In 2011, we stayed a week in the Maremma district of Tuscany at a lovely rustic country resort that had once been a seminary and boys school. The collection of buildings that had been turned into large apartments ranged from barns to school rooms to chapels, and so the interiors were quite unique. In our apartment our living room windows were positioned very high on the wall and so we had to step up on a ledge to open them. And since it was such a chore, it became my morning ritual to linger up on that ledge and gaze out the window.

What I saw were layered forested hills in the misty distance, the shimmering beginnings of an extensive olive grove, and the covered terrace of a neighbouring apartment. I’d listen to the morning birds, to the bees buzzing around the window ivy, and to a little girl singing to her dolls under that covered terrace. She was there most mornings, making up stories and songs – in German, I think. After a few moments, I’d step down from the ledge and put my first mocha pot of coffee on the stove. It was the best part of each Maremma day!

I’ve captured that window in my latest miniature, “Out A Tuscan Window”. When my husband saw the piece, he asked if we could keep it for ourselves as he also spent a good deal of time at that window! Something that simple can evoke such strong but peace-filled emotions!

#126 – Out A Tuscan Window – sold

2.5″ x 3.5″ ink and watercolour