High in the Appenine mountains of Tuscany, in the middle of a dense forest of fir and beech trees, rests the majestic Benedictine Monastery of Vallombrosa, founded in 1038. It is a magical tribute to the power of spirit to move mankind. After many changes over the centuries, the current form remains to this day […]
Forty-one years ago we sat in a Miami University dorm room, where Emerson played and first sang a song for me called “Catch the Wind” by Donovan. Where were you? It’s fascinating to look back at significant events and influences in our lives—those that made a difference. Though there are many, it’s possible to whittle […]
Stefano arrived right on time. The Magic Garden Our favorite vivaio, gardener came walking up the steps toward the front door. But rather than watching where he was going, he was looking around at the plants that had grown up since he was last here. As Em walked out the door, Stefanolooked up with a […]
Forty-one years ago we sat in a Miami University dorm room, where Emerson played and first sang a song for me called “Catch the Wind” by Donovan. Where were you? It’s fascinating to look back at significant events and influences in our lives—those that made a difference. Though there are many, it’s possible to whittle […]
Stefano arrived right on time. Our favorite vivaio, gardener came walking up the steps toward the front door. But rather than watching where he was going, he was looking around at the plants that had grown up since he was last here. As Em walked out the door, Stefano looked up with a surprised grin. […]
Grace and forgiveness. Emerson has recently come to realize that in this lifetime he wants to focus on forgiveness, for both himself and others. Basically, that means releasing blame and resentment by choosing the path of forgiveness as the ultimate solution. Although the idea seems rather simple, it’s not so easy in practice. At this […]
Espresso. Simple. Rich. Satisfying. But how and why? We accepted the invitation to delve into the mystery. We typically begin our day in a coffee bar—specifically, Pasticceria Lorenzo in the little town of Pian di Mugnone,Italy, just north of Florence. The coffee is quick and hot, and balances perfectly with a fresh pastry. When we’re […]
catchy name Last week we experienced a serendipitous moment. While browsing online for a nearby restaurant, we came across one with a curious name: Vino y Otros Remedios (Wine and Other Remedies). The name was intriguing with its suggestion of healing the body with great foods and wines, but it was the reviews that really […]
charming old streets Over the next several posts you may notice a French theme laced throughout our stories, for good reason. Our plan to “get out of Dodge” (see the previous story called “Taken for Granite,”) landed us in the beautiful city of Lyon, France, which is the heart of the southwest region of the […]
Illusion is a distortion of the senses. typical French street scene The brain picks up visual cues that are recognizable, instantly fitting them into familiar patterns. In a flash, it issues a report about what’s going on. The brain fills in the blanks. Normally, we “believe” what we see. However, sometimes we’re reminded that our […]
