We are in the midst of our courtyard remodel. Below are a couple of "before" pictures:





As you can see there are chipped tiles, a big empty space, an irregular step, overgrown plants, etc.

The windows on the floor above take the southern sun directly so we are having shed roofs made with tile above the three upstairs windows. A shed roof with three posts will support a cover over the walkway area and also shield the doors below from the rain and beating sun. New tile will be laid, a fountain installed, and the landscaping improved. The palm will stay but the schefflera will be limbed up and the rest of the plantings removed and new soil added.

The first thing they did was set up scaffolding and then start pounding out the concrete to attach the roof supports to the house. The structure is going to be made out of concrete so they need to go back to the house rebar to attach the rebar for the roof. One unique thing about the team working here is that they use a kind of mini jackhammer to remove the concrete. Most of that kind of work in México is done by hand.





The concrete that they are using for the visible parts is colored the same color as the wood trim on our house and is formed inside wood so that it actually looks like wood! And it really does!



After those cured they started making the forms for the roof. They use styrofoam to help reduce the weight of the roof structure.



The concrete is mixed by hand on the ground and then sent up the scaffolding by a pulley.



This morning they are putting the concrete in the roof sections. We are really going to be excited to see these revealed! Once they're done with the three small roofs I imagine the next thing they do is work on the long roof on the main floor. They have already dug three huge footings for the support posts.



I'll post some pictures when the courtyard work is done - we hope sometime before Christmas!

(all pictures enlarge if you click them)

Somos de Mazatlan! We live here! WOW!

The last two days have been two of the most tiring of the last few months. I know that part of the reason is just the cumulative action of the buildup to moving - but part of it was just the reality of 4-500 miles per day in an overloaded van with two dogs.

We crossed the border at Nogales, entering into the border morass at about 9 am, and we crossed the last hurdle at about noon. We felt pretty happy about that, even though it had its anxious moments. Because of the late start into Mexico, though, we decided to stop in San Carlos at a dog friendly RV park and motel that Brenda had told us about. We took the dogs for a walk on the malecon, ate a delicious ice cream cone, and then left them in the room in the pursuit of dinner. A quick meal and we were back - and were asleep before our heads even hit the pillows.

We got up early this morning and hit the road at 6 am. (Brenda, that's why we didn't call you to meet for coffee...) We made pretty good time and really enjoyed the scenery. BUT there were some crazy times with insane road construction projects that kept things interesting! There was some intense rain (for only a few minutes) but overall it was a good trip.

After the last toll plaza we knew we were close to HOME! We kept waiting for Mazatlan to appear over the horizon, and it took too long for our impatient selves. I had thought I would be most excited as we pulled out of our driveway in Washington but it turns out the last 10 miles into Mazatlan I wanted to scream the entire time!

We drove down the malecon towards the B & B in Centro, laughing the entire time. the dogs found a bit of grass to call their own, and after all of us ate some dinner we took a walk along the malecon, around past our house and home. We are all tired, happy, and ready for bed.

Tomorrow will be an adventure. Hopefully we can put the contents of the van in one of our empty rooms. We hope to make arrangements for a bed to be delivered. Mostly, though, we are happy to be here, together, in our new home.

We spent the night in Tucson and are crossing the border this morning!

What more can I say? We are excited about our new life and the adventure of it all.

I'll post again once we are in Mazatlan, but right now I think it is time to take Lucy and Henry for a good walk!

We enjoy a tv show called the "Dog Whisperer." The star, Cesar Millan, says that it is important to mark the migration of the pack. He says to take long walks every day and to let the dogs sniff and smell and mark along the way. That way when they get to their new home everybody is adjusted and together.

Well, we are sniffing and marking all right! The main adjustment for them seems to be that they have never been to a motel before and the sounds from upstairs and around our room make them a little bit anxious.

Our car is WAY overloaded. Last night we decided (similar to the covered wagons coming west more than a century ago) to ditch a couple of boxes this morning and to rearrange things so more of the weight is forward. We'll move Tiko the bird to the back. He gets out tomorrow anyway to stay with my best friend in San Francisco.

So, a little delay this morning in Medford as we repack the car and look for a Goodwill box to dump things in. Then we're off to San Francisco to visit with my best friend and sister until we head out again Tuesday morning.

We've been listening to the new Harry Potter book in the car and have been enjoying the scenery in Central Oregon. This morning: California.

Yesterday was a crazy day. We emptied all the remaining bits and pieces from the cupboards and washed them out. We sealed up all our boxes except our office box. Ran the library books back, to the bank for some cash, got Tiko's wings trimmed, and put a bunch more things for Goodwill in the van.

The buyers of our house had their home inspection, too. Oh, boy, was he a finicky dude. Put on a space suit to go into the crawl space. Fussed around for ages. They were totally fed up with him - and they really want our place, so I think it will be alright. But I was a mass of nerves as we had to witness the inspector. I'm glad that it's over.

This morning our hauler comes to take the last stuff to the dump, so we are up early to finish up where we left off last night. The dogs are sticking to us like glue and are very anxious. This has been the only home either of them have ever known.

Tonight we are staying at a local motel. We plan on leaving early on Thursday for the road trip to our new life!