The Start

    I have always wanted to write a book entitled Musing from my Italian Mother and I still may, but for now this will have to make due.  It is only right for my initial post to be dedicated to my mother.  What can I say about the best mother in the world.  You may be saying to yourself "You must be mistaken because my mother is, in fact, the best mother."  How do I answer that question, easy, you're wrong... sorry.  Anyway, back to my original thought.  She is truly a remarkable woman.  She has taught me how to be a wife and mother as well as an independent and individual woman.  She has also taught me so much recently in her struggle with cancer.  My mother was an entirely independent senior when she was diagnosed with colon cancer.  She went through radiation and chemo without slowing down... even a little.  The eight hour surgery, however, has taken it's toll and she has been recovering for the last two months.  Thank God my sister and her family live in the same home because she has been able to take care of my mother.  These are the times when I wished we lived closer.  I miss her desperately and my children are continually asking to visit.  We will be visiting her next weekend!
   I read a quote somewhere that stated, "Missing a person is not just thinking about them but it is rather the feeling you get when you wish they are standing right next to you at a particular moment."  I do like that quote because it is how I feel about my family often.  I am a four hour drive from my family and thank goodness it's not farther.  People wonder how I can spend so much time with my family.  My family is large, loud and opinionated.  I like to describe them as passionate.  I love them and I love being with them.  My favorite thing to do with them is cook.  We all get together at my brothers house and cook.  We have had Cajun and Chinese cooking parties as well as mozzarella making and holiday baking.  I will hopefully document some of these days in the near future.
   You are probably wondering why I stopped talking about my mother but I haven't.  My mother is all about family.  Nothing comes between family!  We are close and because of that, we fight.  We may fight loudly and violently or quietly and dirty but we are always family and we love one another.  We love each other fiercely and that's why I describe us as passionate. Passionate for God, food, our kids, our homes, our craft and most of all, passionate for each other. 
  Please be forgiving of my first post.  Not many pictures, recipes or how to's but I wanted to give a little background before I got to the fun stuff.