Spring grove

Normally the olives groves would be looking like this with lush green grass and a carpet of spring flowers. This year is different as we have had hardly any rain and the landscape resembles that of summer when the grass is dry from the summer heat.

Let's hope we get some run soon.

Online Italy

Italy is not as advanced as many other countries when it comes to e-commerce but it is changing apace.
I used an Italian website yesterday and was presented with three options for my purchase which you don't normally see.

1) I could pay the courier when it was delivered but this would cost €4 more.

2) I could send them a cheque.

3) I could pay by bank transfer.

Maybe I should write to Amazon.

Per chi ama Trevi

This is a new page on Facebook which has been started by Nello Calandri to celebrate and remember Trevi past and as a guide to the Trevi of the future.

The picture above dates from the 1920-30's and in the very distance there is a blur on the hill shown with an arrow which is our house - Casa Margherita.

New strokes

Rachel, L'artista in residence, has reinvigorated her website which includes lots of new works and also a very flattering profile of moi. Check it out at www.rkwilliams.com

Lunchtime visitor

This hare spent some minutes like this and was only disturbed when our Westie grew suspicious of our interest from the kitchen window and then barked the house down.

Pruning beckons

I have finished the fertilizing and so now I am going to start the pruning.

Today we went to the monthly antiques market at Pissignano where I picked up these pruning secateurs. These were a bargain at €5 compared to €20+ at garden centres. They were even cheaper than the pair I bought at Norcia last weekend which I managed to leave in the shop. Doh!

Norcia

Today we went to Norcia to have a look at this market. Norcia is famous both for its truffles, pecorino and for its pork products. A Norceria is, as one guide book calls it, a ham and cheese shop. I think this is close to be slanderous given the fantastic things they produce.

This is Coppa which is made from the tongue, cheek and head of a pig. They add pieces of orange, pistachio and olive. It can sometimes be a little fatty but this was very good indeed.