Always On Our Mind

  Boy, time seems to be flying by. 

  Not fast enough for me, though.

  What can I say? I am in a state that is not quite the "Be Here Now" I've been trying so hard to embrace.

  Waiting and wanting…wanting and waiting. 

  It's been some time since I've posted anything. Good news is we've been busy. Bad news, I miss going over the photos and moments I so enjoy sharing. Sharing with pals... and folks I've yet to meet.. that have a yearning for all things Italia.

  Since I've already booked the 2016 trip, I guess I have some catching up to do from this year's visit. I don't mind. I'm so ready.

  We look forward to being back in our little corner of Umbria each year. Arriving early in Spring is a bonus, as we get to watch the season change, big time, and there aren't many folks around yet. It gives us a chance to settle in and breathe.

  At one of our favorite watering holes, we watch the trees go through a major transformation...

  

Early March...

….mid May.

  The first evening possible, we are out at the walls of town enjoying the beauty of the sun coloring the old buildings, as well as the landscape….

  

Baby!

I'd say we're happy.

  It can be down right chilly, but the weather also makes for some enchanting photo opportunities.

Fields below the walls of town.

A break in the storm.
Looking towards Cortona from Castiglione del Lago.

  The fields are filled with contrasts this time of year…colors, textures, sounds.

  As Johnny works, I walk. I find that I am strongly drawn to the working landscape. The shocking green of the durham wheat, the chocolate brown of the recently tilled soil…It speaks to me. Loud and clear.

  Is it in my genes? My Grandpa Dottie was a dairy farmer. I feel I was born with dirt under my finger nails...

Abstraction, naturally.
I feel a kinship with this landscape.

  I know I'm no longer on the Central Coast of California. 

  Though somewhat similar, I think it might be the bell towers, umbrella pines and centuries old olive trees…The light and sound...

  Whatever it is, I have fallen very hard for it.

  

Again with the contrasts of color and texture..

 Moments I come upon and must capture...

A peek into a local chapel...

Subtle, yet profoundly beautiful color inside a ruin...

A gift from nature...

Gentleness at the farm...

The perfect spot to nap...

At the end of a big hike….

A day at the lake...

A color combination I love….

  Sometimes we find ourselves at just the right place, and at just the right time..

  We have met some really great people, and look forward to seeing them all again.
  I'm pretty shy about taking photos of people. I don't really like having my picture taken…But I'm glad to have a few shots of some friends from "Our other life"…..



  It's just a matter of time, Amici!

  It's wonderful having the luxury of time to just take random strolls. Sometimes in the countryside, sometimes several times a day around the walls of town. I especially enjoy the wisteria as it goes from stark branches to full bloom. 

  

Walking on a beautiful evening….What could be better?

  The wisteria seems to bloom at a different time each year. Of course, this has everything to do with the weather…and over the years we've seen it all! From really warm, way too early…to "when the hell is it going to warm up a little?" And snow!
  I always keep my fingers crossed that we get at least a couple of weeks of warm sunshine, but there is no guarantee! So far, we have seen the wisteria in all it's glory every year, but year one. Year two I made certain to push the trip longer…it's so worth it.

Seriously fragrant.

  So, anyway, this past trip had zillions of magical moments. Every trip does, right?

  Here are some last shots of moments I like remember.

  We can't wait to be heading back.

The taste of fresh fava beans with fresh pecorino and good Umbrian olive oil.
Oh…AND red wine, of course.

The sublime lakeside park we love to spend time at.

Stalking Colin Firth & Stanley Tucci to get a "backside" shot.
What can I say…I was too embarrassed to ask them to pose…
I love Mr. Firth's striped bag…so on trend!

The most stunning cloud reflections.

My "home away from home" garden.

Our favorite view at the best time of day.

Colors and shapes of our little town.

  We are a couple of fortunate characters. 

  People say "You guys are so lucky"….Yes, there is some luck, BUT…we have a vision and a purpose that we are working our tails off to achieve. 

  I think we've been doing a pretty good job of it, too. 

  Right, Baby?

 We'll be back in a few, Umbria! Keep a bottle of Grechetto chilled, ok?

So Close I Can Touch It

  Yeah, so anyway, I'm ready.

