It would not be spring if we were not contemplating the imminent arrival of backhoes, trabajadores, a porta-potty, and Friday runs to the bank for piles of cash. As excited as we are to have a new casita, the idea of all the workers around here (and the occasional baggage they bring) is enervating. What keeps us going is the march toward the end product.

Last evening, Roomie and I sipped our beers from the comfort of our Adirondack chairs (complete with ottomans — thank you Harbor Freight) and took a moment to view through our rose-colored glasses the eventual final state of our property. There is definitely enough here to admire, but there will be much more so by the end of summer.

Once the casita is constructed, only a few structural changes will remain on the "to do" list: a gate on the front wall, a latilla fence along the ditch, and a gate of some sort as an "entrance" to the back yard (strategically placed to block the oft-lit billboard on 2nd St). But these are details. A much larger property-enhancement project is the acquisition of the welding shop and residence next door. Although not much movement has happened along that front, the long-term prospects are good. And the sooner we complete and begin to pay off the casita, the easier that acquisition will be.

Posted by Underblog at 6:03 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

One of the main attractions of the place that was to become Higglety Pigglety was the casita. It contained the old-world New Mexico charm* of vigas, tongue-and-groove ceiling, a small nicho, and a kiva fireplace. It was tiny, and funky. It smelled of must, and as we later learned it was full of termites. But it was the feature to the property that made a one-bedroom house seem livable. The casita served as Roomie's studio for the first year, as we lined up our ducks to get a real studio built.

Our task for this past weekend was to empty the casita of its furnishings and prepare it for demolition. This meant moving the Miata out of the garage to make space for the contents of both the casita and the playhouse (which is slated for destruction at the same time).

While we are looking forward to a new improved casita (a more sensible layout, saltillo tile throughout, access to the future "courtyard," and so on), it seems terribly ironic to be tearing down the single structure that got us here in the first place.

We hope to save a giant blossoming lilac that volunteered itself on a corner of the building. I reckon it has been there a long long time.

Posted by Underblog at 6:06 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Two thing are going to happen here that I feel REALLY BAD about - things about to be done in the name of progress that make me feel like a murderer and a heel.

1. Cutting down another elm. No, that's not the thing, who cares about the bloody elm! While Eric the Tree Guy was 30 feet up beginning his exercise in slow-mo toppling he unsuspectingly cut into a honeybee hive. The bees swarmed and brought the work to an abrupt halt. He and his partner, Joe, worked for a couple of weeks trying to figure out a way to save the bees and transplant them but after talking to Carol Sutherland, Extension Etymologist, they decided it was too risky (to themselves and their crew) to try and save a hive from 30 feet up plus the hive would probably die during the process anyways. I suggested we leave the tree where it is, even though it's part-way cut down. But that too is risky as the tree is severely compromised. So the hive had to be poisoned. Argh! Eric and Joe feel really bad about it too. It is painful to see bee corpses all over the driveway.

2. Lilac in the way. A big lilac bush, which happens to be in full bloom right now, is in the way of the new guest house which is going to be several feet to the east from where the old one is. So we have to remove it. Again, Argh! Because of all the rain we got last year and maybe because of the pruning I did, this thing is blooming out of control and smells so sweet. I feel rightly punished by its beauty.

I'm so sorry, little bees and beautiful lilac. Humans can really suck sometimes.

Posted by at 10:17 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Here are some before and after photos of the north-facing front window.

Front view of old window.

Three quarter view of old front window.

Front view of new window.

Three quarter view of new window.

Posted by Underblog at 2:34 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)