Thursday Quiz

If you were lost on a desert island and could take with you one book, one CD, one DVD (they have a player there), and one outfit, what would you choose?

Bees, Bees, Bees!

I had just arrived home from biking a tortuous 16 mile climb up the canyon and back. I was just about to let the Chihuahuas out to do their business, and I suddenly had to stop. Something wasn't right. There were hundreds, thousands, no, millions of bees right next to the house. At first I thought I was delirious from the lack of oxygen to my brain from the bike ride and was seeing things. No, it really was a swarm of bees. I'm okay and sting free, thanks for asking! Luckily, the little busy bodies flew away about an hour later.

Real Estate Friday

In the heart of the Perigord Noir, 20 minutes from Sarlat, near a pretty medieval village. Close to Bergerac International airport drive away, with 6 flights daily to the United Kingdom. One of the most historic manor houses in the Perigord, the property has been magnificently restored, with all its architectural and garden details brought back to life. The house is surrounded by 33 hectares of undivided wooded grounds, including 5 hectares of park, without any visual or noise disturbance. The view is extensive. 7 bedrooms and bathrooms. Magnificent reception living room (over 100 sqm). Fireplaces. Caretaker's apartment (90 sqm). Tiled swimming pool (15x8).

Happy Earth Day!

Signs of Life

Snow came for another visit on April 16, 2009. It was Spring Break for my kids. Our poor little pear espalier trees were bogged down with the cold, wet snow. I started to wonder if Spring would ever come to pass.

Spring break is over. Kids are back in school. The sun is shining and I couldn't be happier. Finally, we are starting to see signs of life.

Real Estate Friday

One of the country’s most beautiful homes set in stunning gardens, lovingly restored and transformed with a distinctly Italian flavour enjoying a rural, unspoilt countryside location.

Main House
Conservatory-Entrance Guest Room en suite Drive-in Garage Cellar Cloakroom Vestibule Breakfast Room Pantry Kitchen Larder Walk-in Fridge Laundry Room Booty.

Dining Room Drawing Room with wood burning fireplace Garden Room with wood burning fireplace Loggia Master Bedroom with gas fireplace Changing area Bathroom Study.

Suite 1
North Conservatory-Entrance Sitting Room with gas fireplace Dining Room Kitchen 2 en suite Bedrooms.

Suite 2
Entrance Cloakroom Sitting Room with woodburning fireplace Dining room with Rayburn open plan Kitchen 4 en suite Bedrooms.

Caretakers Cottage
Entrance Kitchen Lounge 2 double Bedrooms Bathroom, Store.
Additional staff quarter: Entrance Bed Sitter Kitchenette Shower Room.

Covered and heated Swimming pool
Sitting/exercising Area Lap pool 25m long Changing Room 2 Shower Rooms 2 Lavatories Sauna.

Outside
Gardens Ponds Courtyard Garden Barbecue with built in tables and seats Greenhouse Polytunnel Sheds 2 Vegetable Gardens.

Thursday quiz

If a movie was being made of your life, who would play you?

Separated at birth

I have a problem that I should talk about. Actually it is more of an addiction of sorts. I really like to watch reality TV. I know what you are thinking, “I can’t believe that she just admitted to that!” But it is true and the first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem.

My new addiction is on the BBCA channel and is called “Any Dream Will Do.” This program is a search for the new “Joseph” character for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The first episode was like American Idol auditions with every freak and his brother trying out for the competition. I don’t really know why I am watching this because I likely won’t be returning to London anytime soon to see JOSEPH in the West End but I was hooked. I think I know why I was hooked. Let me share with you.

Have you ever noticed how Andrew Lloyd Webber looks like Austin Powers?
Okay, so Austin is a bit younger but if you watch the show it gets kind of creepy to watch and then I just start to giggle. The other reason I am hooked is that there is a contestant, Chris B, who looks like Hilary Swank in Boys Don’t Cry (this is the movie where she cut all her hair off and portrayed a girl living as a boy). The likeness is just crazy!

I think my addiction to this show is finally broken (after 3 weeks) because in searching for the picture of Chris B., I found out who won the show and I am not interested anymore. Oh well, one addiction down and several more to go.

Finally - spring weather

I was invited to participate in a Passover dinner with a friend’s family. No, they are not Jewish but I quickly accepted the invitation. In case you haven’t been to Passover before allow me a moment to tell you about the evening (at least at the celebration that I went to). There is a script provided with parts or readings assigned to different guests at the dinner. Basically, we learn about the Israelites and their experiences in Egypt and especially receiving their freedom from oppression with the guidance of Moses. The food is very symbolic but not the tastiest food that you would look forward to as if it was Thanksgiving dinner.

