Baptistry Mosaics

As promised,

here are photos of the interior of 

the octagonal Baptistry in Florence from last week.

Oh to be in Florence again! 

I know of an author who rents herself an apartment 

in whichever country she happens to be setting her next novel

and then spends that month writing there. 

One of my future goals! 

And actually, that's why I'm posting photos of Florence,

because part of my novel is set there

and this way we can feel like we're there. 

I love that most of these photos and mosaics

depict angels in them. 

The scene below, of course, needs no explanation.

Can you imagine being responsible for putting all of these tiny mosaics in place?! 

I'm setting up a schedule 

to try to get my novel ready for Beta Readers this summer.

I'm NOT a puzzle person

but writing a novel feels a little like trying to place all the mosaics

in all the right places,
fitting all the correct colors with the right scenes
but without too much rigidity
and more than a splash of imagination.
There's a structured whole yet with individual chapters and scenes
which must have their own flavor and color,
textures and tapestries.

And I'm teaching myself novel writing as I go

so I especially appreciate this last mosaic

of an angel bringing information

during sleep. 

I'm working on the last little bits

of trying to make this book puzzle work

and will take all the help I can get. 

(All Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Bronze doors of the Baptistry in Florence

So while my novel put me in Florence

thought I'd share a couple of exterior photos of the Baptistry. 

The above are the North Doors

created by Lorenzo Ghiberti.

These were originally the East Doors but moved to the North side.

Ghiberti was 21 when he won the competition 

(beating out Brunelleschi!)

and began the commission of the gilded bronze doors

which took him 21 years to finish. 

The first two are the Annunciation (always my favorite)

and the Nativity. 

The doors to the Baptistry are what Michelangelo called

The Gates of Paradise. 

Dante and the members of the Medici family,

as well as most Catholic Florentines,

were baptized in the Baptistry of St. John,

--an octagonal basilica in the Piazza del Duomo 

just next to the main Florence Cathedral--

and was built between 1059 and 1128.

Buried within the quatrefoil,

Ghiberti included plants and insects known to be harmful.

In Medieval thinking,

that was a way of keeping evil away.

Next time a few photos of the 

gorgeous mosaics that make up the ceiling of the interior.

(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen)

(Info via Wiki)

Medici Gardens and inspired Italian dishes

Italy is still occupying a fair amount of space in my head this week. 

Still reading Under the Tuscan Sun

which inspired some yard work

though my yard will never look like these Medici Gardens you see here. 

But the best part was the inspired cooking.

The Chef was nicknamed thus

chiefly because he is the better cook in our house.

But this weekend I decided to try some of the recipes

Frances Mayes includes in the book. 

I made Bruschette on crostini with roasted red and yellow pepper,

basil, tomato, garlic and olive oil. 

(Btw, she has several recipes for bruschette.)

(This almost looks like it could be her in the background.)

Then her Honey-Glazed Pork Tenderloin 

crusted with crushed fennel, rosemary and garlic. 

At nearly the end of cooking time,

a sauce of steamed fennel pureed with white wine,

parmigiano and mascarpone is poured over the top 

and cooked another 10 minutes. 

Molto buona.

And a warm portobello salad with 

roasted red and yellow peppers

and fresh garden greens. 

Dessert was pears steeped in red wine

with figs and a dollop of honey-sweetened mascarpone.

It was a feast with weather fabulous enough 

to eat outside! 

I love this feast photo.

Though I don't recall where in Italy it was taken,

it seems perfect that the Italian's love of sunglasses,

fashion and food should share the same picture. 

I can't wait to get my hands on some of her other books

for the long holiday weekend. 

Reading this first one from a different perspective

gives it a sparkling newness.

And the others will be read for the first time. 

Who knows what inspiration will be birthed?! 

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Italian Door fronts

I'm rereading Frances Mayes'

'Under the Tuscan Sun' again,

gleaning ideas for my Greek travel book

and stretching out in her poetic words

like a bed covered with rose petals...

and some friends are talking about

spending Christmas in Rome

sooo...

Italy is on my mind. 

Had to share some of these sparkly door fronts 

from Rome and Mantua. 

This little trattoria really knows how to make a scene. 

 I couldn't help but snap a photo

of an awning of white roses. 

The Chef is talking about meeting our friends in Rome 

over the holidays.

We'll see... 

but

ohhh how I love when he gets carried away. 

You just never know with him. 

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Lunch overlooking the David in Firenze

I'm coming to the end of my writing retreat 

and I've decided we need a little more of Florence this week

since that's where I've been in my head. 

This little place is preparing for lunch on the famous square,

the Piazza della Signoria,

the entryway to the Uffizi Gallery and

home of the famous statues you see in the background. 

That is a reproduction of Michelangelo's David on the left of course,

and on the right is Bandinelli's Hercules and Cacus.

And between them is the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio (or Old Palace). 

Now the Town Hall for Florence

and the home of the Mayor's office and City Council,

it was once the home of Cosimo I before he moved across the Arno River

to the Palazzo Pitti.

That's when Cosimo began calling it the Old Palace. 

And speaking of old,

there's one other photo I just have to share:

In case you are wondering what I will look like when I'm aged,

this is it. 

Permanently bent over my writing

and possibly sound asleep, 

though I cannot guaranty my socks will match anything. 

Can you tell I'm getting punchy?! 

Until we meet again...

ciao.

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Florence on my mind...Travelin' Tuesday

I'm busy working on the novel this week 

from my writing retreat on the Oregon Coast

and my characters are in Florence right this minute

so it seemed a good time to pull out some of the Florence photos. 

I don't recall the exact location of this spot 

but pretty sure it is right near the Uffizi Gallery...

and the Arno river...and the Ponte Vecchio bridge. 

The shot reminds me of olives smothered in olive oil

and authentic pizza with red wine...

like this...

My characters are in the midst of a helicopter tour of Florence

with one of the most wealthy moguls in the world

which I never got to do 

but it was fun to write about.

(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen)