Back in Corciano, it is the gelateria owner's birthday so the whole town is turning out to celebrate at 10:30 p.m.tonight. I made him an accordian book with 50 candles - one on each page. He reciprocated with a credit for 50 kisses. I think that a person can't be in Italy anywhere for more than five days without running into some sort of celebration.

Chuck taught painting out in a field of newly rolled haystacks with an abandon farmhouse in the background. He did two marvelous paintings. I finished and bound a book on Italian moons, an accordian book, a pocket accordian book with "pochoise" printing and started a carousel book of an ancient olive grove (Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita mi ritrivai per una selva oscura che la diritta via era smarrita - Midway on our life's journey, I found myself in dark woods, the right road lost). Who knew I would love this sooooo much??? Perhaps it is that I have a huge uninterrupted amount of time to focus on something as small as a 5 x 7 book with deckled edges.

It is such a marvelous convergence of arts: ancient, hand- bound book techniques and this blogging business. Photos will follow. Now, we need to advance into a miniscule kitchen to cook ratalouille.