Reflections on My 40 Years in Umbria

the recent magnificent fall at Genius Loci Country Inn - Bevagna, Umbria

While I will be taking a two-month break from Italy, Genius Loci and blogging, I will continue to follow the usual blogs of others. I will also have the same email access during this period and will continue to take reservations for Genius Loci.

To all my blog friends I wish the happiest of holidays and a serene 2010.

Brozzetti Textiles, one of the most prestigious artisanal workshops in Italy, has come up with two new items: a large lavender sachet with a small artificial flower composition and bookmarks with Deruta ceramic beads. Both items are hand-loomed and hand-finished.

Please take a look at the new Brozzetti website where items can be ordered by email.
http://www.brozzetti.com

There is an automatic associatiion between fall and roasting chestnuts. Umbria produces some of the best chestnuts in Italy, large and flavorful. Roasting them on the hot olive-wood coals either to be enjoyed with a glass of Sagrantino or to be used in a thick bean, chestnut, wild fennel soup...is one of those fall treats!

Today we used them in our delicious cannelli/borlotti soup! What an amazing combination of flavors!

On one of the few rainy days after a seemingly ENDLESS gorgeous fall, we fired up the wood-burning oven in the garden to bake our pecorino, auricchio, emmenthal, walnut bread. The fire was so very inviting on the gloomy, rather dark day.

It is hard to describe the flavor and texture of this homemade bread. While it is an all-day procedure and quite a job, the results are amazing. It is our breakfast bread, toasted. These loaves will be traveling with us to the States for Mar and for some good friends who enjoyed it with us here at home many years ago.

the fall magnificence from Genius Loci www.geniuslociumbria.com

The verb to yearn is defined as: to have an intense feeling of loss or lack or longing for something.

While I have certain desires, I am grateful that I don't yearn for anything. I am at peace with what I have, who I am, and where I am...and with the balance in my life No small thing on these soon-to-end gorgeous fall days for which to be grateful.

fall beauty at Genius Loci

Simple desiring rather than intense yearning, is perhaps something which comes with the greater wisdom and maturity of aging. What a significant and pleasant sense of release!