Greetings, All.  I can't believe how long it's been since I last sent you a message.  It's a busy time here, between working on the house, meeting friends and getting ready for both arriving guests and the Montisi Italian Film Festival.  Lots to do!!

 

I think I've been waiting for Spring to really 'spring.'  Just when we think we are on the verge, it gets cold and blustery again.  Our version of Punxsutawney Phil has lead us astray.  And a friend has sent photos from England of huge drifts closing roads and villages.  So we count ourselves lucky here. 

 

But there are some promising signs:

 

 



 Here, a blend of the wild violets from the hills, some deeply colored, fragrant violets from Mother's garden, hand-carried tulips from friends in Holland and in the upper right corner Santa Barbara belladonna lilies, blended with the original Maddalena garden belladonnas.  Interesting that they are EXACTLY the same!!

And below, hints of what's to come?

If these winds are timed right, we'll have apricots again this year.  But if they are too cold and too dry, and come when the fruit is trying to 'set' we will go without.  Last year the timing must have been exquisite because we had a bumper crop of huge, sweet 'cots - literally carpeting the ground.  We even became tired of them, ultimately.  We'll see, eh?

And for those of you who think life at Villa Maddalena is all relaxation and glamor: 

This is just a part of the week-long cull, laundering, inventory, count and organize festival, here.  Rosanna and I have been through every attic, closet, armadio and trunk (all in Italian - bless her, she's patient).  Comforters galore!!  Friends who are arriving for the Montisi Italian Film Festival are bringing sleeping bag stuff bags for the winter comforters, too!!  Shelves have been added in every 'back of house' area.  You won't recognize the joint!!  Garden storage nook, the water tank area off the laundry room, behind the main caldaia, over the washer.... even a bit of new marble countertop!

The bookcases are all installed in the library.  Author John Lawton helped with the tote and shelf process.  He's house sitting for Robert and Lizzy at The Mill.  You'll find a few of his books around the house now.  A last, long shelf will arrive this week that will go along the back of one of the day- beds, to complete the system.  Finally, eh?  All cookbooks have moved up, too.

The falegname (wood worker, Roberto Perugini, across in Castelmuzio) is arriving today with a large, new shelf to go under the grill and a large 'piano' or floor, to put under the two new large frigs so they can be leveled exactly.  He'll also take away all the mosquito screens for replacement.  We'll also finally have a spot for the huge pasta board and roller!!

I'll have some exciting news and photos later this week about the living room art scene!  Stay tuned!!

This week will see the end of the house-wide sort and cull.  Next week we'll begin the intense clean and by the 5th of April we'll be ready for the film festival, arrival of my best friend from high school Tom Owczarzak, wife Lisa Voelker, daughter Kaska and her husband Damien and baby Levven.  Both Tom and Damien are musicians so we are looking forward to some lovely evenings - a mixture of film and music!!  Tom and Lisa's day jobs are fine art jewelers in Gleneden Beach, Oregon, Jan David Jewellers.  At Salishan.  It will be a warm and fun week together.  Kaska, Damien and Levven are one of Madelyn's two adoptive families in La Jolla, so it's like a reunion of family!

And three final words from you-know-who.....

PET ME NOW???!!

Good afternoon!!  Feathery white clouds with strands of sunshine.  The deep purple crocus now are following the light yellow ones.  The Italian violets and Mother's are blending.  The roses have their first tiny buds and a few glossy red-green leaves.  The leaves of the belladonnas are luxuriant.

Today is the first day of spring painting.  I have a system and it works well and is fast.  Just touch-ups needed. 

Work on the library continues.  The new bookcases arrive today and then I'll inventory and try to organize. 

UPDATE - The delivery guys just left.  They were right on time.  Could NOT believe that it would fit up the main stairs.  Tried once.  Gave up.  Carried it up the Fresco stairs and into that hallway.  Stopped at the door into the mezza stanza.  No go.  Carried it back down.  I finally convinced them to try one more time.  Success x 2!  Stay tuned.  Fun to watch men throw around huge pieces of furniture!!

Off to make a cuppa before returning to the paintbrushes!!  The primroses are basking in the afternoon sun.  Did you know that only yellow primroses are scented??!!  Lovely fragrance. 

Ciao!

