Other years, returning from travels — or looking back at them retrospectively a few weeks later, I’ve posted something about the integration that comes, gradually, of our experience away into our daily life. I’ve written of the (ultimately productive, I think) disorientation of that transitional time Being Away and Really Feeling Settled Again. And about Eating There and Eating Here, sometimes bringing the holiday home through Fava Bean Salads, sometimes through Fresh Pea Soup.
I’ve been writing here for 15 years, and I’ve come home from Away many times through those years, so these posts also touch on the subject: this one and then this one and this and this and this. . .
Many words on a recurrent topic, sometimes triggered by something I see here and remember seeing while away, or see when I’m away and instantly think of home. So many words, in fact, so many directions you might potentially follow away from this post, that right here, at this Home Post, I’ll just share some photos that illustrate the connections I’m talking/writing about, again and again. . .
This fountain in the romantically dappled shade of the restaurant courtyard in which my sketching class (hosted by Anna Tasca Lanza Case Vecchie; instruction by Samantha Dion Baker; I’ve posted about this week on Instagram and will post more here later) relaxed after our visit to the ceramics studio of artist Giovanni D’Angelo in the Sicilian hilltop town, Polizzi Generosa.
The kind of fountain that I thought of as soon as I stepped out onto the terrace of our current home at an Open House real-estate viewing six years ago. . . . the current co-owner of the property (that would be my husband) first thought the fountain had to go — and I admit that it’s disproportionately large in the space. But it makes our terrace an oasis in a very urban environment and everyone who sits within earshot of its splashing and trickling comments on that. I prevailed, obviously. . . And he agrees I was right, although he complains of its impracticality each time the fittings need adjustment or its water needs cleaning.
I also thought of home when I saw lemons against a blue sky and somehow thought of the lemon magnolia trees that bloom in the courtyard here. . .
Although it’s hard to imagine the jasmine that blooms near ours will ever do so as thickly, that the mixed fragrance of lemon and jasmine will ever be so swooningly dense here. . .
Sometimes, I’m already beginning to make connections between different places I see while away. . . walking down a back lane of a beach town not so far from Rome, for example, I was smitten by the exterior of this little home. I suspect it’s beyond the renovation possibilities of any Tender Loving Care now, but those ceramic tiles . . .
instantly, for me, recalled this display I’d seen in that Sicilian ceramicist’s studio. . .
and walking my neighbourhood the day after we got home, I had fresh eyes for some anonymous painter’s transformation of a utilitarian brick wall (perhaps covering-up some too-hard-to-remove offensive graffiti).
I’m thinking my next bit of settling back in might just be playing around with the delicious box of Caran d’Ache gouache paints I brought back from the sketching workshop, now that I’m inspired by the coloured rectangles and squares in these last three photos. One more way of bringing my Away back Home. . .
Bread-making day today and a visit to the local Farmer’s Market, not sure what will be on offer after such a cool, wet spring. We have a Teen Granddaughter and Her Dog here for a few days, as well, so the rest of the day will be very much about celebrating the Quotidian Domestic in all its comforts. What about you? Planning travel? Enjoying life at home? Pining to be elsewhere? Away, missing home? And dare I ask whether anything in this post or the many I’ve linked to, above, resonates? Comments, as always, very welcome.
Wishing you a Happy Sunday
xo,
f
For those of us who are no longer able to travel, it is so much fun to travel through your eyes. Always look forward to your posts. Thank you!
Author
I’m so pleased to know you enjoy these posts!
We’re currently in France for six weeks and I constantly think of things I’d like to try to replicate in my home setting in the Pacific NW (US). For me, most often it takes the shape of food, dishes we’ve experienced on our travels that sometimes become part of the home rotation, and which never fail to evoke memories of their original setting. I’m also guilty of returning with textiles, pottery and artwork which evoke a particular place (Caltigirone! Deruta! Evora!). But oh, for that fountain, those lemons and that jasmine! Looking forward to Italy in September and October. Thanks for sharing your recent Italian and Sicilian adventures.
Author
Ah, six weeks in France, in the Spring — wonderful, and you’re having such good weather!
