The big olive tree shaker and 3rd week at the olive farm

Nov. 7th 2012

On Monday a tractor came to the olive orchard with an even bigger mover and shaker than the one operated by Antonio (affectionately referred to as 'the little man').  Antonio is actually not little.  He is though as wide as he is tall.  This arm reached up into the very big olive trees and shook the whole tree like nothing else.  One of the problems is that it also breaks branches and does permanent damage to the otherwise very sturdy trees.  And if there is any gap between the nets; if some don't overlap, then the olives go flying everywhere, usually in the gaps.  This means many hours bending over picking up each olive.  This is the dreaded task that causes so much back pain.  It's difficult getting up when you're crouched over for any length of time.
Whatever olives remain on the trees after such a shaking will remain a while longer to get more ripe.  They are just not ready yet.  Which is why sometimes the olive picking goes on until March of the following year.
It's raining just a bit outside today so work has been postponed until this afternoon.  This is the second time rain has affected work.  It really, really seldom rains here.  And most times when it rains here in town, the orchard sees nothing.

                                                   LUNCHES WITH GRAZZIELA

Grazziela is a wonderful cook.  She stays home every day (outside from going to the market) and plans the next meal for us and Gianni her husband.  Most of what she makes is food that I have either made or seen made.  This one dish though was different.  It was meat stuffed meat.  It was like you took a pot roast, flattened it and put a stuffing of meatballs (ground beef, veal, pork,eggs,cheese etc.) on it, rolled it up, tied it and baked it for a long time.

We had risotto made with beef stock (probably from the meat stuffed meat) and cheese.  She did not use Arborio which kind of surprised me.  Gianni made sure to tell us that there are hundreds of ways to make risotto.  I thought Arborio was the only rice used.

Meatballs fried in olive oil.  Don't know why she doesn't just bake them on high heat.  Gianni cannot eat anything fried.  I'd like to make meatballs MY way for her.  So he can eat them.

She and Gianni have a cup of Orzoro and a muffin for supper.  Orzoro is a barley drink, served hot.

I miss hot dogs and beans (don't have baked beans here).

I miss peanut butter

I miss dark bread