The Day After The Party

The day after the party was spent catching up on some much needed rest. We all took the lazy approach today but we also did a little clean-up and in the evening had a ride in the country: We were on a mission.


Too much party or still some jet lag?


Even though Ameridad is supervising when this photo was taken I will have to say that we all helped with the clean-up today.


A beautiful ride through the countryside at sundown.


Arriving at our destination, Bagnacavallo.


Mission accomplished, our first stop at the gelato store since we arrived!

After our gelato we headed home and from the conversation, tomorrow will bring a mystery trip.

July Fourth In Italy

Not wanting to miss out on the fourth of July celebration, we had one in Italy. Friends, American and Italian, were invited for a cookout along with fireworks. A lot of preparation went into the decorations and the perfect menu to serve our guests. It was a hot, hot, hot day but we all pitched in and had fun cooking and decorating together.

Danilo working on the outside decorations.


Cyndi hanging a flag from the balcony

The menu for the cookout included: cole slaw, deviled eggs, potato salad, baked beans, hot dogs, brats, watermelon, cupcakes, key lime pie, rice krispie treats, and cold beer or wine.

Ameridad and Mom working on jello jigglers.


Deviled eggs made with love!

With all the preparations done it was time to meet and greet the guests.

The hostesses with the mostest!

Amerimom and Ameridad enjoying the fruits of our labor.

Our Italian guests and one expat.

The mayor of one of our cities on the phone.

Expat on the left with her Italian family.



After our delicious meal and great conversation it was time to celebrate with some fireworks.

Happy Birthday America!

The Firecracker that wouldn't end.

Italy Day Two

Today was spent trying to get on the time zone of the Italians, unpacking, shopping for a party, catching up with as much conversation as we could, a night drive in the country, and a stop at a local festival.


Our first convertible ride this trip.



Stopping at Cyndi and Danilo's favorite restaurant for one of their favorite pasta dishes. The name of the restaurant, "Senza Nome," translates to "without name." The waitress gave us the wrong food and tried to pass it off as our error. Since Danilo ordered the food we knew that the problem wasn't in our ordering, but since it is Italy we all accepted her apologizes and ate what she brought to the table. Lucky for us it was good, but from the two Italians I know it wasn't as good as what we ordered. We are planning on going back again for the correct food and not sit at her station.


The festival where we stopped on our second night in Italy was at a landing field. We had permission to get into the airplane and as you can see, Bruce was happily playing pilot.


Bruce and Cyndi by the plane.


A ride in the country.

Oh, Oh Part II

Reading yesterday's post you all know that we were stuck on the airplane while mechanical problems were being worked on. After two hours of not knowing when or if we would leave, we headed out to Italy with a big delay. Many on board had connecting flights waiting at the other end and we all were wondering if we would make it in time.



Our destination on this flight was to Amsterdam and we originally had a four and a half hour lay-over. Maybe, just maybe, we would make. This thought was never far from our minds as we headed out on the next part of our flight.

We made it! Somehow we got through the Amsterdam Airport and the security and made our connection to Bologna. You can see from the photo that we were pretty sleep-deprived. I at this point had been up twenty-two hours and this doesn't include the lack of sleep the night before the trip, as I was too excited to sleep.


Arriving in Bologna and suddenly we both are wide awake and ready to go.


Hard to believe it but our first food in Italy was at a Burger King. Cyndi hardly goes to the Burger King and I had a little upset tummy so a burger sounded like a good idea. The food did the trick and then it was time to head for home.


Opus checking out the items brought over for the cookout this weekend.


Roscoe getting tired of posing for photos.

After getting settled and trying to tell our bodies that it was time for some sleep, we called it a day.

OH, OH!

It's here! It's here! We have talked about doing this since we were in Italy three years ago. Ameridad and I are heading back to Italy together to visit Cyndi and Danilo!

With all of the final things taken care of, the most difficult part of our journey was left for last: packing everything that we needed to take. Not only did we need to pack for us and bring along a lot of things we probably won't need, but we also had to bring items with us that have been requested and some that weren't.

There are many things that cannot be found in Italy, so when trips are made surprises always come along with us. Everything that was to be packed was put out and left in the hands of Ameridad to do his magic and get everything into the suitcases and make sure we were under the weight limits set by the mean old airlines.


Some of the many things you cannot find in Italy: peanut butter cups, peeps, twizzlers, cookie mixes, ranch mixes, and July 4 decorations.




Waiting at the airport for the first part of the trip.


So far so good, waiting in Detroit to board for Italy!


Oh, oh! Waiting and waiting on board for several hours in Detroit. Seems that there is a problem with something on the wing that needs to be fixed. All on board including the pilot do not know if this problem can be fixed. This most certainly is not a good thing as almost all have connecting flights waiting at the other end. I'm all for fixing whatever is wrong, unlike some other people on board who just want to take off. Even though I am not a pilot, I am pretty sure that those thingies are really important for the success of our flight.

What will happen? Will we spend the night in Detroit? Will the problem be fixed and we leave late? If we leave, will we get our connecting flight?

Find out tomorrow.

Fun, Fun, & More Fun!

Scott, Emily, and Cara came up this last week for three days of birthday celebrations, fun, hard play, swimming, paddle boat rides and just hanging out together.

The first thing we had to do was check out all of the new things that I found at garage sales that Cara needed . . .

. . . her new car . . .


. . . a new playhouse, she is growing so fast she is too tall for the first playhouse she had . . .


. . . a white rocking horse.


After a delicious dinner and birthday cake that Scott and Emily made it was then time to help Grandpa open up his presents.

The next morning, while Cara's mom and dad got a little extra sleep the three of us headed outside to the paddle boat, still in our pj's. Cara helped Grandpa get it ready to go into the pond and we had a ride around the pond.


Helping Grandpa ready to sail.




Our jam packed days of things to do included a visiting with our neighbors the llamas, a big hit . . .


. . . another paddle boat ride.



Everyone that knows me knows how much I like to swim and I am happy to say that Cara enjoys the water as much as I do. We sat by the pool just putting our feet in as the water temperature felt a little too cold to get in. Well, before we knew it Cara and I were in the pool, I was walking around holding her. Next I found myself sticking her feet in the water and well . . .


. . . it didn't feel that cold anymore . . . so the bathing suits came on, grandpa and mom came in the water and we played in the pool. It really helped that the full sun was out and kept us warm.


Walking around the pool all by herself!


Toasting cheers with an ice cream bar!

Thanks for the wonderful birthday visit, cake, gifts, and being here.

Waiting For Cara

We are waiting for Cara and her folks to arrive tomorrow so we can play with some of the new toys waiting for her. See you all soon!!