Spring

October saw Villa del Vento host its second wedding.

Our friends decided to hold their impromptu wedding here. The groom is undergoing chemo and the date was set for in between rounds of treatment. We had just 5 weeks to get ourselves organized! This meant lots of tidying in the north garden - weeding, trimming, mulching etc. Alex extended the jetty deck so that we can now fit our 2 adirondack chairs by the pond - I had actually started digging the foundation the day before the wedding was booked so we needed to get it tidied up. We had a working bee to clear out all our farmy junk from the barn and set it up with our own collected, and borrowed vintage bits and bobs. With many people helping at the last minute it all came together beautifully. I made the wedding cake and the groom's guitar cake of course but the catering was a joint effort among friends. Such a great way for everyone to be part of the big day.

The couple arrived by helicopter ride which was kindly donated by friends. Alex mowed a heart shaped helipad in the paddock. After a spectacular arrival the ceremony was held under the gazebo by the pond. Photos were taken in the garden while the guests drank champagne and nibbled on canapés. Many of the guests commented how lovely it was that they were actually able to see the couple during the photo session. At most weddings the couple disappear for what seems an age before they join their guests back at the reception. I think this will be a nice feature when we finally have weddings here on a regular basis.

After the garden party the guests moved into the barnyard for a bbq dinner and what felt like a country music festival. The groom is a passionate musician and together with fellow musicians they created a magical atmosphere.

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So apart from the last minute rush to polish the north garden we have been a bit distracted from the rest of the garden lately… (but what a wonderful distraction it was) Dad does have more veg planted this year though. The tunnel houses are full and the garden beds are filling up. Our asparagus is finishing now, we’ve eaten artichokes, lettuce, broad beans, and starting to get zucchini. Good things take time and we have so many things on the go at once, we know it will take a few years for everything to come together.

I’ve been making cakes like crazy and welcomed some lovely guests for tea. I made my sister Sinead a hedgehog cake for her birthday. I also managed to repaint the damaged sky ceiling upstairs (adding some filigree to the centre circle to 'support' the light fitting) and make some more plaster mouldings for the central hall ceiling.

Meanwhile back in the kitchen:

A few cakes from the last couple of months...