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Tuscany: “Il Dolce Far Niente”

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We just finished a two week “set down” in Tuscany fulfilling one of Nicole’s bucket-list items: settle into life in a Tuscan Farmhouse. We rented a farmhouse through Tenuta Spannocchia and simply rested up from the last 140+ days of travel.

We lived into the Italian saying, “Il dolce far niente,” “the sweetness of doing nothing.”

But, to help you picture the deliciously slow and relaxed pace of our Tuscan life, we present “A Day in Tuscany.”

Ryan is the "morning man" who makes delicious breakfasts to start our days.
Mornings begin quite organically — no alarms allowed! We would sleep as long as our bodies decided. Ryan is the “morning man” who makes delicious breakfasts to start our days. Here he is preparing the Cinta Senese bacon made onsite at Spannocchia.
Steam rising off pear Crumble topped with steel-cut oatmeal, perfectly paired with English Breakfast Tea.
Steam rising off pear Crumble topped with steel-cut oatmeal, perfectly paired with English Breakfast Tea.
Starting and tending the fire in the giant fireplace is an all-day task shared by the family. The fireplace became the center of our shared life together.
Starting and tending the fire in the giant fireplace is an all-day task shared by the family. The fireplace became the center of our shared life together.
Harmony spent most of her waking time settled into a cushy chair alongside the fireplace working on her online classes. She is such a diligent student!
Harmony spent most of her waking time settled into a cushy chair alongside the fireplace working on her online classes. She is such a diligent student!
It's always a good time to snuggle a kitty! The girls called this one "King Purr."
It’s always a good time to snuggle a kitty! The girls called this one “King Purr.”
We enjoyed wandering the back roads of Spannocchia. The Fall colors were beautiful!
We enjoyed wandering the back roads of Spannocchia. The Fall colors were beautiful!
Often, we would check on the adorable piglets. They were only a couple weeks old when we arrived! We learned a lot about the Cinta Senese heritage breed of pigs.
Often, we would check on the adorable piglets. They were only a couple weeks old when we arrived! We learned a lot about the Cinta Senese heritage breed of pigs.
Joy and Hope helped with chopping the garden veggies for our meal times. Here they are chopping veggies for the Tuscan Meat Sauce that would be simmering the rest of the day.
Joy and Hope helped prepare for our meal times. Here they are chopping veggies for the Tuscan Meat Sauce that would be simmering the rest of the day. Our veggies were mainly from our “farm box” straight out of the Spannocchia organic garden.
Rather than watchdogs, we had to watch to make sure the dogs wouldn't come lumbering into our farmhouse!
Rather than watchdogs, we had to watch to make sure the dogs wouldn’t come lumbering into our farmhouse! They were sweet gentle giants.
Afternoons were perfect time for hand crafting: crochet, knitting, coloring, or even whittling! Joy realized Olive tree clippings were perfect for whittling into magic wands!
Afternoons were perfect time for hand crafting: crochet, knitting, coloring, or even whittling! Joy realized Olive tree clippings were perfect for whittling into magic wands!
But sometimes the girls created home made play dough.
But sometimes the girls created home made play dough.
Time for more kitty love! If we ever wonder how Joy became a "crazy cat lady" later in life, remind us of our time in Tuscany!
Time for more kitty love! If we ever wonder how Joy became a “crazy cat lady” later in life, remind us of our time in Tuscany!
It is always a good time to read by the fireplace!
It is always a good time to read by the fireplace!
Almost every late afternoon, Nicole would march everyone outside to honor the ending of the day by watching a beautiful Tuscan sunset. Each evening was so different!
Almost every late afternoon, Nicole would march everyone outside to honor the ending of the day by watching a beautiful Tuscan sunset. Each evening was so different!
Paula made (and we all enjoyed) a delicious Arroz con Leche! We discovered we all loved rice pudding while traveling through Turkey.
Paula made (and we all enjoyed) a delicious Arroz con Leche! We discovered we all loved rice pudding while traveling through Turkey.
Most nights found us gathered for dinner around our own table, however, there were 4 nights that we shared the community dinner with the Spannocchia community. It was lovely (and delicious) to gather around farm-fresh food, wine, and conversation! Salute!
Most nights found us gathered for dinner around our own table, however, there were 4 nights that we shared the community dinner with the Spannocchia community. It was lovely (and delicious) to gather around farm-fresh food, wine, and conversation! Salute!
Our favorite part of any day is gathering together to listen to the Harry Potter book series on Audible! Here we are listening to Book 5 as Harry awkwardly receives his first kiss and then tries to explain it to his best friends. We love these stories! We have listened to them through Ireland, England, Israel, Palestine, Turkey, Greece, Croatia, and now Italy.
Our favorite part of any day is gathering together to listen to the Harry Potter book series on Audible! Here we are listening to Book 5 as Harry awkwardly receives his first kiss and then tries to explain it to his best friends. We love these stories! We have listened to them through Ireland, England, Israel, Palestine, Turkey, Greece, Croatia, and now Italy.
Fresh air, fresh ingredients, fresh olive oil, real Parmesan, and empty wine bottles. It has been a lovely two weeks in Tuscany! We feel refreshed, recharged, and ready for our next edventures!
Fresh air, fresh ingredients, fresh olive oil, real Parmesan, and empty wine bottles. It has been a lovely two weeks in Tuscany!
We feel refreshed, recharged, and ready for our next edventures!

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3 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    November 18, 2016 at 4:38 pm

    Beautiful way of unwinding, reconnecting, and recharging.

  2. Anonymous
    November 18, 2016 at 9:08 pm

    Ah, so good to settle in for a while! I’m so jealous. Thank you for journaling your adventure so well.
    Meg Easling

  3. Anonymous
    November 18, 2016 at 11:11 pm

    That is on my bucket list too! Looks like you had a nice relaxing time. Pastor Ryan you are starting to look like a hippie – LOL

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