Winter in the Valley - first snowfall

SIMPLE LIFE

First Snowfall

So many secrets to be found…. amid the falling snow!

ENYA

I have fallen in love with our brightly colored neighbor…she took some time to grow on me in this valley of ‘nebia’ houses. She just glows on the hillside now like a brightly lit fire keeping us all warm.

This burnt orange house can be seen from any vantage point and she has never looked more beautiful than surrounded by a white backdrop from our first snowfall.

Although you can’t see them multitudes of tiny white snowflakes were falling, and are so delicate I couldn’t catch them. The first snowfall is silent, gently drifting and they cling to the clothes, and the eyelashes. It’s magical…..warm inside and winter wonderland outside.

We went for a walk with our visitor from New York (who actually looks a lot like me in this photo above).

It’s been magical here, freezing cold, and just completely fascinating. I awake to gently falling snowflakes, looking from the window the entire Borgata was dusted with a power of white. I sneak out to get a first glimpse of the snow, the trees look like bright white fireworks that have just exploded softly all across the mountains.

This is the old original road which is still in use for locals, animals, tractors, the postman etc. We are also lucky to have a made road above the house so we have access from two entries, this one and the little door that opens right onto the made road.

They only snowplow the main upper road not this one although Paulo thought he’d give it a try with the snow shovel. Our neighbor Claudio tells us the snow got to two meters in the 80’s…..he has photos he’s going to show me of the Borgata almost buried.

Can you imagine life here in Winter hundreds of years ago…

I love seeing the way the snow ‘hangs’ in midair, caught on anything standing in it’s way…

more of my favorite snow images found at Pinterest ~ Winter Wonderland

Does it snow where you live? Do you remember your first snowfall?

Save

and the gang x

27 replies

Sonya says:
at

Fab post, I love that burnt orange hued home!
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  It’s such a beacon in the winter, I didn’t like it when we first moved here but now my eyes always looks for it. We can judge the time by how far above the orange house the sun is lol xx
  Reply
Nichole says:
at

Hi Lisa! I “discovered” you through Marj Drury who called me last night and was filling me in on life in Bobbio. We will be moving from Canada to Bobbio summer of 2014 and are looking to make connections. We have 2 daughters and 4 sons and my daughter Elisa (11) was very excited to hear of Carina! I have subscribed to your blog and would love to connect with you on facebook if you would add me 🙂 Look forward to meeting you!
Reply
Trisha Thomas says:
at

The bright orange house is fabulous!! At first I thought the photo had been altered. You are a wonderful photographer and have the perfect place to exercise your talents. Happy Winter Wonderland!!
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Oh no it really is that bright and we can see it from our house. It’s just beautiful when snowing. I’m a bit frustrated as I can’t find my battery charger for the camera so hunting for it again tomorrow. Hope all is well with you and your family, sending love xxx
  Reply
Janine says:
at

Another world away lisa…. Almost a year since we met over coffee. I hope you are well and loving life in Italy. Your world looks even more beautiful in its lovely white coat. Enjoy it all and spare me a thought or two. I’d like that. xo
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Janine it can’t be a year already it seems like yesterday we were sitting in the sun. So much has changed since then and that awful time in our lives. I’m so glad I got to meet with you that day I’ll never forget and yes often think of you and hope you’ll get to visit us one day soon. sending love and baci xxx
  Reply
jann says:
at

I love the red house!!! As well as all the B&W ones. No snow here in Sicily, thank goodness, and it’s been warm for several days. (So happy after 2 cold & snowy weeks working in Serbia!) Have you lit that gorgeous fireplace of yours yet? xxxxx back
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Maybe we’ll head down to sicily to get some sun Jann, I imagine Serbia would be fascinating and loving your photos. We have the heater going in the lounge and the stove in the kitchen so usually nice and warm. We have blocked the fireplace for winter as all the heat escapes, Luca has been very worried about how Santa will get down the chimney now lol xx
  Reply
Andreana says:
at

