Forsythia blooming, yellow primulas in front

Today as I was returning from the supermarket, a dangerous mission any day but practically suicidal on a Saturday, I decided what driving in Italy can be compared to.  It's like driving in a pinball machine.  In the few short minutes it takes me to get home from our local mini-market, I had to swerve out of the way of a guy entering my lane, pull over quickly into a driveway to permit a bus to pass on our too narrow road, slam on my brakes to avoid hitting someone going through a stop sign, all the while keeping my eyes open for dogs, kids, and the elderly who frequently pop out from between parked vehicles or walk in the middle of the road.  Driving is not a tranquil experience here but I must say it can be fun.  For the first time in forever we are staying home this weekend.  Or GP and I are.  Grace is in Rome for a soccer tournament.  The school doesn't really have teams but they recruit a few students for these international school tournaments, give them a practice or two, them feed them to the wolves.  I just got a text from her and they have one game left, having lost the first but won the second!  GP is recovering from his week in Germany and working on our taxes, ugh, and I'm spending the weekend in spring cleaning and gardening.  I'm also baking, which I never do, because of Italy's weird reverse tradition of having the birthday boy or girl treat friends and colleagues  to cake or dinner.  Tomorrow is GP's birthday so I'm baking up a million chocolate muffins for him to take into work Monday.   OK, so maybe not a million, but I did have to triple my recipe!  Ooooo.  First batch is ready.  I may have to test one.  xxoo me