Italy

The Stores of Italy

| Flower Roberts

It was hard to choose what stores to take photos of and even harder to choose which to enter.
Buying was not an option for most items because there were four of us traveling and eating, so photos had to suffice.
I will note that one of the women in the group purchased 12 pairs of shoes on the trip. Shoes there are wonderfully made and not that expensive. She showed us photos of her shoes over diner one night. They were all unique and beautiful.

Items made of alabaster.

We have a small cabinet in our library which we call ‘ The Italy Cabinet.’ All our souveniers were small and carefully chosen.

I did get a necklace and scarf for special occasions. These items mean more because we limited our purchases.

Stay tuned for floors, furniture, decor and maybe some fancy ceilings.

FLOW

The Food of Italy

| Flower Roberts

Everything was fresh and delicious. None of us ever got sick from things we ate during the entire trip.

Cappuccino!

I wish this pescare was in focus. This was set before the man sitting beside me at a group diner. I was thankful that I did not order the fish since it seemed that it had been caught and battered without a cleaning. He said it was delicious. I tried to ignore the eyes on the plate next to mine.

FLOW

The Floors of Italy

| Flower Roberts

Every surface seemed to be covered in art, the ceilings, the walls, the doors and even the floors.
Sometimes it was difficult to get a photo without a person in it. I find now that the presence of people adds perspective and scale.
There is method in my chaos. I am enjoying this return trip via photographs. I can follow my thought patterns, as I examine what I chose to take pictures of.
It is comical how I seemed to play seek-and- find in the Uffizi for plants, animals, flowers and fruits in the periphery of huge paintings. There are stories. I even got fixated on taking photos of ancient sandals.
There is so much more to come. Thinking of these posts has made me laugh for the first time in days.
Stay tuned.

Yes, we were that high. ZOOM IN. We got in the wrong line and climbed over 400 steps to get to the top with the horses.  Check post link at end for story.
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This is a tomb in St. Peter’s with the floor designed to feature purple marble tomb which has a little lamb on the top holding a flag. I wish I had taken more photos of its details.

FLOW on the floors

https://seizuremama.wordpress.com/2018/02/14/in-the-wrong-line/

The Flowers of Italy

| Flower Roberts

Choosing which flowers to share was difficult.
Italy has a passion for plants. They are on porches, on walls and in pots everywhere.

I loved this about Italy. They love their plants.

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Not sure these were real on balcony in Venice
Boboli Gardens

Sometimes things were so beautiful that I would have to pause and cry because I was so grateful to be in Italy with my family.

I needed to put these two dogs in a post.

FLOWER

To Italy on Sundays

| Flower Roberts

If you don’t own a private jet, you can still go to Italy on Sundays…

sort of.

Raffaldini Vineyard is a great place to pretend that you are in an Italian vineyard.

The view is spectacular.

The wine is delicious.

 

The pizza is from a brick oven, albeit a small one, on wheels.

It is a lovely place to spend a quiet afternoon.

 

Even if it is raining.

We love Raffaldini’s.

FLORA

Grow Where You Are Planted

| Flower Roberts

I must be surrounded by plants to be at home.

I am fortunate that I have a yard that I can fill up with green friends.

I saw a young lady through a window in Italy, that was a kindred spirit in an urban setting.

This is a photo of her kitchen window. I took it from the window of our apartment elevator.

20151004_170041 These are planters hanging on her window shutters.

We would see her through this window in the evenings. She would be cooking in her kitchen. Probably using herbs from her window boxes.

I never met her, but I love this little Italian cook.

FOLLOW the FLOWER.