Here again, finally

So, my last post was rather over enthusiastic.  I didn't start blogging again, I even stopped reading blogs and boy how I have missed this journalling of our life in the woods in Tuscany.  So whilst I find my rhythm again and reacquaint myself with the technical side of things I'll simply post a few pictures that capture times here and there.  As I really don't think its possible to fill all the gaps of our ups and downs during 2015 I think I'll simply upload images that conjure up some magical memories.  I'll also note a few of the most important or emotive events that have popped up lately.

This moment.....

The boy is watching Rugby on the TV, he is big now, 15, hairy, deep voiced, taller than I and still the most kind, warm hearted male on the planet. Shy, humble, strong and funny.

The girl is sitting at the kitchen table, she is humming a song she is learning on the piano, blond pony tail nodding as she works, tongue poking out the side of her month marking her concentration. 

The man is showering, cleaning up after a day about the house and garden, chopping wood, gathering kindling, packing away Christmas things, cleaning up after me, as ever.  He is the reason I can be me, he is the quiet, solid, brave, ever supporting force in my life, making me feel OK, safe, happy, loved.

Some memories from 2015.....

adrift

A strange week, 21st August, harvest time.  I feel lost, adrift, unable to stay on a certain path, trying to make plans for work, home, last minute trips is impossible things just have to stay on hold.  We have had some cooler days which have been so welcome, so refreshing but so clearly signs of Autumn ahead.  So we are taking baby steps to plan for winter, the guys have been chopping and stacking wood, I have made 10 x litre bottles of homegrown tomato passata, the man has built our first raised bed in our side garden and the vegetable patch is looking tired.

I am planning autumn crafts and nice homely things mostly with Christmas in mind, I have sorted cupboards and have labelled boxes which are full of cards, ribbons and fabrics etc so I have no excuses for not getting on with things.

But still I am lost, my aunt died at the weekend she was young really 65 but had been slowly killing herself for several years, she was found dead alone most likely drunk.  We are waiting for the coroners report but I have to fly back to the UK to help my Grandma and Uncle (who are both disabled) organise the funeral etc.  So I can't seem to get on with things as I don't know when to fly back, or for how long and I have to fit in work commitments and the last precious weeks of the school holidays so all in all I feel heavy hearted and saddened for what lies ahead in the next few weeks and a life lost.

But, life here in our little spot in Tuscany is still beautiful and we are so lucky.  Today I will work for a few hours then bake and make soup as this will help restore my soul.  The girl is at her Grandparents which is truly wonderful as this is a rare treat for her and the boy is here finishing summer homework, the house is quiet and still which is lovely but very strange.  So now I will leave this page and take small steps into the rest of my day.

We will soon have a teenager in the house and it shows...

Easter pics

 Craft, Fresh Air, Chocolate Gazing, Gardening and more...

Lovely relaxed Easter weekend.

The Seasons

Where to start...  We have had family and friends here now on and off for the last month, which mostly has been wonderful, yet tiring.  The hardest person to deal with is the Man who just likes his home quiet and simple, with a houseful of guests and many kids this made him grumpy!!!!!  However, when the house is back to normal he says he misses the company and bussle!!! Can't win really.  We have just said to goodbye to the Aussies and will see them again in two weeks, the time went to fast for me but one really joyful things was watching two little girls make a deep and happy bond, two 5 year olds who couldn't be more different in their personalities just clicked it was magical.Also seeing cousins slip into each others lives so easily as if they see them all the time.

Today has been about planning the autumn, we made a Christmas box of films, stories and music and set aside to gradually fill over the next few months.  The kids made cake, spent hours making knights and footballers out of tin foil and card, we watched the Waltons (fab), and I pottered around plotting autumn harvesting, thinking of woolly socks and mittens, still blistering hot here though.  

Back to work in the morning and something that we feel we need to make part of our lives is structure, not rigid rules but a gentle sequence throughout our week, as we are tired and unorganised at the moment.  So we really are going back to basics:  Bath nights, cleaning day/laundry and baking day, monday morning coffee to discuss our work, meals at 7pm bed at 8.30 for the kids etc etc

Hope to upload photos soon but have to use another pc to do this - very annoying.  xx

Changing Seasons

Well, 1st Sept marks the beginning of Autumn to me. The blackberries have gone and the sloes destroyed by the heat so this morning before I started work we collected wood. We plan to collect all our kindling and smaller wood this season and just top up with one wood load if we can. The children are collecting pine cones as I write and my DH is making me a cup of camomile tea. I feel uneasy today as I had hoped to be much further along with both books I am writing and can see long evenings at my desk looming. Archie is 9 this month so another era passes, I am researching HSP as I know I am highly sensitive to different energies and am sure he is too, we are also getting him allergy tested for his eczema and asthma this month. We had a very stressful day at the Doctor yesterday when Archie refused to be examined, tears were shed all round, he got so stressed he vomited. Tabby is very different to her brother - solid as a rock, a very wise and intuitive old soul and an anchor in all our lives. Today I must put in a good 6 hours at my desk on PR work but also hope to fit in some of these with the children:

• Salt Dough shapes
• Stencilling
• Painting clay
• Natural wind chimes
• Lists for school stuff
• mending of clothes
• Apple Crumble / Bread making / Muffins
• Italian lesson 1/2 hr

Looking at the list it seems too long, so on reflection maybe just a couple of things. But first a snapshot of our English West Country holiday.