This afternoon I stopped at one of the trucks selling fruit and vegetables at the side of the road. I wanted to buy a couple of punnets of strawberries. As usually happens, the man asked if I’d rather buy a whole crate. I told him that as there was only two of us, we would … More Seasonal Sicilia – Le Fragole (part 2)
In the last week it really feels like summer has begun here in Sicily. The weather is much warmer, obviously, but there are lots of other signs. I have just stepped outside to bring in the laundry from the line and the evening air was all soft and perfumed. The pace of life – never … More Summer Time
I just had to use the Italian word for strawberries. Isn’t it it great? Actually, what I have been particularly in love with recent is the fragolina. Obviously, it sounds even cuter than a fragola but that isn’t the only reason. Let me explain. Fragoline, or wild strawberries are quite widely available in Sicily I … More Seasonal Sicilia – Le Fragole
Our car has been sick and so required two overnight stays at the garage in the last week. Finding a reliable mechanic is no easy job anywhere you go in the world, but here in Sicily it involves a rather formal introduction process. A friend will take you along to the workshop and you’ll have … More Pottering and Doodling
It is very easy to focus on the beautiful and charming here in Sicily. There is a such a lot of it. We live in Mascalucia, a peaceful village within a short distance of the city of Catania. I have to admit though, we really struggled with Catania when we first arrived. The dirt, the … More Persistence Pays
All of a sudden, like the flick of a switch, Sicily has snapped into summer mode. Spring, so far, has been a pretty poor affair so it has been good to watch everything come back to life. The granita sellers are back on the street. I will have to write more about Sicily’s answer to … More Feeling the Blues
I have mentioned before how moving to Italy has allowed us to develop a greater awareness of food seasonality. This is even more the case now we live in Sicily. You only need to look at what all of the street vendors are selling to know what is being grown locally. Just now, we are … More Seasonal Sicilia – Oranges
One of the really big differences I have noticed between Northern Italy and Sicily is the shopping experience. Whilst there were plenty of lovely markets and independent shops in Friuli, there seemed to be a supermarket on every street corner. Most of my Italian friends shopped in Eurospar and Ipercoop so, despite having dreams of … More Shopping
As I mentioned in my previous post, my parents and little brother came to visit last week. It was a good opportunity for us to have a really good look around the island on which we live. Until now, we have actually done very little exploring so we relished the chance to explore a little … More Exploring
Some months ago, friends of ours from Northern Italy were relocating to Sicily. They were talking about what they would take with them and what could possibly be left in storage. In my innocence I suggested that, as they were moving so far down South maybe they wouldn’t need all of their winter coats and … More Moody Skies
Ambrosia Stitches 