margaretbirney

The Scampanata

I wrote of the Scampanata in my last post, “Anghiari Through the Ages.” It is now May 2, 2021 and the latest Scampanta is scheduled for this month, though whether the Covid conditions will allow it is uncertain. However, this recently published article from the TeverePost describes a modern day version of the tradition andContinue reading “The Scampanata”

Anghiari Through the Ages

Part I: 384 AD to 1920 AD The ancient town of Anghiari sits on a spur of land elevated between two river valleys, that of the Tiber to our east, and to the west the valley of the Sovara, which runs along the boundary of the town. From our little balcony, we look east overContinue reading “Anghiari Through the Ages”

A Smorgasbord of Italian Food Shows

I mentioned in an earlier post that the day following our arrival in Italy we rested our weary selves by turning on the TV and watching cooking shows for an afternoon. We have since discovered that there is a plethora of them on Italian TV. Italians love to cook and eat–no surprise as Italy isContinue reading “A Smorgasbord of Italian Food Shows”

Lordy Me

The Hickory to Anghiari Challenge Preparing for an international trip, while exciting, can be laden with unforeseen hitches. Double, triple or quadruple that when the trip is not simply a vacation abroad, but relocation, as in our case. Since we had no confidence that we would be granted long stay visas, our assumptions had restedContinue reading “Lordy Me”

Going Into Overdrive

The week before Christmas 2020, we received an email from the Italian Consulate with the good news that Elective Residency visas for Terry and me had been issued and were being mailed that very afternoon. While we had hoped for that outcome, we lived in doubt through the months of preparation that it would becomeContinue reading “Going Into Overdrive”

Making Art, Making Life

Part II-Terry Terry recalls his first reaction to the beauty of form and color as he looked at the lights of the family Christmas tree when he was a toddler. He pictured himself within the decorated tree. moving through it, absorbing the colors, being transported by them. Though powerful enough to remember vividly still, heContinue reading “Making Art, Making Life”

Making Art, Making Life

Part I–Margaret – an art historical perspective Like so many people across the world, we are in a holding pattern. Covid-19 cases are rising dramatically not only in the U S but across Europe, including Italy where we hope to go before many more months pass. Large Thanksgiving gatherings are discouraged, possibly Christmas as wellContinue reading “Making Art, Making Life”

Not Merely a Bump

More Like a Mountain My primary motive in writing this blog was to offer a cautionary narrative for others planning to apply for Italy’s Elective Residency visa, alerting them to the pitfalls that are likely to impede a successful outcome. Now, after the many months spent describing all the perambulations that followed the failure toContinue reading “Not Merely a Bump”

Here We Go Again

Caution: Bumpy Road Ahead On September 15, we received word from the Italian Consulate in Philadelphia that they were once again able to accept applications for the Elective Residency Visa, the essential first step on the road to residency in Italy. Now though, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all required data would have to beContinue reading “Here We Go Again”

Something New….Again

When Terry and I decided to better fill our time while “Lingering in Limbo,” painting on canvas was the first activity we turned to. For Terry, it was a resumption of his long dedication to the visual arts first explored while a medical student in Italy. Terry’s paintings today are large scale and abstract, vastlyContinue reading “Something New….Again”

Lingering in Limbo

What Now? Part I In the past week I have found out that the Italian Consulate in Philadelphia remains closed and unable to honor our appointment of July 17, when we planned to submit our application for the Elective Residency. The appointment calendar has now been taken down altogether and it is currently impossible toContinue reading “Lingering in Limbo”

Valdese NC

Making the Most of Small Town Life In previous posts, I have mentioned Valdese, NC primarily as a link to playing bocce ball. Valdese has an active group of players and in normal years hosts an annual tournament bringing competitors from a wide area to test their game against other aficionados. In early searches forContinue reading “Valdese NC”

Valdese NC

What is Petanque?

And Why it is Important to Me When we were looking at potential places to live whenever we weren’t in Italy, North Carolina was the first, and last, place we considered. Though there are a number of good reasons for that–the weather, the scenery and a number of desirable cities–the popularity of petanque there wasContinue reading “What is Petanque?”

Exploring Hickory, NC

When we realized that staying in Italy full time would not be an option since we hadn’t been awarded long stay visas, we began to consider the options available for a home in the States. We had good friends and a wonderful life in Fernandina Beach on the coast of Florida, but housing there isContinue reading “Exploring Hickory, NC”