FOUR DAYS A WEEK | Musings | Travels | Stories | Treasures and Dreams

 
 
Tuscan Sun over Spannocchia, Italy. Photo by Rachel Gellman.
CHERISHING THE MOMENTS. AN IMMERSION INTO WRITING, BLISS, AND THE ARTFUL LIFE. On June 24, 2011, a Friday, I arrived at the estate of Spannocchia, seeking time and space to write my MORNING SUN in a beautiful, supportive setting.

I stepped inside with a group of ten writers I had never met, stepping into the light of the Tuscan sun. I hummed with the birds singing their songs from morning to night, took flight with the orange and yellow butterflies. I drew in the scent of fresh herbs and flowers meandering in the air. I touched the sun.

Danced in the delight of inspiration all around.

And when we strolled through the Secret Garden, I dipped my hands into the leaves, tipped my face to the skies and said, "This is happiness."

This was bliss, carrying me around the grounds of Spannocchia.

Magic continued to unfold when we came together, a circle of eleven writers and two teachers from California, Canada, Dubai, Illinois, New Mexico, New York, and Oklahoma. Together in the kitchen, in the living room, in the library, on the terrace drinking, out on the lawn, and in the gardens. Something special was stirring during our two-week stay.

We cooked, ate, shared our dreams (quieting our fears), read and wrote our stories and poems, played storytelling-drawing games. We laughed and cried, the sound of joy and hope deep in our souls, going beyond the rolling hills of Tuscany and into the heart of our lives.

When the hour came for us to leave, we embraced one another and rose with the sun.

In Tuscany. In Italy.

-Mia


WRITERS, ARTISTS, AND DREAMS IN TUSCANY. Summer 2011.
PHOTO CREDITS: All from members of the 2011 Tuscany writing group. The Tuscan sun by fellow writer, Rachel Gellman. Click on any photo above for a full view. For more photos and moments from our time in Tuscany, follow us here. Grazie mille.

Click here for more information on how to apply for next year's Writing Immersion in Sustainable Tuscany, July 3 - 17, 2012.

A top story in Anita's Finding Inspiration Daily and Discovery Tuscany. September 2011.

 


Comments

09/19/2011 8:15pm

It sounds so wonderful, Mia. I hope you enjoyed your time along with all the work of writing.

Here's to continuing to rise with the sun and watching our dreams fill the sky.
xo
kelly

Ted
09/20/2011 9:36pm

Thank you Mia for your journey that seemed to life you and the other writers.

Big statement to say, "This is happiness" and this is bliss, Tuscany really become a part of you.

enjoyed part of all the friendships throughout, especially the quote of sharing your dreams you quited the fears.

JZE
09/23/2011 7:31am

Welcome back, Mia! I truly loved the Tuscany story and cannot wait to read more about the trip. Thanks for always sharing.

09/23/2011 4:01pm

Beautiful post! You have such an excellent ability to impart the feeling of the retreat experience. I love this.

RTN
09/23/2011 9:07pm

Welcome back, Mia! You were truly missed! Your Tuscan journey sounds like it was wonderful. Although I have not had the pleasure of visiting that part of Italy, your vivid writing and accompanying photographs gave me a small glimpse into what you experienced. Thank you for sharing and I look forward to hearing more.

09/25/2011 9:29am

meeting new friends n had a terrific time in tuscany,na?
Cheers to these lovely people &to "THE MORNING SUN"
Embracing you in a warm hug
Love
Dr Pooja

09/25/2011 7:03pm

Kelly, Ted, JZE, Stephen, RTN and Dr. Pooja, thank you so much for your lovely comments and embrace. It means the world to me to have you here with me on my writing journey to Tuscany, as I write my ☼MORNING SUN☼ Grazie mille!

-Mia

05/19/2012 4:24am

Absolutely Amazing.

very sweet blog and it content very useful information also so it is the right combination of information and printing keep doing that in future also


Comments are closed.
    From here to there.
    CONNECTING AND SHARING OUR JOURNEYS through the moments, travels, stories, treasures and dreams. AT FOUR DAYS A WEEK. ✶Aspiring and inspiring. FROM HERE TO THERE. LET'S DO. DREAM. BELIEVE.-Mia T. Starr

    SWEET TWEETS
    MIA'S TWEETS

    _CONTRIBUTORS & GUESTS
    _Click here for our special guest posts from 2010 - 2012, or click on an image above to take you there.

