SIBILLA RESORT moves to Montepulciano

Io vi ritrovo la brezza calda.....

2009-04-20T08:34:00.002+02:00

" Bisogna davvero che tu conosca questo paese in estate!
Io vi ritrovo la brezza calda e le notti fresche che mi hanno cosi incantato l'anno scorso.
La mia casa... si, c'e la mia casa. Non e ancora per tutto pronto.
Ma questo non ha alcuna importanza. Se sarà il caso, abiterò con una lampada a petrolio, due materassi e i nostri costumi da bagno. "

Warm welcome from us.....

Fabio, Suzanne, Ludovica, Annika and ....... in arriving.
Not forgetting, Aldo the sweet dog

Almost ready to start....

2008-10-29T11:23:00.010+01:00

For those who may have been wondering where we were last month…,

we have been working frantically to get the last things in and around our future guest-house done, and I think we have finally succeeded!

I hope you will enjoy getting to know a little bit more about our last mentally and physically exertion,

and maybe your curiosity will be so big that you can’t wait to visit us next spring.

That would be for sure, the biggest satisfaction for us.

At the moment beautiful windows and doors are dividing the interior from the outdoor area.

All the floors incl. the under floor heating are placed to crown it all.

In the breakfast room we choose to use the beautiful old cotta floors we saved during the works, and in the rest of the house, we choose for the material of naturally stone Travertine.

The colours are between white but because of the naturally accent the result itself is soft and warm.

Travertine, similar to limestone, is comprised primarily of calcium carbonate and is a smooth and porous stone characterized by its rich creamy hue. Small amounts of new minerals may grow from any impurities in the original rock, resulting in coloured streaks and veins giving rise to variations in colour and appearance from light creams and beiges to walnut.

Tiles are cut from blocks either vein-cut or cross-cut to produce a different and appealing, surface appearance. Travertine tiles are marketed either with the holes unfilled for a more rustic and antique look, or the holes are filled with a tinted epoxy resin and honed to give the surface a solid effect.

Our Travertine floor is included with little holes, to keep the result as naturally as possible.

The rooms are now , with their beautiful light colour floors, olive green windows, and old roof from cotta stone and beams in balance with contrasts and light.

Around the house we have sowed the grass, and hopefully, with the help of the rainfall yesterday, soon we will have a fresh lawn.

The first plants of Salvia, Margarita, Achillea millefoglia, lavandula, Passiflora, Clematis, are planted and even a little three of eucalyptus.

At the moment the painters are inside to finish the job.

Next month we will move in, and very soon we hope to have our new website online and plenty guest willing to come to visit us from the first day of 2009.

Our job is almost done.

The last 2 years we tried to focus our energy on positive thinking even if there were plenty of obstacles to be taken while walking on our road.

Being persistent was rather a need as a luxury.

It’s really true that success is a marathon, not a sprint. You have to keep every day your eye on your goal, keeping working towards it and never never giving up.

We tried to learn to analyze details during the restoration, getting all the facts together, asking for input. That has helped us, to make wiser decisions. Trying to avoid mistakes which could damage the character and originality of the house.

That was maybe the most difficult part of the restoration.

Specially because we needed to transform the house in a Guest-house, which of course, is a different function as a classical old farmhouse.

To make it work, you have also to take care about practical things and you can’t avoid the needing of the 20 century.

It has to match all together.

Being different and using a different goal, innovating a standard idea of restoration was sometimes difficult to transmit to the workers. Communicating effectively every day in what we wanted and what we didn’t want, trying to be our self and holding at our own ideas at the end has giving the result we wanted for almost 99%.

I would like to finish this post for today, hoping you enjoyed it, transmitting you the following words:

"If you can believe, all things are possible to those who believe."
- Mark 9:23

Suzanne

Rain-dance!

2008-09-07T02:51:00.012+02:00

Let's face it one of the main reasons we all love Italy is the weather! Close your eyes and picture yourself on one of those lovely balmy summer evenings when the weather in Tuscany is just perfect, relaxing outside, the heady perfume of jasmine hanging in the air, glass of good wine in the hand, mesmerised by the sheer spectacle that is a Tuscan sunset.

But, back to the reality of this late September night… today I had some difficulties to stand this never ending heat.

Maybe some people are wondering now what daily life in Italy is like in summer.

Well, once the warm weather hits this country, the routine does change a little.

You just have to go slow…very slow…everybody in slow motion!

Again I can invite you to the image of reading a lovely book under a olive tree…

For me however, its still quit difficult to get used on the 30°C+ heat with can become oppressive and potentiallyin June, July and August.

Maybe because in my mind I have always millions of things to do…and going in slow-motion seems to be impossible.

Since June no rain came down anymore.

We had just 2 showers in a hot afternoon in august, but it wasn’t enough to even water a lawn, with generally all are complete yellow.

Having no rainfalls makes that the soils undergo a period of dryness during the long summer until late august.

We are in September and still no rain!

As a original Dutch rain lover I'm longing for rain but also Fabio as a real Italian starts to get uncomfortable with this long dry and never ending summer…

Wells starts to run dry and irrigation get more and more difficult.

For your garden you have to minimize the water to avoid wasting of water.

We have spent the spring ( because of heavy clay under your shoes during rainy days hi ) and summer wishing that our patch of dirt land were a blanket of soft blades.

Next spring could be a whole other story if we seed this fall—the perfect time to start a new lawn.

Fall’s cooler temperatures prevent the seeds from drying out, but there’s still enough sun and rain to help them germinate before going into hibernation for the winter, without the competition of crabgrass and other weeds that die off this time of year.

What we just need is….

a little soil preparation, the right mix of seed, and lots of watering!!!!

I think the only thing then what rest me to do is:

rain-dancing!!!!!

painting by Ken Schilling

what is going on…..

2008-08-28T19:00:00.009+02:00

Summer holiday’s are almost over and we are getting towards late August waiting for a more wet September.

Our summer holiday this year was actually 11 days - few days in Bretagne France, which was beautiful, the rest of our time in the Netherlands at my friends home Ghisliane.

