I loved reading this Rahma! So tender and poetic, wholesome and inspiring. Also, your words “this random location in rural Italy, I had a gut-feeling this was the place. I felt certain that I could pack up my whole life and move here” resonate deeply. I didn’t expect to land at a decision during our visit, it was more of a fact-finding trip to a “random” location (we too would have never considered had it not been for. VFS) and yet we (Aaron and I) quietly, with a felt sense of calm clarity and peace feel like we’ve found somewhere worth packing up our whole lives for.
Ps. Hoping we get to actually enjoy helping you out with your olive harvest next year (should you ever want to share the celebration/an extra pair of hands)…and dipping bread!
I also wish I could write more often... Ayyub has a part-time place at a cute little nursery now so there's hope for increased creativity time but you know how other things start to encroach on any spare moment...
Oh, and I'm so over eating rice, BUT, washing the rice before cooking it, swirling my hands through the water and feeling water and rice rush through my fingers, is calming for me 😊
I'm so relieved the mulberry trees were saved! And what a crazy coincidence about Signor Gallo!! Amazing!!
I'm so excited for your olive harvest! The olive oil must feel so precious and rich! If we really could meet up, I'd bring the sourdough, my husband just pulled a loaf out of the oven 😋 fresh bread and olive oil.... Mmmmm! Yum!
You're staying right to my heart Debbie! Is a real struggle to get hold of nice bread here. Mum mouth is watering just thinking of that fresh warm loaf
Your second question - what a great question! To ground myself I go sit in the backyard and sit with a tree in a favorite garden not far from my house. I’ve not planted any trees but I love trees
I never meant for this Substack to be about trees but they have such a strong presence here now. There's something they offer in the way they are rooted in the earth but reach for the heavens. It's exactly how I hope to live.
Ghosh me too. My spouse cut all the trees in the backyard without telling me when we moved in. He just decided that it would be more efficient. I will never get those trees back. When I had my first child the hr director of my company planted twenty trees for my first born. He was Jewish by name alone. I don’t know. But I’ve kept up his practice with each child, planting trees on behalf of others 💕💕
Agree, what a beautiful journey you are on and how incredible your courage to build a life that is uniquely you. I do have an animal sign!! I see a blue heron. It started during Covid four years back. I see it when I’m in distress and it’s tall and elegant and provides me comfort. It is NOT a bird that lives where I live. My children witness it also with me. But my spouse has never seen it.
This is fascinating Sadia! Also a bird and also arrived during the pandemic... Actually, I remember reading about your blue heron on your Substack.
Do you know what's even more weird? In the days immediately before we left that apartment with the cockerel we saw 3 dead birds within a radius of a few metres. It was time to go!
I love reading about your experiences and adventures Rahma ❤️. Such a beautiful rich life, Allahuma Barik. Lots of love ❤️
I loved reading this Rahma! So tender and poetic, wholesome and inspiring. Also, your words “this random location in rural Italy, I had a gut-feeling this was the place. I felt certain that I could pack up my whole life and move here” resonate deeply. I didn’t expect to land at a decision during our visit, it was more of a fact-finding trip to a “random” location (we too would have never considered had it not been for. VFS) and yet we (Aaron and I) quietly, with a felt sense of calm clarity and peace feel like we’ve found somewhere worth packing up our whole lives for.
Ps. Hoping we get to actually enjoy helping you out with your olive harvest next year (should you ever want to share the celebration/an extra pair of hands)…and dipping bread!
Oh yes, I love the thought of you joining us for that! ❤️
I wish these updates happened more often ♥️ so much love to you all ♥️
I also wish I could write more often... Ayyub has a part-time place at a cute little nursery now so there's hope for increased creativity time but you know how other things start to encroach on any spare moment...
Ahhh Mr. Cockerel! What a lovely story, it was fate. I loved this.
Thanks Noor!
Oh, and I'm so over eating rice, BUT, washing the rice before cooking it, swirling my hands through the water and feeling water and rice rush through my fingers, is calming for me 😊
I'm so relieved the mulberry trees were saved! And what a crazy coincidence about Signor Gallo!! Amazing!!
I'm so excited for your olive harvest! The olive oil must feel so precious and rich! If we really could meet up, I'd bring the sourdough, my husband just pulled a loaf out of the oven 😋 fresh bread and olive oil.... Mmmmm! Yum!
You're staying right to my heart Debbie! Is a real struggle to get hold of nice bread here. Mum mouth is watering just thinking of that fresh warm loaf
If only we didn't live continents apart...
got a few spare cockerels if you need, just shout! or can you start to hear ours from over the hill? loved reading this. xxx
Are they little baby ones?? 🥰
Your second question - what a great question! To ground myself I go sit in the backyard and sit with a tree in a favorite garden not far from my house. I’ve not planted any trees but I love trees
I never meant for this Substack to be about trees but they have such a strong presence here now. There's something they offer in the way they are rooted in the earth but reach for the heavens. It's exactly how I hope to live.
Ghosh me too. My spouse cut all the trees in the backyard without telling me when we moved in. He just decided that it would be more efficient. I will never get those trees back. When I had my first child the hr director of my company planted twenty trees for my first born. He was Jewish by name alone. I don’t know. But I’ve kept up his practice with each child, planting trees on behalf of others 💕💕
What a beautiful practice 💚
Agree, what a beautiful journey you are on and how incredible your courage to build a life that is uniquely you. I do have an animal sign!! I see a blue heron. It started during Covid four years back. I see it when I’m in distress and it’s tall and elegant and provides me comfort. It is NOT a bird that lives where I live. My children witness it also with me. But my spouse has never seen it.
This is fascinating Sadia! Also a bird and also arrived during the pandemic... Actually, I remember reading about your blue heron on your Substack.
Do you know what's even more weird? In the days immediately before we left that apartment with the cockerel we saw 3 dead birds within a radius of a few metres. It was time to go!