(The park next to my parents house in Madison, Wisconsin)

And there were Christmas Markets and then Christmas travels across the big pond and new years and new jobs, new haircuts and new adventures that lay ahead. A certain small turned one....and... and... now it is time to get back to Capers and Olives, sorry to have been away for so long!

(The quiet back gardens of the president's palace, while we were at the orange festival last weekend)

A world away from the frozen midwest. As nice as it is to have all the green lushness and the flowering almond trees scenting the air, I do miss the snow.

Surprises

This weekend there have been a few of the good sort, like this gift from Portugal. 

S. you know me well- nice soap!!! 

a little something for someone else (love the picture and the tea) 

what a better thing to do then pass it on.

and then came the surprise that my gang- (the Mr. and child A.B. and C.) 

did indeed land in the windy city but with them arrived a major blizzard so they are stuck 

and I feel 100,000 miles away.  You see I needed to stay and teach so they all went first. 

I miss them already and am counting the hours till I can call and hear their little voices 

(and tales of the wind and snow and hotel room details)! 

(these two snow photos were not taken by me)

From sunny 14 degree (Celsius) Malta wishing you all a good start to the week and oh!!! 

Happy Santa Lucia Day!