Bathroom's Finishing Touches

Finally, after about three and a half years, we're just about done with putting our bathroom together.

We had Kim and Ruth Longsworth's Bessa Decor cabinet shop fabricate a custom medicine cabinet and shelving for us and they installed it yesterday.

Here's a part of the design drawing I came up with for the cabinets.

Part of the Design

The idea I had was that they would probably bring the cabinet in three pieces and install it, along with a spacer to give the cabinet a final close-fit look. Surprise, surprise. What they showed up with was a one-piece unit that they actually had to plane and sand down to fit. Always a different interpretation.

Sanding The Cabinet

After a bit of planing and sanding, it was ready for installation. It was still a tight fit. But it really looks nice now that it's in place.

Checking the Cabinet Out

Here you can see the interior of the medicine cabinet itself.

Inside the Medicine Cabinet

Here's a view of the final adjustment during the installation. It's all supported by screws into the wall studs, so it should be pretty bomb-proof.

Adjusting the Fit

During the installation, even after the planing and sanding, it was still necessary to temporarily remove some of the bathroom door molding and a light switch in order that the cabinet assembly could be passed alongside.

Reinstalling Door Trim

Then a bit of cleanup and touch-up some of the paint and it was done.

Final Cleanup

We let it sit overnight so all the paint had plenty of time to thoroughly dry. The next two shots show the completed medicine cabinet. In the mirror you can see a bit of the other cabinet we had them make. It has three drawers on the bottom. It is long and narrow and was hard to take a photo of it so that's all you see.

Medicine Cabinet Showing Other Cabinet

Another View

Today, we'll put the bathroom back together. I hope we have enough storage.

The View From On High

Thought I'd better get a quick glimpse around before the 21st... Wouldn't want to have the world end without a last view of the old homestead.

Anyway, I had the weather station rehabbing on my list for a while now. It had developed an ominous wiggle in a breeze, so I figured it was time to do some serious stuff before it took a tumble. Besides, I wanted to make it a little easier to take down in the event of a hurricane.

First, I ran up the long extension ladder after attaching the aluminum quick-disconnect stabilizer to it. Although I didn't take a picture of it, these things are life-savers, especially as we get a tad older. They really make an extension ladder feel much more secure. They're easy to put on and remove, and they don't cost very much. I highly recommend you get one.

Anyway, as I was climbing up, I glanced over at the nesting doves (pigeons). Mom and dad were sure keeping an eye on me. They were in no hurry to leave the nest either.  I know Julian had recommended I remove the nest, but when I had gone out to do just that, those trusting little eyes just begged me to let them stay. So I did. It'll be cool when the young ones hatch.

Proud Parents Eying Me

Here's the day's project. I think I've mentioned it before - I'm good for about one project a day down here. This was one of those that should have been spread over three or four days. The heat on the roof was intense. Our heat index gets up around 121° (f) during the day. I was on the roof by 7:00 AM, and was up there for about three hours. Heat stroke candidate No. 1, right here.

As I told Craig when he emailed me today about the heat index, wanting to know if it was accurate (it's pretty close), I told him "The heat index is just like wind chill only different."

In the picture below, I've dismantled the station. You can see the brackets that held it up still agains the short blue wall near the drill. Not real effective. So, the object was to significantly strengthen the whole thing.

Weather Station Dismantled

And, with a snap of the fingers, just like that, it's done. I've just finished applying a coat of Snow Roof to the fittings. This thing is now pretty rigid.

Weather Station Rehab Completed

If you look close at this next photo, you'll see a sleeve in the pole with some bolts keeping it rigid. This is the disconnect for the upper part of the weather station. The lower part with the guy wires and stuff just stays put. I'll undo two bolts and lower the station down to the ground in the event of a hurricane.

Weather Station Detail

After I got that all done, (yes, there were the requisite number of trips up and down the ladder for stuff I forgot or didn't think about till I was almost done), I thought it was time to take a few shots around the place, as I mentioned above.

This first one is a straight-on shot of our house. Still looks pretty good. Hard to believe that tree in the front of it started as a twig a couple years ago.

Our House Still Looks Good

Next, I shot this view of the current, current project, the patio and BBQ area. Kind of gives you a neat perspective of the whole thing.

Birds-Eye View of the Patio Project

And then, just a quick shot of the turn to the left of the canal as it exits to the bay.

Looking At The Canal Left Turn

Here's a nice view of the awning. Still holding  up well. Although it has let the water temperature in the pool creep up to 88° (f) from 86° (f). Still much better than without it. The temp would probably be around the 96° (f) mark.

The Awning From Topside

So, there you have the days labors in a few shots. After I came down and put the tools away, I was tuckered for a while. I drank copious quantities of water, then ate a sandwich, took a nice cool shower and about 1:30 PM jumped into the pool till about 4:30 PM. Ahhhhh, relaxing.

