Then add seasoning to taste...

One of the less know pleasures I am enjoying in Italy is forest walks most days, and I have been fascinated to watch the rapid changes autumn brings with it's plummeting temperatures. In fact this week we have had the first frosts. And I can assure you that the sunny day that follows  brings little warmth with tops lately of 12 degrees. Italians seem to be real sooks about the weather and already they have there neck to knee coats, woolly scarves and gloves brandished like armour before they venture outdoors. They also have a strong aversion to getting a few drops of rain on them, at the first sign of a shower brollies go up or they run for shelter. Many seem convinced that a few drops of rain will cause a life threatening illness. On cool days motor bike riders can be seen with knee rugs... true!

Come and have a peep at some of  the beauty of the changing season.

A few weeks ago the chestnuts began falling from those still bright green trees.

In a few weeks those same trees are yellow, then brown , and now almost naked as the leaves wither from the top down.

There has been much less rain than usual this year but the last rainy day tempted  some fungi out of hibernation. None look familiar to me so I've not been brave enough to eat them. I bought some called porcini that are the tastiest I have ever eaten. They are rather large and look like horse shit. I've not seen any of these in our forest yet.

The abandoned restaurant in the valley has some beautiful vines in pots that have changed to deep red.

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Chestnuts  are sold roasted in the streets but I am not fond of the taste or texture... however I have discovered that one in each pocket makes excellent hand warmers!

This spectacular cluster of fungi was growing from small stump.

Last time I walked this was this vine had lost all of those beautiful leaves, I picked a few sprigs to arrange in a vase and add colour to our home.

This photo was saved up the right way but its toppled side ways  as I transfered it to the blog ... computers always plotting new ways to frustrate me.

Looking across the valley from that restaurant.  At first glance they look like a fire has singed all off the leaves on the trees ... and then I remember its a deciduous forest.

Our home is on Cercingoli Mountain which is almost 1000 metres high. Some days we are above the clouds  which lazily rest in the valley below,  occaissionally until midday or so.  Florence city can be shrouded in clouds  or fog while we savour sunshine up here. You needed that neck exercise didn't you?   And do the purple flowers look familiar?