I may look the same on the outside, but I've gone all Italian on the inside.

I like to listen to audio books while I drive. My latest is Extra Virgin by Annie Hawes.

Hawes writes about her 20+ year adventure in a tiny village in Liguria , a coastal region in Italy.

When she and her sister took jobs as rose grafters in the 1980s they bought a ramshackle little "rustico" in the hills.
Returning to England only long enough to earn a little money, the pair headquarted in the cottage full time.
And as far as I know, they are still there.

So, lately my communte has been full of the details of olive farming, quirky and beloved villagers, and the story of Hawes and her sister.

By the time I get home, all I want is a glass of red wine, a bite of cheese and some good crusty bread. And olives. I'm fascinated by the process of turning bitter and unfriendly fruit into the delectible olives I'm so crazy about.
Mmmm. Buon appetito!