into every life a little rain must fall...

and the day before yesterday it poured !  After the volcanic ash episode, it was a good thing, too...it washed all the soot from the cars and sidewalks.  We went down the mountain to the paneficio (bakery)  where the man said to us "you have a long vacatioan, yes ?" , and the frutta e verdura (fruit and vegetable) shop where the woman gave us some of the newly harvested fava beans to try, then on to the supermarket for the essential DP...WHAT ???  NO Diet Pepsi ??  Is there another crazy American here hoarding it all ???  I may have to get the main contact number for Pepsico from Gary Mack if this unacceptable condition continues...

Our afternoon was spent napping and reading and watching lightning on the horizon...quite a show, but nothing compared to seeing the red glow of lava on the side of Etna at night...unfortunately, too hard to see it with just a camera shot, but it was pretty amazing...

Luckily for us, our fine feathered friends had been busy, so we had ham and cheese omelets for dinner, saving us a trip down the mountain in the storm.

We borrowed The Godfather Trilogy from Karen & Diego, but couldn't figure out how to use the DVD player...where's our tech support guy, Steven, when we need him ?  We'll try again tonight...all in all, a day of  badly needed rest and relaxation...

hugs to all, Chris and her newly energized husband