Happy Birthday Violenza! We celebrated Babe’s 94th birthday yesterday. Four generations all together in one house! What a wonderful, memorable time we had with her, as she entertained us on the piano and told stories. I made her a coconut-raspberry cake and since I didn’t have the numerals 9 and 4 for candles, I […]

I’m, quite literally, in Nana Heaven.  My daughter Rachel, and her husband Isaac, gave us the greatest gift when she delivered a beautiful baby boy three weeks ago.  He is my first granchild, and I’m still pinching myself to be sure it’s all real. Liam’s early arrival came as a shock to all of us.  […]

On Sunday, February 20, I was honored to speak at the Tuscan Association of Oregon at the St. Philip Neri Church in Portland.  Carlo Stellati, our cousin’s husband in Italy, had contacted me shortly after the publication of Bianca’s Vineyard to tell me that I absolutely must get in touch with Joe Cavalli, the president […]