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“Maybe we should collaborate! After Scott’s wonderful 10-day visit with us in Tuscany, that simple phrase about a collaboration appeared in an e-mail. Hmmm . . . our curiosity was piqued, so we tacked on a p.s. at the end of our response saying, “By the way, what is it you were thinking when you mentioned a ‘collaboration’?” A week later a message appeared in our mailbox, punctuated with an attachment, entitled Proposal. (more…)

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“I didn’t know you were such a ham.”

Cheryl shared that brief comment with me on the phone, just after watching the video I had made called “Wood Worms.” Since we were working remotely during the month of June, there was a bit more independent action on my part, so I admit that both the topic chosen and the implementation might very well have been just a bit different. However, I have to say that the word ham didn’t settle quite right when I first heard it. What does it mean anyway? It certainly didn’t feel like the compliment I was hoping for, so I left the conversation feeling a bit puzzled. (more…)

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Wherever I go, there life is. Whatever I’m doing, there I am.

Sometimes it feels like I’m being followed. No matter how far away I go, no matter how sneaky I think I am by stealing off to Italy, despite my best efforts to change my name and identity—when I wake up the next morning, there I am . . . again!

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Admiration.

That’s what comes to mind when I think of someone living alone. I’m in awe of the courage it must take to say “I’m going to do this on my own, no matter what.” The underlying self-confidence is inspiring. My brief experiences are nothing in comparison, but they at least give me glimpses and insights into what it must take to be solo, as we say in Italy. (more…)

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Abundance!

We go for a walk each evening, just to check in with each other and with ourselves. There is something about the rhythm of walking that coaxes out deeper feelings and more creative ideas. We do some of our best work when we walk. We have a number of different choices depending on our moods and available time. But, there is nothing like the meadow walk for inspiration and soulful engagement. (more…)

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Saturday night was my big event of the week—dinner at Torre al Sasso, Stone Tower. My celebratory meal consisted of a calzone farcito with birra, beer followed by the ever popular caffè normale, espresso which is a cultural requirement. Of course I did start off with a complimentary glass of prosecco, champagne’s Italian cousin, because that’s just what happens when we go to Sasso. Even though I was solo, alone tonight, I still got special treatment and even warranted a table for four right in front of the calcio, soccer game. As you can already see, I wasn’t kidding about this being a big night. (more…)

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(Em here)

Wimp isn’t a word that comes to mind when I think about myself, but perhaps I need to rethink that. We live in the campagna, country and have grown accustomed to the many creatures that share this space. After all, they were here long before we were, so we have created an amicable agreement about limits and how we can best get along together. The variety of critters includes cinghiale, wild boar, capriolo, deer, lupo, wolf, and istrice, porcupine to name just a few. As in life, where the little things are often the most difficult, so it is with me and lucertola—the dreaded lizard. (more…)

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Em here,

Excitement and sadness mix to form a rather strange emotional concoction—perhaps an unusual elixer that hopefully, magically brings out the best in life. Cheryl leaves today for a month—4 whole weeks! Duty calls sometimes, and since family is one of our priorities, she must go alone. That may not sound like a big deal or seem like a terribly long time, but it is for us. (more…)

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We realize that our approach to writing is unorthodox, but that is exactly what we want. It provides a way for us to literally write as partners on “one story.” We enjoy a “volley” process of writing, whereby we edit each other’s work until there is nothing left to change. Both computers are set up so that each of us has an inspiring place to work. (more…)

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I awoke this morning to a hauntingly beautiful dawn with yellow and salmon colored clouds hanging like lace over the blue-green ridge line of the mountains—nothing unusual as that is often the case in this valley. But today, there was something else stirring besides the sun. (more…)