We are only a few days into what is going to be at least 4 weeks of staying home. Yes, it is very inconvenient but we are going to use the time to catch up on some neglected jobs such as finishing the interior decorating.
Early last year we redecorated nearly half the house. I did all the painting and my mother Susan and I made all the curtains. We got a lot done in 6 months working flat out.
Quite a few tea guests have asked to see the rest of the house after seeing the 'slightly eccentric' dining room. Unfortunately since it is also our home and we are not finished with the renovations I must always say I'm sorry but no. Here is a bit of a glimpse though. I'm hoping in the not too distant future to make the whole of the downstairs more welcoming to guests.
The Drawing room
The Entry Alcove
The Library Alcove
Down stairs WC
A bedroom
Another one of my (many) mirrors in a bathroom. This one is made from cornice off cuts.
Since Villa del Vento has been officially open (last July) I have been busy caking and tea partying so now I’m going to work on the rest of the rooms. Much of this will have to wait until after lockdown is finished since we don’t have the materials we need to hand but some of it we can get cracking with.
At present tea parties are held either in the dining room or the courtyard but I think it would be nice if you had the option to sit in the drawing room too so next spring there will be ‘high tea’ at the table or ‘low tea’ in the drawing room.
Speaking of tea parties bookings are now closed (early) for winter thanks to the virus. I might open the Villa for a shared Mid Winter Christmas Tea Party if we beat this epidemic by then and there is enough interest of course… let me know if you are keen! The last market day was unexpectedly brought forward thanks again to the virus. I had planned on attending the Easter market but that's life I guess. I don't want to get on a soapbox here but if humans as a whole had more respect for animals and the environment this sort of thing wouldn't happen. Just saying.
I have finished 2 more mirrors. One is a “Trumeau” mirror which is a mirror with a picture or decorative moulding above, in this case both. It is made from an op shop find plus some ready made and some home made mouldings (on a ply wood back). It is stuck at Bombo now so I can’t take a photo but I’ll post it next month if the lockdown doesn't last too long. It will be available for purchase at Bombo by then… hopefully. I have just finished my 'recycling bin' mirror so that I can photograph. I think I will use this one on the stairs but I 'll add a couple of big butterflies to it to tie in with theme of the stair well and give the mirror a bit more personality.
With the time away from baking I just managed to finish off the stone paths in l’orto and plant honeysuckle box in the gaps in the rosemary hedges before the wet weather hit. Great timing, I must say. I've been busy baking cakes while the sun shines and now that I can finally get out in the garden: it's raining!. We do need the rain though so I can't really complain. The paths are made up from old and broken paving stones that we have collected over the years - for a crazy paving effect.
I grew the Lonicera natida from cuttings earlier this year - they are much quicker and easier to propagate than regular boxwood, the downside being that they do need more regular clipping.
I’ve planted valerian seedlings, which I grew from seed, in the tea bed (the zinnias from last year have self seeded so I left them in) Tea made from the valerian root is supposed to be a good sleep tonic. I’m still planning to plant a mixture of tea making herbs but that will have to wait until spring time now.
It seems like it is always the 'before shot' and never the end result. I am very impatient for progress to be obvious and dramatic! We have been making subtle progress though,Dad has sown mustard which will later be dug in to enrich the soil, and also sown carrot seed which we'll be harvesting in a few months. We've harvested onions and beetroot recently and we've got cabbage and other brassicas growing so I guess we are on the right track.
Meanwhile back in the kitchen… before the lockdown...
Autumn cakes for what turned out to be the last market day. A champagne flavoured champagne magnum for an 80th birthday. Some samples for a wedding order. Pumpkin cakes from an autumn tea party, and a Birthday cake.
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