Dawn. 6:00 AM flight.
From my kitchen window, sipping a cappuccino. Glad I didn’t have to be on that early bird! For the daily prompt.
Tagged Italian stories, living in Italy, moments, photography, postaday, travel, Writing
Statuesque views, more or less, of the Montone countryside.
Posted in Umbria, Weekly photo challenges
Tagged Italian stories, moments, Montone, photography, postaday, postaweek, sculpture, Umbria, weekly photo challenge, Writing
In Prague through a glass lightly for the daily prompt.
Posted in Daily prompts, Travel
Tagged Czech Republic, daily prompt, photography, postaday, Prague, reflections, travel
The moment I peer into the box, I’m in another time and place. I’m looking at old notions—old friends—that give me immediate comfort. They represent rituals that introduced girls to the world of sewing. Believe me, this seems like ancient history now, repleat with stereotypical roles, and I’m glad the world has changed in so many ways. But, for the moment I’m taken back to the way it was, and I indulge in the memories.
In sewing class, you had to have a whole array of notions: red pin cushion, a tin box of Sucrets for bobbins, a seam ripper, a thimble, pinking shears and scissors, a button box, snaps, a can of very fine oil for your sewing machine, and of course the obligatory set of needles.
Good lord, I still have them all…from 1967. The Sucrets box has my signature on a piece of adhesive tape! They don’t make tape like that anymore. I take all of these notions for granted because I still use them.
I smile and shake my head at the three “Happy Home Rust Proof Needle Book” ladies!
And you know what? They ARE rust proof! The needles, not the ladies.
The buttons are my most precious notions. Who would have thought that so many memories could spill out of a button box? I rummage around the box, pull out a few, and this is what I see:
M grandmother’s fur cape with the large blue, braided button.
The anchor button: my dad’s heavy knit sweater he always wore sailing.
The tortoise-shell bob button next to the anchor button: my brother’s P-coat.
The yellow button: my mom’s bathrobe that she wore into tatters. The light blue button of my sister’s formal dance dress. And so many others.
I think it’s good to hold onto some old notions, whether a belief, an understanding, an impulse or desire, or even…old sewing stuff.
Posted in Reflections
Tagged buttons, gifts of life, memoirs, moments, notions, photography, postaday, sewing, Umbria, Writing
So much for crocheting that afghan. Recently, I discovered what Piero had been up to for the last few weeks. It’s not a pretty sight.
When I carried him upstairs and asked him what he thought he was doing, he looked at me and ‘told me’ that he did it for love.
Huh?
And then I melted when I saw what he meant.
Posted in Cat Tales
Tagged cat tales, cats, Italian stories, living in Italy, moments, photography, postaday, Writing
I know I can make it!
Posted in Cat Tales, Weekly photo challenges
Tagged cats, Italian photos, moments, photography, postaday, weekly photo challenge, Writing
My beautiful neighbors broke through their fence one day…
Posted in Umbria, Weekly photo challenges
Tagged escape, freedom, gifts of life, horses, Italian countryside, photography, postaday, Umbria, weekly photo challenge, Writing
This week’s photo challenge dives down into details.
A misty morning after a night’s rain in Umbria.
Posted in Weekly photo challenges
Tagged Italian countryside, photography, photos, postaday, postaweek, Umbria, weekly photo challenge, Writing
Capturing colors can bring wonderful surprises. So I decided to take part in the TravelSupermarket.com “Capture the Colour” contest to share some of my little surprises. Even if we spell color differently, capturing it is a gift!
I once painted a picture in elementary school with red grass and trees with blue trunks and violet leaves. My teacher asked what the heck I thought I was doing. I said I was imitating Gauguin, you know the guy with the pink sand, yellow ocean and blue/green/lavender horses? She told me to never pull a stunt like that again. Whew. Talk about blowing your enthusiasm for colors.
After I met and married my husband, who is a painter, my love of colors came back to me through him. Everywhere I turn now, I see colors. Here are my five:
#1
Feelin’ Kinda BLUE
Hotel Paříž, Prague
That was my first thought. The masses are outside, cramming the streets of Prague, which are filled with awful tourist-trap shops full of junk. Hidden in a spot that’s quiet, away from the tourists, our lady hangs her head and mourns her beautiful city.
#2
I got carried away! Sometimes it IS easy bein’ GREEN!
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
One of the dozens of parades every week through the Jardin in San Miguel de Allende. This particular parade was very special to me as it was the last time my mother was able to get out of the house and walk to her beloved Jardin before she died. More on this trip on my post, I left my heart in San Miguel.
#3
I wanted to see the Christmas tree and all I could see was RED.
Old Town Square, Prague
Turned the corner into the square and stopped dead in my tracks. It was a freezing night, but the red threw warmth into our souls.
#4
Did someone say WHITE? Well, here ya go!
At a park in the Czech Republic
He just couldn’t stop performing.
#5
“Silence is not always golden; sometimes it is YELLOW.” – Anonymous.
Montone, Italy (my home)
On a cold March morning in Montone, the street lamps had been left to burn until almost ten. There had been a ferocious storm the night before, no one was out. I found myself alone, silent, with my little friends in this sculpture, who were bathing in their pale yellow light. More walks in Montone.
Bloggers I nominate (sorry, only 3 as so many have already been nominated!):
Janine – Destination Umbria
Anneliesa – Anneliesa Rabl Blog
Tiffany – The Pines of Rome
Tagged blue, Colors, colours, green, moments, Montone, photography, Prague, red, reflections, San Miguel de Allende, white, yellow
Writing in Umbria 