Orchids in winter

A garden center we visited a few weeks ago was giving away some orchids, so we took a few, well actually we took five! Now we have one in almost every room and I'm learning how to care for them, which isn't that easy. The last one I had in Pisa died rather quickly... But they do brighten the house a bit and bring some beauty to it! Now I've started painting them too and I'll post a photo when I find my camera again, which seems to have gone missing momentarily.

Sledding

Out for some sledding down sheep hill. It's been great fun, but today the snow is starting to melt and it's quite sad, feels almost like spring is about to arrive, but personally I'm still wishing for a bit more snow and wintery weather. It's been cold, but you get used to it, and it's just beautiful with all the snow, though it has been a bit difficult getting the boys to kindergarten and getting around in general.

a scottish winter...

So we've finally moved up to Scotland and are settling in. It's mighty cold up here and gets dark quite early, but hopefully it's the worst of it and it will only get better in time. There's been snow on the ground since before Christmas which makes it feel wintry. I'm setting up my studio and sketching the boys a bit which is nice...

avocado smoothies...

So we just got back from our trip to Langkawi and Bali, and it's amazing how it disolves so quickly, how quickly you forget about lying on the beach and wading through the water. At least we have some photos to help us remember. There were many beaches and pools and dinners out. Lots of exotic fruit to try (some very strange smelly ones!) and small and large animals to see: monkeys, iguanas, flying lemurs, geckos, enormous spiders, sharks! The boys had a great time and we relaxed which we needed. Oh, and probably all of these photos are Matteo's....

From summer sun to autumn weather

crossing the Channel...

somewhere in Sardegna...

auntie Nicole's

Finally we're back to our normal little lives for a bit. We had quite a long summer vacation in Geneva and Pisa, and Isola della Maddalena in Sardegna. It was all beautiful, with nice family time all around. Now we're back here in Hathersage and we have a month to pack up our little house before moving on... It's amazing how much stuff you accumulate, even in only the short time that we've been here. Autumn is lovely though, it's nice to enjoy a brisk walk and a hot shower and not be drenched in sweat or not be able to turn the oven on because of the heat. Quite different lives we have, here and there...

painting paterns

pink on pink, a new title for a show? I'm loving this soft new style... We're off to Geneva soon to play with our cousins, and then down to Italy for some summer sun and Sardinian beaches! Will be back in the fall to pack for our big move... Have a lovely summer all!

Wet Felting

I've been having fun with felt and soapy water during the heat wave here, even though I should be packing! The boys have been making loads of colorful wee willy worms too, and playing with the water...