and a short time to get there....is it any wonder that country song plays over and over in my head lately? We've got two months to get it all done, including fixing BigRed's 4WD, and then it's on to the finca, ready or not.
Roger's workers are plodding along, and he stays busy with piping the buildings and planning all that he needs to buy as he goes. The locals in Ochomogo damage the site from time to time, nothing serious yet, just childish destruction, but it's making for some interesting building as we can't put in much without it being covered over or protected in some other way. A bit frustrating yes, but just another part of life here. There's tons of good things to make up for these pranks.
The new builder is doing great cement work and we should have beautiful, level floors (a hard thing to get done in this country!). I've been trying to track down unglazed, clay tiles for the outdoor kitchen, and the search continues. Most folks either don't know or try to convince me I want something else. Also looking for bamboo or reed shades for the outdoor kitchen. I know what I want, I just haven't found anything like it yet. Guess I should start looking for someone to make them, huh? Oh, why must everything take soooo long?
Big Red, our Toyota Hilux, is back in the shop. We're trying out a new mechanic as, even after four years here, we've still not found a good one who really knows his stuff. The truck was supposed to be ready today, but a lack of parts in Jinotepe sent the mechanic into Managua for bearings for the rear end. I've got my fingers crossed that he found them and can fix Big Red by tomorrow afternoon. Roger and the workers are walking in about two miles, and that sure makes a day's work on the finca even harder in this summer heat.
The holes for the first dog pen are being worked on this week, along with more ditch digging. We've got another three weeks until all the ditches will be done as work by hand takes ever so long. More supplies should be delivered next week, and then it's time for the builder to come back. We'll build one pen, 25' x 25', the test it out with two dogs, probably Boudreaux and Magnolia. If Boo can't get out, we'll know it's a good design. He's up to 100lbs and ready to take on the world.