Orvieto Day 7

Thursday is market day in town and we all visited the market and bought wonderful fresh produce for a picnic lunch.

It was also Kori and my birthday. We were treated to delicious desserts after lunch.

The courtyard at the convent is so quiet and spacious and each day we all gathered for lunch here.

After lunch we managed a little sewing then visited a local vineyard Palazzone for a tour and a sampling of their lovely wine and snacks.

The vineyard was off the main rock of Orvieto with breathtaking views of the countryside.

Giovani the owner of the vineyard was very informative as well as quiet entertaining. I could not think of a more special place to sip wine. The view was spectacular!

This is a view of the city from where we were. It was lovely to see the Duomo and the clock tower from this view.

Spectacular day!

Sue

Orvieto Day 6

Each morning here in Orvieto I start out my day with a wonderful cappuccino made by Anthony at the Blue Bar which fortunately is close to the convent. Some mornings mom and I also have a delicious pastry. I will miss these treats!

In class all the students have started working on their design. It is great to see each one developing into a very personal piece. They cut freezer paper templates of their design and then started cutting out the fabrics which they started to applique. They are all using images that are meaningful to them. Many are of the hillside surrounding Orvieto and others of images we saw on the pottery at the museum and on the outside of the Duomo.

In the afternoon we went to one of the Etruscan caves. Orvieto sits on volcanic rock which was dug out in the Etruscan times to form hundreds of caves underground. The one we visited also had a well which was used to retrieve spring water. The caves were fascinating! They included a kiln, wine cellar and burial grounds. Many items of pottery which were excavated from the caves were on display.

Creative Stitching

Sue

Orvieto Day 5

We spoke about the layers of Italy and each student layered a piece using textural fabrics and ribbons. Between all of us we had enough of a selection of fabrics for each piece. We then spoke about the wonderful images that surrounded us and each student began to draw the images that they wanted to incorporate on their piece. Here are a few of the backgrounds in progress.

We finished early in the afternoon to go to our cooking class with Simone.

She chose two starters - Pancetta Roll with goat cheese, walnuts and pears and Rotolini di zucchini e ricotta. For the main course - Pamigiana di Melanzane and Panna Cotta for dessert. We all got stuck in cooking all different parts of the meal. We made fresh pureed tomatoes for the sauce for the Parmigiana.

Kathy made the Panna Cotta while others cut and cooked the strawberries for the topping.

A few of us cut and fried the eggplant for the Parmigiana.

Mom zested the lemon for the Panna Cotta.

Janet started one of the starters crushing the walnuts nuts and mixing with the goat cheese.

All rolled the Zucchini rolls.

Then we all sat down to a wonderful meal with wine and good company.

I really enjoyed the evening with everyone.

Sue