Now That 2016 Is About Done...

  So long, 2016. It's been, umm, well…

  See ya.

  Now can I start to think about 2017, and Italy? 

  Why yes, yes I can. And ain't nobody gonna stop me. 

  Just knowing that in a few weeks we'll be back in Umbria makes my heart flutter (sure beats my heart pounding, which has been the norm since, oh, let's say November).

  First big view of Panicale is from the valley, after we've taken the train down from Florence, picked up the rental car and firewood, and hit the road home...

  

   I really can't wait to be at the very top of town, toasting our arrival as the sun goes on down...

Baby! We're back!

  

  It's pretty quiet in town when we first arrive. Our apartment is waiting for us.

I look forward to filling pots with flowers for our stay.
They will line the steps, getting photographed by
visitors from all over!

This is why we get some wood before we go up the hill-
Johnny loves that first fire.

  It's funny…I realize that our life in Italy is so routine now. No big changes from year to year. We may take some day trips to new places, or even spend a couple of nights in a different town, but really? All we want to do is what we always do. Some painting, walks in the country side, lots of wine drinking, foosball, good food, time with pals…it's enough. It's sweetness.
  I. Can't. Wait.


  Poor Mr. J has lots of work to do, but he doesn't mind. He knows there is wine at the end of the day.
  Maybe some pasta…

Last painting of this gorgeous day….

Is it finished?

  Johnny is happy to just walk around the walls of town, taking it all in...

  …a walk at the lake is always on the agenda...

  …finding odd, old buildings can be fun, too.

  

 This one will do just fine,
thank you.

  I feel like I'm just along for the ride, most of the time.

  No problem...

I don't even care where I'm going,
except when it's time to leave.

  For me, everyday in Umbria is a day to discover something new and tasty.

Making pizza in someone's laundry room?
Hey, it was a fantastic evening of fun with pals!

That sly smile is all about the knowledge
that soon I will be eating something delightful, in Florence.

What really gets me excited is pizza.
Pellicano Pizza, thank you very much.

  We like to just hang out together, mostly. Like at home in California, we spend most of our time together, in our little world of two. 

  There are many favorite places we like to visit, and the surrounding landscape is a never ending wonderland to explore.

  We tend to do it with gusto.

  The lake, Lago Trasimeno, always delivers...

Coming into the port on Iso;a Maggiore.
We will spend time on this island at least once every year.
Johnny likes to paint here.

A walk at the lake is a great way to spend time.
There are several favorite spots to stop for wine or lunch.

This year we found some new hill towns with awe inspiring views of Lago Trasimeno.
Having a day of perfect weather is sweet.

 
Because we are there to watch the change from winter to spring, we get to watch colors explode all around the area.
  I will never get tired of seeing the wisteria come into bloom, or coming across a field of red poppies.

  These are the things I look forward to…spring flowers, foosball, potato chips with wine, pasta to die for and pizza that is good enough to be a last meal. Ever.



  Anyway, back to those spring blooms….

I loves my new camera….

Apple trees in bloom are a mind blower.

We visit this flowering cherry every year.
It comes and goes so fast...

Yes, the poppies are all over, but they don't last long, either.

When the scotch broom start up, it's about time to head home,
dang it.

I see iris planted all over. They just make huge colonies where ever they land.
Here, they are quite perfect under the olive trees.

  

  The landscape is always changing while we visit.

  Always breathtaking.

Wheat in full 'bloom'.

A perfect spot.

My favorite critters, with bells on.
Thanks for the pecorino, ladies!

  

We do enjoy our pals.

Spending time with friends, old and new.

Celebrating a birthday at Bar Gallo, of course.

  We do enjoy our favorite spots for wine, too...

Kicking back to watch the world go by.

A little hideaway we enjoy.

Many, many visits here each year.

Mr. J soaking the last rays of sun in front of a favorite spot.

Wine, chips and dominoes.
Dare I say…it's a lifestyle?

One of many spots near the lake.

