My Tuscany

"I came to Italy for the art, the cuisine, landscapes, history, architecture, wine, and the ineffable beauty.  I stayed for the people.  Cortona has a grand congregation of hearty, hospitable, generous souls.  And not all of them are Italian."
(Frances Mayes)

Though I'm a fast reader, this book was impossible to speed through!  To miss any one of Mayes' delectable adjectives would have decreased the sensory pleasure derived from her description of a season in her restored villa in Cortona.

I finished the book while traveling to and from Ohio to visit my mother (and father) yesterday.  I'm inspired to live more fully, eat more slowly, celebrate longer, and breathe more deeply the air around me.

I may never travel to Italy, but I shall consider our backyard  "My Tuscany" and spend some quality time right here! There's plenty of traveling for me to do in Harlan.*

*I have traveled a good deal in Concord.- Henry David Thoreau

13 comments:

  1. I have to read this book after reading your description. One of my many dreams is to retire to Tuscany! Love Di ♥

    P.S. Did you find this at the library?

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  2. Fiction or non-fiction?
    Love Di ♥

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  3. Di, Non-fiction. I rarely read fiction these days. It has to be "good" (by my standards) for me to finish a fiction book. I'm hoping "Imperfect Birds" by Anne Lamott is good. I enjoy her as a non-fiction writer....will see if I like this novel that has been waiting for me to finish "Tuscany".

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  4. And isn't that what He meant life to be
    for us? The Lord wants us to live more
    fully, savor our food, celebrate all
    He has given us, etc. Sounds like you
    had an excellent reminder from this
    delightful read.
    Have a lovely day!
    God's best,
    Sandy

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  5. Sounds like you were really inspired! And I loved hearing how your own backyard was your Tuscany. I think home and your own backyard are wonderful things to savor!
    Love to you,
    Eileen

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  6. I envy you that you can read while you travel, I get sick. It has been awhile since I found a book that I did not want to end.

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  7. Sounds like a book I need to get hold of!

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  8. I may have to read this one. I once saw a movie where the setting was in Tuscany. BTW, I also LOVE the new look on your blog!

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  9. Donna, I'm pretty sure that movie was from one of the first books this author wrote. Then she got famous! Thanks re. the blogs new look. I was trying to jump start my flagging energy/emotions, etc. :) This was one of my endeavors.

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  10. I really enjoyed Mayes other books on Tuscany but I haven't read this one. I'll have to see if my library has it.

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  11. Rebecca, you are fabulous! What a wonderful take-away...that Thoreau quote is terrific! And the book sounds wonderful! I think I have another great read to add to the stack by my chair...sigh...someday, I'll get around to finishing one of them :-) Love you so much! Janine XO

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  12. I would love to go to Italy. My grandparents on my Mother's side were both born in Sicily. I hate long plane rides, so we've never ventured outside of North America, yet. We have a restaurant in our town called Tuscany and the atmosphere is just like being in Italy. We eat there often. I try to incorporate Tuscan design into my home too.
    great post

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Writing a Song a Week #3

Writing a Song a Week #3
♪ I wait for the Lord; my soul waits and in his word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning ♪ (Psalm 130:5-6)