End of the summer

Just a small note now I finally have time to think. Plunged straight back into work following two crazy but funfilled weeks in England on holiday, all good but interupted by work agghhh. Have lots of gorgeous pics of traditional seaside adventures soon to be uploaded. V. excited as have plans to change the whole horto into a 'Permaculture' haven which hopefully will mean no more digging. Will try and spend more time on my blog this week as the seasons are changing and I want to record the new sights/smells and sounds of Tuscany in late summer.

Sun and the Moon

Just for the record our solar ovens work so well for drying and dehydrating veg I thought I would share a link...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cooker Later this month we will try drying Funghi and Apples, sad but this is our current obsession.

Book Sharing Monday

Has to be this well thumbed one from when I was a child...

Tomatoes and Sunshine

Just a final fling on the blog, could not resist sharing some pics of the vegi plot. Looks like Gary will be drying 1000's of tomatoes whilst we are away. He made 2 solar ovens a while ago and the 'Umbrella one' is amazing and dries toms so fast in the Tuscan Heat!

All packed

We are about to head back to England for 2 weeks, me Tabby and Archie. Gary will stay and look after the dog, garden, house and business, he will also be helping my parents move house - so looks like I get the best deal. We are camping, going to the seaside, Dartmoor, seeing friends and from what I gather getting rained on!!

Italy is beautiful at the moment, scorched but wonderfully alive. The 'Horto' or vegi plot is yealding so much food, we have a tally to date of:

15 large jars Pasta Sauce

9 jars Cherry Jams

8 Jars Chutney

1 Jar sun dried toms in oil

2 tubs solar oven dried toms

2 icecream tubs dried figs

When I get back I plan to dry the herbs or freeze. I also want to try my hand at scented oil making, soaps and facecreams/herbals - any ideas? Also, Walnut Oil and peach jam, pomegranite juice and Cider!

I love it here overlooking the castles and olives, the lake and the old houses, we had a bold and solid deer turn up yesterday 20 foot from the house munching on fallen apples, big antlers. Tabby was 'sure' it was Rudolf on holiday and wanted to'Soft' him (her word for stroke). Yeepee, finally learnt how to knit my first row of stitches at midnight last night! A few pics here to go on until I get back to this beautiful country full of friends, sunshine and food!!!!!

HOT, HOT, HOT

Lovely day.............. Started off with nursery rhymes that Tabby doesn't know. All her knowledge has been forged since moving from UK to Italy so songs and rhymes in English are a whole new area for her. Went to the park, climbed the trees, Tabby learnt to flip over on the hanging bars - very strong and fearless. We went on the deathslide and I scraped by bum on the ground (I am sure the heat has stretched the bungee) got eaten my mosquitoes, ate sweets and told old stories.

Now inside out of the 37 degree sun, managing to fit in about 5 hours work a day despite heat and school holidays, in chunks when I can. Pictures of our crops, some local flowers and Tabby's new dress made by Mummy and Grandma.

This Wonderful Country

Some imags I have collected this summer...

No more courgettes please

We are all a teeny weeny bit tired of the old courgette crop. So far we have created lots of weird and not so wonderful recipes with them including: Muffins and teabread - absolutely wonderful Fritters - horrible Soup - really lovely Fritatta - nice but sloppy Ratatouille - a good standby We have a new visiting kitten who is aptly named Baby Bernard after the other visiting kitten Bernard. I hope one will eventually decide to adopt us totally. Leo is so old I am sure an annoying little cat would help keep him alert and awake. Trying to get used to uploading images and not doing a great job thus far but will keep trying. Archie is addicted to all teenage pursuits at the moment ie. Playstation and Football but is doing well on his summer work from school. I loathe the Playsation and Football so am trying to coax him into enjoying Tennis and other crafts, he does spend most days outside in the wild so shouldn't complain really and this summer as been HOT - he is only 8 so I want to let him grow in his own way. Tabby is so excited about our trip to England and seeing people she only vaguely remembers. 2 weeks camping / staying with friends. I am looking forward to chips on the sea wall at Exmouth, Rainy walks and seeing cows again. This week we have made: Tomato Soup, More Chutney, More Passata, Teabread, A shoebag for Archie and made a few alterations for clothing in readiness for our trip. Need to start thinking about the autumn garden v. soon. Feeling the urge to stock up the cupboards, woodpile, cantina again, lovely.

Serendipity: Join us in Book Sharing Monday!

Finally I am getting around to joining book sharin Monday: Serendipity: Join us in Book Sharing Monday! A wonderful way to keep a gentle track on what we are all reading. Photos will follow as the camera blew up last week on by birthday with a big loud bang. Chronicles of Narnia - I am starting this with Archie who in fairness loathes to read anything other than football magazines, but we have stacks of gorgeous books and I want to share the joy of reading. The Complete book of Pooh - For Tabby to enjoy the wonderful tales of 100 acre wood. Both these books are huge so I am sure we will keep coming back and walking away. Right now both kids are out playing in the cloudy august evening with a little visiting dog. Great things today: Made a reading corner with rugs and cushions in Archie's room. Potted chutney and made ratatouille. We have buckets and buckets of tomatoes wonderful bright ruby gems.

Summer days

A few pics of the last few days. We are up to our ears in courgettes, tomatoes and onions and trying to coax along peppers and courgettes. The invitation to use Marida's pool was too much after having a week of 37 degree heat.

Wonderful Life

Slept in until 8am today and was allowed tea in bed - my birthday week treat. Sat and watched the clear blue sky and through the windows noticed the two Acacia trees that were left for dead this spring. Too heavily pruned they looked like they were heading for the fire but magically now they are alive and even flowering again. A sign to me from the world that we can overcome great troubles and live a full life and even blossom. The huge soldier ants are another signal to not dwell on problems as show me how they march on carrying vast weights, they just get on with it. How many animals wake up and think 'Oh I'm too tired or scared to gather food today' if they did they would surely die. I am at crossroads where I need to grab life by its wings and take flight and enjoy the wonderful journey ahead. Goodies: Today bottled three large jars of tomato sauce, made pesto and started on the bread. Had a lovely birthday this week, enjoyed chilling out at our friends pool and watched the sun go down over the Tuscan hills to the sound of the cicadas and the scent of lavender.