“True happiness is… to enjoy the present without anxious dependence on the future.”- Seneca It was as though energy from the Tuscan land magnetically pulled me out of bed this morning. I just needed an extra bit of help to get me moving. As I pulled open the chestnut shutters in the upper floor bedrooms, … Continue reading Castelnuovo Berardenga, Cioccolata Calda (Hot Chocolate)

Giving Thanks I can see Mount Amiata in the distance from the grounds of Villa Montecchio, the olive groves laying at my feet reluctantly waiting until next year's harvest. The barren almond trees having provided a robust bounty this past October, are standing proudly to my right. The unruly rosemary bushes having provided sustenance to … Continue reading Giving Thanks and A Tuscan Mandorla (Almond) Harvest

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."- Albert Einstein In early November, Tuscany softly began ushering in the winter season by offering residents a steady combination of sunny and milder temperatures. By the end of November, her patience, had given way and howling winds circled our Casale's hilltop position like a pack … Continue reading Tuscany bids farewell to Fall and welcomes Winter

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away". -   unknown  Tuscany leaves me breathless. Each evening I walk the ancient Tuscan property, we now call home. It has become a ritual that literally feeds my soul. The sounds at dusk vary based … Continue reading Tuscany’s allure and living amongst the Sun Sets.

“Oliva e oro, la seconda argento, la terza mon val niente.” (olive is gold, the second is silver, the third is worth nothing) - Tuscan Saying Francesco said " Essere li lunedì alle 1:30" (Be there Monday at 1:30), "capisci?" (do you understand?), as a look of concern crossed his face. Si, Si (Yes, yes), I … Continue reading Our Primo (first) Tuscan Olive Harvest (Part 2).