The fairy tale is over, at least for me and Tom. While my son and his beautiful bride continue their romantic story over in Italy, we've said goodbye to the rehearsal dinner leftovers and the last out-of-town guest.

My mother-in-law left this morning. No more eating out or playing cutthroat games of 3-13, where I actually got on a winning streak for the first time in 30 years.

We're puppysitting our grandpuppy (which I love!) but otherwise we're back to our old routines. I went back to work yesterday and, while Tom is taking a few days off, he's back to piecing rock together for our driveway. I hear his hammer tapping as I type this.

But thank goodness (and bless my husband who built it) reality includes a break in the evening beside a little terrace bordering a small pond shaded by new green leaves, with splashes of crimson flowers and baby dewberries along the rim, where I can sit with a glass of wine, a pen and some paper, until the mosquitoes tell me it's time to go inside.



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I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes. 

~e.e. cummings 

 


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20 responses to “Back to Reality”

  1. Ms. A Avatar

    Relaxation is a wonderful thing and it looks like you’ve got the perfect location to do it. If not, after a few glasses of wine, it sure will seem like it!

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  2. Hilary Avatar

    Looks like the perfect day. What a joy.

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  3. Lady Fi Avatar

    What a lovely place to relax. And that pup is very sweet.

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  4. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    She's a sweetheart for sure!
     

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  5. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Oh, it's perfect without the wine, except for the rough trail I have to descend to get to it! (Can't have too many glass of wine because of it!)
     

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  6. Kathy Avatar

    Quite the lovely end note for a joyous occasion. If there are photos from the happy couple showing any of Italy’s landscape, will you share?

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  7. Jennifer Richardson Avatar

    i can feel the hush settle over your May
    and am grateful for the joy that sparkled
    and now for the calm that restores some familiar rhythm.
    Love to you and your beautiful life,
    Jennifer

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  8. Gail Avatar

    What part of Italy are they going to? The Tuscan region is so romantic. Heck, all of Italy is! What a great place to honeymoon. Beautiful photos you have here, my dear.

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  9. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    They're going everywhere I want to go! They spent the first night on the Grand Canal in Venice, then took a train to Florence. Yesterday they were in Tuscany for a wine tasting. I know they'll also spend some time in Rome and Cinque Terre. Sigh.

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  10. lisleman Avatar

    Mood killing mosquitoes. You did mention them. Is there a good safe way to treat the pond water?
    Relaxing is good. If stress is a killer, then relaxation is a saver. Dying from stress would be terrible way to go. Laughing to death sounds so much better. Sorry I not sure why my comment took the turn it did. Maybe it was a wake I attend early in the week. A neighbor passed away and I think it’s still on my mind. The combination of your title with the relaxing setting developed into a strange thought process.

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  11. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    As a blogger yourself, you know it's great if you trigger thoughts in your reader, no matter what turn they take! As far as the pond and mosquitoes go, we're hoping the bat we spotted last week stuck around and invites his/her friends. We have plenty of refreshments for them!
     

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  12. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I think that would be a great post (if they let me!) 
     

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  13. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Thank you, Jennifer. You described it perfectly!

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  14. Carol Avatar

    Lovely photos and glad you are back on ‘routine’ ~ love the dog photos ^^
    Thanks for coming by and commenting ^
    ^

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  15. Wolf Pascoe Avatar

    That e.e. cummings poem was my favorite favorite during college. Then I graduated to “anyone lived in a pretty how town.”

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  16. lisa Avatar

    A truly beautiful way to end a most memorable time, Barbara!
    What a wonderful post this is.
    Have a fantastic weekend!

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  17. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    That one makes you think, that’s for sure, but this one makes my heart smile and say “yes”. I tend to think too much as it is.

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  18. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Thank you, Lisa! I hope you have a great weekend yourself!
     

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