Our Mountain home - Bobbio Pellice

RENOVATING

“Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home”

Our journey has taken an unexpected temporary detour, from the Italian Riviera to the wild mountains of Piedmont and the village of Bobbio Pellice, yet I am happy.

We seem to be finding our rhythm, a closeness that was somehow missing before ~ time to tickle and read out loud, time to relearn each other. Precious time, quality time with many tiny moments of pure happiness.

Soon I feel these tiny moments will start to merge and become our lives here in Italia.

The main bedroom is reached by climbing the tiniest staircase ever seen. Steep and worn with one rickety step to avoid, a child’s staircase, not built for me but one I will learn to love.

The bed is high, the ancient springs give a solid feel to this crooked house. At last I have my balcony through a doorway and out onto a view of the entire village of Bobbio Pellice.

I picture clean crisp bedlinen, lazy afternoons and the breeze gently blowing in from the valley.

and the gang x

29 replies

John Bechtel says:
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Hi Lisa…. I had a friend post some pictures of an Italian speaking area of Switzerland alps that reminded me of a quick trip I took up the Torre Pellice to Bobbio Pellice in 2004. I was interested in seeing where the Waldenses lived. I loved visiting there and tonight I found your blog and am enjoying seeing the treasures you have found in your new home. I imagine you have made a lot progress in fixing things up by now. We bought a home last year in Vallejo — on San Francisco Bay. Lots of work too. Blessings. Pastor John
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Gerard says:
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Hello Sam & Lisa, great to get your last post, having just returned from my mountain/creek swim, I feel the cold you write about, but had a good belly laugh seeing Sam in the pic wearing his usual atire & the old mama all rugged up, just classic! keep well my friends, you are often in my thoughts, love always
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  He never changes does he, I’m all rugged up and he’s out in his shorts. I bet that mountain swim is refreshing!! Sorry have to go a rooster just came in the house!!! arghhhh sending love and hope to see you one day soon x
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Lisa Wood says:
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You capture your new life so beautifully – that bed looks like its a great place for sweet dreams, and the staircase sounds amazing. What I love is seeing your life unfold with all of your new adventures waiting….and we get to experience it through your eyes.
If I could I would have new sheets for every day of the week – that would be my ideal life!! There is nothing like the feel of clean sheets 🙂
How long are you staying in the house while your other one is being renovated?
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Oh I just love the feel of new sheets, lots of cushions and a good book by the bed! I am becoming overwhelmed with all the photos and stories, I have so much to share each day. I am learning to recreate our family and slow down, find a rhythm you know what I mean x
  We are hoping to move to the other house within a few weeks x
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Krista says:
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I can’t stop smiling thinking of you settling in and dreaming and planning and feeling so “at home” finally. 🙂 Wishing you continued peace and so much happiness as you build this house into your home. xo
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Well I’m very happy to make you smile, you always do the same! I think we are building our happiness and our strength as a family just like the house, slowly slowly. Finding time to just be with each other, it’s funny watching us each learn to give up those bad habits x
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Catherine says:
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Oh Lisa it’s beautiful! I can smell the fresh clean air full of new possibilities. I have a feeling this is going to be an adventurous spring and very special summer. We are also having our old leaky roof redone this summer so we will be facing the elements too! Xcat
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Well facing the elements should keep you in the moment, is it a big job? Funny I have this dream image of billowing sheer curtains and lazy afternoons and now I have a little balcony….whoo hoo xxx
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budget jan says:
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Your life is unfolding like a bud – we wait to see the beautiful petals open – Oooh Treasure in the ceiling. Exciting.
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  we were all bouncing about like kids and Sam took some great photos (he studied commercial whilst I studied fine art photography). xx
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  - budget jan says:
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    Classic – he’s a chameleon!
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    - Lisa Chiodo says:
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      the perfect word!! x
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Chris says:
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Hi Lisa- I am living vicariously through you; your adventures stir and intrigue me! I look forward to continuing this journey with you. As an educator, I can;t help but wonder what you are doing for your childrens’ schooling. Are you instructing them from home, and , if so, how is that going?
Chris
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Hi Chris, wonderful to have you along. Where are you and what kind of educator are you? Once we have been able to move over to Bobbio Pellice we can enroll the children into school. Currently they are learning from life, with a little Italian language time. I am in no rush to formalize the schooling with so many major changes in such a short time we are taking it slowly. I’d love your thoughts on this ciao lisa
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Mary Thompson says:
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Hi Lisa
Hello from Sunny Queensland.
Good to see you made it and everything is going well.
The weather here is just beginning to get cooler.
Your blog is excellent
Love Mary Thompson (Mein Street)
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  How wonderful to see you here Mary, say hi to Barb and Shane from us would you! I keep telling everyone about our brrrr freezing Queensland winters LOL x stay in touch x
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Nancy says:
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Hi,
I have been blessed with a home that was left to me by my mom . It is in southern Italy and needs much renovation. The renovations will come in time. it is located on the top of of a mountain over looking the Ionian Sea. The views are everything . I was born there but left at a tender age of one1/2 . I always dreamed of a house in Italy.I go back every year for 4 months and live the simple life. This is when I am the happiest. I wish you luck on your renovations. Someday I hope renovate also.,But for now I will take it the way it is.
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  I just love the South of Italy Nancy, we visited with my in laws. The good thing is that your home will be waiting when you’re ready. My Mother in law is from Salina, and how wonderful that you can go back so often I know she’d like to go back again. ciao lisa x
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Marla says:
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Your new home to be looks to have some very nice “bone” structure. Can’t wait to see it in person. Soon.
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Marla it’s great and I can see so many possibilities. The valley is just spectacular and the mountains starting to bloom. Can’t wait for you to come visit!! love the gang xxx
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Andreana says:
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How wonderful! I’m so excited for you and your family Lisa. I love that the Italians leave old furniture around.
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Oh Andreana you’d have loved it today we found all kinds of treasures up in the roof aaarghhhhh! xxx
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jann says:
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You put a smile on my face, Lisa. Time to tickle. Che bello! You picture “lazy afternoons.” I’m sure these will happen for you, but, um, looking at the photos, maybe not quite yet?? What an exciting renovation project! Love the idea of your teeny tiny stairway, too.
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Jann not only are we recreating our family, but discovering so many wonderful stories from the people here. We were at the house today and discovered a space in the ceiling full of all kinds of treasures. I’ll post them once we get the photos sorted. I don’t really know if I would cope with lazy afternoons LOL xx love lisa
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Carla Coulson says:
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The adventure just keeps getting better love the twists and turns time now to reconnect after all your hard work and dilemmas organising to leave Australia xx so happy for you all Carla x
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Carla I am just about beside myself with excitement. The incredible stories we are hearing from people this time around, and the history in every stone. We are starting to document the stories and photograph the people, I am bewitched!! xxx love lisa
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Paola says:
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Dear Lisa
What beautiful images and how very exciting. I looked up Borgo Pellice on Google maps and note it is indeed high in the hills (provincia di Torino) and near the French border. What an adventure and so lucky spring is around the corner as it will indeed be cold up there. I look forward to more photos and stories x
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- Lisa Chiodo says:
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  Spring is going to be glorious, and as we drive into the borgata the entire valley opens up before us complete with snow topped mountains…just spectacular! We just have so many stories to share I can hardly keep up Paola x ciao lisa
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