Archive | July, 2012
Italy (favorite spot)
Our hands down favorite spot in Italy was San Martino. Usually a hotel/b&b doesn’t live up to the website or your expectations, but San Martino went beyond ours. I’ve tried to explain to people why and to be honest I’m not quite sure. The aesthetic of this agriturismo is surely part of it, my favorite blend of rustic and contemporary. It’s quiet, but not out of the way (literally at the foot of the small charming town of Montepulciano), but not so quiet that is feels stiff or uncomfortable for a family with kids. The pond swimming pool and all its frog inhabitants was a big hit with the kids (no pool will ever live up to its entertainment value). The owners are lovely, the food was divine and many of the guests were on their second or third visit, which really says the most. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend!
and closer still….
closer
pictures of paintings of pictures
I have grand plans for my ‘quiet’ week. I’m not usually one to work late at night, but recently I have been loving the quiet nights around here. So this week my evenings are going to be about making new work. Here’s a sneak peak…
p.s. I haven’t been this excited about a new series of work in a long time (yay!)
Weekend
We dropped our daughter at sleep away camp yesterday and visiting family left, so the house is blissfully quiet. The first quiet day this summer, really. So last night I sat down and did a little project just for myself with some left over clay I bought the kids. These little candle plates are so simple and easy and I loved the result.
little bits from around these parts
Italy: part 1 (the kids)
I’ve decided to break up my posts about our trip to Italy into three parts. Today I wanted to share some details about what it was like traveling with kids. We’ve done quite a bit of travelling with our kids (12 years old and 9 years old), but this was our longest and furthest from home to date.
I think the following photos sum up pretty well what two weeks in a foreign country were like for our family. The three things I took away from this trip were:
1. Even though we are on ‘vacation’ doesn’t mean the kids won’t fight, break down and have their moments. When we were researching this trip, I read a ton of travel blogs aimed at parents, and no one ever seems to talk about that for some reason. One of my favorite pics is from the Trevi fountain where my two sat and argued, over what, I can’t remember. In the moment it wasn’t so funny, but now it cracks me up, I’m so glad I captured it (see photo below).
2. Kids get tired fast, adjust expectations. We arrived during a heat wave so this happened even faster. The silver lining of this though, was that instead of cramming in as many things as we could into a day, it forced us to do one major activity, lay low and relax the rest of the day and then come out at night to explore some more. In the end, I think it saved us from getting burnt out.
3. Travelling with kids lets you see a different side of your destination (and makes you do and notice funny things). On a hot day, our son made like a local, stripped down and went for a swim in a huge fountain at the Villa Borghese gardens.
Later this week I will share our favorite spots and some travel tips!
Tokketok
A little while ago I saw these brilliant ‘because’ cards by Joke of Tokketok on pinterest. I immediately emailed her and she was so lovely to send me some! I have been thinking up all sorts of ways of using them! What would you use one for?
top image Tokketok
we’re back!
and feeling a bit like the photo below. I will be back with some more pics from out trip next week. Until then, sleep is in my future…
