Grape vines

Today we spent the entire day in the grape vineyard. First of course we had cereal and tea for breakfast, and then took time getting things together. Our tools today though we're two scythes, or sickles as the case may be, but I think definitely scythe. Sergio sharpened them, and he prepared his own tool the weed wackier, then we all headed to the grapes. Last week he mowed in between the grapes, but it's difficult to clear the grass between vines by machine so that's what today was. We started at one end with the weed wackier and two scythes going. Zabeth pulled up the party by trimming and cleaning the individual vines. The morning lasted until noon, when the sun became fairly strong and Sergio had to run an errand with his mom. Lunch normally is at one but he was late getting back, so it was 145 when everyone decided to wait no longer, and what a lunch it was. First spaghetti, then fried duck, fried eggplant and tomato and mozzarella. After we had some coffees and everybody settled down it was time to get back to sacking and working. So we went out and spent the next four hot hours under the sun just moving the old blade across the grass. Once the grass was cleared everyone helped Zabeth finish clearing the last few rows of grapes, but she did everything by herself all day, and has the sunburned shoulders to prove it. Tis evening after dinner we met an older gentleman who will be accompanying Zabeth and I on a hike Friday, and then we went in to town for a one act spectacle called viene con me, or come with me. It was a musical play put on entirely by handicapped people that live in or near monastero. It was incredible, the theatre was sold out and every time someone came on stage the entire crowd erupted. The gentleman in the wheelchair who was punched by a girl received by far the loudest ovation, as did one solo singing performance. It was an inspiring night, and it's something that would lighten your mood no matter where you are. We were lucky to be in e audience.