out in the country

im sitting at a big old dell computer with alex looking over my shoulder while holding ginger, one of the absolutely adorable kittens owned by our hosts lucie and peter (they've got nine cats total). we're on our first farm, which is actually just 75 acres of intensely beautiful but run-down land in the heart of tuscany. today we worked for five hours digging and clearing a run-off ditch next to the long and rocky driveway up to the house, lining it with rocks to make it a bit sturdier. today's work resulted in about 15 feet of lined ditch, with perhaps 500 or so to go. but we've got two weeks! we got here yesterday and were picked up by lucie, with two other american helpxers in tow. they're older women from arizona and california, both kind of loud but entertaining - good story tellers. they're leaving tomorrow morning though, so then we've got the run of the place (all the more room for napping and kittie-cuddling, horray!). lucie and peter are a rather laid-back and friendly english couple, who've been having helpers come to get things going around their newly purchased homestead. last night we all packed into their little renault and drove down to the nearby town of monterchi, where there was a polenta festival complete with a terrible italian band playing what were apparently hits here in the '70s. it was kind of entertaining, especially watching all of the locals dance around to the awful pop as though it were traditional music. the idea of a festival dedicated to polenta also greatly amused me, although we actually went for delicious local pizza instead, perhaps to get out of the cold. luckily lucie's cooking is also quite tasty, and refreshingly not consisting solely of pasta, cheese, and bread, which my vegetarian diet has largely consisted of thus far. hopefully in the next few days i'll post more pictures, though for now i'll go help with dinner prep while alex checks his email.