It was lovely, lively, good for the soul, but quite tiring because of all the travelling.

We came home almost more tired as when we left.

Our driving record was around 6000 kilometres in 11 days…. quit a bit.

Coming back, our Tuscan farmhouse was waiting for some company.

In fact the workers were in summer holiday.

Before going on this short but desired vacation, we have done quit a bit of work in and around the house.

Specially the works around the house has transformed the whole view.

Diggers have been working for a whole week to make the first step in a garden project.

Inside the house there was movement as well…

plumbers, electrician running around, organizing and installing of

floor heating, electrical wiring ect.

But also wall works were in full action…with is a story apart….

and last but not least our floors!

Lets catch up with some pictures to get a better image of what is going on…..

Horse fever!

2008-07-02T07:20:00.007+02:00

The Charm of the Palio

May I present:
This is Estremo Oriente,
Stalone, baio oscuro, 8 years old.
We saw him Sunday being chosen for the contrada Bruco.
He is a real beauty and today he will run as number 16 in the Palio.
Good luck Estremo Oriente!!!

Maybe I should tell you something about this exciting happening today in Siena. If after reading below you are enthusiastic as me, you can follow the show at:
http://www.rai.it/

Every year on July 2 and August 16, the beautiful medieval city of Siena comes alive for one of the world's most breathtaking folk festivals, Il Palio.

The event is known around the globe as a totally unique horse race, but it is much, much more.

There are 17 contradas, but only 10 race in the Palio; therefore, other than the seven that race because they did not take part in the previous Palio, three are chosen by drawing lots. This process, which takes place the last Sunday in May and the first Sunday after the Palio of July, marks the beginning of the festivities.

Three days before the race, an important ceremony is held which is called "la tratta", or "the draw", in which every contrada is assigned by the drawing of lots one of the ten horses selected from the battery. This is a most important moment because a good horse can be decisive; the horses that race in the piazza are often half bloods that are both fast and as well as courageous. From that moment, the horse is taken into the contrada and is given all the attention possible: it has to eat well and rest quietly; for this reason it is entrusted with a "barbaresco", a man that takes it into his care and practically lives with it during the days leading up to the Palio, trying to determine its possibilities and obtain its best performance.

On the track, in fact, there is no time for joking. The curve called San Martino that is met going downhill, and another called Casato, which is on an uphill slope, can be deadly traps. The test runs, therefore, are faced with the idea of preparing the horse as well as the strategy for the race; it is also an important moment for the jockey, a protagonist as well even if to a lesser measure than the horse. The jockey is usually a foreigner to Siena, short, but courageous and well built and, most importantly, an exceptional horse rider because he will ride without a saddle and the risk if he falls is grave. As a rule, the jockey is a man, although some women have played the part as well; the last one was called Rompicollo, or "Breakneck" (in keeping with the Tuscan tradition every jockey has a nickname) and she raced for the contrada Aquila (Eagle).

The night before the race is the grandiose, propitious dinner where singing and toasting abound, but it is also the time when secret pacts are stipulated between the contradas, work of the captain and the "mangini" (the organizers), with the primary objective of winning the Palio in mind, but also with the goal of not letting the rival contradas win.

The day of the Palio, after the "provaccia" (the final trial run), the air gets tense and then when the bell tower sounds the signal and the young people that play a part are all dressed in their splendid, full costumes, the anticipation is felt everywhere. In the middle of a very excited atmosphere, every contrada that will take part in the race in the Campo has its horse blessed. It is a moment that cannot be missed; the "correctore" (priest) performs the benediction of the horse and the jockey and dismisses the latter saying, "Go and come back a winner!". Then the excitement is unleashed with drum rolls and the waving of flags surrounded by an increasingly dense crowd.

The anticipation continues to grow during the historic parade that precedes the Palio; one by one all of the contradas parade around the Campo in their multi-colored costumes until finally the "Carroccio" (a medieval war cart) enters, pulled by four oxen and carrying the banner called the Palio (also called "the cloth"), welcomed by thousands of waving handkerchiefs. After a seemingly never-ending wait, the horses enter the Piazza del Campo from the "Entrone" (entrance) of the Palazzo Pubblico and make their way, surrounded by shouting and applause, to the starting line of the race.

The start of the race ("la mossa") is a critical moment; the starting line-up is kept a secret until it is revealed by the starter moments before the race. The first nine horses line up one after the other as the emotion grips the throat of all. A good place at the starting line could mean a victory! It is not infrequent that the horses act up, due to the excitement of the jockey as well as the tension that reigns in the moments before the start, causing the line-up for the start to be repeated several times. The moment of the start is determined by the tenth contrada that acts as a "run-up" to the others, and only when that horse reaches the others does the rope that restrains the horses fall to the ground. The horses take off at an incredible speed, with the jockeys hanging on tightly to their necks, in a wide-open gallop.

The three laps around the track are completed in about one and a half minutes, at such an incredible speed that those seeing the Palio for the first time can hardly believe it. Even before the explosion of a firecracker declares the end of the race, the members of the winning contrada enter the track and run to claim "the cloth" yelling, "Give it to us! Give it to us!". A great exultation with flags follows, and the contradas that are "friends" of the winners unite with them, while at the same time it is not rare that some other jockeys get treated roughly by their contrada's members as their "thanks" for losing.

After the Palio is carried into the contrada, it is displayed in the museum. Then the festivities begin which will culminate in a huge dinner where the winning horse itself is at the head of the table. It is a celebration for all but everyone has already begun to think about the Palio of the following year.

Suzanne

Stones!!!

2008-07-01T11:01:00.031+02:00

Stones stones stones…that was what we found in the stables when we started to prepare the foundation of the house.

It would be wonderful to have used them again as the floor from your breakfast room.

The question was, that using them, would mean having trouble placing tables and sheers because of their irregularity.

Our idea was to use them in the courtyard, between the house and the outdoor buildings.

What do you thing about, to have a lovely breakfast outside at the courtyard during your summer stay?

Bingo!

2008-06-20T18:36:00.013+02:00

Our 104 meter deep hole is closed.

The well driller closed again the hole after being sure we would have no change to find water.

