The last week and weekend plans...

I've gotten behind on journaling since I have been getting work done on my project... finally! Just an update on farm life...
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Spannocchia is truly amazing. A few people get a wide variety of work done there, and there is always a rediculous amount of tasks left to do...
Here is my week so far, and my plans for the weekend. (I am in Siena right now, and want to get outside and walk around town, even though it's still sooooo hot!)
Monday: helped take down fencing on the way to pig hill--they are rectangles of rigid fencing, held to rebar with bailing wire. Helped load, then unload at a garden plot in another site on the property. Drove the little electric truck again, which is interesting because it's so dusty you can't see in the mirrors to back up... Helped Carmen, the garden manager, and Jeri and Sheila to put up the fence around the corn, tomatoes, cannellinin beans in a large garden. I'm bad at measurements, but would estimate it's about 1/4 acre.
Tuesday: worked all moring to clean the front of the villa--raking, trimming, sweeping. This has been an ongoing task for many, as there is a wedding this Sat, and everything needs to be cleaned up--and it's overdue spring cleaning time!
Wed: got a ride into Siena from Pino, went to the Wednesday market and got good photo documentation and took notes at the food section. Had a caffe. Went to the car rental and picked up my Renault Twingo. It's cute and new and has lots of pep. Pino insisted on me following him back to Rosia--so sweet, then I went to the Coop (pronounced like chicken "coop") and back to Spannocchia. Did Pizza night (I think I described it in an earlier blog) where there were, oh... about 20 extra pizzas, which the interns will eat for a couple days.
Thurs: Conducted and "unstructured interview" with Randall (Spannocchia owner with his wife Francesca) and Daniela (hospitality manager) about influences on local production, mostly about taxes and subsidies. Very interesting. Unstructured doesn't mean it isn't a real, rigorous interview--just that the interview is allowed to evolve while still focusing on the interviewer's questions. I recorded digitally and took notes for almost an hour. Then spent about 3 hours typing up the transcroption. I am very happy with it, and it provided further questions that I will use for subsequent interviews with other experts.
Dinner was nice--just Katy and the interns and me, as the wedding party went to Siena for the bachelor and bridal parties... they rented vans and a bus to take them in separately.
Fri (today): I drove from Spannocchia to Siena via Colle di Val d'Elsa and Monteriggioni, and made it right to the S.Francesco parking that is outside and below the wall of P. S. Francesco. I did better than I thought I would, and arrived without any wrong turns! I LOVE the roundabouts--they are the coolest traffic design in the world!!
Tonight we are all helping out with dinner, and it is the rehearsal dinner with about 70 people. After, I think Katie is making a special dinner for the interns at her house, followed by a movie. It'll be a late night!
Tomorrow I go to the farmers market with Riccio (the salumeria manager, and more--I haven't worked with him yet) and Katie to sell our products at the local "real" farmers market in Sovicille. I have been told about how it is followed by this amazing lunch that is prepared by people who support the farmers market and local foods, including Daniela and Graziella from Spannocchia. I'll report back... Then to the opera--all of the interns and myself bought tickets for "La Flauta Magica" and it will be held at l'Abbezzia di San Galgano--an ancient monastery near Spannocchia. Another thing I keep hearing about... the opera is held in an ancient building that is now roofless... again, I'll report back, or remind me if I don't!
On Sunday, andiamo al mare! Going to the beach--Katie and some of the interns may join me but if not, I am going anyways... I'm really looking forward to that!
Next week will be full, I'm sure, then I drive to Firenze on 25 July to stay two nights... I'll pick up my great girlfriend Liz at the train station in Firenze after she flies into Roma and takes the train to Firenze. We'll stay in MariaClaudia's studio--the same one I stayed in with Trudy for New Years 2009.
Ciao Tutti!