Are there any Giant Beavers in Tuscany???

Our new Italian orphano is doing well and has adapted like a shining star to this chilly, stark island though I am not sure how much he enjoyed Halloween. He had a fabulous time carving Tickle Baby's jack-o-lantern and even licked the salt off the pumpkin seeds. It all went downhill when a GIANT beaver came trick or treating and tried to catnap him. TERRORS!

SHE says he'll get used to this quirky, new place. HA! I say....I am not used to living here and I have been here for years. The poor little guy. We brought him all the way from Tuscany to Crazytown. (SHE is the mayor)

At least he is fitting in with the devils, despite the language barriers. Lily tricked him into walking across a freshly squeezed paint palette and Booboo was very proud of the havoc wreaked. Paint everywhere.

I wish the giant beaver would come back and take ME away. I wonder if it is from Tuscany? I have my own carrier case and can use an indoor litter. Please, come and take me away....pleeeaaaase!!!!

The Grumpy Goat Gallery, Goat Hostel, Cat Hotel and Pizza Parlour...

We have been suffering from the terrible Italy withdrawals this past week so I made pizza for dinner. SHE was not impressed. Our house in Italy had its own outdoor kitchen and pizza oven. One of our darlings was the best pizza-oven-fire-maker-pizza-cooker since time began. HE was a pizza-making Olympian. Newfoundland "in your stove " pizza is not the same. SHE is sitting at the table drawing up architectural plans to build her very own, outdoor, brick pizza oven. It will be in the backyard. It will be huge. Next year, we will serve pizza in the afternoons during gallery hours. Please drop by for a slice. I will be the one covered in paint AND pizza sauce from head to toe. Mama Mia, Mio Dio.

P.S. I am not dismissing her notion of outdoor, brick pizza oven altogether because I figure that it MAY work to my advantage. I am currently not allowed to get a goat, but perhaps, we might need one in future for the cheese. (AND to eat all of the crusts!)

Most People Go to Italy and Bring Back Shoes........

Home sweet home from our fabulous trip to Italy! We spent a week in Campania with our dearest P.P. and then had a scrumptious 2 weeks in Chianni with 5 of the darlings from our book club. A wonderful time was had by all....we swam in the pool, drove up and down every Tuscan hillside and ate the best meals ever since the beginning of time. STARS!! *
Now, some people go to Italy and bring back shoes. Others bring back wine.
Some are inclined to bring home gorgeous leather goods and some people bring home art. These are sensible, well-rounded people with good heads on their shoulders. I think they are great.
What did I bring home, you ask? What did I have to carry for 18 hours, through airports, lounges, cafes, under my feet, through customs offices, onto another plane, across oceans, rivers, mountains and borders?
A real, live cat. A kitten. WE brought home a kitten.
His name is Lucca Antonia Chianni O. He is Italian and doesn't know any English words yet. He is supposed to be moving to Bryant's Cove in December but has to stay here until his language skills improve.
SHE has suggested that next year we go to Greece. The only I will go is if I get to bring home a goat. It would only be fair. Right?
Photo: Lucca at home in Tuscany
* "Stars" borrowed from darling Betts