Thursday, June 14, 2012

Ristorante Gran Sasso - San Gabriele

One thing I am going to miss this summer is my trip to Abruzzo to visit my Nonna Linda.  Being 6 months pregnant with a 3 yr old do not really lend themselves to overseas travel, at least not when my feet swell instantly to Frakenfoot size upon waking each morning.

One of the highlights of my summer visits to my Nonna have always been our trip to the Shrine of St. Gabriel (San Gabriele dell' Addolorata).  This beautiful sanctuary, nestled underneath the majestic Gran Sasso, has been a favorite place of mine since I was a small child.  San Gabriele is the patron saint of young people and quite a super star for us Abruzzesi. 

Depending on when we go we eat at one of two places.  The prorchetta truck which is always faithfully present in the parking lot is a sure bet.  But if we feel like being a bit more relaxed we have lunch at the Ristorante Gran Sasso.  This family owned restaurant is really one of the best places I have ever eaten in my life.  Paola family have gone out of their way, year after year to make us feel welcome.  And the food is just plain heavenly.  Here you will absolutely taste la cucina abruzzese in its true form.  The best part, depending on the season, you can rent a room there if you feel like exploring the surrounding area more closely.  The town of Castelli, known for it's ceramics is close by and not to be missed.


Here we are after a meal at the Ristorante Gran Sasso in 2005...I think our smiling faces say it all!

So if you happen to be near San Gabriele or Castelli stop in and say hello.  You will not be disappointed.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

And then it was summer.

So today was the second day of our summer vacation.  By our I mean me and Spy.  And by vacation I mean "endless torture" because it rained and I had forgotten what it was like to have a  hyperactive 3.5 yr old at home ALL RAINY DAY and be 6 months pregnant.

We did venture out for lunch - I thought a special date at our favorite pizza place might entice him to fall asleep on the way home but I think the food actually made him more active.  When we got home I tried to get some things ready for my weekend in DC with the African Well Fund (holla) but that was almost impossible since Spy called out for me aprox. 3,215,786 times in 1 hour asking me the same question - will the blue car beat the red car in a race? None of my answers seemed to please him so he kept asking the question over and over until I caved and put in Peter Pan, and then Scooby Doo and then Thomas.  Well played, Spy, well played.

So I guess the moral of this post is that I really need to step up my project-field trip-play date planning or else it is going to be a very long, very hot, very torturtastic summer.  There may not be any survivors.  You have been warned.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

A Decade of H2OPE



I am completely mortified that my last post was in November.  So many things have happened since then.  We had an impromtu Yeager Thanksgiving at our house.  Spy turned 3.  Christmas came and went. 2012 started off with a downer as D got laid off from his job.  But then we were blessed with the news of a new little bundle of joy to arrive in Sept.  Recently D got a FANTASTIC new job.  All of this proves that life moves on regardless of what the world throws our way.

So I am caught of guard when I realize that today, World Water Day, is the launching of the African Well Fund's 10th Build a Well for Bono's Birthday Fundraiser.  10 years?  Really?  Where did the time go?  I am so pleased that 10 years later...this 100% volunteer non-profit, this "Little Engine That Could" is still going strong with it's work of bringing clean water and better sanitation to people all over Africa. 

So today when you go to fill up your water bottle at the water cooler stop for one second to think about how lucky you are to have access to this water.  I beg you to take a moment today, on World Water Day, to click on the link above.  This year proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit a water, sanitation and hygiene project in Burkina Faso that will be implemented by African Well Fund partner Africare which aims to create a healthy environment for 257 schoolchildren.  Even the smallest donation will help to make a difference in these children's lives. I thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart.