Dream and Be Inspired! | Life and Linda

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Dream and Be Inspired!


http://wwwcastlescrownscottages.blogspot.com/
Lovely Anita from Castles, Crowns and Cottages has a  new linky party going on.
 Artful and virtual European dream destination.
Below is our chosen European vacation......

 

Beautiful music by world famous, Andrea Bocelli to listen  to, while you dream with me......

         

I was especially captivated by Italy,  when I watched the movie,

under The Tuscan Sun.










Beautiful hillsides with cypress and vineyards. A Tuscan villa would be heaven.

 
My husband and I both enjoy wine, so we would be right in our element.


We might even try some grape stomping.

Do you remember Lucy stomping grapes?



            

Beautiful and hearty food to enjoy.

 I would venture out and take some cooking classes.

 Visit different small towns and explore Italy.

 Cruise along in a gondola





         There's something magical about water.

               
Take in the magnificent architecture




Enjoy Alfresco dining

Wouldn't it be heavenly to sit back and enjoy a lovely meal and take in the scenery.... Or

Dine in an exclusive Italian cave restaurant carved out of limestone.

Partake in some sweet desserts.

There's so much to do and see.

Italy will someday be our next dream vacation.

Take me away Italy.......


We have been so fortunate to experience Paris with a lovely barge trip through Burgundy, plus our Honeymoon in Australia, right in the middle of the Great Barrie Reef. 

I hope you find this post intriguing and irresistible as well.

I would also like to share this incredible video from an Italian director Rino Stefano Tagliaferro  who animated Classic Artwork paintings.
There is some nudity, as in most ancient historical paintings , however it is a bittersweet visual video about the elusive nature of beauty and youth.

Beauty 









About Linda @ Life and Linda

Hello, welcome to LifeandLinda. I am from Northern California. I enjoy blogging, Designing Blogs, Decorating, cooking, entertaining, gardening and clogging. I hope you enjoy your visit.

45 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 18, 2014

    HI dear Linda! What a beautiful post! Well, I do hope you get to travel Italy. I've been blessed to have gone quite a few times, mostly to the big cities. The country sides are gorgeous with the vineyards and sunflowers. We were taking a little train trip and I was amazed at the fields of sunflowers! Dream on sweet friend. I want to go to Ireland! :)
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  2. Oh how lovely Linda!! What a wonderful place to visit!!
    I would love to visit Italy, Spain, Paris......We can all dream!!

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  3. CIAO BELLA! Oh Linda, the photos you share are so colorful and fabulous; your share about Tuscany is a big hit this morning as I am now needing to see this MOVIE! I saw on another blog, a short clip/trailer of this film and I need to see it. You would be a sensation in a cooking class on Italian food, since I suspect you are already quite crafty in the kitchen!

    Thank you my dear friend, for doing this. Leave up your post for the week, visit the others, let them visit you and be well. This is FUN! Anita

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  4. Hi Linda, I love your dream destination and the beautiful inspiring photos you share with the romantic music which just takes you away. My grandparents were from Italy and we plan to visit one day. I know I will be at home when we do. Thank you for sharing your dream destination. Have a wonderful weekend.
    Hugs and Blessings!

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  5. Hello Linda...beautiful Italy...unbeatable in its beauty...I adore it! Fabulous photographs and that sea is so inviting ;)
    Thanks for dropping by lovely to meet you via Anita's wonderful party!

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  6. Italy is one of my dream vacations too, Linda, and this is such a beautiful peek into the beauty that awaits a visitor. I think the architecture and the food and the people would make it the perfect place to live.
    Gorgeous post, my fun friend. Thanks for a gorgeous mini-vacation!
    Lots of love to you. xoxo

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  7. Beautiful Italy, love Andrea Bocelli, remember Lucy, and looked the film under the tuscan sun last week I love when she's sitting in the bus and looking to the house and got out and bought it... a dream.... I dream on....
    groetjes van Marijke
    www.bij-marijke-thuis.blogspot.nl

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  8. How GORGEOUS and inspiring!!!!
    and your clip of LUCY made me giggle!!!!!
    I love Lucy. hahahaha

    Thank you for the beauty!
    ~ Violet

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  9. Hi Linda, found your site through Robyn's, what a creative idea! If you can't rally get away this is the next best thing. Would love to visit Italy!!! Thanks!