More Changes

So, you say you want a pool, eh? Not a problem - Comin' right up!

Here's the latest iteration of our place. You'll notice toward the bottom, there's a new addition or three.

We're getting a swimming pool! We think it'll look something like this when it's done. there's some other things too, like a planned guest house down the way a bit, and some round, bluish-looking things. Those are supposted to be cisterns - about 600 gallons each.

Bird's Eye View Of Our Place

Anyway, I think it's getting pretty close to being a finished project (he said with tongue in cheek).

Morning Inspection

This morning, on our way into town to get some important stuff (alright... a bottle of rum, ok?) we stopped off at the property so Dianna could see the progress we made yesterday.

In the background you can see the 80 blocks we unloaded last night. All ready for the guys to finish tomorrow. The trash house (the part you see in the photo) is as high as it goes. The poured roof will add about 3 or 4 additional inches to it. The well/pump house part at the rear, will go up an additional two courses and it'll also have a poured roof.

Dianna Inspecting the Work

Here's some of the tools at the work site. I lock them up with chain and padlock each night. The wheelbarrow at left is Bob's. The bright one on the right is mine - having just bought it at Cinty's. The remaining bags of cement are under the bin for protection from the rain.

Work Tools Huddled Together

TGIF

I am sure glad the weekend is here. It's been tough taking all these pictures.

Anyway, the septic tank pit is finished as far as the digging goes. Below, you can see we hit ground water - about six inches before we wanted to, but it'll work. Bob is planning on putting a dry concrete mix into the hole and letting the water suck into the mix and complete the job.

Ground Water in the Septic Tank

Raymond Finishing the Corner of the Pit

Bob really loves his diamond saw blade. He takes delight in showing how easy it cuts through just about anything. Here, he's cutting one of the large blocks in half for the tower.

Making a Cloud of Dust

Back at the property, Bob is mixing mortar to complete bricking up the tower.

Mixing the Mortar

Laying One of the Last Courses on the Tower

Bob using his truck as an expedient scaffolding. And viola! The finished product. Well, not quite finished. It will get a top coat of mortar to smooth it out. I'll then paint it, and then, Bob will add the boxes, poles, and wire. Hopefully, it won't be too long before Belize Electric sends me the estimate for the installation of the transformer. Then, we'll be rocking.

Finishing up the brick work

the tower on its own

We're going to let Franz (Mennonite house builder) know that we're ready now for the well driller to come and do his thing. We're going to put it fairly close to the tower, and cap it till we need it. We're keeping our fingers crossed that it'll be sweet water.

And, Below, you can see the job that Ed and his Cat have done. We now have a flat piece of property, about a foot higher than it was before. It even looks bigger now for some reason. Ed also said he saw near the canal (right picture, left side toward the trees) a rather large rattlesnake. Fun, fun, fun.

The difference between a US diamond back and a Belizean rattler is the US version is dangerous and the Belizean one is deadly. We'll be most watchful. He also told me of an American up near Xiabe (pronounced "shy-bay") who will buy them as long as they weigh at least three pounds. He milks the venom to help produce anti-venin and also grinds parts of the snake into various powders... Sounds like a mix of science and voodoo. I could be wrong, who knows?

Looking to the Street

Looking to the Canal

Our Spread Out in the Wilds of Belize

Here's a bunch of shots of our property. As you can tell, it's flat. It fronts onto the canal. There's a cutout for a boat slip - shared with our neighbor's property. That's pretty much it right now. I'll include just some brief comments on the photos.

This is the east property line looking from the canal to the road. The property is 238 feet long by 65 feet wide - approximately. We still have to have a new survey done.

Well, It's Got Dirt

This is looking from the road to the canal. Still the same length.

It's A Big Lot

This is looking across the property.

Another Shot of the Property

This is looking across the property with the Isuzu (with dark-tinted windows) horning into the picture.

Our New Wheels on Our New Lot

This is the northwestern property marker.

One of Our Property Markers

Looking east from the neighbor's property.

Neighboring Lot

Lilies in the canal.

Canal Lilies

Lilly pads in the canal.

More Lilies

Southwestern property marker

Another Property Marker

Cutout for boat slip - our side.

Boat Slip Cutout

Cutout for boat slip - our neighbor's side

The Other Side of It

Looking northward up the canal

Looking Up the Canal

Looking southward down the canal. At the big tree it swings left and about 100 yards, empties into Corozal Bay.

And Down the Canal

Some structures (houses?) across the road from our property.

Partial Construction Across the Road

Ok. So that's it. We'll be finalizing the design and starting construction once we return to Belize. Stay tuned for developments.