I didn’t write this when I got in…because I was a drowned rat!  We decided to forgo seeing the Pope yesterday because it was pouring rain.  Then it stopped, so we went.  Started again before we got there and NEVER stopped.  St. Peter’s was a sea of colorful umbrellas.  The Popemobile zipped thru the crowd…not the leisurely stop and start as on a nice day.  Couldn’t even see him on the huge TelePrompTer screens because of the umbrellas, so we left.  I was pretty wet at that time.  I caught the bus to go to lunch at my new quilting friend’s house.  Got off the bus and the wind whipped my umbrella inside out and ruined it.  I bought another.  Took the wrong street – but headed in the right direction – and within  10 minutes, the new umbrella was whipped to death!  Found Paola and had a wonderful lunch!  She fixed pasta that had spinach and ricotta in it, fried chicken and chicory and cake.  The cake is made of those thin pastry sheets, with cream filling and tiny strawberries.  Then we had espresso.  Her cute daughter came in…she is a sculptress and works with clay.  After lunch, and only a tiny bit drier, we walked two blocks to the quilt group meeting place.  Only about 15 ladies  showed up.  They all greeted me with the ‘double cheek kiss’ and again, I was warmly welcomed.  I had made a little hexagon flower for a lady making a Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt and she took it around to show everyone.  Then, the ladies made fabric covered eggs.  Some were works of art…just lovely.  Some finished the baskets they made last week, and It’s sewed on my projects.  One young woman brought in her original designed quilt that had won First Prize at the Southern Italy quilt show.  It was stunning!  Hand appliquéd produce of Italy with machine embroidery repeating the produce that was done in cloth.  It had cactus, tomatoes, lemons, some fruit I didnt recognize, wheat, pepperoncini, chestnuts, figs, olives, and eggplant.  An absolute work of art!  I left in the rain and decided to,stop for flautas at the Mexican restaurant…and it was closed! Too much rain for customers, I guess.  So, I went to the bus stop and waited for 45 minutes with my limp, battered, almost useless umbrella in the downpour!  Stood in the doorway of a grocery store.  A woman brought her Golden Retiever in and tied him to a post inside specifically for that purpose.  The dog barked the entire time she shopped…except for a couple of times she swung by to stop him from barking by giving him a treat.  Anyone see the fallacy of this training tip?Then dog number two showed up.   A little brindle French bulldog.  He was tied to a different post.  Dog one barked at him the entire time…except when mom would bring a treat…but the Frenchie would look at him like he was nuts!  As if to say, ‘Cool it dog, your mom will be back…just relax.’    The bus finally came and I got home.  The streets and sidewalks were littered with poor dead umbrellas all the ride home.  It was just misting when I got off the bus, and my umbrella joined others at the trash bin.  Everything I had on was wet, so a hot shower was most welcome.  Evan called me on iCloud and we had a nice chat and I went to bed.  50% chance of rain today…hope I don’t have to go anywhere in rain today.  ‘Waterproof’ coat still wet and no umbrella.  Holding the limp umbrella to at least keep my head dry, the water poured down my hand and arm inside the coat…so,sweater was soaked too…both I had  on.  For those of you who own dryers…go hug them!   More later….