Tales of walking, eating, watching and playing. Vintage treasures and simple pleasures ... the things that make her happy.

Wednesday 27 August 2014

She left a piece of her heart ...

... in Tuscany.

... where they lived life in the slow lane.
Cocooned in a cottage high in the Apuan Alps.
A remote, sun baked little house.
They walked every day ...
they swam in the river,
then returned to their cottage to cook simple food.
(Mr VJ making pesto!)
They drove the twisted road down the mountain,
to stock up at the market.
Practising her limited Italian, the grocer smiled
and gave her a gift of bunches of fragrant basil and
feathery parsley to go with their tomatoes and peppers.
His gesture made her happy all day ...
They drove to Lucca and Barga ...
These guys made her cry ...
Sometimes they took the train ...
They browsed an antiques market ...
They stood on the Devil's Bridge.
Went higher into the mountains by cable car ...
And joined in with the fun of the fiesta ...
But sometimes ...
they just sat and did nothing.
Listening to church bells echo across the valley ...
Watching bees.
Staring at basking geckos.
The scent of jasmine heavy in the air.
She loves this place so much.
some may mock her and say,
"pah, it is just a too hot, too decrepit, too quiet,
little house in a village in the too distant hills".
But for her ... it gives the gift of time ... and space.
She sings 'Summertime' to her little man,
as she did when he was a baby.
They read, they play.
They watch life around them.
They have time.
At home, every day ...
she misses time.



27 comments:

Amy at love made my home said...

What a stunning place to stay and visit. It sounds like a truly magical visit and I am sure that you have bought home lots of memories in your heart and pictures to look at!! xx

Willow said...

What an absolutely beautiful post .
I could feel your serenity .

Rosemary said...

Dear Marina - you have encompassed the atmosphere that is Italy perfectly. I need to return again soon. Lucca I love - did you visit Pistoia? which is also a great favourite with us.

rusty duck said...

That really does look lovely. Living like a local, it doesn't get much better than that.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

"misses time." Indeed. Now that I am back in the classroom, my scheduled has robbed my time. But now that I am "home" in my little brick cottage in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA, I can catch my time again to be where I love.

This was a fabulous post. That "too little" cottage is the perfect place to turn back the clock. I remember when I went to Italy from France; France is much slower-paced than here in the US, but when our train crossed the border into Italy, time stopped. We loved it.

Enjoy those delicious memories forever!

Jen said...

It sounds perfect. I'm so happy for you.

Greenorchid said...


Looks and all sounds rather perfect to me... Cx

WILLIE...! =(^..^)= said...

Now! That's the way to open a post...With the Rosso, Bianco e Verdi..! :0).
Toscana...Lovely photos Marina, reminded me so much of my home in Sicily..Letojanni..!
And, of course my most favourite wine comes from there..Chianti..Especially the Chianti Ruffino..Cheers! Saluti!
And! A lovely way to end a post to...The Fiat 500...Lovely little car...Mio cugino..Had one..HeHe! Faced death in it many times!

Great post...Lovely...
Ciao! Ciao! or for the educated Italians out there..Arrivederci..!

Vix said...

I've never been but I think my heart might be there, too! How gorgeous is Tuscany? Exactly how those changing your life and moving abroad books describe.
Good to see you, too! xxx

Sopa Azul said...

Wow! Thank you for sharing. Hugs :)

Shrimpton and Perfect said...

Smashing post. I lost my heart to Italy years ago. We dream if we could ever afford another house it would definitely be in Italy.

Jean x

Vintage Sheet Addict said...

I left a piece of my heart in Florence, Italy is wonderful isn't it! :) x

Vintage Sheet Addict said...

I left a piece of my heart in Florence, Italy is wonderful isn't it! :) x

Maria said...

Hello,
I also left my heart in Florence..And your beautiful words and this post brought those sweet memories back to me...Thank you !
Thank you also for stopping by to say hi! I've been losing my self like soo many on Instagram..Its lovely when words are few...I will be back to my blog in the Autumn time, its the time when i feel most magical...We've just returned from a short visit to Bath and Bristol..Ooh my it was a lovely trip !! Take are lovely...Hugs Maria x Time with your boys is soo precious..I am ever so pleased you had time to just enjoy each other, as well as beautiful Tuscany !!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

How I love your post! Thank you so much for coming to visit with such kind words. I know you will go back one day to this stunning place to relax!!!

homemade@myplace said...

I love Toscana, too !!! Maybe, because I was born in Firenze???? ;oD
happy weekend, xxxxx Ale

Busy Lizzie said...

How perfect and wonderful. Lucky you. Another place to visit on the list! Lizzie x

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photos! I loved what I saw of Tuscany, and Liguria.

Emma Kate at Paint and Style said...

Utterly delightful pics, you lucky thing! x

The Dainty Dolls House said...

This looks like a marvellous time my dear, am happy you enjoyed it xx

tlcukjourney said...

The photos alone make it completely understandable as to why your heart is in Italy xx
I hope you have a great week Jane!
Tammy x

Kristie said...

Hi Marina,

How absolutely wonderful! What a great way to enjoy a vacation with nothing demanding you to rush here or there, just absorbing all that nice quiet and beauty. And, it is a beautiful place. I would love relish a holiday in the mountains with no one to answer too!

Is that a picture of you taking a "selfie" in the car?

Anne said...

It looks absolutely beautiful xx

the linen cloud said...

What a beautiful post! I feel really chilled out just reading your words. Thank you! Bee xx

Down by the sea said...

That looks a wonderful holiday. I feel as if I have a trip aboard reading your lovely post! Sarah x

Ashley cramp said...

M looks like heaven on earth to me!
D x

*Maristella* said...


Hi Marina, what beautiful pictures and wonderful location!
Quiet and old, we like !!!
Hugs and kisses, Maristella.
(with translator)