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Honestly, I always start writing this blog thinking "what have I done that's vaguely interesting this month?!". And worry that I am just boring everyone silly with my ramblings.. Anyway, here goes.. Guests are coming and going as usual and they have all been so lovely, enjoying the house and the pool, especially the pool as it has been super hot here for a few weeks now. In fact we have been keeping cool by visiting some of the outdoor pools that we are lucky enough to have close by. The pool is wonderful at Casa Leana but sometimes it can be quite nice to visit the bigger pools with slides for the older kids and baby pools for the little ones. They are great and not ever so busy considering the weather! We also visited the pool at Lake Trasimeno again - one of my favourite day trips as you've most probably guessed by now. We've been having a few picnics - I love a picnic. Here in Italy you can pop into some of their great little deli's and get a sandwich made up for just the price of the ingredients, so, coupled with some fruit, salad, breadsticks, olives and a Peroni, Bob's your Uncle we have our picnic! It's quick and easy and it means we can just plonk ourselves down and enjoy the beautiful views wherever we like. Huge relief this end...I found my birthday sunglasses. They are beautiful, a work of art, so much so that I haven't worn them yet as I haven't been anywhere worthy of their loveliness! Ha ha.. Plus it's not my birthday until the end of August so according to my mum, I shouldn't even be thinking of wearing them until then. And yet another trip on my Vespa, rode up to Citerna for lunch with a friend, taking my helmet into the restaurant.. feeling very Audrey Hepburn-ish! After eight years since their last visit to Casa Leana we had an old friend and her extended family staying this week. We didn't think the house and gardens had changed dramatically but they seemed to be super impressed with the work that had been done since their last visit. It was so lovely to see them and I had forgotten how much fun they are - they made us fall in love with Tuscany all over again with their never ending enthusiasm "look at the view!", "we love the night markets", "let's go on the bikes", "how amazing is the food"... Honestly, it was an absolute joy to be around them and they are already planning their next trip to Casa Leana (they complained a bit that we are all booked up for next summer!). We have been out and about quite a lot this month, not only because of the gorgeous weather but also because we had another visitor from the UK. Shopping, pizza, pasta and ice creams has been the order of the day and not much cycling. Oops. Our friends have all gone back to the UK now so we are planning some cycling this week before Leigh's family comes to stay in September and October. Ooh, I forgot about the wonderful Vintage Festival in Castiglion Fiorentina. We went there not knowing what to expect and it turned out to be one of the best events I have been to for ages. They really pushed the boat out with a lot of people dressing up and bands throughout the town playing 60s music, jiving, jitterbugging and old cars with Grease the movie playing on huge screens! Such fun.. I almost bought myself a Harley Davidson leather jacket but it was such a warm evening for trying on clothes I just lost interest and have regretted that decision ever since. That jacket was beautiful! Definitely going back next year. Anyway, the events out here continue thick and fast with street food markets in Citta di Castello, night markets in Anghiari, the Palio and antiques market in Arezzo next month and more autumn festivals in October.. Fun fun fun. Have a great Bank Holiday weekend. D I A N A xxx     
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I know this may sound incredibly twee to some but I made some jam recently - my first attempt with some apricots that keep falling off the tree in our garden making me feel incredibly guilty when watching them decompose. What a messy job that is (or is it just me?!). After I'd finished literally everything we touched in the kitchen was sticky! The jam is lovely though (a bit runny if truth be told) and we have given a few jars away to the neighbours who it seems can never receive something without giving something in return so we now have an abundance of tomatoes and lettuces from their gardens. So sweet. We've been out and about as usual over the last few weeks, a few bike rides and another unexpected visit to Lake Trasimeno with some friends so that was a lovely treat. We sat around the pool overlooking the lake for most of the day with a break for lunch in one of the waterside restaurants so came away feeling very relaxed and happy. We are looking forward to seeing our friend next week - she's arriving on Monday and then Leigh's dad and step mum are arriving soon after, so we have a few busy weeks ahead! Took another trip out on my moped the other day - I am getting super confident now so we went and got a pizza to take away… I never tire of pizzas! We also had a really lovely lunch in a little place in Citerna called Ristoro La Cisterna. Just a few minutes drive from Casa Leana. They serve lovely panzanella and bruschetta, perfect for a light lunch washed down with a half litre jug of their house Prosecco (or vino rosso) yummy! D I A N A xxx    |
Welcome to my blog...
Just a little insight into our lives here. After eleven years of living in Tuscany I thought it was about time to have a go at blogging when one of my lovely friends said she had received (what she thought!) was an extremely funny text from me, hmmm.. How difficult can it be?!
D I A N A xxx
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August 2024
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