Cat-like New Year’s Eve Sunny Day

Cat-like New Year’s Eve Sunny Day

“Che splendido!”  How splendid!

New Year’s Eve. 1:14 on a sunny afternoon. My tall doors open to the cool, 43-degree air, sun and the canal view streaming in. How delightful to sit here, cat-like, enjoying this bright winter day.

I crave light and this south-facing balcony satisfies my yearning. Doors wide open, I’ll warm the house back up later.

The bubbling chicken stock has made the house smell good, though I now realize I’m flushing all the scent out with this fresh air. A fine trade.

This moment is a perfection and I made the choices to create it. I recognize my good fortune to be able to do so.

I could sit here all afternoon just feeling the sun transit the sky!

Brrr! It’s Fridgy!

Brrr! It’s Fridgy!

We awoke to a dusting of snow in Milano yesterday. Today the sky taunts us with more. The air has a chill I haven’t felt here before, and the thermometer in my apartment has dropped 4 degrees. With just two radiators in the place, I wonder about feeling warm enough and am glad I brought my Polartec pants over!

On Monday the 21st, I leave for a week in Paris over Christmas, so I’ve been keeping a close eye on the weather there. Today it’s snowing!

Here’s the comparative weather from a couple of days ago:

Weather-MilanParisSeattle

Everyone is wrapping up their work for the holidays. “Buone Feste”, “Buon Natale”, “Buon Anno Nuovo” are heard frequently. “Happy Holidays”, “Merry Christmas”, “Happy New Year.” Friends deliver the two-cheek kiss and say goodbye for a couple of weeks.