We don’t see Aldo with his sheep any longer as they graze on the hill behind our farmhouse. He’s nearly ninety now and lives with his children near Deruta.
We miss seeing him in springtime up on the hill above our farmhouse with his sheep and sheep dogs. So does our daughter Giulia who remembers many afternoons as a child up on the hill with Aldo, the wise shepherd.
Here is her tribute to him (completely unedited):
“I remember his relationship with his animals and with the environment. He knew the land so well, and knew how it changed based on the seasons.
Where the grass was healthier for his sheep and when and where he could bring his flock without interfering with the farmer’s crops.
The way he communicated with his dogs was incredible – it felt like they could read his mind – one short whistle and they knew what they needed to do.
He had one he preferred above all – her name was Laica, I think – she was so smart, a border collie.
Also with Laica and his other dogs (near our farmhouse, about 1995)
She guided the pack of Maremmani sheep dogs and bossed them around, even though she was the smallest of them all. Aldo needed very few words, gestures or sounds to tell her what to do and where to guide the sheep or how to prompt his Maremmani to follow her.
He would sometimes leave it up to her to guide the flock over to a different property, while he followed at a distance with his van.
He would always kindly answer all my thousand questions as he’d offer a piece of bread and sheep ricotta to me. Obviously it was ricotta he had made. Knowing all about his world made that ricotta cheese one of the best I’ve ever tasted (after Pino’s, of course!)
His white van was all set up as mobile home. When he was out with his sheep, he slept in the van and cooked all his meals on open fires somewhere to the side of the fields.
He was a man of few words, but always liked it when I’d visit.
He would always kindly answer all my thousand questions as he’d offer a piece of bread and sheep ricotta to me. Obviously it was ricotta he had made. Knowing all about his world made that ricotta cheese one of the best I’ve ever tasted (after Pino’s, of course!)
Read about Pino and his goat cheese http://www.annesitaly.com/blog/tomino-caprino-di-pinogoat-cheese-goodness/
Read more on cheese-making by rural friends http://www.annesitaly.com/blog/goat-cheese-making-in-the-mugello/
I’m so glad you and Giulia made this post Annie. How Aldo must miss his life with his sheep and the dogs.
…and how we miss HIM!
What a lovely piece. Having been to the farmhouse and seen the fields, makes this extra-special to read. Despite not knowing Aldo, I wish him well!
I want to know how Anne is doing? My time in Assisi with her in Italy on two occasions and here in Texas was unforgettable. Hope she showed you the picture we took in Austin. She was looking for a hair clip for you in this funny antique store, I cry now knowing I’ll never have time with her again. Make sure someone gets her little Italian scarf she would wear while she was teaching . Fearless..totally and loved her family so much. Please tell her she is in my heart.