Blog - Casa in Colle

Tractor issues

John broke the tractor. A new battery resolved the issue. I also bought a compressor for keeping the tires pumped up sufficiently and sent the tractor for a service. Got it back just in time to cut the grass before leaving.

Dinner to mark the end of pool construction

Paolo (Michele’s father) bugged us all summer for this meal. We arranged it in Il Giardinetto. Porcini freschi were available and featured in a big way.

Antipasti: Tagliere Toscano
Primi: Tagliatelle with porcini freschi
Secondi: Tagliata with porcini freschi
Contorni: Porcini freschi fritti
Dolci: Sgroppino

Tree work

Work to remove dry and dangerous branches of the two cedars and to clean the oak. We’d have liked a little more off, but these guys are not keen to over prune.

Pictures taken by the agronomo after the climbers finished

These pictures show rot where the cedars were brutally pollarded in the past. Not dangerous, but not well done. We will have some more stabilisiation work to do on one tree next year.

Hopefully Francesco and Mariagrazia will feel more secure with this work done.

Pool closed for winter

Second hand pump from David and Carol seems to be working fine

Pool progress – July visit

Saturday 13th July

Monday 15th July

Filling – 5 or 6 tanker loads

First use – before the addition of salt

Laying weed (and dust) suppressant

Drastic hedge trimming with Fran and Nick for increased evening sun by the pool

Pool maintenance

Chilling in and around the pool

Miscellaneous pool pictures

Busy around the house

Trimming the front hedge

Painting the pizza oven and barbeque

Jesse’s very low wood chopping stump

Pool progress – builder updates

Tuesday 28 May

Wednesday 29 May

Friday 31st May

Backfill and levelling for paving

Stairs

Tuesday 4th June

Wednesday 5th June

Friday 7th June

Cin cin RAGAZZI!

Tuesday 11th June

Wednesday 12th June

Some discussion about grilles and shower location

Thursday 13th June (Fenella’s 60th birthday)

Wall and floor finishing completed

Michele says: CI PIACE MOLTO!!!😍

We say: ANCHE NOI!!! Possiamo immaginare di nuotarci dentro adesso. 😃

Friday 14th June

Clearly Michele is very pleased with the smoothness of the pool walls as shown here.

Somewhat dissapointingly, a delay in the delivery of the tiles means the completion date is put back by a week or so. We have rearranged our next trip accordingly.