July 15, 2017 Mural Painting Day

I have gotten a little behind in my tale of vacationing in Italy. We went up to d’Lisa’s the other night with Noel. They have a very nice, outdoor seating area which they open when it is warm enough out…30 degrees or so…with a wood fired oven and a arrostacini grill. It does smell good! They make there own pasta. We sat near the oven and had pasta and arrostacini. So good. Wish you had been here. 

The next day we went to the BIG supermarket. I do not think it is as big as Tops in Northfield, but it is lots better. The cheese and meet counter is spectacular, there is an entire aisle of dried pastas and they have beautiful, fresh baked bread. I still prefer to shop in our town if possible, but it is nice to go to a store that has the toothpaste I like. 

Yesterday I had a lovely time painting. Clouds were back on the painting menu and I enjoyed doing this landscape after a morning spent doing more old buildings. The whole time I was painting I wondered if it would start raining, but it didn’t until about 3pm. Then it poured the big, fat, drops Abruzzo is know for. When the first ones hit the stones they make a 1.5 inch in diameter circle. It rained enough for all the dust and stones to be washed down the street. That is the first real rain they have had in six weeks. 

View

Beginning

Almost finished

My latest portrait

In the late afternoon we went to Brioco-io (translates to something like My Brico) which is a hardware and homewares store to pick out paint for the mural. Paint is not cheap, but cheaper than America, but brushes are really cheap and very nice. Instead of paying about $20 for one brush like I prefer to paint with, these were around 3E. They are made in Italy which is a good idea for a painting brush. Brico is a huge store so it is about the size of two full aisles in a Home Depot. There was a small section of artist’s supplies consisting of different brands of acrylics, brushes, canvases and frames. I was so excited I forgot to take pictures except for one t-shirt. 

One in a Melon!

We went on this shopping trip with the owners of the bar and our friend who speaks English and Italian. It was so fun and the drive is amazing like everything here. 

On the walk from Galiano Aterno

Today is beautiful with more clouds, a fresh breeze and a more pleasant temperature. Soon we are going off to meet up with our painting team. A Dane, an Irishman, the Italian who speaks English and the two Americans. The paints are mixed and ready to go. 

Get your friends to do the work and take all the credit. 

Meanwhile, back in America we have been trying to buy one house or another since November. Today we signed the papers to close on the Barre House on Friday, July 21. So maybe while in Sweden we will be buying a different house in America. No point in getting too excited yet.