‘A cold wind was blowing from the north, & it made the trees rustle like living things…’
― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
Winter is Coming
The seasons are changing so rapidly and we are still awaiting the arrival of our windows. We have a local man making them by hand and they are of course made to measure. Double glazed and tilting from the top, who would have thought I would be dreaming of windows…or rather the lack of windows.
As winter fast approaches and the leaves are falling, the fog rolling in, and the days getting crisp I realize just what we might be in for if we don’t get these windows put in. That car outside our doorway was such a welcome sight, ‘the window man’ arrived to take final measurements and I think he thought us already gone a bit mad with the wildly enthusiastic greeting we gave him, I almost kissed him!
So now we wait….it’s day three of October.
In the evenings we have been watching ‘Game of Thrones’ and the line that resonates the most for me is ‘Winter is Coming’. Now Sam and I say it to each other like a chant, as if Winter brings a hidden menace.
It’s all very dramatic and medieval just like our lives here in the valley.
Each night when I go to bed I imagine I could easily be in one of those ancient looking rooms from Winterfell, the floors creak and the covers are thick heavy quilts given to us by friends. The ancient beams overhead, the bed that could have been lifted right from the set of ‘Game of Thrones’ and the knowledge that we have no real idea of what is coming, adds to the adventure of it all.
I will warn you that this show is very violent, coarse and filled with lots of bare bums and boobs….but I totally love it.
With the start of Autumn our orto (veggie garden) is looking a bit sad and neglected. Yesterday we collected big bags of peppers, cauliflower and the last of the green beans. Now we just need to wait for a few sunny days before picking all our fagiole beans.
They have climbed high into the trees and remind me of that famous practical joke played on April Fools day with the ‘spaghetti tree’. My Mum took me a few times to the restaurant of the same name in Melbourne and they had a fake tree with spaghetti growing from the branches in the foyer. It looks like some odd kind of Christmas tree with the ornaments waving gently in the breeze.
I’m looking forward to those few warm days when the kids and I can get out and pick the beans, then shell them all. It’s just like I would do for my Mum when I was a child, it was always my job to shell the peas and most would end up being eaten raw. Perhaps this will be a memory our children will take with them into adulthood.
Mushroom Season
It’s mushroom season now and Sam has already tried his first ‘wild’ mushrooms which he found down on our land. We let him be guinea pig and his thoughts on deciding if they were safe to eat went like this …” I’ve asked everyone here and they all say these are edible, so I’m going to try them”. My response is we’ll try them after you’ve survived a few days with no dire consequences.
Of course right after he ate them he started having doubts which kept us up most of the night on my internet Italian chat group trying to determine exactly which mushrooms they were. Some of the comments were hysterical but with so many varied opinions he was even more worried. I’m happy to say he made it through the night and is determined to pick the rest of these mushrooms tomorrow. I think we’ll leave him to it.
and the gang x
Good luck with those windows Lisa… I can imagine your happiness when he arrives and gets them in…
Have a great week and I love reading of your progress…
xv
Oh yes I’ll be doing a happy dance when they are in at last. Progress is slow but I am loving it here in the valley and looking forward to turning the house into a home. Seems hard to believe right now but at this stage in the renovations the final result always seems so far away. Still we always know the end is in sight xxx
ciao ciao lisa xxx
Hi Lisa
Jan & I Heard about your blog and it will be interesting to follow you. We have purchased an apartment in the historic centre of Sulmona and are in the process of renovating, small scale compared to your project. But we are enjoying the joys of uncovering the past in what was once a palazzo, such as marble door surrounds that have been painted over and false ceilings that are hiding grand curved and ornate ceilings. Abruzzo is the real heart of Italy.
We look forward to more of your posts and we are attempting our own blog at http://www.ourromanroad.com.
Good luck with the windows.
Regards
Jan & Mike
Ciao Jan & Mike,
It seems we are ‘practically’ neighbours! I bought a ruin in Ofena and it’s taken me almost 2 years to get to renovation stage! I know a few people in Sulmona it’s great town! Congratulations on your find! Regards, Ingrid
Hi Jan and Mike, I popped over to visit your blog and was chuckling away at your descriptions of the tradies. How long are you in Italy for? Will you go back and forth to Australia? Keep up the blogging it does get easier the more you do it xxx
ciao for now lisa x
Hi Lisa,
I am another Australian who has recently moved to Italy. Like you, I’m struck by how quickly the seasons change. In Milan only two weeks ago we were sitting outside enjoying the beautiful warm evenings, but it seems that autumn arrived in full force last week. We’re finding it chilly in our apartment in Milan as the heating won’t be turned on for another few weeks. My thoughts are with you in your mountain villa. Perhaps the lack of windows is a good excuse to bring the computer to bed once the family have left for the day. Looking forward to soon reading that your windows have been installed.
