My last entry, "The House Is Ready For Christmas" was written as I awaited the return of Maurizio and and our daughter, Mar from Fiumicino. Marica's flight from the States was EVENTFUL, finally landing seven hours late. Since I had timed everything to have the house at its warmest and prettiest for a noon arrival and lunch here, waiting until early evening instead gave me ample and enjoyable time to write an entry.
The house W A S, HAD BEEN READIED for Christmas until...
Indeed, it was, as usual a happy reunion, coming into the festive house - after an overnight flight - to an invitingly decorated house. I always think of our home as a summer house - at its best in the summer months: its fortunate location in the hills, cathedral ceilings, huge picture windows, free-flowing design with few doors which keeps it delightfully cool and breezy on even the hottest summer days.
To comfortably use the living room/dining room in the winter we need the extra heat of our pellet stove...which I had turned on several hours before the expected noon arrival.
When I heard of the delay I left it on just the same and was so pleased at the toasty warm result. When Mar finally arrived we gravitated to it, warming ourselves as we hugged and sighed with relief that she was finally home after the frustratingly delayed and chaotic flight. We took the luggage to Mar's room when, at a certain point I smelled something strange and went to check the living room: the stove had caught fire, pouring out an intensely strong acrid odor and filling the perfectly and beautifully decorated room with smoke! So much for the toasty warm room: I immediatley opened all the windows (it was a colder than average day!) to get cross ventilation from the wind which was blowing stiffly outside.
Dismayed, shocked, appalled AND aware that for this season the stove could not be used, we decided to move the large tree and all the living room decorations which adorned every corner to our study, a suitable enough room which, however, had to be cleared.
Our Austrian Befane sizing up the disaster, ready to move to another room!
We didn't tackle this huge job that evening but waited instead until the next day. In an attempt to find inspiration, enthusiasm and energy to REembark on this job, we listened to inspiring Renaissance Christmas music, drank wine brulè and tried to make the best of all the extra work...and at the same time, trying to get the residual foul smell and smoke out of the house!
Recreated Christmas atmosphere in the cleared and newly set up study
a satisfied me with a happy heart, brimming with joy on a magical Christmas Eve...in the study!
So...never a dull moment! Yet another reminder that the best laid plans have a "mind of their own". The name of the game is staying flexible and adaptable. Although an annoyance and a royal mess for a few days, it would take much more than that to dampen my happy heart during the holidays!
