In my last post I forgot to mention a funny thing. There had really been quite a downpour as we were eating with our friends in Calagrana, so when we left, during a lull in the storm, everything was soaked and dripping. We drove down the strada bianca what the IItalians call the unpaved roads – white roads) slowly. Lots of potholes and puddles. Then we saw them, toads crawling across the road, then small frogs leaping and hopping across. It’s been so dry here that I am sure they were all rejoicing in the new water. It’s their breeding season and they need the water to breed. Let the orgy begin!
Speaking of rain, night before last we had some of the heaviest rain we’ve ever seen. It was like the heavens opened and buckets of water came down. When we have heavy rain here, this new house has a nearly flat roof and, BOY, is it loud! It roars. In the morning all the plants survived. All looks as though nothing happened. Yay!
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House news. We met again with Irma, our architect. She brought a plumber with her so he could look at the caldaia issue. His idea is to move it onto the outside wall just next to the window in the kitchen. This would be ideal in my mind. I don’t like them in spaces that are used, like a kitchen, anyway. They aren’t the prettiest appliance and take up space. In our previous house it was in the attic and reachable by a pull down stairway. Optimal solution IMO. Now I guess we wait. I hope Irma will give us some drawings to look at soon. We still have to wait until fall to get the work done. And I would still like to get a refrigerator for up there. She needs to let me know the dimensions.
Most exciting of all! At long last our Deruta table has been finished. It’s been about two months. This is a game changer for the terrazzo. A table and chairs is a big step to livability. Here are highlights of the delivery (those slabs of stone are HEAVY) and of the table in its new forever home. Note, there are hummingbirds, and butterflies!




Now to order some cushions for the chairs. I’m thinking yellow! It was that or blue but I couldn’t find this cerulean blue anywhere. The table and chairs make the top floor much more livable and inviting. And soon, it will be even more inviting since we just heard the sofa we ordered will be delivered next week. Things are shaping up.
It’s a little cool today for sitting outside…but soon! Ciao a tutti!
Thanks Camella! I hope we do too! Now to learn how to use the oven!
The table is beautiful, Nancy. It looks great on your terrace. Love those Deruta tables. Hope you have many wonderful meals on your new table.
Hi Karen! Yes, I love lemons too. They are seen a lot in the Deruta ceramics. I’m super happy with the table!
Loooove the table! Wow! It’s stunning! Love the lemons on it. Soft spot for me. =) I think yellow cushions are a great idea, to match the lemons!
Perfect comment Chuck and Eden! It is true!
Beautiful table! It will be a bit of Spring no mater what the season.
Thanks Dotti!
Thanks Carlo. We love it and we look forward to entertaining people there.
I am happy with the idea of putting the Caldaio outside. My Italian teacher this morning was saying the regulations change back and forth. Her caldaio is outside on her balcony. Much preferred.
Thanks Kathleen! Just right for the terrace!
Bellissima! Love it!
Beautiful table! Very Deruta! Makes me feel like rushing back in early Fall to dine out late into the night under the stars with you and Luther!
Rain! Interesting, here in Colorado we are also having the most rain in decades. No toads but definitely some frogs singing among the tall grasses along streams and drainages in the evenings. The fields of wildflowers in the Rocky Mountains should be fabulous this year.
Your experience with the caldaio made me look at the heating systems in most of the places we stayed during our recent time in Italy. They do seem to hang them just about anywhere, inside or out. Like you, I would prefer an inconspicuous location not within the living space.
Best of luck with the continuing remodeling!
Beautiful table
Hey Matt, I guess now I have no excuse to not try the oven. It’s a little intimidating. But I’m going to try it out soon!
Hi Nina, I love a nice Deruta table. We had a smaller one on our smaller terrazzo which we sold to our buyers. It would have been lost on this terrace. This one works just right, and we designed it just the way we wanted! 🙂 My friend Laura at CeramicArte works with this factory so she helped a lot.
I’m glad you like it Ronee! We do too.
Very cool!! Can’t wait to see what you’ll be cranking out of that pizza oven. Brava!!
Wow! Your table is fantastic! So enjoying your posts, Nancy. Thanks.
Oh, that table is gooorgeous!