Our first two trips finished up last Saturday. After we saw most everyone off, Kristi and I headed for Ravenna. Back now in Orvieto, waiting for the next group’s arrival, I have time to post some pictures from the first week.
DJ Pettitt and Heidi Darr-Hope led our learning workshops. Two more dedicated, enthusiastic teachers can not be found. They each led their group on very different journeys of discovery.
- Heidi led her group in some very reflective exercises with participants each creating a personal mandala. Wonderfully, the group made a Mandala for all of the rest of us to share in the garden. This beautiful piece of work emerged during the week as they added to it. It was truly a gift.
- DJ had her group creating the most sublime fabric journals that incorporated photographs that she guided them in painting and texturing and embellishing into works of art. Bits and pieces from Orvieto became part of the journals. The variety of the finished works were as individual and beautiful as the people creating them.
Here is a small sampling of what the week held.
Gathering pieces for the garden Mandala
The Garden Mandala in progress
DJ demonstrating
Creating
Maya's journal cover
Rolling ricotta in zuchini
We always like to get with a local chef and cook. It is such fun and we learn so much. We made several appetizers, eggplant parmigiana, our own tomato sauce, and a divine panna cotta.
Simona guides our cooking
We also have our favorite vineyard to visit to learn about wine making and to taste fabulous wines as we gaze back to Orvieto perched on its rock.
In a vineyard with Giovanni
Giovanni smells one of his red wines
It is a beautiful place!
Sometimes the beauty just gets to you!!
Pecorino cheese being lifted from its vat
Some of us took a visit to one of the few remaining farms where they still make cheese by hand. Pecorino cheese is made from sheep milk and Danilo and Francesco make some delightful cheeses. We had lunch with them sampling several cheeses with honeys and homemade jellies, and a ricotta cheese made in front of our eyes. We also enjoyed fresh lamb and wine from his neighbor.
Lunch served on an ancient slab from an elm tree
Umbrian countryside
The sun has set on these two trips. Kristi and I are filled with fond memories of the gifted and warm people who joined us for this week. Some are home, some still traveling, but all are in our hearts. Thank you all!!
Make Haste Slowly 