We had a lot of rain the other week, and that’s why we thought it would be normal to see some water bubbling above the ex-hole.

Maybe a reaction between air, water, and ground.

The funny thing was that these day’s it didn’t stop bubbling.
Yesterday, together with the plumber and geological assistance ,
we measured with a small tool, wundering if there was maybe some gas?

BINGO!

The tool signed maximum!

So what to do???

Instead of finding water we found Methane.

We have to do some research hoping the gas will exspire….but I’m afraid it will not so….

If one of you has an Idea how to handel next...…please......
you are welcome…..

Some information about Methane.

Wikipedia

Methane is a chemical compound with the molecular formula CH₄. It is the simplest alkane, and the principal component of natural gas. Methane's bond angles are 109.5 degrees. Burning methane in the presence of oxygen produces carbon dioxide and water. The relative abundance of methane and its clean burning process makes it a very attractive fuel. However, because it is a gas at normal temperature and pressure, methane is difficult to transport from its source. In its natural gas form, it is generally transported in bulk by pipeline or LNG carriers; few countries still transport it by truck.

Methane is a relatively potent greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential of 72 (averaged over 20 years) or 25 (averaged over 100 years).^[1] Methane in the atmosphere is eventually oxidized, producing carbon dioxide and water. As a result, methane in the atmosphere has a half life of seven years (if no methane was added, then every seven years, the amount of methane would halve).

The abundance of methane in the Earth's atmosphere in 1998 was 1745 parts per billion, up from 700 ppb in 1750. In the same time period, CO₂ increased from 278 to 365 parts per million. The radiative forcing effect due to this increase in methane abundance is about one-third of that of the CO₂ increase.^[2] In addition, there is a large, but unknown, amount of methane in methane cla thrates in the ocean floors. Global warming could release this methane, which could cause a further sharp rise in global temperatures. Such releases of methane may have been a major factor in previous major extinction events. The Earth's crust also contains huge amounts of methane. Large amounts of methane are produced anaerobically by met hanogenesis. Other sources include mud volcanoes which are connected with deep geological faults.

Water Witching!

2008-06-12T00:54:00.020+02:00

Hi all of you!
We are struggling to find water!

You would like to ask me…
what do you want to say???

If I open the fountain in your B&B…is there no water flowing?
How can I go for a nice bath…if water is not filling the tub?
Don’t you have water?

Maybe for the most people…also for me…it was quit normal to have water at home?
I don’t know if I ever wondered were the water was coming from.
It’s just there….who borders?

It’s not at all so easy as it seems…

that's what I learned, specially after today .

No, we don’t have water, or water pipes bringing us water to the house.

Until today we used our property well in the wine yard of the neighbour, to have water.

The well is on surface level, that means we have water but not enough to serve home, work and garden.

We asked a permission to bore a new one, close to the house as that is much more efficient for different reasons.

One, because its always better to have it on your property land,
two, because no needs of pumps, to pump the water to the house.

To know were to bore, to locate and find the under ground water,
we use here in Italy an old fashion habit…. the forked stick method!

A men with a Forked stick from a three somehow sense the gradients and unconsciously respond by wagging his forked stick.

The two ends of the stick are held in a rather uncomfortable grip in such a way that the stick is under considerable tension--coiled up like a spring, as it were. Any of four minor muscle movements will result in the stick taking a sudden lurch downward .

It bends toward the sky when water is found.

There is no scientific reason why dowsing should work , it apparently works well enough and reliably enough to keep the practice alive.

That’s why we fully trusted our friend “ The Dowser” !

When he walks around doing his number with the stick, I mean the dowser, it’s like a magician doing some kinds of rites…

and who secretly doesn’t want to believe in magic, the plunging-stick phenomenon seemed so convinced that we went home convinced to have done the job!!!

We found the water…more than that, it was also a magical show!

Ha!

That’s why yesterday we started to drill in front of the house, there were we supposed to find water.

Well…for us that just the beginning…and we even do not know until now were we will end...
because.....
our unconsciously feat and optimism got a oepssssssssssssssssssssssss,
when after 104 meter and two day’s of drilling water is still not present.

The following day’s we have to program what to do because the whole show has also a cost,

and a solution is a MUST!

I suggested two left over options to a blow Fabio,

or praying to ENKI Sumerian, god of water and wisdom,or using scientific tools to finally find the wished water!

Suzanne.

The pipes to make the holes are 4 meter each.
They are attached one after the other.
The machine is making plenty noises to drill thru the heavy clay ground.

Fairy!

2008-06-02T01:46:00.005+02:00

This weekend Italy is celebrating the 2 of June.

In fact, I was sleeping next to my lovely princesses, before being waked up at midnight by fire works.

My prince is out for a few day in Holland…what a strange idée.

Me, here in Italy, and Fabio on a exhibitions for Italy lovers near Utrecht.

Italy celebrate the day of la festa della Repubblica Italiana.

I encourage myself today to do some gardening at the house.

Until today there was no plant planted and after sowing for month’s, having a green centre in our bedroom…
yes, that’s the place were I sow…hi poor Fabio, I thought it would be time to bring some green happiness to the house.

A car full of plants…even a olive three between the children…
a small one, but it’s a olive three,
garden sundries and water we drove this afternoon to our house.

Maybe for a few minutes my enthusiasm turned over in a painful awareness that our ground is HORRIBEL.

Hard, and to work the ground with a spade you need many mussels.

I looked to our garden…lets say our 7000 mq piece of ground, and the only thing what I could say to my princesses was…
We need a fairy!
Yes, she can turn this hard ground over in soft and beautiful garden ground.

My daughters took my words seriously and the started immediately to look for magic powder….some sand they found in front of the house.

Maybe because of there enthusiasm I said to my self….we are not going to take the plants home again…this is there home…we make them feel at home!
With the spade I worked hard, and with the help of the magic fairy powder,
on the end some little results we had.

Of course we have seriously to look for some solutions to make gardening a joy and not a nightmare,but for today it was fun!

Being at the house, feeling the fresh air, hearing some sheep bells, some births and our friends Mister and Miss. Frog,

I feel very free!

