More, more, more

Grape vines in the Hills Laurie Fox Pessemier   Acrylic/linen  10.5 x 14'  27 x 35cm 

Trees at Lizzano   Laurie Fox Pessemier   Acrylic/linen  10.5 x 16    27 x 41 cm

Near the Bell Tower   Laurie Fox Pessemier  Acrylic/linen  10.5 x 16   27 x 41cm

Waterfall   Blair Pesssemier  Acrylic/linen  16 x 10.5"  27 1 41 cm

Trees at Lizzano  Blair Pessemier   Acrylic/linen  12 x 12 inches  30 x 30 cm

From the road behind Pevio di Trebbio   Blair Pessemier   Acrylic/linen 13 x 16"  33 x 41 cm

Behind Pevio   Laurie Fox Pessemier   Acrylic/linen   13 x 16"  33 x 41 cm

Bell tower Rocca Malatina  Blair Pessemier  Acrylic/panel  10 x 16"  25 x 40cm 

Artnotes:  More, more, more

Everyone I meet here in Rocca Malatina loves living here, or so it seems.  It is a bit of a “resort” town, in the sense people, mainly from Bologna, come up here as a respite from the heat. 

We went with the most fun people on Wednesday up to Passo di Croci Arcano.    “Bring sweaters”, P cautioned.  I didn’t need my sweater, but others donned theirs.  I clamped a hat on my head, a refuge from sun and wind, and felt comfortable.  We were at 1,743 meters (5718 feet and  6.75 inches), where trees didn’t grow and grasses looked like the sea, over huge wave hills.  We ate wild raspberries and blueberries, the best we ever tasted.  We walked on the grassy mountain ridges, with shepherds and their flocks in the distance (black sheep!), and kestrels soaring overhead.  Half the party made the trek to the lake, and we roamed the hills.

Two cousins of our landlady brought us there.  The one I rode with, G, was much like my friend Sal, who has been my friend since age 4.    We drove fast, on winding roads through the mountains, past Monte Cimone, the highest peak near our house (2165 meters = 7103 feet);  there was no time to be scared at that speed and we talked about all sorts of exciting things on the way.

All of this made me think that when one is DOING things, there is no possibility of feeling sad or worried.  G is always doing things:  he has horses he rides all around the area, he has four dogs, travels everywhere.  I love this attitude.  It made me want to do more, more, more, and I relish the arrival of a Paris/American friend next week, who we will take to Urbino, and other smallish Italian cities.  Italy is great for visiting little places, as it was made up of city states until its final unification as a country in 1870.   Each city is unique, and people are terrifically proud of their particular region.

More “things” we have done this week, with a trip to the waterfall at Lizzano with P.  It was a hearty but achievable hike into the falls, where the water was like ice, and the air significantly cooler than in Rocca Malatina.   I painted trees and Blair painted the waterfall while we were there.   I loved seeing people, several walking with their dogs.   Harika stayed at home this trip, while we did reconnaissance for future forays.