The reading pile

I have been sent off to bed for the last 48 hours but cannot relax so have been wading through my reading pile. Also spending hours daydreaming about self suffiency, financial freedom, going off grid and buying some land, on a more 'now' level made plans for the veg gardens and boxes. We finalised our idea for the solar shower (garden) and hope to create this within the next week or so - pics to follow. Today I hope to: make soup and potter in the garden, taking things easy as not 100% percent. The birds are all singing their hearts out and I have thrown open all the windows to clear the air and my fuddled brain. The man is amazing, so organised, he copes so well when I am unwell and so do the children, but I feel his stress (me, money, time) and just want to be fit and strong at least most of the time to lessen his burdens. Beauty: today I see beauty and hope in the changing seasons, the warming breeze, the bread baking for my children, the sleeping kittens and the dozing dog, the cherry blossom and budding fruit trees, the new life emerging from the ground and the potential in all things around me. Here are a few of the lovely books I have been devouring whilst gazing out at the Tuscan spring:

1. Hard times in paradise - David and micki colefax
2. How can I let go - Linda Douty
3. Labyrinth - Kate Mosse
4. The Have More Plan
5. How to Feed your family - Gill Holcombe

A wee rest

I have just not felt like blogging of late, I have felt that blogging was getting in the way of actually doing things. I was writing rather than achieving and this is not good for me. So I have had a rest from my blog and can now come back renewed and afresh. In my time away from the blog I have managed to spring clean the house, plant up roses,herbs, strawberries and veg seeds. Move the office to the cantina so I can now 'go' to work, converted what was the office to a playroom - perfect for everyone. Made apple cake, easter rabbits, easter cards and had lots of fresh air on walks with the old man (the dog not the husband). Also had my full body scan at the hospital, results are looming but I have continued to stay well on my diet of Echinacea, Dog Rose and Vitamin B supplements, which seem to be supporting my immune system well, though I am still really shattered. The children are loving the warmer days: blossomy trees, wild flowers, mud pie experiments, swinging in the trees, diggin in the dirt, wearing short sleeves, staying outside after school, harrassing kittens and days in the park. Today has been about gluing and sticking, feathers and pompoms, cakes and biscuits, chalks and puzzles, rugby practice and now a sliding sun and a warm fireside. Preserved 6 huge jars of baked artichokes from the market... very industrious. Tomorrow a day of gardening and then the man (not the dog) and I are planning a walk around Siena at dusk, as the children are off to the grandparents for the evening. For now a random selection of pics - notice TT's bed hair (saying morning to the kittens at 6am). x

Focusing on the goodstuff

Feeling shattered and fuddle headed I am finding it so hard to me the mummy I want and need to be.  The pain I am in is draining me and making me forgetful.  Not being able to speak clearly is worrying for the children and frustrating for me and Gary.  I had a mashed Banana today and some veg stock but this is all I have had this week.  I hope to see a homeopath next week and start taking a alternative approach to this disease (Behcets Syndrome).

On the brighter side - The sun is shining, the washing on the line is drying, the kittens are playing, the old dog sleeping, the air is fresh and the future so promising. x

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