A break from house building

Scott and Jodi came for a visit.

The weekly market in Melaque.

 A trip to the crocodiles.  A bridge that swayed as we crossed to get to the other side of the estuary

 



















This is the malacon in Puerto Vallarta and one of the streets.

 

There are many status on the malacon. 

 

















You can just see the top of the church.  We didn't have time to explore further.  Will have to be a trip for the fall. 

 We took a trip with some friends to Tenacatita.

This beach has been in controversy since 2010.  Last year we tried to visit and were turned away by the military.  They charged to cross their check point and said it was too late for us to visit.  This year the guard station has been removed and people can once again enjoy the beach.  Many of the homes and restaurants were destroyed during the contraversy.







The garbage being hauled via pick-up.

 Trucks hauling sugar cane to be processed.





Another beach, Chamela

Paint, dust, and ........

 The painters have starting painting.  Don't know why they don't wait until all the construction is done.  They will have to re-do many walls. 




 

                


The cement from the  roof pour running down the walls.  

 

The kitchen counter being redone with tons of rebar instead of panelray.

 The cement for the kitchen counter is being mixed in the bedroom so there is only one mix, to keep the color consistent.  Last time it was mixed in a mixer and there were a couple of mixes which didn't keep the color consistent

The first color being added.

 The water added and the mixing begins.










Almost done with the mixing

The first bucket added to the counter.

The counter is poured and now needs to cure.

There is lots of sanding to be done, with three different grits and the dust is flying.  


Here again the room had been painted the  boveda ceiling cleaned.  Now everything has a blue tint and will have to be cleaned and painted again.

The ventilator blocks got the screens attached.









The bodega is getting doors.

 The cement mixer has mixed the last of the cement for the house.  Now all will be plaster and mixed by hand.

The stairs to the roof are finally being formed.  It has taken several weeks to figure out the right height and turns.

Some of the doors and windows are getting installed.  Glass will be installed by a different person.  Since the kitchen counter is open to this area, will have to cover all the wood or it will have a blue tone.

Paint - insulation - kitchen

The styrofoam for the ceiling / roof in the upstairs.  These slide into the cement beams.







Looking up at the installed styrofoam. 

Looking at the Boveda ceiling we find animal prints in the bricks.  This one is a gecko, but there are also some bird prints, and coyote prints.  It's fun to look for them.

The appliances are being delivered.  No dollies and they slide the appliances down the ramp.

The kitchen counters being sanded.

The counters came out in two different colors and 2 cracks by the sink.  Soooo, now the counters are being destroyed, to be done over.

The doors and window being installed.  The glass with be installed by a different person.

The painter starting on the house.  Look at that long paint extension.

 Part of the house painted.  The columns will be a red color.

Plastering - Scaffolding - Roof

The plastering continues on the upper story.  After laying all the brick they now made holes in the walls to put the supports for the scaffolding.

They later filled in the holes with misc bricks laid any old way and then plastered over.










Notice the scaffolding here is balanced on bricks.











 

 The bulls eye windows being installed.

 The supports for the upper deck tile are being formed.

The bucket brigade has started.












They mix the cement for the ceiling and then dump it on the ground, which is then put into buckets and hauled to the top.  Dumping on the ground allows that the flow of cement never stops.

 One bucket thrown off and one bucket hauled up.

The workers once again with only sandals while pouring cement.     The rebar and wire mess to hold the ceiling.

A different view of the house.

Kitchen / Paint / Vet

 The start of the mixing for the polished concrete for the kitchen counter.









Adding more color

 Is the color right yet?    
Opps the mixer was going to fast and the break came undone, causing the mix to land on the ground 

        Now have to mix by hand and try to get each mix the same color!

The pouring of the counter

 Installing the next set of "bull's eye windows"

What the view will be from the bedroom.  Hopefully the construction mess will be gone

Starting to paint walls.

 





Cody has become a very sick.  The vet's office is in Tomatlan, 40 miles away.  Had to get an x-ray, the same place people go, at the Red Cross!   We are still trying to get him well.