Bugs under control

Well the bugs are not under control, but the itching is. The Zyrtec is helping. Our friends told us that they have a mosquito net for night and that the problem is the little bugs bite you over and over spewing anti-coagulant while looking for a vein. This explains the giant itchy areas instead of one nice, clean, bite. I think I saw one. It was a black dot with transparent wings. Yesterday was cooler, but today is hotter again. I did not go painting this morning which is a big mistake for me. By the end of the day I feel a little crazy. Instead I painted on the back room which is where I keep all my art supplies. If I was sure I had enough supplies I would do some still life while it is so hot, but it is not my first choice.

It is substantially hotter this year than last. Last summer we had one week of unbearable heat, but it has mostly been hot for these three weeks. Jim decided to close the louvered doors over the french doors in our kitchen/dining room/living room and that has kept it much cooler down here on the second floor. We have been hanging a sheet on our clothes line on the terrace as a make-shift awning. The sun does not shine too far into the terrace, but it does makes the wall of the bathroom blazing hot. We also have been leaving the louvers closed with the door open at night and there have not been any flies in the morning. Small improvements are greeted with gratitude.

This valley now has mandatory composting and recycling. It works like this: the Commune gave us a brown plastic container that has a second ventilated container in it.

Compost goes inside the two containers in special plastic bags that the city also gave us. Twice a week compost is picked up. We put the two containers, one inside the other, outside after 10pm and before 6am and away it goes. Bones and all organic matter are composted. Trash is picked up once a week. That sounds impossible, but we basically have no trash. Trash is put out in the exterior compost bin also in a bag from the Commune. There are plastic, glass and paper recycling bins up the street. They are located all around the village. The problems are that they don’t pick up the paper often enough and some people put their trash in the recycling bins. There is very little glass as most drinks, including wine, come in cartoons. Once or twice a month you can call the Commune to come pick up large items like our old TV. You can have up to three items picked up. There is still a problem with trash blowing around. There is more trash on the ground than we would find acceptable. This was true last year as well. I am constantly tempted to pick it up, but I don’t. This proves to me that mandatory composting, recycling and limited trash pick up can work. The city has made it convenient, provided the proper containers, bags and bins.

Everyone in town can walk to a recycling bin. Vermont would need pick up of recycling and many people compost already, but it would be great to be able to have the type of compost you don’t want in your garden picked up and kept out of the land fill.

Our friends walking back from the store under our terrace

Yesterday we made peach granita. (ice) It is amazing. We used a container of peach juice and Jim mashed up two peaches. It is better than ice cream, especially when it is this hot. It is even better than gelato. (SHOCK!) I was so excited that I ran over to the neighbors to see if they wanted to come over after dinner and try some. (we had already eaten at the totally unacceptable hour of 7:30) Well, no that would not work, but dinner tomorrow would be great, but not till 9pm. So they are coming tonight for hamburgers and fries, watermelon and peach ice to celebrate the 4th of July. It is hard to wait until 9pm for dinner. I think this is why every day in Italy = two days in the United States.

Tomorrow Gregor and Josephin will be here. If you are not a painter and you don’t have a car, I am afraid there is not much to do here. Our Danish, artist, friend offered to take us to a market at Rocca de Mesa on Saturday. When I told her there would be four of us she immediately said we would all go and take two cars. So generous. So at least G & J will have something fun to do one day. Last year when they were here we went on several walks. There are some places I would love to go exploring around, but except in the morning, it is too hot. I have only painted in the morning. Last year I always had a late afternoon spot as well. I try to console myself that we will be here much longer and that there is no need to get anxious. Just chill, in a dark room, in Italy?? It doesn’t seem right somehow, but neither does melting before you get the front door closed. Jim says we need a pool.

Small Things Continued

Key stone

Store window with Oceanside, San Diego Tshirt...beach where Jim went as a kid

Door knocker

Door knocker and stone work