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  10. Hi, Linda,

    That first photo of grapes had me dreaming of laying beneath them and gobbling them up with only my mouth. Italy is truly one of the most beautiful places on earth. It's definitely one of my dream destinations.

    ; )
    Nancy

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  11. Beautiful!you should try Sicilly too beautiful island,xx Rachel and Speedy

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  12. Such a beautiful place. And the tiramisu would be just wonderful. A lovely trip to be sure.

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  13. AnonymousJuly 18, 2014

    Linda, what lovely reminders of my brief visit to Italy. Your beautiful images create dreams of visiting again one day. Hope your dream vacation is a dream-come-true! ♡Dawn

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  14. Oh Yes! I would love to be there also.I'm half Italian on My Dad's side.I feel Italy in My soul.

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  15. What wonderful post! The images would make anyone dream, and with Andrea in the background... I'm THERE!! :)

    Thanks for sharing, I loved it!

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  16. Linda,
    What an incredible virtual tour of Italy. Such majestic grandeur, both manmade and natural. Thank you for stopping by earlier and leaving a nice comment.

    Judith

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  17. Good morning Linda! I am here again to enjoy some virtual sunshine under YOUR Tuscan sun! The clouds have rolled in over here, but this party is making me smile as I revisit you all. Thank you again for spreading the beauty you see, and making us see it too. LOVE! Anita

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  18. You enjoy yourself, sweet friend! This is really a great bash, because of all of YOU! XOXOX

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  19. Ahhh nice dreams! Italy does sound fabulous. We sent our daughter there after the foreign exchange student had lived with us and she had an incredible time. I'm sure you guys will get there soon!

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  20. Hello dear Linda!
    Such a very beautiful inspirational post do you made!!!
    WOW.....:)))
    I LOVE
    Italy so very much!
    Your choices of the photos are very invited and absolutely beautiful:)))
    Thank's a lot for your coming and for your very lovely comment:)))

    Hugs from Holland,
    V.

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  21. Linda, thank you for this beautiful post on Italy!! One of my favorite places on Earth. The music made your story even more perfect. I have also been thinking of watching Under the Tuscan Sun again!

    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena
    Europe: Simply Irresistible!

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  22. Your post is bellissima, cara Linda! I love this dream....the music...the countryside...the food...every image speaks to me....
    I do remember that episode...Lucy is brilliant! :)
    Brava! Viva Italia!! :) Why, oh why, have I not seen Under the Tuscan Sun? Thank you for reminding me to reserve it from the library...today...
    Enjoy the party...and thank you for sharing such beauty!
    xoxo,
    - Irina

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  23. A delight!

    And Andrea...perfection!

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  24. Hello Linda,
    Such wonderful images to dream of Italy by! That movie sure gives a desire to visit... and never leave! I am enjoying the music and am glad to have stopped by and stayed awhile! :-D
    Lucy was the BEST!!!
    Many many Blessings, Linnie

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  25. I loved your images -- and I've been dreaming of Tuscany ever since I started reading Peter Mayle and then Frances Mayes. Maybe next year...

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  26. Hello Linda,
    Everything I love is on this post! You have captured Tuscany the way my heart does.
    I adore Andrea, I have all of his music, and Under the Tuscan Sun is such a great movie.
    When I saw Lucy stomping grapes here I had to laugh... I remember that episode...

    Thank you so much for this beautiful post!
    blessings,
    Penny

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  27. I think so many of us were captured by that movie...such a romantic setting! The food, the wine, the scenery and the architecture are all so lovely! I certainly am captivated and would love to visit Italy as well! :)

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  28. Wowww love your post ..!...i post tomorrow because i have my own party too...;-))...so special to read About the movie under the tuscany sun...i always remember to my dear brother when i watch this movie almost 10. Years ago the movie stopped i was looking it outside on my computer...at 4 pm ..and on That moment my dear brother died....so strange and special moment too me...i Will never forget....love from me ...i following you now...x!

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  29. Beautiful, Linda! Yes, that movie was wonderful and I got a chuckle remembering the Lucy segment in the wine stomping!
    Anita's parties are always so much fun and I love meeting everyone!

