Cool! August 12, 2017

August 12

In fact the fire was on the other side of the mountains somewhere near Avazzano. It must have been terrible on that side of the mountains. Another reason not to smoke is that smokers can’t smell when the world is on fire. This is also a reason not to call a smoker to find out if there is a wild fire. They think you are deranged and over anxious. 

The smoke had cleared from the valley by evening, although it was easier to see the actual smoke while the sun was going down. Around 9 pm or so our friends Vittorio and Ermelinda came to pick us up to go up to their shepherd cabin in the mountains. We have been lucky enough to have been invited there two other times when we and the shepherd, sheep dogs and the sheep were the only ones there. Imagine our surprise to find close to 100 people there all out on the lawn sitting on blankets. Even more surprising was that they were all facing the same way. The whole place was illuminated by big flood lights. The only thing we knew about this evening was that star gazing was involved. 

While hanging around staring at everyone and thing we met an Italian guy who lives in Canada. We asked him what was going to happen and he let us in on the plan. After 10 the lights would be turned off. Everyone would be lying out on the field looking at the sky. 

Star Gazers

There would be evocative music both recorded and live and people would do readings of an inspirational nature about the stars and the moon: which started coming up just as the lights went out. So we never could really see lots of stars, but there was a meteor that went across the sky for about 60 degrees. It was huge and really bright. The night is the Festa of San Lorenzo and the meteors are his tears. Pretty cool. The show wrapped up at midnight and then everyone was served pasta, wine and after Gensiana. 

Cooking pasta

Serving pasta

Serving Gensiana

They have been doing this party for many years and they have it down to a science. The temperature was down to about 25c and it felt so much better. It was just cool enough to have a long sleeve shirt on and for the hot pasta to feel really good. We got home about 2am. 

Yesterday was still a little too warm, but today is great. Last night there was music on the piazza. It was a trio that defined the meaning of mellow. It was very nice music. 

Today has been a beautiful day. We were able to go for a walk this morning and then I went up above our house and finished my oil painting, finally. I was actually COLD. 

The cold artist.

We have had the windows open ALL day. It is an amazing difference. There was one roll of thunder and about 20 raindrops so that situation is not yet improved. 

Yes we have clouds!

Meanwhile we went to lunch at Vittorio and Ermelinda’s city house. We got there around 1:30 or so. First we had sausage, cheeses, olives, little onions, mozzarella cheese. Next was wonderful pasta. The pasta had fried prosciutto, ricotta and parmesano. It was so good. I love the simple sauces here. Pasta is usually served with just one or two things on it. The seconda or meat course was cinganali, wild boar, but it looked and tasted like roast beast and salad. The second seconda meet was also wild boar, but a think piece wrapped around herbs and some other stuff. Also delicious. Salad is served with that. The whole meal was topped off by fruit and gensiana. It was lucky that our house is downhill from there. 

Since then we have been hanging out, napping and I finished the last of four watercolor birds that my mom asked me to do. 

Tomorrow we are going to a party at an English couple’s house in Seccinaro.