Small Pleasures

Photos of the boy and Grandad at Rome on Sunday - Had to post the image of the roadside picnic, the Italians know how to travel, they unload a trestle table and a roasted hog, cakes and wine and feed everyone many times on route.... Might consider the trestle table idea..myabe on the roofrack of Peter the fiat Panda?

A five year old plods downstairs with the hotwater bottles balanced out in front of her, then says I just have to make the beds! Such a wonderful sight until the tears roll as she finds our huge bed to difficult to manage. Wanting to be useful and needed is something we all feel of that I am sure, and today TT wanted to be one of the grownups - yes she had a tantrum, yes we were all annoyed by our lateness but at the same time she is learning everyday how to do things better - both good and bad.  I am going to take some note of this and try and keep learning how to do things better, and keep trying until things are have a more natural flow.  I hope one day my Italian will flow at will just like getting on bicycle and knowing what to do intuitively - when do things start happening on instict? maybe when we stop worrying and just keep doing.

Late summer sun

We have been very lucky this last week enjoying sunkissed skies and lazy balmy evenings. Grandma and Grandad have been visiting and having them here is really wonderful, we have made the effort to eat outside despite the mosquitoes who are obviously using our garden as a meeting point. The last few days have included a big lunch for friends and family, a mini fete where we sold cherry jam, lavander hearts, piggyback rides and told fortunes, all to raise money for A and T to put towards toys they really want. We have had the boy's birthday and enjoyed days out to San Giminagno and San Casciano, picked grapes, re-planted aubergines, harvested more tomatos, enjoyed wine and homemade bread and yesterday soaked up the atmosphere at the market. The only niggle is the camera which is being a bugger and is only working when the mood is right. For now though a few pics until I can upload some more, the light is magical at the moment, an intense autumnal sun that drenches the hilltops and spreads a warmth over the houses and vineyards. - Random chairs liberated from roadside bin!!