Doorways , Gateways, and cool Knockers....

Collection of

images....

Iron door stop?

Just a little bit of fun with ornamental elements,
design,
and age.
You know a few times I must have been pretty tired cause I'm just a tad 
off kilter!
Hope you enjoyed!

Here we go!

Running my own small business

definitely can have its challenges...

Then with a short notice visitor,

a short notice birthday party ,

and 4 year old going through the terrible twos again?!

I was just beyond

knowing which way was 
"sanity"

this weekend!

Now I can finally get

back to Positano!

 after a bit of shopping 

we ventured up the hill to this

"small" church

 .....

For some of us

this trip was about

inspiration...

putting things to rest..

starting over...

being o.k. with doing something for YOURSELF....

fulfilling and making your dreams happen!

I found myself in prayer on more than one

occasion...

and I have to admit

my spirit is something that has been

on the backburner for a while now....

but something about these churches

the fact that the doors are always open

(unlike our churches at home)

you can walk in and spend a moment 

or an hour...

maybe it was just the whole occasion wrapped into one...

but in this particular church

I definitely felt moved

and un-alone...

my fellow travelers may have had different 

battles going on 

but I know I felt a shared release 

in some kindred spirits...

walking out the door like a weight on my heart was lifting...

and a new strength was beginning in a weak place...

 caught Heidi soaking in a few rays afterwards....

 we headed back down to the beach for a little painting...

ummm  again...

the best Gelato I put in my mouth EVER...

I can still taste it!

 a little pet schmoozing...

this is my favorite pic I took of Lara

she has the most wonderful smile..

I joked that I was her doggie and interesting/old people spotter for pics...

 we drew a small crowd..

who wouldn't want to watch gorgeous ladies

and one priest

paint in their swimsuits?

 Bruno swims...

Bruno paints ...

don't have your palette?

Use your pizza box!

Finished product!

Ahem...

Alas I did not finish mine

I was about an hour behind...

the sun started to get so hot and the breeze so steady

my paint would dry as I was working!

I am finishing it now.

 I'd swear this Marine Policeman was only 16!

 Positano was another absolutely

beautiful island!

A lot less crowded than Capri

and unique in it's own way...

I really preferred coastal Italy..

Rome is magnificent

but

I love the water at home

and I think that is why I was drawn so much more

to the island / coastal living in

Sorrento

Capri

and

Positano!

I have a few more bits to share
and I am working
on a new routine with my blog.
I'll keep you posted!
Hope your weekend was a good summer kickoff!

Positively Positano...

Yes,

I still have a few Italy photos

and stories left!

The second island we spent

a day on was Positano...

Recognizable from lots of movies and various iconic photographs....

 Hold on ,
here we go!

First thing that day we decided to have an early

lunch...

Chez Black came highly recommended...

 Seafood that practically swam in to the restaurant...

So fresh and amazingly delicious!

 The phrase

"Kiss the Cook"

had to have originated in Italy....

everywhere we went we were invited in to the kitchens...

and a couple of times ended up dancing with the cooks and waitstaff!

who knows what we were giggling about...

our waiters were great

and my meal was so good I dove in and forgot to photograph it!

 Here is the fun part...

as we were finishing up

I noticed a lot of school children gathering on the boardwalk..

one girl in particular caught my eye because she was looking

very nervous and got very giggly, and excited

and started pulling at her friends and pointing in my direction...

a few moments prior

a lovely young woman and very handsome man

had been seated...

They looked towards the school kids and smiled...

They flock went crazy and poured themselves into the space beside my

chair and started squealing with delight!

The waiter looked to the couple ...
 The young woman then smiled and nodded

and made her way to the table beside me 

Hugs and autographs and pictures were taken.

I got up to get out of the crowd.

I thought the children were so cute

and the young lady was very gracious in taking time with them.

I stood with our waiter watching the whole scene..

"So ,
she is obviously famous, 
who is she?"

"She is the owners girlfriend...

kind of like Madonna here"

The children eventually left and she sat down with her boyfriend.

Our table struck up a great conversation with him

and exchanged a lot of business cards and stories..

He explained that they are both actors
and she is an actress on a very popular nightly t.v. show.

They met on another show that

I liken to our version of E.R.

He showed us the wall of fame his father started

of all the movie stars who have dined in the restaurant.
Very chic since the 60's.

He inherited the restaurant and continues to run it and act in movies and television here in the U.S.
and abroad...

He was nice enough to pose with us...

(none of my photos of him turned out)

this one is courtesy of

the sunny

Lara Blair 

I had to look them up when I came home

and they are really quite famous in Italy...

I was just impressed at how down to earth they both were.

After lunch we split up for some sight seeing and shopping...

Island style everywhere...

 I loved all the tucked away grocery stops...

So quaint...with just the right amount of everything..

 I swear they have more shoes in Italy than anywhere

else on the planet!

 Caught the lovely Lori by surprise...

this girl knows style and can shop till you drop!

I will continue the tour of Positano on Saturday

as we enter this pretty little church...

 Hope you had a great Thursday!

Stop by tomorrow for another InstaFriday ....