Thursday, July 21, 2011

Venafro, Italy

Several years ago (I can hardly believe it but it's been 5 years!), we made a driving holiday through much of Italy, including a few days in the historical Molise region. Nestled at the foot of the Santa Croce mountains north of Naples and south of Rome, we found the charming town of Venafro. Being mid-November the mornings were cool and misty but quickly cleared up once the sun peeked over the rocky hills. 

We stayed at a delightful B&B and I think perhaps that the wonderful memories of this fabulous place are what inspired us to buy our own this summer. Our hostess (I call her The Countess though I'm sure she's not) made us feel like long lost friends and did all that she could to make us welcome and comfortable in her beautiful family home. Constructed around 15th century buildings, and reconstructed around 1860, the B&B reminded me of an Italian palace. I adored the crumbling frescoes, the enormous palms in the garden, the magnificent staircase, 
and especially our bedroom, complete with burning fireplace.

I truly hope that we will make our guests feel as welcome as we felt here.

View from our bedroom in Venafro


View of Venafro, Italy


Venafro Street 1


Del Prete Dining Room


Dresser 2


Del Prete Staircase


Del Prete Garden 2


Breakfast Venafro


Chimney & Birds






Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Too Hot!


Oh so hot!

TOO HOT to cook!

So tonight it's shaved ham, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers,
several types of yummy cheeses,
 a bit of cognac pate, croissants, cheese buns, 
and tiny date squares with hot tea.

There's actually hardly anything more delicious in mid-July is there?

The only thing that could make it better would be
to be enjoying it out on our veranda.

Ohhhh well.... next week we will be doing just that!



Monday, July 18, 2011

12 More Sleeps!

I am waking up dreaming of this room... 
only 12 more days until we move in to our Victorian Inn!
This is the dining room where our guests will be served delicious breakfasts every morning 
unless they prefer to enjoy them out on the beautiful screened veranda...

Hopefully it won't be too long before we'll be able to welcome you in person!


Sunday, July 17, 2011

i carry your heart with me


i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
                    i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that is keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

e e cummings

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Sunflower Still Life

Sunflower Stil Lillife by Miss Kim
Sunflower Still Life, a photo by Miss Kim on Flickr.
Inspired by Willow at Life at Willow Manor today...

Sunflowers have always been a favourite of mine..

I love their bright exuberance
catching the warm rays of the sun...
eager to spread joy and warmth to all...

their cheerful faces... reminding us to keep on smiling...
their strong stems... so hard to bend... resilient, supportive, and reliable.

Simple petals pointing outward... towards others...
their full centers overflowing with abundance...
more than enough to share with hungry birds.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Triptych: Windows



"So I wait for you like a lonely house
till you will see me again and live in me.
Till then my windows ache."

Pablo Neruda 
(100 Love Sonnets: Cien Sonetos de Amor)



Today in the middle of summer I am missing this place- 
the Adriatic Sea on the Albanian coast...

This view is very special... a rare view from inside King Zog's old royal palace, now sadly crumbling in ruin. 
I think that one day it will be added to the list of local archaeological sites.

Build in 1927, as a personal gift to HM King Zog I, by the business community of Durres as a sign of respect and prosperity. Build in a form of an eagle, the villa was constructed on the highest point of the port city of Durres, overlooking the city and peering towards Italy. It is most famous for its Blue marble and large ballroom. Although horribly damaged during the 1997 riots, it remains a symbol the heritage of the city of Durres. With over two thousand newly married couples visiting it as a sign of good luck yearly.
From: Albanian Royal Court

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Butchart Gardens, Victoria BC

 I suppose my renewed interest in gardens is inspired by the fact that in 2 weeks we'll have our own garden! I'm so excited that I'll have a beautiful space surrounding our home in which to live, breath, and dream. Our recent visit to Victoria's wonderful Butchart Gardens made us realise just how important it is to spend time with nature and to appreciate the beauty we find in a garden. My hope is that our garden will be a place of beauty and peace.

 I wonder if these two nuns found time to say a few prayers? 
Gardens should be spiritual places...

 Fuschia.. what a fantastic combination of colours! Bright pink and purple all in one quite complicated blossom.

Is this not the most fabulous garden on earth??? 
How lush, how deep, how tall, how green!!

 I'm starting to really love my wide-angle lens!
The only trouble is I'm continually changing lenses and need the extra hands of my assistant Peter.

 Ohhh... a tiny, dark fiddlehead fern... just beginning her life... doesn't she look like a sea creature?

 Peonies... perhaps my absolute favourite flower! From all angles they are unbelievably pretty...

 Oh daisy... no matter what colour we find you clothed in... your simple beauty amazes me!



 The Columbine... named from the Latin 'Columba' for 'dove'. 
So dainty and delicate... and loved by butterflies...

 A tiny hummingbird ready to attack this beautiful purple flower... 
Help me here if you can...what is this flower called? 
I'm not sure if it is a lupin, and lobelia... or maybe foxglove? 
I need help!

 Poppies, simple beauty... crepey, paper-like flowers... 

 Seed pods perhaps? I have no idea...
I just loved their fabulous shape!

 Soft light filtered through thin leaves... so pretty it makes me teary...

 No this is NOT broccoli! It is a large tree/bush!!
Wonderful isn't it?!

 And the lovely water-lily... no wonder it was one of Monet's favourite flowers to paint...
lush colours, thick leaves... floating on the cool water... 
pretty, oh so pretty...
Time to leave... through this sweet garden gate.