Monday, February 20, 2012

30 days in Pisticci

It is actually my 32 nd day today. I never was very good at arithmetic. I am sitting in my little study/bedroom with a "relaxing tisane" because it is just after 4pm and I always have one then.



That is one of the things I have particularly enjoyed about staying here, that is making up my own pleasant little routines. I only do yoga by candlelight now. And I make peanut butter in a coffee grinder most days. I shut the shutters about 6pm every evening. I pull the curtain across the doorway of my study/bedroom just after that. I listen to radio scotland while I make breakfast.
Don't think that after all that I have had my days organised because that just doesn't happen. Possibly I like doing these things because the  rest of the time is so unorganised.
Since I wrote the last post, the weather changed and we had snow for about a week. I had n't thought to bring boots so I was obliged to put plastic bags over my socks and then trainers on top. There were some days I couldn't go out at all. The snow was fun for the first day and I built a snowman outside my door, but after the 3d or 4th day it got a bit tedious and quite dangerous.
One day I ran out of gas, the water went off and snow started melting on the roof and dripped through into the attic. I got into siege mentality and had contingency plans for lack of electric, gas, water and phone. It was a little scary. And my attitude of If I can cope with this I can cope with anything, got a little overused.
So far not more than 2 things have been off at once.
It was an adventure and just staying warm when there is ice on the inside of the windows , only one portable gas heater  and you have so many clothes on you hardly bend , takes up a lot of energy.
But it is better now and the forecast for saturday is 17c.
I managed to finish a second painting of 4 musicians, which was a great effort due again to my lack of arithmetical skills. I was using several photos of different people and making them all appear to be in the same street at the same time. It took me literally a week and a lot of redrawing and stomping to get a system that could get everyone in proportion. Of course it could have been that my brain was frozen!
Since the weather got better again I have been able to get out and have been for some lovely walks and met lots of interesting people who I subjected to my italian. I even met one of the people in my painting and had a late night out with live music. (brilliant)
I am in love with my little studio, despite its heating inadequacies. It's gorgeous and every minute I have spent here has been  a joy. I have rushed out in the mornings to take photos of the sun rising at the end of my street. Last night I was lying on my back outside taking photos of the sky. I have a lovely colourful photo of my studio the first day the sun came back after the snow. I have my painting area organised with good lighting so I can work in the evenings. (I don't need light during the day as it is right by the window.) My little study with a furry throw on the bed, the curtain across the doorway  and heater at the bottom of the steps is like a warm little nest. When I light candles and do yoga its like I  have gone back in time. And every night before I switch off the lights in the other part(not heated at all) I long for summer so I can be in there too.
Tomorrow I partly go back to my old life living in the country and working in the studio, but it won't ever be the same again and I forsee a lot of things happening which will mean I have to stay here as often as possible.

4 comments:

  1. Ah, good to see you on line. Hope the weather cooperates and you can go back to your old plans. What is that building selling for and what's wrong with it?
    Where exactly are you?

    You guessed: I'm trying to convince myself to do what you did; pick up and go live in a small village in Italy.

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  2. I would find a reason to move there forever! It's so pretty! Candlelight yoga, cheery snowmen, picturesque views, you've got it all. This is a beautiful and inspiring post!

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  3. Hi, I saw your post on twitter and had to stop by. Glad I did! You're living an artists dream!
    Take care!
    Jennifer

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  4. Ah I am green with envy! I have a few friends in italy and I adore seeing their blogs and posts. I have signed up so I can enjoy yours too. Thank you for bringing a little of the beauty of Italy into my room.
    Carol

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