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  30. YES!To answer your question I AM!
    I watched LUCY ever night at 7pm................of course that was one of my favorite shows!
    Beautiful Italia............I have lived there so I have been one of the lucky ones!I would go back in a heart beat!

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  31. Thanks so much for sharing these gorgeous images with us. They capture all of the things that make Italy so attractive to most of us. I, too, love "Under the Tuscan Sun", but I would ask you to also to rent "Enchanted April". In either case, it's all about being spontaneous and following your heart! And I'm also a believer in Psalm 37:4.
    La Dolce Vita!
    dawne

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  32. Under the Tuscan Sun is one of my favorite movies. I love Diane Lane and I love Italy. I've been a couple of times, but mostly the larger cities. Like you, I would like to take a cooking class or two and visit the less touristy areas, as well as the parts of Italy my ancestors are from. My cousin wrote the story of our paternal grandfather and his brother and their struggles to come to America from Italy, and I put it on my blog several months ago. It's called 'Two Brothers From Bari'. It's an easy read and I think you might enjoy it if the spirit moves you.

    Thanks for the inspiration Linda! I hope we both get to 'live the dream'!

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  33. Hi Linda,
    Dreams keep us alive during the mundane days. The music is lovely, and traveling to places you love is a wonderful thing to plan for! Only by using our imaginations, can we set in motion what we want to happen.

    Came to you from Anita's link party - thank you for taking me to Italy like this:)

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  34. love this post + I too love Italy! + food + wine + doesn't get any better than that. Thank you for coming to my blog + leaving a nice comment. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

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  35. Hi Linda,

    Thank you for taking us away to romantic Italy - I enjoyed your photographs and along with the beautiful voice of Andrea Bocelli, was lovely having an escape for today.
    Happy week
    hugs
    Carolyn

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  36. Hi Linda!
     
    Thank you very much for visiting today.
    But most of all thank you very much for sharing your so colorful! Images, and Diana Lane movie "Under the Tuscan Sun" is so romantic .... WOW! The music you have chosen!
    I discovered your blog, and I'm staying.
    You are lovely!
    Spend a wonderful day
    Luisa

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  37. I hope you get to Italy one day, Linda. I'd love to visit there, too. Rich and I did get to Ireland several years ago and those are very special memories. xo

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  38. I've been wanting to go to China after seeing a friend's pictures of her visit back home there on facebook. Now I want to go to Italy too! Beautiful pictures.

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  39. tu as raison c'est un magnifique pays, je connais Rome et Milan, et je suis toujours sous le charme...Comme je suis sous le charme de cette belle chanson...Merci beaucoup...thanks a lot for sharing these beautiful photos with us
    Bisous français
    Nélinha www.mespassionsentoutessaisons.blogspot.fr

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  40. Dear Linda, you touched on all of my favorite things and places...I am a life-long Italy lover...the music you chose is perfection! So lovely to meet you via Anita, where I'm also going to Italy as part of the party--ha, great minds think alike! Hope you will stop by.
    xo Mary Jo

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  41. What an absolutely stunning post! I can't believe it has taken me all week to see it! I am doing a round up of my favorites from the link party on Friday and this will be on it for sure. Thank you for taking me away to my favorite country this morning!

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  42. Oh, Linda, such a gorgeous post. I have chill bumps feeling the excitement, beauty and tasting the great food and wine!

    Dreamy photos I wish I could make. We enjoyed a tour of Italy last September. It was a dream come true.
    I am going back for a second look.

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  43. Une beauté essentielle dont je ne peux me passer longtemps !
    Bises
    Marie-Ange

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  44. Hello Linda!
    I remember going on the barge trip with you and your husband in a past post!
    I traveled to Italy when I was 17. What a dream come true.
    Mr D's father was born in Trieste. I hope that he and I are able to visit one day.
    The images and the music you have chosen are beautiful! The grape stomping episode from I Love Lucy has been my favorite since childhood! My girlfriends and I did a little stomping at Chateau St Michelle winery a few years ago.
    I hope you are doing well. You are always in my thoughts and prayers!
    ~Lynne
    withLove!

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  45. What a beautiful piost. I hope you get to Italy. Our best friends went last year and loved it. Joe would go but I don't think (I know) I can't fly that far. 3 hours is about my limit.

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