August In Sicily

Hard to believe it already August.  We came here late May and lasting till September seemed really hard then...especially for Isabella.  Now we only have three weeks left and its not enough.

We have accomplished so much and I have so enjoyed this house.  Its feels like home and that of course is very important.

When we first moved in we fast had to buy some furniture.  I said just the basics to get us settled.....but the more I looked the more I knew buy good..buy once.  Our plan has always to bring stuff from the US but we still had to at least buy beds.  

We soon discovered buying in Gino's little town was not a good idea.  Limited choice and higher prices.  So we did research and found a nearby town literally in the middle of nowhere but the prices were better.  I picked a lovely chest of drawers with two matching nightstands..real wood with inlay...just lovely.  Most people would buy a bed to match...but I felt it would be too heavy and I wanted a lighter feel in our bedroom so I picked a cream painted metal bed with flowers painted on the headboard...then I had to pick an armoir....no built-in closets here!..So rather than buy one large piece I had two made for  either side of my new balcony...which by the way was still in my head.  Now weeks later..the balcony is finished and although the armoirs are a little larger that I had envisioned...the over all feeling is what I wanted.  We had been sleeping in one of the other bedrooms while they broke into the walls for the new french/doors and balcony.  We have now slept in our own room for a few nights and its lovely and peaceful and if I leave the shutters open the morning light wakens me up.

Then we also had to shop for Isabella's room.  She pretty much knew what she wanted.  She got a blue/cream built-in trundle bed with armoirs and cupboards surrounding it.   She also got a desk and chair as she does lots of art work and writing.  Her room is lovely and airy and quite large.

We also had to fast furnish a room for my aunt and uncle coming from Scotland.  Again buy better buy once.  I picked a long hard wood buffet as a dresser and smallish armoir two nightstands all in dark wood and a green painted metal bed.  This room also had a new french/door balcony addition and as we have played musical beds in this house I have also slept in this room and if you get up with the morning sunrise you can see dozens of wild rabbits running around the field next door.......plus down in our orchard munching on the fallen fruit.  I love country life.

We also had to install a kitchen upstairs......everyone said t would be too hot and I did not listen.  Most days I cook with a fan blowing straight on me and trying to make sure it does not blow the gas stove out!  Even if I say so myself...I have cooked some great food in my upstairs hot little kitchen.  Yesterday morning alone I cooked a cheesecake...I tiramisu and a lasagna all from scratch.....not bad.

Downstairs we have a large plastic table and 8 chrs...a borrowed sofa and two chairs and a huge Sony flat screen TV Gino bought.  I watch BBC world news all the time....when I am not cooking and  cleaning that is.

So for this trip...we have pretty much spent our budget.  I am really happy with what we have done.  As I am sitting at 9am typing this Gino is outside painting the new back fence and the large automatic gate we have.  He has already painted the two new balconies..  This needs to be done before it rains or it will all rust.  He has done a great job.

We are now planning a few days at the beach as we promised this to Isabella...as much as I love the country I do enjoy our time in Cefalu...the water is so warm and we all spend time in the ocean.  Then my sister Liz comes from Scotland via Spain and we are planning several large parties at the house while she is here