restaurant we were headed to was located but took a  wrong turn and went passed a store that's sole purpose was to dispense - at no doubt astronomical prices - sweets to delight your guests and make the sisters of the mother-of-the-bride cluck their tongues in jealous righteousness at the expense of it all.

I thought I'd share two pictures of those sweet delights and also share the sweet delights offered by two of my dear blog buddies while I was at it.

As with so many window displays here this one has a touch of class and elegance about it without quite being over-the-top.  This whole shop just oozed "expensive"

Rosina Daintymouth - that's the name of the witch in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretal - isn't the only one to make gingerbread houses to tempt unsuspecting innocents.  Over at She Who Seeks my blog buddy Debra chronicles the Gingerbread Houses that her Rare One, who is not - I might add - a witch, has constructed over the years to tempt her - nor I am implying that Debra is an "innocent". So before I get myself into further trouble just click on the link and take a look at some tasty temptations.  

The elaborate packaging - flowers, faux-pearls, ribbons - hide the simplest of sweets: sugared almonds.  It would almost be a shame to open the packages and I have a feel that more than one nonna has a collection from family events on display in her china cabinet.

My friend Yvette and I often seem to be on the same track with postings and memories. Last week I wrote about presepe here and she shared a comment about her own crèche. Now she has written a lovely post recounting her childhood memories of growing up in Marseilles after the war and the delightful traditions that she encountered then and continues today. It fills my heart with joy to see that the rituals of a Provencal Christmastide are alive, well and being passed on to her grandchildren. And I wish I had a piece of that gâteaux des Rois and a glass of the vin cuit.

14 gennaio - Santa Macrina l'Anziana