Days of sunshine

Thankfully we are still enjoying lovely hot days here in Tuscany but there is a cooler breeze which is lovely and has a touch of autumn about it.  The last few days have been long and tiring, mostly because I have a virus and feel lousy, a mouth full of ulcers and I don't really even have the energy to cook or blog, two things I love to do.

We have fitted in some fun adventures though including the natural wind chimes now hanging in the pine tree and outside my office window.  I loved making these though archie was less than enthusiastic about this project.  We have finally put up a wispy canopy over Tabby's bed to stop the 'zanzara' (Mosquitios) as they adore Tabitha especially at night.  We are more or less ready for the start of school with new shiny pens and shoes (well new to my 2).  One pair are vintage kickers proudly worn by my cousin Carla 16 years ago which I think are just fab - photos to follow.

Baking and griping.  I have been making some lovely treats which I can't eat as I don't do gluten but the kids seem to love.  This weekend has seen rounds of dough and sweet things in and out of the oven including.

Sesame bread rolls
Ciabatta
Pear Crumble
Mrs Twits eye-ball cakes  http://www.roalddahlday.info/
Scones

We are preparing for the autumn and family visiting soon.  I hope to revamp some old sweaters and fleeces into winter pinafores for Tabitha 'any ideas welcome'?  Also we have Archie's birthday looming and plans for a Trophy shape cake -agghhh.  nb. Weston super Mare Museum was fantastic, full of lovely retro/vintage goodies in the shop and lots of fun stuff for the children, a great day out for a rainy day.

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.