Pic-of-the-Month for June 20, 2021

 Hola Amigos,

The end of June is quickly approaching, as is our exit from Baja for cooler climates.  It has been HOT here this last week, and we've been wondering why we're still here, when we could pack up and leave in our truck anytime.  However, we have a few outstanding things to get done, so we'll stick to our schedule of leaving next Saturday.  But when the thermometer got up to here last Sunday, it was very tempting to leave immediately!

All last week the temps were in the 90's.  Thank goodness we have AC in our bedroom so we can sleep at night.  Today, temps are pleasant 80's and we even had a rain shower or two this morning.  That was very refreshing! 

We have gotten a lot of projects accomplished this year.  The most recent was getting some new storm shutters, mostly upstairs and one on a large window downstairs.

The upstairs has always been a bit of a problem due to the design of the house.  The two sliding glass doors on the bedrooms open on to a large deck, but there is no access to the downstairs from there, so once the shutters are attached from the outside, the only way to get down is via ladder.  I told Ben he's getting too old to do ladders like that, and that we needed a shutter that would close on the inside.  So, one slider has an accordion shutter that locks from the inside.  The rest have stacking panels that are somewhat translucent.  

The view above is from outside; this window has three vertical panels.  The view to the left is from the inside looking out to the large patio over our carport (that has no stairway).  I think it looks great.  That window has three horizontal stacking panels. 

We also have a set of panels for our largest living room window, whose existing wooden shutter was heavy and clumsy to handle, and is getting eaten by termites!  

It took the shutter company several times to come and adjust things before we were completely happy, but they were always willing to come out and fix things.  The last time they were here, we supervised closely so that we knew for sure they were doing it right and we were getting what we paid for.  And yes, it was hot the days they were here.  They wear masks most of the time, and often the long sleeved shirts.  Makes me hot just to think about long sleeved shirts! 

 

 

Another project that finally got done is our new water hookup.  It took a lot of effort on the part of Ben and our new neighbor Brian (who is over seas currently) to get Brian's plumber, the water company and a back hoe operator all at the same place at the same time, and agreeing to hook us all up.  It did happen, although it took a lot of digging to find that elusive water line!  (It was actually between where Ben is standing the the guy to his left.  They dug most of the way across the road, first!)  It's all good now, and we are very happy with our new consistent water supply (a rarity in parts of Baja near here).  

Ben finished up the rocking chair project, and it looks good.  We'll be delivering it to La Paz when we leave town, most likely. I think he did a fantastic job adding rockers to a chair that didn't have rockers to start with! 

Ben also managed to get 4 vehicles in the shop; 3 Model A's and the Willy's Jeep.  Yeah, my new little car gets to stay outside this summer, but at least it will be in the carport under cover.  

We will have a house sitter this summer, and also exciting for us, a gardener who will show up every Saturday.  Ricardo worked the last couple of weeks, several hours a day, whipping our garden into shape (it needed a lot of work).  He also hauled off all the clippings and weeds.  He's excited to work for us, and I think it looks the best it has in ages.  Poor guy came at 4pm and worked 2 hours in the heat of the day.  Phew!  (Our past gardeners haven't been regular about showing up, if they came at all!)  

Our neighbor's Mango tree has a branch over our wall, and I've been busy processing mangos; freezing some, and drying some.  I've also given away many of them.  They are small, but sweet and delicious.  

Mango Margarita, anyone?

I finished the baby quilt I made for our new grand-nephew, Xavier Purkey.  I'll be getting it back from the quilters when we get up to Oregon.  I think it turned out ok.  Certainly is colorful! 

 

We will stop in Loreto next Saturday night to enjoy the Hotel Oasis Saturday Night Clam Feed.  😋  We usually take three days traveling through Baja, and plan to cross the border on Tuesday morning at Tecate.  If you follow me on Facebook, I'll probably be posting highlights of our trip as we travel.  It's hard to get Ben to stop to let me get decent pictures, but I'll do what I can!!  

We are looking forward to seeing many of you Oregonians and Washingtonians this summer, as opposed to last year!  We've had our vaccinations, and we're ready to be a bit more social.  If you want to see us, and didn't let us know after the last p-o-t-m, let us know! 

This may be the last update for a while if Ben doesn't uphold his end of the deal to write these in the summer.  Complain to him if you don't hear from us in July, August or September!!  You should know our e-mail!  

More pictures are in our June 2021 album.

Hasta la proxima vez,

Tus amigos de Baja

Harriet, Ben & Zoey