tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59471332008-09-10T23:25:24.365+02:00Barb and Art have moved from Kentucky to Umbria. These are their adventures.Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comBlogger866125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-5767769928288624812008-09-10T23:13:00.004+02:002008-09-10T23:22:25.569+02:00

We have moved to a new location and our own custom URL - www.artnbarb.com . Read about our House for Sale in Umbria. Thanks to Cristina and www.expatsinitaly.com for hosting our blog these years!!

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-83287607562514390532008-08-27T22:15:00.004+02:002008-08-28T12:12:23.126+02:00

No, not us, just our blog! Our new address will be http://www.artnbarb.com/, simple, huh? It will take a day or two until we have the blog setup at its new address. If you have our blog address saved as a favorite or in a feeder site like Bloglines, don't forget to update to the new address!Until the changeover is complete, some of the photos will be missing, but with the help of Cristina and

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-68255986038199589672008-08-27T06:27:00.001+02:002008-08-27T08:56:16.881+02:00

Or even those of you who are slightly squeamish...or who think all that meat in the grocery store just magically appears on styrofoam trays! This post is about the reality of life in a farming community, and about the entire circle of life, which is sometimes just a little gruesome for some of us! Living here in Umbria, and specifically in San Venanzo, we know that almost everything we eat is

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-6439853785739090562008-08-26T06:16:00.002+02:002008-08-26T06:16:00.465+02:00

Beppo Grillo, a tireless promoter of truth, justice and the Italian way of life has posted an interesting article on his blog entitled NICOTINE AND THE DEATH OF THE HONEYBEE. I'm sure everyone is aware of the problems faced by the honeybee today, and man's inexplicable inability to reverse the chaos we've created. Several years ago there was a mite that was attacking honeybees, causing them to

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-53894060333008131692008-08-23T05:52:00.005+02:002008-09-02T20:10:06.982+02:00

A week or so ago I wrote about seeing our appointments to continue the renewal process listed online. I hadn't been checking every day, and the first day I saw our appointments listed was on a Monday, and the Monday before ferragosto at that. Still, I hoped that whoever was inputting the info onto the website was coordinating their efforts with the person who'd be putting the registered letters

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-25305079252171091452008-08-21T06:14:00.002+02:002008-08-21T11:21:23.613+02:00

It wasn't easy for us to verbalize what we wanted when we first decided to live in Italy. It's easy to say "I want to live in Italy!", but a little harder to decide where. The big city will offer different options than country living. Life in southern Italy might be a little cheaper than life in northern Italy, but what are the trade-offs? And for new retirees like us, what would we do to fill

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-13747106918269238032008-08-20T06:05:00.003+02:002008-08-20T09:42:43.669+02:00

Once again we combined friends and food with stunning views and mild temperatures for the perfect summer's day in Umbria! Although JANE, Ken and Casey have been in Italy for two months (as opposed to last year when they spent a full twelve months!), we hadn't yet had a chance to get together with them. We were so glad when we found out that their last few days would be spent in Umbria, and best

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-33072341621427256802008-08-18T06:34:00.001+02:002008-08-18T06:34:00.547+02:00

Over on the SLOW TRAV MESSAGE BOARD we've been discussing variations on Tomato Pie. Someone mentioned PAULA DEEN’S RECIPE, then other variations were posted, all involving tomatoes, mayo and cheese in various combinations. I didn't put out any tomato plants this year...it's Italy, tomatoes are cheap and plentiful! Also, when you have neighbors like ours who drop off huge amounts of fresh

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-31866086698226925552008-08-17T05:43:00.000+02:002008-08-17T05:43:00.205+02:00

The medieval town of MASSA MARTANA, just across the E45 from Todi, is a town we discovered back in 2002 when we came to Italy to find the perfect place to live. Most of the walled city was destroyed during the earthquake of 1997, and only recently was the restoration complete. The town now looks like a medieval jewel, retaining its character, but with completely updated facilities like new

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-7524897138387443092008-08-16T06:10:00.001+02:002008-08-16T06:10:00.968+02:00

The festa in ROTECASTELLO has undergone some changes in the last few years. Previously the dinner had been served on the soccer field which sits below the town. There was a kitchen and a giant grill for preparing the food just above the field, and the young people who served it didn't seem to have any problems running back and forth between the kitchen and the field. Last year things changed.

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-45853052009888320342008-08-15T06:33:00.000+02:002008-08-15T06:33:00.316+02:00

As I wrote previously, august means vacation, and if one day of the month symbolizes this, it's August 15th, called ferragosto. The word ferragosto is a contraction of two words: ferie, meaning holidays or vacation, and agosto, meaning August. For those not fortunate enough to be able to take the entire month of August off, ferragosto may signal either the beginning of a two week break, or the

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-87243176196820008072008-08-13T15:08:00.008+02:002008-08-27T19:50:25.562+02:00

This past weekend was the festa in ROTECASTELLO. We didn't go on Friday night, but were there for Saturday's festivities. The menu listed lepre (hare) on the menu, so our friends in Rotecastello extended their drinks-before-dinner invitation to include dinner itself. Our flight attendant friend (that's her on the right) was flying into Rome on Saturday morning, and after a flurry of emails we

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-59863191844566517012008-08-12T11:33:00.005+02:002008-08-12T12:14:02.529+02:00

