Sun is finally shining in Sicily

Today we made up for all the rain; we picked over 30 crates of oranges and sorted them. It was good to be doing something again. While we were picking the oranges, one of the old time farms starting yelling at Phillip. I guess you are not supposed to pick the oranges when they are wet. He believes that the oranges would do better with the sun today and pick them tomorrow. But we have orders to fill, so we continued picking.

I am taking my responsibility for the chickens very seriously. I made sure they were out of the chicken coup by 7am and fed them this evening. There is one very small chicken that loves to be held. You have to make sure it gets something to eat, because the other chickens take her food.

Our steps didn’t make it. When I took the donkeys down to their grazing area, they were very frightened. Their hooves went way down into the mud on the steps and the boards were already coming out. So much for our ability to do construction. Malcolm is trying to salvage what he can.

I have to take get the bristles out of Pete (the male donkey) tomorrow and brush him. He must roll around in the plant because they are really down into his coat (or do you call it fur). When I was working at getting a few out this morning, the female donkey was biting at me; she wanted attention also. They are so cute.

We had a well deserved lunch with ragu pasta; we also had an appetizer with wild asparagus on garlic bread. Nela used wild fennel in the ragu. It was excellent. Of course, there is always wine. After all the work and food and wine I had to take a little nap.

I was definitely tired with all the noises at night keeping me awake. I am not sure which is worse: the dogs barking, the rooster crowing, or the animal(s) (we think rats) crawling over my head between the ceiling and the roof. Living on a farm is very interesting.

I thought it only appropriate and just finished reading The Sicilian. It was a great book. From what they tell me, it is very true to life in Sicily. I find this region so beautiful and hope to get to Palermo after reading the book.
We are going out for pizza tonight and have Tiramisu for desert. It is great wwoofing with chefs. I am so glad there is no scale around.

Last and very important is an update on my hair (only the grey ones). I found Loving Care Casting, a non permanent color, which I have been putting on every few weeks. It is really great. Why was I paying over $150 a month when I can get the same look for 12 Euro. Of course, the mirrors here are very little and there is no light, so I could look terrible. Ignorance is bliss.

Ciao for now.