…Christmas, that is.

Soon I’ll take the train to Lucca, where I will spend a few days with my cousins.

Merry Christmas (and/or anything else you may or may not celebrate), and I’ll write next week with a recap of sites seen and food eaten.

Christmas is just a week away.  I’ll go to Tuscany – Lucca, to be exact – to spend it with my cousins there.  Tomorrow I embrace friends in Rome.   I love seeing Rome all busy and decorated for Christmas.  It will be a real treat.

Yesterday I had my first lunch guest at my new home.  A girlfriend from tango.  It has been very cold lately, but we stayed warm in my heated kitchen while fennel and carrots roasted in the oven with a touch of cinnamon and we nibbled on my attempt at an artichoke frittata (the story of Tina Ferrari and the elusive perfect frittata is subject matter for another blog post), sipping a rose’ from Calabria.  Afterwards, we giggled our way through chocolate and oranges and then she was on her way.

She brought me stelle di Natale (poinsettias) and my apartment is now looking very homey and Christmasy.

This time of year I find myself listening to parts of Handel’s Messiah.  My stepmother used to sing in the Seattle Symphony Chorale, and every year at Christmastime I was blessed with the opportunity to hear (and see) them perform this musical masterpiece.

My two favorite pieces from Handel’s Messiah are the Hallelujah chorus (nothing gives me goosebumps like standing up along with the entire audience when Hallelujah begins), and the piece in the video below, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and the Tenebrae Choir.  For unto us a child is born…

Hearing this kind of makes me want to look for images on the internet of Seattle at Christmastime.

There are all kinds of Christmas tunes, both classical and modern, that get me in the mood.  If you celebrate Christmas, what music does the trick for you?

Sara at Ms. Adventures in Italy has dedicated herself once again to the Menu for Hope fundraiser. There isn’t much I can do from here, but there is still time for you to participate.  It goes on until Christmas, and there are some fantastic prizes.  Buy a raffle ticket now!

Visit Sara’s page for more information.  You can also go here to see the other prizes available.

I never know what to say with Christmas greetings, so I’ll just leave you with this Charlie Brown classic.

Merry Christmas…

[youtube=[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=J4Hv9YmhGpw]

The Christmas Blues got me this year, but I’m slowly beginning to feel better, and you know what song really just lifts my spirits every time?

This one!

[youtube=[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=0ouKmkk8jHY]

(All I Want For Christmas Is You, Mariah Carey)

Which of course makes me think of this film:

[youtube=[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=rA8q2iTTj14]

(Love Actually)