In New Hampshire the landscape has turned a frosty white and gray. The wintry mix that fell, and continues, is like concrete mixed with slush on the ground. The snow that clings on tree limbs
creates a lace like and lovely view from our windows.
At last, we have a new range top in our kitchen so we can really cook once again! A duck ragu is simmering on the flame...............that takes me back to Italy 2015 and a pasta we had several times while we were there. I am not one to pass up a bowl of pasta!
PIENZA ( Tuscany)
PIENZA ( Tuscany)
I don't remember exactly where I had this dish of pasta, but since the pasta looks to be pici it was likely in Tuscany somewhere. My guess is Pienza at Latte di Luna.
Pienza, as it turns out is a favorite town of ours with it's Rossolini designed Renaissance piazza along with the Piccolomini Palazzo and garden with its commanding view over the Val d' Orcia of Tuscany.
This year our friend Stew, took us to a place that we had never visited, just outside of the town center. Biagiotta is a workshop and retail shop, that we might call artisan blacksmiths.
It was fun to go back into the workshop and watch pieces being created in this family run business.
The answer to the question is yes, we did buy two sconces and one hanging light for our house here in New Hampshire. A reminder of our Tuscan adventure and in the evening a beautiful addition to the lighting in our home.
UMBRIAN COUNTRYSIDE
We made it a point to spend a large amount of time out drawing on site. We were both attracted to the 'ruins' that dot the landscape around Lake Trasimeno and the small villages that surround Panicale.
James Aponovich
pencil on paper, 2015
James Aponovich
pencil on paper, 2015
I left my sketchbook in Panicale. I must return so that I can add to it!
PANICALE
a Birthday/ Garden Party
SALUTE!
Music in every piazza , park and church!
Panicale's Campanile at the top of the town. A landmark that in profile defines Panicale.
A sight that always stops my heart.
Photo op....... James and Stew on our way to Sant Antimo and Montalcino. Just love Italian road signs. And these two look like they are ready for some mischief, no!
Stew's photo......Montalcino through the wine glass. No, not Brunello on this day.
The landscape that surrounds the church of Sant Antimo. Things are greening up and days are warming up in mid May. The church was "closed for a feast day" but a service was going on so we all stepped in and there was a mitre capped bishop speaking. We somehow found out he was the Bishop of Siena??? Quite an animated speaker and to top of the ceremonial quality there were Carabinieri in their finest uniforms flanking him!
BAGNI VIGNONE
And, while I have Tuscany on my mind, we made a couple of visits here to Bagni Vignone, a town we had not visited before. There are thermal baths here that have been an attraction for centuries.
A perfect place for a coffee and with warmer weather we are dining outside more often.
James Aponovich
Pencil on paper, 2015
Bagno Vignone
FRIENDS
The people of Panicale are kind and we grown quite fond of them and their piccolo paese .
We have made friends here, Italians, Americans, Brits, Canadians, etc., some live here others return as we do.
Sharing Prosecco before dinner is an often repeated ritual.
Hanging around the piazza just socializing.
Friends, Katia, ( with bambino and Massimo..a great family! Bar Gallo and the piazza are family gathering places as well as a meeting place for friends, or a quiet corner to yourself (sometimes!)
Cin- cin Janelle! and Johnny!
A COOKING CLASS IN CORTONA
For James' May birthday I gave him a cooking class at Il Falconiere in Cortona ( Tuscany).
The instructor was Chef Richard Titi , master chef here at the Michelin Star restaurant and resort.
A lesson in making pici pasta. Perfetto!
The end result...pici with fresh tomatoes and fave.
And, can't forget the glass of wine that came with the lesson.......and the lunch that followed!
We didn't know that we would be served a lunch of all 4 courses we prepared in the lesson, paired with wine from Il Falconiere's vineyard, but we were pampered and enjoyed every sip snd bite.
Here is "our" Fiat 500L parked under an arbor of wisteria with a vineyard beyond.
BACK IN PANICALE....
The terrace at Masolino's is open at last!
Yay...time for an outdoor dinner there, hope Bruna made duck ragu!
At Masolino's Andrea refers to this as 'James wine!"
Flowers appear throughout town.
It was so colorful and welcoming.
This is where we do much of our shopping, at "Linda's!"
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAMES!
Katia and Massimo planned a surprise birthday party for James!
So sweet and fun.
We spent much time in this kitchen cooking meals here in the "Pink Palace!"
Cooking and shopping for food is one of the things we love about Italy.
Food is so seasonal that seeking out local ingredients is not difficult...in spring it is wild asparagus, artichokes, fave beans......it is all fabulous.