Suzanne.

" Viva il blog! "

2008-05-14T00:13:00.006+02:00

Hello everybody out there….

I don’t keep my promise as Linda said to me last weekend.

I’m not updating at all our blog!

But to night it was a joy to read the comment of our faraway supporter, Maureen.

It’s really lovely, that even if I am a disaster with this blog, that you keep the faith that one day I will be there again…

...Updating...!

I’m wondering what to show you, because these day’s the works are almost at the end.

Well….the big jobs…now we have to go on with the final touch, so still we are far away from were we want to be.

Maureen asked me if we are on time schedule.

I think we are.

Lets say that this month we have conclude exactly one year of building.

Maybe for today I should show you a picture as Before and After.

Thank you my friends, for being there with us the last year.

I hope to be with you more often…so what can I say…

I will try again!

“ Viva il blog! “

Suzanne

Sitting on the roof!

2008-04-04T16:31:00.010+02:00

One day,

I will climb out of the small window beside our roof,

the little window you can see on the
picture.

Then I will say to myself:

“I’m sitting on the roof today,

All by myself,

Not saying nothing

To no one,

Yes I'm sitting on the roof today,

Just me, myself and the view! “

Goodbye,
Suzanne!

( works winter/ spring 2008 )

Windows

2008-03-27T19:25:00.011+01:00

A window is an eye looking into the soul.
A window is a dream that is prone to be broken.
A window is a measure of light and depth
You can see everything or nothing from a window,
it's how's things are perceived.

Suzanne.

Keeping you curious!

2008-03-26T20:19:00.008+01:00

I would like to tell you that a surprise is waiting for you…

You can’t imagine the change mends in and around our house.

Are you curious….would you like to see the picture’s….

Well…you have to wait…to content you with the images of the works leading to a result that caused inside of me today a wonderful feeling, a great feeling of satisfaction.

Of course we are still far away from the day that everything will be perfect.

But, perfect is maybe not the right word, because it never has to be perfect…

It has to be for you and me the perfect place to discover natural living in a essential habitat.

To keep your attention focused on our blog…

To keep you curious…

To transmit you my growing feelings…

I will keep on writing as I promised…

specially for you…

consequently and frequently

Suzanne

Afternoon blog stress

2008-03-25T21:47:00.006+01:00

Convinced about up-dating the blog…I started this afternoon with plenty energy and enthusiasm, but after more than 3 hours I was ready to crash the computer and to true it in the trashcan.

Of course that wouldn’t be so smart and, turning my back away from the “ square box “ , as I call the computer, taking some fresh air at the window, saved me and my computer from a total disaster.

It’s not so easy to do computer work with to small kids around asking your attention.

I had a chat with Fabio just to find some comfort in my frustie mood.

He advised me…not for the first time…to not public plenty photo’s.

Short messages takes just 15 minutes and publishing consequently and frequently makes working on a blog fun and means avoiding a crashed computer and a frustrated wife!!!

His words:

“ il giorno che lo capirai io sarò andato in pensione...... (rofl)”

So, better be smart and taking his advise as wise.

Lets go on….
It’s not the quantity, but the quality…..
Very wise words…using them in a wise way,
showing you only a bleu sky…

Mamma Lumacone!!

2008-03-25T18:57:00.020+01:00

Our on-line diary of the activities around our Tuscan dream is,

to be honest, far behind the reality.

My little Daughter Ludovica of 6 would say…as she says often calls me

“ Mammie Lumacona. “

Well, of course, I would like to apologise with all of you who are trying to have some updated news on-line but,
instead of some interesting news, pictures or stories are confronted again with the same post.

From today I hope…will try, and like to promise to be less a Mamma Lumacone.

I would like to bring you in temptation ever time you visit our blog,

until the day you truly come to visit us and enjoy your stay at a Tuscan dream, gain to all of you.

To keep this promise, I need a little bit of your help….

I just like to ask all of you out there…friends, guests, family, and whoever is for some reason interested of being a part of our Tuscan dream, to drop sometimes a comment bellow a post.

That makes that I feel I’m really in tough with you out there.

It makes writing not monotone but being inspirited of your messages.

After Easter Wishes to all of you,

Suzanne…Mamma Lumacone!!

Big Kitchen Big Dreams!

2008-02-18T12:17:00.019+01:00

Yes, and Fabio, in love with cooking and kitchens has a lot of dreams in the way he want to develop the Kitchen.

Our kitchen space is ready for new ideas and inspiration.

For now we are brain storming…

One thing is clear to us,

A kitchen that looks integrated in a larger open space requires attention to every detail.

Clean design is right at home in the kitchen, where form naturally follows function.

( works winter 2007 / 2008 )

Our old farmhouse seems to take on new life !

2008-01-15T16:52:00.000+01:00

Our home is in the process of fine restoration to regain her old splendour by professionals who’ve turned restoration into a skillful art.

Before making a new roof, the ceilings of the ground floor had to be done.
We were not sure what to do about the ceiling.

Before the restoration and preservation of the old ceiling could even start, we had to think about the right methods and solutions to restore and if possible preserve it.
Restoring the ceiling, but keeping its original glory!
Not as easy as it may seem.

The ceiling was made of wooden beams and cotto tiles.
The first room, one of the future breakfast rooms, didn't even have a ceiling and for years rain came in.
The ceiling of the other rooms, former stables, were damaged beyond repair.
We did quite a bit of research.
One of the problems as we saw it, was that we would risk loosing the beautiful arch,
because we had just a few spaces to lean a huge wooden beam above.
The big central beams are the base of the new ceiling.
To be more clear, the big beams and later the cement on top from the first floor, would be just too heavy for the arch…giving us construction problems later on.
It was just a pain in our hearts to remove the arch, we wanted the arch authentic.

We called our engineers and talked to them about the problem, and finally we have been guided to the best technical solution to keep the arch.

Yoehoeeeeee!!!

All the team including the handcraft workers have been incredibly helpful!

To keep the antique effect we have bought old materials to give a final effect as close as possible to how it was once a time ago.

