My first morning in Tuscany I woke before everyone else and wandered out barefoot onto dew-covered grass.

The air was fresh and cool, filled with the sounds of neighboring pigs squealing excitedly for their breakfast.

The first rays of sunlight streamed through olive groves and vineyards, warming the stone walls of the villa next to us. And I simply had to capture it.

sunlit grapes

grape leaves

olive branch

Tuscan villa

Looking at this picture I can almost feel the warming rays of sun on my skin. I want to close my eyes and soak it all in.

morning light

My sis-in-law joined me shortly and we stared in disbelief at chickens leaping straight up in the air like they were on a trampoline instead of sun-baked earth. Mystified we crept over to where they were and laughed in delight to discover they weren’t crazy chickens after all. Plump ripe grapes hung over their heads just out of reach, so they were jumping up to grab the bottom ones. πŸ™‚

I love Tuscany.

Where is the prettiest place you’ve ever woken up?