We have started going to Porta Palazzo market every few weeks now that Grace is gone.  We need to fill our lonely childless hours....  Porta Palazzo is the huge food market in the city, the largest in Europe.  I love to go.  It's hectic and loud with vendors yelling in different languages.  The smells are incredible, the herbs and cooked foods, and flowers. (they sell everything actually but it's known for the food).  The fish section is in an old building, cold and white and very wet.  The stalls are terraced with flying fish everywhere as vendors helping customers throw the fish up to the weighers working the scales and packers wrapping purchases up in waxed paper.  It's wonderful.  Though it takes a good half day to get what we want, it's well worth it.  For the equivalent of about 30 bucks we got fruit and vegetable, bread and eggs for the week and fish for 2 dinners.  Spring is here in force.  It's all green and pink and white.  Unfortunately is also rainy but we need it.  Grace will be home for Easter and is bringing a friend.  I can't wait.  My first empty nest year has been VERY DIFFICULT I tell you!  I've turned into one of those old ladies that freaks out at the sight of a baby or a dog for that matter.  I need to be nurturing something.  My Pilates instructor, the little Brazilian sadist, had a baby in the fall and she brings him to class some days.  He is so well behaved, usually just sleeps, and when awake loves to just sit and watch all these strange women sweating and groaning.  He stares at us wide eyed and grins.  He's gorgeous and I could eat him.  I think Rosie gets a little nervous when I carry him around.  She suspects that I might just abscond with him.  Pay back!  Off to do me Sunday house cleaning.  Dinner with MIL tonight who may just outlive us all.  MIL, who is rather rotund, says she simply doesn't understand why she is overweight as she tucks into her second helping of polenta with sausage and fontina cheese.  But he blood pressure and cholesterol are great.  Anywho.  Life goes on.  xxoo me