I'm BACK! I've been traveling and busy with life..... I could have written on the run but, I like to focus when I am blogging and traveling doesn't allow that for me.
My adventures were out in California with a wonderful group of people who I had studied with in Florence, Italy many years ago, thus we had a reunion. I minored in Art History so what a perfect place Florence was to be. Other students in the program were language majors, architects, interior designers, academians and on and on(one of my roomates got her Phd, talk about being intimidated..... however, she couldn't be more down to earth and very funny, we giggled like a bunch of grade school girls)......30 something years later most of these people are still doing their craft, some have ventured off into other fields of work however, they all seem to love what they do. There was magic in the air with this group of people and especially the home where the reunion weekend took place, which is situated on a Christmas Tree Farm in the hills of Santa Cruz,CA. Lots of love and passion went into this gathering. The icing on the cake for this reunion was our beloved Dr Peruzzi who was determined to attend but despite set backs he was there in all his Italian glory and full of love. Many hugs, kisses and... "wow you look the same" or thinking... who is this person ..ha ha...of course we all knew each other. The tasks of making food, setting the tables, charging up the coffee and breakfast in the am, producing beautiful home made desserts, and lots of conversation brought out the warmth and loveliness of everyone. The beautiful home that the Wards (owners) built themselves is surrounded by gigantic red woods and their Christmas trees. I swear those red woods are giant souls ......I think they were "talking" to me one morning as the fog rolled off the ocean and eerly floated through them. The Wards home was big enough to accomodate many of us for sleeping, producing large meals and, seating everyone (about 60 people) at tables to drink wine and eat home made pasta. Their home is solar efficient, with large over hangs to keep the California sunshine out when its too much but, when needed it reflects on to one of the walls in their living room which absorbs the heat for the winter. The kitchen counters and back splash are concrete in a warm terracotta color and, lots of windows in the kitchen and family room area to look out at the beautiful landscape.
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| Apricot Crostata- Stacey's Italian recipe |
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| Il Gruppo Italiano Reunion |
As I had deep feelings of not wanting to go to the reunion right before I left because of a tragedy in my family and my mind set at the time but, thank God I got on the plane and went. It really helped get me through the stage of having lost one of my favorite companions in the whole world ....my dog Willy. Those magical people from long ago truley helped me get through this dark period ( I know he was just a dog but there is a huge hole in my heart)and, writing seems to help too....... thus the following story incorporating the loveliest paint colors in the world from Farrow and Ball.
WILLY'S BEDROOM
My scheme is designed toward a young boy who has just moved here with his family from England. He is a vivacious 4 year old with lots of energy and spunk. To embrace his personality and give him a wonderful room to gravitate towards at night ( so his parents get some rest) I am painting large horizontal stripes in Strong White and Railings( charcoal black) in a Modern Emulsion finish. To add some “pop” and fun, an antique desk (which came with the move and had seen better days but, too sentimental for the mother to leave behind) will be painted in Charlotte’s Locks in Estate Eggshell finish. Charlotte's Locks is an intense orange but calming at the same time because of the slight undertone of brown. Willy’s room has a small built in bookcase that will be painted Pavillion Gray in Full gloss finish....yowzaa!. The fifth wall-the floor-will have a checkerboard design in Cornforth White which is a light grey along with a darker color of Manor House Grey. With fun accessories this room is perfect for a young child and, will “grow” with him into teenage/adult years.
This color story is dedicated to my dog Willy...... Behind those eyes I think there was a “real” little boy
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