And I, too, love having useful and/or beautiful objects in my home that hold memories of travel, although these days the objects are much smaller (a fountain pen, a bar of a favourite soap) . . .
Looking forward to my first international trip in 2.5 years to Denmark, my mother’s birthplace and nearly mine. So looking forward to exploring areas not yet visited. A bit anxious but very excited! Your travel posts have been a window into what could happen. Thank you!
Author
That is exciting — I’ve never visited any of the Scandinavian countries although I’d love to. Yes, there is room for anxiety in travel these days, and our trip was stressful at a few points, but well worth it. Glad you enjoyed peeking through the windows of my posts 😉
I love your photos & your ‘connections’ . I think we are constantly being affected by our surroundings . Noticing new things for future reference . I know I am . The idea of ‘ pot gardening’ came from our trips to Southern Europe years ago & their need to conserve water . We have lots of pots about now taking their turn for centre stage . Your terrace garden has a very Italian feel & that is a wonderful fountain . I prefer it’s clean ‘ancient’ lines to the Italian version
Author
I agree with you, Wendy, that our surroundings affect us, often in ways we don’t consciously recognize. And travel can make us more aware of the choices we make in our daily lives in response to our surroundings — and of ways we might choose differently. Your pots, for example. . . and mine, for that matter.
And I’m pleased you like our fountain; I also find its cleaner lines more suited to our terrace, at least, than the Italian one would be. . . and ours regularly hosts hummingbirds which, of course, is a privilege not given to European fountains 😉
I have thoroughly enjoyed your recent travels on Instagram and felt moments of true envy. Just wandering and looking at things around you when away is such a pleasing thing to do, like window shopping instead of buying, the idea of possibilities and dreaming the time away. We are going to France for a week soon, first foreign travel in three years. Mixed feelings about flying but the thought of new vistas is appealing.
Author
So pleased you enjoyed those Instagram posts, Annie — I enjoyed being able to share them there. Like you, I so appreciate the time and perspective travel offers in that “just wandering, just looking” mode, the way it makes room for imagining new possibilities.
I understand those mixed feelings — the flying and all its attendant security and bureaucracy is stressful and uncomfortable — but the new vistas will be worth it! I’ll be watching your IG and suspect I’ll feel those “moments of true envy” myself!
So my thoughts brought up by this post on returning home after travel. for me the transition is always going back to living alone after having spent time with friends and family. I don’t know if others feels this way, but seeing the beauty of other places causes me to see my own surroundings in new and fresh ways, I try to imagine that I am a traveler to these parts, where do I find beauty and interest. Of course I do as others do, bring back objects which take me back to my travel experience, the ring I bought in Florence years ago which I never take off, more recently a poster purchased at an artist’s studio on the banks of the Seine in Les Andelys. His paintings were out of the question but the poster for only 4 euros was perfect, and now graces my dining room. I am currently contemplating another trip to France, not even sure how serious I am, given, well everything. I would not be until 2023, but I do need to book soon, seems so many are ready to travel again.
Author
Your first response here is so interesting and reminds me of a week I spent at a friend’s in Edinburgh a few winters ago — she’d arranged a few evenings out for us with some of her friends, and it was a much more social time than I’d enjoyed since we moved to our current home. I consider myself a “social introvert” — I enjoy being social but it can drain me and I can happily spend days at a time without seeing anyone — but that visit showed me how much I could gain by building more time with other women, particularly, into my life. Still working on that. . .
That ring and your poster — both the kinds of small and/or affordable mementos I also gravitate towards.
Committing to travel these days definitely takes more resolve than it used to. Enjoy the contemplation, at least. . 😉
Oh Frances, I really connect with the way you integrate your travel experiences with your daily life. I do the same…through food, art, etc but mainly through seeing life again through fresh eyes.
Thank you for all that you’ve shared. X
Author
You’re very welcome! I’m pleased to know the post resonates with you. . .
Beautiful post and photos! Love your fountain and terrace
Can’t wait for your painting week report
Your tiles photos reminded me of my old,old ceramist-his home was all in tiles ,not so beautiful though
Dottoressa
Author
Thanks, K! Must get started on that report, yes!
What a lovely post. I am enjoying the colored tiles and bricks. I hope that you are painting away, inspired by them.