Woa

Zabeth and I have experienced a lot of ups and downs during our time in Italy, but we have never had to work like we did today. Yesterday some cousins came to town to help out with the party today, so we had a big dinner, and then watched photo projections of a Vespa trip to Sardinia in 1982 and stayed up until 11. Everything seemed normal this morning, we were included in the big church party at eleven which lasted until 1230, nicolettas first communion. Then we came home and it was raining, and that's when it all started. People were coming over soon so we had to move the snacks into the barn to keep them dry. Of course we ate while we were moving the snacks around because there were so many just right there. Mostly dry meats and focaccia bread and pizza, no problem. Then we settled the food and moved into the dining area. At this point we allowed others to eat, while preparing a nice dish of cole slaw, peppers, anchovies, tomato and rabbit. People moved in and we hit them with the food, not to be le out we ate as well. So now it's about 2 pm and we have eaten salami, focaccia, rabbit and vegetables. Still under control. Then we move on to a simple desert, ricotta empanadas covered in honey and jelly. A complete and fine meal, normal Sunday right. Wrong! Then comes pasta, but not just pasta, ravioli stuffed with greens, what do you want white with oil or red with neat sauce... Well you can have both! Okay okay, not so bad it's just a big meal right, main course first, then pasta to cleanse the palate. Nope, more pasta, green pasta made of vegetables and covered in mushrooms. We might have said no at this point but it's unheard of. Maybe it's just in the interest of having a pasta variety. After the pasta party out comes gelato, a merciful end... Uh oh it's sorbet, the palate cleanser for another course. Then in comes pork, carrots and onions. Okay it's a three course reverse course meal. Surely we're done. Well first we have some nice soft goat cheese covered in homemade honey to settle the belly and then boom! Chocolate pie, custards gelatin with jelly, and a huge fruit tart for allllllllllllll. At this point it's six o clock and people realize that they have been eating for about five hours, so we have coffee, and the oldtimers drink grappa.