Over the Wall Camp

This summer I volunteered as a counselor at a camp for terminally and chronically ill children -called Over the Wall-in England. Here are some pics of the crazy things we had to do as counselors from doing a Rave to dressing as animals for breakfast. I attempted kayaking-only to go in circles with the river current. The last night ceremony, our kids wrote wishes on a paper and tied them to helium balloons and set them free-wow!! It was an amazing experience for all-next summer I will do the one in Scotland-probably a week for siblings of these kids and then another week with the ill kids. Why not join me??? Ckout the websites for these camps. (Over the Wall)

Paciano Go-Cart Races

Every year Paciano has a go-cart race which begins at the top of the village and ends at the end of the wall going around some major corners while going at record speeds. The sides are lines with bales of hay-no casualties-a few wipe-outs by some very serious men racing and going for the 'cup'. It was quite an exciting night.

Denise and my adopted Nanas

Emma and Rita are my 2 very special ladies in the village who guard Porta Perugina-the main entrance to my street..I have also adopted Rita as my 'Nonna'. She is in her 80s and walks all over the village daily trying to keep 'fit'. They both greet me with hugs and kisses daily. I adore them.

Halloween in Paciano

Here are a few of the scary trick or treaters in my village. Had all 12 kids come by! I had candles, lit pumpkins, skulls, and scary music blaring out of the window for all 12 kids. They loved it. What else would you expect of someone who lived in Salem for 10 years!!!!

Cortona Photo Exhibition

I had another exhibition in Cortona for 2 weeks in September. There were lots of tourists from the US and good customers!

Village Quiz Show

Our annual Quiz Show competition of teams brings out the most creative teams. Here is Alice in Wonderland-There were 5 groups and I was one of the judges. There were questions that had to be answered and skills and tasks performed. And I was one of the 4 judges-even accepted bribes............

70's Birthday Party

Some leftover hippies...........

Elisabetta's Birthday

Never does a birthday go by without a celebration dinner. Here is a jolly group for Elisabetta's party. Notice Alicia holding on for dear life as we all lean over.

Grape Harvest

Lisa from Salem came for a visit and we were able to organize a vendemmia (grape harvest) for her. What a grip he has on her!!! Not bad for 86 years old.

Tango in Buenos Aires

Just returned from Buenos Aires and here is a sampling of the tango dancing.

Potential Import from Argentina

Just wouldn't fit in my suitcase..............

Paciano-a movie???

Here is a more recent photo of where I live. I am inside the walls in this medieval village. It still feels like I am in a movie.

Even Kids have Cell phones

Here is my friend's granddaughter talking on her cell phone-she is only 1 year old-scary!!!!!

My beautiful sis and her family

Here is Karen and her family. Doesn't her daughter look like Izzy on Grey's Anatomy???

My visit to Albuqueque

Went to New Mexico in March to visit my family. Here is my 'baby' sister. We could almost be twins.

Our first hail storm in Paciano-the kids had a ball and we went under cover. This was in Nov 2006

The Cast Party

After the performance, I had the cast over my house to celebrate with Prosecco and snacks. They deserved to be rewarded for their hard work.

Cooking Class in Florence

Took a class in Florence with these women from CA. The one to the far left is Henry Winkler's wife, (the Fonz). To the right is Jacquita, who has been living in Florence since the winter.l We met when I broke my leg and she was one of the rescuers with the ambulance and at the hospital, last year. What a great bunch of gals. We specialized in artichoke recipes among others and had many hours after, feasting on the fruits of out labor. A great day was had by all.

Local Theatre

Paciano put on a fantastic play of 3 divas trying to convince the masters to choose them for the Diva of the opera. The actors are made up of the grocer, pharmacist, architect, psychologist, teacher, one retired actor, an expat, the school owner, and more-all practicing months just to perform in our theater-just for the love of it!!!!

Paciano design

The team started at 5:30 am drawing this on the pavement, then with hours of cutting flowers, laying out the work, etc, it was done just in time by 6:30 pm. A true labor of love. Stefano charmed a lovely lady in letting me go up to her apt window to take this bird's eye view.

Went to Liguria with 24 of the local villagers from Paciano to enter this competition called Infiorate-all designs were made from flower petals, leaves, beans, olives, rice,various colors of wood shavings, powders and many more-too numerous to list. Liguria is near the French border-a 6 hr ride from home. We didn't win the competition but had lots of fun.

Carnevale-Foligno

The many activities of Carnevale in Foligno, Tuscany. Didn't make it to Venice this year.

Cashmere Goats

Spent 2 days up close and personal with 250 happy cashmere goats-doing a photo shoot for the owner and a magazine story for Wild Fiber.

Cortona, Italy at sunset. 

Mille Miglia-Antique Car Race

 
Went to San Quirico d'Orcia to see the race of 375 antique cars doing 1000 miles all over Italy. Good looks and antique cars must go hand in hand. And amazing looking cars as well. An annual event in Italy.