"The Week That Was"

End of week SEVEN!!  The week began with building the balcony, which the contractors did, however, our job was getting 2x4's for the railing stained and painting the support beams.  We have not yet begun to cut the stained and varnished guava branches - but that will come eventually.

Last week we changed our minds about using only big screens at the front (south facing) and decided to install windows and screens.  As we described earlier in the week, most of the work this week was electrical, but today, the "yellow submarine" (tub) got hauled upstairs and plumbing fixtures checked for the holes to be drilled.

It was really exciting to begin to really organize Phil's shop space below the apartment.  Just look at those nice tidy, organized shelves!  What's on the work table are quarter-round mouldings that will be going both on the outside of the building as well as those on the inside.  It is SO much easier to paint the wood BEFORE it gets put up around the windows.  Also, look at the size of that enormous beam!  That is the same beam we showed in our May 9th blog -- the very first week.  (It is 4" x 16" and is 24 feet long!!)  It is the main support beam for the whole upstairs.

Most of the work we did was for the apartment and shop, but we also found time to work on the garden area (we call the bromeliad hill ) which is just as you turn up the long driveway.

This week we cemented lava for a base to provide stability for our new Ganesh statue.  We are also in the process of painting and embellishing him. He is made out of cast concrete, and we plan to enrich his Rolly Rotundness with some color.  Here he has his first wash of light green.  Since it is too hot for lotus blossoms, he will be surrounded by pink and green bromeliads instead - and of course, shaded by a newly planted Hapu'u fern.  (Once we have finished the transformation we will send another picture - but it's fun to share the "before" as well as the "after.")

YELLOW SUBMARINE!

During January it was clear that we were both missing the wonderful claw foot tub that was such a delightful feature of our Eureka house.

One evening Phil said, "Why don't you post a notice on Craig's List and see if you can find one."  I did so immediately thinking, as we have found that it never hurts to ask for what you want.  THE NEXT MORNING there was a reply from someone who was moving and had one, so I emailed back for details -- hoping it wasn't too far away for easy delivery.

WOW!!  Janet and Paul lived right here in Leilani Estates -- a few blocks away.  So we piled into the car and went to look at it.  We LOVED it, especially being painted yellow, so we said "YES" especially since we were assured of a delivery no less!  The bathroom in the new ohana addition will be designed to incorporate the tub -- which we can use too.

Since then, Janet, son Paddy, and Paul have become good friends, and since they have only moved to Hilo, we can see them regularly.  Paddy lives in a tree house here in Leilani that he built himself and is willing and qualified to help us with several building projects we want to do.