This time last year, everything seemed so fresh, so new, so exciting. The sun was shining, the house was half rebuilt, the builders were putting the finishing touches to our lovely new kitchen, and we were emptying the top floor … Continue reading Forty Days and Forty Nights …
A little over three years ago, we decided to become olive farmers. Of course, being middle aged Brits, we had no idea how to do this, but we knew a little bit about pasture maintenance, and a little bit less … Continue reading The Taste of Real Extra Virgin Olive Oil
I’m writing this as I grab a quick break from olive harvesting. I’m sitting on a rather uncomfortable, rickety wooden chair in the corner of the frantoio, (the olive mill), as I wait for the 220 kgs of olives that … Continue reading A Tale of Two Harvests
I haven’t written a blog post in AGES, because recently I haven’t felt as though I’ve had anything to blog about. The truth is, we now live in a very nice, but perfectly normal house. No more building site living. … Continue reading Normal, but Counting Our Blessings
Once upon a time, I had my own business. It was the perfect business for a military wife and “single” mum – Scott’s service often saw him away from home for weeks, even months at a time. It was the … Continue reading Casa Dolce Casa: Home Sweet Home
Three years ago, in July 2017, we were very busy. Our week days were spent working in Rome, and our weekends scouring the Sabina countryside for the perfect home. Our search had commenced a year previously, even before we had … Continue reading Three Years Later
Ten weeks later, and once again I am on my little train. It’s not like before. For one thing, the train is immaculate, having been disinfected during the night. Social Distancing has been carefully thought out, meaning that the seating … Continue reading Towards a New Normal
I always make my own bread: I love the process of measuring, kneading, proving, and praying that the magic will work. Plus, bread in Italy is undoubtedly delicious, but it is also expensive, goes stale in a day, requires a … Continue reading Spring 2020 – Covid Cooking (1,001 Things To Do With Sourdough Starter) …
Spring 2020. This time six weeks ago, we were unpacking our suitcases, and unpicking the various hotel bookings, appointments and social arrangements that we had planned for the following two weeks, which we were to have spent in the UK. … Continue reading A Spring Like No Other
I’m sitting at my dining room table again. I do this a lot at the moment, as we are living in a new world, even though we are at home. This time four, short weeks ago, we were sitting on … Continue reading Life Under Lockdown
