Saving Dragnonflies

The house when we bought it.

House when we bought it -- view of the south side.

We added a yard, a patio, a 550 square foot kitchen

and a stone lined concrete patio.

We gut renovated the old part of the house and also added stucco.

Below is the same south view of the house, now with a patio.

This is a view of the old kitchen on the south side of the house.

The old kitchen

This is the new kitchen. We demolished the old kitchen.

The door on the right is the reference point in both photos.

New Kitchen

We have 84 acres, 2 streams, 2000 blueberry bushes and

we've planted several small fruit orchards. The farm is

organically managed and we are planning to get certified.

We have used organic cover crops and wild zones with

native perennial flowerbeds. We have a spring fed pond

which we also improved by removing railroad ties and using

boulders for the sides. We also have the mineral rights

and are on top of the Marcellus Shale formation.

We have also sided and renovated the barn, workshop/garage,

and six bay garage. We've added a small greenhouse.

The farm is still a work in progress.

Pond - we added wildflower gardens

and stone sides to the clay bottom spring fed pond.

Spring fed swimming pond reworked
with stone sides.

We put in perennial gardens around the house.

Wildflower gardens around the pond and elsewhere.

Blueberries

Various views of the farm.

Mink Stream

Beaver Stream

Pictures of the house - kitchen

Lake Como Trips - Photos of Lenno and the Villas and Botanical Gardens near Lenno and Bellagio.

Lenno - 2007 Lake Como Italy (view to Bellagio).

Some friends are going to Bellagio on Lake Como so I thought that I would take this opportunity to post some of our pictures from past trips. We haven't always taken pictures while we were there, but we do have pictures from a July 2018 trip when we were living in Switzerland and a 2007 trip from the U.S. (we were also staying in Switzerland at the time).

On our first trip it was serendipitous that we landed in Lenno, which is across the lake from Bellagio. This first stop has, so far, turned out to be our favorite place to stay. I am reserving the ultimate judgement until I stay in Bellagio and a few other places. I will report back.

I have two recommendations for the region. First, visit the botanical gardens; many are attached to Villas. Below are pictures of Villa del Balbianello near Lenno (across from Bellagio) and Villa Melzi (in Bellagio). I don't have many pictures of Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, but this is also recommended. Second, if you are there in hot weather (and brave) rent a boat and tour the lake. For us it was choppy in the upper lake, but near Bellagio and Lenno it was calm. We anchored the small boat near Isola Comacina (on the part facing west, opposite of the open lake) and swam in the gorgeous cold clear water.

Lenno - Lake Como 2007

Lenno - Lake Como: Hanna (mother in law), Christian and Thomas (age 2 years)

Three photos: Christian at Albergo Lenno (our hotel) having tea and cocktails at Lake Como in 2007

Hanna

Christian and Thomas

When we go to Lake Como we are usually coming from Switzerland by train (around 3 to 4 hours) to the city of Como. A direct train from Zurich that just under 3 hours. We then take the Lake Como passenger ferry (32 minutes to Lenno and 44 minutes to Bellagio). The ferry is a great way to see the lake. The beauty of the journey overwhelms, erasing worries and weariness. The boat journey is perfect for easing into la dolce vita. We have also driven from Zurich using both the the tunnel (again 3 to 4 hours) and the mountain pass (reserve an entire day).

One incredible thing about Lake Como is that it is just over a mountain pass from one of the most famous ski areas in the world. St. Moritz has been the host of two winter Olympic games and is in the Engadin region of Switzerland. You can be skiing one day in six feet of alpine snow and in the same day travel over the mountain pass (just a few hours) to see the palm trees at Lake Como. There is a system of buses called post cars in Switzerland. In the old days the post cars used to be horse drawn carriages that were primarily used for delivering mail throughout the treacherous mountain passes. People could also hitch a ride. In their current incarnation they are buses. There is a special post car line for the trip from Engadin to Como. I have never taken it, but it must be a spectacular journey. There is also a railroad line, the Bernina Express, highest railway across the Alps (from glaciers to palms).

Christian and Thomas in Engadin, Sils Maria Switzerland in 2008 (Thomas is 3 years old)

On all of my trips to Italy, I have never experienced a bad meal in a restaurant and very rarely feel overcharged. When I travel, I usually order things that I've never made nor probably could make. Italy is different. My favorite food memories are of simple dishes that were just executed really, really well with excellent ingredients (risotto, salade Niçoise, melon with prosciutto). For this reason I won't give recommendations. Except -- if you are in Menaggio then I recommend the Grand Hotel Victoria. It is an old school grand hotel and the restaurant has an incredible setting and view. I usually pick restaurants as I walk through Italian cities by their view or by their decor and ambiance and have not been disappointed.

If you pass by a farmer's market and see very ripe looking small green plums, immediately purchase and eat them. Greengage plums when picked ripe are worth experiencing.

Recommendations: Visiting the botanical gardens and taking a boat trip.

Villa Melzi in Bellagio

Villa Melzi as seen from our little boat in 2018

Villa Melzi - 2007

Villa Melzi - 2007 with Thomas (2 years old) and Christian

Villa Melzi -- 2007

Villa Melzi -- 2007. I would love to recreate these stone pathways at my house in the U.S.

Villa Melzi -- 2007. I also took this picture in order to recreate the plantings someday.

Villa Melzi -- 2007. Thomas at 2 years of age.

Villa Melzi -- 2007. Thomas at 2 years of age. Oh, and yes I'd like to recreate the Villa and water lily basin at my property in the U.S. :).

Outside of Villa Melzi -- 2007. They use donkeys instead of mowers. My sister Wendy and I love donkeys.

Villa del Balbianello - my favorite place on earth. The first photos are from our trip with Thomas at 2 years of age in 2007. The final photos are taken from our small boat in 2018.

Villa del Balbianello 2007

Villa del Balbianello 2007 - Christian with Thomas looking at the water fountain.

Villa del Balbianello 2007

Villa del Balbianello 2007 - Christian feeding Thomas greengage plums.

Villa del Balbianello 2007 view across Lake Como - Thomas at age 2.

Villa del Balbianello 2007

Villa del Balbianello 2007 showing the creeping fig or Ficus repens. After much searching I acquired this plant. A start to building my Italian garden.

The next series of pictures were taken from our small boat in 2019. Also shown is the water taxi entrance. Highly recommended to reach the Villa. We walked in 2007 from Lenno. It was a nice walk but long.

Villa del Balbianello 2018

Boating away from Balbianello.

Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo (also across from Bellagio) in 2007. Hanna (my mother in law) and Christian visited it. Thomas and I were feeling a little under the weather and skipped it.