Walking...Always Walking

  You all are probably tired of these posts about walking here in Umbria.

  I'm sorry...we just walk so much, and I really like paying attention to our surroundings. I like to capture that moment...the light that morning, or some little flowering shrub I haven't seen. 

  Springtime is popping all over now, and the landscape changes so fast. I try not to miss a beat, you know?

  This week we have had some really good rain-much needed rain-here, so the next couple of weeks things will be exploding around the area. I can't wait!

  When we leave the house for a walk, the first moments are right outside the door (and down 30+ steps!). The yard is looking so gorgeous with all the daisies blooming...

The front path.

  We've always loved walking up to the old church/cemetery above the village. It'a local favorite stroll, for sure...

Rosemary pouring over an old wall.

  I like to see what's coming up. Interesting plants I often don't know, with cool textures and such...

  This walk has a very classic view of the village. 

Nice combo.

Getting ready to bust out all over!

This is the earliest I've seen the red poppies blooming...

  Another regular morning walk we like is just down to the local apple farm and back. We love to buy the roasted almonds there. Plus, it's got the best long driveway in the world...This was a windy day, so it's a noisy video...Sorry!

Apples in bloom right now.

Pretty!

Huge, old apple tree on the side of the road.

  These walks always give us an appetite, so we indulge!

  I roasted a bunch of potatoes and onions and a few bell peppers. Perfect over arugula, with a dusting of parmesan and tomatoes on the side.

  We love our vegetarian life, I gotta say-

  Now the weather has gotten cold and wet, so we may not walk for a day or two.
  I think I'll make some soup!

A Day Or Two

  

  Yesterday, we were like a couple of kids on Christmas morning...we woke up to a sunny morning!  Cold, yes, but actual sun and the chance to take a morning walk. Perfection.

  Since it was Sunday, we had to get some good bread from the nearby bakery (only open on Wednesday and Sunday), so we decided to get up and out early and walk for our bread.

  I thought this sight along the way was good enough for a photo...

The local spot to buy wood.
Literally busting at the seams...or so it seemed.

That's a whole lotta wood.

 

Further along, a nice view of the countryside...

Typical early March in our part of Umbria.
Beautiful.

  Afterwards, we decided to take a drive to Chiusi, a nearby town,  just to walk around the historic center.

   We'd never visited the public park, so this was also a nice treat.

Johnny finally found the perfect table set he wants
for playing dominoes. Now how to get it back to California?

Pretty cool artifacts throughout the park.

  We enjoyed a stop for wine, then headed over to Lago di Chiusi to see how it was looking with all the recent rains.  Beautiful, me thinks...

So nice to see the hills turning green.

Still winter, but so beautiful anyway.

  

Johnny wanted to stop and do some drawing, so we pulled over. I ended up dozing off as I tried to read. I think we are still catching up from jet lag.

I got the shot, then mozied back to the car for some shut eye.

  

  

There is an amazing and very large scale nursery in this area. They specialize in full grown container plants. I mean HUGE specimens, ready to be trucked/flown anywhere in the world, it seems.

  I've always wondered who buys these lovely trees and shrubs, all ready to turn an empty space into a full grown landscape overnight...

The larger plants are easily fifteen to twenty feet tall.

  Well, last year we made friends with a local gardener and his lovely wife. He is taking care of the garden of a very famous pop star who recently moved into the area. Our new gardener friend told me that the fellow wanted privacy from the fans who found out where his new home is, so could there possibly be a way to make a screen of shrubs? Big shrubs, mind you...

  I guess when money is no object, and you are tired of being spied on and having people trying to snap pictures of you and your pals in the pool...this is where you shop for plants.

  Nice! My question was answered. 

  Today, we are back to a grey, rainy day. Not too bad, though. It's warmer and there is no wind, so we  went to the Monday market first thing this morning for veggies and such, came home to make lunch and sit in front of the fire. Mr. J is asleep next to me while  I write this. I think the tasty lunch and a couple of glasses of wine are to blame.

  And the fire...the magic of the fire.

Some of that wonderful bread we bought yesterday goes on the grill.
We just can't get enough of this simple pleasure.

Salad fixings, fresh ricotta and little tomatoes from today's market.

I tossed the tomatoes in a hot pan with olive oil, garlic, spring onions and thyme.
It was warmed just enough to 'pop' the tomatoes a bit.

Yeah, life is good in front of the fire.
Now it's nap time for me, too.

My Step Garden In Umbria

  I need to think about something nice and simple this evening...something that won't cause my stomach to turn, or my heart to pound.

  I need to take a short, sweet break and wander on back to Umbria for a spell.

  As those who regularly read Live Pronto know, I enjoy fooling around in gardens. My garden, for sure, but I'm happy to hang out and pull some weeds just about anywhere, if the sun is warm.

  In Umbria, where my husband Johnny & I spend a couple of months each year, I can't help but put some color around the front stoop. It's in my genes. Both of my Italian born grandpas were avid gardeners, and I was lucky enough to have them each living close by when I was growing up in the Bay Area.

  It only made sense to become an actual gardener when I grew up. Nowadays, I have help in my own garden(thanks, Pedro!), as I can't do the heavy lifting anymore. But in Umbria, it's just a few pots of color and herbs that I enjoy tending to..

