Quilt while you're ahead

Rome

Rome is beautiful.

We were guests in a convent right next to the Colosseum and the Forum.

Right. Next. To.

See? Told you.  I don't lie.  Not in Rome... Too close to the Vatican.

The view from the other side of the garden was this:

Not bad either, me thinks.

The convent itself was 1900 years old.  It was the palace of the emperor 'Domiziano' and it's been a Franciscan convent since the 1700.  Big numbers always make me feel small.

One of the friars is a famous contemporary artist and he's got the most amazing 'atelier' on the top floor

But let's talk about my little brother and his most amazing day:

Actually, I don't know what to say.  It was moving, and real, and surreal.

And humbling. (he's the one of the right, flashing his calf)

The boys are demanding their dinner now, I'll have to go, I'll just leave you with images of Rome...

and just for the fun of it...

Can you smell the lions from there?
 
 
  
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

all roads lead to...

Rome.

I'm off to the eternal city for the weekend.  My brother is becoming a 'professional' monk (in the words of No 2) and I want to be there with him...

I'll tell you all about it when I get back.
 

half term

So... how are you filling your half term days?

we're enjoying the crazy colours

 

and the woolly socks come out to play (grazie mamma!)

we're playing football in the park till the light fades

 

we've discovered the pleasure of card games and absolutely love throwing pigs around...
 

and you?
 

 

  

small things

football, tennis, cinema, walking

 Autumn leaves

in a jug

eating, washing, laughing, playing, sleeping

quilting

rugby, partying, reading, homework,

raining

 

Beauty in the small things.

  
 
 

grateful

This is me.

 

I'm smiling.

I'm smiling because I'm good at doing puzzles.  I'm smiling because I'm wearing a sparkling necklace and matching earrings (even if they are slightly high on my head...).

I'm smiling because I've had such a wonderful day yesterday, surrounded as I was by so much love and cards and presents.

 

And I'm grateful... oh so very grateful.   For the hand picked flowers,

 

for the gorgeous lunch cooked by Mr M (who also washed up and put everything away, hurray!!).

For everything.

time flies...

when you have a house full of relatives too look after.

My mother and aunt were over from Italy and although my ironing basket is virtually empty (it's bottomless one.  It is impossible to empty it...) I haven't had time to do much crafting.

We played tourists:

And so found ourselves amongst some...

scary sculptures

some bizarre sculptures

the flowers were gorgeous though

Poppies everywhere

We shopped 'a little' (three Italian women together? shopping is inevitable)

and a little more

and a tiny bit more (couldn't be helped)

But I did find some little time for a spot of sewing:

(it's a portable changing mat for my sister in law...)

And today after a trip to the airport the house is empty again.  Quieter too, but I'm always sad when my mum leaves.

eight years ago today...

at this hour I was putting on my wedding dress...

We've come a long way, me and you, Mr M, haven't we?

But I've never looked back.

Only forward.

sometimes they come back - a totally random post

And so we're back. 

Not from out of space (name that song) but almost.  Let's just say my parents' village is ... 'tiny'.  In fact, it's smaller than that, so it's nice to get back to the real world.

To recap:

Sunday was a gorgeous day

so we went for a walk in the old village orchard, nobody looks after it now and it's going wild

The trees are still flowering though

even if they're covered in 'stuff' (can someone give me the right word for it?)

I love that 'stuff'

I also finally got round to taking photographs of the log cabin quilt I made for mum a few years ago.

Boy, did that take ages of what? (and why are quilts so hard to photograph?)

It was all done using the foundation method (I wanted all the strips to be exactly the same... fool!) and I spent days ripping the paper off the back.  DAYS!!

Oh and this is Georgina (the boys named her...) the cat that showed up at Christmas time and never left.  She thinks a pile of herself if you ask me.

Well it's enough for today.  I need to go and excavate my house from all the dust left by the builders.  And yes the kitchen is done, pictures to follow...

what? Easter?

Didn't we just had Christmas a couple of days ago?

Whatever.

Time flies.  It really does.  I mean can somebody explain to me how I am suddenly the mother of a 7 year old?

Frightening.

So you're saying he's mine? I made him? Cool, I guess the odd grey hair is worth it.  He's pretty awsome. 

And you're also absolutely sure it's Easter... geesh. 

I mean the boys have given us cards

and forced me into doing stuff (Mirre, do you recognise the egg holders?)

(don't laugh but I forgot to hard boil the eggs before shrinkwrapping it and now I live with the fear of finding splattered eggs all over the house... doh...)

And I did finish the crochet garland...

So I give up.

Easter, come and have a go if you think you'll hard enough!!

I'll see you all in a few days...

big hole = big dust

The hole is getting bigger.

The dust reigns supreme. (Flowers kindly by Nr 2, ' to make the room a bit more pretty, mummy')

Unchallenged by all.

That's one day's worth.  The work has been going for five... do you get my drift?

Sigh.

Today is Mother's Day here, and I've been thoroughly spoiled by all my boys, big and small.

Hope you have great day too.