Swallow 'skimming' the water

Olive grove at location 2

Our second 'home' was very different from the first one but great. We'd booked a room at Al Crepuscolo, Montefiore, which was an interesting mix of hotel/holiday let, located on the grounds of a large Olive grove. It's a family run business, with grandpa pruning trees, grandma making sure the rabbits are fattening up, aunty in charge of the mill, etc. We chose to eat at the restaurant most evenings, where Sonia and cousin Elisabetta prepared delicious local food for us (at  breakfast, fresh eggs from the 'galline'). What struck us most was, the gentle and kind nature of this family.
Their olive oil is well known (also abroad). They make soap, hand cream etc. from the oil too, which is pressed at their own, old, mill, under the brand Gabrielloni.
Because it was late in te season, we had the entire top floor, incl. lounge and little kitchen, to ourselves and, most days, the two of us were able to admire the view (land and sea), from the garden, by ourselves (well, plus G+T, of course). See: Al Crepuscolo

One of our afternoons was spent at the nearby village Recanati, where the famous poet Giacomo Leopardi was born, see: G. Leopardi.
They like their castles and towers here, so we decided to end up having a yummy meal at restaurant 'il Borgo Antico', with VERY large wine list, in the cellar of a tower. see: Borgo Antico.
All these places are soooo worth a visit.

Home cookin' at location 1

Last year we went on a cullinary tour, which meant a lot of travelling/packing to different places, where we were wined and dined on. This year we chose to stay at two 'agriturismo' locations and, most days, we'd cook for ourselves.
First there would be a long run of approx. 25 km. (not by me), then a cool dip in the large pool with fantastic view, followed by a little snooze, reading of good book/daydreaming, followed by  G+T plus nibbles

after which we would move ourselves into the, well stocked, round kitchen..

for some fiiiiiiine, home cookin'...

LOVELY!

Here today. Gone tomorrow!

Beautiful Italy, I missed it and am so glad to be back, just over a year later.

Here we are, in our very own tower (with modern, glass lift, and everything one's heart could desire), surrounded by the renowned vineyards of Marotti Campi. For information/site click on MAROTTI CAMPI

It so happens to be the 'harvest season' and two days ago we were in the thick of it. One day there were large bunches of grapes everywhere and the next, they were all gone (sob).... but we like the end product!

Before

After

Them pickers, doin' what they do so well

Announcement Meesterlijk/'Masterly' Fair, Amsterdam

From the 27th till the 30th of September, you'll be able to find me at the Meesterlijk Beurs/Masterly Fair, where I'll be assisting my friend Mary.
It's held at the Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam and, if you like DESIGN (+ art and food), it sounds like a good place to visit.
For more detailed information please click on: MEESTERLIJK.
For pictures click on: IMAGES

Hope to see you there.

Gifts

Not only was I given a HUGE, fragrant, bouquet of flowers, on Friday. I was also put to the test by having an elegantly wrapped present placed on the living room table and not being allowed to open it till this morning.
Grinding of teeth, Chewing of nails,  Rapid Blinking of eyes!!! ....but I passed the test succesfully and was able to unwrap this BEAUTIFUL watch (middle).

Testing...testing...

Nice day out

While Amsterdam's loud and colourful, Gay Parade was about to start (view from balcony),...

.... we decided to have a pre-birthday-lunch at the pittoresque place of 'Ouderkerk a/d Amstel'.
After a beautiful, scenic drive, we sat outside, on a terrace on the Amstel river and enjoyed our lovely lunch. As we could see dark/black clouds, heavy with 'Monsoon-rain', 'unburdening' themselves over Amsterdam, we sat in blistering heat and any clouds coming our way seemed to evaporate over our heads, keeping a bit of blue sky exposed ... amazing!

Beautiful view from terrace, while eating tuna tartare at Café/Restaurant Paardenburg.