Micia’s adventures in the vegetable garden, the hayloft and the farmhouse attic.

• 22 October 2026 #21 A Shower of Olives The afternoon after their imaginary journey in the attic, Micia joined Pucci, Lillo and Franci in the olive grove. They had spread large green nets beneath the twisted trunks. Pale and dark olives already rested on the mesh. Micia picked up the little wooden olive comb and started with a low branch. Each stroke sent a few olives falling with a gentle patter. “It sounds like a little shower,” Pucci said. Lillo gathered two edges of the net beside the crate. Meanwhile, Franci separated leaves from olives in a wicker tray. Micia wanted to finish the whole branch before the others. She stretched up, combed again and felt her arms growing heavy. Three little beads of sweat appeared beside her forehead. She sighed. “This branch goes on forever.” Just then, an olive bounced on the net and rolled behind a fold. Pucci followed it with his nose. “This one wants to escape!” Micia lowered the comb and bent down to look. She found it with two more, hidden beneath a leaf. “There’s another harvest down here.” Lillo showed her how to lift the edge of the net gently. The olives rolled toward the crate, but a leaf arrived first. Franci picked it out, laughing. “You’re not invited to the olive mill.” Micia helped Lillo with the net while giving her arms a rest. Then they drank some water in the shade of the trunk. When she picked up the comb again, she chose a closer twig and worked without hurrying. The pattering began once more. Pucci pricked up his ears. “The rain is back.” Micia smiled. “Luckily, we brought nets instead of umbrellas.” Read the tale →

Back to the site