Snow in Molfetta

We had quite a snowstorm this morning in Molfetta. Rather a surprise in this strangely temperate winter. 

I wonder if the oranges on that poor tree turned into frozen orange juice?

Cold and Wet

It was one of those windy, rainy, cold kind of days here in Molfetta this morning. People were all bundled up with hats and gloves and scarves and umbrellas (which is "ombrelli" in Italian, don't you just love it when a word is sort of the same in another language?). And Saretta was distracting herself from the unpleasant meteorological conditions by taking surreptitious photos of peoples feet and backsides...

Grey Smoke in a Grey Sky

This photo is terribly grey, but that's just the kind of day it is here. Grey, grey, grey. I'm feeling kind of grey myself, actually... Southern Italy has a wonderful abundance of sun yearround, and I realise how spoiled I am when a few grey days start to get me down. How do people survive in areas with very little sun throughout the winter?

The smoke in this photo is from agricultural burning. Farmers are pruning olive trees and burning the smaller branches and leaves. Outside it smells like a big barbeque!

Daisies

Here are some more winter flowers growing in the fields near my house. A bit of color for those of you living in colder climates!

Winter Beach

Sea, pebbles, seaweed...and no people!

Lunch with Friends

After an unseasonal cold spell in September, beautiful warm weather has returned. Recently at lunchtime we have been eating outside on the patio, which is a truly special pleasure we are not able to enjoy as often as you might think. In the summer it is just too hot. In the winter, too cold. Spring and fall, however are just right (said Goldilocks).

The only problem is that we have to share our meal with what at times seems like swarms of unwanted guests...click on the photo to enlarge it and see two of our dear little friends.

This 1999 song about the joys of riding around on a Vespa motorbike is by the shortlived Italian group "Lùnapop." "Vespa" also means "wasp" in Italian.