A walk in the woods

15th October 2007

Suntans are beginning to fade, the leaves are starting to turn and there is a whiff of woodsmoke in the air. All things being Autumnal, the dog and I have taken to walking in the woods. Not any woods mind you, but the woods that grow behind our house. Changeable woods; sometimes languid, cool and green and other times dark and witchy, breathing softly in the dusk. And I bet that if you stood still for long enough, just like the line from that wonderful children's book, The Magician's nephew, 'You could almost feel the trees growing'.

These woods are vibrating with life and the dog is on red alert as we walk. I am just thinking how brave and loveable he is when we stumble across a tiny graveyard in a leafy clearing where the sun slants through the branches of some small scrub oaks. The oldest headstone is dated 1904 and marks the resting place of a 'well loved hound', the others (that I can read) are for Tom, Augus, Menta and Artimissa and have similar epitaphs. Long forgotten friends sleeping under the moss. The dog, blissfully unaware, sniffs about and has another pee.

Further into the wood I realise that it begins to slope away sharply into a deep gulley. The wood is enormous and, in places, impassable. Great brambles are lashed around trees and the tracks disappear into thick undergrowth. It is easy to see how, towards the end of the Second World war, as the chaos of liberation swept through Italy, there were over 40,000 escaped Prisoners of War and deserting Italian soldiers hiding in the woods around here. It would be very easy to get lost in these woods and, with that in mind and as the sun began to sink, the dog and I walked quickly home.

The best thing I ate today;
Olive Oil - Extra Virgin - Poggi al Lago, Chiusi, Siena
When the girls were at Clown School we met the parents of some other clowns, olive farmers. They grow olives on the shores of Lago di Chiusi and make organic olive oil. They invited us to an oil tasting, where Carlo's hot-tip was that " a good oil should retain the taste of nature". From among the oils we tried, his oil shone out as green and grassy as a new mown lawn. "A taste older than meat, older than wine. A taste as old as cold water" Wow! I wish I'd said that, but I didn't. Lawrence Durrell did.

Where to get it;
www.poggiallago.it/en/agricoltura.html

Comments

[Sara, Ms. Adventures in Italy]

Welcome to blogging, and your first year of Italy! I'll have to spend some time in your archives.

I loved your rust photos...

PS: I think you linked to my "About" page and not the blog front page.

[Jeff]

"A Walk in the Woods" that's one of my favorite books. And Lawrence Durrell I've never read but I love his brother Gerald. I'm an animal nut.
There isn't a "woods" around here.

[Maryann@FindingLaDolceVita]

What a wonderful blog you have here. I was reading about christmas and befana- I know..it's much too early :)

[Mitch McDad]

Love your blog. I have to plan my wife's 40th birthday trip (my was Barcelona, Rome, Positano) and I'm leaning towards Tuscany since we have both never been. I plan on checking in from time to time to get an inside look.

Take care.

[rowena]

Hi Amanda,
Welcome to the world of italian-based blogs. How about a hike in some mountain forests?! I can absolutely feel your affection for nature in this post, as walking, or to be precise, hiking is one of our favorite hobbies during this time of year. Just being surrounded by all of that autumn beauty -- really an enchanting experience.

[jackie]

i love walks in the woods too, although we don't have that many here near macerata--it sounds like you guys have quite a forest over there! the little pet graveyard is an interesting find.

have a great monday!
Jackie

[sognatrice]

Walking in the woods is by far one of my most favorite things to do...especially in a place that you don't know by heart yet. Looking forward to taking more with you :)

[Farfallina... a roam to Rome]

Ciao! Congrats on your move to Italy! a new blog in the Italy expat blogosphere is always a joy!

I'll see you around :)

[amanda hyzler]

Thanks Jeni,
I was hoping you'd like the blog as yours is one of my favourites.
Have a great weekend
Amanda

[Jeni]

What amazing things you can find on your walks! Unfortunately, my Southern California walks are much more predictable. But, I, too walk with my loyal four-legged friends. Aren't they wonderful companions?

And about that oil...yum. The quote from Durrell was perfect.

Love your blog.

[Tina]

Hello, and thank you for your nice comment on my blog! I'm excited to sit back, relax and have a look at yours.
I'm glad you like Italy - Tuscany and Umbria are two sides of my soul. :-)