Good Evening Everyone
It is a magnificent Sunday night as I sit at my bench at Lavender Hill. I have a full house, really lovely people and have had a very busy weekend and Sunday especially. My only sadness is that this is what our famous family dinners of years gone by have come to this, me alone at the bench, Cam and Lucy alone at Mountain Road, Callum at work, Juliet studying at her house, Bronwynn and Spain Kirk who knows where and Mike hopefully watching from a fluffy cloud. I pine for the Sunday night dinners however I am determined that this will be a good thing for not only me but the boys and girls too. Lucy is already a given
Firstly Cameron is fine, still quite tired but medically nothing found. It was a tough couple of days with lots of “what ifs” swirling round.
I have had a full house, both suites for 3 nights each, 2 brides amongst it with one having her photos and getting ready time here. What a treat to be able to participate in their special day and she looked stunning. Although it was sunny the wind was howling so she must have been cold but it made for some very interesting shots with the veil horizontal. I have also met 2 very lovely couples celebrating birthdays. If all my guests are like the ones I have met so far I am in for a very happy future. Today, as yesterday, there was much washing , cleaning and ironing. Thank God for Nola, she worked like a trojan and everything, I hope, was done to standard. Never have either of us put in so much effort to white linen. It truly was a pleasure to see it blowing on y clothes line in the breeze. And Nola could get a job in a chinese laundry the way her sheets were ironed!
Breakfast didn’t prove to be too hard with the winner clearly being my new recipe, creamy Portobello mushroom and thyme on sourdough. Delicious. If anyone wants the recipe please let me know. The muslei and lemon curd also went down a treat. I really think people like home cooking. Last night when Nola and I watched and Annabell Langbein cooking programme , I decided that the white and dark chocolate espresso hazelnut crunch would be perfect with the port we give as a little before bed snack, I will try it next time.
Rodney the pukeko takes delight in his early morning ablute in my fountain and today news had got out and he bought his close friend Delilah the duck. What a sight it was, tall blue pukeko on the top-level splashing the little brown duck swimming in the lower pond. As a treat Tony decided to clean it out for them so the fountain is at its magnificent best. There was also a pheasant running through the olive grove at dusk. Vegetables continue to thrive.
As my 2 guests have a late checkout I will have a big Allendale morning getting back under control I hope. I also have a wedding planner coming to meet with me in the afternoon then it is back home to the office, yoga and the boys. Funny thing is I have really missed them and just want them to be here with me to share all this, it is much more fun to share new experiences with others. It is my first night in this house all alone and i feel like a real grown up- wonder why that is when I have spent many many nights in houses alone before. I hope you have all had a good weekend.
love
Tracey
Hi Tracey
Was waiting to hear how your first weekend went and so glad it has all gone according to plan and most of all you have enjoyed it! It must be some primal female thing I think to get a buzz out of a Hills Hoist full of washing (sheets particularly followed closely by nappies!) .. I know exactly what you mean. I’m sure I echo the thoughts of other bloggers that we would love the portobello mushroom recipe and chocolate hazelnut crunch.
Am glad Cameron is home and on the mend too. You sound as if you have acquired new feathered friends .. wait till Lucy sees them!
You know why you feel like you do tonight? … because this is YOUR Lavender Hill and your adventure .. your new life .. scary and exciting at the same time. I know you will do a great job and will soon have a full house every weekend when word gets out!
Same old .. same old here! Love is still in the air and uni exams nearly over.
Take care
xx
Hello!
Glad everything is fine with Cam,
Sounds like youve had a busy weekend but it sounds really fun and what a perfecr job for you.
I love seeing brides getting ready. Hopefully one day it might be me!
Not much news here other than I’l be home for xmas which I’m really excited about and then hopefully I’l be back for good.
Hope you have a good Monday. Lovely to hear about Lavender Hill.
Lots of love
Whit.xxx
Greetings all
Your first weekend has been well and truly underfire, glad to hear that Cameron is OK. Guess Lucy has had to play florence over the weekend. The bleeding fireworks wouldnt have helped, drove my lot round the beend. Auckland Hospital was bursting at the seams, we need to build a bigger one.
Sounds magical over at the tuscan castle, Nola sounds like the perfect girl Friday for your adventure, Tony the gardener and by the sound of it you may need a game keeper.
Great grownig weather for the veges over the weekend, hope everyone got out and made the most of it
“Success: To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!”
Good news on all fronts!
It might not have been common knowledge to all that this type of venture for you was in the pipeline well before Mike got sick. Lavender Hill is yours, mind, body & soul.
Judging by your description of this past weekend it sounds perfect for you & can only get better.
Go girlfriend!
LLM
Mark
Hi Tracey and All
Thrilled to hear about your weekend – The way you write I can just visualise it – particularly the sheets blowing in the wind and the new ‘natural’ residents.
Pleased to hear Cameron is on the mend. Tracey, the changes you describe do happen, but they are part of your growth – but there will be many family dinners again; maybe just a change of venue!!!
The fireworks out west caused concern for Spotty as well. Friday and Saturday evening I had her cowering under my legs shaking – the look of ‘when the hell are the going to stop’ was printed over her face. When we retired to bed, she bought her blanket with her and slept outside the bedroom until it went quiet. I look forward to the day fireworks get banned.
I concur with Sally, YES, we would love both the mushroom recipe and the hazelnut crunch one – PLEASE.
Tracey, it won’t be long before your cooking delicacies at Lavender Hill will be enticing the droves and you will have full occupancy every weekend.
Another fine day, keep them rolling!
Off to school to help with the remedial reading, so better shoot to get through the traffic.
Love and best wishes Tracey and all
Take Care
Brenda xxxx
Hi Tracey, so excited for you! I am so glad to hear it went well and that you had the lovely Nola and Tony by your side. Catch up soon hopefully, Gareth and I miss you guys! xo
Thanks Emma, I can’t wait to have you over and pick your brain for creativity. Ditto too.
Traceyxx
Hi
So glad all well on the Bakker front. Cameron all good, and Lucy must be doing ok too. You sound good, glad you enjoyed your weekend, albeit maybe hard work. It sounds very exciting, and I agree, once word gets around, they will be flocking to get a taste of Laveder Hill. Have you started on the diaries yet? hmmmmmmmm get to it, woman! Have a good week all, I’m off to water my veges.
Linda