The warm weather has officially arrived over here in Northern Italy and we’ve been very busy enjoying all the the activities and things that come with it. Seeds have been sown, the treehouse has been installed, stone pathways amongst the vegetable patches laid, the citronella candles and torches dug out and my beloved tuquoise weber dusted off and placed in it’s home for the summer (outside my kitchen door). Spirits are high around here.
My 50 year old rose plants that are found all over my garden are in full bloom and absolutely lovely. This vase is actually a peach juice can that I (insisted) on bringing back from a vending machine in Japan. The colours are so soft and romantic – perfect to display a rose or two.
The weather is finally nice enough to sit in the garden with a glass of iced tea and a favorite cookbook. This is one of my favorite things about summer. 
My first batch of lettuce is ready to be eaten. Five different kinds and enough to feed the entire town where I live. And the plants that the escaped chickens enjoyed a few weeks ago have miraculously grown back.
Time of year to invite friends over to hang out and eat in the garden surrounded by millions of our mosquito friends. There is a lot of laughing, chatting and slapping (mosquitos) done on these occasions. Get recipe for these most delicious mini brownies here.
It is the season to make many beverages. Limeade, lemonade, homemade orangina and raspberry squash.
Kids had their first lemonade stand this week. The locals still don’t really know how to deal with the whole thing. They stop and say “che bello”, give some money then head off without any lemonade. One guy even told them they should be selling wine instead. Nico thought it was a really good idea.
Jillian In Italy 
Que bello.
Wonderful post, Jill! Now I am definitely in a summer mood! Unfortunately here in Berlin it’s 12something degrees and cloudy… but your pictures brought me some sun 🙂
Sorry to hear about the bad weather in Berlin. I’m sure the sun will shine soon enough! Enjoy your Sunday!
Lovely post! I would love a tutorial on your homemade orangina, if you’d be willing to share:) I love the Italian response to the limonita stand. Two things I will miss most about Italy when we move back to the US in a couple of months: “che bello” and the Italian relationship with wine.
Hi Tara. Yes, Italians really do love their wine. And the fact I don’t drink it makes them eye me very suspiciously. For the homemade orangina I simply took “acqua frizzante” (carbonated water) and added some fresh orange juice. I think I did about 3/4 juice to 1/4 water. Simple but actually really refreshing.
Berlin and Amsterdam are suffering from the same disease at the moment 😛 Thanks for sharing some (much-needed) sunshine and color! And I’m glad I’m not the only one who insists on hoarding cute packaging. I’ve had a hot pink-striped Karl Lagerfeld for Diet Coke bottle sitting unopened on my dresser for a year now… and I don’t even drink Diet Coke!
Oh yes, I’m a sucker for pretty packaging. Doesn’t even matter if what’s inside tastes like rubbish. It’s one of my weaknesses.
Thanks for visiting my post about Versailles today. Couldn’t see an email to reply to so thought I’d leave a comment here. The palace will definitely be crowded in July so book your tickets well in advance if you decide to go. I would also highly recommend Chantilly. Also near Paris, just as pretty and less crowded.
Love your blog – it looks like we have a love of sewing, crafts and Anna Maria Horner fabric in common. Oh, and I have twins too!
Great post…it’s inspiring to motivate me to get my garden going…or at least pots on the patio for a lovely place to sit…it’s always a challenge to transform a new place into a relaxing garden sanctuary. Thanks!
Gorgeous pictures Jillian, they make me want to eat 🙂 Love the lettuces, they are so pretty. We were recently at a castle in the Loire where they were planted en masse and they were stunning. Although I don’t think they ate any of theirs which is kind of a waste, really. Enjoy your beautiful weather and surrounds!