WE'RE GONNA MISS THIS!

Believe it or not, this Italian New York girl loves country music. It happened about 9 years ago. I started watching CMT and fell in love with Toby Keith then got hooked on the music of other artists. My husband works for a radio station, and he couldn't understand what I liked about "that" kind of music. I got teased a lot about my musical choices. As part of my 50th birthday present, we went to see Toby Keith in concert. Much to my surprise, he said this guy is really good and he enjoyed the show. Of course, he only listens to country music when forced to. Along the way, I have added the Dixie Chicks, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, and Carrie Underwood to my list of favorites. Country music tells stories about real life. It's music to cry to and laugh to (just listen to some of Toby's songs!). Lately a song by Trace Adkins has touched me. It's called "You're Gonna Miss This." Our children are in such a rush to grow up. I know I was. They (and I) are always looking to the future. Since Mother’s Day has just passed, I was reminiscing about previous Mother’s Days, when our children were toddlers, starting school, learning to read, starting high school, learning to drive, first boyfriends, first dances, etc. etc. Ask them and they say they can’t wait for college, to be on their own, etc. As their Mom, I look to the future too. The time does go by soooooo fast. Where did the last 20 years go? Three months ago my older daughter left for Spain to study for a semester; she will be home on Sunday. Honestly, I couldn’t wait for her to leave. Now I can't wait for her to come home. My younger daughter is going to her first prom. Where did the last 16 years go? She has two more years of high school, and she insists she can’t wait ‘til she is outta here!! This song has reminded me that every moment counts…our lives with our children go by so fast. Enjoy them, treasure them.
"These are some good times, just look around, we might not know it now, but we're gonna miss this"!

STILL NOT RIGHT

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I got the photos closer together. Now the title is floating in outer space. Be patient, it might take me longer than others to get it right!
Have a great Tuesday.

BLOGGING FOR DUMMIES!!

That would be me. I just previewed the blog and I don't know how to move the top photo closer to the other ones I downloaded. I tried reading some help sites, but I don't have a lot of patience. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

TUSCAN MEMORIES

INSTEAD OF GETTING THE HOUSE READY TO HAVE OUR HARDWOOD FLOORS INSTALLED IN 3 WEEKS, I HAVE BEEN REMINISCING LATELY ABOUT THE TRIP TO ITALY WE TOOK LAST SUMMER FOR OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY. VISITING TUSCANY WAS AT THE TOP OF MY LIST AND I BECAME OBSESSED WITH RESEARCHING UNTIL I FOUND THE PERFECT SPOT. I LOVE TO READ TRIP ADVISOR AND OTHER TRAVEL SITES TO GET PREVIOUS VISITORS OPINIONS ON VARIOUS HOTELS THEY HAVE STAYED AT. AFTER BOOKMARKING SO MANY PLACES, I FOUND “IL BORGO DE VESCINE”. ORIGINALLY A 13TH CENTURY HAMLET, NOW A COUNTRY RETREAT, A FEW MILES OUTSIDE THE TOWN OF RADDA. I THOUGHT THIS PLACE WILL BE ROMANTIC!

WE ARRIVED QUITE LATE, AFTER GETTING LOST. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE ITALIAN ROUND ABOUTS WITH 15 SIGNS POINTING IN NINE DIFFERENT.DIRECTIONS? WE KEPT GOING ROUND AND ROUND! OUT OF FRUSTRATION AND PURE LUCK
WE FINALLY WE FOUND THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD TO OUR DESTINATION.

PERCHED HIGH ABOVE THE VALLEY AND VINEYARDS, THIS HOTEL WAS IN A SECLUDED SETTING (SO SECLUDED WE PASSED IT TWICE ON THE WINDING DARK ROAD) EACH ANCIENT STONE BUILDING FEATURED 3 OR 4 CHARMING GUEST ROOMS. A DELICIOUS BREAKFAST WAS SERVED IN THE MAIN BUILDING WITH RUSTIC WOOD BEAMED CEILINGS AND TERRA COTTA FLOORS. THE FIRST NIGHT WE ATE DINNER ON THE OUTDOOR PATIO –THE PANNE COTTA (COOKED CREAM WITH FRESH RASPBERRIES) WAS TO DIE FOR AND THE LOCAL CLASSICO CHIANTI WINES WERE’NT TOO BAD EITHER. ANY WINE WOULD HAVE WORKED AT THAT POINT. THE SECOND NIGHT THEY HAD A WINE TASTING FOR ALL THE GUESTS SERVED WITH SOME DELICIOUS ANTIPASTO AND OTHER APPETIZERS.

FROM THIS IDYLLIC LOCATION, WE TOOK DAY TRIPS TO SIENNA, SAN GIMIGNANO, AND OTHER SMALL TOWNS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SPECIAL PLACE TO CREATE YOUR OWN TUSCAN MEMORIES. VISIT. http://www.vescine.it/ FOR MORE INFORMATION.
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