Fall Weekend in Umbria

Steve of late has been throwing out statements that he half means...or at least that he hopes no one takes him up on... For instance: a few weeks back he threw out in passing to some Italian police/Carabiniere friends: "We will have to cook you some BBQ sometime." To Steve's Italian friend Marco that translated to "We WILL cook you some BBQ this week." So we were invited to Terni, in Umbria north of Rome, to Marco's Villa.

They provided the roasted chestnuts, bruschetta, roast pig (and would you believe the eat it pig skin, fat and all) and gorgeous setting. And we brought the baked beans, three briskets and chocolate chips cookies.

This is Marco after tasting bbq sauce for the first time--- the verdict for the Italian food snobs? They pronouced it delicious! And ate it all up.

This villa is a renovated cow barn. You can see where the mangers were inside and they have filled them in and used them as shelves. It was amazing!

The teenagers got along as well. When we first got to Italy it seemed there was an invisible wall that my kids kept bumping into that kept them separate from the Italians. Now, since language isn't too much of a barrier anymore, mine have just learned to blend in and enjoy the company, country side and culture.

It helped that they had a basketball hoop (seems so out of place doesn't it?)

And pellet guns

I was sure someone was going to lose an eye...but only Natalie walked away with a big bump on her head with the gun recoil.

We took a walk to burn off too many calories. (We were ready to pop with all the Nutella spring cake and apple turnovers and this mile high merengue cake). There was this amazing Villa for sale next door that we think Pete should buy so we can hang out there in the summer.

They were all super nice and very curious about us. They have never hung out with any Americans before and I think like the BBQ they decided we were all right. (even with my abominable Italian)

Just before we left, they gave Steve a gift. They knew that Steve collected hats from the Police here so they gave him an Alpine hat (He is shivering like the Italian troops did in the Alps) Reminded me of a French Legioneer hat.

Of course everyone had to try on the hat

So after thanking them for the gifts, in passing while headed to the car, Steve says to them "have you ever eaten an American Turkey?" And that got taken as "The Moores will come for Thanksgiving and bring a giant roast turkey..." No matter how well you learn a new language...some things, like intent, get lost in translation. Next time I'm bringing the duct tape to put over Steve's mouth or we will have a 100 people over as Steve mentions in passing real Idaho mashed potatoes, fresh baked rolls and ham at Christmas.....