  All in order, we prepare to depart. 

  And none too soon, let me tell you.

  This year, just to make things extra stressful, we have decided to have our bathroom remodeled while we are away. Madonna. What are we thinking.

  It will be a grand surprise upon our return.

  It's been one hell of a year. Without going into details, let's just say that I am one thankful girl. Things on the family front have evened out health wise, so we feel confident that we can leave without too much drama. 

  I hope to be blogging much more from this point on…fingers crossed! I've been spending a lot of time  away from my normal life, so Live Pronto has had to take a back seat this past year. I hope to be here more often, and especially while we are away.

  As always, we tip our hats and raise our wine glasses to James and Anna, our lovely house sitters. We don't know what we would do without them! Keep an eye on things, dear ones!

  PS….Please…dig up some potatoes…there are tons!

  

  This post is just a bit of fluff…some travel porn for those of us who have been there, are ready to be there, or are dreaming to be there. 

  As for me, I can't wait another f***ing minute.

  Good thing we don't much have to.

  

  We can't wait to see this view…and watch it change over the weeks we are there….

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  Being in the piazza is heaven. Whether there is no one around, or the place is packed, it's the heart of the village, no doubt.

  

Just me and my parents, video chatting away.
What an amazing world we live in.

A busy day in the piazza…perhaps the day after Easter, when
the famous "Cheese Rolling" contest takes place.

A classic scene in Panicale…..

  One of our very first trips will be to Fontemanna, to buy little jars of the best sheep's milk yogurt ever. We'll also get some lovely pecorino cheese, and just enjoy saying hi to the family….and kitties...

Best cheese shop…ever.
Small, but mighty.

My pals.

  

  I love watching Johnny paint…either just outside of town, as below, or away…a drive through the country is a blessing….

Mr. J painting just down the hill from Panicale.

  We both enjoy taking day trips….These can be as close as a twenty minute drive, or as much as a couple of hours. We never know what we'll see, or where we'll end up. 

  It's always an adventure…..

I'm almost certain this is Chiusi, but I can't remember where I shot it from.
I just love it when the sun hits like this, showing off the hill towns...

Dreamsville.

The amazing central "piazza" of Bagno Vignoni.

Along the way to Bagno Vignoni, a fantastic view of
Castiglione d'Orcia.

A bucolic scene.

  Then there's the food….I won't go on. There will be lots more of this coming soon.

Heavenly Parmesan.

You can just tell this is fresh, made by the hand.

Yes. I think I will.

  The colors, and how they will change in the time we are there…I love it.

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  Lago Trasimeno is a constant delight for us. Talk about color changes…we have become more and more inclined to spend time at the lake. Whether painting, taking long walks, or enjoying a glass of wine on a warm day…the lake is magic.

  She shows off the sunsets pretty well, too….

  Since we are serious walkers in our life here, at home, we carry this over the pond, too. It's a must, considering our love of all the fine pasta, cheese, bread, wine, etc….

  I always like to have the camera. Things change so fast, I don't want to miss the wildflowers, or clouds, or moss…..

Just another morning walk in wonderland….

  We have been so fortunate to have had the opportunity to make friends with some of the loveliest and most generous people. I love being invited to their homes, and get the chance to "play" in their gardens, especially. What a joy. 

  I miss my own garden when I'm away, so having the fun of digging in the dirt while we are in Panicale is just what I need. Plus, what better way to enjoy some time with a garden loving pal? We gardeners are a very cozy bunch.

A very special garden, indeed.
A collaboration of artists/gardeners. Beauty.

A favorite of mine, and I hope I can pull weeds here again this year.
Love it.

Stew's beautiful banksia roses going off,
as well as the much photographed wisteria….

My very favorite garden to play in, this one holds a special place in my heart.
See you soon!

  We have a few favorite four-footed friends, of course…..

Dear Zaza….what are you dreaming about?

And Micha, are you dreaming, too?
We will be giving you some love soon!

  I so look forward to setting up my home away from home…especially planting pots and pots of flowers and herbs for the steps. It's so fun visiting all the local nurseries.
  Then I'll get my kitchen all ready, and start cooking!

  Yep. It's so close…so close.

  See you soon, Artisan's House…!