Sunday, December 8, 2013

Holidays in Guardia

Christmas is 3 weeks away and I'm incredibly excited that I'll be returning for a visit to Guardia just in time for New Year's!!  After the whirlwind of activity to get the house ready for the entire family this past summer, it is now time to get back to the long term plans of maintaining and renovating the house at a more leisurely pace. The basics are all there, but my wish list is long and I'll have to take my time with the rest of these wish list projects.


It's wonderful to think that the place is all set up and ready to go at a moment's notice.  I'm paying the utilities via credit card monthly and the total cost for water, electric, phone and internet is running a little over $100USD per month. Approximately $70 is for the phone and internet, which I absolutely need to work from there, so there are more economical ways to set up a house.

Can't wait to get the fireplace in the kitchen started!

My project manager, checks on the house periodically and lets me know of any maintenance issues as they come up, and gets the house ready before we arrive (ie beds made, pilot lights on, refrigerator plugged in). Setting up, and maintaining a house in Italy from Texas has been relatively stress free and a lot easier than I would have ever imagined! 

Several of the people that recently purchased houses will all be gathering in Guardia at the end of the month, and as usual we are all getting excited about getting everyone together and the new memories we will share.  It continues to be a very diverse tight knit group that has been an incredible support system for me and countless others, as we each live out our own adventures and share our common experiences.



Several new house hunters will arrive between now and the end of the year, and I wish them the best of luck in finding their own slice of heaven, and hope they're able to join us for New Year's next year!! (LF, PF and GR.. you know who you are!!)

So for now, most of the planning involves deciding where we are going to celebrate Capodanno, visiting the Christmas markets in Naples and some antique furniture shopping to finish putting the house together.  The rest of the time I'm hoping to fill sharing good wine with good friends.


This antique store near Naples is full of treasures.. (thanks Glenn for the tip and the pictures!!)




Buon Natale everyone!