Hello.  Thursday afternoon.  I write just in case you are worried that spring will never come.  You may not have ever thought of the Montisi garden under snow.  At least this year it was just a few light dustings...  But today it is 'gardening weather' outdoors. Very balmy with still air and even warm sun....

Sunday morning, here in Montisi.  It is hard to believe that I've been back a whole week!  What a whirl!  There is so much to do and so many dishes to prepare now that I am back, with all the good Italian ingredients close at hand!  Most evenings I have a fire in the kitchen grill or in the breakfast room. Lovely and snug. Neve has figured out I'm home, so is very companionable and talkative. 

The film festival launch is nearing, with the website, though delayed, about to go 'live'!!  www.montisifilmfestival.org  I'm electronically challenged by setting up a home theater in the living room to get a chance to view the films!  3 new and 9 classics/contemporary. April 6 to 13!!  I'll be sending an email out, asking people to join the association to support Montisi....  We take PayPal!!  :)

Italian masters
La dolce vita                                                               Federico Fellini

C'era una volta in America                                       Sergio Leone

I soliti ignoti                                                               Mario Monicelli

Il gattopardo                                                              Luchino Visconti

Divorzio all'italiana                                                    Pietro Germi

Il conformista                                                              Bernardo Bertolucci

Italian contemporary directors

La vita è bella                                                              Roberto Benigni

La finestra di fronte                                                  Ferzan Ozpetek

Nuovo cinema paradiso                                            Giuseppe Tornatore

New Talents ( we can invite the directors and/or the actors) Mozzarella Stories                                                     Edoardo de Angelis

La casa sulle Nuvole                                                  Claudio Giovannesi

Dieci inverni                                                               Valerio Mieli

And the village-beat goes on......
I heard that the Montalcino carabinieri (the head office) paid a visit and they were amazed at our 'informal' parking techniques.  Parking tickets are flying, but we are mounting a public information campaign to let everyone know the new rules.  Since we have plenty of parking in the parking areas, we aren't worried.  Just an adjustment to our success, I guess. 

Antonella and Maurizio's wine bar looks like it will open in time for the festival!!  Vitis Vinifera It's going to be absolutely stunning!  I think they are going to be able to schedule custom tastings, too.  The cantononi that is caved back into the mountain is such a wonderful setting for this.  And they have a wonderful local chef to oversee the daily operations. 

The garden is now hosting a pair of magpies.  I suspect they have figured out there is sometimes cat food available.  They are very comical and charming.  And skitterish!  Perhaps one can hold still for a photo in coming days.

Snow flurries have been visiting all morning.  first, tiny little flakes, like flower petals dusting everything, with the sky cloaked in soft fog.  Then dancing, whirling huge, wet flakes spinning through the air, with shafts of sun.  Now, it's lifting.  Cold outside, but spring is promising....  Here's a look or two -

 

All for today.  Snow isn't sticking, at least at this point.  The sky has become luminous as the winter sun tried to reach through the snow-fog. 

 

And this news just in, for those who know Giorgio and Federica and their little boy, Lio - on Janaury 10 Lio got a little baby sister!!  All are well and healthy.  Giorgio, on the phone sounds stratospheric, with the baby cooing in the background!!! Auditory sunshine!!

 

~~~~~

 

 

 

Oh, and found two new, antique chairs for the ends of the dining table...haven't found the fabric yet, but guess who loves them, as-is....

 

 

BBAAADDDD  kitty.... but you can tell she's sorry....right?

 

 

 

My second day, back in Montisi.  Lovely.  Here are a few views around the garden.  I've built a little fire in the kitchen grill both nights, sipped some wine and made simple dinners.  Perhaps more sun tomorrow.  It is near freezing right now, at 9.30 pm. 

 

Neve is curled in the living room.  It's been clear and cold today.  Here are a few glimpses of the garden today -

Ah, Italy!!!  Back home in Villa Maddalena this afternoon.  It is one of those clear, cold winter days.  Ivo and Marta have everything in the garden looking perfect.  The violets are blooming and a few crocus flowers, too!  The goldfish greeted me, but no Neve, at least so far.

Tomorrow I will unpack, organize and take some photos to show you Montisi in winter. 

The www.montisifilmfestival.org site will be up in a day or two.  I'll email it around, just so you know what's going on this spring in Villa Maddalena!

Until tomorrow...