♥

To the most beautiful compassionate loving woman I know.

Thank you for teaching me to never let go of my heart's desires.

Thank you for being a woman who always looks for the beauty in the simple things of life.

Thank you for being so full of wisdom and strength.

Thank you for being a mother whom I greatly admire.

Happy Birthday Mom!

xx oo

taste tests...

Buona sera!

Forgive me for another long blogging pause. 

I just have to share a couple of good news tidbits with you before I head off to bed.

1. PG has a full-time job at the local TV station. WHEW!

2. I received my Nulla Osta today. A very important piece of paper that states I can legally marry my lovely man in July. 

3. Our wedding planning is coming along rather nicely, thanks for asking! 

We've been taste testing our friend David's amazingly delicious wine from Maremma.  

It goes ever so nicely with a piece of locally made pecorino cheese.

Wine for wedding ✓

 4. And the reason for the long blogging pause... 

After everything that has been happening around the world lately, my heart has been speaking rather loudly lately. It forced me to stop for a second, listen, and focus on a few dreams of mine. 

I will tell you more soon, but first I need to go spend some time sleeping.

Buona notte!

hello spring!

I love Spring! 

Days filled with sunshine and magnolia's blossoming all around Pistoia is always a great pick-me-up at the end of a very long hard winter.

For winter's rains and ruins are over, And all the season of snows and sins; The days dividing lover and lover, The light that loses, the night that wins; And time remembered is grief forgotten, And frosts are slain and flowers begotten, And in green underwood and cover Blossom by blossom the spring begins.

Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909)

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Images via BBC News

It still doesn't feel right to post anything on this blog with what's going on in Japan. 

I just read that more than 500,000 people have been made homeless and are living in temporary evacuation centres, many without running water or power. 

Heart-wrenching! 

So please do something that matters and donate to one of the organizations that are providing the Japanese people with emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies.

Yahoo has compiled a list here.

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Images via BBC News

I just can't get my head around all the devastation that is happening in the world lately. 

My heart goes out to all those affected in Japan and thoughts are with them as they face the mammoth recovery. If you want to do something that matters for the people of Japan, go here.

spring air + antiques

Did you have a great weekend? We did!

The sun was shining, weather was warm, I can finally smell spring in the air, and we found the most delightful little antique yard.  I have my eye on a number of things, and plan on heading back there next week to do a little bataring.