And let the black cat dream happily instead of crossing any road.
For the last day of the year, here are some recent photos from our Christmas trip to Rome, the first after almost two years. I saw some fruit trees in bloom, and yesterday a mosquito bit me. I saw zero Christmas lights in the streets. I saw a trash situation. This is nothing new.
We are back home already, eyeing newly arrived neighbours in worry over their pyrotechnic stash. We don’t want any of that. Rome has forbidden all outdoor celebrations and pyrotechnics so they came out to the country.
The photos are a bit crappy because most were taken with my phone. It was raining.
First, we almost crashed into the automatic highway gate on the way to Rome because it almost didn’t lift in time. I already closed my eyes, screamed a little and braced for impact and then – nothing. It did lift in the last moment.
Then yesterday I made a new cake, called Devil’s Food Cake by Nigella. The devil must be in the details, in these guys, in disguise. The cake is still in the fridge, untouched, unphotographed, unrisen, unloved. What it will be is eaten. I promise you that.
And today I made my regular seasonal biscuits from Siracusa. It had to be the fourth time I made them after coming upon the recipe on the Almost Italian blog five years ago. This time instead of little balls I made pancakes. The dough was so liquid that I had to use the ice-cream scoop to apply it to the tray. They taste the same though. Amore just ate six. Nuff said.
I wish you a lovely celebration with no fuss over the details, and sending over a toast and three kisses on midnight. Cin cin! Bring in the new!
The look out at home. On the way to Rome before the highway gate scare. Awaiting in Rome. The only new door I spotted in the hood of amore’s father. We didn’t make it to the centre. Streets were fully without illumination. This car seemed out of the future. Fruit trees in bloom. Really. Black cat asleep. She was good and didn’t bother bestia, much.
This day in my blogging history
LOL!! He ate 6…yep nough said!! 🤣 Happy New Year, Manja. I hope you, Amore, and Bestia have a wonderful 2022!
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Happy 2022, Deborah! It started off most wonderfully.
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Most excellent!!! Happy New Year, Manja!!
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You do know how to have some fun adventures, Manja! Ah, Nigella–I read her books more for the stories than for the recipes. I do hope the cake gets eaten, though. Getting ready to toast you, Amore and Bestia with a little mimosa. To your health and the New Year! 🥂
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Thank you, Lois. The cake – more like a kind of thick chocolate bar – is excellent. The year started off on a good foot otherwise too. Happy 2022 and cin cin!
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Happy New Year to you and yours. It’s too warm here and the children upstairs in the hotel are quite rowdy. Doors slamming all day and night. We will split a cold beer, have a few chips and welcome in the next year from the back of our eyelids. I wonder if the cake tastes good? I’ve seen Nigella on a few cooking shows.
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I’m thinking I’ll celebrate the New Year in much the same way as you 🙂
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The cake tastes great, even though it looks like a thickened puddle. 😀 Happy 2022, Marlene!
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Yay!
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All these cozy shots of simple pleasures: city streets, family, driving to family, food, and pets. It’s a feel-good post to start the new year off well. Hugs and best of wishes to you all for a better, better in any way but please make it better, 2022. Hugs and kisses, cmt ❤
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Thank you kindly, Crystal. The year started off just perfectly in all regards. Let’s feel good. We owe it to ourselves. Happy 2022!
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The wave mural door is excellent. We have trees in blossom too in December @ 15/16 degrees.
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Wow!
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A Happy New Year to you and yours Manja
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Thank you, TAB! And to you!
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Happy new year. All your sweet treats sound good and are a great way to start another circle around the sun.
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Thank you, Claudia. All turned out delicious despite the appearance. A lesson to remember.
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The very best to you in 2022, Manja.I can never resist taking a photo of a cat sleeping. It comes close to defining the activity. 🙂 –Curt
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Thank you, Curt! Hope you had a lovely night and the year will follow.
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Happy New Year Manja. I hope Bestia behaved 😁
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It was okay, just a little fireworks, and the flat cake turned out delicious. Hope you had a nice night too, Not Pam, and the year will follow.
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Happy New Year Manja 🥂🎉 Love the little cat 😻
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Happy New YEar, Manja. Good to see it’s off to a nice start.
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Thank you, Dan! It’s still great going. Wish you the same.
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Wishing you the best for the New Year Manja!
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Happy happy new year. That car is really futuristic. Did you find out any more about it, Manja?
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Thank you, Amanda! I’m really pleased with this year so far. You mean find out about the car? I wasn’t looking…
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…and many happy returns.
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Cin cin! 🙂 Lovely. Gosh, I always have so much to catch up on with you, but at least I’ve made it to the current year now 🙂
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Well done! I know how it is when someone posts daily. But some post even more times a day! 😮 Cheers!
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