Funny that the heating isn’t turned on when needed but rather at a set time, I remember trying to buy ice creams for the kids in Saluzzo years ago and being told we couldn’t because the ice cream season ended the day before. We stick to the kitchen at the moment to keep warm near the stove, luckily our blankets are nice and warm. Hope your heating is turned on soon and your winter is mild lol xx
Gosh it sounds like it will be very cold! I remember sitting in our Old Queenslander in D’aguilar for the first winter…we didn’t have floor boards nor any fire place, nor any heaters – we froze.
The next year we were prepared with new carpets, and a big fire place. It was still cold because in the bedrooms {it was over 100 years old and none of the ceiling roof was the same so we couldn’t put in Roof Bats} but the lounge room was nice and warm.
Sure hope the guy the windows made asap and you have warmer nights xx
Nothing beats feeling warm, I hate feeling cold and my feet are like blocks of ice. I invested in some woolen socks and now wear two pair at night with my wooly slippers and my feet are nice and toasty. People often laugh at the thought of Queensland getting cold but I can imagine your old house. How is winter in the bus, do you just drive somewhere warm??
xxx
What wonderful autumnal photos, Lisa. Yes, hurry hurry with those windows before the snow falls into the house. Love your description of your “medieval” life!!! Mine in Sicily feels like I’m about a century behind…and I love it. xxxxx
It feels like Winter will just come straight into the house without knocking! I also love that we are living a lifestyle so far from the commercial rat race, even though it can be confronting at times. I can’t imagine another life now, and yes Sicily would be similar, my mother in law is Sicilian and my father in law is from Calabria so we have been down south. I fell totally in love with the south of Italy and the Aoelian Islands x
Oh it is so nice to share your lovely journey and is a good reminder that the simple things really are what life is about.
I am reminded every day Belinda and yes I see that I spend more time on the computer even still so I am trying to break that habit. Even with everything we need to do it’s easy to get distracted and sidetracked to my online world. We really are seeing the simple things in action here, just today we spent the afternoon picking up walnuts and Luca is fascinated by them. A simple walk around the borgata turns into so many lessons on life especially with the amount of animals here, a dog has just had pups, the cows, sheep and goats are starting to come down the mountain right past our door, and everyone is getting ready for Winter. xx
I’m SO excited for you as you anticipate your windows and a warm and cozy winter inside your house. 🙂 I’m enjoying Game of Thrones too – even with all the “bums and boobs” as you so aptly put it. 🙂 I LOVE the houses and clothes and furnishings and all the incredible detail that goes into making each scene so believable. It’s so cold tonight and I can’t wait to hunker down under our feather doonah and be toasty warm. 🙂
Still anticipating Krista lol x It’s a cosy 13 degrees inside and I am sitting with a hot water bottle on my lap. We didn’t put the fire on tonight and I am paying for it now. Game of Thrones has me enthralled, I love the sets and costumes and as I walk about the borgata I try to imagine how they managed with long skirts and heavy cloaks. Nothing beats that time of night when we snuggle into bed and hear the rain on the roof. xx Glad to find another Game of Thrones fan who loves it like I do lol x
We are actually watching Season Two tonight! 🙂
Oh funny we’re now waiting for season four! I’m hanging to see what happens next x
Ciao Lisa!
I now have a roof and really will need to look at windows and doors soon! Unfortunately they are not ‘budgeted’ in as yet – nor is the plumber! Speaking with my architect yesterday we decided it would be nice to restore or get made similar window shutters to the ones in the house currently. The ones from upstairs seem fairly solid still but the glass will need replacement the downstairs ones I think will need to be remade but perhaps the catches and hinges can be rescued, dipped and restored.
I love progress – suddenly it all seems real and I don’t quite feel as crazy as I think I am sometimes!! Looking forward to the new windows at your place! Ciao xo
Ingrid I’m so excited for you following along with your renovations! Our windows have been much anticipated so I hope I’m not disappointed when they arrive. It would be great to re use the hinges and catches, on the renovation we did in Queensland we polished up all the brass window fittings and re used them. We really only have the windows and doors as our big budget items, the rest we are recycling or using things that are given to us. In the future we can redo some areas (I’d love to change the bathroom, but it’s the only room that’s actually functional so it will have to wait). Ahhh renovating!! xxx
I guess it’s all about prioritising and one step at a time 🙂 !!
There is a lovely Albergo that is being restored near my village and I will do a post on it soon it will be rather exclusive which I can only hope will increase the value and promote the wonders of Abruzzo once completedxo
That’s great, another renovation nearby never hurts. Our main priority is to get the house sealed up before winter really hits. We are in discussion with a renovation program and waiting on a decision so we can go ahead with things here. I’ll look forward to your post xx
Oh yes – very grateful I now have roof and terrace overhead – after more than 40 years being unloved my house is getting the love it deserves 🙂
Just heard the news – I’m sure you re all excited, when will filming start? xo
Just working out dates for the filming and it’s looking like ‘House Hunters International’ program. It should be great and I am looking forward to seeing the process from the inside.
Your house is just basking in the love and it shows xx
Cin cin to us both!
Love the change of seasons in Europe – thank you for sharing. F x
They really are dramatic aren’t they Francesca!! x