I'm over-thinking this one. Meaning: no need to go searching for just the right photo, just the right quote, etc. Criminy, it's Saturday. Herewith Sharon Montrose's cute baby bunny on Giulia's site. (It is the Year of the Rabbit.)
I'm (sort of) making up resolutions on my baby deer pad from Sharon Montrose's Etsy shop. And cooking/talking on the phone/looking at blogs of eye-popping insincerity (no one you know). Waiting for the delayed Winter Classic hockey game in which my Pittsburgh Penguins will whoop the Washington Caps. Update - grrrr. (I'm lying low--I live in enemy territory.) Cheers, happy new year. And may I remind everyone that Christmas (traditionally) is not over until 6 Jan. I like it...I hate the idea that people run around like maniacs to "get it over with." Relax. (Baby Bunny No. 1 by Sharon Montrose, The Animal Print Shop)
An Original Polaroid Land Camera photograph by a friend's wonderful father, a true Renaissance officer (at the nearby NATO base) & a gentleman. Naples area, same time as the On the edge of Vesuvius photographs. (This photo has aged, yes, but the tones were on purpose, I'm certain, from having seen the photographer's other work.)
These two women, Sorella Louisa & Sorella Chiarina were responsible for an orphanage for girls. It was not an orphanage in the strictest sense as most girls had families; however, mostly for financial reasons, the girls did not live at home. The alternative was prostitution; most were under age 12. It was about as shocking as anything I'd seen or heard & I'd seen & heard plenty before then.
We spent a lot of time with the girls, the local priest, Louisa & Chiarina, & a few others who were about during that time. Many girls went home for a few days during the holidays. We all worried a lot about what might happen if some of the girls' families (read: the father) did not allow them to return. This happened more than occasionally.
One little girl who remained behind during holidays was from Nice. She'd been dropped off unceremoniously about a week before this photograph & of course did not yet know much Italian. I was asked to visit with her. She was adorable, of course, & I don't know what happened to her. It's not all tragic, some hilarious things (intentional & unintentional) occurred. But that's another time. I race against time for now. Louisa & Chiarina were wonderful & took good care of a lot of children with very few resources. They were the very definition of grace. xo
