Villa Paradisino

Songwriting takes on a whole different cast in a place like this. You want in on the secrets whispering in these stones and monuments. The villa where we have been staying was built in the 1500s. It is still majestic, intact, a powerful statement especially as we all made the transition from our ADD young country pace.

the road to Greve

No, the stores are NOT open on Sunday at all. And not on Monday either, until 4pm. That's just the way we do things. And the streets are empty between 1:30 and 4. Lunch is important. Maybe a nap. You can't rush things.

The family here at Villa Paradisino has owned the property since 1839. The daughters Costanza and Serena run the place, teach cooking

(Serena was so patient with me!)

and tend to every detail. Most of their food comes from their own garden.

They press their own extra virgin Olive Oil.

They serve their own wine. the arugula alone makes me weep. There is even a little hedgehog who stops by to visit.

We ate persimmons, dripping with perfect flavor from the tree right outside my door. We visited a goat farm and tasted their perfect cheeses, - from soft to spicy.

We distilled it all into lyrics, songs, musings, the grist that will fuel our imaginations for years to come.

Costanza talks about how when she was young she didn't WANT to live here. It was so OLD and boring, too many precious things. The weight of it all too much. Now? She tells you stories about each room, each photograph. she tears up as she talks about her grandmother and learning her cooking tricks. The superstition about the urn that has been with the house since the begiining. Etruscan ashes within.

It's safe to say this week has reminded me that time is precious. Simple things are the most beautiful. Sustenance comes in so many forms. I will take all this with me, and keep it like a forcefield around me back in the onslaught that is NYC. 

Ciao. 

p.s. I will be doing only one songwriting workshop next year in Nashville. Most probably in June. You can sign up here to be the first to know about it: PERFORMING SONGWRITER WORKSHOP 2017