Such beautiful pictures! Makes me want to play in the snow. Tell Paulo that if he invites me over I’ll help him clear the snow. I’m cheap labor, only a hug and a cup of hot chocolate. 🙂
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  He’d love that Andreana although he is very shy and quiet. We even have a few marshmallows to go in the hot chocolate for you xx
  Reply
Lisa Wood says:
at

Oh how magical it all looks. Gosh you guys will be having a white Christmas. So gorgeous.
Are you warmer now that the windows are in? Incredible how people survived in such cold climates many years ago!!
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Well not sure if we’ll get a white Christmas Lisa, still snow here but our friend Claudio tells us if we didn’t get snow on the first day of the month then we won’t get any all month. We got this lot of snow last day of November. I never doubt the locals lol x
  I don’t know how people managed here in the past, I have heard that families would move to the stables with the animals to keep warm. It gets no sun here now for the next few months. if we want to feel the sun we need to drive down the valley xx
  I got your Christmas card and love the photos inside. When I get a few more I’ll post them.
  sending love to you all xx
  Reply
Catherine says:
at

Lovely! Reminds me of my friend’s village in the Dolomites, such a stunning place. Glad you have the place warmed up. Here it doesn’t snow often but we are having very heavy frosts and crisp sunny days. We are going up for the first ski this weekend and have been told it’s very cold. We had two metres of snow up there over the season a couple of years ago. I am looking forward to some telemarking on the slopes! Xcat
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Oh how wonderful that sounds….heading off to the ski slopes for the weekend!!
  We get no sun here so the snow sticks around, down in the village it’s all just about gone but as soon as you drop into our little valley it’s totally white xx
  enjoy the skiing….is it good luck to say ‘break a leg’???
  xx
  Reply
Debra Kolkka says:
at

The village looks fabulous in the snow. We have has snow all around us, but not at Ponte a Serraglio, although it feels cold enough.
After 6 weeks without power at our mountain house Enel finally came and fixed the problem. Then I discovered the heating wasn’t working, but the lovely plumber came to today and I have a functioning house at last.
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Oh that must be a relief, I couldn’t stay here with no heating we’d freeze. Your plumber sounds like a top bloke lol x
  Reply
Living in the Langhe says:
at

So that’s why they painted it orange… it looks amazing in the snow! Great photographs, as always. The borgata seems to take on a whole different atmosphere with the snow. Love it!
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  It’s totally different and everyone is inside keeping warm including us. We just got 30 quintale of wood delivered today and dropped on the old road outside our big gates. We spent hours throwing it all into the courtyard and now to bring it all up stairs. Are you staying nice and warm and when are you coming to take the tractor for a spin?? xx
  Reply
jilly Bennett says:
at

How absolutely glorious this is. And of course such beautiful photography. I long to take photos of my village in the snow but whenever it snows I can’t get up to it as I can’t drive out of my track, which is steep and covered in ice.

Love your village, Lisa, love your words.
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  It really is glorious and so different to Australia. I am finding it hard to capture but take my camera with me everywhere and take lots of photos. Your track sounds scary and you must laugh not to be able to reach it when it snows. I love your site and was just looking through some of your beautiful photos, xxx
  Reply
Margaret Geldenhuys Brand says:
at

I just love browsing through your photo’s… I hope to one day experience snow!!! Keep well and stay warm!!! Love Margaret..xx
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Thanks for that Margaret, I have so many favorites it’s hard to keep up with them all. You’re always welcome to come and experience some snow with us, hot chocolate, roaring fire and warm toes make my day now x
  Reply
Krista says:
at

So beautifully amazing. 🙂 You’ve made this Canadian girl’s heart very happy today. And a little homesick. 🙂 XO
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  Awww that’s so wonderful (not the homesick part) and you must have looked right at home in the snow. It’s such a huge contrast and way of life to sunny Australia it’s hard to explain if you haven’t lived in the snow before xxx
  Reply
Wynne says:
at

LOVE our photo! And the orange house, too. I hope my shot of it is just as good! xo
Reply
- Lisa Chiodo says:
  at
  
  I’m sure it will be and what a great few days we had together, we aren’t getting any sunlight now so have to go down to the village to get our daily dose x
  Reply