Not exactly Gnomes

Not exactly gnomes, but close

Inset in Castel gate Gagliano

Inset over gate to Castel Gagliano

Waterspout minus water or spout

Keystone with coat of arms

Silo near Gagliano

Crows made of black plastic guard tomatoes

It is only 11:15, but already it has been an interesting day. We went to have caffe in the piazza so that we could proceed from there to the area up by San Giovanna, the biggest church here, closed since the earthquake, to do some drawing. While we were working a man came by back and forth. We had seen him and his wife around town. It turns out they live in a house that we have always wanted to go in.

Jim gave the man his drawing and he invited us in to have caffe.  From the outside, their house looks like it belongs in California. The important thing to remember is that California has copied Italy. There are rusted farming implements hanging on the outside, wrought iron window coverings and light fixtures. In many places the stucco has been rubbed off to expose ancient stones, some with carvings. Inside is an exposed stone from the second century. The inside is exactly what you think of when you hear, “hacienda”. The furniture was his and her parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. It is old wood with the patina of long years of being touched. There were old photos on the walls of their family houses before the earthquake. I think it was his mother’s house that fell off the cliff by the castel. I think he showed me a photo taken right beside our house with a woman carrying a large box on her head. Their house has a little side area with several arches. It is always in the shade and I have admired it these two years. Now I have permission to paint there!  The “brave gnome above the earthquake zone” is on one of their balconies. I do not think they were here last summer, but this year I see them everywhere. He is from Castelvecchio and she is from Milano. They spend half their time in each place.

Ok, now for the caffe. She says it is easy. We have our doubts. She takes a little of the first caffe out of the pot and stirs it vigorously with sugar. After the caffe is poured, she adds a little of that on top. It is a brown cream. It looks like all the pictures on the  packages of caffe. It was great. Now we have something new to try. Giogni wanted us to go upstairs on the incredibly steep, circular stairway he had made. Going up was ok, but coming down was scary. They have three bedrooms upstairs and he also took us out on to the balcony. It overlooks a place we painted last year. Last, we went into the basement. It is 20c there and it is where they eat lunch on hot days.

Today is not too hot yet and the sky is bright blue, but it is supposed to be wicked hot for a few more days. First we were taken over the river sticks and not the Minotaur has us. (this is what the Italians say)