and so am I. These precious little hummingbirds hatched 2 weeks ago while I was in Italy. Each day I watched them "get a little taller" in their nest until I could see that they were no longer able to fit. Monday evening my neighborhood children and I were watching them when one of them was brave enough to try his first flight right in front of our eyes. We were all so thrilled with gave him a round of applause and a gallery of cheers. He looked like a child taking first steps and not sure of which way he was headed. He left his sibling alone in the nest at night. Tuesday morning I left for my walk at 6:45 and when I returned at 7:30 the other hummer was gone although I could hear the young family in the nearby bushes which was the destination the night before.
So these little guys were ready to take flight and leave their little nest and so am I. Ryan arrived today and we are ready to pack the truck tomorrow. Saturday morning we are headed to Colorado, my new home. I feel like the little fledglings from my garden but trust that I will land in a safe and happy place.
I'll check in on the other side.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
ready to leave the nest
Monday, June 14, 2010
Arrivederci, Italia!
My last day in Orvieto started at 5:30 with this lovely pink light cast on the home across the convent courtyard from my room. It was peaceful reminding me of the week I had spent within these walls meeting new friends, being an eager student, venturing out to unknown areas of Orvieto each day never knowing what adventures I would have or what I would write in my journal each night before bed.
Ok then let's write an ending to this fabulous trip....
my portfolio cover
and it was time to place my week's work of watercolors and sketches in my folder and head back to California.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Oh and the fabulous wine!
Where wine is less expensive than water. Well of course I had wine every day..sometimes with lunch as well as dinner. Often just by itself. Kristi and Bill arranged for 2 wine excursions. The first was at Il Palazzo del Gusto where we learned about the qualities of all the Orvieto wines and tasted quite a few. We also were introduced to the philosophy of cittaslow, or slow food. Olive oil of course is fabulous in Italy so we had a little tutorial on OO as well.
Then one afternoon we went as the only guest party to Palazzoni winery where the owner, Giovanni educated us and entertained us. Of all the wine tours I have been on in California this afternoon surpassed them all. The ambiance of the winery and the countryside simply begs you to return. I am not sure I will have the opportunity to return to this lovely spot but I will cherish my memories and search for Orvieto's fine wines here at home. Doesn't this post whet your appetite for a nice glass of wine?
Friday, June 11, 2010
And yes, there were all of the classic Italian sights
When I arrived in Rome I studied the map for the famous sights and headed out on foot. The first night I stayed in Tretevere, on the west of the Tiber River. Then the next morning I started out to do as much of Rome as I could squeeze in in one day. I started out for ancient Rome which except for the Coliseum is mostly underground. I passed many buildings I felt I should have known but didn't. After a few hours I hitched a bus to the Vatican. After a long wait in the square I was able to go in. Breathtakingly beautiful....so rich in art and marble but almost too rich. Then I headed south passed historical churches and landmarks, across the bridge of the Tiber and into other areas of Rome, all on cobblestone streets which are so charming. I had dinner in the Piazza Navona, the largest piazza in Rome, and rumored never to be occupied by locals. The piazza claims 3 lovely fountains, a 13th century church and a boatload of piazza entertainers and vendors with little kiosks, all with metal buckets out for your Euros. While I sat having wine and dinner huge gusts of wind came threatening to also bring a storm. The piazza was cleared in an instant, the waiters in my trattoria held on dearly to the umbrella poles to keep them from ruining their chances for any clientele and I just sat and watched it all, pulling out my sketchbook to catch a few scenes. In the evening I was in search of the Trevi fountain, not to easy to find even with a map. And at the end of the day with all of my favorite sights documented I headed home. 14 hours of walking and enjoying Rome. I even had time to be sidetracked by an art exhibit featuring impressionist art and was tickled to find 3 of Monet's waterlilies on display. Oh yes and there was a gelato after my visit to the Vatican. Rome in a day. You can do it with a good pair of shoes, a good map and feet that do not fail you. Here are some classic Italian stops.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
And there was food, food, food, Slow Food
This is a cinghiale, or a wild boar. They are nuisances in Italy. With no natural predators the are growing in number and can wipe out your entire garden (orti) overnight. So the best thing to do in eat the suckers. Many sauces include cinghiale. I avoided it for a couple of meals but then gave in....quite tasty really
Slow food
and slow it is......il conte, per favore! and that still won't get you the check. Europe in general is traditionally a slow food society. Italy forces you to comply. I myself love the whole slow food movement for growing, gathering, preparing and enjoying dinner. But lunch? Really, we don't need 1.5 hours at the table for lunch.....especially if you are eating alone.
But slow it is..........
Farmers Markets
Part of all of the slow food movement is the farmers markets around the world. I can't miss the fm in Aliso Viejo on sundays. While walking Rome I ran into this inside market in the Circus Maximus area. It was artistically laid out.,,,beautiful yellows!. The market day in Orvieto was typically outside in the Piazza Popolor and included meats, cheeses, nuts and housewares,,,,,,even clothes but the clothing goods looked like a flea market.....snob that I am.
All in all the market days are great inspiration for drawing.
market day, Orvieto
What a fabulous cheese and meat vendor. Tony bought a kilo of Parmesean and a kilo of panchetta. I hope they didn't steal it from him at customs
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
And there were many very narrow streets
OK No Cadillac Escalades on these streets. The streets in Italy can be very narrow. Some are marked pedestrians only but most of them are traveled by Vespas, cars and trash trucks, as well. We Americans like our big cars but it is amazing that yes you can haul your sports equipment, your baby strollers and your family in smaller cars. Popular cars are Fiats and the Smart car. When you share these corridors with vehicles Yield! to them and hug the wall
Monday, June 7, 2010
My inspiration for my Italy trip was an art workshop
My art teacher and friend, Jane LaFazio, taught a 5 day workshop on " sketching and watercolor: journal style" offered through Adventures in Italy. So I went to paint. The first morning we met in the convent courtyard with our gear and listened as Jane gave us inspiration and direction.
next assignment: the Duomo
The Duomo is one of Italy's most beautiful churches. It has exquisite detail both inside and out. The Renaissance artist: Luca Signorelli did some of his finest frescos in one of the chapels. You can read about it in "Every Day in Tuscany" by Frances Mayes. Or you can just get a book on Signorelli. I had forgotten the process of a fresco but we were fortunate to have a guest lecturer the evening before who was an art history expert and just happened to sit with me at La Paloma restaurant. I got a great education over wine and dinner.
