Actual photos of Sicily

On Cathy's blog she has a beautiful picture of Taormina...so I thought I should at least show a few of our pictures. Just to say it, we've travelled a good deal...and Sicily is one of our top two vacations ever (we were also there for two weeks 11 years ago with a side trip to Tunisia) so I highly recommend it...the other favorite is Turkey (also just an amazing place with everything to offer). So here are some pictures...


Monreale


Segesta


Selinunte


Mt. Etna

We actually went up onto Etna in what can best be described as a cross between a lunar module and a large Humvee...there was snow along the road as high as the vehicle and some of it had collapsed on the road...the vehicle got stuck, we all had to pile out while they cleared the way...the second time they tried to get through the spot the vehicle skidded into the snowbank...it's a wonder the snow didn't crash down on top. Mt. Etna is fantastic, a constant billow of white smoke was present...also we went high enough that it was really cold (even in our jackets) so we warmed our hands in the steam vents along the craters...wild!


Our boat trip around Lipari and Salina

We rented a boat for a day which took us around the Aeolian islands of Lipari and Salina...a fantastic trip for just the three of us (plus our teenage guide and his kid brother...)

Flea Market Finds

The New York flea market is slowly being eaten up by the real estate market (the flea market is in parking lots...it used to be extensive (as many as 6 or 7 lots) but is now down to about 4 clustered lots with other smaller lots in other places...
Nonetheless, I did find some things I liked today...


flea market finds

-an architectural tile (it's really thick and heavy measuring about 2 3/4" deep)...
-a Fantoni pitcher (Italian...I know it doesn't really look like Fantoni...more like Gambone if anyone...but it is signed...and more importantly I really like it...the picture does NOT do it justice)
-a Bauer ring mixing bowl (I can never get enough of these...I love all these old bowls...Bauer, McCoy, the plain green Hull...besides, they stack which in our apartment is KEY).

Tobo

I LOVE Tobo Triller...Swedish...simple hand thrown beautiful pieces with generally solid colored, but wonderfully subtly complex glazes.


tobo

I've got other pieces that are out in the apartment, but again, I just finally want to post some pictures....

On the left are two Palshus vases, a Nymolle vase by Gunnar Nylund (with a small Arne Bang vase stuck in it (Mr. Hanky peers from behind...). On the right is a Bauer canister/cookie jar (the lid is inverted so that a French Montieres vase can sit on it...more later...

another shelf

I am crazy about Arne Bang (on the left adjacent to a Royal Copenhagen vase by Gerd Bogelund)...but the prices have really jumped...


more yet

one of the important things about collecting (what do I know) is moving on...I find something I like and as it becomes too expensive (for me anyway) I move on to something else...now I am actually getting into glass (BLASPHEMY)...

my crowded walk-in closet

I promise to be more organized but I wanted to get a few pictures of some of my pottery on board (on blog?)...


one shelf;

Everything's crammed in (the bane of a Manhattan apartment)...but we just got a house to decompress into...great fun and a horrible process all at the same time...
Here's some Royal Copenhagen (Knud Kyhn) bears and a great bowl with a snake and gorilla...there's also a small Stig Lindberg piece on the right, a Roseville matte green planter and on the shelf below it some Arabia square dishes (the pattern is Teema...they're really useful) and the thing that started me collecting -> Homer Laughlin Harlequin...

close up

I love the hourglass shape of this vase...all handpainted...


sicily ceramics 

Back from Sicily

Two weeks in Sicily with Bob and Cathy!
Heaven.
The history, the ruins, the scenery (the wildflowers were in bloom...carpets of red poppies as well as yellow and orange...what-ever-they-weres?!?!?!), the food and the shopping (including CERAMICS)!
Here's part of my new clutter:


back from sicily <

Very few antiques so most of it is just decorative or utilitarian but it is bright, happy and beautiful (though some certainly border on gaudy).

Also, we stayed at the most wonderful hotel I have ever been in...the San Domenico Palace in Taormina. It is in an old Domenican monastery perched on the cliffs of Taormina with a cloister, fantastic views onto their garden (with palm trees, evergreens and multiple flowers), the Mediterranean and Mt Etna. Comfort beyond all reason (even the sheets are linen...oooooooooooohmigosh...pricey, especially with the trounced dollar, but worth it and more).

For lunch at the hotel one day, we had a dessert drink that would knock your socks off (and exceeds even the linen sheets for sheer luxurious pleasure). I have forgotten the name of it...but I have not forgotten its taste...Cathy will have pictures on her blog...
We ordered it for 3.
-The waiter came to the table with a large glass bowl in which there was lemon sherbet (how much?...too much, there ended up being enough for us to have seconds...we did not complain...AT ALL)...
-He zested a lemon into the sherbet (the lemon fragrance was fantastic and washed over the table).
-He took a whisk and softened the sherbet, mixing in the lemon zest.
-Then he poured champagne (actually I think it was Proseco but I won't swear to it) into the bowl...how much? enough to make it slightly liquid-y without being watery...he whisked some more.
-Then he added Vodka (I'd say a splash...Cathy said it was about a tablespoon)...then the headwaiter came by and splashed some more vodka in...clearly a matter of taste...more whisking.
-This went into champagne flutes...he filled them in a most ingenious way. He took a cloth napkin and wrapped it tightly around the flute...ladled/spooned the mixture into the flute filling it, then slowly advanced the napkin up the sides wiping the sides clean.
-I can't tell you...cold, tart and with a slight effervescence...again HEAVEN!!