Our pianist

We're already near the end of the first month of the new year, how did you begin the year 2013? Well, my life is proceeding quite normally. A little bit of bad weather, humidity, snow...I really hope February won't be too cold. (The last year the temperature went down to -17 °c!)

My son began to take the piano lessons since last October. It seems that he found a new passion! The teacher is very satisfied with him, saying that he's very quick and has learned much in only few months. I and my hubby are glad to hear that. An electric piano was planned to be his Christmas gift but, seeing his enthusiasm, we had anticipated the gift, so he received it in November. Since then, we often have a little bit of sound and music in our home ;)

Our pianist!

I'm posting a video clip of his first song, recorded in December. I wanna entitle the video as "The Pianist and the Listener"

Enjoy the music!

A New Year bliss

The holidays finished. I've been absent from the blog, not because I was too busy in partying or making a trip but because we've been sick for the last half of the holidays! My boy began to get sick on the last day of the year 2012 and it did take time for him to recover, poor him! And guess what, we've got the same symptoms now. We might not have such a great beginning of the new year, however that's not a tragic thing.

Before Christmas, I've got a parcel from one of my dearest friends from Bangkok. When I opened it, I just said "Wow!". She was so kind to send me a box full of delicious sweets (all my favorite ones since childhood) and a pack of amazing jasmine tea as a New Year gift. I said "amazing" because it really is. Those dried flowers, apart from their delicate taste and wonderful scent, are like magic. When they open in hot water, they look like a piece of art. I aprreciated the tea a lot in this moment that I've got a terrible cold and sorethroat. I felt very relieved. I'm going to show you a picture, but I'm sorry that it's impossible to trasmit its aroma through the picture.

I must admit that the poor tiny cup doesn't present the flower in the best way. It's the only cup I have at the moment that let see what there is inside. I've had some of it and you know...it made my day ^_*

Merry Christmas Ho..Ho..Ho..!!

Wishing you a great time with your beloved ones on this special occasion.
May happiness, hope and peace fill your hearts...

Love,
Mee

Broken hearts...in a broken world

My thought at the moment: how can we still celebrate Christmas and the New Year in this broken world??

Good bye little angels...

The irresistible Torrone

Yesterday, I just had a chance to go downtown and have a look at the Christmas market which lasts until the Christmas Eve. I didn't begin to do Christmas shopping yet, am I in delay?? Well, among the stands, I was attracted by those of Christmas sweets, beautiful hats and handmade objects for home decorations.

I stopped by the stand of torrone, a Christmas sweet made of egg white, honey and sugar and is normally assorted with almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, etc. Years ago I didn't like it much as I found it too sweet and sticky, but I don't know how come I began to like it! These are various kinds of the interesting torrone.

I finally decided to get a piece of the torrone with candied fruits. I'm addicted to those fruits!!

Before leaving, I got some nice decorations from the stand of a group of Piacenza for ONLUS. They would be gifts for some friends ☺

Have a happy shopping everyone!!!

December...the month of idea hunting!

Most of you may be hunting for gifts, decorations, food or any kinds of creativity for the Christmas time. Don't we usually feel happy and hyperactive in the month of December? I'm the one who loves the cute and personalised gadgets, accessories and outfits. I've seen many lovely things, from creative Christmas trees, to various ways of gift wrapping, and I just wanna share these ideas with you ｡◕‿◕｡

All the pictures of fabulous things you are seeing below belong to La Piccola Bottega Delle Idee

 

 

 

 And all the cuties below belong to Oh Joy!

Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand

This morning I couldn't help smiling when I logged in my Facebook page. I saw a lot of pictures of my family and friends, dressing up their children in Thai costumes, and bringing them to "Loy Krathong". My little nephew looked so smart in his traditional costume. What is Loy Krathong??? The words don't give any hints, eh?

Loy Krathong is a festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand in the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the Thai lunar calendar. It usually takes place in November in the western calendar. The word "Loy" means "to float" and "Krathong" refers to a lotus-shaped floating container, usually made of the trunk and the leaves of banana trees. A candle, 3 incenses and some flowers are inserted inside this container. They also produce krathong in styrofoam but people are invited to perfer the biodegradable ones. I'm thinking back in the old time when I and classmates created krathong in the class and we brought our krathong to float in a river with family in the evening. The atmosphere was always beautiful and enjoyable. Many locations or villages give out prizes for the most beautiful Kragthong and/or organise Beauty Contests too.

Source: http://loykrathong-sukhothiai.blogspot.it/

The picture above shows the stunning atmosphere of various beautiful Krathong in the Chao-phraya river, in front of the most important temple of Bangkok: "Wat Pra Kaew".

Source: http://www.thaihealth.or.th/node/11748

Why we float the krathong? It has been told to be an ancient ritual to pay respect to the river spirits and to thank the Goddess of water (as water is essential to our life). People also claimed that floating the krathong symbolizes letting go of all one's hatred and anger. Some of them cut the fingernails or hair and place the clippings on the krathong as a symbol of letting go of negative thoughts.

Source: http://travel.kapook.com/view49972.html

Thai ladies in traditional costumes are floating their krathong in a canal. Fireworks are used in many cities to make a spectacular celebration too. Go visit Thailand in the month of November and you will be able to enjoy this experience ;)