Green lizard

June 16

We are now in the season when, thankfully, we are outside more than in most days. For Father's Day we accompany my husband on a nice long outing. He runs we bike. There is a little beach cafe' at the end of our trek and we stop for OJ and a cookie. 

When we get home there is a bright green lizard on the wall. He watches is arrive and put our bikes away. He watches us use the hose to cool off our feet. And he puts up with our staring and photography before scurrying off to a shady crack in the fence. 

Swimming

June 15

We migrate to the beach for our annual summer stay. Fist stop: the swimming pool. This is the pool my daughter learned to swim in. Shaded by giant oak trees in the afternoon, this pool is our favorite spot to pass the time before dinner. Today we have  it to ourselves but next time we are bound to meet visitors from Ohio, Connecticut or New York. 

In their matching rainbow splashed swimsuits my girls splash and paddle. My little one asks to try swimming without her floatie and I help her glide through the water. "You are going to learn to swim like me," says her sister. "I'll show you."

Flip flops

June 14

We are back in the US. Our travels were thankfully uneventful. Our moments outside were brief transitions from one part of an airport to another. 

Today we reacquaint ourselves with our house. As I do laundry my girls slip on their flip flops and head outside. First the back yard and then the driveway to test their scooters and trikes. 

"It's hot," says my daughter as she re-enters the air conditioned house. 

Welcome to summer. 

Arrivaderci Firenze

June 12

Arrivaderci means see you again and is one of my favorite Italian words. The evening is warm and we stroll arm in arm to the gelateria for a final cone of sweet, cool delight. A sliver of moon keeps us company. 

We are packed and ready. Tomorrow we will get up before the sun and head home. 

Play time

June 11

We spend hours and hours at the playground. My girls enjoy the novelty of the play structures and invent game after game to pass the time. The gravel is the most fun and has been used to build with, cover slides with, and poured into socks to sell at the make believe store. 

I see how they have relaxed into being together day after day hour after hour. They collaborate, give and take directions and and then each go in their own direction to pursue  some in individual task.

Le Cascine

June 10

This evening we stroll through Le Cascine. Long shaded paths and grassy expanses compliment each other. The river Arno boarders one side. There is only foot and bike traffic here, such a contrast to the city just paces away. Le Cascine is where people come on a nice day to stroll, to jog or just to sit and watch the people walk by. 

Occasionally a horse and rider trot by materializing as if by magic. The sun begins to set and we walk across a food bridge to get a better look. The golden light illuminates everything around us.  

Snails

June 9

The sunny skies turn dark this morning and a surprise rain shower descends. After ten minutes of downpour the precipitation moves on leaving everything washed and glistening. In the garden next door we find a colony of beautiful snails making their way across broad green leaves feasting as they go. 

"There are 21 snails on three plants," announces my oldest. 

I can not resist and do a little math with her. "Yes! 7 plus 7 plus 7 is 21," she confirms with a smile.