And a wish for peace in the world.
For all my visitors a wish for a wonderful holiday season and a wonderful New Year. I begin with a collection of photos of Venice in December. I usually go there in December so had no trouble collecting these.
All the panettone will be sold before Christmas….so much easier to shop than bake your own. Even Nona often would buy them. She had so much other cooking to do.
Yes, you need to take the tree home on the vaporetto…the smaller leg in jeans close to the tree belongs to his six year old son.
In the window directly above the door to my apartment in 2012.
Looks like someone took the ladder from Babbo Natale. That name will be on the naughty list for sure.
Even though you see a lot of chimneys there are no working fireplaces in Venice. This is how Babbo Natale (Santa Clause) makes his way into your home. I’m sure he arrives by gondola. Maybe pulled by dolphins….or do reindeer swim?
Decorations in the grocery store.
And now some very different musical entertainment. No, it’s not in Italian, it is in the Venetian dialect. That’s why my Italian speaking friends don’t understand it.
And for peace in the world….listen closely to what they are playing
And one that isn’t really Christmas related but what I wish for all of us…
(Sorry about the ad if is shows up)
And I remain the same….no better and no worse than the last update. The current treatment for my cancer is not currently plaguing me with side effects so that is good news.
Love to all of you and may blessings be upon you no matter what your belief or non belief, Michelle and Diavolo (and our new feline addition) Sunshine.
Meandering with Misha 
Oh my gosh how much I want some more Panetone now… My work had their christmas lunch in an italian restaurant and they had the most amazing Panetone with Ice Cream. 🙂
Hugs and kisses from us and the three mischiefs! ❤
You must have a store where you can buy it and it makes the best French toast. Even if it’s not cooked in Venice.
https://get.google.com/albumarchive/108609841914264779487/album/AF1QipMwKT7hPb2UobG2sWuc6nDjK1Dvuutu9tExi0ul/AF1QipNwuSEhXKOiZ6GNl72fgosDeMQEJ-t3iLWt-JPo?authKey=CIK554HT2KvVAw
I hope that comes through. If not let me know by email and I’ll make sure you get it.
That came through perfectly. 🙂
Ah I want to go back to Venice now! ❤
And there are plenty of places selling panetone here. It’s just that these things always taste best in the right setting. 🙂
Im so trying to ignore the panetone on the table in my living room… Ive promised myself I will tuck into it only on Christmas (yeah, I torture myself like that). 🙂 Abbracci, bella!
As suggested to Marc….it makes the best French toast.
E abbracci a te.
(sorry for lack of accents)
I will have to try that. Sounds really tempting.
Un abbraccio e Buon Natale cara Michelle! Yes, you did capture Christmas in Venice perfectly!!
Grazie mille , la Mia bella Amica.
We loved visiting Venezia in December! I think that is what I miss most of all about not living in Italy: The ability to get on a train and go somewhere wonderful with little planning. Your pictures really took me back.
Do tell about Sunshine! And a picture, please!
Blessing to you for Christmas and a strong 2018.
I will have Sunshine do a guest post after the holidays. He’s a bit of a rescue.
Hi Misha! Great post and a beautiful collection of photos of Venice in December.
Wishing you all the best and a wonderful ending of the year.
Thanks, Herman and Mr. Bowie. All the best to you and yours.
The little snowmen hanging from ladders are so precious! Great pictures Michelle, I can just imagine how picturesque Italy during the holidays must be. Panettone is the best, nothing like having a slice with some warm milk in the evenings.
Would love a post about Sunshine your new pet,
Happy Holidays!
Mey, sorry that I didn’t make it clear, those are not snowmen on the ladders. They are lots of Babbo Natale…or Santa Claus in Italy and the ladders are how they get in the house since they can’t come down a chimney. Fireplaces were banned in Venice many years ago in an effort to prevent fires.
Yes, there will be a post about Sunshine. That was his name when he arrived and everyone knows him by that name. But he will wait until after the New Year.
Marry Christmas and happy New Year to you and your four legged family.
And to you and yours also. I love your red ornaments and background on your blog.
