Stairway to Heaven and Other Stuff

We're starting with the other stuff, cause that's more or less how the photos were shot. Painting involves covering a fair amount of wall. We've got two basic colors - a terracottaish color and a sand color. There is a nice blue for the decorative blocks.

Finishing Up Painting in the Breezeway

Rolling It Out

Work in the Other Breezeway

Overall Look of the House

Once the palapa got finished, it became real popular for the crew to mix concrete under its shade.

Mixing Concrete in the Shade

Getting Ready to Add Watah

I had to trim the three openings to allow cars easy access in and out of the palapa. the first one I did sort of a "too short" job, the middle one is ok, and the other end is just right

Trimmed Opening From Inside

Cleaning Up the Leaf Debris From Trimmings

Of course, we're then faced with what to do with unused reject thatch, trimming pieces, and small bits of wood from the palapa. Cody took the bull by the horns and carted most of it to the vacant lot next door and lit it off.

Burning the Debris

Now, the stairs in the garden area. Here they're just being framed out.

Setting Up Curved Molds for the Stairs

More Complicated Than It Looks

I had the guys use a lot of broken block and other debris from previous projects as filler for the stairs. Then they covered the lot with the crushed gravel to get ready to pour.

Ready for the Pour

Pour In Progress

Here's a view from our porch of the pour in progress. The next shot shows it newly completed.

In Progress

And Done

Morning After the Pour

In the "Basement", work is proceeding on sheetrocking the walls in the middle of the basement. It'll all be painted bone white when done.

Trimming Green Board

Mudding in Corner Bead

We still get lookey-loos... Here's Mae and Craig stopping by to see how it's going.

Dianna Showing Mae and Craig the Progress

We were able to get Franz Ozman, the electrician again. He does nice reliable work. Here, he's adding outlets to the wiring.

Ozman At Work

Last so far is the solid mahogany doors and jambs we'll be using. Here they're drilling for the lag screws to mount the jambs to the concrete door openings.

Setting Up Mahogany Door Pieces

And Setting Up Door Pieces