Summer Has Broken
August is going out with huge storms
You can tell summer is over as work has begun again out in the fields around us and workers have returned to finish the house next door which will be a rental property. The drilling and hammering starts early in the morning and the buzzing noises have replaces those of the cicades on the trees. That also means the temperatures have dropped finally.
It’s not bad to do a staycation when you live in Tuscany.
As we melted and suffered a drought through most of summer, it has broken but unfortunately with huge storms, several times already.
So much is at risk. Hail can ruin the grape harvest. Tornado-like winds have torn down secular oak trees at my friends hotel outside of Modena.
This climate change shows us that we really are not in control of anything.
At the same time, I can sleep at night now and am spending more time in the kitchen which brings joy.
I have always welcomed September 1 as my “New Year’s Day”.
Even as a child, we never went on vacations in summer and returning to school meant seeing my friends again.
Here in Italy, those that can are all on vacation and cities empty of the locals and fill over the brim with vacationers from everywhere, even Italy.
This year was especially hard on everyone as after covid, it was almost impossible to hire enough people to work.
We had friends visiting over the summer and enjoyed many meals out which were all wonderful and inspiring. But often slow service risked ruining the meal. I wonder if it’s part of life now.
Have you had the same experience?
I have been a waitress so am so very patient and am so glad we CAN go out again. Right?
September has always been “my season” for working and this is really my first work after covid, as I also had a couple of surgeries which prevented me from taking bookings.
We are starting off with a bang! So many return clients for Chianti day trips, Florence market tours and cooking classes in their rental villas.
Then my first weeklong program for a group, celebrating a big birthday! 12 women are joining me here in Tuscany and then I am taking 6 of them down to Puglia for another week!
Party’s on!
As we slip into this new season, heading into Fall, I celebrate daily! It’s the time when Italy really comes alive to me.
Here are some of the reasons why I adore Fall in Italy.
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