June Digest

Writing through another European heat wave

June was an eventful month here at Casa dei puppies. Even though it was the end of May, my article about my 30-day medical fast was published on Tomato Tomato, which was exciting for me, especially seeing the other writers’ work.

Flower polyculture from seed bombing in early May

The garden is exploding, and we are eating loads and loads of zucchini, eggplant, salads, and the first tomatoes. I write in the garden every morning and use a sprinkler system so I don’t have to hand-water everything and can focus on writing. I’m currently finishing up a natural wine guide to the Castelli Romani for Rachel Signer’s publication, and writing a wine memoir that will be an e-book this fall. So having an irrigation system, both drip and sprinkler, has freed up a lot of my mornings that I would otherwise spend watering.

Escaping the heat and I’m wearing UV protection. Gasp!

We need a lot more water than years past. June has been the hottest June I’ve ever experienced. I am sure you’ve all read about the European heat waves either by people living here or snarky asshole from like Florida who don’t understand that, especially in northern Europe, the architecture was designed to retain warmth, rather than stay cool. But as Suzanne Oommen said in a Note here, “A few hours of rainfall this morning barely broke the heatwave we are experiencing. Can you believe 35+ temperatures in Sweden? Compared to more southern countries we have many more hours of daylight which makes the heat build up for a lot longer and feel quite intense. And then very few nightime hours to dissipate that heat.” We don’t have it so bad down here, even if the temps are up in the Castelli. We have shutters and can keep the house cool during the hottest hours. I live 10 minutes from a lake; there are agriturismi with pools, and we can go to Terracina in 45 minutes. I eat loads of fruit and drink Polase daily, and I am keeping my dogs inside as much as possible. They go out for the toilet needs, and that’s it. The cats don’t seem to care.

It's Not the Heat - It's the Stupidity

Next year I want to invest in an underground rainwater catchment system to help mitigate my water use in the garden. I am learning that densely planted polycultures down with companion plants seem to be doing best in this heat, so that will be the way forward in the summer.

The highlight of June has been taking Alicia Kennedy’s five-week food essay course. It’s not only made me a better reader and more media-literate; the discussions and weekly reading have helped me become a better writer and better know my voice. It’s been a priceless investment in myself, and bought as my birthday gift to me. I’ve also learned the value of a good editor, and I hope that I can work with good editors in the future, even if I am sick to death of pitching in a media landscape that feels like it is in its death throes. I believe in editors!

Unless you are a good friend, I do not share locations at Nemi, and I certainly do not share directions to the secret beach. Go to Lago Albano!

I celebrated my 50th birthday on June 21st with friends and family at a lovely agriturismo above the magical Lago di Nemi, the home of the Temple of Diana, center of Italian witchery, and the most magical place on earth.

I had an MRI last week, so I am awaiting the results for that, and unfortunately I did not get around to this month’s Grape Love Stories of Lazio for June. I had guests, medical visits, and it is frankly too hot to think some days. I’ll catch up in July.

Inspired by judy witts francini on summer salads.

Summer Salads

Remember, this is the coolest summer we will have for the rest of our lives.