Have a look and we would love to hear your comments below.

( works autumn 2007 )

Breakfast dreams!

2008-01-10T12:24:00.000+01:00

Your breakfast will soon be served
We believe in that my friend…
Because…

Knowing how to wait….

" On some occasions the warrior sits down, relaxes and lets everything that is happening around him go on happening. He looks around him as if he were a spectator, does not try to grow or diminish, just commits himself unresistingly to the movement of life.

Little by little everything that seemed so complicated becomes simple. And the warrior becomes happy. "

( Words by Paulo Coelho )

La vostro colazione sara presto servito!!!!
Noi crediamo in questo, amico mio…
Perche…

Sapendo aspettareI

" In alcune occasione, il guerriero si siede, si rilassa e lascia che tutto ciò che sta accadendo intorno a lui continui ad accadere. Guarda tutto ciò che lo circonda come se fosse uno spettatore, non tenta di crescere né di sminuirsi – si limita ad abbandonarsi senza resistenza al movimento della vita.

A poco a poco, tutto ciò che sembrava complicato comincia a diventare semplice. E il guerriero ne gioisce. "

( Parole di Paulo Coelho )

( works summer 2007 )

Your guestroom and his foundation!

2008-01-09T00:59:00.000+01:00

Building the foundation of our house is one of the most important tasks while restoring the farm.

If the foundation is not properly laid then the entire edifice will be unstable.

A house needs a foundation to shoulder its considerable weight.

A well-laid foundation is absolutely essential for a house.

This future guest room is caved by hand for more than an half meter.

( works summer 2007 )

A Little Space For Us.......

2007-12-29T10:11:00.000+01:00

Even if somebody of you could belief we are making an indoor swimming pool,
I would like to make shore that this “empty space” will be our storage.

The water inside???
That’s because of the rain….

The big space for just a storage???
That’s because of plenty needings….

Our residential garage is part of our home, disappearing under the ground, with a part of the new building above it.

We designed 120 sq meter in a way that beauty of nature not will be disturbed.

The “ empty space “ is created for storing one or two private cars, laundry, wine cellar, storage for food, lawn mowers and other such items,
as well for storage all the things you don’t want in your house but you can’t live without it…..hi!

The garage will have a door connecting the private road with a driveway for vehicles to enter and exit.

The “ empty space “ as I wish to call it for now , has a door directly connecting the garage to the interior of the new house.

( works late summer 2007 )

On its road!

2007-12-28T12:12:00.000+01:00

On its road, there are many paths to take

With many sacrifices along the way to make

Patience, faith and hard work

We take a step at a time and we don’t digress

( works summer 2007 )

A letter to a friend!

2007-11-20T01:23:00.000+01:00

This is a picture of our friend and neighbour which I went to see today.

I have to tell you after a happy day at the house …
I had a real sad afternoon at home.
My sister called me from Canada and she told me what happened on the airport of Vancouver.

On October 14, a man died at the Vancouver airport.
The events have only been brought to light because of video footage of the event captured by a bystander.

Feeling inside a strong sense of impotence,
watching a realty drama
unexpected on you-tube.

That’s why,
today I wish to use the media of internet asking you,
my friends,
a few minutes of silence, reflection and prayer.

Why in this world it is so difficult respecting human rights being nice one for each other?
Why it is so difficult just trying to feel compassion for somebody else?
Why it is so difficult to feel equal to each other indifferent nation or skin colour?
Why all this horror if we all could be living in peace and happiness?
Is it not a human right to see the beautiful colours of life for every human being?

If somebody would have shown some understanding to this man with dreams.
Just an arm or a smile or a glass of water ….
then all this would never been happened.

To who, to what… sense this sad story has?

This men is taken away his right to live…living his dreams,
The policemen’s maybe will cry in silence in their bed.
The people around shocked and up side down with their witnesses,
A mother who’s heart is broken and will have difficulties living Canada as before and feeling a stranger at home.
Citizen of Canada who will doubt and discuses there safety and human rights.
A world who will be confronted seeing a tragic drama on internet and television, or hear it on radio and feel sad and confused the rest of the day, because this is real life!!!!

Lets make that this man did not die for nothing!

We have to learn from this sad story to remember to be compassionated!

Lets pray sincerely for Robert Dziekanski a men with a name , a men with a dream!!!

Suzanne

Have you ever wondered how a house is built?

2007-11-04T12:31:00.000+01:00

What holds up the ceilings and the walls?
What keeps the rain out?
What parts go into making a house?

.......Well! we are learning.

During this stage of building everything seems to go very quickly, I wish to explain to everybody that the cement is going to disappear and that the new volume is going build outside with old stones, so that the old part not will be harmed by an awful cementbloc

…. brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

( Works Autumn 2007 )

We could be sitting on a goldmine!

2007-09-19T09:15:00.000+02:00

That was the first idea…hi…. while starting to dig a hole of 10 by 16 meter, deep 5 meter….

We convert our existing rural property and provide a basement beside which can be used for all sorts of accommodation.

Wine cellar, laundry, storage for food, technical room and even if Fabio doesn’t agree, a space to storage all the stuff you don’t need but unfortunately you are emotional attach to.

Anyway having a extra space of more than 100 square meter under the ground makes possibilities endless.

With enthusiasm we started to dig beside the farm the beginning of June.

After a while we had a enormous hole.

It was scaring to walk around the border because 5 meter are higher as it seems.

Diggers, motor lorry’s, Cement, irons, boards, designs, geometers, engineers, carpenters ….

We had them al together.

Everything was calculated .

Anyway, anyhow….

we have finally finished our basement.

Hurrah!!!

UFO in Montepulciano

2007-08-12T18:10:00.000+02:00

Just a short list of Unknown Flying Objets above the building. Those objects do fly often in the week and stay off in the weekend. Bit strange. Isn't it?

Una carellata di Oggetti Volanti non Identificati che sorvolano la casa. Gli avvistamenti avvengono dal lunedì al venerdi. Non si registra attività nel fine settimana. Strano no?

Imprevisti - Unexpected things!!!

2007-07-08T19:36:00.000+02:00

Eccoci al primo imprevisto!!!!

