Whimsical Weather and other September Surprises

I love the word 'whimsical'. It has a lovely positive vibe and that is exactly what September left for me. The month started dry as the summer was, a few clouds here and there teasing us in believing some rain would finally come and creating a beautiful color palette. Together with tiny little dew drops early in the morning announcing we were nevertheless heading towards autumn.

Whimsical....because clouds can mean torrential rains just 5k down the road and I found out the empirical way. Coming back from a trip to Faenza, only 35k away towards the Adriatic sea I was driving up to a curtain of rain which took away all sight of the mountains i was heading to, only to stop just outside a village and finding the roads bone dry. Still no rain in Marradi. 

A few days later I realized you have to choose your wishes carefully, when a close to hurricane storm raged through the valley and almost turned into a scary tornado and leaving me in awe about the force of mother nature when whimsical turns into capricious. It was short though and still not enough to quench the thirst of the soil. 

Temperatures went down especially at night which we all welcomed after the hot summer nights, but sunshine continued to warm our faces during the day. 

We had lunch at a friends house in the country side, which took us back into the past of the farmer's life. We were invited into the brilliant and creative mind of our host, about which I will tell you later. 

Shortly after we spent a few wonderful days with friends of 35 years, talking memories, current stages of life, while enjoying walks, admiring the shape and structure of the chestnut trees in the castagneto di https://www.facebook.com/vincenzo.moffa.18/ , good food and a good glass of wine or two. 

For the real 'dolce' lover: il Bicchierino al https://www.ristoranteilcamino.net, Marradi. 

Quality meat lovers are in good hands with both the local butcher and my great cook husband Lex

Old friends catching up

Waiting for colder times 

While for a day or two the weather went whimsical again reminding us of autumn is approaching, soon after body, mind and soul were warmed again by wonderful temperatures of a typical Tuscan October month. Some wonderful days were spent, pulling out summer dresses and flip flops, while enjoying good conversation and family time with our son and and his lovely 'fidanzata' Joanna.

For the first time this year we are collecting walnuts from the tree behind (or in front, depending how you look at it) our house and hoping for something edible. The dogs love them. For us so far it means dirty hands while peeling of the 'buccia', the outer skin, to get to the actual nut. Whether edible or not, I love the shape and colours! 

To be continued