Hi. I just wanted to let you all know that we are currently relaxing in the picturesque Italian mountain village of Borgo Val di Taro. We arrived on Monday and are spending a week with friends Chris and Federico and their son Samuele. What a beautiful life they have here.

Having done the tourist thing in Italy before, this was to be a relaxing, down-home visit with friends, spending quality time with people and not running ourselves ragged between trains, cheap hotels, and crowded tourist attractions. You really have to make an effort to see the nearest neighbors down/up the hill here. I’m listening to the wind tickle the trees while Jan and Emily take their afternoon nap. Our hosts are at the grandparents’ house this afternoon so I’m “home alone” with the cats and the dog while I write this from the swing chair in the secluded backyard. The short rainfall this morning was a refreshing change from the sunny week we’ve enjoyed so far.

Chris and Fede seem very happy here having finally moved out of the “big city” of Parma. The last two times we came to Italy to visit them were first at Chris’ rustic home near Brescia and then for their wedding in the heart of Parma. Very different visits, all three, but equally wonderful.

Our days have been filled with tree houses, swimming pools, castle tours, homemade ropes courses, tiny village summer festivals (with the obligatory food, wine, and dancing to accordion music), picnics, visits to the local market, impromptu Italian lessons, grappa sampling, and of course wonderful food. Emily can usually be found either following Sammy or one of the four cats (Pancho, Violet, and the twins Carlos and Carlito). Wide-eyed and barefoot, she’s climbing everything she finds and is learning a whole new set of words to add to her ever-increasing vocabulary. It’s so nice not having to follow her around while she explores the new world of the great outdoors. The worst thing that can happen to her is that she falls down a hill. I’m sure we’d hear her cry if that happened.

By the way, 547. That’s the number of times that Emily has said the word “cat” since we arrived. And every time with the same unbridled enthusiasm and surprise. Now I try to avert her eyes when they enter the room. For everyone’s sake. I don’t know how many times she has meowed.

I actually fooled myself into thinking I could make the switch and move into the country after being here for just a few days. The same amount of money that would buy you a cramped three-bedroom flat in Barcelona would net you TWO (if not three!) giant HOUSES with acres and acres of land here. I’m certainly not ready to give up what we have back home and the thought of all the bugs confirms my decision. I don’t like bugs. The ants I could handle. And the flying ants. And maybe the spiders. But not the tiger mosquitoes. And certainly not the scorpions. That’s where I draw the line.

I’ll do my best to upload/post some of the photos and videos we’ve taken while we’ve been here in Italy. And from when Amy and Nana came to visit last month. And from our trip to England to see Jan’s family. I guess I’ve got some catching up to do.