FIRE! MOM AND BRIGETTE COOK (HOME GROWN)

The beautiful weather has changed into Siroccos and brought some surprises. We had a bit of excitement during a Scopa game the other night, when I stepped outside to listen to what I thought was loud rain. Instead, it was the sound of fire crackling. The valley outside of our house was on fire! I called everyone outside, Steve called the neighbors, who had called the fire department (all three trucks!), and they soon arrived with hoes, wet blankets, and Indian pumps to put it out. But it was a truly awesome sight while it lasted, even though we felt pretty safe because the wind was blowing directly away from us. As the fire crept up the hillside, it did make me a bit nervous. The next day as we surveyed the burned area, we saw that it never really did get that close to us.
The next day, since we did not want to travel to Erice and Segesta in the clouds and rain, we opted for an “at home” day. I decided to pick the last batch of green peppers from the terrace planters and make baked stuffed peppers for our guests. Jess recorded the event and the fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomato salad, and the last of the cucuzzi squash that we ate. Then Brigette and Joe hosted an evening at their house and Brigette made us home made wood oven pizzas. What a cook! We all enjoyed a fun time laughing and talking about life in Sicily and the language that Steve and I are trying (sometimes quite unsuccessfully) to learn. Brigette’s dessert apple pizza is always incredible, and we all stuffed ourselves accordingly.