Wednesday, October 26, was a fun day of doing various, small activities!

First, I have to report that yesterday evening, October 25, Sarah and I did feel a tremor from earthquake!! Phoebe was in the kitchen and did not feel it. That was from a 4.5 approximately 22 miles away! Tonight's quake was not felt by any of us
 Here is part of the email I received from State Department tonight:

U. S. Embassy Rome, Italy
Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Earthquake in Italy
October 26, 2016

Italian authorities report a 5.4 magnitude earthquake in central Italy striking in the provinces of Macerata and Perugia at 07:10pm.  Italian Civil Protection officials are determining the extent of damages and injuries, the conditions of the roadways in the region, and have ordered the delay of train service in the region as a precautionary measure.

I did not mention the tremor in yesterday's blog as wasn't 100% sure that it was one but Sarah verified it online and Bryan also agreed.

Now to reporting on normal life: We started today off around 9:30 going to Impruneta for pastries from Leonardo's! They were worth the trip!! Then to a farm where they process goat cheese:

Supposedly where the goats are

A surfboard on a goat farm in central Tuscany???!!

Haven't translated yet but the farm ships worldwide, etc.

Then to Strada in Chianti to butcher shop which has been in business for years to get cheese vacuum sealed for Phoebe to take home:

We bought meatballs & ravioli for our dinner tonight. Delicious!

Then home - all this was within a 10 mile radius on scenic roads. And a pleasant surprise was coming upon 3 people harvesting their olive crop!! Sarah got turned around and fortunately there was a restaurant parking right next to the olive grove so we were able to park, get out & watch the process!

This olive is proof as to why the nets have to cover such a large area! We were standing on a 4-5 ft ledge approximately 15 ft from the tree that was being harvested. Suddenly, BAM! Right between my glasses & eye here is this olive!! Not a particularly soft olive either!! No damage, just total surprise! A very time & labor intensive job...

Home to recoup - Phoebe to check in online, Sarah to rest & me to nap! It was decided that we would forego a trip into Florence as Phoebe wanted to get organized & packed.  Around 2:30 we headed back to Impruneta to have lunch. On the way, we investigated a road that we had been curious about - hete is what we saw:

We proceeded on to the restaurant we ate at before but sat outside this time as warm day:

Sarah had risotto & mushrooms

I had fried bread dough with ham & very soft mozzarella cheese.

Phoebe had a pizza!

Then off to pharmacy for bandaids for me & Sarah checked to make sure the sore throat medicine didn't cause drowsiness - it doesn't! She is feeling better with loose cough now. Phoebe had went across street to the M.I.T.E.L. store & watched the video as to how terra cotta items are made. Then to the 'bar' to get pastries for tonight's dinner.  We opted to just head out on a road we hadn't been on before and lo, we came upon the M.I.T.E.L. factory! So much terra cotta in just about any form, design, or animal anyone could possibly want!

We then wandered and meandered through the surrounding countryside to see what we could see!! Fall is here with glorious color!

Winery

Sunset as we were on west side of 'mountain' coming home from our rambling!

We had a lazy night as very early start in morning to get Phoebe to airport as she is heading back to Omaha! We don't trust our navigational skills enough yet if it involves a solid time frame. So goodnight!