First Snow 2020 Laurie Fox Pessemier acrylic/canvas 20 x 27.5" 50 x 70 cm 625.00

On our walk this morning in Rocca Malatina, we saw the snow covered peak of Monte Cimone, and its white foothills. Harika enjoyed a bite of grass gelato, frosty tufts growing in the shade near the edge of our yard. This was a mighty brief autumn season; time to leave the North.

Last Flowers in the Yard Blair Pessemier acrylic/canvas 12 x 16" 30 x 40 cm 450.00

Although our two houses are less than four hours apart, it’s amazing how different the regions are. Up here in the mountains we have a few close friends; in the outskirts of Rome, we have lots of people who say, “welcome back”, and are crazily happy to see us. It’s not so cold near Rome, although we’ve had some rainstorms. People around Rome seem to hate rain, and will rarely venture out in it. Having lived in Seattle and Paris, I love to feel that soft wetness on my face.

When I was a product demonstrator at Frederick & Nelson’s department store in Seattle, I used to have a large following of older ladies, who would visit, and watch me cook, and chow down the results. One woman, Mirielle, was a beautiful French septuagenarian who wore tightly cinched full skirts and kept her shiny black hair in a chignon. She would tell me about Paris, and how her first memory was of rain on her face when she was in her baby stroller. My favorite story was how it was her job to take out the family’s trash after dinner each evening; on the backstairs an older man in the building taught her how to kiss.

Time for a Hat Laurie Fox Pessemier acrylic/canvas 11 x 14" 28 x 36cm 450.00

We visited with our Dutch/French friends in Stimigliano for a few days. They all came by the studio and looked at our work; we sold a painting. It encouraged me to open the studio on Sunday, when a couple from Civita Castellano came by and invited us to participate in an art show there this coming year. Stimigliano, although not on a particular tourist route, gets lots of visitors from the region on the weekend. I have met so many new people that way, although this virus has put the kibosh on developing serious friendship.

Blair and I started (and even finished) a number of house projects. We’ve relocated our dining room to what used to be a second bedroom (honestly, will we ever have guests again?) with the view and balcony. We painted it a fresh green color, and it’s perfectly delightful with our olive wood dining table.
Painting on a large scale is as satisfying to me as painting on a canvas. It is amazing how much a coat of beautifully colored paint can make a difference. Obliterating those white walls makes me feel great. I repainted my studio doors in a sky/turquoise blue and a dozen brilliantly colored butterflies. I feel I could fly away with them.