  If the sun is out, I'll sit on the steps grooming my little babies, and just take a moment to chill out.

  When we first arrive, our dear friend and 'landlady' Katia, will have already put a few spots of color in the pots...But she knows that I like to take the trips to the nursery and really go for it.

Katia is so sweet to put in some primroses before we arrive.

  

It's a little too early to do much when we first get there, but as soon as possible, we head to my favorite nurseries to see whats ready to be planted...

The classic geraniums of Italy!
Hey, they do great, and bloom all the way into fall.

I love a back seat full of color!

 

I am fussy about what plants I want, and what color scheme I want. Hey, it's one of my creative outlets, and loads of people see the steps, so it has to be just right.
  Plus, I'm a well known plant snob. There. I said it.
  No matter what I end up with, I always go for some nice herbs to cook with. I love heading down the stairs to clip some herbs for dinner.

Along with color, I'll always get some sage, thyme, rosemary and marjoram.
My favorites to use fresh.

  I'll admit, I get a big old kick out of the oohs and aahs that we hear from inside when folks walk by and take pictures. It brings me joy to know that both the locals as well as visitors enjoy my little scene.

It's a small but mighty little garden.

  These are all shots I've taken over the last four times we have stayed in this spot. It's become a true home away from home, and the garden is a big part of this feeling. I really look forward to making it happen, tending it, and then letting the next guests enjoy it, too.

  Of course, we arrive for spring, so I feel pretty spoiled to get these color combinations going.

Everybody knows when we are here!

A bit of color on our 'street'.

  I like to check out our friend's gardens, too. We love to hang out for a glass of wine at one or another's place. If there is a little work to do, I'm usually up for it. But just listening to the birds and bees can be pretty damn sweet.

  There are always weeds to pull, or plants to be divided somewhere. If it's a nice day, and not too hot...heaven. 

  My little garden doesn't take much work, so I'll put in a load of laundry, grab my tiny clippers and just fool around, seeing what's blooming, or about to.

  Watering is all by hand, and it's up and down two flights of stairs....so...more pasta, please! I don't mind at all, and I even make sure to get some organic liquid fertilizer to give all the plants a good start.

  Like at home in California, I use a glass bottle or two (ummm...wine, in Umbria) to water. I gather the cold water while I wait for warm water at the kitchen sink, and it goes to the plants.

We love our 'Step Garden'!

Every year is a little different. That's what makes it fun for me.

  There isn't the variety at the nurseries like we have here, but I can still create something I love. The weekly farmer's markets have plant vendors, too, and I'll always get cool stuff from them.

  They sell little veggie starts and seed, too. I can't wait to be staying there full time, to really do some gardening.

  For now, hey...I'm happy. I can't wait. I'm in 'GO' mode now.

  

Knowing that we'll be on our way in a scant few weeks makes all this other craziness just a little easier to deal with....

Are you ready to go now, Baby?
I am!!

  Sigh. It's about time, man.

A Little Succulent Love

  First of all, get your mind out of the gutter....

  I'm talking about succulents as in the plants, ok? Jeez.

  (This may say more about me, and where my mind goes, now that I think about it...)

  Anyway...

  As I was cruising around my little garden, I noticed that my beloved succulents were looking particularly beautiful. We have had some rain lately...nice and steady through the night, and my pots of succulents are just soaking it in!

  Also, I have been giving these pots MaxSea, a great powdered fertilizer that everything seems to thrive on. For these guys, once a month or so seems to be just right. 

  Half the fun with my succulents is finding old pots, cans,  coffee mugs...or whatever works, to plant new ones in. I just keep taking off the babies and popping them in here and there...

One display I like mucho.
Texture Galore.
(my new 'hooker name')

They came 'alive' over night, after the rain!

  There are so many interesting varieties, for sure, but since I'm the world's greatest cheapskate, I just keep propagating the ones I already have, only adding new varieties if someone gives me their cuttings.

  Those I do have aren't super special, or hard to find...but I like them and they add so much to the garden.

I love this container with this succulent.

When these look good, they look soooo good!

A new baby getting started in the little pot.
It will be moved up into something larger.

A new favorite from my garden helper.
Thanks, Pedro!
He has an awesome collection.

  These, above, are all medium to large specimens. I really like the drama they add throughout the garden.

  Lately, I have been scoping out the teeny-tiny species. I like the way they weave around rocks and other succulents, once they get going. They also look gray in cool, small containers...

A match made in plant/pot heaven.
Well, I think so...

This poor thing keeps getting torn apart by garden critters.
I don't know why, but they tear it up just when it looks good.
I now have it way high up on a table.

The newest teeny.
I'm looking for the perfect container for this one.

  Though I love my roses, and all the other fluffy things that live in my garden, I plan to continue switching over to more and more of these drought tolerant lovelies. It just makes so much sense these days, especially in our very mild climate.
  We are all reveling in these first-of-the-season rains, but who knows just how much we will get over the next few months.
  I'm betting on the succulent way of life, and if need be, I'll keep taking out the thirstier plants in my garden, and replace them with more of these stunners.
  Why not? They seem to be quite happy here.

Sentinel at the Garden Gate!
Welcome.....