When the suitcases come out for airing a few days before a trip it doesn’t take long for Stella to notice. She’ll approach haltingly and give them a few deep confirming sniffs before slinking away[…]
Can’t believe it’s done!
It took nine months of renovations, seven trips abroad to oversee the work, and countless hours exchanging emails and shopping online, and now finally, on March 20, I declared mission accomplished. Casa Castigliana is[…]
Online shopping: antiquing in the 21st century
Nope, not Amazon. This week I am emailing with a small local antiques dealer in the charming town of Monte San Savino asking if he has any vintage iron headboards. On our last visit in[…]
Mille Miglia 2017
I was fortunate to be in Tuscany last May during the annual running of the Mille Miglia antique auto race. Since 1927 this race has zipped from Brescia to Rome and back again over the[…]
2017 Tour de France
The Internationally-famous cycle race will pass very close to Duras on July 12 of this year on the leg between Eymet and Pau. Eymet is just 15 minutes from Duras and will be hopping with[…]
We’re soooo close!
We just returned from a working trip to Castiglione d’Orcia to check on the progress at Casa Castigliana. Right after the holidays the craftsmen will return to put up the remaining light fixtures, hook up[…]
La cucina
We are getting very close to the end! It’s so exciting to see the creamy travertine countertops in place and the backsplash going up too. I can’t wait to get there next week to cook[…]
The light at the end of the cannoli
This has been an intense several months for me–traveling back to Italy every six weeks or so to meet with my building crew and make decisions on what our new home will look and feel[…]
Living the good life in Duras
When I’m not at the Clocktower Cottage I spend a lot of time thinking about what it feels like to be in Duras. There’s a peacefulness to small village living that can only be explained[…]