A Successful Day

The hens are in the hen house for the night and my fire was perfect. The sun was out all day and the temperature reached the 50's. It was a very successful day.

Most of our day was spent in the lab baking biscuits (we would call them cookies). The crisps are by far my favorite that we have made so far. They are packed with organic sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, sugar, raisens, wine, oil, and a variety of flour. They are delicious. It is amazing how Viola uses everything. She freezes the orange and lemon peels and uses them in the biscuits. Definitely something I will do when I am home.

After baking for four hours, Viola and I went back to the sulfur hot springs and spent over an hour enjoying the therapeutic benefits of the springs. My body felt so much lighter and, with all the food and cookies I have been eating, that is good news. I am sure it won't last. Thank goodness there are no scales around.

This is my last week at Le Lapole so I am trying to learn as much as I can. I asked Viola if she would come to the states and give all of us baking lessons. Anyone interested let me know.

Some interesting things I have learned so far:

1. Many of th 30 - 40 year old generation live together and do not get married. I think that is very interesting. Most of the time it is because the man can not leave his mother.
2. Italian guilt is alive and well.
3. Northern Italians are less trusting of Southern Italians. They believe they are warmer but you really need to be careful.
4. Winter's are colder than I had imagined.
5. Italians do not drink very much.
6. Prices are 2x that of California.
7. There are alot more WWOOFERS from the U.S. than I thought.
8. I am not good at learning new languages (I think I knew this, but didn't comprehend how bad I would be).

I am sure I will have more as my trip progresses.

Ciao for now