Easter Monday is the second day of the Easter season. In Italy it’s known as Pasquetta (‘Little Easter’) or ‘Lunedì dell’Angelo’ (Monday of the Angel). The name derives from the fact that on this day an angel appeared before those women who arrived at the tomb where Jesus had been buried after his crucifixion but which they now found empty.  

In Italy it’s a time to traditionally get out to the country or the seaside and have a picnic or a swim. The weather is certainly lovely today but we’re not going very far. In fact, we’re staying in our garden and perhaps do a bit of work on our vegetable patch which we’ve reclaimed from the forest. The patch has had to be surrounded by fencing since all around it the soil has been uprooted by marauding boars which are becoming ever sprightlier in the Apennine forests. Indeed, one of the main benefits of hunting, as hunters like to emphasise when the season starts in autumn, is that they help to keep the tusked population down.

Hopefully we’ll soon be able to rely more and more for vegetables on our allotment which has been started up thanks to Sandra’s devoted planting. Here are a few pics of what’s on offer at present. Recognize the onions tomatoes, strawberries, shard, celery, lettuces, courgettes and beet anyone?