Sant Elia Lifestyle

28/08/2021

Here She Is, Our Italian Diva!

It can’t be easy being a black cat in all this heat.
But as she’s Italian she copes better than we do!

Clearing the gravel garden has given her more lizard hunting space, but, she doesn’t kill them…just looks at them 😻, that’s our Pixie.

I can’t imagine what she’ll think of the weather in the U.K., I feel she’ll start growing a thick fluffy coat half way through the Channel tunnel!

#italianlifestyle🇮🇹
#cats
#straycats
#simplelifestyle
#lemarche
#villarestoration
#events venue
#weddingvenue
#gardendesign
#gravelgarden
#medditeraneangarden

27/08/2021

We Didn’t Expect To Be Doing This Yesterday !!

After testing the sugar content of our Verdicchio grapes on Sunday, we had to harvest almost immediately.
No surprise really as it’s been so hot during the last eight weeks.

So pleased the ‘pickers’ from @casa_gialla were at hand to help…although it was an 05.30 wake up call!

26/08/2021

The Best Time Of The Day….

…it’s too dark to work outside, so the perfect time to stop for an aperitivo!

The temperature has definitely dropped, and it won’t be too long before the blankets come out whilst sitting here under the gazebo.

#sunset
#italianskies
#lemarcheitaly
#sawdaystravel
#sawdaysspecialplaces
#weddingvenue
#italianweddingplanner
#weddingplanner
#eventplanner
#italy
#holidayrental

17/08/2021

Time to Declutter!

Everyone loves the Casa Sant Elia kitchen.
As I have a passion for cooking, it’s so well equipped, therefore easy to produce the most delicious recipes using the fresh, local produce.

Like many I also collect recipe books!
As it’s been too hot to work outside, I thought I’d do a declutter.

I only use a handful of recipe books, so why have I got all these on the shelves??

Swipe to find my favourites that I use constantly…it’s just a handful.

For anyone who likes to cook ‘Italian’ I recommend The Silver Spoon, the bible of authentic Italian cooking. It’s my ‘go to’ if I buy a vegetable locally and have no idea of how to cook it!

I must open my @ottolenghi Simple almost everyday, as it has the most delicious vegetable dishes. I know the recipes ‘off by heart’ but love the pictures!

Gennaro’s Italian year @gennarocontaldo is another favourite, lovely seasonal recipes.

And then there’s @nigellalawson Nigella Express and Forever Summer, I think I’ve made everything from both books…so easy, and perfect for quick, delicious meals when unexpected family and friends arrive!!

My @midlifekitchen has the healthiest of everything. Lots of unusual salad bowls, smoothies, delicious lunch ideas, and is definitely a keeper.

Then of course I have my @Ices Italia,
for when I make ice cream and sorbet..flavours I would never have thought of!

Finally, @the_cocktail_bible
A must eh? It can’t be all work and no play at Casa Sant Elia !!!!

The other couple on the shelf are more for reference, especially The Oxford Companion to Italian Food, would make a great present for Italian food lovers out there.

So that’s it, I now have a neat and very organised shelf, let’s hope it stays that way!!

#foodbloggers
#italianfoodlovers
#italianlifestyle
#countryliving
#italy
#lemarcheitaly
#ottilenghisimple
#nigellaexpress
#nigellaforeversummer
#gennarositalianyear
#eventplanner

16/08/2021

Happy Monday.

I’m filled with excitement…doesn’t take much in this heat!!

Went to have a look at the vines very early this morning, and they look amazing.
The grapes are smaller for this time of the year due to the extreme heat and little rain. BUT, there’s no obvious disease or the dreaded powdery mildew, yes it is as horrible as it sounds 😫

What is amazing though, is that nature has looked after them, they’ve had no attention from us for almost two years due to Covid, apart from pruning in February.

Now we wait for the visit from our Enologist, I think he’ll suggest we’ll be harvesting much earlier this year, fingers crossed it’s a good vintage.

Happy Monday.

I’m filled with excitement…doesn’t take much in this heat!!

