Ketchup - Part 1

Man, there have just been too many distractions. The two biggest - finishing the guesthouse and the World Cup. I thought it was a big deal last World Cup when I caught four games. This year, I haven't missed a day. Oh sure, I might miss one or two games a day, but that also means I catch one or two (sometimes all three) games a day. What a treat! And then, throw in work on the guesthouse and my one project a day limitation has become, what - almost like work again. Perish the thought.

Last Wednesday, Dianna and I went with Doug and Twyla down to Belize City. We all wanted to look for some things at Benny's Hardware - that was our first stop. Dianna and I needed to find a nice double kitchen sink. We did. It is some sort of fiberglass composite thing in white that will look really cool in the kitchen. We also wanted to find a 24" wide stove vent hood. Tough to find down here. We ended up special ordering one. It'll be here in about 3 to 5 weeks. Doug and Twyla needed several gallons of tile grout sealer.

I forgot to say, that when we got there, we saw the strangest store greeter. This one met us in the parking lot. Now, I know at Benny's location on the Northern Highway, they're not too far from the sea, but what this guy was doing there ambling across their parking lot was a surprise and a mystery to us.

Benny's Greeter

Doug dropped a dollar coin next to him so you can get some idea of his size. He didn't seem to be in any distress, so we left him alone. Doug did retrieve his dollar.

Good thing too, cause our next stops were first to Mirab's Housewares, east of the swingbridge, where we bought a bunch of little things you just can't get up our way without going to Chetumal. It's close enough to the Tourist Village that Dianna was asked by a passing lady if she wanted her hair braided or toenails done up. The two of us were sitting outside waiting for Doug and Twyla to finish up shopping, and to escape the air conditioning - too friggin' cold.

From Mirab's we went down to the Riverside Tavern. It was the girl's first time being there and to experience the excellent food and service. We also tried Bowen and Bowen's new Galaxy beer. It was nice, but I think I prefer plain old Belikin. Of course, I forgot to ask and was served premium. We don't have to ask for regular in Corozal, so I never think about it.

A new item is now in the pool - our Floatron copper ion generator. It's solar-powered too. You can read all about it at (http://www.floatron.com/).

Solar-powered Floatron Copper Ion Generator

Briefly, it floats and it's solar panel converts sunlight into electricity that energizes a specially alloy mineral electrode (mostly copper) below waterline, causing the release of mineral ions into the surrounding water. This ionized water controls algae growth in the pool.

The electrode should last anywhere from one to three years (we have a spare), and it only stays in the pool for a few days out of a week. We're still finding out what that period is. That is, how many days can it stay in the pool to reach the desired ion level in the water. Once we reach that level, we pull the generator, clean it up and store it till the next week or so when we toss it (gently) back into the pool to maintain that ion level.

Remember a while back I shot some pictures of the sailboat Paloma getting a very nice new paint job? Well it's all done now. It took them a while to get her name painted on her bows. Then it took some time for me to get a good close-up of her name plate.

Paloma's Paint Job Is Done

Beneath her name is a nice little island scene with palm trees, etc. Definitely one of the nicer looking sailboats on the bay.

Paloma's Nameplate

News on the canal front - Lots of progress has been made. Here's some shots of the track-hoe doing its thing. The first one is up near Doug and Twyla's house.

Leveling the Canal Bank (Courtesy Doug Bray)

This next shot is across the canal from our place on Lynn and Pete's property. The track-hoe is pulling muck from the canal bottom (it was really, really shallow right in that area). When he got done piling the muck on the bank, then he leveled it out and moved on.

Mucking Out the Canal

Here the track-hoe operator is getting instructions from Pastor Doug - he and Robert have been directing the canal operations. The track-hoe can reach about half-way across the canal.

Other Side of Lynn & Pete's

Alright. Now on to more new stuff with the guesthouse.

So, about the guesthouse - things move fast-fast, as they say here. We got the ceiling fans installed and running. Pretty cool looking too (no pun intended, either) with their banana-leaf paddles. There's one in each bedroom and one in the living room/kitchen.

Guesthouse Ceiling Fans

We ordered the fans online over a year ago and had them in storage in our utility room downstairs for all that time. We didn't really have any idea that they were going to look so fancy. A nice surprise for sure.

We ended up putting a ceiling fan in the bathroom too, but it's just a plain ol' white ceiling fan - nothing fancy.

Here's the latest in the guesthouse utility room - the on demand water heater isn't news. It's still not working because it's waiting for Billy to bring some insulated pipe fittings for me to vent it and our current one in the regular house. I'll be punching holes through both walls to install those vent pipes.

Next to it is the main GH circuit-breaker box and the whole-house surge protector. This thing is really cool as it protects electrical stuff, like ceiling fans and refrigerators and stereos, etc. from spikes and that sort of thing. Easily worth the money (I talk about it in more detail elsewhere on the blog - look it up in the index).

Water Heater, Breaker Box & Whole House Surge Suppressor

In the kitchen and in the bathroom, I needed boxes to hold light fixtures. I couldn't find any and was thinking about cobbling some together when inspiration hit. I had Capital Factory make them up from sheet aluminum and using their sheet metal bending brakes.

