Friday, September 16, 2016

We Are A Work In Progress!

As our title for this blog suggests, we are "A Work in Progress"! Although we are constantly busy working, it seems progress is slow!  Don goes to the garage almost every day and works on the 4 barn doors that we need for our bathrooms.  With no internet available at the house except for my phone, getting his questions answered about how to do things is difficult.  Not to mention finding the necessary supplies that are required.  The first door is now complete and ready to hang as soon as all the necessary hardware is located and purchased!  With tools being stored in NC for 4 years there were some problems, especially with sanders.  Of course, the tool that was needed the most!!  A lot has been done by hand and when they are finished I'm sure Don will be glad to have a rest from that tedious chore, not to mention a rest for his shoulders.



This is the Back Side of the doors that Don has worked so hard to create.






Here is the front side.  Three are complete!  Now to get the hardware together and hang the doors.  We will be using barn door hardware and instead of purchasing a kit, as it is done in the states, Don will be creating much of what we need.







This is where Don creates.  I get to paint and so far have finished the doors, windows and inside.  Once dry season arrives I'll be tackling the outside!





This photo is a bit misleading because the garage, which is beautiful inside, is now full!










A view of the house with our typical cloudy afternoon.








 

 What can I say?  Another beautiful sunset showing that even cloudy days can end up spectacular!


































As I am not much help in creating doors, I have been busy with other projects, one of  which is a daily sweeping of the house.  I try to get outside in the morning to work while the sun is shining, as we are still in the rainy season. The afternoons can be either wet or dry but almost always cloudy or socked in with fog. 

We have had many wonderful friends gift us with beautiful plants and cuttings from their gardens.  I've been hauling topsoil and creating places to plant.  Hopefully, this Saturday the backhoe is going to come and do some major topsoil moving and create a huge flower garden in the center of our circular driveway.  Photos to come.  Below are three very large plants that were a gift.  With our large corridors they are perfect to add to the tropical feel of our home.




Unfortunately, I do not know the names of this plant!  Yesterday we finally cut it in half and put it into two new pots.  Seems to be doing very well so far.






The Fern is really large and we want to make it into three and hang it on the outside of the corridor.  




The Anthurium has also been transferred to two new pots.  The photo doesn't really show how large these plants are.  They are big!



We have planted dozens of Bougainvillea in different colors, lots of Hydrangeas, Ground Covers--not sure the names--, Mango Trees, Peace Lilies and with many more still to plant. 







This little garden was created with Peace Lilies and is between the house and garage.  Our Avocado tree is in the background.





This is our beautiful Avocado tree in bloom.  At the moment we have 3 Avocados and are hoping that all the blossoms mean more to come!


Isn't it beautiful!!





As friends have given me cuttings I have just put them into the ground until I'm sure where we want them to go.  Here are some Salvia, Coleus and a beautiful Purple plant whose name I do not know.














Before we moved to the house we started a compost pile where we took all our food garbage.  From that pile we have created huge squash plants, Papaya Trees, Mango Trees and numerous other gifts that we are enjoying.  We wish to plant grass but need to wait until the beginning of the next rainy season as we were not ready at the beginning of this years season.



Although we still have lots of work to do, the Guest Room is ready for visitors.  There are a couple things that need to be added--a mirror in the bathroom, glass enclosure for the shower, etc. but it has come a long way and is starting to look inviting!  We are hoping someone will be flexible enough to enjoy a visit in our infancy.


We also need some pictures on the walls!  Believe me, we have no shortage of pictures just shortage of time to get them up! :)










Bright, sunny and cozy! Just waiting for our first guest!






A mirror would be nice!











And a shower enclosure!  Hanging on the shower head is a bouquet of Eucalyptus from our tree.











 The scenery and tranquility is as perfect as it will ever be.  The main house is working well and quite cozy with our wood stove for cool mornings, lots of windows to enjoy the view and many wonderful things to eat from town as well as from our own finca.  It's a perfect get away from a hectic life full of demands and lacking free time.  We have hammocks and areas to sit on the large corridor.  To eat, read, enjoy the views of the hills and valleys and the Nicoya Bay and the Pacific or just sit back and let your mind relax and wander!

Bert and Ernie are still our main source of entertainment and growing out of kitten stage into being grown cats.  As "teenagers" they have their moments when they ignore each other or can't get enough of each other.  They keep Don company in the garage or me in the Studio and love to sleep!


Snoozing in the garage!






We find the strangest places to curl up!






Sleeping in my chair!








Checking around outside!  They have both become great hunters for which we are grateful!











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