It is full speed ahead with the painting in the Under Hill Suite of the Hazelnut Inn. Tony & our latest hire, Jeremy are busy laying on the first coat of colour. Both Tony & Jeremy are eminently qualified for this task, as they both have fine art degrees to their name. This is of course no ordinary ceiling and is much trickier to paint on account of all of the texture, undulations and endless roots that twist in every direction imaginable. The first primer coat of paint is the most challenging as they have to work the paint into every tiny crevice of the hand sculpted texture. The concrete sucks up the paint mercilessly and it has to be on thick but not run or drip. Each subsequent coat of colour goes a little faster than the previous. Glazes are faster yet and it won’t be long until it is time to begin the tile work. The big pile of boxes of ceramic tiles are sitting just outside the bathroom door, ready for that job to begin…
Under Hill magic
With the Christmas and New Year celebrations now behind us, the entire crew will be back this first work week of 2025 to continue work in the shop and over at the Under Hill Suite of the Hazelnut Inn. The Underhill suite is already booking guests starting at the beginning of June of this year. There remain less than a hundred working days for our talented crew to finish every tiny detail inside and out of this beautiful suite. I went over to do a security check this evening and grabbed this enchanting shot of the magical garden gate. It is even more spectacular inside. To book your stay go to https://www.hazelnutinn.com
Another trip around the sun
Birthdays are an interesting thing. When we are youngsters, we can hardly wait for our next birthday. In our minds, things will be so much better when we are a little older. Being young limits what we are permitted to do. Those a little advanced in years, especially older siblings, are allowed to go to bed later and do things younger ones can’t. We’ve all looked forward to higher grades in school, being able to drive, and a host of other things only those older are allowed to do.
When we are young, the actual day of our birthday is a reason for a party, being the recipient of an array of presents from those we love. But as we get a little older, each milestone of another year can become a reason for teasing and ridicule. Birthdays in later years are not anticipated, for they remind us of the relentless march of time we all experience. While we all age at the same rate, we don’t necessarily show the years equally. Some people embrace the advancing years while others fight it and some desperately try to hide the aging process.
As people age in our society, the talk eventually turns to retirement. The question often asked is when will we slow down and quit working. ‘Old age’ is when most look forward to sitting in a rocking chair to reminisce about days gone by and the achievements of long ago. Not for me!
It is the time of year for me to celebrate another quick trip around the sun. The last year has been very eventful, fun and busy. While most of my peers are already retired, I feel I’m just beginning to reach my prime and couldn’t imagine slowing down. It has taken a lifetime to accumulate the skills I use daily, and I still thoroughly enjoy every workday with family and crew who cheerfully support my efforts. I am reluctant to use the term master of our craft, for I still have much to learn, but each project we get is now tackled with an abundance of confidence and hard-earned skill. Past projects and experiences are but a building block for the future. Our favourite project is still the current one, for it is the very best we have done to date. We know the next one will be even better!
We are blessed with many customers who trust us to design and create the fun projects we do. My design table is overflowing with new exciting projects, and our shop is filled with imaginative creations in progress. I’m looking forward to another wonderful year!
