Well it's been so long since I have felt like blogging, I suppose mostly because my laptop will not upload images anymore, no idea why. Therefore to blog in pictures I need to go to the shed (office)and when it is cold or the children are home I don't feel the urge.
However, today the sun is shining through the autumn clouds and I have venture to the shed to work and catch up with blogging, both for fun and work.
The last few weeks have been manic and may days I have felt totally exhausted and out of control on many levels; work, home, kids, house, garden, nature, diet, everything has been out of sync which I find upsetting. But now I feel a little more grounded and that a gentle rhythm is flowing though our lives again. The children are now a school part time which is better for everyone as we are sharing more experiences and getting to understand more what they are studying a school. Tabby is learning to write and read in Italian so we have been exploring the countryside with a pen a paper and writing down the names of things like strada (road) Alberi (trees Gatti(cats), in all honesty I think I am learning the most out of being with the kids, especially on the Italian front. So we are trying to be outside more too, the veg patch is sad and neglected and we have had issues with bugs and blight this year, one triumph though is our marvellous melanzane, wonderful griddled with salt and olive oil! This weekend is looking busy but in a nice homely way, tomorrow will be homework, cleaning, baking and gardening, Sunday lunch at friends then a trip to see our visiting Great Grandma who flies to Italy tomorrow, today is hr 85th birthday, I think I may bake her a girly style cake with sprinkles and icing.
This post is in danger of becoming a war and piece style feature so I will try and make a brief summary of life in the Tuscan Hills as it is now:
Home: scruffy, needs cleaning, would like to paint wild climbing flowers on the walls in TT's room and de-clutter every other room. We are re-arranging things to help us stay warm this winter and plan to sleep downstairs in front of the fire when it turns too cold upstairs. Sounds divine, warm duvet, glass of wine, dozing chidren, crackling fire, agghh.
Garden: Looking healthy but very wild, my little formal garden at the front looks set to be a happy jumble of herbs and flowers in the spring. Would ike to get lots of bulbs in very soon ready for spring. The Veg patch is crazy and looks like a field of weeds which in fact it is. Though we are so excited about our leeks and pumpkins which are strong and handsome.
Hearth: Made amazing honey and raisin bread this week that the children love, the perfect loaf after 30 years of practice!!!! Baked potatoes in the oven for lunch and homemade baked beans. Hope to make a few more crumbles and cakes tomorrow. Enjoyed the most amazing 'Crema di Limoncello' last weekend when some lovely friends came for lunch. Monia had made this fantastic booze from 97% alcohol, lemons, sugar and cream - it was utterly gorgeous but I felt like I had had me knee joints removed and replaced with jelly after 2 glasses.
Custard - we have been gorging on Brids custard and gluten free crumble since I found a tin in a small shop in town (we can't normally find this here in Tuscany)
Family - Ups and downs, lots of emotional outbursts flying around our home lately. The boy is 10 now and quite grumpy at times, also still has hideously shy moments, he is fine at Rugby and school but introduce him to a new person and he can barely speak, let alone look them in the eye, it cripples him socially sometimes and I so wish I could feed him a plate of confidence and a big dollop of enthusiasm. The girl is quite simply barking mad, wonderful to watch, she loves learning and is overflowing with interest in the outside world, animals, plants and nature. Though she has to some how calm down her temper as she lashes out at her brother for no reason - all normal fun and games. I struggle to understand why they can’t be nice to each other, I was an only child who grew up watching the Waltons and thought siblings enjoyed each others company (apparently a ludicrous ideal according to my DH).
The good stuff: The kittens are now big bruisers who love catching praying mantis, lizards and voles yet still cry desperately for food, they are lovely to watch and still play together when not cruising the neighbourhood looking for love! The old hound is well and truly off his rocker and paces the house all the time, why, we don't know, he seems happy and eats well but his sight is bad an so is his breath, but we love him so!
I really hope to keep myself on an even keel this winter and have promised myself time for meditation, yoga and long walks in the woods, early nights and lots of healthy eating, time for family and friends. I will not let work and finances overshadow my life and will try very hard to see the positive in all things, most importantly we are all healthy at the moment and the sun is shining, I can hear the gentle crunching and rustling as leaves fall to the ground outside my shed door – what a beautiful noise xxxxx
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