I found that my house had been happily inhabited in my absence by a whole load of spiders who had apparently decided to take advantage of Italy's squatters' rights law and make the place their own. They didn't like my intrusion and have been reticent to leave. I've been insistent and their numbers are finally dwindling.
My temporary kitchen set-up is working pretty well and I was greeted with a jar of fig jam, a jar of honey, and two bottles of wine - all homemade by friends, who had also taken it upon themselves to provide milk, eggs, coffee and tomatoes from their garden. A much warmer welcome than I could have imagined!
We will eventually move the kitchen to the other side of the room and make it an old-world rustic type of cucina, but for now I can boil up the pasta and offer my neighbors a caffe without too much trouble.
Internet has been hooked up and I bought a router to give myself some wireless freedom. It took me the better part of two days to get that functioning properly; why technology hates me is still a mystery, but in the end I conquered the sucker and am surprised that the signal carries through the thick stone walls.
The stone mason returned to finish some plaster work in my bathroom and I've acquired another cantina, a long story I'll recount another time, but for those of you keeping count, we now own four (count 'em!) cantinas.
When not battling spiders and trying to organize the casa into some semblance of orderliness, I've been making countless trips to Potenza to hunt down things I need, hit the bancomat, fill the gas tank, and look for work. I've had a few writing projects I've been working on, and have made a couple trips to the other side of the hillside to visit la famiglia...so you see why I've not been around the Pinon Tree for a while!
Things are taking shape and I hope to post more regularly. Thanks for hanging around.
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16 comments:
I'm really enjoying reading about how you guys are getting everything settled back in in Italy! I'm currently in Florence for 5 weeks and it's been so great to be back. ...can't wait to read more :)
Good to hear from you and that you are settling in. Spiders, tell me about it, even with a house occupied all the time I fight a constant battle! If I do not move something for a day, I come back and there is a spiders web!
My wireless internet is working well through the stone walls as well, the only place it does not function is a newer extension that has a huge metal ringbeam that seems to block the signal.
Take Care
I'm a bit lost about your location. Are you close to Potenza? Glad to know, though, that you are back in Italy, and are being welcomed by your neighbors.
Valerie-I'm so happy for you. Everything seems to just be falling into place. Some day I hope to cruise by and share un caffe!
Great to hear about the progress you are making. Still sorry we didn't manage to meet up in VA, but so it goes.
Just back from a look-see in Ecuador, which is a fabulopus place, but I think my heart lives in Italy -- Campania, possibly. May be back there next spring.
Are you now settled for good in Italy or will you still be going back and forth?
All the very best!
Spiders are for sissies (that will come back and bite me in the butt) I had a good size tarantula under my sleeping loft, much too close for comfort, with memories of all those horror movie scenes, although they are a wondrous sight, I admit! They are coming down the mt. here in NM and cars do one heck of a twist to avoid hitting them as they meander slowly 'cross the road.
So glad your heart has returned home!
Spiders are for sissies (that will come back and bite me in the butt) I had a good size tarantula under my sleeping loft, much too close for comfort, with memories of all those horror movie scenes, although they are a wondrous sight, I admit! They are coming down the mt. here in NM and cars do one heck of a twist to avoid hitting them as they meander slowly 'cross the road.
So glad your heart has returned home!
Hola Valerie.........I asked your mother to meet me there and she said it would be the most wonderful thing........IF and when I see Mama JJ I will fall to my knees and wash her feet with my hair......
love,
Magdalena
Erin - Ciao! Ben tornata a te!
LindyLou - They're persistent residents, those ragni. I'm surprised that my cell signal and wireless work so well inside the thick stone walls - meno male!
Lakeviewer - Yes, I'm near Potenza. We have fabulous neighbors! Yesterday I was "contrained" to have pranzo at my neighbors, and they gave me a load of tomatoes, fresh eggs, and some peppers as a parting gift!
Janie - It's falling into place, piano piano. Now let's hope the work situation does the same! Would love to see you and J here someday.
Miss Footloose - I know, I regret we never had a chance to meet up, but we'll just to do it here in Italia ;)
Evey - ha! Sissy or not, I don't like 'em. I had several spider bites in Corrales, they itch like hell. We had plenty of scorpions but never had a tarantula; that would freak me out.
Magdalena - Ha, love your new identity! ;) Would *love* to have you Mama Jo come together. The village would never be the same! ;)
The spiders obviously anticipated the arrival of the wireless router - They'd be wanting to get on the word wide web! Sorry. :)
We're coming with Janie and J! But I want more than just coffee! We'll ALL cook together! LOL
Its nice to see you back at your work and post some more interesting ones..So how are you feeling in Italy?You know this is my favorite destination for vacations..I hope you are having fun over there..
yay yay yay!! so glad to read a new post from you valerie! we just returned from a trip to the Isle of Wight (off the UK coast) with my mom (my husband and two kids as well) and we are super excited to plan an italy trip for next year. totally energized!! i would love to correspond with you for some ideas. i am thinking rome (never been) and then travel to the puglia area either by car with stops along the way or train? what do you think? i know you are busy!!
thanks!
leslie
valerie,
So glad you are back to writing your blog - and in the place that makes you the most happy - la bella Italia. can't wait to read more!!
Lisa
Being in the place you love the most is something else. No reason you are already backing on the track blogging. I can say right now you are very happy and very much inspired with all the good things happening to you right now.
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