Went to have a look at the vines very early this morning, and they look amazing.
The grapes are smaller for this time of the year due to the extreme heat and little rain. BUT, there’s no obvious disease or the dreaded powdery mildew, yes it is as horrible as it sounds 😫

What is amazing though, is that nature has looked after them, they’ve had no attention from us for almost two years due to Covid, apart from pruning in February.

Now we wait for the visit from our Enologist, I think he’ll suggest we’ll be harvesting much earlier this year, fingers crossed it’s a good vintage.

09/08/2021

Good Morning Monday …

#earlymornings
#birds
#mindfulness
#sawdaystravel
#luxuryaccommodation
#weddingvenue
#eventvenue

Good Morning Monday …

#earlymornings
#birds
#mindfulness
#sawdaystravel
#luxuryaccommodation
#weddingvenue
#eventvenue

24/07/2021

At last we’ve cleared an outside space!

The patio is our space to eat, chat and after a meal enjoy a siesta …it’s taken us two weeks to claw it back!

At last we’ve cleared an outside space!

The patio is our space to eat, chat and after a meal enjoy a siesta …it’s taken us two weeks to claw it back!

20/07/2021

When a local farmer brings us a box of vegetables, as he knows this year, we’ve been unable to grow our own 🥰🙏🏻🙏🏻

When a local farmer brings us a box of vegetables, as he knows this year, we’ve been unable to grow our own 🥰🙏🏻🙏🏻

17/07/2021

What A Change In The Weather…

… but only for 24 hrs then hot, hot, hot again ☀️☀️☀️

15/07/2021

Bellas waited over two years to be back at one of our favourite restaurants…
@bocasalinanumana

This morning was a time spent opening the pool, checking out the wifi and most importantly giving the AC a trial run, it’s so so hot ☀️
So lunch at the beach was very much appreciated.

To feel the sea breeze on our faces, and the staff pleased to see us again, made everything feel special after the time we’ve spent in lockdown.

A huge thanks to Ronnie, who just makes everyone feel special anyway 🥰

14/07/2021

Yippee, isolation over…

Priorities!

First stop coffee followed by lunch, perhaps a gelato early this evening?

13/07/2021

The pots just had to go…

but with each plant having such a root mass that ain’t as easy as it sounds.
It’s taken us over a day to empty almost all the pots, they’re so dry and there’s dust everywhere.

I have to look at it as a new start….we’re washing away the last two years of Covid !!

13/07/2021

We have grapes!

Bella and I had no intention of walking through the vines…you never know how many snakes we’ll imagine we’ve seen! So Ruby came to the rescue.

They really do look better than we could have ever hoped for. Our very next job has to be cutting through the long grass so that we can get the vines off the ground and up through their guide wires, I think we may have a good harvest this year…always the optimist ☺️

12/07/2021

Agapanthus lives on !!!!

Despite our agapanthus having been totally neglected over the last two years they’ve thrived, doubling in size and just about to flower… more than I can say about everything we had in pots, that’s definitely all turned to dust 😩

Agapanthus lives on !!!!

Despite our agapanthus having been totally neglected over the last two years they’ve thrived, doubling in size and just about to flower… more than I can say about everything we had in pots, that’s definitely all turned to dust 😩

11/07/2021

Still in Isolation!

But thanks to our wonderful local fruiterer, who delivered enough fruit & veg to last the next five days, we can still eat healthily…and in true Italian style!

Thanks also to our lovely neighbour @vetrinemie_italy who helped make it happen😘

#healthyeating
#neighbourshelpingneighbours
#mediterraneandiet
#countryliving
#italianlifestyle

10/07/2021

Another day of isolation…

…but we’re not complaining, we wouldn’t be anywhere else, we feel so lucky that we’ve actually made it to Italy.

Have a good weekend everyone.

09/07/2021

Truly Amazing

As many of you know this is our first visit back to Casa Sant Elia in over 18 months due to Covid restrictions.

We arrived yesterday following our PCR test in the U.K.,and now self isolating for 5 days, as required by the Italian government.

The house is perfect after all this time, although much of the garden has turned into a jungle!

But this is the most amazing sight, one of our Agave plants has flowered..look at the height of it.