Thanks. Just playing around with colors and red and silver worked out great.
It certainly did.
thank you, dear michelle.
All the best for the new year, my dears Barbary and Bill
wishing you & yours a lovely 2018 🙂
What a nice person you are. Photography as beautiful as your writings.
Thank you, Mike.
Thank you for the beautiful Venice Christmas scenery, dear Michelle ~ I see panettone in the shops here but have only bought it a couple of times … your toast suggestion sounds wonderful !! Big hugs from Ella and me to you, Diavolo and Sunshine, bella. x0
Ah, exactly two months out and you are still dreaming of Christmas. I had fun making my French toast in Venice…especially since I didn’t have the energy to track down powdered sugar and maple syrup. I’m sure they had powdered sugar (I’ll bet it’s what some call “icing sugar”) and doubt if maple syrup was on offer. But just a couple of eggs, some milk, regular sugar and lots of butter did the trick. I now have a recipe from Hungry Girl (google her) for gingerbread French toast and it marvelous with Panettone. Do try one that you find there if you notice on the box it has a fairly long shelf life and you really need stale (aka “day old”) bread for French toast.
Sorry I don’t have pictures of Valentines Day in Venice. Maybe someday.
I’m ashamed to say I never tried panetone and see it in the Italian market all the time. I should go try it, next time I’ll go pick some up.
Venice looks like a great place to be for Xmas 🙂
It’s good with just some butter but even better made into French toast. And you have great access to Italian markets and bakeries.
Oh….I’ll get some when I visit my parents next we and we’ll do that! Thanks!!!! And my tummy thanks you too. Tummy controls most decisions.
I was looking thru blogs I follow on Bloglovin and when I saw you, I wonder how you are? I would have sent an email but cannot find one for you. We miss seeing you about the cat blogs, Mischa.
Hi Greg,
I found your email on your blog and just wrote to you.
Andrea….Panattone is a Christmas thing so it may not be in the stores at this time of year. There is another one similar that is an Easter one that could be there ….it’s in the shape of a cross but would work just as well. I’ll send email just in case.
Anyone confused? We’re discussing Panattone French Toast. Here’s the post with pictures and recipe:
Dear Michelle,
I’ve been thinking about you! Miss seeing your writing. Hoping this miserable spring gives way to some sun soon and dreaming of European travel!
All the best to you and Diavolo,
Laurel
Grazie, Laurel. I think of you often also. I promise I will do a new blog post soon. I hadn’t realized this Christmas one was the latest.
My latest pet scan did show some improvement as in no new cancer and it’s not active at the moment…it’s there but behaving itself for now so we will continue with the Avastin as we have been doing. Still can’t walk properly and thanks to that can’t drive. That problem is caused by the peripheral neuropathy and not the cancer. I got it from the chemo. Just called my insurance agent and got my premiums lowered as my car isn’t being driven since August. She said if anyone needs to drive it I can just call her and get it reinstated. It still has emergency coverage in case a tree falls on it or something (no joke in this parking lot). I just keep thinking maybe next week I’ll be better.
No travel in my immediate future not that I don’t dream about it. And I love reading about other people’s travels. Our friend Yvonne (from Australia) is in Italy right now in case you haven’t caught her.
The upcoming blog post will really introduce our new resident…a great big marmalade cat named Sunshine. He lives on the patio and has a lovely bed I bought for him. It has padding that reflects his body heat so even on our cold nights keeps him cozy.
Is your email anywhere I can find it on your blog? I just would hate for us to put something like that here for the public. And I’m reminded once again why I never joined Facebook.
As you may note above you’re not the only blog friend looking for me.
Abbracci.
So happy to hear from you. If you go to my blog http://www.ProjectEasyHiker.com, there is a contacts page. I need to do that with Girovaga. (I hate website/blog technical maintenance!)
Congrats on your new addition! Our old gal is still hanging in there. At 22 I cannot visit new residents upon her!
I just emailed you from your other blog.
and that is the reason Sunshine is the patio cat…don’t need the boy cats marking territory in the apartment. They have known each other for years and seem to get on well….but two huge cats sleeping on me…..