    READERS SHARE
    Picture
    _ Mia, you do such beautiful and inspiring things. Simple, effective, wonderful. Thank you. -Stan Stewart


    Picture
    I loved your post and your description of the secret garden! Your words to me right there. :) Thank you for that experience. -Carolyn CJ Jones


    Picture
    Beautiful post! You have such an excellent ability to impart the feeling of the retreat experience. I love this. -Stephen


    Picture
    _ WOW! Loving Clara's 8th grade graduation speech ~ believing in oneself. -Kerri Far


    Picture
    __ Art and Joy. Love the cadence of your writing. -Mike, On A Junket


    Picture
    _ dearest mia, your presence is breath-
    taking. as is your writing, your face, your pictures. -Rachel Awes


    Picture
    _ Action! I can almost hear the director pulling this film together, firm voice rising above the din. I know, it's a book. But you write with the taste and feel of film. The gift of vivid, clean storytelling. I look forward to the next installment! Thanks for sharing this. @virtualDavis


    Picture
    _ How lovely, Mia! Thank you for sharing these poignant thoughts about your beautiful, strong grandmother and the excerpt from your WIP. It reads like poetry. -Caron Guillo


    Picture
    Mia, what an amazing thing to wake up to ... that was the most beautiful imagery I've ever seen ... and your words, as beautiful as your spirit ... I can't thank you enough for sharing it. And to think I never would have seen it if it weren't for lovely you ... -Jennifer Valentine


    Picture
    Photo-
    graphic Moments In Time
    : Awesome interview with Esta Singer @sheconsulting -Kathy Meyer


    Picture
    I love your blog, Mia! Beautiful in design and compelling in content. -James King


    Picture
    Thank you for sharing the wonderful story about how you found my artwork ... these comments are treasure for me as well as it's fuel for my next creation. -Naoko Stoop


    Picture
    Thank you for your kind comments about my post "expanding my horizons" ... I popped over to your site for a visit, what a wonderful place you have there! I am adding you to my blog roll, I definitely need to visit, often ... -Kelly Letky


    Picture
    Mia, you are such an inspiration with your writing, travel, advocacy and all. I am so happy to have met you here. Bless you! -Anita Bondi



    TOP STORIES ~ the ones that captured your hearts. Thank you so much. *¨¨**¨*

    Picture
    _ In Venice ~ an awakening. In a swirl of art and joy. Above the grandeur. Photos, moments, and poetry.


    Picture
    __ Clara's 8th grade graduation speech ~ believing in oneself. Looking forward, looking back.



    Picture
    Uncommon views. Unforgettable moments. Under the sun. On the White Rim Trail. Moab, Utah.


    Picture
    _ We lift our voices above the sorrows of the earth ... a hundred flowers bloom.


    Picture
    _ Together we can make a difference. Wrapping our arms around hope. For Japan.


    Picture
    _ HG handed the story to Mom and said, "Put it in my packpack. Please. I want to read it in school. Okay?"

    Picture
    _ MORE TOP STORIESƒ๏ℓℓ๏ω YOUR HEART AND INTUITION experience TAKING FLIGHT WITH LIFE something new BEYOND THE TRAIL THE WAY TO THE SKY, THE WAY TO THE STARS AN IMMERSION into Writing, Bliss, and the ARTFUL LIFE MOM'S GARDEN From Vietnam to Michigan SPRING ETERNAL WISHES AND CRANES WITH LOVE JOURNEYS OF HOPE IF YOU FOLD A Thousand Cranes ¨**¨*


    _BELIEVING AND FOLLOWING OUR BLISS. FROM HERE TO THERE.
    Picture
    ABOVE: Words and inspiration by Mia ~ 1st place Winner of Words. Art ~ Drawing by Rachel Awes.


    PHOTO CREDITS
    Most photos throughout this
    site were taken by Mia T. Starr.
    All others provided by
    our readers and featured guests.
    Please contact us for additional information and permission
    to use the photos.


    Site banner created by
    Van T. Nguyen.

    Picture