What is the food you ask? Well to start, parsley dipped in salt water. I don’t mind it much but again, I don’t know anyone else that makes a meal of salt-water dipped parsley. We also eat matza. Matza is unleavened bread and more like a cracker without any salt/flavoring. Some people describe matza to have the flavor of cardboard. We also enjoy some bitter herbs or horseradish but this is mixed with chopped apples, pecans and cinnamon. I actually like this flavor but at this Passover dinner I had a little too much horseradish and so it kind of burned. We did have a more traditional dinner after the symbolic part of the meal was finished that was very tasty. I give a big thank you to the Hauglids for allowing me to come to dinner and participate in the evening.

Today is Easter. It has been a beautiful day. I don’t know what life is like where you live but where we have had very grey weather. Clouds and rain and snow for months it seems. Today has been sunny and almost warm. It is beautiful. Easter symbolizes new life and springtime represents new life perfectly. The flowers have barely started to bloom and the lawn areas are starting to green up. And with the sun finally shining with all of its glory, I feel that I myself am feeling a new life beginning to start. I know that it is April but may today be the start of a new year that will bring good blessings to each one of us.

Happy Easter

Real Estate Friday

A fine Grade 'C' Listed residential estate in the heart of tranquil

Galloway countryside.

Corsemalzie Estate dates from 1834 and is built of whinstone with granite corner stones under a slate roof. A private driveway leads through mature woodland over a picturesque bridge up to a tarmac sweep to the east side of the house. The east façade has an impressive entrance with a heraldic shield and motto above and the south façade has bay windows looking out from the drawing room and dining room.

Internally, the house is presented in immaculate decorative order and has many fine period features. The entrance foyer has contrasting black and white mosaic floor tiling and imposing Corinthian columns.

The principal public rooms feature dressed solid oak Livonett flooring and delicately carved marble fireplaces. Deep cornicing and intricate wall plasterwork are a feature of Corsemalzie. The kitchen whilst traditional, is beautifully remodelled and features a grand central island and ample space for informal dining and breakfasting.

Ante rooms on the ground floor provide for a live-in staff flat as well as a staff/guest wing.

The first floor is split at the three quarter landing leading first to principal bedroom accommodation of 3 grand suites, all generous and with sumptuous en suite bathrooms; the second split leads to a further 7 guest bedrooms all with en suite bathrooms.The second floor has a study, good sized home office and a bath room.

The outbuildings are in good order and are located to the rear of the house, and are arranged to form an enclosed dog run.

Outbuildings

Outbuildings include 3 garages, a generator room, a workshop, a boiler/electrics room, a general purpose store, a dog kennel & enclosed run, and a garden equipment store.

Grounds

Corsemalzie is set within grounds of some 33 acres. A dry stone bellmouth entrance with electronic security porter system and remote controlled gates leads to a private driveway. The driveway is flanked by the picturesque Malzie burn, colourful rhododendrons and mature trees and opens to a sweep in front of the house.

Formal gardens include a terraced lawn in front of the house and a private lawn at the rear.
The formal gardens extend to the woodland fringes which feature the unhurried passing of the Malzie burn. Wildlife is a feature of Corsemalzie, the semi ancient native woodlands providing an ideal habitat for many forms of wildlife including roe deer, otters and an extensive range of native and migratory birds.

Jardin Du Fleur

I am still suffering from Spring Fever. Will the sun ever come to stay? Another snow/rain storm is on the way for a visit. To help warm up my frosty soul, I bought this sweet little Archipelago Candle. The vellum covering the candle said "Inspired by the grounds of Versailles", that alone made me happy. And yes, just in case you are wondering, that is a brooch on top of the box.

Real Estate Friday

A Scottish west highland sporting estate.

A Highland shooting lodge in a magnificent position on the north shores of Loch Torridon with 4 cottages, estate buildings and a boathouse, including salmon and trout fishing on the north bank of the River Torridon. The Estate of Torridon once formed part of the possessions of the Lords of the Isles and extended to over 17,000 acres including one of the best deer forests in the west Highlands. Torridon House now stands in about 234 acres but still holds a prominent position on the northern shores of Upper Loch Torridon. Torridon House was built with the famous Torridon red sandstone in 1876, designed for family living but large enough to support sporting parties during the shooting and fishing seasons. Further to the main house are 4 estates cottages, a boathouse, and a fully restored hydro electric plant. There is fishing on the North bank of the River Torridon and salmon rights on Loch An Lasgaiche.

This picture and the one just above of the little house are my two favorites. I enjoy the pictures of the residence but I love the solitude that these last pictures offer.

Kids say the darndest things

Just received a text from my brother:

"So the girls r flying to san diego 2nite, they're going to airport now. T said to A, "I hope we don't hear the pilot say Jesus take the wheel."