walk with me

Went for a walk with my main man.
Brought my DSLR.
Man, I live in a beautiful place.

corner view

corner view :: the colors of January

Monday I found a break in the incessant rains in these parts for a walk in the paese in a different area from my usual excursions but still within a few miles of our home. I went out in search of the "colors of January," expecting to find brown, brown, and more brown, with a touch of grey.

And there was certainly a fair share of shades of brown and grey, but a closer look quickly revealed much more green than I expected to see at this time of year.

And now I can't remember if this is normal, all this green, green grass, or if it's directly related to the incessant rains and warmer-than-usual temperatures.

But I do know that after taking in these views on foot, views that I normally only see from the car window, I will change the destination of some of my walks in the paese. Wouldn't you?

Corner View is a weekly appointment shared by people around the globe, an appointment started in the spring of 2009 by Jane in Spain and currently hosted by Francesca over at Fuori Borgo. We welcome you to join us.

autumn morning walk in the paese

I've got plenty for which to be thankful, including the beautiful landscape that surrounds me.
Have a great weekend, my friends.
D

Sentiero 1

I've taken you on this path before, the one that starts at the cemetery in Lumignano and continues to Castegnero along the high ridge through groves of olive trees with sweeping views along the way; it includes the the opportunity to return to lower Lumignano through the fields of grape vines.  Cherry trees and pines dot the landscape, too.

But that was the early spring and this is mid summer! We so enjoy the opportunity to be spectators to this great free show put on by Mother Nature, without fail, year after year as the seasons change.

The most notable things in our landscape during mid summer are the lush vines fat with grapes on the cusp of harvest, the bone-dry rocky creek beds, and the varying hues of green that cover the panorama, green that will fade upon the arrival of fall and completely disappear until spring.

This is a beautiful place, indeed, this piece of Italy I call home.

reluctant hikers

A couple of weeks ago they completed a 12K in Venice with very, very little complaint, so I thought an early morning 5K on a predominately flat trail in our nearby hills would be a welcome way to start Sunday. I mean, with the anticipated arrival of the cherry blossoms and the wildflowers covering the ground and the fresh air and the bees buzzing and the bright sun we've all been waiting to see ...

Boy, was I wrong.

With a combination of threats and bribes, we all made it through. To their credit, they did continue in a forward direction the entire time.

I have more big hiking plans for us this weekend, perhaps this "Sentiero Tra Gli Ulivi," a guided walk especially for children that ends with a visit to a nearby olive oil producer.

Shhh....don't tell them.  I still haven't fulfilled my promise of two scoops of gelato, the promise that got them through the final grueling kilometer through this paradise we call home so early last Sunday morning.

verde

While a few trees in the area are covered in blossoms, most branches are still bare, as are the grape vines. The absolute first sign of spring in the paese is the reappearance of green, green grass.

These images were collected during a walk nearby this Saturday. Sunday has brought us nothing but rain, rain, rain.