souvenirs
K took me shopping.
We needed some glass bowls for the kitchen and an espresso pot.

Actually, we didn't need the espresso pot, but I have been slowly ratcheting up the coffee ante
here at chez Bird for over a year.
I have been stealthily increasing the strength of our (admittedly) decaf for a while now to purposely get K into drinking something with a 'fuller' coffee flavor. If you will.
By the time he got to Italy he was completely ready for their coffee - and my mission was complete.
We've had a few mornings with Tuvaluan coffee since our return and it TASTES LIKE WATER.
After the learning curve we should be able to come closer to what I have loved all along.

I also bought an Italian dish towel - because I buy dish towels as remembrances of places we go, and a scrubby thing.
The scrubby thing has no sentimental value whatsoever.

And so, after a morning (really! only a morning) of feeling blue, a little retail therapy was tremendously helpful.
Then, this morning, I awoke to a perfectly sensible email from an astute friend and snapped completely out of it.
We had a fabulous time in Italy - more pictures to come...
We needed some glass bowls for the kitchen and an espresso pot.

Actually, we didn't need the espresso pot, but I have been slowly ratcheting up the coffee ante
here at chez Bird for over a year.
I have been stealthily increasing the strength of our (admittedly) decaf for a while now to purposely get K into drinking something with a 'fuller' coffee flavor. If you will.
By the time he got to Italy he was completely ready for their coffee - and my mission was complete.
We've had a few mornings with Tuvaluan coffee since our return and it TASTES LIKE WATER.
After the learning curve we should be able to come closer to what I have loved all along.

I also bought an Italian dish towel - because I buy dish towels as remembrances of places we go, and a scrubby thing.
The scrubby thing has no sentimental value whatsoever.

And so, after a morning (really! only a morning) of feeling blue, a little retail therapy was tremendously helpful.
Then, this morning, I awoke to a perfectly sensible email from an astute friend and snapped completely out of it.
We had a fabulous time in Italy - more pictures to come...
Comments
its.
just.
like.
MAGIC.
I just want to say that I am sorry if I upset or offended you in anyway possible! I had written about my son being sick once and that things would be ok. I did not mean to say anything that would cause you pain and am sorry if I did. I just was trying to say I felt it would be ok and obviously did it in a bad way. I love your writing and blog and feel bad if I upset you at a stressful time. Please accept my apology. And I still take great pleasure in my Nana's beat up espresso pot that must be 70 years old now but is still fabulous.
I don't know why your comment didn't show up...I received it and was not offended in the slightest and feel terrible that you have been worried.
I look forward to reading/seeing more of your adventures.
And I just bought a shmancy electric espresso machine for an anniversary present because Joke told me my husband would like it.
< / Headsmack >
I've been scoping out the model you bought in anticipation of the day the DeLonghi takes a dive from daily use. Maybe you'll provide a tutorial on how to use it?
Robin
Although I have an ancient Krups electic espresso machine on which the steamer thingie doesn't work, and a Braun electric drip coffee maker and don't drink coffee very often myself, I have been sorely tempted to get a French press for years. You have now also re-ignited my desire for a stove top espresso pot.
I may eventually need some sort of intervention, I think...
(And the rocks rock, BTW. I love the idea of geological scrapbooking)
Is that wrong?
(When I say cup, I mean the tiny espresso size 'short black' cup).
In this neck of the woods, we sometimes get some looks when we pull it out for a post-prandial sip, but they're all fans at the end of the evening.
We also have the hand-pump milk frother, picked up at a local kitchen store for not that much, so while the water heats and does its magic, the cream warms and is pumped up.
mmmmmm - latte goodness
link - no html
http://www.espressozone.com/milk-frother-6948.html