update from the villa

busy busy busy at villa magnolia.
preparing our home for its first retreat in june.

i haven’t had much time recently to write,
not even in my journal.
(which is a bit distressing for me.)

but it is what it is,
a season in life.
so i try to focus on the rewards
of each day, each hour.

today i’m sharing some day-in-the-life images.
i hope you enjoy them.
 
 
the morning room cabinets. (all clean and organized.)

 
 
first piece of mail in our new mailbox. (a birthday card for eric.)

 
 
my poor bruised thumb. (and i cut it in the same place on a light fixture the next day.)

 
 
the second bedroom, stripped of its wallpaper. (a friend helped out with this one.)

 
 
the renovation debris, piling up outside our villa. (not as easy to dispose of here.)

 
 
harlowe at the halfway landing. (demanding that i open the library door.)

 
 
the newly painted legs of our marble-topped table. (the only item from the original cucina).

 
 
my second most hated job so far. (removing the packing tape from the drawers of my desk.)

(it would NOT come off.)

(it took several hours, spread over a day and a half. a complete waste of time.)

 
 
my egg beater collection back on display. (i’ve missed it.)

 
 
our first crockpot meal in the villa. (hooray for eric’s transformer.)

 
 
my spice cabinet. (so proud of this.)

 
 
my wedding dishes, that match my new kitchen perfectly. (mikasa classic flair gray.)
my water bottles, filled at the local fountain. (with their very own shelf.)

 
 
fabulous hanging rods from IKEA. (handy as well as cool-looking.)

 
 
the bookshelves making their return. (excited to see all of my treasured books again.)

 
 
smith supervising during the painting of the tower. (he thinks this is his command center.)

 
 
about half of the 100 boxes of books. (eric carried them up all of those stairs.)

 
 
eric’s plank painting. (the last of the lavender.)

 
 
the first cubbies filled. (restoring order to my mind.)

 
 
my beloved golden books and “dick & jane” books. (plus other 1950s/60s children’s literature gems.)

 
 
progress. (books arranged in each cubby by subject.)

 
 
my clock back in position. (above 1 of the 6 existing light fixtures that eric cleaned, spray painted, and snipped the sharp points off of.)

 
 
and there’s more, so much more.
maybe next time.
 
 
*******
 
 
so are you wondering why i decided to host my retreats in italy,
when most of my clients are based in the u.s.?

well, travel is actually a very important feature of THE ARRIVAL.
a lovely metaphor regarding movement in one’s life.

pico iyer said it best when he described the travel experience as
“a heightened sense of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive,
undimmed by familiarity, and ready to be transformed.”

only THREE invitations remain for THE ARRIVAL at villa magnolia in italy.
what are YOU waiting for?
 
 

if you’re interested in learning more about the retreat, or
if you’re ready to sign up and join me NOW . . .

here are all of the in-depth details:
THE ARRIVAL (in italy)

if you just want to know the highlights, here you go:
THE ARRIVAL (at a glance)

meet me in tuscany june 26-30 for this transformational journey!
 
 
*******
 
 
click to receive my studio notes in your inbox each week.
(and get my complimentary guide, weightless, as my gift to you!)
 
get my free course!
 
 

 
 
 
 

tweet