Come fare per evitare che, scavando a ridosso delle mura, le stesse possano crollare con conseguentemente danno per chi si trova sotto e per la struttura stessa........

....semplice: micropali!!!!

Here the first unexpected thing!!!!!

How to avoid that, while digging too close to the old wall, the wall itself could fall over the workers and become a huge damage to repair..........

....simple: reinforced micropoles!!!!

Change is going to happen!!!!

2007-06-04T23:37:00.000+02:00

Change is going to happen!!!!

Maybe you would say…

“GOOD!! Don’t worry ….be HAPPY! “

Change is going to happen!!!!

Maybe you would say…

“GOOD!! Don’t worry ….be HAPPY! “

Running after builders means for me…like I felt today… be worried to loose the total control!

Everything in and around the house is moving and for this reason… changing.

It makes me feel loosing the past…the control…to follow every single step in the project.

It's going so fast….

I’m running with my photocamera and my little videocamera from the left to the right,

just trying to keep every single detail ethernized.

I would like to keep everything in his original way, but of course that is impossible….

Would you come to visit us and enjoy our company:

You needed to stay in a house without a roof and in case of rain you needed to open the umbrella to safe you from a free shower?

if…

you needed to change your fancy evening dress for an old jeans as changing a wardrobe for a nail in a piece of wood ?

You needed to take your drink out an old rusty Fritsch?

You needed to have a romantic night in a bed with a straw mattress with holes?

You needed to do your washes in a washing machine risking free hairstyle cause by a current shock?

You needed to change your fancy evening dress for an old jeans as changing a wardrobe for a nail in a piece of wood?

You needed to brush your teeth with water to take by a pump from the pond?

You needed to go the bathroom for a nice sit-down, would mean go into bush bush…risked that your buttocks got surprised by a snake?

if,

if…….

Coming to us, enjoying your free time, would mean to live one of your worse nightmare’s.

SIGH!!!

The change has come,
I would it were not come to-day
What were the respite till to-morrow?
Postponement of a certain sorrow,
From which each passing day would borrow!
Let grief be dumb,
The change has come.

2007-05-28T23:20:00.000+02:00

Dear friends!

It is three weeks since we started the preservation and restoration of our old Tuscan farm house.

Three weeks of works and the beginning of a new story is waiting to be shared with you!

Lets start with,

Once upon a time in Tuscany…

some men, “ Gino and Gianni “ (as I baptized them) not far away from Montepulciano, started cutting some trees that were to close to an old farmhouse.

To be honest …I was shocked that morning of the 7^th of May, hearing the loud noises of chainsaws…

in a quiet place, were normally you just can hear birds, frogs, grass-hoppers and so on.

Men at work… and in a few days we had a nice pile of wood for cold winter days to warm us up… and one day… in front of the fireplace.

Diggers, dust….a lot of dust… and bricks everywhere!

Knocking down the garage!!!

Woooooooww the guys are fast….

Before knowing what was happening…there was no garage anymore!!!

Amazing how our house has changed after the demolition of that ugly garage!

The house has her original form back

Pretty !!!

Very pretty.

For those that don’t know…we will use the volume of the garage to construct further buildings as this is allowed by the law.

We need the space, so habitation space will take place of the garage.

Maybe it’s a good idéa to put the our architectural project on the blog, for those who are interested to have a look

what stage our house is at and what your B&B is going to look like in the future.

Meanwhile we started to clean the stable…

you could call it an adventure …

unbelievable how much stuff, mostly useless, has been preserved for years under an broken roof.

The scaffolding had to be assembled.

A truck with iron tubes, wooden pallets, tools and lots more stuff took possession of our front “ garden”.

A muscular man, named Lauro, stole the show jumping, hanging half in the air building the our scaffolding, very sexy!.

The two floors did not seem so high up but after the job was finished, I climbed up to enjoy the view from the roof ……interesting….was my thought…feeling a light tickle because of the height in my stomach.

During the works we have meetings with the Engineer, Architect, Site Forman etc…people who will be presented to you on pictures.

A lot of decisions have to be taken even if a work scheme, a sketch is present how to proceed with the works.

Building a house is like raising a child.

You have to be flexible, open to change to attain the best result.

There is no manual….it all depends on the individuals involved.

Next week the crane will arrive.

A flat platform has been in front of the house from cement.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Maybe its time for pictures…

Even talking and writing …pictures are what my friends need, to have a focus on our house and the work in progress.

Hoping you will enjoy them today and…

as we will enjoy your participation on our blog

during this time of restoring until ….

our B&B is ready for your visit.

We are open fto ideas and suggestions during these month’s of work to make our house

One of your favourite places to stay in Tuscany.

Waiting and working for you,

Fabio, Suzanne, Ludovica and Annika!

A new start!...

2007-02-14T00:26:00.000+01:00

We dreamed to write this post months ago but, for reasons too difficult to explain on a blog site, here we are announcing the start of our restoration works only now.

The D-Day will be the 31st of March 2007. Finally!!!!!

Now we are excited to start the recovering and restoration of this beautiful old Tuscan farm.

I promise to all of you to write regularly about to project and all its steps.

Yesterday I got a mail from a friend who I respect very much. He wrote me this beautiful words:
“quando mi necessita una cosa non smetterei mai di desiderarla, ...... ad un certo punto vedrai che le forze dell’universo cospireranno perché ...... accada!”

For all of you who are wondering to realize a more little or dream, I invite you to find out the meaning of the words above and to go for it!!!!

Spending a little more time on our blog today I would like to bring up the argument of preservation, conservation and restoration of a building with a true story.

Not just the love of old things and preserve them, but living a project day and night, feeling responsable for the beauty in our hands, spending time to teach ourselves as much we could, reading, talking with experts and, last but not least, confronting us with the different way of restoration during the last 30 years in Tuscany.

We, after teaching ourselves, are more aware how many buildings can be ruined, their special character obliterated or swept away, by the ill-advised and hasty actions of new purchasers.

These mistakes usually arise because of ignorance rather than malevolence towards historic buildings. The fault may be laid at the feet of professional advisers, builders, owners, or all the three of them.

