Autumn reflections

It's no big secret, I've always loved the fall. As a kid I was the one who couldn't wait for the fall because that meant the beginning of school (yes, school). I loved getting new school clothes and supplies and would be anxious the night before school and not be able to sleep. Plus it was the beginning of the holiday season. The beginning of school, Halloween, Thanksgiving and then Christmas.  I loved it for all of these reasons, but never for the weather.  Living in Seattle means fall is windy and wet. In fact as a kid I never played in the leaves because they all fell off the trees in one day with the first big rain and then they were soaking wet and dirty.

But living in Italy has given me a whole different reason to appreciate fall. Of course I no longer have the anticipation for the beginning of the school year like I did as a kid, Halloween is not celebrated in Italy (well not like it is in the states) and of course I have to do Thanksgiving on a Saturday because it isn't a holiday here. There is no black Friday the day after or the mad shopping rush to truly finish off the fall. But what we have here is truly fall.

The main difference I have noted living here these past ten years is the changing of the leaves. As I mentioned before in Seattle the leaves were on the trees one day and gone the next. In Italy we are lucky to have very sunny weather in the fall (at least compared to the Pacific Northwest). The flora is also different. In western Washington there is an over abundance of evergreens (hence the Evergreen State). But in central Italy we are mainly surrounded by Oak and Maple trees which make for a lovely blanketing of yellow, orange and rust colored leaves. Living in the country I am blessed to have an incredible drive to work everyday. Five minutes into my commute I pass through "la carbonara", a small wooded area, which the main road cuts right through. Most of the drive is open countryside and the road is spotted with beautiful fall colors nearly the whole way.

The other thing that I love about the fall in rural Italy is the food. Since we live in the country we have the opportunity to gather porcini mushrooms and newly fallen chestnuts. We have a large olive grove and we harvest the olives for our family olive oil, and then there is the pig. We have our very own sausages and prosciutto to enjoy all fall and winter. The smells and tastes that the local cuisine bring are incredible. Nothing like a slice of bruschetta toasted on the fire in the fireplace drenched in this year's new olive oil with its spicy flavor.

Fall is still one of my favorite seasons, and it is definitely my favorite season in Italy!