under the tuscan sun

sometimes you just have to watch "under the tuscan sun" again. (see also woman who never intended to buy a run-down tuscan villa). thank you, frances mayes, for putting ideas into my head...they go nicely with the books i'm reading, "blood, bones & butter: the inadvertent education of a reluctant chef" by gabrielle hamilton (i never intended to open a restaurant) and "breathless: an american girl in paris" by nancy miller (how did a nice jewish girl end up here?). so, along those lines, would it surprise you to know that i discovered artist residencies everywhere from italy to oregon that will feed, house and pay you to write and draw?! or that there really is a chateau for sale in the south of france right now. a gorgeous, once-in-a-lifetime fully designed and operative yoga retreat center. no kidding, you can look it up right now. funny, they don't list the price. guess i'll have to go check it out in person...