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"La Bella Vita" is a written and visual journey about all the things that I consider beautiful in my life and that I love to share and converse about with other like-minded and like-hearted souls. Too often we are in such a hurry "doing" things in life, that we fail to stop and actually "see" and "experience" the awesome beauty of God around us, where we can see Him and listen to Him in quiet contemplation. Sometimes this beauty can be grand and magnificent, while at other times, beauty is something of pure simplicity. This space is a place for me to retreat my mind, heart, and soul in order to reflect on God's goodness in the things He has blessed me with and has given me a passion for in my life.
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But even more specifically, the philosophy underlying the creation of this blog resulted from possessing a desire to live the rest of my life more fully, passionately, soulfully,
purposefully, and with a stronger connection to and in celebration of the riches of the zestful Italian way of life. In particular, I wanted to chronicle my journey of living a more simple life where I can engage in and practice the centuries-old, yet humble Italian
artisanal traditions and rituals of living more in harmony with the earth and its seasons . . . through my gardens, and into my
cucina (kitchen) and ultimately to the
tavola (table) . . . the heart and hearth of Italian life. I desired to live deliberately as my ancestors lived and not on a frenetic American treadmill speed, unconscious of what is flying by in life. Additionally, this way of life evokes a greater appreciation for the quiet beauty of my quilting and stitching as well as the beauty of my animal companions on the acreage, for Italians are the masters of fabric and lovers of animals.
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Italians have a unique sensibility to live a higher quality of life, in that they savor every moment of life with an intensity, yet pure simplicity and creativity unlike others. Beauty is treasured, whether found in nature, during humble daily rituals, in slowing down and surrendering to the day while savoring delectable and nourishing food that soothes our souls and restores our spirits. This same comforting food is shared by Italians with precious loved ones who surround and warm us with thoughtful conversations.
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To partake in the aged tradition and art of living the beautiful life is quintessentially Italian. All of my gardens, whether floral or vegetable, are grown by my husband and myself, organically and with great
reverence to the earth, resulting in fresh, tasteful, clean produce and flowers that enhance our lives physically, soulfully, and emotionally, as well as healing our souls. From our high quality home garden-grown produce on our small acreage, I make all of my recipes from scratch in honor of the ancient Italian tradition of embracing and celebrating the beautiful art of food.
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"La Bella Vita -- Because Life is Beautiful and Delicious" is a celebration of my Italian-American life. It is with great affection that I honor this heritage in which not only the beauty of food provides daily sustenance for my soul and spirit, but all of God's beauty gracing my surroundings lifts me up to live life more gloriously.
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Welcome to my beautiful and delicious journey, of which I hope that one can gain inspiration for living. Let's savor life together!
My family is from the mountains immediately north of the city of Modena, in the provence of
Emilia-Romagna, in Northern Italy, located on the map below in red:
Culinary Specialities Unique to Emilia-Romagna, Italy:
Parmigiano Reggiano!
Tortellini!
Bolognese Sauce!
Balsamico Aceto (Balsamic Vinegar)!
Prosciutto di Parma!
These culinary contributions of my native Italian region underscore Emilia-Romagna's fame as the gastronomic heartland of Italy that has earned the highest respect in Italian cuisine! Italians of E-R are passionate and dedicated to the artisanal production of prosciutto, balsamico vinegar, and others listed above that have no rivals.
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