Celebrations

For the past several years, I've celebrated my birthday here in Spello accompanied by the Angelini family and Dr. C.  This year is a BIG one, and Dr. C. surprised me by flying in our daughter, son-in-law and son Ryan for the celebration.  Let me tell you no one celebrates like the Italians! 
Chef Marco Gubbiotti prepared our dinner, and for dessert, I'd requested a gelato cake from his gelateria Amandola. (best gelato in the world) 

Marco calls this one truffle carbonara: poached egg, crostini crumbs, pancetta, and truffles

Risotto with porcini and butternut squash

Pork two ways:  chop and mini-porchetta

A few days before the celebration my brother and his wife arrived for 3 days; we toured Gubbio where our grandparents were born, and enjoyed some family time here in Spello and Montefalco. 

On the day the entourage arrived, they were still here and got to enjoy lunch together with our kids.  It doesn't get any better than family gathered around the table. 

To further celebrate our family at Enoteca Properzio sent us to the Arnaldo Caprai winery for a wine tasting.  This is one of the largest producers here in Umbria, and the setting couldn't be better. 

Sagrantino, not quite ready

To say I was overwhelmed by the weekend would be an understatement. I'm so grateful to the family at Enoteca Properzio for arranging the celebration with my family this weekend, their generosity and love are astonishing, but then this is Italy, and their passion for what they do is evident every day.  Living here is one big celebration of love, food, and family.  Ciao for now.

Of Birthdays, Love and Surprises

For almost a year, our children and I were trying to figure out a way to surprise Dr. C. for his birthday this year.  Since we are usually here in Spello for our birthdays, our daughter and son decided that the celebration had to be here, since, who better than our Italian family to celebrate with?  Ryan and Carrie flew in on Friday, with Carrie and her daughter Poppy arriving early, and surprising Nonno at our apartment.  We all headed down to the enoteca, and while we were sitting having an aperitivo, Ryan walked up the hill to surprise his dad.  Dr. C. was stunned and it was a great day to be with our family here in Spello to celebrate that we were together.  We definitely missed Carrie's partner, Eric and the rest of the tribe.

On Saturday morning we headed to Gubbio, the town where my grandparents came from and where our Italian citizenship was born.  Gubbio is a beautiful walled medieval city and we had fun exploring the upper part of the town, then driving up to the top of the mountain to the basilica of St. Ubaldo.

Poppy and Uncle Ry-Ry

Palazzo dei consoli

Everyone in the same room---my favorite place!

After that it was off to lunch at Il Panaro, where everything is made fresh including the pappardelle that we had for lunch. 

Saturday night we were having a party at the enoteca catered by 1 star Michelin chef Marco Gubbiotti from CucinaA in Foligno.  Of course, the wines were some of the most delicious we've ever had, because....it's Enoteca Properzio and Roberto indulged us with the best.

Poppy is ready for the dinner

Chef Marco, un grande chef

Roberto, the birthday boy, Irene and Andrea

Poppy with Chef Marco

risotto con funghi and white truffles

slow cooked pork, Jerusalem artichoke puree, and radishes

Wagu beef

Gelato cake--amazing!

they roll up the sidewalks here at 10 p.m.

Friends from Deruta, and Perugia joined us, and it was an incredible night with us falling into bed at 1 a.m.

46 years later, and many hair colors later (for me!)

Which brings me to love; I have known Dr. C. since 1969, we were married in 1971 and that means I've been with him for 2/3 of my life. He's been the constant in our lives, the glue that holds us together, and the man that our children look to for guidance. Our kids friends are also our kids, we are blessed by their presence in our lives. 
I could not be prouder of Dr. C, and when we got married,  this life we have together was not what I'd pictured at all---we make plans and God laughs!  As we age, we realize that spending time with the ones you love, and not wasting time is more precious than ever.  It's a privilege to share this life with this guy---they threw away the mold when he was born, and I've been blessed to share my life with the extraordinary man.  Happy birthday Dr. C., and many more especially if there is wine involved!

Famiglia

Ciao for now.