Two different times I called on Roger at Capital and asked him to make a box for me, the first was 3'x6"x1.5". About an hour later he called and said it was ready to pick up. Such service.

Over-Sink Kitchen Light

The second box, 2.5'x6"x1.5" was ready in about the same amount of time. The picture below shows how I'm attaching the three fixtures to the cover for the kitchen box.

Applying Fixtures to Cover Panel

One of the things we had done, as long as we had Joe Folgarait, the electrician here working, was to move the pool light and the waterfall pump switch from the pool pumphouse to the guesthouse utility room, making it a little more convenient to use.

This is Joe and his assistant (I've forgotten his name) working on that very issue.

Joe and His Assistant

We also are busy getting our kitchen cabinets made. Kim Longsworth is making those for us. He's not the cheapest, but what nice work.

Kitchen Counter Being Glued Up

Kim's shop, easily the largest cabinet/furniture shop in the area, already has the kitchen cabinets framed up. We went there this last weekend to see how the progress was coming along. We might be getting them installed this next week or the one after.

Kim Describing How the Cabinets Will Hang

Kim had his workers display the cabinets for us. They are really going to look great and they will also make the guesthouse seem like it's a done thing.

Overall View of the Cabinets

Kim's shop also does some really unusual custom work too. Here's a bathtub they're making for a customer in Texas. Can you believe it?

Custom Wood Bathtub

While all this was going on, we had another cabinet shop, David Gomez, build our doors and jambs, or 'frames' as they call them. Not as fancy as things turned out by Kim, they're still custom-made doors and jambs. David, his dad and his brother did work hard to make and install them on time. They definitely add to the character of the guesthouse.

Guesthouse Doors and Jambs

Now, while all that was going on, I also had Cody busy oiling the pool deck. Here's a shot of him just about half-way through. It really makes a difference and was the wood ever thirsty. We found out that new 40 wt. motor oil is thicker and covers better than the 30 wt. we had been using.

Cody Oiling the Deck

As if all that wasn't enough, the landscape around here keeps changing. Not only is Robert working on the canal, but he's trying to get his newly purchased lots, on either side of our and Elsie's places, ready for sale.

Our Bush Keeps Disappearing

Part of that means he wants to clear some of the thick bush out. So, he's had some of his guys and a D7 Caterpillar bulldozer clearing all the scrub and poison wood, leaving most of the good wood behind.

Additionally, in preparation for the final bit of the canal work, he and Pastor Doug bought a small dredge boat for that project. Complete with trailer, it's a cute looking thing. I can't wait to see it in action.

The Canal Dredge

And, the last thing to 'ketchup' on - Tropical Storm Alex. Around here at least, it was a ho-hum event. We had a little bit of rain (for a tropical storm, that is) and some wind, with gusts maybe up around 40-50 Kts. Nothing developed to really even be scared. Well, the doggies did get scared of some lightning and spent part of the night inside with us. We were ready to take action if things got worse.

Doug and Twyla used it as a training exercise. They disconnected and fastened down their solar panels, removed their satellite dish and pretended they were going to evacuate. Of course, that meant Doug missed his Formula 1 races on TV this morning, because he didn't have his dish back up yet. Too bad.

I did offer him the use of ours as I didn't go to that extreme, thus I was able to watch England get reamed by Germany and FIFA in the World Cup. I mean, how blind was that referee's assistant? The ball was in the goal by at least a foot and a half! I sent FIFA an email asking them to join the 20th century (not even the 21st century) and begin using video technology for controversial calls. Give them another twenty or thirty years and they'll have it.

This afternoon, I'm going to watch Argentina and Mexico. Should be a good match (Argentina won 3 - 1).

Here's something to watch if you're not into real football:

Making a cement bag hat...

Thanks, and a tip of our hat to Mayo Perez for that cool demonstration.

Cheers,

Lotta Progress

Well, today saw lots of progress being made - even though the Shipyard crew got off to a slow start. They had to wait in Orange Walk for two doors to be loaded into their truck before heading out to Corozal.

Here's a couple of shots that show the utility trench dug from the power pole to the inlet side of the utility room. There's a shunt over to the well house where the power for the well pump and well house lighting now runs. I'll tap into that to power up the lights for the streetside fence.

The trench will stay open till after the water is run from the well house to the house - and a few other places (garden area, cart port, canal end of the house, etc.).

Power Pole Trench With Shunt to Well House

Trench Going to House

Here's a couple of views (I know, these are similar to previous views. Just hold them together and fan 'em. You'll see them magically come to life.) of the house and and the Streetside Fence showing the progress that has been made.

Sreetside fence - The Gate Area

Sreetside fence - Looks Unfinished This Direction

Here's the detail showing the line for the pump inside the well house. I'll simply drill another hole in the bottom of the box to tie the Streetside fence lighting to this circuit.

The other shot shows Isidoro's crew putting finishing touches to the Streetside fence.

Electrics to Well Pump

Finishing Plastering Streetside Fence

Siliconing the pump access hatch. We tend to get a fair amount of water in the well house after rain or even a heavy dew.

