Living in St. Croix – Instagram Photos

I know it has been a long time since I have updated the blog. We are still here and happy in St. Croix. Both happy we moved here and happy we built the house. The cottage rental is going well and it is a pleasure to meet our guests from all over the world. If you have questions about building you may find some answers in the comments of the individual posts.

If you are looking to stay with us at the St. Croix Ocean Vista Honeymoon Cottage you can find all the details here: http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p3020733

Since this site will not be updated regularly you can see some new photos from my Instagram feed below:

 

St. Croix Ocean Vista Guest Cottage Rental

We finally have our guest cottage available for vacation rentals.  Our first renters are arriving from Georgia this weekend.  If you are interested in coming to visit St. Croix, and you should be, then consider staying at our cottage.  Sorry, no kids, and no smokers, but our rates are great.

 Check out the details on VRBO

 

 

House Hunters International on HGTV – St. Croix

I should have posted on here that our show was airing on June 12th, but forgot.  Sorry.  So for those that have not seen it and want to, our episode is airing again on July 27th at 11pm.

Here is the link to showtimes: http://www.hgtv.com/house-hunters-international/a-caribbean-quandary/index.html

Chad, Emily, and Alexandra Bentley

 

Solar Electric System – Finally online

Eco-Innovations (see update at bottom of post) installed 13 panels in December.  They wired us up in early January.   In early February, DPNR came out to do their inspection.  DPNR finally signed off on our system in early May.  Paperwork immediately handed to WAPA.  WAPA engineers finally came out to inspect this week.  Yesterday they changed out my meter so I can send the energy I produce back into the grid.  After nearly eight months I finally flipped on my panels for the first time this morning.

You can see my system here: https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/public/systems/Ab6g68379

Solar Panels installed 12/15/2011

 

Net+Metering+Flow+Chart+WAPA

I found this net metering flow chart on the WAPA website. It gives you an idea of the complexity of the permitting process.

Update 2014:
When choosing a solar provider here in the USVI do keep in mind that the company mentioned above disappears after the install and is unreachable should you have any issues.

Some professional photos and House Hunters International

Well, it took nearly two months, but we finally received our CO (certificate of occupancy).  Yeah, not sure what to say other than I suppose it isn’t surprising it took so long.  DPNR, as with most government agencies here, are not in much of a hurry.

In mid-March HGTV’s House Hunters International was here to film.  We really pushed hard to have the house mostly complete prior to their arrival.  We got quite a bit complete but we lacked decorations and outdoor furniture, and we had bare walls.  Our architects (and interior designer), Hera and Eduardo of Design Lab, lent us a bunch of decorations and asked a few St. Croix businesses to borrow some items.  Pat from Sweet Lime Furnishings lent us some awesome outdoor furniture and some other decorations and Ted Davis from D&D Studio Fine Art Photography in Christiansted lent us some amazing photography for the wall.

Ted Davis came by to take some photos the day of the HHI shoot.  Below are some of the photos he took.  He made our house look incredible.  Thanks Ted.

Guest House Bedroom