Limonata

 

My minions

I’ve had this idea of making a good old-fashioned American lemonade stand with Ettore and the girls, but really; where would we put it? Who would be our customers? The stand wasn’t all that important, so let’s simply make lemonade!

Mariella happened to have a cartload of lemons and a juicer. I learned a new word—brocca—which means pitcher. Seeing the blue glass one with raised polka dots reminded me of the one my grandparents had. They, by the way, added gin to their lemonade, because sugar is bad for you. However, I used sugar. 

Nonno asked if I’m making granita; I said no—limonata (lemonade). He then told me my ratio was off; I had too much lemon juice for the water that would go in. Elena said, “Make it your way, Karen. He just needs to talk”.

Everyone seemed to enjoy it, including Piera, Mariella’s housekeeper who was at the vigna today, along with Andrea. Andrea’s English is really improving. She was running laundry out to hang, looking pretty as usual. I asked Ettore how nanny could look so pretty every day. From the clothes rack: “Thank you, Karen. I hear you,” she curtsied and said with a smile.

After lemonade making with helpers Ettore and Agnese, we all went up to the treehouse to play. Ettore was called to eat his lunch, and ours soon followed. We ate inside, due to the heat; a light and simple bow tie pasta dish.

Then, while people rested, I called Verizon.

For anyone traveling from the US for a long period, my advice is to buy a TIM card for your phone once you’re overseas.

I composed a letter to @Verizon, who misrepresented an International Calling Plan, and horrendously overcharged me. It ended up that there is no email to send it to. No higher-up representative to speak to, since they said I can’t address the same topic twice (spoke with a rep yesterday), no snail mail contact to send a letter to, and I couldn’t post on the community forum, because they couldn’t recognize me—although they were able to recognize me if I were making a payment. I said it sounds a lot like the bully’s rules on a playground.

There was a wimp resolution, but I couldn’t get any further with them. It took hours.

Advice, travelers: Go with a new SIM card phone # when traveling overseas, and get the TIM card vs using your carrier. Trust me.

Ettore and I had some good alone time, before supper was ready. Father Giuseppe has been here all afternoon, working with Elena on the baptism event that will happen in a couple of weeks. He stayed to swim, and have dinner with us. It was a hot day, but the evenings here are glorious.

We enjoyed a good supper of the best frittata I’ve tasted (potato and cipollini), portulaca salad, homemade bruschetta, a selection of charcuterie, and more enormous watermelon for dessert. A Sicilian Nerello Mascalese was the perfect accompaniment.

I cleaned up the kitchen, bid goodnight to everyone, and am now enjoying the fresh air on our little terrace.

I may get wild and do a NYT crossword puzzle before bed. The saxophonist across the vineyard is serenading, and I’m sitting out here, wanting to enjoy it for a spell.

Gardener friends, is this datura? 

Blooms close and open.