The snows have disappeared from Northumberland and now it is raining, constantly. In this thoroughly depressing weather it is good to remember the dry heat of summer, not something we have experienced much of in the UK over the last two years. This photograph seems to capture the much missed warmth of an Italian summer – there is an intense heat that seems to be burning down on their shoulders and rising from the road – is it my imagination or are those paws intentionally floating above the tarmac.
The picture was taken in the small hamlet of Mochignano Chiesa above Bagnone in northern Tuscany in 2007 – take me back.
(click on the image to enlarge)
northumbrian : light 
Ah, to the warmth of the sun the woman feels on her back as she shields her eyes from the glaring Tuscan sun with one hand. To her snow is something she has never seen and plans to visit Northumberland next year.
And she would probably enjoy the peace and quiet – despite being high in the Tuscan hills it was incredibly noisy. The apartment was attached to the local church bell tower and the walls shook as the bells rung; the dogs barked at anything that breathed and the cows had bells around their necks which rattled all day and for much of the night. A beautiful place nevertheless 🙂