The other shot is a view of the fence hiding the garbags site - and to remind me I need to get a hatch made with hinges and latch to go with it.

Sealing the Hatch

Viewing Trash Hole

Isidoro's crew is making fast progress on the last bit of fence. Here they've dismantled the chainlink fence, and by evening had already poured the footing for the wall to come tomorrow.

Laying a level line

Finishing plastering block tops

This is a nice view showing all the scallups of the fence.

Fence Scallops

For some reason, adding doors really makes things seem as though they're coming together. The jamb frames and doors are all made with solid mahogany (Imagine that Stateside - $$$).

Fitting the Jamb

Getting an assist with it

Interior doors looking good, Man! No locks for knobs, yet. Place seems like a carpenter shop with all the sawing and hammering going on.

Our Three Interior Doors

Trimming Streetside Exterior Jam Piece

Showing some of the progress that's been made - drywalling, plastering, and texturing technique.

Drywall Texture and Finish - Living Room

Drywall Texture and Finish - Dining/Kitchen

Discussion is always easy to allow with crews that work as well and as hard as these do. It's been a real pleasure working with guys who know their trade (perhaps by Belizean standards in some cases) and know how to work on their own without direct supervision.

Abraham and Esidoro - Always time for discussion

Jose Camera Inspecting

We're actually moving into some of the finish stuff that floats Dianna's boat - texturing, tiling, cabinetry, painting and lighting.

Texturing - From the Overhead

Boxes of Tiles Waiting for Placement

Again with the discussions! This has just gotta stop. Oh, wait. I'm an enlightened boss. It's fine. Carry on.

Dianna and Jose Discussing Texture

Our drain field fence is dang near finished. Once that and the rest of the fence are done, Isidoro's crew will be done too. It'll seem strange and too quiet.

Finishing the Drain Field Fence

Just to prove to everyone that Dianna's fine and in good spirits after the near-miss with tragedy, we went over to Bob's new digs for home cooked liver and onions with fried potatoes. Yummers! Was it ever good. Bob swears it's because he soaks the liver slices in milk before throwing them on the fire. I think he's right. It does seem to lessen the bitter taste.

Dianna and Bob actually did all the cooking. I posed, looking all official and stuff.

Bob and Dianna

Dave Pretending

You'll notice Bob's counter space is somewhat limited. That's cause he just built it the other day. This house came with bare essentials. So he's been spiffing it up.

We haven't visited with Bob's dog, Sadie for a long time. Now that Bob is back and living near Tony and Nellie, he felt he should retrieve Sadie from Doug and Twyla - the folks who were dog-sitting her for Bob while he was in Cuba.

Sadie's a Great Dog

One Day of Sunshine Does Not Dry Make

Even with all the rain things have been moving along - slow, but moving along. For all intents and purposes, we're out of Tony's house. Dianna will be going over there today with Edna, our housekeeper, to do a final cleaning of that place. All we'll have left there is the stuff in storage and the generator. All of it waiting for the rain to stop long enough for the road to dry out enough to get the truck in so we can load all of it up.

Here's some pictures of our new (temporary) place, thanks to Canadian Bob, who is still in Cuba. That sounds strange to U.S. folks, but visiting the Godless Reds in Cuba is normal for Canadians. After we get our residency, we're hoping to be able to "v-i-s-i-t" there as well. It's actually pretty easy, contrary to what the US government would have you believe.

The Living Room

We're Just Getting Settled In

The bedroom has already been rearranged from the way it appears in this photo - not due to Dianna's penchant for rearranging furniture, but because the wooden hurricane shutters here do not keep out rain water that is blowing horizontally. Serious leakage problems... (Bob, take note).

Kitty's Expensive Toilet Causes Cramped Conditions in WC

Here's the kitchen. Two deficiencies noted here. A wall outlet right next to the sink at counter level - major shock hazard, and lighting. Bob, why did you put a ceiling fan in the living room and think that it would work as lighting for the living room, kitchen, and bedroom? And you're a guy who likes to cook too! Ever heard of task lighting?

Kitchen Getting Settled

As far as progress on the property. We got the well house/trash doors installed Saturday. They look good!

Well House Door Locked Up

Trash Bin Door

Here's an inside shot of the well house. The boxes are the well parts - the deep-water pump, the pressure tank, and the manifold/wiring kit and gauges.

Well House Contents

I've currently got Isidoro and his crew working on our fence. He's doing the long side first as you can see from the foundation trench below.

Fence Foundation Trench

Working on the trench

Isidoro's going to duplicate the long side of the fence at least for our new next door neighbor - Elsie. Below, she's talking over the fence project for her property with Isidoro.

Esidoro and Elsie Talking Fence Stuff

The padlocks that Owen and Sandy sent us finally arrived yesterday. The package looked like a bomb had gone off, but all the locks arrived safe and sound. Thanks guys, we'll be putting them to good use right away.

Gentle Hands of the International Post Consortium

We have more rain in the forecast. This will impact the fence (we have 120 bags of cement waiting to be delivered, along with a whole bunch of rebar. The road to Tony's needs to dry out so we can remove our stored items from his butcher shop, and the roads need to dry out so Franz can move our house from Shipyard to Corozal!