My wonderful English son-in-law mentioned Noel Coward’s song the first day we started work. Yes, the sun is warm, the work (for Roy and Elizabeth; much, much less so for me) is long and hard. And, yes, currently, much of the interior work is still in process.
A Vision…in process
Yet, it’s amazing to be in this Sicilian hill-town again, this time with Roy and Elizabeth, and working on – not living in – the studio.
I’ve done some painting in my day. Whitewash is NOT paint. Ask me sometime about using the calce Elizabeth mixes up in one, often two, buckets for the day’s work. Also, in my day, I’ve seen bricks delivered — but tufa? Who builds things with volcanic conglomerate? As it turns out, the Romans did. Speaking of bricks, I will state the obvious: Ordering bricks – whether tufa or terra cotta – or getting cement or piping delivered here, is not like placing the order with Home Depot.
So, yes, I’ve done some water-spraying and whitewashing, and I’ve done it in the sun. However, when it got to be too much…? I mean after two hours? Three? I’d walk away from the job, heading for the nearest bar or gelateria.
And more than once, the end of the day meant the wonderful Ristorante-Pizzeria Halykos, just up the next street.
Pizzeria Holykos, Via Siracusa
Americans Escaping the Mid-day Sun
mebtravelling 
Jul 12, 2014 @ 19:03:55
MEB – How wonderful to be able to share these days and experiences with your daughter and son-in-law in what looks like a beautiful slice of Sicily. You are fortunate to be there, whether whitewashing and working with bricks or sitting enjoying a cool one at the nearest bar – life is good!
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Jul 13, 2014 @ 06:52:08
Carol, you are right – lucky to be here, fortunate, too, to have this time with family, speaking of which, I think some of yours have moved closer?
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