Monday, February 02, 2009

Groundhog Day!


I do hope that Mr. Phil, the groundhog, is only telling us about the weather in the United States and not Europe! I am so sick of winter and yearn for spring! So much for global warming!



Today was another day of dreary cold raining weather. Sleet in town and snow in the mountains. At the moment Sam is trying to drag us out of the house for a walk... he is getting no takers. Though I am suffering from a severe case of cabin fever, there is no way I am venturing out into the rain I see out my window. Not during flu season.

We had a relaxing weekend. Saturday night we played cards with Ian and Silvia, boys against girls - girls lost. Knowing that the weather was going to be cold and wet on Sunday we all wanted to get together and have lunch, but, no one wanted to shop for and cook it. Really, I wanted to go out for I had been in all week with sick kids. The decision was to have a big traditional Sunday lunch in the "entroterra" behind Chiavari in a place where all you need to do is sit down and the food just comes to you. No choosing, no ordering, the food just is put in front of you in big plates, just like mom would. Heaven. Sunday noon time we were joined by another English friend and in two cars 9 of us set off in search of, "Ou Grumàllu" located at the top of Reppia high above the Valgravelia. It took a good 45 minutes to drive up the long and winding road - we only had to ask for directions once - and when we found the right turn to take us to the top of the mountain - a narrow track and just about wide enough for an "ape" we made it - in Sam's Tourareg.  

After our adventurous drive we finally sat down to a delicious Sunday lunch of 3 different antipasta, 2 pastas - homemade ravioli with ragu and taglitelle verde with sugo di funghi, 2 meat dishes - arrosto di carne asado and coniglio in panatura, plus wine, dessert and coffee -all that for 18 euro / $23 per person! There is nothing better than a long lunch  - ours lasted over 3 hours - with good friends and conversation. Outside the air was crisp and COLD and a light snow was falling, inside we were warm by the fire with delicious dishes, one after the other appearing before us, simply beautiful.

Overnight the weather conditions deteriorated. I slept in this morning knowing that Sarah was off from school this week and safely tucked in bed. To wake up at 6 am in cold rain only to take the train to Genoa, what a relief she could safely stay warm in her bed.

Update.... By the time I wrote this post... Sam ventured out for his walk and returned home. If the weather can beat a tough Finn, so much for the finnish concept of, "Sisu" . Ah, you just know it was that bad out.
 

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