Buying an old building you have to be prepared to accept its particular character, its quirks, even its warts.

It is essential that you adapt to it, rather than trying to iron it into shape according to a completely different model.

There was no standardization in old buildings; they followed the logic of their location, the dictates of materials and the skills of the period. If you make those undulating plaster walls around the house plumb-straight, with every corner razor-sharp, your Tuscan farm will have disappeared.

You will have thrown the baby out with the bathwater.

In an unaltered property, the door and windows will follow the proportions of the building as a whole. Replacement doors and windows, especially those easily bought off-the-shelf, have no such sympathetic relationship to the building.

It is very important to seek professional advice at the earliest possible moment. We discussed with different specialists on old buildings of this type and period, and asked to look at other work they have done.

The specialist were people as architects or a chartered surveyors with experience in historic buildings; it is their expertise and attitude to the building which is the issue.
It took some time to choose the builders, the firm we nominated for the restoration of our farm, but we ensured us that we have found the best people for the job.

We will move slowly, to know the property thoroughly, and find out everything we can about it.
First we will spend our money on the essentials. Once we will start, works stay under discussion daily.

We will first work with what we have …we don't attempt to make a simple house grandiose

When we have to add to the building or do new work in the interior, we will not ape the existing.
We will work first respecting and understanding the character and qualities of the old but,
adding own contribution, respecting the proportions and form of the building.

The new work will be honestly of its time, our own time. Our approach of the very beginning will be taking the responsibility to keep the character, age and charm of our historic old Tuscan farm.

So for those of you who thought we would start ripping out the building carelessly with a bulldozer maybe this little introduce has more sense.

Another friend has already played with our project and you can find out in the picture how he did restore our main fireplace!!

I would like to invite you to the links below.
Three different people,
three different stories,
but one thing in common.

www.sextantio.it preserving the past...
www.arteagency.com preserving the past and present...
www.flickr.com/photos/lesec/ preserving of the present...

A bit of Imagination!!!!

2006-10-15T20:06:00.000+02:00

Welcome into the most impressive Resort of Tuscany, where the accommodations are just as you ever dreamed about.

Let's start your virtual tour, before the demolition men will work on it.

1)What do you visit first while getting into an Hotel?
Reception of course.....
There it is!!!!!!!!!!!

2) Then, you probably have booked for the most valuable room of the Resort. Haven't you?
A great, luxury, comfortable and fully furnished "SUITE".
Come in and enjoy your staying.....

With a romantic Fireplace.....

And a safe lock at the door!!!!!!

3) In the next mornign you probably wake up hungry and would like to experience the "nouvelle Cuisine" with all the traditional italian ingredients. Wouldn't you?

So you need to reach the Breakfast Room .........

4) We believe our guest need to relax a bit before getting in action.
Shiatsu Massages, Facial Treatments, Mud Therapy and much more you can find in our Wellness Center.

Where comfort and hygiene are top values for us.....

5) Now it is time to enjoy some outdoor activities. Don't you think so?
You have booked the Best Resort of Tuscany and need a Swimming Pool you will never forget.

Take your "Beach Wear" and dive in........

Now, if you didn't run away after checking-in, sleeping with air-conditioned from outside, having had a real "stable" breakfast, survived to the cleaness of the wellness center and not being rescue by firemans from the best pool ever seen........

YOU ARE THE PERFECT GUEST WE WILL ALWAYS WANT TO WELCOME!!!!

PS. More news on this channel. Stay tuned!!!!!!!!!

Waarom Toscane?

2006-06-23T22:50:00.000+02:00

Waarom Toscane.....?
Waarom een huis zonder dak.....?
Waarom moeilijk als het ook makkelijk kan.....?

Vooral die laatste vraag heb ik me verschillende keren gesteld,
het antwoord is bijna een analyse van ons binnenste "ik" en het gaat zeker verder en dieper
dan alleen maar uitdaging!

Het begon allemaal aan via della Sibilla no 17, toen na de geboorte van Ludovica het idee ontstond om een Bed and Breakfast te openen, om werk en privee te kunnen combineren en voldaan te zijn en te blijven van deze intense fase in mijn leven.......moeder zijn!

We waren heel enthousiast en al gauw werd een appartement twee appartementen en vervolgens wisten we niet meer waar we de mensen die ons wilde bezoeken konden plaatsen.
In die tijd kregen we ook nog eens de vraag van iemand of we ons huis aan hem wilde verkopen.
Natuurlijk wilde we niet weg maar langzaam kwam er een idee onze gedachte in gesluimerd en voordat we het wisten hadden we de beslissing genomen en een prijskaartje aan ons huis gehangen.

We begonnen te zoeken in Toscane, vervolgens in Umbria vervolgens in de Marken terug naar Toscane, terug naar de Marken en toen.....ruim twee jaar later terug in Toscane voor de deur van een van de eerste huizen die we gezien hadden.

Het is niet eerlijk om 3 geweldig mooie provincies tegen elkaar uit te spelen en hun uniek zijn op een weekschaal te leggen.
Onze keuze is waarschijnlijk die magische aantrekkingkracht van een heel bijzonder landschap,
waardoor Toscane op de hele wereld bekend is om haar schoonheid, haar cipressen en olijfbomen, haar wijngaarden en haar hemelse wijnen, haar stadjes en dorpjes waar lopend door de steegjes de meest verukkelijke geuren uit de keuken raampjes je bedwelmen.

