and another section...

(bottom photo taken in less light, one above it is better colour).

Just one more section to get up to this stage and then I will let it dry a bit before I start on the fine tuning. I'm really pleased with how fast it is coming together as it really is the equivalent of five individual paintings. Whew!   

Today I am also grateful for progress. 

another snippet...

This is undergoing a few changes today. Check back in a few hours for the result, I'll add the updated photo below. Kris, it's going to be a spot the difference for you :-)

Later, still not completed but now this part has to wait. 

Today I am grateful for motivation.

into the turps again

No, not what you are thinking!

I'm back in oils again; it seems like an age since I last worked in oil. I'm loving it, but still expecting the layers to dry as fast as acrylic does... patience, patience!

Now, do I show you progress shots or surprise you at the end? This is the painting of the triumphal arch at Aquino. I wanted it to be a bit special. The painting is well underway, but there is a long way to go.

Perhaps I'll just tease you with some details for now... :-)

This is about one fifth of the work, and about one quarter completed.

Looking at these photos I can see some structural changes I need to make. That objective space is what prompts me to post progress photos. Somehow I see the errors more clearly once I have made them public!

and another fifth to about the same stage: 

And added one day later: 

Today I am grateful for brushes, paint and canvas. 

in the dog box...

No, not the dogs.

I didn't have an exhibition during the festa this year. I had guests and had an exhausting day driving around battlefields and cemeteries on the Saturday. On Sunday I had opened my house to the female violinists who needed somewhere to rest and change, and prior to that when I was contemplating putting the Monte Cassino paintings outside somewhere there had also been a fierce storm - I was reluctant to put easels out after that!  But the truth was, in fact, that I was all exhibitioned out!

The year so far has had so many trips up and down the stairs with paintings that I needed a break. My wrist has one of those little over-use cysts in it, causing me a few niggles and pains, and I have recurring tendonitis in my elbow.

But despite my protests I was urged to exhibit even somewhere outside (I gave a flat refusal to inside the building with security issues, and I have learnt that it also makes my house the only available bathroom for the whole festa for passing women and children).

I said no, and then, under duress agreed to a "maybe, perhaps the second night".

But by the second night the excuse of being open home to musicians was enough for me to opt out.

Yesterday I was accosted again. Why didn't I exhibit? People were expecting to see my paintings... they were asking where I was...

Oooops!

Next year, there's always next year. It seems that you can become an institution in a mere six years in this land of ancient history!

Today I am grateful for integration. 

it smelt just soooooo goooood!

The hot roast pork sandwiches were just across the road, upwind from the balcony was BBQ lamb... and all I could do was watch with twitching nose from upstairs!

 I tried everything... sniffing up in the air, licking my chops, looking appealingly at mum. I even tried sitting down being perfect...

 And sitting up really concentrating on that BBQ... just in case, you know, mum hadn't twigged...

 Finally I gave up. Mum said that if there were scraps on the road when we went for our morning walk I could eat them then. As if the nasty big stray dogs would leave them for me...

I went out onto the terrace and tried a snail.

 What do you mean, I can look but not lick?

 That didn't go down too well... I think Mum wanted that snail for a painting. Oops!

 Sigh! I'll just sit inside on the floor and pretend that wonderful aroma is not real :-(

Oh, and mum says to tell you that she is not playing favourites, it's just that Pickle was hiding under the bed still after the canon balls fell out of the sky with huge booming sounds that rattled the balcony. She's a wimp, that Pickle... 

Today Mum is grateful for her obedient perfect handsome and adorable little dog.

.

it's thunderstorm time

and the local festa!

These photos were taken at about 11pm last night when the stall holders were packing up but the concert continued.

Tonight the musicians change for their performance in my apartment... it's a pity that their fame is wasted on me! 

(And right now, at 4.30pm, it is "fair hosing down"... it needs to be dry by 7.30 for the procession!)

Today I am grateful for music and laughter.

my favourite things

These are a few of my favourite things... at least when it comes to things Roman.

More photos from the lovely church in Aquino. I am a bit of a greenie so I love all the recycling that has gone into this building. When I enter the church I can smell the earth, There is rarely anyone else there. I can take all the time I need to contemplate, meditate, reflect. Here I am not of any time, I can just be. This is what I think of as being totally in tune with past and present, with life. 

Today I am grateful for happy friends.