Bocce and NEW DANES

Yesterday morning started shrouded in fall, but then it cleared out and was a great morning. By afternoon the clouds were piling up over the Sirentes and soon the rain was obliterating the valley one hill at a time. The closest lightening strikes were two seconds away and the thunder went on for six. For a while things calmed down, but soon the clouds were moving and obliterating all of Valle Subequo in their path. Another big rain with lots of lightening followed and then again the thunder and rain moved out of the valley. It cleared off for us to go to the bocce tournament in the Boccedome. It was as exciting as Bocce ever is. The poster for the event showed a guy throwing a ball as if it was a hand ball game, but in reality everyone squatted down to the floor and basically let their ball roll out of their hand. There were two teams and then a guy that had two bocce balls who seemed to be sort of a spoiler. If he got his two balls closest to the polina then no team got a point. It was wicked hot inside the Boccedome and going outside was a relief and it was raining a little. 

Ref: when someones ball didn't make it he would shake his finger at them. He had a cool stick to measure if the balls were apparently equal distance from the poliana which is the little red ball.

Team Galiano

Team Galiano 

By the time we went to  dinner with NEW DANES the rain had stopped. We had one half the meal at their house and half at our house. It was really fun and they didn’t go home till almost midnight. I thought it was about ten pm, because the time flew by. After they left we were standing on the terrace and Jim noticed that there was almost continuous flashes of what looked like heat lightening, but it wasn’t hot. There were stars out when we went to bed, but by early morning it was lightening and pouring again. 

We were able to go to market and get all the stuff you see in the photo which includes a 7E chicken and 3E of piazza for a total of 20E, but the rest of the day I have spent doing this water-colour and pastel and Jim has sat on the terrace doing suduko. Already we are tired of the rain and ready for warmer, but not too warm, weather. 

Two guys from the commune came by today to discuss the art show TOMORROW. This is the earliest discussion I have ever had. I sent the guy who is in charge of culture a message on facebook that asked whether the priest knew I was having a show in the convent. I do not think he did, because now the show is somewhere else. They are coming to pick me up at 9a.m. to take the paintings downtown. All is good. I don’t know exactly what time the exhibit will be open. They need to ask the mayor. There is music in the piazza tonight and it has stopped raining so all questions may be answered. 

This is a random picture of my basket from Galipoli. I wanted you to be able to better see how it is made. The reeds are wrapped around wire and then it is sewed together with thin, wet twine.