17 April 2014

Suddenly, everything seems to be green...





Considering that green is turning up around every corner lately, the timing couldn't be better for the "G" in ROY G BIV this month. Here are a few greens that have been part of this week...

The first pair of images show the delicious fresh beans that show up every April: baccelli. As per tradition, we paired them with shavings of pecorino, then seasoned with olive oil, salt & pepper. The rosemary in the left-hand image is from my mother's terrace garden in Montepulciano, where we did a little gardening over the weekend—I couldn't resist bringing home some of the purple-flowered branches.

Next is a pineapple, whose prickly outer texture & range of greens I find endlessly fascinating. Though they are not grown locally, pineapples are one of the fruits available year-round in Florence (and found almost without fail on the dessert menu at restaurants). We have been using them for shakes made with semi-frozen almond milk, an egg white & a little vanilla...



 

I realized only now, when the sun is long-gone, that I had meant to photograph the packaging of our colomba, the light, sweet, candied orange- & almond-studded bread that's just as much a part of the Italian Easter tradition as the large chocolate eggs wrapped in shiny, colorful papers. This year we decided to try something a bit different: a colomba made with olive oil (you can see the olive-sprigged paper & wide green ribbon in this photo on the Filippi website).

 

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While accompanying my daughter to the airport today, I saw plenty of green: several leaf-green spring jackets, suitcases both dark & light green & bold green beaded jewelry. The best photo would have been of a young passenger at the ticket counter—his hair was dyed bright green, and he was also wearing a green t-shirt! But, as I said to my daughter, I am just not the kind of person who blatantly photographs people (surreptitiously, yes, but not if I think they might notice). Though I had brought my camera for the walking portion of my journey home from the airport, once I had said goodbye to my daughter I just quietly observed the many greens that surrounded me...

Once I was back in the center, and walking past the church of Santa Maria Novella, it clicked with me that the intricate façade designs are in green (and white) marble, so out came the camera at last...



As I continued on toward the river, I thought about how I hadn't been to our favorite gelateria, La Carraia, in a long time. While we moms used to take our children there after school once upon a time, it's something they usually do on their own now. I love the "After Eight" flavormint with bits of chocolateand though it's a subtle green because they don't add artificial colors/flavors, it tastes even greener than it is. The gelateria's logo (the arches of the bridge it is named for/located next to) is also green, but I was too busy catching the drips of my cone to photograph it.

 


The Arno has been green much of April, so I had a feeling it would be part of this month's ROY. Below are a few snaps from today; I liked the patterns the wind made as it blew opposite the current, and the varying shades as the water caught the light, the sky & the greenery along the banks...







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For links to more green-inspired photos, please visit the
blogs of artists Jennifer Coyne Qudeen & Julie Booth.




19 comments:

  1. Hi Lisa- As always, an inspiring tour of this month's color! Love the gelato in mid-drip and especially the fascinating patterns and colors of the Arno (which seems like such a chameleon!). Thanks for playing along.

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    1. Thanks, Julie! True what you say about the Arno being a chameleon - it was cafe-au-lait-colored earlier in the week (what happens when it rains). Sometimes it's even blue!
      - Lisa

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  2. Well, I must say your post has made me very hungry! Those beans look succulent, and the gelato seems absolutly scrumptious! Also loving the pattern on the pineapple, and that church facade is gorgeous!

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    1. Thank you for your comments, Sharmon. And yes, it's funny how much of this post is food-related...everyday greens! I immensely enjoyed that gelato (and am reminded that I should go back for another one soon).
      - Lisa

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  3. This has been a feast ... wonderful post!

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed the post, Mary Ann - thanks for stopping by for a look...
      - Lisa

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  4. What a wonderfully varied range of greens - edible or not - though my personal favourite has to be that gelato ... how luscious it seems!

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    1. Thank you for having a look at my "greens," Margaret. I just realized that I never did make the rounds last month to see everyone else's, so am looking forward to doing that...
      - Lisa

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  5. Such a beautiful green post! The water is stunning and quick! Lick that gelato!

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    1. Thanks, Carol! The photos have turned out to be a nice reminder of that week - and the true arrival of spring...
      - Lisa

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  6. These are all so wonderful but my favorites are the watery greens of the Arno. Your descriptions of the way you prepare the green beans and pineapple shakes make my mouth water!
    -sus

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    1. Hello Susan - thanks for your comment. I think my favorites are also of the Arno. I had intended to walk the length of the river to photograph all of its green-ness that week - near the parks/green spaces along the water it is even more stunning/varied. But even between the two bridges that I did cover there was a pretty amazing number of greens : )
      - Lisa

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  7. I keep missing the ROY G BIV contests, it's a shame. But these greens of yours are so lively and beautiful that I feel more than compensated. The Arno shots are impressively green and striking!

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    1. I still remember when I first discovered your blog, Ersi - you had just posted that amazing green chameleon for a "GREEN" month a couple of years ago. It was always fun to see what you came up with each month, so hopefully you'll have a chance to do it again one of these days. I haven't done any blog-visiting for the past few weeks, but am looking forward to seeing what you've been up to lately...
      - Lisa

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  8. Love the different greens of the river Arno and your gelato looks so yummy.

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    1. Thanks, Maya! And about the gelato...it's funny - I never thought I like mint-chocolate-chip ice cream, but I tried it at the urging of my daughter & it's something else all together: subtle, smooth, sublime!
      - Lisa

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  9. Lovely collection of photos!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Jill...and I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed the green-inspired photos!
      - Lisa

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  10. I just wanted to apologize for taking so long to reply to all of your lovely comments... Thank you again!
    - Lisa

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Thank you for joining in on the dialogue; I appreciate your comments!
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