Wedding Bells at The Hideaway

This week we have our first wedding party at The Hideaway. We had a wonderful day yesterday with a beautiful service at Penna followed by the amazing reception at Calderola Castle before returning to The Hideaway for the evening BBQ. Congratulations to Naomi and Lewis. We wish you all the best for a very happy life together.

What Time Is It?

The Crocus Have Arrived ....

And so with them.... a beautiful Spring Day in Le Marche.

Time to dust down and clean up. Busy getting the garden ready as it won't be long now till the Summer is here.

It feel so fresh and Springy. The birds are singing and Mr and Mrs Blue Tit have been to visit the nesting box. Hope they like it and move in soon.

We even had 3 eggs from our 4 hens this morning. Amazing as we have only been having 1 a day for the last 3 months. Even the hens must be feeling Springy!

I've Heard of Chicken in a Basket.....

But have you every heard of chicken in a black bin bag?

Well admittedly it has gone very cold these last few days, but Thelma has been taking straw into an old black bin liner in the chicken pen, then snuggling down, with the plastic wrapped round her neck, to lay her eggs.

Bet you don't get chickens in carrier bags like this in Sainsbury's or eggs for that matter?

We have found though, that since the cold snap, only one of the hens seem to be laying. We have tried getting up really early, so they get as much light as possible, but even so, we don't seem to be getting more than one egg a day. Looking forward to the spring, when hopefully we will be laying to full capacity once again.

Weather!

Well it has been a funny old winter so far.

Christmas saw the amazing highs of 25oC and whilst we were freezing back in the UK, friends at home in Italy were dining outside in the sunshine on Christmas Eve. Who would have ever thought this would be possible!

So now as we approach the end of January, it is our turn for the snow and the ice and white stuff has arrived. It's been snowing since last night and the forecast for the next week is looking very white indeed. A welcome relief for those chaps who run the local ski resort up at Sassotetto, who's season so far this year can only be described as 'very short'!

Looking forward to getting out and about over the weekend with the dogs, taking lots of wintery shots with the new camera and maybe getting in a spot of skiing? So watch this space.

Not Sure Who He Is?

Anyone any idea who this beautiful beetle is - we found him on the top of the dog kennel and he is very shiny!

Autumns Finally Here

Well it's that time of year again and Autumn is finally here (although you would never know it - it was 32oC yesterday!).

Really love this time of year - beautiful shades as the trees change colour, chestnuts roasting and pumpkins all around, smoky fires and mist in the valley.

But our one of our favourites must be all the chestnut festivals around the area. Delicious cakes filled with rich chestnut puree, grilled meats and of course vino cotto.

Visited the festa at Montefalcone last night and it's Smerillo next week so lots more wonderful photo opportunities around every corner.