Christmas Eve Pasta in Yorkshire

Chef Kirsty is training two Yorkshire elves to make spinach and ricotta cheese tortellini.

 Elf Eryn.

 Elf Isla.

Perfecto! A delicious meal was had by all.

Peace my friends!

Snow

Woke this morning to snow! This is 7:30 in the morning, about 23 degrees. Not the usual weather for here, but then neither is the flooding and rain of biblical proportions. Good thing we live on a hill.

Peace my friends!

Ballymaloe Cookery School

Kirsty is attending the world famous Ballymaloe Cookery School down in Shanagarry for 12 weeks. Not too many pictures are forthcoming from the classroom as they probably frown on the food selfies! However, Kirsty has surreptitiously taken a few shots and have sent them on to me. Let's keep this between ourselves.

Classroom (don't look for Kirsty!)

 One of the herb gardens.

 Sponge cake!

 Creme caramel! Oh baby!

Making lamb chops...

Peace my friends!

Deserted Village

We took a drive out to Achill Island to see a deserted village. People had been living in the area for over 5000 years, but the recent settlements were built around the 12th century. It was abandoned during the famine years, then used sporadically until the early 1900s as a booley (summer grazing of cattle or sheep), settlement.

Nice view!

Back in the day, circa 1915.

Dry stone building: no mortar. Mostly windowless, some had a door on each wall. One to let the cow in for milking, and the other so it could walk out when done being milked.

 Ubiquitous sheep.

Driving home, we came upon a group of Galway hookers (traditional fishing boats), sailing out to the ocean.

Peace my friends!

I Don't Think We...

Are in Italy anymore.

View from the Dublin bus heading to the train station. Italy was grand, but it is nice to be back in the land of 55-60 degrees and clouds!

Peace my friends.

It's Only Taken Three Trips to Italy, but...

Kirsty has finally found a handbag she likes.

 Made by these fellas.

Ba bene, ba bene!

Peace my friends!

Artsy-Fartsy in Citta Della Pieve

It is too darn hot to do much here in Umbria. A few cappuccinos, some raviolis, cookies with nutella and some photography (early morning, mind you!).

Peace my friends!

Citta Della Pieve

We picked up sticks and drove a bit southwest to a farm just outside Citta Della Pieve. It is a bit rustic, but lovely. Here are a few pictures to get you started:

 Francesco and Louisa grow grapes, figs, olives, apples and many vegetables. They also have sheep for cheese and milk and beehives for honey.

Our front yard.

 Hammocks!

 Sharry and Kirsty enjoying the early evening.

 More grapes!

Francesco at the stone oven for wood-fired pizza.

And a full moon rising up from the trees!

Peace my friends!

Weather and Such in Bettona

Yikes!

 Bread, cheese, butter, tomatoes and figs. What else does a man need?

 A part of the wall in Bettona, with the nun's coolie (butt) stone.

It was lonely in the monastery behind these walls.

Sharry relaxing in the shade.

Peace my friends!

Market Day

Went to the market. In Gubbio. As you do...

 Porchetta and prosciutto.

Peace my friends!