We attended Mass this morning, during which Father Bob blessed any table bread and a beverage for families in the Parish. Upon arriving, Jhonen went up to the front of the church and put our French loaf and a bottle of sparkling grape juice on the table for blessing.

Cut to two hours later- we're sitting at the table enjoying our Thanksgiving meal. Carmen is buttering her bread. Jhonen looks at her with utter shock and dismay, and says:

You're putting butter on the body of Jesus?!


Hope you all have a happy turkey day! We're heading over to the family home of some friends to celebrate some more this afternoon. Most especially, though, a world of thanksgiving to my beloved James. I love you, and I am so so thankful for you!

So, yesterday we woke up to a bunch of snow and it was still snowing. Shoveled and scraped it all off the car, and drove the kids to school. My car was swerving a bit, but it didn't seen *that* bad, despite the constant fall of new snow. However, the principal was there to inform anyone that showed up that school was closed, so we turned around and went back home. Crossing Belleview, my car didn't want to go, and I had to kind of coax it. By the time I got the kids back home, I decided there was no way I was driving 30 miles in that crap, and news reports said it was just going to get worse (we hadn't even seen the actual storm yet).

This morning, this is what I'm looking at:


Littleton reported about 16 inches of snow as of yesterday around 8pm, with another 2 inches of accumulation each hour. I'm not sure how much is out there, but I'd say there's about a 3 foot drift on the fence (and it's still snowing). News reports show the interstate as passable, with lots of cars out there, but I have no idea how I'd get *to* the interstate, nor *to* work *from* the highway. My car simply does not function well in this stuff, and I work hellaciously far from home. Another snow day. I should be grateful, but I have no paid time to cover it. *sigh*





(and it's still snowing!)

The walls of Lucca beckoning!
(note how tiny the person is! the trees actually grow at the top of, and in, the walls!)



( Lucca, My Love... A Photographic Love Story: Part One )

This is the La Spezia train station, as we left Cinque Terre for Lucca on Friday, September 4th.



( Train to Lucca... )

Next up: Lucca, fo realz, yo.

Just a few images today, from the Italy trip...

Cherub inside Immaculate Conception (Chiesa Immacolata Concezione) on Via Veneto in Rome (where the Capuchin Crypt and Guido Reni painting of St Michael are):



( The Archangel Michael at Castel Sant'Angelo... )

September 3, 2009



( The Last of Cinque Terre... )

Next up: Lucca

September 3, 2009



( More of Vernazza Under Here... )

September 3, 2009



( Monterosso by the Sea... )

As a point of reference, we flew into Pisa and took the train to Cinque Terre via La Spezia.

We later traveled down to Lucca, Rome, and even the Amalfi Coast (Positano, Amalfi and Pompeii) of Napoli.

Our B&B was in Manarola, which is the 2nd most Southern town of the 5 (cinque) lands (terre):


On to Manarola...
That is, indeed, the sea in the distance...



( The Beautiful Manarola... )

Sunrise in Madrid on September 2nd, 2009, as we waited in the Passport Controls line to travel on to Pisa.



( A few more of the Madrid airport... )