Dave's Blog Post

I follow a blog called Rolling Around in My Head, by Dave Hingsburger.  Dave writes  about life, disability and a myriad of other topics.  Today, there was an especially touching post (his post are not always touching, but they are always thought provoking).  The title of the post is   DNA.  The link to Dave's page is  

http://davehingsburger.blogspot.com/     Enjoy!

BATGIRL

This has got to be the cutest Batgirl in the whole world.   Here is a photo of my great-niece, dressed-up as Batgirl.
Caroline, you are precious!  We will be visiting Caroline and her family sometime in February.  They live in South Carolina.

Nephew Dan

I have mentioned in another post that our nephew, Daniel (Dan ) O'Malley has had his first novel published.  The title is The Rook, and it has just recently arrived on bookshelves around the world.  Dan's book has been an immediate success.  Here is a link to an interview Dan gave, explaining how the idea for The Rook took root in his fertile brain. 


http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/01/12/the-big-idea-daniel-omalley/


There is also a trailer for The Rook on you-tube. Here is the link for that:  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByWvG3KfOmo&context=C37de230ADOEgsToPDskIb09XqoGDjVIGG5ITT9nd4

LA BEFANA

Little Christmas, or The Epiphany, or Second Christmas is on January sixth.  In Italian homes,  La Befana visits  late the evening before and leaves small gifts for the children in their stockings.  She quietly goes on her way.... walking, walking looking for The Christ Child.

Italian legend has it that the three wisemen stopped at La Befana's door to ask for directions to where Baby Jesus lay. They invited La Befana to travel with them, but she declined because she had to sweep and clean her home. The next morning she awoke full of regret. She decided to try and find The Babe on her own.

(Dish painted by Carolee Clark, King of Mice Sutdio, )

Now she is seen walking and sweeping across the land, carrying her broom and sack, looking for Baby Jesus. She visits each home and leaves small treats and gifts for each of  the sleeping children, hoping to find the  Holy Child. 

Little gifts and a treat were left at Nonna's for the four little ones.  They will open them tonight, and I will take some photos. 



La Befana vien di notte
Con le scarpe tutte rotte
Col vestito alla romana
Viva, Viva La Befana!

The English translation is

The Befana comes by night
With her shoes all tattered and torn
She comes dressed in the Roman way
Long life to the Befana!