Is that a nandu?

We've been spotting a nandu again the past few weeks. We know where he hangs out and we were ready with our camera. However, it was so fast escaping our view that we barely got him before he reached cover. We'll try again another day because you can barely make out the big white bird below. But there it is! Enjoy, because we may not get another shot.


We weren't able to go to Los Perales again due to rain, but we did get two days of school in at the learning center. Mauro, the big boss over Yuca visited this week. He was impressed with all we've done to the house. Yuca is ecstatic.

Finally, we finished the last few projects just before Mauro showed up. They were last on the list because we weren't sure how we were going to fix them. When we learned that the soonest we could move out of the house would be the end of the year 2017, we continued to perform fix-up procedures.






In the end, we decided to mix cement patch really thick. We made mud balls and packed them in the needed spots. The green mold was partly scrubbed off before painting everything. This door is used exclusively by all so it was good to get it into shape.






Sometimes a home just needs a little repair...maybe even a big repair. However, in the case below, it's just plain scary. We didn't use the cupboard at all needless to say. We sprayed it for bugs and then ignored it not knowing of any solution.



However, in the night Amy had an idea. We bought 1/4 inch insulation, white Styrofoam on one side, aluminum on the other. We cut it big enough to fit the whole bottom of the cupboard and to go up all sides of the walls. Then we cut half way through where we wanted it to bend.

Then we simply set it into the cupboard and taped up all the sides sealing anything behind the wall from entrance.


Packaging tape has many uses.



The far right wall above is disintegrating and drooping away from the sink so we used a chunk of wood we found lying around to prop the sink up. With the insulation covering the bottom and sides, who knows that the there is a big gap at the bottom.

Doesn't that just make you smile knowing the prior condition? :)


This oven does not work at all, and I fear it is simply a haven for bugs.



So we painted some insulation black and taped it smartly over the opening.


This shelving unit can be seen from the front door.

So with extra insulation and paint, we gave it a face lift.





I don't think we'll be taking this project on. Good thing the pine tree came down at night when no one was anywhere close. Ouch!
I
It's huge!


There's not much left to do with the house. Maybe a little painting of the window trim and the screen door, but that will have to wait. The Hynes, our directors, are coming to Argentina tomorrow. We'll pick them up in Buenos Aires and bring them here for a few days. We're suppose to take them to the airport on Friday, but if it rains, we may have to take them back early.

We hope to have class again this week. We are tired of house repair.