marmellata in the cupboard

It has been a busy day. Not only are the carciofi planted, but the marmalade is in the cupboard. Today the kitchen smelt divine and a heady sweet orange aroma wafted through the house. Getting up for breakfast on a winter's day, knowing there is marmalade for breakfast, knowing the oranges came from Sicily via Francesco in the market, brings a taste of summer to the deep Marche winter.

carciofi safely planted

I have just planted my artichokes, one in between each vine. I obeyed my instructions, trimmed the leaves and stamped them carefully into the damp earth. The digging kept me warm and the thought of their beautiful purple flowers kept me going. I pictured us eating them, pulling off the tender leaves, in May 2011. Planting something to eat gives me a feeling of great safety.

a sack of carciofi

Today, navigating through a blanket of fog, I went to the market to buy oranges and came home with 40 carciofi. They were lying on a hessian sack on the ground, freshly dug, tied into four neat bundles. I know the elderly man who was standing beside them. He doesn't have a stall, a table or a chair, more a patch of space to park his little van. I dug them yesterday, he said, please take them all. And without a second thought I did. It was the look of them up-rooted, their silver green beautiful leaves, them needing to be returned to the earth, his growing and digging and bundling of them and bringing them to market in the sack through the fog. He told me exactly what to do; trim them, stamp them in well. When will I have artichokes? I asked. Perhaps May, because it's late. Next May you will, he smiled.

celestial blue

Today I came across an exquisite glass door in which there were celestial blue panels. It was inside a palazzo near the basilica of San Nicola, Tolentino, the top floor of which I had been asked to visit as it is for sale. More details to follow.

Miracles of Le Marche: 6. Winter pine tree

The light at dawn has been exquisite these past few days. Opening our windows to the east, the sun fills my umbrella pines, which hold on the tip of each spine, a drop of dew. The trees, for moment, light up and sparkle as if a miracle is upon us. Which of course it is.

Stefania's Befana party

Yesterday was the festa of Befana, celebrated in Italy on Epiphany and although I have asked many people the origin of this witchy woman on a broomstick bringing sweets and coal to children, I have been told conflicting stories of her origins. According to someone in the hairdressers, she was spotted at the scene of the nativity, others claim she is pagan and comes down the chimney like Babbo Natale. All very confusing. However, what I know for certain is that she brings another national holiday, the chance to be together with friends and the food is always delicious. And yesterday Stefania's party in the elegant borgo storico seghetti panichi was no exception. Italian-esque sandwiches created from a light savory panetone-shaped bread, then re-stacked together to form the original cupola shape. So ingenious. The tea was delicate and there was a choice of shape of cup. I love this attention to detail, the way her family have adopted the English tea ceremony and embellished it, leaving out any British sang froid and instead adding flamboyance and fun. Thank you Stefania for a wonderful Befana party.

buon anno nuovo!

New Years Eve arrived as a blue full moon rose in the sky and dinner guests arriving saw a rainbow in the silver night sky. Their faces were wide with wonder. Beneath the chandelier, we ate our lentils for fortune and toasted in the new decade at midnight. My wish is for a peaceful, happy year ahead for all. Buon anno nuovo!