Ancient places often have ancient names, and in Italy, the names of some of the medieval hilltop cities often reflect the simplicity of an era long, long ago. “Civitavecchia” simply means “old city.” “Civita di Bagnoregio” means “city by Bagnoregio.” “Castiglione del Laga” means “castle by the lake.” “Citta della Pieve,” where our Italian house [ Read More ]
“Am I just dreaming?” I honestly couldn’t tell as we sat around a beautifully set table on the terrace of the stunning Italian farmhouse overlooking the neat garden of herbs framing a lovely pool. Just beyond the pool was an olive grove with rolling Umbrian hills providing a remarkable backdrop. Sometimes experiences in life are [ Read More ]
“Location, location, location!” Anyone who’s ever bought a house learns this mantra right from the start as a significant priority, and it makes no difference if you’re in Tennessee, the Pacific Northwest, or somewhere in the historic backroads of Italy. If Dan and I had continued to search for another year or two, we still [ Read More ]
There’s a good reason why I won’t tell you Flavia’s last name. If I did, you’d seek her out, fall in love with her like we did, and we’d end up having to share her, which I don’t think I want to do. Flavia was the first Italian to convince us– immediately– that Citta della [ Read More ]
The July sun was brilliant as Dan and I inched our way higher along the winding, narrow road leading constantly upward toward the ancient buildings that lined the horizon at the top. There are scores of medieval hilltop cities in Tuscany and Umbria– most of them hundreds and some even thousands of years old– built [ Read More ]
It’s still very dark when we wake. My husband, clean shaved and dressed, makes his own breakfast while I’m still nursing my coffee in my bed. There’s a 7 hour time change we’re adjusting to on this first morning back home in Tennessee after 2 months in our beautiful Umbrian home, and Italy is still [ Read More ]
Today my husband and I celebrate our 49th anniversary, which means that starting today, we begin working toward completing fifty years of marriage. Fifty years. Half a century is a long time, and understandably, it’s cause for deep reflection, as well as celebration. It occurred to me this morning that if I were to merely [ Read More ]
Apart from some really good barbecue, there’s nothing more “southern” than visiting some authentic Civil War sites when you’re in Tennessee. Having moved here a couple of years ago, my husband and I were entertaining out-of-town family recently, so we made sure we included BBQ and also a tour of the Carter House, the site [ Read More ]
A hundred years from now, stories will still be told about 2020: “The Year the Whole World Stopped.” There’s never been anything like it in our history. We’re nearing the end of 2020, but unfortunately, it isn’t necessarily a finish line. What began as the infamous “two weeks to flatten the curve” has now become [ Read More ]
As though 2020 hasn’t already been painful enough, here we sit positioned on the brink of Thanksgiving, wondering how dire the consequences would be if we “give thanks.” My husband and I own a lodging business in Washington State, and our on-site manager fielded 30 calls yesterday for last minute Thanksgiving Day cancellations after the [ Read More ]