Ik ben altijd van kleins af aan gefacineerd geweest van rommelmarkten en al die spulletjes uit
grootmoeders doos waar een verhaal aan hangt.
Als je dan hier in Italie komt, begeef je je plotseling in een levende doos van grootmoeder,
en al gauw merk je dat met een beetje fantasie, je eeuwen en eeuwen terug in de tijd kunt gaan.
Een soort tijdmachine!
Geschiedenis die terug gaat tot in de Romeinse tijd.
Verleden en heden gaan samen vooruit.
Voordat je het weet ben je in de ban van de schoonheid van ruines en oude huizen.
Je vraagt je af, wie heeft hier gewoont, je wilt weten wat er schuilgaat achter een hoopje stenen, stof en aarde .
Jarenlange geschiedenis ligt hier aan je voeten en je wordt overdonderd door weemoedige gevoelens en verbazing tegelijker tijd.
Zoveel jaren zijn er voorbij en nog steeds voel je een lichte adem, een bries van iets dat was en er bijna niet meer is.
Bij mij roept zo'n hoopje stenen respect op want door alle tijden heen zijn die stenen er toe in staat om nog steeds emoties op te roepen.
Ik zou impulsief tot reddings actie willen overgaan om te redden wat er te redden valt.
Om aan die oude stoffige stenen hun glorie terug te schenken,
om het verleden dat ons heden bepaalt een nieuw leven in te blazen.

Suzanne

Terug van weg geweest!

2006-06-21T22:40:00.000+02:00

Where intention goes,
energy flows.
Where energy flows,
life grows.

De verhuis zit erop en ik verzeker jullie dat het een hele klus is om huis en haard in te pakken.
Ik dacht dat het best zou meevallen want zoveel spulletjes hebben we toch ook weer niet!!!!
Deurtjes en kasjes gingen open en bleven maar open gaan.....
Dozen werden gevuld en ik bleef maar vullen.....
We konden gewoon niet genoeg kranten lezen om alle tierlantijntjes in gepakt te krijgen.
We gingen met dozen na bed en stonden s'ochtends met dozen op.
Ons mooie gezellige huis aan via della Sibilla 17 werd er ook niet vrolijker van.....
en ik moest af en toe echt een traantje weg pikken.
De kinderen, vooral Ludovica, begrepen er steeds minder van totdat we hun bij Oma onderbrachten waar het zeker gezelliger was.
Half april was het dan eindelijk zover.....alles in een vrachtwagen, op naar het beloofde land.

In Toscane hebben we 2 huizen...tenminste zo verteld Ludovica het aan haar vriendinnetjes.....
Een huis met een dak, en een huis zonder dak.
Ludovica vind het huis zonder dak niet mooi, binnen moet je een paraplu opsteken als het regent en het huis is helemaal bekrast aldus Ludovica!
Gelukkig valt het huurhuis helemaal in de smaak, en het viel me op hoe ze straalde van opluchting dat er een dak opzat.

Een mooie tuin en gevoel van ruimte en rust zo zou je ons huurhuis kunnen omschrijven.....

Rust.....dat is wat we nodig hebben om ons te kunnen concentreren op ons grote project
" de verbouwing " .
Helaas gaan dingen soms onverwachts een richting uit die jij niet wilt.
Tot op vandaag hebben we, tot onze enorme spijt ,Tivoli nog niet kunnen afsluiten.
De oorzaak hiervan wil ik later als argument bespreekbaar maken, nu is daar nog geen ruimte voor.

Deze dagen heb ik veel nagedacht en ben, na de ervaring van de laatste maanden, er meer dan ooit van overtuigd dat, als je dromen wilt realiseren, je energie moet richten op positief denken en je niet laten afleiden van je objectief .

We gaan ervoor en laten ons niet afschrikken door onverwachte hindernissen.

Langzaam begint ons nieuwe leven hier in Toscane kleur te krijgen.
Dozen zijn weer uitgepakt en als ik nu om me heen kijk dan ben ik voldaan dat alles keurig een nieuw plekje heeft gekregen.
Wij hebben ook een nieuw plekje gekregen en dat " nieuw " is zeer verfrissend!
Een nieuwe horizon en dat begint al als ik hier uit het raam kijk.
Wijngaarden, olijfbomen, bos, Cipresse en een oud klooster....dat is allemaal te zien uit de ramen van ons huis met dak!

Wat er allemaal gebeurt in en om ons huis zonder dak..... is een verrassing en een belofte voor de volgende afspraak hier op ons blog.

Vanavond zou ik graag willen afsluiten om iedereen te bedanken die,
op de een of andere manier,
deel neemt in gedachten aan ons project.
Onze ouders, broer en zussen, vrienden en vriendinnen
en natuurlijk least but not last,
onze gasten die ons bezochten aan via della Sibilla no 17
We weten dat jullie ons volgen, stap voor stap, en die steun
is de ruggesteun die er ons telkens weer aan herinnert om
te blijven geloven in onze droom.

Suzanne

A dream come true!

2006-02-23T21:42:00.000+01:00

Dream or reality? A question we are afraid to give an aswer. Therefore we still treat it as a dream. Less than two years ago we were thinking that only winning a lottery could bring us to "paradise".
Our strong will, together with your support, have made the chance we are today writing this post and show you this trip adventure we are taking since now.
We believe we must be thankful to all of you, somes more and somes less, and we would like to share with you all the details of our project.
This blog will follow our itinerary step by step, until the works will be completed and we open our doors to guest and friends.
We will give space to images which, more than any word, will give you the feeling to be on sight with us.
Keep on being beside us! ...we need you.

With Love,

Un sogno che s'avvera!

2006-02-23T12:30:00.000+01:00

Sogno o realtà? Abbiamo paura a rispondere a questa domanda. Forte è il timore di un risveglio brusco. Proseguiamo credendo che si tratti di un sogno che s'avvera.
Soltanto due anni fà credevamo che soltanto una vincita alla lotteria avrebbe potuto aprirci le porte del "paradiso".
La nostra tenacia, unitamente al vostro supporto e molteplici attestati di stima, ha fatto sì che potessimo oggi pubblicare questo post e mostrarvi l'inizio del viaggio che stà per cominciare.
Crediamo di dover essere grati a tutti voi, anche se in misura diversa verso i singoli, e vogliamo rendervi partecipi di tutti gli sviluppi futuri.
Questo blog seguirà di pari passo lo stato di avanzamento dei lavori.
Arricchito di aneddoti, curiosità, le nostre vicende e molto altro.
Lasceremo molto spazio alle immagine, le quali più di ogni parola potranno trasmettere sensazioni ed emozioni.
Continuate a seguirci, abbiamo bisogno di voi.

Con affetto,