My Bag is Packed

Grapes

How can I describe the Italian countryside with all its hills and castles on the hills and more hills and the grapes hanging on the vines with the sun occasionally hitting them and making them glisten? I don't have enough words to do this justice.

The journey to the back woods of Tuscany started with a stop at the World War II Memorial just outside Florence. I have never been there and it was so moving. It is a beautiful place with just the right mix of Italy and US all around. We sang "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" and had a prayer together. It was a lovely thing. Many of the students (and teachers) were moved to tears. Then one of the sweet girls reminded us that one of our guys is in the Army Reserve and is here on a special three month pass from his Reserve activities. Then we had a special prayer for him and everyone cried! We took time to each stroll through the crosses and look at the names. I was amazed at how touched the students were and how they strolled individually and not in groups. It was a wonderful time of reflection.

Then back on the bus and off to pick grapes. The hill we ended up on the side of is directly opposite a medieval village that still has a castle. Each one of us was given a knife or scissors and each two students took a large plastic tub and set off down the rows of grape vines. The bunches of grapes were really thick and they sometimes grow all twisted around the leaves and vines. Most of them were just bursting with juice. We cut and hauled for about two hours with a snack break in between. The vineyard owners were impressed with the work ethic of the students and I am sorry to report, Jessica, but they both said that this group worked harder than last year's group. It seems that last year a couple of malcontents did not want to work but to sit over on the side and discuss their love angst. I also need to report that there were no serious injuries and I only cut my hand in two places!

After the work came the picnic the owners fixed for us. We had beef short ribs cooked over a bed of smoky embers and Italian sausages, fatunta bread (toasted over the heat and sprinkled with olive oil and salt), Gouda cheese and Nonna's cake for dessert. It was great. Now the hike up a third hill to get to the picnic spot was not so great. I got Nature all over me and had to climb over/under two fences!

When we got back to the Villa, Kate, Blaine and Hudson had arrived. It was so good to see them. They will be here through next week so I will visit more with them later.

Today was the Uffizi day. It has so many beautiful paintings and my very favorite is the Holy Family by Michelangelo. The colors are so pretty and the expressions on their faces look like they love each other. Then there is that round frame,so unusual.

Tonight Robbie rented a soccer field for some of the kids to play each other. I went to watch and it was a great evening to sit and watch. Tomorrow we have classes and on Friday our first free travel starts!!

posted by BW @ 5:21 PM