There are so many things to love about living in Italy…..but more and more I see that it’s the little things that really make it so special. This, for example, is what I found today at the outside fruit and veggie stand on our street corner……Gianfranco and Silvana are beacons of hope in every way. Not just because they are there each and every day, no matter the weather. And not just because they are walking encyclopedias of recipes and lore regarding their wares. But because they are brimming with openness and generosity… you can see that in their surprise decoration on this chilly morning……a fantastic spring bloom casually placed for the enjoyment of their customers.

Not Yet Spring, but…..

It’s still very cold, only february, with at least one full month of winter to go…and today is especially dicey because there’s a lot of cold wind (anathema to italians, but that’s another story).  Here you can see that the escarole has a little blanket of plastic wrap and the funny little cone shaped wraps are housing a wonderful green vegetable called “agreti”…..both are delicate items that need a little protection this morning. Me, too. And even though my hands are still cold, they have warmed my heart!