Enchanted October! The Sun continues to shine and spectacular days unfold as autumn colors here in Tuscany are the best they’ve been in years. The fabulous weather continues to draw us outside.. filming for John’s independent film Terroir

and a pleasant distraction from my work: a return visit from our dear friend Mike Dunn from Santa Barbara.

Time spent with Mike is consumed with re-tracing old wine tasting routes through Chianti,

visiting friends and of course the practice of Il Dolce di Far Niente... the sweetness of doing nothing, save occupying ourselves with the tasting of some very fine wines.

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The landscape around Molino is coming into full color, reflecting much of the Tuscan countryside...

“Autumn’s Glory, Chianti”

30”x40”

Gallery McCollum

But..So with the company of Mikey we set off on several day trips to see the local color.

Its rare that John and I simply tour around Tuscany but after 15 Octobers spent here, we still manage to find some new locations, and further inspirations for my work...

Vineyards around Castellina in Chianti

ITheA...Villa Petrolo, where we will be filming several scenes of Terroir

    

“Dolce Autumno, Montepulciano”

16” x 32”

Gallery McCollum

The surrounding countryside and landscape of Montepulciano has been a source of inspiration for many of my paintings. These are vineyards of the Vino Nobile wines.

“Le Vigne, Montepulciano”

24”x40”

Gallery McCollum

It was Mike’s idea to have a Halloween Festa... a first for Molino

The Halloween tradition has only recently found its way to Italy.. which celebrates All Saint’s Day on November 1.

Decorating was too much fun... and rather than fuss with costumes we found Venetian papier mache masks in Firenze.

Gaetano, Mimi, John in the Mirror, Myself and Little Renny admiring Mike’s mask with its bells.

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Celebrating the excellent company and savoring three marvelous California wines brought to us by Mike..

Spooky!

Firenze the next day... for Prosecco apertivi

       and and Renzo’s first autumn Passagiata in Florence

LuckyLucky Dog!