Merry Christmas!

.Nothing like a roaring fire in the hearth to say "Buon Natale!"
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The Walk

.Sydney Claire, being an older dog, would be content to lay in her dog bed and sleep all day long. But as soon as she hears the word “walk”, she runs around the house like a crazed dog impatiently waiting for me to get ready. Getting ready is usually just putting on my tennis shoes, but in the winter also a hat, scarf, mittens, etc., etc., etc. and that can take some time. The road we've discovered provides us with a beautiful, tree-lined, quiet walk along a secluded dirt road. Here in Italy, a dirt road is referred to as a white road, strada bianca. And since we hardly ever see anyone and Sydney is almost deaf, I sing to amuse myself and frighten off the cinghiale, wild boar.  Yes, I said wild boar.

My Town

This is my new hill town! Since 2000 I’ve been living on the northern side of Lago Trasimeno, but was unsuccessful in finding a rental in 2007. So here I am far south of the lake in Monteleone d’Orvieto! Not bad though,huh? Except for the fact that I’m miles away from friends and all things familiar, it really is a beautiful medieval village. I live just about a five minute walk outside the walls and I have a lovely view of the town center, centro, from my back balcony. I'm so close I can even hear the church bells!