Yesterday started with an early morning storm- thunder, lightening, and ice that lay like snow everywhere. Then there was a break before another storm blew through with lots of rain. When it all cleared, I went to the car and found the battery dead. No problem. A truck driver helped me push it toward a dirt road that plunged into the valley below and after some kilometers racing through the woods and farmlands, I finally managed to jump start the baby. Then I roared back up to town in first gear and started my day.
Take out the trash and go for a long drive through the autumn afternoon to do a huge grocery shop over in Sinalunga. The drive home toward the early setting sun was magical. There is no way for the camera to capture the light.
My neighbor came by with a case of his wine and agreed to take the olives I'd harvested from my four trees the day before. Maybe ten or fifteen kilos. I was so glad I'd gotten them picked before the storms.
Then it was off to Conte Matto restaurant in Trequanda for a wonderful meal to mark Gary and Zak's last night in Italy. They're back off to Tasmania until April. I will miss them so much.
But Theresa and her daughter arrive tomorrow for their holiday long weekend. Yay.
Having given up all hope of recovering my beautiful four year old cat who made a dash for freedom a couple of weeks after her arrival this past summer, I have been entrusted with two wild young girls by the vice-president of the Tuscan animal protection organisation. I have kept all the doors and windows closed and yet after several hours of seeming to freak out about being here, they seemed to have disappeared. I was planning on telling everyone that they were upstairs asleep for the next fifteen years. My friend Gary was about to embark on a hunt through the pet stores of Siena province looking for their twins.
But about four hours later they resumed their howling, and though I never found out where in the house they'd been hiding, I was very glad to hear the dreadful noise. They finally deigned to eat something and to use the litter box, but they still act like they hate me and it will be awhile before they figure out that I'm their saviour. While I slept they had a proper romp, upsetting a plant and knocking down a picture, but no serious harm done yet.
So without further ado, and though they remain nameless until they tell me who they are, I give you the wild girls:
You know you're back in Italy when you get a call to come help with the olive harvest. Beautiful day, good harvest, good food and wine.
Much warmer than last year and so we worked all day and just about finished.
Good morning from Castiglion d'Orcia. Got home at midnight and it's wonderful to be back!
The air is crisp and autumnal and carries cries
of
"Bentornata!" from friends and neighbors.
AND WE TOOK IT BACK!!! I can again hold my head up a bit about my native country. Now let's see how soon we can repeal the Military Commissions Act and rejoin the civilized world.
Our last day in Cairo, shopping at Khan el Kalili with a stop at the cafe El Fishawy. Tomorrow to Rome and home to Castiglion d'Orcia.
Ah, here we go. Medinet Habu and with friends out on the felucca.
Blogger is updating this weekend, so I'm here in Cairo without being able to connect easily, if at all, and without being able to post pictures. I have some from the felluca sail on the Nile at Luxor at sunset and some from the pyramids out in the desert at Saqqara. I hope the posting problems will be resolved soon so I can get them up.
Meanwhile, we're going into the Khan to hunt antiques today and then flying back to Rome on Tuesday.
Yesterday started with an early morning storm- thunder, lightening, and ice that lay like snow everywhere. Then there was a break before another storm blew through with lots of rain. When it all cleared, I went to the car and found the battery dead. No problem. A truck driver helped me push it toward a dirt road that plunged into the valley below and after some kilometers racing through the woods and farmlands, I finally managed to jump start the baby. Then I roared back up to town in first gear and started my day.
