On the Road to Tuscany

Hello, Dear Friends, when I last posted on our recent trip to Italy, 

we were enjoying our Last Day in Rome. 

It was very sad to say goodbye,
but Rome was just the beginning of our adventure. 

So come along with me and we will take the long drive north

to the beautiful hills of Tuscany. 

We rented a large, 8 passenger van for our main family group, 

while my newlywed daughter and husband, who arrived 

on our last day in Rome, rented their own vehicle. 

My eldest son drove. 

There are no speed limits or apparent traffic laws in Italy. 

Yikes. 

As we whizzed through the streets of Rome on our 

way out of the city, I snapped this photo of a corner flower market

up against an ancient wall. 

The city immediately gave way to open fields, framed by 

lush, green hills and purple mountains in the distance.

It was haying time! 

I could almost believe we were back home in Washington State! 

But it was just an illusion........

Our first glimpse of a medieval village on a hill

quickly dispelled that myth!

We traveled through a narrow valley, gradually rising in elevation, 

 with rolling hills on either side. 

Some hills had entire villages on them and others had 

a single villa, or a few grouped together. 

All had olive groves and vineyards which created 

beautiful tapestries along the hillsides.

The skies were filled with dramatic clouds

worthy of a Michelangelo painting. 

  In between, open fields of cut hay, 

 or sunflowers and poppies

gone to seed, created beautiful scenes. 

This abandoned villa awaits some love.......

The sign prepares us for what lies ahead. 

We find ourselves winding up and down the rolling hills
that were punctuated by the region's iconic Cypress trees. 

I took these photos from 

a van full of people, traveling at break-neck speed. 

It's impossible to drive slowly here.......even on hairpin curves. 

If you try to slow down, you have impatient 

Italians passing you on steep, winding roads. 

-      -

o     o

^

0

This was a true test of my faith in prayer :)

xoxo

I kept myself distracted with the breathtaking scenery. 

After a 2 hour drive, we reach our destination - the tiny, 

hilltop village of Montisi. 

(Click on the name for more info)

We arrive at the villa.......
ready for our next adventure! 

xoxo

Next time we will explore the inside. 

I hope you will join me! 

xoxo

This Golden Season

Hello, Dear Friends, I hope that you are enjoying

the golden light of autumn, as we run 

full gallop on our journey through time. 

I try to pull up the reins

to slow life down as often as I can, to enjoy
 every amazing moment along the way. 

As if to console us for the long, cold nights ahead, 

this beautiful season puts on a show.

A favorite little farm nearby

The road to home

Almost home

Morning mist rises. 

Afternoon sun casts a golden glow.  

These beautiful colors are so inspiring.
I imagine crocheting a scarf with these colors,
or creating a watercolor sketch......

I want to capture the warmth and harmony. 

xoxo

The table-runner and flowers from each of my daughters,

bring in some of that wonderful warmth. 

Did you notice the balloon garland above?

I had some orange balloons (from a pack of multi-colors)
 and a permanent marker........

It was one of those 'spur of the moment' ideas.
Aren't they fun?
They would look cute with green curling ribbon for 'stems'. 

I found this embroidery in a local shop, years ago. 

Sorry for the glare on the glass.
You can see part of my kitchen reflected
 in the glass - the trash cans, stove and dog gate
leading into the living room. 

If you look on the left of the frame at the reflection in the glass,
you can see the balloon garland. 

Now look to the left of the balloon.......

Do you see the creepy face?!
It looks like a Chinese Dragon! 

This scared the wits out of me until 

I realized that it was just the reflection of the antique plant hanger!

o   o

^

0 

(You can see the hanger in the previous photo)

Is that the creepiest thing ever?
Now I'm convinced that picture is haunted......
Ramblin' Man keeps teasing me by pointing
out weird reflections everywhere.
He's a brat.
xo

It was All Hallow's Eve, and the Kitchen Witch was baking.......

In hopes of luring some chubby little children to her 

gingerbread house.......

She hung some of her favorite art......
(including a landscape featuring her 'gingerbread' house)

And put out her favorite book.

Filled with beautiful and haunting poems and illustrations.

She fluffed the feathers of her favorite pet owl perched on the mantel.....

 And lit her spookiest candles.

Then the Kitchen Witch set out treats in the hopes of luring her victims. .....

She even swept the front entry with her magical broom!

Ooooooo! What do we have here?

A chubby little child!
Or is it a big doggy?

The Kitchen Witch captures this little morsel before he gets away.....

And recruits The Warlock to help capture two more :)
So deliciously chubby!

The witch was very happy.....

It was a successful Halloween!

xoxo

Thank-you, Dear Friends for your sweet birthday wishes
and for your wonderful friendship over these happy years of blogging.
I hope I have the privilege of many more with all of you.

xoxo

"One's friends are that part of the human race with
which one can be human"
- George Santayana -

" Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life. Many
might have failed beneath the bitterness of
their trial had they not found a friend"
- Charles Spurgeon -

"A friend is someone who knows you well
and still likes you"
-unknown-