Clouds In Spring

  As we look forward to soon being in Umbria again, I pour over photos, remembering days spent like they were yesterday. We spent many, many days just driving in the countryside, no place in particular to be going to. Other days, we would know just where we were headed. Funny, we don't ever do that here. Of course we aren't on vacation much here. Our days of leisure are generally not full of much leisure. Always, there are chores.... That's ok. We live in an area of divine beauty, and there are no complaints. Just not much time to do "nothing".

  I totally get it... this is a huge component of vacations, and why we love them so. The ever elusive leisure time. Sigh.

  We have been lucky to have had more gorgeous days than not on most of our trips. Sure, it was only 22 degrees last time we were in Paris, but man, was it beautiful... the dusting of snow on everything, and the hot drinks all the more delightful. Plus getting to wear our "Big Coats", and really meaning it. We've had rain, snow, wind, and hot, hot, hot days. But only in little bits, and it's all good.

  While in Umbria last spring, we were stunned by the clouds some days. I snapped shots from the car, driving along, or would have Johnny pull over to get even better shots. As the perpetual passenger, I am spoiled by all I get to see and enjoy. It's my job to make sure Johnny at least gets to enjoy the photos, if he's missed it all while behind the wheel. Thankfully the roads are mostly empty, and we can putt-putt along, at....  dare I say, our leisure?

I love the color of the hilltown against the blue sky.
Pretty sure that is Pienza, in Tuscany.

A classic drive-by shot. Near Porto.

Just a moment later...

No one around but us.

  We do love to take our little day trips, with the radio cranking out Italian Top 40, and the windows open just enough to let in all the smells of early spring. This can be anything from olive branches burning, to sweet grass, briny lake smell, or piggy stench. The warmth you only feel when driving in a car on a sunny day.... 

Fields planted with fave, to dig under later for extra nitrogen goodness in the soil.

Blue,White, Green, Grey. It works.

I'll take the house, and the car, too.

 The vibrant colors of both the sky and the hills knock me out. We had arrived when there wasn't much grass yet, and still snow on the far hills. As our trip went on, so did spring, and the electric green of the new grass. The deciduous trees didn't quite leaf out while we were there, but they had just started to. We did get to enjoy "Primavera", the first day of Spring. It coincided with all the wild red tulips going off in the olive groves. I had seen the red poppies before, but had not known about the tulips. A beautiful thing.

Fields starting to bust out in glorious green. 

Softness of the hills undulating.

  Living near the coast, we have a different take on late winter/early spring. The waves crash bigger, the smell of the dune plants are so herby and sweet. Not so much of the feel of farmland and fields. Though they are close by. I like it all, and hope I don't take any of it for granted. Watching the seasons change is one of life's best treats. Whether here, or there.

A parting shot of Heaven right here on Earth.