  

But of course, we always come home to Aldo & Daniele's…What would life be without Bar Gallo?

  We have been working our fannies off getting the new gallery space up and running, and now that we are open, we are starting the yearly countdown to leave. It seems odd, but the trip was already planned, and this is why we do work so hard all year.

  To return to Umbria is the Big Gift. The Big Payoff. 

  

  As I write this, on December 28, 2016, I can't tell you how much we both need this. We have all had a bit of a rough ride, and putting 2016 to bed, knowing that it's scant weeks before we head on over to Panicale…well, it's a really good band-aid for us. 

  I am pretty sure our Panicale gang is feeling the same way.

The Prize.

  Let's toast out this bitch of a year, and get the party started, ok?

Cin-Cin

Cups

  We run a pretty tight ship around the house in the mornings. Wake up way too early, get coffee going, make lunch, do the stretches, hit the beach path for an hour of serious walking... not much time to just kick back and relax before rushing out the door to work. The coffee gets short shrift most mornings. So sad. 

  Sad, because I really love the whole coffee ritual. I like to fill the kettle with water, grind the luscious smelling beans, heat the milk up...yeah, it's only 1%, but I still enjoy it. We have stayed true to the paper filter in the cone system, going back and forth between the two cups. Mmmmm. No fancy machines or anything. What can I say. It works for us. On our "sleep late" day, when we blow off stretching and walking and don't have to go to work, we have our cups in bed, reading art, travel or food magazines. Luxury!

  Sometimes I'll get out the silver Bialetti espresso maker on our days off for an afternoon pick-me-up.

We'll put extra hot milk and even sugar in these special treat cups. Funny, because when we are in Italy, we only use the Bialetti.... Most places we've rented have them, and they even have a cute little tiny gas ring on the stovetop just for this purpose. It cracked me up the first time I saw one of these. Cute little gas ring thingy!

   A massive difference when we are in Italy, is that we drink cappuccinos in the morning with lots of milk and sugar, and we'll throw espresso back any old time of the day. Morning, noon, night. I think we walk so much while on our trips that no matter what, I'm going to sleep like a log. And dream. We'll stop in to the local bar in each and every town we visit, knowing that the cups are always going to be like heaven. Often we'll go native and stand at the bar just long enough to throw back one shot of espresso. Boom, and we're gone. Other times, it's a long rest or a chance to chat with the locals, or other travelers. I like to catch up on my journal writing over a cup, too. Johnny sketches while sitting outside, gazing into the everyday life of the piazza. Sweet.

These beauties were enjoyed by my folks and us in Certaldo, Tuscany. We were there for a local festival
celebrating all the local food and hand crafted products.

Two shots of cups in Venice, while writing post cards...

  We know it almost always costs more to sit outside and be waited on, but when the town center or piazza is active with kids kicking soccer balls, moms with strollers, grandmas gossiping on benches and cats, it's totally worth it. If the sun is shining, all the better. The slice of life you get to enjoy is worth the extra charge every time. And don't get me started about the pleasure I get when the bells go off at whatever church is close by. And there's always a church nearby. I get all teary eyed just writing about it. Damn.

Macchiato in Rome, from what I can see on the map.

At our favorite Bar Gallo in Panicale, Umbria.
For me, a cappuccino is breakfast.

Espresso at Caffe Degli Artisti in Cortona, Tuscany.
The dolci were on the house and yummy.

  For the price of a candy bar here in the states we can sit for hours if we want, sipping our cups, enjoying whatever show may be unfolding before us. One of these days I will learn that I can do this right here, at home... why don't I? Seems there is always something that needs to be done right now that keeps me from taking the time to relax. The clothes need washing, the garden needs tending, the groceries need buying, the house needs cleaning...I NEED RELAXING. 

  But, hey, that's what vacation is for, right? You better believe it.

Two photos after the fact...Assisi on top, and I think Venice is the second.

Our morning treat in Paciano, after walking from Panicale.
Then the long way back!