CELEBRATE!

The next few days will be very busy for us. Our week long festa here in San Venanzo has begun after a stormy beginning on Monday. Each night there will be food, music and dancing, so we'll be there as often as we can. On Thursday we'll be celebrating the 10th anniversary or our friends Larry and Shelly, then on the 4th we'll attend their annual Texas-style barbeque. I've been baking brownies for a week as my contribution to the event.

The party will be held at CASTELLO di CASIGLIANO, at their restaurant, "Il Re Beve" (The King Drinks"). From what I've read on their website, this former borgo just south of Todi has been transformed into a private village, and I'm looking forward to having a look around, in between lots of food and fun! Hopefully photos and videos will follow.

This year's BBQ promises to be (in true Texas style!) even bigger than usual since about THIRTY friends and family members have flown to Italy for the anniversary party and 4th of July celebration. These in addition to Larry and Shelly's Italian friends and of course other expats like us. This should be fantastic 4th of July in Umbria!

Saturday our friends Keith and Janine will come to our house to watch the women's finals at Wimbledon, and in true British style we'll have some bubbly as well as strawberries and cream. After the match we'll finish the evening with some traditional Italian food and maybe even a little dancing at the festa.

This week will highlight one of the benefits of our life in Italy: we can enjoy the best of all cultures, good food from around the world and friends who enjoy life as much as we do. Whatever you're celebrating this week, be it Canada Day, the 4th of July, or just the relaxed pace of lazy summer days, we hope you have good food and good friends to share it with!