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INSPIRATION

A Day in the Life – a million small moments

‘A million small moments happened today, each an explosion of wonder, a tiny minute of joy’

Lisa Chiodo

We spent the afternoon chatting with our elderly neighbor Antonio. He lives just up the road from us in the next Borgata. His nephew was busy planting potatoes one at a time in neat rows. I feel the sun warming my back as I watch him,  now that the sun is here everyone is out and about.

Silvio helps Sam clear the trees for our orto {vegetable garden}, chopping the branches with his machete and he laughs when I tell him he reminds me of Mel Gibson (yes he knows who that is). Marino takes the cuttings for the goats and we put up the fence to keep the chickens from the veggie garden to be. Anna wanders past with a machete hanging from her apron.

Antonio takes us on a tour of his Borgata, he gives me a stem of Lilly of the Valley and asks me the English name. His wife kept a beautiful garden but passed away last year, he talks of her as if she is about to appear at any moment. He has tiny cactus planted in an old pair of shoes and at last I find a thriving wisteria so I intend to plant one at our house next year.

Our children are minding the goats, two have tiny babies all wobbly legs and wagging tails pulling at their mothers for milk. Carina has a feather in her hair and Luca is carving away at a branch to make a walking stick, it’s already smooth.

Life is simple …..  A million small moments

anna and machette

potato planting

goat and baby

antonio walk borgata

antonio flowers

wood at antonio

cactus in a boot

lilly of valley dbl

A million small moments

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and the gang x

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35 replies
« Older Comments
  1. Rocky
    Rocky says:
    at

    Wonderful! You and your family are fulfilling the dreams so many of us wish for. Love and blessings to all of you! Ciao!

    Reply
  2. Trisha Thomas
    Trisha Thomas says:
    at

    What a beautifully written post with gorgeous photos. I just love the little old lady with the machete shoved into a belt on top of her dress. Fantastic. And your son is so handsome. The whole post if filled with happiness and tranquillity. I am so happy for you Lisa, it is what you deserve!

    Reply
    • Lisa Chiodo
      Lisa Chiodo says:
      at

      Ah married to an Italian it’s not all tranquility here, and especially now we are all out of our element. Still the moments are wonderful and beginning to grow, perhaps one day I will have tranquility base here lol x

  3. Talia
    Talia says:
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    What beautiful reflections of your journey!

    Reply
    • Lisa Chiodo
      Lisa Chiodo says:
      at

      How perfectly put Talia xxx

  4. Linda Chapman
    Linda Chapman says:
    at

    All beautiful. Truly makes me yearn to be there instead of here. I know in my heart I originated in Italy. However I arrived in United States, I have no clue. But I know my heart will always be found in Italia. Thank you for all the photography of the land I truly love and for which I long to claim as my own. Blessings and good wishes to you and your family, Lisa.

    Reply
    • Lisa Chiodo
      Lisa Chiodo says:
      at

      Funny now I’m here I yearn to be home, I think it’s a natural part of being human. So many people have their heart in Italy and it’s easy to see why she is captivating. thanks for your wishes and sending them back to you xxx

  5. La Contessa
    La Contessa says:
    at

    Love Love Love the photo of the RONCOLA…….on the older woman.Most likely I’m not spelling that right but thats what they are called!You seem to be settling in just fine!BRAVISSIMA!

    Reply
    • Lisa Chiodo
      Lisa Chiodo says:
      at

      OH thanks for that, we have three older ladies here and they all carry them. Not for me quite yet lol x

  6. Margaret | Destination Here&Now
    Margaret | Destination Here&Now says:
    at

    Lisa this is so lovely because it reminds me of our friends in Sottovalle, not far from you. Such a beautiful beautiful part of the world. Your photography feels stronger in this post too, like you’ve had more time to frame your shots. The one of the elderly lady walking up the hill with the machete in her belt is classic. xx

    Reply
    • Lisa Chiodo
      Lisa Chiodo says:
      at

      It is a beautiful area and this valley is glorious, a popular place for holidays and we’ve already seen the effect of a warm day on the traffic here. We are told you can’t cross the road in Summer and I can see why. Thanks for that lovely comment about the photography, it’s usually my husband Sam who carefully composes his shots, I am a bit of a snapper. Here it just seems natural to slow everything down and take the time to think things through. I’m also getting back into photographing people and getting up close and personal, Luca is funny he just walks up to the people he want’s to photograph and they always pose for him lol xxx

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  1. How Lisa Chiodo and Her Family Followed Their Dream and Renovated a Farmhouse in Italy says:
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    […] — A Day in the Life: A Million Small Moments […]

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  2. How Lisa Chiodo and Her Family Followed Their Dream and Renovated a Farmhouse in Italy | The Iceberg Project says:
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Ciao I’m Lisa

Together with my husband Sam we’ve renovated multiple homes in Australia and now on our second in Italy. This time it’s a medieval hamlet at the foot of the Alps in Piemonte. I love the simple life, photography and working from home with my cat on my lap.  Our mission? To help you create your Italian dream life!

 

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