A Message From My Italian Plum Tree
The beautiful symbolism behind accidentally finding a plum tree, a note on elegantly wearing scarves, an aromatic recipe for bright skin, and an enchanting playlist
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
Albert Einstein
It's 5:30 a.m., and my alarm has just gone off. I slip out of bed and quietly sneak out of the room, holding my breath, just in case — God forbid — my breathing wakes any of the children. I serve myself a warm cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice and water and sit curled up in the comfortable armchair, basking in the silence. This is life, I contentedly say to myself. Upon opening my journal with my pen in hand, I abruptly hear "aaaahhhhhhhh!!"—my one-year-old son wakes up in his usual exaggerated fashion. Hmmppff, I sigh.
And since my son was up early, the other children, of course, followed suit. I can not express how tempting it was to get frustrated at that moment. The last few weeks in the Tuscan heat have been hard on me, an air-conditioner-addicted-recovering New Yorker (air conditioners are not standard in Tuscany, and electricity costs an arm and a leg here), and what I wanted more than anything was some quiet time to myself. But, at that very moment, I knew I could choose between having another day of woe-is-me thinking or just going with the flow and trying my best to find joy. I reluctantly chose the latter, but I'm glad I did.
The children and I went for an early morning walk before the day's heat set in. To my surprise, we discovered a plum tree in our garden that had been hidden from plain sight. We excitedly took our hats off and filled them with ripe yellow plums. I couldn't believe it! What an unexpected delight. If I had given in to frustration, I would have completely missed out on this beautiful opportunity.
A few days later, a thought popped into my head. “Go look up the symbolism of a plum tree,” I heard. I immediately jumped on trusty Google and searched for the meaning. Here’s what came up:
The plum tree symbolizes perseverance, hope, and beauty thriving in adverse circumstances.
Whoa- what a message! It was timely both for that particular day and for the very long and arduous season I have been in. My family and I suddenly left New York City two years ago to move to Europe. In a matter of weeks, my husband lost his job, and our rental was put up for sale, all while discovering I was newly pregnant with our third child. Our unexpected transition to an entirely new life has been turbulent. I was tired from the heat of the summer and the weight of holding up my family physically, mentally, and spiritually. But here it was —a sign from God encouraging me to persevere in adverse circumstances and to never give up on hope.
Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.
John 10:4
The funny thing is that despite this being our third summer in Tuscany (we spent most of our summers in France the previous two years), it was our first year harvesting fruit from the property. Discovering the plum tree was more symbolic than I thought.
Just a few months ago, I hosted my first-ever retreat in Tuscany. The theme was abiding in Jesus to bear fruit. I spent months preparing and delving deep, really deep, into the growing and cultivating of the grapevine, which is referenced in the above verse of Johh 15. We bear fruit when we spend time with our Creator. Fruit-bearing —despite what our society would have us believe— isn’t about how much we do, how competent we are, or about our level of affluence, for that matter. Spending time with Jesus isn’t about what we get. The fruit-bearing is a natural by-product of His sap flowing through us and doing remarkable things, big or small, for His everlasting kingdom, which never fades away.
Having jumped off the hedonic treadmill of New York City, this was not an easy pill for me to swallow. I was born and raised in an environment built around working tirelessly to get more and more. Embracing this message of abiding rather than striving is new to me. But, now having been stripped down to a very simple life in the countryside, it seems as though God is telling me that where I am right here, right now without all the fluff, is where I am actually bearing fruit- Mirabelle plums, to be exact.
A Note on Dress: The Immortal Head Scarf
All this fruit picking in the sweltering heat renders me a sweaty mess. As I try to come to terms with this new life of Mediterranean summers, I am also trying to adopt new ways of remaining effortlessly put together. The perfect solution for this is my favorite and most versatile accessory- the scarf. Cotton bandanas, silk twilly scarves, and the quintessential silk carré (square) scarf have become staple accessories in my low-maintenance wardrobe this season. I’ve used them all to keep my long, unruly hair tied back while adding a feminine touch to my bare, make-up-free skin.
Over the years, I’ve collected quite a few scarves, ranging from simple cotton bandanas to a few investment pieces. Vintage silk scarves are also one of my favorite things to shop for in Paris and Rome, as they are affordable and can be used in many ways. If you’re intimidated by the idea of tying a scarf, don’t be - here’s an easy video tutorial to help. Also, twilly scarves- the long skinny kind- are pretty easy to tie on like a headband, as seen in the images of Brigitte Bardot and Catherine Deneuve in the above collage.
If you think wearing a headscarf is far too dated, let me persuade you otherwise by sharing fashion blogger Leandra Medine Cohen’s recent Substack post on wearing silk scarves as headbands. Voilà!
"When I wear a silk scarf I never feel so definitely like a woman, a beautiful woman"
Audrey Hepburn
An Aromatic Yoghurt + Clay Face Mask
I wear a sunhat to protect my skin from the summer sun- another staple accessory in my wardrobe. But my blemishes become hyperpigmented when I get the occasional breakout, thanks to eating far too much cheese. This is when my aromatherapy skills come into play!
I love treating my skin at home using nontoxic ingredients, and yogurt, with its exfoliating lactic acid, is a fantastic way to lighten dark spots. This mask recipe includes argile, a green French clay that deeply cleanses the skin by removing dirt, oil, and bacteria from the pores. The essential oils of frankincense, geranium, and myrrh beautifully heal the skin and help relieve excessive oil production, dry skin, and inflammation. These oils also help the skin feel wonderfully toned and bright. Don’t fret if you don’t have all these oils on hand- this face mask is still great without them.
Facial Mask Ingredients
1 teaspoon - Plain yogurt
2 teaspoons French Green Clay*
1 teaspoon - Oat flour
A splash of German Chamomile hydrosol*(optional)
1 drop Frankincense*
1 drop Geranium*
1 drop Myrrh*
Directions
Mix all ingredients, preferably with a non-metal utensil. Leave for 10 minutes and wash off.
*I’ve linked some of the ingredients to the American websites, but these websites can be switched to Europe if necessary.
Playlist
Observing nature burgeon all around me in the Italian countryside has made me keenly aware of each season's changes. It's no wonder why artists and composers were so profoundly inspired. Guiseppe Arcimboldo's captivating Four Seasons portraits (seen above) and Vivaldi's masterpiece violin concerti, Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons), are some of my favorites. I have been listening to Max Lichter's recomposition of Vivaldi's Four Seasons on loop because it's just that good. You can listen here. (Please do, you won't regret it!)
Did you know everything in pink or underlined is linked for your convenience? So click away!
Goodbye For Now
I am growing more in love with life even in the midst of hardship, falling more deeply in love with the Creator of all beauty. I hope this inspires you to do the same! Until next time, sweet friends. Blessings to you all.
Ciao!
P.S.
If you're interested in discovering more about my summer in Tuscany and how I'm savoring the unhurried days of summer, you can explore my previous post here. It includes a fun Italian summer playlist that is sure to make you smile.
And while we're on the topic of slowing down, I'd like to share a podcast episode where I discuss the negative effects of rushing on our health.
I’m learning everyday and need this reminder. We will miss those precious cries one day, I’m sure. Mary Cassatt’s paintings have a way of beautifying the ordinary moments. So enchanting!
May there be peace in early mornings, endless transitions, and new adventures. So good to meet you recently ...