It is very hot. And quite hard to reason, plan or focus. For those of us in very hot climes, without air conditioning or the like, it is time to pace ourselves and to limit what we try to get done in a day.
Invece! I had a health breakdown this week, after having pushed myself doing multiple jobs, long (non-air-conditioned!) drives and trying to get my head around actually making our land a permanent home.
A day and a half in bed helped a lot: maybe I will do that next time I begin to feel like there's too much to metabolise, rather than forcing my body to force my mind into submission! We also got our feet in the sulphur waters of the vecchie terme in Telese Terme today - mmmmmmmm!
We're back in Guardia yet again, for another expo of my clothing - and paintings - and this brings so many other threads into the weave of our homesteading project, that it literally makes my head spin...
(before)
Getting a break from the land and the heat helps enormously; the Arthouse is this glorious medieval citadel property, with cool stone walls that keep the place fresh until midsummer: here I can actually think and feel into what the best way forward may be.
(before)
We made MASSIVE progress on our sovereign homestead this last week; 
The walls are not finished (pointed/sealed), there is a wire mesh where there should be a window, and the floor is rather lacking in horizontality. A long trough runs across the left wall as you enter, and there is neither plumbing nor electrical current. Very basic, extremely dirty.
The first phase of fixing it up was filling in missing parts of the stone floor. Then the removal of the incongruous brick structure that seemed to be a reinforcing feature. We mostly have surmised that it doesn't appear to be load-bearing. 🤗😋🤭 We can compensate with a two-sided bookshelf or suchlike, should the floor above show any movement downwards.
The labour to remove the brick dividing wall and the bizarre wire and cement trough sides, was significant: fortunately I have a man with (expanding!) muscles by my side, as my heaving-mallets power is lessened by the intense heat. Vincent made quick work of it , whilst I was out on my sewing job this week. 😍
(before)
What a great difference the new space is, without either the bricks breaking up the beautiful dimensions of the natural stone, or the heavy front walls of the troughs; the room seems to be twice the size, and we can begin to see the real potential of it coming alive.
(before)
I really love seeing how this room is transforming: it may turn out to be our saving grace! Between the heat, over-working, and worrying about what we're even going to be able to get done before the winter, it has been hard to believe that we're ever going to live in a comfortable, clean, organised home.
meanwhile, the poppies are popping magnificently
But we're getting a glimpse of it here, though it needs tons of further cleaning and reflooring. And at least minimal planning, to cocreate a functional space that can keep us sufficiently sheltered through these scorchiomonths. It might be another few weeks before we can think about putting a bed and clean sheets in here - and running a much-required bath!! But every day it gets closer.
Thank you for witnessing, always, and for encouraging us... It really does keep us going in these more-challenging early phases, to have your positivity and encouragement!
Buon lavoro a tutti and happy homesteading!
With Love!
