To those of you kind enough to follow my blog, I apologize for seemingly having disappeared from the face of the earth.  I spent the month of February with my daughter in State College, PA.  For many reasons…it was indeed a trip to remember!:  weather-related canceled flights, Arctic temperatures, frostbite and a bout of bronchitis.

 “Why in the world would you want to leave Italy to spend February in Pennsylvania”, friends asked?

The answer is simple:  VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE.

For a change, I love the silence, the glistening beauty of snow, the cold…and even wearing a polar bear-like coat. What fun. 

I love hearing the snow plows at night

I love seeing icicles

and stop signs peeping out from the snow banks

And I love my comfortable room at Mar’s and Jessi’s, such a welcome sight after a long trip

…and I love being greeted, welcomed, treated like a queen and hugged by Mar and Jessi.

I love picture-postcard winter scenes and a sense of pervading serenity, peace and stillness.

and branches laden with the freshest snow.

and looking out at icy roads.

and oh, the pleasure of an American breakfast

or a dinner of Thai food

 or and evening of Japanese with sushi

a piece of pecan pie

or a toasted bagel sandwich

As much as I love Italian art and food, what a joy to have some variety in both!

and American sandwiches – so delicious

How great it was to be surrounded by Matisse, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Cezanne, Modigliani, Soutine, Manet, Picasso, Van Gogh and “forget”  the Italian masters for awhile!

Chaim Soutine “The Lady in Blue” 1922

…and what about the thrill of attending a theatrical performance in English?

Ready for a change again, ready for some variety:  the joy of then returning to an early spring is tripled!  The bright blue skies seem brighter, the mild days seem warmer, the flowers more magnificent

the countryside greener

the herbs more fragrant

and the Italian food more amazing than ever!

Yes, VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE!