Sant Elia Lifestyle

Contesa dello Stivale in Filottrano

So disappointed we missed the three day celebrations of the Contesa dello Stivale in Filottrano this year. The competitions, the music and flag throwing. But know it will come back bigger and better in 2021

We never got to see our fava beans that we planted last November due to lockdown. The good news, perhaps we’ll find twice as many when we get back out there, if they’ve self seeded

Vine picking

So it's English Wine Week Our vines may be Italian but we are English. That counts right?

Jerry’s Spice Drawer!!! #foodblogger #spicelovers #cooking #kitchendesign #diy #lockdown2020 #spicedrawer #ikea

Good morning everyone! It wasn’t a great day for me yesterday... today will be better. Fresh air is the answer 🙌🏼. Hope you’re all safe and well. #vlogging #covid19

Whilst we are all facing such uncertain and difficult times with the coronavirus impacting everyone all over the world, it feels pretty good to have some positive news to share with you all! 🙌🏼 And I am excited to share with you the launch our shiny new website. Italy 🇮🇹 might be on complete lock down, with the announcement this week that the UK is too, but nothing is going to stop us, and I can not wait to get back over to Italy and open up Casa Sant’Elia to our guests. This video was taken last summer, just before a big storm. It’s still stunning under stormy skies ⛈. Check out our new website 👉🏼 www.casasantelia.com _________________________________ #wedding #weddingvenue #retreat #corporateevents #venue #eventplanners #eventplanning #italy #lemarche #relax #holidays #boutiquestyle #restorationproject #italianproperty #italianfarmhouse #santelialifestyle

A new look for the front of the house at Casa Sant’Elia. this was before the hurricane we had last week 🙈. Luckily there wasn’t much damage to the path. What do you think? __________________________________________ #gardening #house #italy #visititaly #experienceitaly #holidayitaly #luxuryaccommodation #lemarche

We have so many apricots, and now have a freezer full of crumbles, pies and some preserved in syrup...so it just has to be apricot jam with the rest😋. ___________________________________ #inthekitchenagain #makingjam #apricotjam #fruit #homegrown #fresh #recipeideas

We’ve Still Got The Cat! 🐈 🐈 Well the ‘little cutie’ had fun at the vets! The Vet was so lovely, and the added bonus was, she spoke good English, discussing sterilisation in Italian wouldn’t have been easy... I think there would have been lots of hand gestures! Anyway, she hasn’t been chipped, and appears to have no owner😢 After a thorough examination, ear buds in ears, thermometer up bottom and abdomen examined....I am talking about the cat....the vet thought, despite having a slight temperature, possibly caused by internal parasites ugh! she appeared healthy. OK what was next? Discussions about cat rescue, dog rescues yes, but unsure about cats! What did the vet suggest, “she’s a lucky cat, take her home with you”... 🙄 So, to cut a long story short, ‘the cat’ was wormed, de- flea’d, had her claws cut, and was given an antibiotic, second dose due on Thursday. As for her being sterilised, we have two weeks to think about that procedure...but who knows, she may well have wondered off by then, but as Jerry said, “at least she’ll be a healthy cat!” 🤣 #thecatmonologues #santelia

I’m so excited about this 🙌🏼. We’ve tied all the wisteria up with these lilac straps (to match the flowers when it blooms 💜). I’ve been called obsessive 🙊, but I think it looks fab, what do you think? #santelialifestyle #wisteria #prettygarden

The vines are starting to grow like mad! Lots to do... we usually tackle a row of vines a day (and there’s 15 rows altogether). Lucky for us we are surrounded by such incredible countryside 🌱 ☀️. #santelialifestyle #vineyard

And it’s up! 🙌🏼 #thegazebo #shade #santelia

How many people do you think it takes to put a roof on a gazebo?! 🤷🏽‍♀️🙊 #santelia #gazebo #events #accommodation

I’m just sat in the gravel garden (having a little rest) and feeling proud, admiring what we have achieved here. Isn’t it just beautiful?! #santelialifestyle #garden #Italy

A beautiful evening at Sant’Elia ☀️.

A beautiful morning here at Sant’Elia ☀️. Here’s the latest video showing the progress of the vines. These little guys grow so fast. 🌱

A day in the winery today 🍷. We’ve got 700 bottles to sort. #santelialifestyle #arainyday

After causing a bit of a stir the other day when I mentioned that I bury all of my sentimental items in the garden, and was considering burying this guy 😬... you all asked me to save him! So, here he is! And I’m just giving him a bit of TLC. Now I’ve just got to find somewhere to put him. #santelia #savethedoll

And if it’s not Ottolenghi, it’s my trusty Waitrose & Partners mags 🙌🏼. And I’ll let you know if I decide to bury the doll 🙊.

A day of rest? Not over here! The grounds a bit wet to work on this this morning, so we’ve decided to clear all of this aged wood. I’m splitting it, J’s cutting it, ready for some winter fuel. J’s promised me there’s no snakes in here... 🐍 🤔 #santelialifestyle #anotherproject

It's time for a change! Change is good. I'm working on a new project - the pathway to the front door at Sant'Elia. 🌱 #santelialifestyle #makeachange

Today in the UK it’s Mothering Sunday. Mothering Sunday in the UK, has ancient Christian origins and is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Although it's often called Mother’s Day it has no connection with the American festival of that name. Traditionally, it was a day when children, mainly daughters, who had gone to work as domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother and family. Whereas Mother’s Day in the USA, was inspired by Anna May Jarvis, a feminist and temperance activist, who thought there should be a national day in the USA to honour mothers. Eventually after a bombardment of letters, President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914 proclaimed a national event, Mother’s Day, which now falls on the second Sunday in May. Florists, card shops and restaurants soon realised that this was a money making day, so much so that Anna May Jarvis wished she had never thought of the idea. Mother’s Day is also celebrated here in Italy, and is also the second Sunday in May. The first La Festa della Mamma was celebrated in 1957, when a parish priest started the tradition in Assisi, a beautiful town in Umbria, with many surrounding towns soon celebrating the day too, Young and older children, still strive to return home on La Festa della Mamma,joining the appreciation of the women, whose unconditional hard work and love has helped them become who they are today. And, it’s not all about cards, to the Italian it’s about spending time together, sharing a meal, and if the child has moved away, there’s the long distance phone call. This could be a myth! but it is said that the phone companies in Italy record their highest volume of calls on Mothers Day! Let’s forget about Brexit… Happy Mothering Sunday to all the Mums in the UK ❤️. #mothersday #openingmygift #formeswinchester

I forgot to post this last week. I was working in the gravel garden at Sant’Elia and wanted to show you these enormous ‘aloe plants’ and their pups! 🌱 🌱 #garden #santelia

Tying down the vines 🍇 I so wished I could have recorded some of the sounds in the vines this morning. Although there were three of us working, no one said a word. Concentration is required when tying down the vines, gently, gently, as you softly mold them downwards to be anchored to the guide wire, trying so hard not to break them. Apart from the birds, all I could hear was the twang and vibration of the wire, as a vine was being attached by J or Adam further along the line. But the most beautiful sound of all was that of the bark on the branch I was working, gently creaking within my hands ...the softest, softest creak, they are truly magical plants. #santelialifestyle #vineyard

The start of the season at Sant’Elia 🙌🏼☀️🍷🍇. In this video Jerry is going to talk you through one of our first jobs at the start of the season at Sant’Elia which is to prune the vines, all 700 of them.

A Look Around Sant'Elia

One of our guests once said 'it's like a little slice of heaven...' 🙌🏼 This video shows you around Sant'Elia. A place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Recharge, unwind and relax. #weddings #luxuryaaccommodation #escapes #santelia #sawdays

My biggest fans, 🙌🏼 my grandchildren, they all love my cakes. I promise I didn’t pay him to say this 🍰🍰 #nanascakes #familytime #baking

Well the 2018 olive picking is over 🙌🏼. It’s been our best year ever with just under a tonne of olives all picked by hand. Although the days have been long it’s been great fun, and we couldn’t have done it without Rhiannon and Rob, (good friends of Chloe & Braz.) True grafters....not sure whether they’ll want to come back another year though🤣. Now it’s time to relax 🙄. A job well done. #oliveoil #santelialifestyle #familybusiness

First day of Olive picking 🌳 with Chloe and Mimi, only 499 trees to go! #olivepicking #oliveoil #familybusiness #santelialifestyle

It’s National Fitness Day today! 💪🏼 So I’m taking this opportunity to get out and about... why don’t you join me? 👟🏃🏽‍♀️ ⚽️ 🎾🏋🏻‍♀️ #NationalFitnessDay #Healthy #Fitness #SantEliaLifestyle