I’m quite sad though, having learned that after flowering the plant will die.
It can take anything up to 80 yrs for an Agave to produce this astonishing sight, but we’ve been blessed after just 15!
I’ll miss her presence, but she’s leaving behind so many babies, many of which I hope will be around and flowering in 80 yrs time.

#postcovidgarden
#gardenrestoration
#gardendesign
#italiangarden
#nature
#wildlife

Truly Amazing

As many of you know this is our first visit back to Casa Sant Elia in over 18 months due to Covid restrictions.

We arrived yesterday following our PCR test in the U.K.,and now self isolating for 5 days, as required by the Italian government.

The house is perfect after all this time, although much of the garden has turned into a jungle!

But this is the most amazing sight, one of our Agave plants has flowered..look at the height of it.

I’m quite sad though, having learned that after flowering the plant will die.
It can take anything up to 80 yrs for an Agave to produce this astonishing sight, but we’ve been blessed after just 15!
I’ll miss her presence, but she’s leaving behind so many babies, many of which I hope will be around and flowering in 80 yrs time.

#postcovidgarden
#gardenrestoration
#gardendesign
#italiangarden
#nature
#wildlife

07/05/2021

Feel The Heat...

Friday is fish day, can’t believe this was lunch on the beach May 2019!

#food blogger
#italianfood
#fishfriday
#freshfish
#lunch
#lemarche
#italianstyle
#italianculture
#foodporn

Feel The Heat...

Friday is fish day, can’t believe this was lunch on the beach May 2019!

#food blogger
#italianfood
#fishfriday
#freshfish
#lunch
#lemarche
#italianstyle
#italianculture
#foodporn

05/05/2021

JUNE 2019, that’s when this picture was taken!

I’m hoping, on our return sometime in June, that the vines will look as good as those in the picture.

For the last eighteen months of Covid, everything at Casa Sant Elia has been left to run wild. I’m sure in some areas within the open spaces, that’s the way it will stay, especially if we have some wild flowers showing their little heads.
In other areas the hedges we planted will have grown considerably, and the roses will have rambled to their hearts content....oooh I’m so excited to get back out there.

#smallvineyard
#familybusiness
#gardenlovers
#houserestoration
#countryliving
#lemarche
#italianwayoflife

JUNE 2019, that’s when this picture was taken!

I’m hoping, on our return sometime in June, that the vines will look as good as those in the picture.

For the last eighteen months of Covid, everything at Casa Sant Elia has been left to run wild. I’m sure in some areas within the open spaces, that’s the way it will stay, especially if we have some wild flowers showing their little heads.
In other areas the hedges we planted will have grown considerably, and the roses will have rambled to their hearts content....oooh I’m so excited to get back out there.

#smallvineyard
#familybusiness
#gardenlovers
#houserestoration
#countryliving
#lemarche
#italianwayoflife

04/05/2021

Simple but delicious!

#healthyeating
#italianlifestyle
#foodblogger
#weddingvenue
#eventvenue
#countryliving

Simple but delicious!

#healthyeating
#italianlifestyle
#foodblogger
#weddingvenue
#eventvenue
#countryliving

03/05/2021

I guess our wisteria won’t look as tidy as this when we get back to Casa Sant Elia!!

#italianlifestyle
#houserenovation
#gardenblogger
#covid
#lockdown
#weddingvenue
#eventvenue
#holidayrental

I guess our wisteria won’t look as tidy as this when we get back to Casa Sant Elia!!

#italianlifestyle
#houserenovation
#gardenblogger
#covid
#lockdown
#weddingvenue
#eventvenue
#holidayrental

29/04/2021

Ticking Off The To-Do List...
before we start our travels!

This cabinet belonged to my parents, and was known as ‘the china cupboard’ where all the best china was kept!

It’s in dire need of restoration, for my entire life the door has never closed properly, and the material definitely needs updating!

It’s one of those things I could never part with, and it’s been in the garage for the last two years.
But what do I use it for?
It’s now my jewellery cupboard, and I love it. I think it will become My Precious cupboard, as I’ve already put two beautiful lampshades in there, that belonged to my grandmother!!

But look who else is in there 😻
Our Mr Fix It fox...Jerry! has repaired the door, and it now has a key. But whilst the repair was taking place our Italian diva had to check out the glitz.

