2009 in the garden : the verdict
on Nov 22, 2009 in In the garden Flora and fauna autumn Yesterday was caressingly warm in the sun, and wet, wet, wet in the garden.It may be late November, and the children may already be counting down to Chrismas, but in the garden there still is plenty going on. Planted yesterday were ten Tulipa altaica...

Not in wet and windy England
on Nov 20, 2009 in Talking about the weather Eight degrees at 8:30am. Cloudy with occasional sunshine. Thinking about the rain-sodden Cumbrians...the best we can do here is a particularly heavy dew.

Sermon
on Nov 19, 2009 in Frescoes Chiesa di San Gottardo Ten degrees at 8:30am in Cannobio. Cloudy. Dry."Will the woman in the red dress please SIT DOWN!"San Gottardo gives a sermon,Chiesa di San Gottardo, Carmine Superiore.

On the way
on Nov 18, 2009 in Flora and fauna Mother and child Images autumn A marvellous, marvellous, heart-lifting day at Lago Maggiore! Sunshine, warmth, drifts of white mist, the blue shapes of the hills and mountains beyond. And the yellows, russets and reds of the dying leaves. This morning AJ said that in his considere...

HELP! HELP! HELP!
on Nov 18, 2009Can anyone among the mothers and teachers out there suggest a well-known English Christmas carol or song that I might possibly be able to teach a bunch of 5-year-olds??? I'm thinking Away in a manger...Am I insane?

Quote of the week No. 31 : the middle ages
on Nov 16, 2009 in Flora and fauna Days of the year Quote of the week Ten degrees at 8:30am. Wet and slippery underfoot, thick strands of fog above our heads, which are down, watching our feet. A fire salamander day.Recently, I had cause to spend an unhappy sixty minutes contemplating my own mortality. I had been summo...

Madonna in the clouds
on Nov 15, 2009 in Images Frescoes Cannobio Weather cold, damp and gloomy. And now for something completely different and wholly unrelated...Madonna and ChildPiazza S. Ambrogio, Cannobio...

Via Sasso Carmine
on Nov 13, 2009 in Images Cannobio Seven degrees at 8:30am. Weak sun. Dry.Via Sasso Carmine, in Cannobio's antico borgo.

Early morning discovery
on Nov 12, 2009 in Flora and fauna Chick-rearing 2009 Again six degrees at 8:30am. The benches dotted along the mulattiera up to Carmine Superiore are pools of warmth in the sunshine. A good excuse to sit for a while and ponder our luck to be living here between the glittering lake and the snowcapped mo...

on Nov 11, 2009Down to 6° at 8:30am. Clear skies and a cold wind.