When you work on a big renovation project like ours, it is normal to loose interest and to leave some loose ends behind. The project is so big that you want to advance but it feels like its never finished. Since the beginning of the year, we are finishing some work in progress. And this feels really good.
I started with the cupboard in our main entrance. Mike had built it from recycled material and it needed to be painted. I used a bright apple green which freshens up the foyer.
Then Mike decided to repair ALL the wall damages from last years flooding.
Because we have used "torchi" (a mix of clay, sand and straw) as a natural wall finish, it got damaged by the water. Mike went around all rooms, cleaning up the damaged surfaces and mixing up / applying new batches of torchi. Once dried, the damages disappear, it is magical. And I did not think that it would make such a difference but it really does, it returns everything "back to normal".
For me, mentally, the flooding experience does not exist anymore. If I have known the benefit of fixing up the damage, we would probably have done it earlier.
Another big change is the Venetian Plaster wall finish that Mike applied in our living room.
The ancient recipe consists of Pure Lime putty, Fine ground marble power, Linseed oil, Olive oil soap and natural pigments.
The mix is applied on the wall using a spatula.
Thousand of small movements are needed to create the "mottled finish". The final plaster application is burnished with a special stain-less steel trowel. Afterwards, Mike applied 2 coats of liquid bees wax with polishing between coats.
The wall becomes like marble, a rich texture that dresses up the room.
And if you are attentive, you can see one of my birthday gifts hanging on the wall beside the door. Here is the story: when Dawn visited us last summer, she talked to Mike about her daughter's hobby, stained glass. Mike, knowing that I really like stain glass hangers, asked her if she could make a bee for me. And there it is!!! Thanks you so much both of you for thinking of me :)
While at it, Mike also tackled the terasse leading from the house to the wooden deck. This is still a work in progress because we need dry days to finish the grouting. It is as if our house was extending to the outside when the doors are open wide.
The Garden
Work has started slowly in the garden. The garlic, planted last autumn, is coming up nicely and I am preparing slowly for the new planting season. Since February, the sweet potatoes are sprouting and I have sorted out about 250 of last years potatoes for this years planting. Like every other year, I have put the potatoes in egg cartons. I keep them in a semi-light cool room. The actual germs are purple, small and thick; waiting for being planted mid-April.
The tomatoes have been seeded as well as peas and salads. April will be an important planting time for the potatoes and the onions. And the seedling will continue all season long.
The bees
All the beehives have passed the winter period beautifully and the hives are now growing exponentially. Each hive now has a honey chamber to allow the bees some extra room and helping them store our first harvest of the year: the Colza Honey (or canola honey for the Canadians)!
With Kira, I have started running again. One of our favorite running routes is along the colza fields. It smells amazing and it is so beautiful.
Bright yellow as far as you can see :)
The new project
I will not say much about our new project. Just know that Mike is getting organized. It is getting serious ;)
My blogs seem less frequent at the moment, winter being a time to pause, relax and plan the new season. I am trying to up-date you with our daily life, including some new topics. Our life is filled with new experiences !!! Hope your life is too ;)
Comments