gratefully grateful 2014 | Jillian In Italy

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Gratefully Grateful 22

This has to be the strangest July weather-wise since I moved to Italy 13 years ago. Usually at this time of year the weather is unbearably hot and humid and all we want to do is eat gelato and swim at the lake. This year July has offered us cool temperature, lots of rain and even some hail and wind storms. My kids keep telling me that it just doesn’t feel “summery” at all (except when we decided to head to Milan on Saturday and it was 38 degrees and nauseatingly muggy).

I personally am not complaining because we’ve been able to get house projects done without sweating profusely and we manage to actually sleep at night without the need of fans blowing from every direction (and last night we even needed to dig out a blanket).

But I know the intense heat will arrive and with it that lazy summery rhythm that we all love and look forward to.

Here are a few of my favourite images from the last little while.

Despite the milder temps we still make time to visit the lake on a daily basis. We love those long lazy evenings with friends on the beach enjoying impromptu aperitivo picnics.My view from the picnic blanket. I’m not complaining.A little family project that we’ve been working on this summer. The kids pooled their savings and purchased this vintage camper. Unbelievable how much it has changed since this photo was taken. More pics soon.

Colourful walls in Milan. And long skinny 12 year old legs.I came across this shot I took of Sweet Paul’s Coconut Rice Pudding with Mango and Thai Basil. Must make again soon. So good.

Have a great week everyone!

Gratefully Grateful
*1*, *2*, *3*, *4*, *5*,*6*,*7*,*8*, *9*, *10*, *11*, *12*, *13*, *14*,*15*,*16*,*17*,*18*,*19*,*20*, *21*

Tags: family, grateful, gratefully grateful 2014, italy, photograhy

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Categories Creative, daily life, Family/Kids, grateful, gratefully grateful, italia, Living in Italy, photography

Gratefully Grateful 20

17 Jun

It has been a while since I published a Gratefully Grateful post. I’ve sat down several times to do it but for some reason just couldn’t. And it’s not because I haven’t had anything to be grateful for lately. It’s actually quite the opposite.

I’ve spent time with wonderful people (Mom!), visited beautiful places, eaten delicious meals, read interesting books, taken lots of memorable photos and planned exciting future trips.

But I’m happy to be back here today and share some of my favourite images of the last few weeks. I really do love looking back on these posts and remembering the little moments and details behind them.

So…

Here’s to the end of the school year which is (slowly) coming to an end.
Here’s to sultry hot summer days and melted gelato dripping down my kid’s arms.
Here’s to the copious amounts of fresh local seasonal fruit that has taken over my entire fridge.
Here’s to upcoming rock concerts that we’ve been waiting for ages to attend.
Here’s to soon being able to spend lots of homework-free days and nights with my three favourite little (big) people.

The perfect combination of bright yellow farm equipment and vibrant red poppies. With the addition of the world famous Barolo vineyards in the background. A dapper young lad on his way to lunch at the famous Slow Food restaurant Boccondivino in the small city of Bra (Piemonte). He loved it by the way.Another gorgeous rose arrangement in the beautiful Villa Porta Bozzolo. I give her less than a year before she’s taller than me.

Now this is my kind of chapel.

Have a great week folks.

Gratefully Grateful
*1*, *2*, *3*, *4*, *5*,*6*,*7*,*8*, *9*, *10*, *11*, *12*, *13*, *14*,*15*,*16*,*17*,*18*,*19*

Tags: family, grateful, gratefully grateful, gratefully grateful 2014, memories, photography, piemonte

Comments 9 Comments
Categories grateful, gratefully grateful, Uncategorized

Gratefully Grateful 13

7 Apr

I had my son home ill all last week and although I felt terrible that he was feeling so sick I have to admit that our long lazy days around the house together were so nice. We played poker, watched movies, ate pancakes at 11am and went for short walks in the sun. All his favourite things to do all and all very reminiscent of his baby and toddler days (minus the poker). He returned to school this morning and the two of us were feeling pretty melancholic about it all. But no worries, the tag-team-stay-at-home game between siblings is on and I now have one of my daughters home to fill the void. So far this morning we’ve done some line drawings, spent too much time looking at Pinterest and discussed what we’ll bake this afternoon. So here’s my GG post (a day late!).

This (last) week I’m grateful for…

…my camellia bushes. These flowers only last a short while but we greatly appreciate every single blossom.

…all the people I met yesterday (at a local event) who were so enthusiastic about the Days For Girls project. And, of course, my lovely friends who spent their Sunday afternoon helping me spread the word.…the fact that even though they are 12 years old they still love to pile up on my lap and tell me all the details about their day.

Have a great week!

Gratefully Grateful *1*, *2*, *3*, *4*, *5*,*6*,*7*,*8*, *9*, *10*, *11*, *12*

Tags: daily life, family, grateful, gratefully grateful 2014, photography

Comments 20 Comments
Categories daily life, Family/Kids, grateful, gratefully grateful, gratefullygrateful

Gratefully Grateful 6

14 Feb

This has been a particularily strange week. Besides the schizophrenic weather (one day gloriously sunny and the next with torrential winds and rain) things have just been a little wonky this week. On Monday a little 6 year old girl at my kid’s tennis club kept asking me if I was her father’s girlfriend (and refused to believe me when I said no). On Wednesday I received an indecent proposal (and I mean INDECENT) from an 80 year old man who lives down the street from me. On Thursday I accidentally ate three lunches (oops). And today my pilates teacher played only Christmas music during the entire one hour lesson. Was there by chance a full moon the last few days?

But luckily in between all the weirdness there was lots of beauty and happiness.

This week I’m grateful for…

… this bounty of green vitamin K packed vegetables that I picked up at the market this week. Look how gorgeous that Romanesco Broccoli is!

… these colourful little scenes that I come across so many times a day. I didn’t even mind that her sneakers were on the bureau and not in the shoe rack like they were supposed to be.… the fact that my kids get to grow up having the kindest, calmest and most generous and loving father around (sorry for the sappiness but it is Valentine’s Day after all!).