LIFE IS FULL OF BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS
This is why we came to Italy
For our Children, for a simpler lifestyle and to find ‘us’ again…..
I love messy, I love life and dirt and skinned knees, I love my kids playing outside, rounding up chickens, open hearts, a treasure hunt every day, joy in each simple thing, picking beans and eating them raw and crunchy, handfuls of blackberries the red juice staining our hands, brisk cold water from the fountain.
Wonderful, beautiful moments.
Winter is coming, the leaves are turning and falling in little drifts. Luca throws them in the air laughing as they fall around him, he knows they mean summer is coming to an end. It’s hard to imagine that soon enough we will have snow, that the valley will turn silent and white, the summer holiday makers will disappear and we will have the place to ourselves.
Three eggs, snails in the orto, a puppy with needle sharp teeth, a dead kitten, our friend Italo and his family raking the hay by hand, the river is the brightest blue green, the head of the sunflower needed to be brown before cutting, Claudio’s dog sneaks in to eat our dogs food, I hear the tractors coming in from the pasture below the borgata.
Winter is coming.
Yet still I dream, of our house turned into a home, putting down roots and having a place where we belong.
Our gift is being able to see through the rubble, the chaos, and the mess to the beauty hidden within.
Our current reality and the dream…. one day the two will merge.
I’ll find that peaceful place, share vino with friends and family, sit back on my deck chair and start planning our next adventure.
Beautiful Moments
Keeping dreams alive, tending them carefully, moving them forward each day……that’s the secret.
‘Casa Bianca’ continues to reveal herself.
Sam and Sean (our workaway guy) have been working to clear the cellar of rubbish. This will be the bathroom, with it’s vaulted ceiling and odd little alcoves.
With the doorway being so low we needed to raise it a little. Now you can walk down the few steps without stooping. It’s a little hard to show the actual room as it’s quite dark and only has a small light source.
Oh and that hole Sam is putting the stick down, that’s about a meter cubed of number two’s.
Luckily I don’t have to worry about that, a good job for the boys.
If you really want to see what it’s like inside then you can take a look at this little video I made.
The floor has been lowered a little to give some extra headroom, and yes I can already see past the mess.
Casa Bianca will one day be gorgeous.
and the gang x
Oh my gosh! Sam you are so very brave! Lisa that is beyond any renovation we have ever done 😉
I can see the potential but gee I am so glad i was not in that room – the smell would have been horrid!
All the best with your renovations – the beautiful moments will be so worth it.
Sam is such a comedian that he even makes the hell pit of sh*t funny. Lots of potential and that’s what keeps us going. Winter is coming fast and the locals say it’s going to be the worst one for years….hope not but boy is it cold today, creeping into my bones.
sending love to you and the guys xx
Hi Lisa , I just think it is ALL amazing , working so hard and such an achievement , Love it all ♥ x
Well I’m hard at work supervising and bringing cups of tea to the boys, now we are back from Paris time to get stuck in again ewwwww is that a pun?
This was a fabulous posting you included so many different elements including the “during video” otherwise known as the “dung hole video” congratulations> it was real!
Ahhh yes the hell pit, the aroma wafted through the entire Borgata…..
Back to work on it again now our big trip to Paris is over, ahhhh country life. xx
My goodness! I ran away from the video. You guys are brave!! But I can see it’s all done with love and devotion – the only way to bring up kids in this crazy over-technological world! Xcat
You are very wise to run from that hell pit, the smell is diabolical.
Just off to kick Luca from the computer arghhh…..he loves that thing so much x
Beauiful words , your love , commitment and joy shine though them love hugs and kisses to all xxx
They shine from the kids faces, exhausted sleep at night after a long day playing, you know the joys of living a rural life, just wish we’d discovered them sooner….xxx
Hi Lisa, have been following your wonderful life on facebook. I look forward to your post everyday..
Decided it was time to pop over to your blog. Had to laugh at todays, I can only imagine how bad that smell was.
Your family and your life are so inspiring… You have done wonderful things with your home and it is great seeing the reno,s.
Your children seem to have blossomed from their time there, and grown up so much. Wish you all well and look forward to seeing the ever changes in your life in Italy.
Cheers caron x
It’s just wonderful to have you over here at the blog Caron, that smell was diabolical. I don’t know how those people lived here and let the place get in that state.
I hadn’t noticed how much Carina has blossomed until I saw this photo, she just seems to have grown overnight.
sending love and let us know what you’re up to, love hearing about dreams xx
What an amazing amount of work to do! It all looks great. I am glad that our house is finished and that I got to do the fun bits. I will be back soon to work on the garden. I would love to come to visit and see your house growing. Where exactly is your village?
Oh you know all about work that’s for sure Deb. We’d love to catch up, we’re near Pinerolo xx
Your vision is a gift Lisa. I’m sure you also have the experience to back your vision. Carina is suddenly looking very grown up and Sam is looking fit and trim! Life in the mountains seems to agree with you all.
Ciao Jenny, we’ve done so many renovations and moves now I’ve lost count. Sam likes that you think him fit and trim, he said to tell you it’s just the camera angle. LOL
life in the mountains is good for sure.
your photos of Varenna are beautiful, and so close to Milan, just perfect x
So how do you…er…dispose of the waste??
ARghhhh don’t ask, it involves SUCTION…..LOL xx
Ah, more like a bucket and shovel..and in the carrot patch…. my wife the city girl
Either way, ewwwww!!!
you’re amazing Lisa! Love your blog…..such an inspiration!! Kylie xx
awww thanks for that Kylie xxx
Loved this, although saving the video until after breakfast has settled. (I so believe your warning) Anyway, it was worth waiting for as it perfect. It makes me wish I was there … well, some of it does xxx
I’ll see if I can bottle the smell and send you some….PHewwwww.
Thank goodness for the workaway bloke or I’d have to be down helping him instead.
xxx
Oh Lisa!! That video made my laugh and cringe at the same time….cringe at the thought of the smell….laugh at Sam’s relaxed attitude to it all!! Seeing the video was great. Any plans on doing a video tour or the Casa?? (hint! hint!) I thinks it’s amazing what you guys are doing and feel blessed to live vicariously through your posts in the comfort of my home in Sydney. One day I will make it to Italy….I’m going to check out Villa de Vecchi up close (if possible), attend one of Lisa Clifford’s divine Tuscan Writing Retreats and would love to come have a cuppa with you! If that gorgeous young woman with the hello kitty bag is Carina, I have to ask…..how did she suddenly grow up so fast! She looks about 15 or 16! I love the photo of Luca with the leaves, the joy and pure bliss on his face is magic. Buonanotte.x
It seems that half the things we get up to here are cringe worthy. A total change in lifestyle that’s for sure Michelle. Sam doesn’t get fazed by these things, he just gets on and gets them sorted (a bit like his Dad).
I’ll get a video of the Casa, when you go to Villa de Vecchi and I’d be for the writing workshop with Lisa.
I’ll put the kettle on for our cuppa, and yep that’s Carina, she grew up when I wasn’t looking.
Luca loves the leaves and making monsters with them. x
ciao ciao love lisa