#furniturerestoration
#glitzyjewelry
#memories
#catsofinstagram
#todolist

19/04/2021

At Last I Can See Our Return To Italy 🇮🇹

Our second vaccinations booked for Wednesday👏🏻👏🏻

But it ain’t going to be easy, a lot has happened since the start of lockdown and we were in the beautiful Le Marche... its called BREXIT!
Even so, we’ll soon be enjoying our Casa Sant Elia lifestyle.

#postlockdown
#countryliving
#houserenovation
#italianlifestyle
#italianblogger
#sawdaystravel
#familybusiness
#smallvineyards
#lemarche

At Last I Can See Our Return To Italy 🇮🇹

Our second vaccinations booked for Wednesday👏🏻👏🏻

But it ain’t going to be easy, a lot has happened since the start of lockdown and we were in the beautiful Le Marche... its called BREXIT!
Even so, we’ll soon be enjoying our Casa Sant Elia lifestyle.

#postlockdown
#countryliving
#houserenovation
#italianlifestyle
#italianblogger
#sawdaystravel
#familybusiness
#smallvineyards
#lemarche

31/03/2021

Another Easter In The U.K.!

But a least this year we can make up a party of six, if only outside and wrapped in blankets to keep warm, it’s a start to becoming ‘social’ again.

If we were in Italy , I would be making Colomba Pasquale, it’s very similar to a Panettone, but in the shape of a dove. But as we’re not, I’m turning to my Calendar of Feasts recipe book, which I love.

So today, it’s Somerset Easter Cakes.
As the story goes, according to my recipe book, the Duke of Monmouth was fleeing from the Battle of Sedgemoor when he fell into a ditch.
A local woman thinking he was a poor peasant, cooked him these cakes to strengthen him.
But as J said “didn’t do him much good, as he was caught and executed”

It’s quite a frugal recipe, and the cakes are at their best if eaten within a couple of days.
I only make 12 cakes with the amounts in the recipe, otherwise I think the cakes would be very small! It’s also an easy recipe for children to follow.

Swipe for the recipe.

#homecooking
#eastercakes
#foodbloggers
#foodhistorians
#missingitaly
#lanterncakesandlace

29/03/2021

I Can Feel The Heat...

I can smell the sea, I just want to be there now...

I Can Feel The Heat...

I can smell the sea, I just want to be there now...

26/03/2021

Now that’s some salad!

A little bit of everything, topped with our delicious Casa Sant Elia Extra Virgin olive oil.

I can’t take the credit for making it, made by my beautiful niece in Cornwall @pippa_wheatley ...so looking forward to going there for lunch 😋😋

Now that’s some salad!

A little bit of everything, topped with our delicious Casa Sant Elia Extra Virgin olive oil.

I can’t take the credit for making it, made by my beautiful niece in Cornwall @pippa_wheatley ...so looking forward to going there for lunch 😋😋

25/03/2021

How can I work when I have these eyes staring at me?

I’m actually trying to plan a fitness trail at Casa Sant Elia, not too easy, but doable...and it has to be fun! But it is taking me longer than I thought, poor PD she’s so wanting some sun, not too long now Pixie we’ll be back there very soon🙏🏻

How can I work when I have these eyes staring at me?

I’m actually trying to plan a fitness trail at Casa Sant Elia, not too easy, but doable...and it has to be fun! But it is taking me longer than I thought, poor PD she’s so wanting some sun, not too long now Pixie we’ll be back there very soon🙏🏻

23/03/2021

A Year of Covid ....can’t believe we missed last year’s Vendemmia 🍇 🍇

At least the local farmers were able to pick the grapes so they didn’t all go to waste, actually the wildlife must have had a feast....but we do have the 2019 vintage maturing in the tanks still.
That will be interesting when we come to tasting !!

A Year of Covid ....can’t believe we missed last year’s Vendemmia 🍇 🍇

At least the local farmers were able to pick the grapes so they didn’t all go to waste, actually the wildlife must have had a feast....but we do have the 2019 vintage maturing in the tanks still.
That will be interesting when we come to tasting !!