As I wrote PREVIOUSLY, keeping up with the bureaucracy required to live in a foreign country can be complicated and confusing. Now that our permits of stay are renewed through the mail, it's even more worrying, wondering if all the documents were acceptable, and wondering if everything arrived safely. Luckily Italy is slowly coming into the digital age and it's now possible to check the status

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-73358548341983190512008-08-11T12:13:00.003+02:002008-08-11T12:17:11.798+02:00

Friends of ours who live and work in Rome have decided to take a year off and are subletting their apartment for a full year beginning August 2009. Have you ever thought about living in Rome for a year? Being able to wander the streets, explore the neighborhoods and become a regular at your 'own' special bar? Imagine what it would be like to be in Rome for Christmas, for the arrival of Spring,

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-67164401940813864042008-08-09T06:26:00.000+02:002008-08-09T06:26:10.466+02:00

Bins for recycling are everywhere in Italy. Large green bins for 'regular' garbage. Bright blue bins for plastics and metal. Large yellow bins for cardboard. Smaller brown bins for everything biodegradable. Oh, and the large rounded bins for glass...plenty of wine bottles to recycle, at least for us. I guess for those who bottle their own wine, their recycling is a little different! Although the

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-23931699733271583262008-08-07T18:03:00.003+02:002008-08-08T09:57:09.345+02:00

If you're Italian, live in Italy, travel in Italy, or have ever read anything about Italy, chances are you have some idea that the country is ensnared in a bureaucracy so out of control that it's hard to imagine how the country continues to function on any level. BEPPO GRILLO adresses the problems, shortcomings, illegalities and

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-32500234368338772032008-08-07T10:51:00.006+02:002008-08-07T11:18:39.967+02:00

Just a reminder for those of you who are in Umbria this weekend and beyond....the medieval festa in ROTECASTELLO begins on Friday the 8th and runs through Monday the 11th. Details can be found by clicking on the link. Food is available from 7:30 and each night's entertainment starts (around) 9:30. Also beginning this Friday is the weeklong SAGRA del GELATO in Massa Martana, not far from Todi.

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-71342764129324787182008-08-07T06:09:00.001+02:002008-08-07T06:09:17.245+02:00

Our friend Keith took this great picture of a butterfly sitting on the bougainvillea on his patio. Isn't it amazing?

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-70706363178052348742008-08-06T05:44:00.001+02:002008-08-07T12:18:44.295+02:00

Here's a picture of one of the more unique birthday presents Art received this year....a piece of chocolate from SANDRI’S, the wonderul pasticceria in Perugia. The scene is from Perugia, of the famous fountain and beautiful buildings in the centro. Almost too pretty to eat......almost!!

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-39943210041633591402008-08-05T04:32:00.000+02:002008-08-05T04:32:01.214+02:00

Art's birthday fell on a day when most of our friends were out of town. Although we really enjoyed our lunch with those who were able to come, we also wanted an excuse to get everyone together, and and excuse to try out a pizzeria in Fratta Todina that we'd heard about. By some miracle everyone was free to meet for pizza on Friday evening, and Belinda had even invited the Canadian girls to join

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-3188478058967558042008-08-03T05:27:00.003+02:002008-08-03T11:15:09.940+02:00

For many, if not most Italians, August means vacation. Those who live in the mountains head for the sea, while those who live in the big cities seem to head for the cool relief of the mountains. Many shops and restaurants will close for the entire month of August, and services will be limited. When friends recently went to an office in the comune they discovered the one and only person who can

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-11565621250483128722008-08-02T06:42:00.003+02:002008-08-05T17:24:07.730+02:00

Yes it's that time again, time for the annual medieval festival in ROTECASTELLO, located just outside of San Venanzo. Beginning on Friday, August 8th and ending on Monday, August 11th, each night will feature different entertainment. The last night, Monday, will have the medieval procession and play recounting the story of Rotecastello. All the info is on their new and improved WEBSITE, which

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-54876987513142746282008-08-01T06:18:00.000+02:002008-08-01T06:18:00.644+02:00

After writing about the grand opening of il POGGIO del LUPO, it seemed only fair that I write something about an agriturismo on the other side of San Venanzo. heading up towards Ospedaletto, just past the public pool. We've been talking about checking out OLIVASTRELLA for months, but we just never seemed to get there. Our friends had told us that this agriturismo had more than rooms, they also

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-54323728489512455762008-07-31T10:06:00.002+02:002008-07-31T10:14:24.659+02:00

Last night we drove down to Marsciano to watch a movie. I guess I should have posted about this sooner, but anyway, better late than never, right? For all of July and August, on every day but Monday, you can watch a movie under the stars in Marsciano at 9:30 each evening. "Sex and the City" and "Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull"have already been shown, but coming up are "The Incredible Hulk

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5947133.post-9587245638865724072008-07-31T05:57:00.001+02:002008-08-04T14:22:41.504+02:00

We celebrated Art's birthday last week, and although we're both pretty philosophical about age, sometimes we think "How (and when ) did all this happen? How did I get to be XX years old?" And so this week Art has been muttering from time to time "I can't believe I'm 62!" And he didn't mean it in a good way, as in "I'm so glad/relieved/surprised I made it to 62!". Since 62 is the magic age when (

Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13853057494479680201noreply@blogger.com