Bardonecchia Magic....

Another weekend in paradise took us up to Bardonecchia to the mountain cabin of the Lombardo's. Two full italian days of snowboarding.....atleast 4 hours of hardcore boarding each day. We're already scouting out places for Coletti-Ellingson Christmas 2009....

poising like true athletes in front of 2006 Olympic Half Pipe

mark and the italian/french alps beyond
frost bitten trees

Date with a Suocera....

A true Rina poise to keep in mind for later....

'Suocera' is probably the most important italian word, if you happen to know an italian. Mother-in-law is what you call them in the states, but here, Suocera takes on a whole different meaning. A suocera typically lives within blocks of her children, if she can't, she visits them 2x a year for atleast a month at a time. Common duties of a suocera included doing laundry, cooking exhorbinant amounts of food, and making sure everyone, including their daughter/sons in laws have made their yearly health check-ups at the doctor (to ensure Grandchildren). If you can't make it over to your suocera's house for dinner, don't worry, she'll bring it to you!
Mark and I had heard of such a suocera through Rina & Dario Lombardo. One time I made Rina some chocolate chip cookies, which she shared with her Suocera. According to Rina, she adored the cookies, and thus, baked me a homemade Lemon Cake. Wow, is all i can say. So finally this week, we had the priviledge of dining with the Suoceri (mom&dad).
It began promptly at 8 o'clock, as any decent dinner would in Italy. We feasted at a white table cloth in a room that more resembled the renaissance era at the Uffizi Museum in Florence. Each setting had 3 glasses (1, prosecco glass 2, rose' and red wine glass 3, water glass). First course, platter of freshly cut prosciutto & speck & homemade facoccia bread. Second course, Mushroom & Parmesan Salad. Third course, Flaky breaded roll stuffed with turkey and ricotta cheese. Fourth course, crudo salami (raw) wrapped in turkey and served with a side of steamed spinach. Fifth course, homemade pasta with parmesan & mushrooms. Sixth course, Brasato & Grilled Potatos. (Brasato is a heavenly marinade made with onions, garlic, oil and barolo red wine, layered over thinly sliced sirloin steak). Seventh course A, homemade Apple Pie (guess who brought this?). And Seventh course B was Semi-Freddo (a gelato like tablet made of cream, amaretto, and chocolate......after all this 'Would anyone like some fruit?"
So what happens to a person with they experience so much joy in their mouth and so much food, and drink in their stomach......something like this.

Dario attempting to strike the Rina poise, and Rina out of character....
something was funny...
Mark & Darkio poorly attempting the Rina poise....

A Door of Merriment....

many thanks to all of you who coughed up the 90 cents to send us a christmas greeting. Your glad tidings are now being rightfully displayed on our front door, and will until Valentine's day or so..... to all those who were intimidated by the italian post or too cheap to send a card, know that you will have a special spot on our front door next year if you are up for the challenge....

Le Neve sopra Pecetto...

Ahhh to wake up to gracefully falling snow... atleast 5cm worth of white powder fell from the heavens in our little town recently. Of course well worth the camera shots.. It's so much nicer to have snow in Italia, especially during the holidays...but i suppose that's the case just about anywhere....

rooftop view from the kitchen balcony...

erin's eager footprints......

since we promised to make french toast for the neighbors, i went to the bakery only to find it so humid that it fogged up my glasses, and a battleground between Mamma of the bakery and Son...

mark catching a few flakes before taking the mini for a slippery spin.

Tribute to the Season Part II

too many highlights to fit in one blog, so here's a few more....

surprise arrival by cousin chad from thailand

mark and mario, quick italian friends while serving christmas dinner



having lunch at farestart in seattle and seeing deb & erica

mark loving the new board and some nw powpow

happy new year!! love, m & e

Tribute to the Season...

dear fellow blog viewers....
i apologize for the long absence. i meant to write a parting message before christmas, but alas, mark and i soaked up the holidays in italia, and before i knew it, i was on a plane heading west....with that said, i am now back in italia, jet-lagged, thus i figured it's 2 in the morning, so might as well get back on the saddle, and write a blog. This first one in the new year will be a highlight of some memoreable moments during the holiday season....enjoy!

mark's famous dip in piazza cappei

skiing and getting lost at Vail with my family

the high-rollin' herse in northend tacoma

ray's never-ending gift to amy, karaoke enjoyed by all

mark passed out due to jet-lag and reaction to karaoke