Hello all! Last week I finally packed up all my bags and left Dino's farm. It had been great and I know that I wil return someday, but it was time to move on. I went to another farm near Cortona, at the house of Louise. The house here is so warm! Its not that winters here are very bad, but it does rain all the time...
At Louise's I've been caring for their horses (2 bigguns and a little colt) and generally helping around the house. Louise lives here with her 2 little daughters and her mom lives up the road. Right now there is another WWOOFer from the states here as well. As it turns out I am the only guy, so I think they are glad to have me around for big stupid jobs.
But really, the work is nice and the house is very cozy. Louise is encouraging me to make a big sculpture for her garden, so I've started that. I think it will be a centaur or something equally large and horshish. (Her daughters are as obsessed with horses as Flynn!) Louise has lots of wonderful tools, including a few power tools that I had been missing. I'm very excited to start work on this sculpture. I'll send photos as it develops.
I have also been teaching art lessons to Louise's girls and other kids from around the area. The best part about this job is that it pay$. I don't have much need for money right now, but it is nice to stock up for the next long travel. I really love working with the kids, but it makes me miss Chelsea even more. Its really fun but it can get a bit overwhelming. Mom, I don't know how you ever handled all those daycare kids! And Grandma, 5 boys? You all are crazy!
I also had my first succesful Italian art show. This took place on my last night at Dino's. That night there was a performance, feast, and dance party (like the parties I helped with the last time I was there, in the summer). I posted a bunch of drawings and paintings on the walls along with some prices and my website info. I sold almost a third of them! That was a nice little bonus, and it put a few more euros in my pocket. After everyone left that night we residents kept on dancing until a huge thunderstorm cut the music. Luckily we had Andrea, another American WWOOFer, who started playing the paino. Victoria (a frenchie WWOOFer) and I started a great improvised dance which went on until 3 in the morning. Dino told us that we were 'complete WWOOFers'. I think that's one of the best compliments I've ever received.
Next time- photos of all these wonderful things, I swear!
love, chris
This is a photo of me working on a sculpture at Louise's house (at night). I'll keep you all in the proverbial dark until it's finished.
And this is what happens when you dont keep your WWOOFers busy. We started to do some Contact Improvisation one day at Dino's. The trend continued whenever we had some free time. Above is Andrea about to jump onto my shoulders. Below is Andrea (under a tablecloth) swinging Victoria around.
Since I probably won't post again soon, I wish you all a very merry xmas! Ciao!
