Patio Palapa - Labor Commences

Carlos and I were out in the parking area assembling the last of 12 'tomato' cages (we'll use 'em for lots of other things) when I noticed Endher's truck parked just outside the utility gate.

Finishing De-Thatching

 I was surprised at just how fast the last of the thatch was pulled down, and how soon the guys got the patio all cleaned up.

At my suggestion, the debris was tossed over the fence into Mike and Steph's yard. Mario's crew is under strict orders to clean up all the debris and remove it.

Carlos is keeping a close eye on things as maintaining their yard is his responsibility. They'll also be bringing in whatever lumber they need for the project the same way. Otherwise, it's a long walk around our house to dump debris into the truck or to bring in the lumber.

Endher and Mario Planning

 Endher and Mario discussing how to do the framing. I want the look and feel underneath to be similar to the parking palapa, so those skinny sticks, for the most part, will be staying.

There's also going to be screening, just like in the pool enclosure, but we'll get to that when that part arrives.

Croc in the Canal

There's no shortage of supervisors either. Here you can see one of our local residents (inside the red circle) taking an interest in the goings-on.

This is a juvenile croc, probably around five to six feet in length. He cruises past our place at least once a week. It's either this one or another juvenile that spends a lot of his/her time under the fishing pier across the canal from us.

Whenever I backwash the pool, which empties into the canal, the croc scoots across the canal and keeps his nose right next to the marl cloud released as part of the backwash process. Sniffing a potential meal no doubt.

Cutting Compound Angles

This afternoon, the guys have been spending their time getting angles cut in preparation for setting a facia board (may not be the correct term, but it'll do). It's basically going to be a six-sided structure surrounding the old palapa.

Hanging Palapa Lamp

 Here's the old metal lantern lamp that hangs from the center peak of the palapa. It will be reinstalled as soon as possible to keep it from getting damaged.

Little Better View of the Angles

This photo gives you a little better idea of the angles involved. Of course, nothing is even all the way around, so it becomes tricky.

Also, all day today, we've dealt with thunder, lightning, and periods of rain. Since a woman in Ranchito having been recently killed in her backyard by lightning, safety is more on everyone's mind than normal.

Recapping the Past Week

The past week was busy - the "chain" as it's called was poured as was the rest of the beams for the foundation... And, well, I guess that was it. Doesn't sound like much when you put it on paper, but it did occupy most of the week, as you can see from the pictures below.

Here's Franz's crew pouring the "chain"

More Pouring the "Chain"

The chain is, in reality, the rebar that encircles the whole foundation and provides the lateral strength to it.

Workers Moving Scaffold

Straps To Anchor House to Foundation

Setting the Forms

More Pouring the Beams

An important part is placing the metal straps that actually join the beams to the wooden structure of the house - there's about 22 or so of them, anchored in the concrete then double-lag-screwed to the wood beams.

Setting the Straps

 Pouring Concrete into Buckets

If this guy looks familiar (he should to Owen and Sandy) it's because I think he followed us down here. We have several blue herons and a few white ones (and about a hundred egrets) that frequent the area.

Fishing From the Bank

Cutting Wood for Forms

Moving the Scaffold Again

Keeping the Area Neat and Tidy - Consolidating Gravel Piles

Pouring Concrete,

Pouring, and Pouring

And More

Protection for the Jacks

Looking At the Underside of the House

Setting Initial Rebar For the Streetside Steps

Concrete Work

Now, for you who might not be able to judge scale well, here's a shot of the smaller croc - the same one that is on our banner, being photographed by Doug. Notice Doug is not approaching any too close.

Shooting the Croc

Same As Yesterday, Only More So

Well, we still need Marlon Perkins, but we'll get to that in a minute.

Here's the latest on the construction front. The Maginot Line (sorry, wrong front) is going up smoothly. Al four courses have been placed on our part of the fence. This evening, Isidoro will put in the first of the chain link fabric to a corner post and pour the corner post. That'll be fun to watch.

Our Fence Almost Ready For Chain Link

Block work has now moved over to Elsie's part of the fence. Isidoro is definitely the king of brick masons around here. He's fast and does it right.

Esidoro Trimming a Block

And Then Buttering It

The first course is well underway on Elsie's part of the fence.

The View Down the Line

Now, here's why we need Marlon Perkins. Finally, we get to see one of the neighborhood crocodiles. No tick-tock of the clock however. He's taken advantage of the sunny weather and is basking on the bank behind our duplex, not too far from where Dianna and Lynn (along with Robert, our next-door neighbors) hang the laundry.

Just Lazin' Away On A Sunny Afternoon

From A Little Farther Away

Some more views of him doing more of the same.

Our Neighborhood Has the Strangest Pets

I thought about trying to get closer for a better shot, but decided I'd wait till I can break out the good camera and lenses.

Mouthfull of Bad-Assery

Say Hello to my Little Fren...

Well, this is proof-positive that we have wildlife in our neighborhood. This is the smaller of two resident crocodiles in the canal.

Six Feet of Crocodile in the Canal

I snapped his pic the other day. He's about 6 feet long - the other croc is probably on the order of 8 - 10 feet long. No swimming in the canal!

You'll notice no doubt, that I said "our neighborhood". We're now the proud owners of a piece of property here in Belize. Well, there's still some minor details to take care of - paying for it, etc. But, the owners Craig and Mae Timmons, accepted our offer. They're really a nice couple from Oregon. They just completed the residency program here in Belize.