After many days of snow and working hard in my my studio, I have
produced many new pieces. I am very inspired at the moment to paint
animals. I tried my first leopard on a sea coloured background. I need
to use turquoise. I keep buying turquoise clothes and accesories so it's
normal that it should come out in my work!
This past weekend the
sun shone gloriously after another heavy snowfall. Luca, my husband and
I went down to Como to get my snow tyres fixed and took advantage of
the wait to walk by the lake....the seagulls were whirling in the crisp
air. We ate at L'Osteria del Gallo in Via Vitani, our favourite
restaurant. Giuseppe the owner is obsessed with cockerels and has a huge
collection. I ate pumpkin ravioli but I am sure when I try my hand at
them next week that they will be better. I will keep you posted!
On
the subject of food this brings us to the delicate subject of the
Italian Christmas cake. The Italians eat panettone which I think is like
eating cotton wool personally although I like to pick out the 'canditi'
or candied mixed peel, however there is also Pan D'Oro and La
Veneziana. The mountians surrounding the lake look like a Pan D'Oro cake
which is brown with a dusting of icing sugar. It is more of a sponge
cake. La Veneziana is like the Panettone but without the raisins and
covered in crytalized sugar and almonds. I hope wherever you are you
have a 'dolce' Christmas!