I know, I know. Most people love Italy for its climate: the sunny days, the dry weather that allows people to take many day trips and enjoy the outdoors. I am peculiar as far as the weather goes. I love the rain, the mists, the cool breeze, the grey skies. I love the weather that makes you feel comfortable indoors, curled up on your sofa with a good book and a cup of tea. Well, at least until that was possible… Now, with Liam there is no much curling-reading-sipping, and there is a lot of bending to pick up toys and holding tiny hands while he learns to take his first steps… Still, I couldn’t wait for a night like last night. A handbook thunderstorm which left behind a beautiful overcast, misty morning.
(A view of the village from the loggia at Casina di Rosa)
I was born in the wrong place, you might think. Maybe. Or maybe I get to truly enjoy these rainy days because we don’t get many. They make for a nice change.
And they make it comfortable to use the oven to bake cakes (and indeed yesterday evening I did make pizza and bake a chocolate cake for today’s breakfast…), or to prepare soups, polenta, and other autumn dishes. The fall turns my “nesting instinct” on, and I like it.
(The loggia at Casina di Rosa)
Besides, Tuscany is gorgeous in the fall I think. I went to tidy up Casina di Rosa this morning and the light after the rain was great. The details that I love so much about this little house seemed even prettier.
(A detail of the bedroom at Casina di Rosa)
I sometimes forget that what is now a vacation rental home in Tuscany was my great-grandparents’ home a few years back. And not too many either. My great-grandmother Rosa died in 1984. If I close my eyes, I can still see her in her dark dress, with her long silver hair tied in a chignon held up by the old pins she had used all her life, sitting in her rocking chair knitting or sewing.
(The old door that my grandfather built in the 50’s)
The name of the house means “Rosa’s little house”: that is how it was known in the village and that is the name we kept for it.
Very pleasant to read and gorgeous pics! I love fall too, but only after having had a long hot summer.. too bad in Holland they are rare. Thank God for Italy.
Your description of your nonna reminds my of mine..Giovanna.
Thank you very much for stopping by!
Hi Gloria! My wife Julie and I are travelling around Europe for a couple of years, and have found ourselves in Tuscany on our slow way south towards Sicily and Tunisia. I just wanted to thank you for your blog, a rare thing to find someone with detailed local knowledge writing for us English, who of course only speak English! We left Pisa yesterday, a beautiful place, and blissfully quiet at this time of year. We’re now in Vinci, which has the blessing of a free motorhome sosta. I took a walk earlier along the rough roads up into the hills, watching the locals couples combing olive trees as the blazing sun went down. As they say in England: smashing! We love it here. Thanks again for your writing. Jason
Thank you Jason, your comment made my day! 🙂 If you ever happen to be in Tuscany and you want to spend some time off-the-beaten path, we hope to have you as our guests at Casina di Rosa!