Ciao! Panicale
ci vediamo in primavera.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ROME
We spent a couple of days in Rome before leaving Italy. Lately we have been staying in the Monti neighborhood which is close to the Colosseum and Forum.
Many good restaurants, small shops and tiny streets to explore in this ancient neighborhood.
Arrivederci Roma......and Italy.....for 2015
BUON ANNO a TUTTI!
HAPPY 2016 !
Montalcino and Garden party photos: Stew Vreeland
Pienza, as it turns out is a favorite town of ours with it's Rossolini designed Renaissance piazza along with the Piccolomini Palazzo and garden with its commanding view over the Val d' Orcia of Tuscany.
This year our friend Stew, took us to a place that we had never visited, just outside of the town center. Biagiotta is a workshop and retail shop, that we might call artisan blacksmiths.
It was fun to go back into the workshop and watch pieces being created in this family run business.
The answer to the question is yes, we did buy two sconces and one hanging light for our house here in New Hampshire. A reminder of our Tuscan adventure and in the evening a beautiful addition to the lighting in our home.
UMBRIAN COUNTRYSIDE
We made it a point to spend a large amount of time out drawing on site. We were both attracted to the 'ruins' that dot the landscape around Lake Trasimeno and the small villages that surround Panicale.
James Aponovich
pencil on paper, 2015
James Aponovich
pencil on paper, 2015
I left my sketchbook in Panicale. I must return so that I can add to it!
PANICALE
a Birthday/ Garden Party
SALUTE!
Music in every piazza , park and church!
Panicale's Campanile at the top of the town. A landmark that in profile defines Panicale.
A sight that always stops my heart.
Photo op....... James and Stew on our way to Sant Antimo and Montalcino. Just love Italian road signs. And these two look like they are ready for some mischief, no!
Stew's photo......Montalcino through the wine glass. No, not Brunello on this day.
The landscape that surrounds the church of Sant Antimo. Things are greening up and days are warming up in mid May. The church was "closed for a feast day" but a service was going on so we all stepped in and there was a mitre capped bishop speaking. We somehow found out he was the Bishop of Siena??? Quite an animated speaker and to top of the ceremonial quality there were Carabinieri in their finest uniforms flanking him!
BAGNI VIGNONE
And, while I have Tuscany on my mind, we made a couple of visits here to Bagni Vignone, a town we had not visited before. There are thermal baths here that have been an attraction for centuries.
A perfect place for a coffee and with warmer weather we are dining outside more often.
James Aponovich
Pencil on paper, 2015
Bagno Vignone
FRIENDS
The people of Panicale are kind and we grown quite fond of them and their piccolo paese .
We have made friends here, Italians, Americans, Brits, Canadians, etc., some live here others return as we do.
Sharing Prosecco before dinner is an often repeated ritual.
Hanging around the piazza just socializing.
Friends, Katia, ( with bambino and Massimo..a great family! Bar Gallo and the piazza are family gathering places as well as a meeting place for friends, or a quiet corner to yourself (sometimes!)
Cin- cin Janelle! and Johnny!
A COOKING CLASS IN CORTONA
For James' May birthday I gave him a cooking class at Il Falconiere in Cortona ( Tuscany).
The instructor was Chef Richard Titi , master chef here at the Michelin Star restaurant and resort.
A lesson in making pici pasta. Perfetto!
The end result...pici with fresh tomatoes and fave.
And, can't forget the glass of wine that came with the lesson.......and the lunch that followed!
We didn't know that we would be served a lunch of all 4 courses we prepared in the lesson, paired with wine from Il Falconiere's vineyard, but we were pampered and enjoyed every sip snd bite.
Here is "our" Fiat 500L parked under an arbor of wisteria with a vineyard beyond.
BACK IN PANICALE....
The terrace at Masolino's is open at last!
Yay...time for an outdoor dinner there, hope Bruna made duck ragu!
It was so colorful and welcoming.
This is where we do much of our shopping, at "Linda's!"
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAMES!
Katia and Massimo planned a surprise birthday party for James!
So sweet and fun.
We spent much time in this kitchen cooking meals here in the "Pink Palace!"
Cooking and shopping for food is one of the things we love about Italy.
Food is so seasonal that seeking out local ingredients is not difficult...in spring it is wild asparagus, artichokes, fave beans......it is all fabulous.
Ciao! Panicale
ci vediamo in primavera.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ROME
We spent a couple of days in Rome before leaving Italy. Lately we have been staying in the Monti neighborhood which is close to the Colosseum and Forum.
Arrivederci Roma......and Italy.....for 2015
BUON ANNO a TUTTI!
HAPPY 2016 !
Montalcino and Garden party photos: Stew Vreeland
No comments:
Post a Comment