Fresh Air in Tuscany

Yesterday we had a wonderful lunch with family and friends and it left me feeling renewed and inspired to get out and do more things out of the home. Late in the night I went out and watched star filled sky and felt the urge to go to Castellina in Chianti where you can view so much of Tuscany from up on a very high hill.


So today TT and I took some food and water and drove way up into the hills through woodland, over rivers alongside vineyards and dusky greenolive groves, you could noticely feel the temperature dropping the higher we went. We saw fluffy bob tailed deer in the distance, we walked around the town and explored little alleys, country paths and watched the world go buy, cats playing, people chatting, you could hear the sounds of many families preparing lunch from apartments along the way and the aromas of garlic and roasting meats drifted through the streets. Neighbours chatted from balcony to balcony and some very smart people were enjoying aperitivos in the company of their jumper wearing small dog - very Italian.

We played in the park and looked for fairies in the holes of the castle walls, we followed the water running under the road, we studied a fallen tree and smelled its damp piney scent. Later on with energy levels waining we stopped for hot milk and a salami panino in a small cafe and Tabby bobbed around to the jazz music playing in the bar. Later we refilled our water bottles for home (essential) and slowly drove back to our old house overlooking the lake and the valley. Today was so cheery, no squabbles just us girls cruising around taking in the view and big gulps of cool crisp Tuscan air.


Now the fire is lit and the supper is in the oven - very simple Turkey Thigh (Less that 2 Euro) roast potatos, veg and mushroom gravy. The man made choc and banana muffins whilst us girls were out which will be great for pudding and for school snacks this week. I am all packed for my crazy 2 day visit to frozen London (work) and leave tomorrow pm back Wed night and hate leaving my nest and my folk, but needs must and I want to get rid of as many outgoings as possible so working hard this year will allow us to pay a few things off and buy a stufa (wood burner) for the kids room as our old house is soooo cold. The bath is running and the children are curled up under blankets by the fire with a movie slowly letting the evening fall upon us all.


Awaiting eagerly the snowdrops and crocus, daffodils and hyacith, cherry blssom and acacia buds - roll on spring. x

Confessions of a modern Mummy

Well, I love so many other Mummy's blogs out there and they inspire me greatly but the ones that touch a chord are the ones that are real, the ones that include the grubbiness and the gripes, the tears and the heartache. Not wanting to bare my soul totally though I thought it might be a good idea to share just some of the reality of my life. The ebb and flow, the dark and the light, the thoughts and ideas...

I cook from scratch always but secretly crave plastic cheese squares and angel delight

I recycle, re-use and reclaim but lust after a nightmarishly expensive designer sofa

I advocate gentle and peaceful parenting but flare up like a banshi at times

I hate shouting and violence yet love watching films with knights battling it to the death

I try and drink lots of water but this gets diluted with wine most evenings

I save energy wherever possible but love having lots of lamps in corners - it's just nice

I write lists about lists about lists then lose the list and write on a list to look for the lost list

I love silence but hate being on my own

I believe in herbal remedies but when I get ill I yearn for frozen chicken pies 1970's style

I hate TV but love watching films

I love plants and growing stuff but am a blatently lazy gardener

I am great at giving advice and rubbish at taking it

I change my mind with the seasons and my hair colour too xx