The House (warning LOTS of PICTURES)

    I'm not sure who I'm writing these Blogs for, me or you? I really like doing it and enjoy the end results, I hope you're enjoying it to. The big thing I'd like for you to take away with you is to not give up your dreams. Never did I think this is where I would spend the rest of my life. Ever since I've been a child I've been drawn to anything Mexican. People, language, songs, culture. Who knows why.? I think we all have some unexplained interest or attraction. Where does it comes from.? Genetic memory? Past Life? I can't even begin to guess. I am a compulsive person, stubborn, hard headed. Whatever you want to call it. I don't sit and ponder the "what if''s" If it's something I want I say YES! It's always worked for me. I made my decision in a matter of days to move here. Was I scared? Nope! So let's continue my adventure...........................

    The first time I came here I stayed two weeks. The first week I was here with a friend, then I stayed a week by myself. That first week I had already decided this was going to be my home. I can't explain the feeling I had. I felt as if I belonged here.. By the end of the second week the first wall was going up. Some of the pictures will be repeats of what I already posted but in this blog but I wanted to compare the construction with the end result. The inside is still not done as far as decorating. You will notice the living room furniture has no cushions. Next week the upholstery will be done.. Upstairs still needs light fixtures and a couple of more pieces of furniture for the bedrooms. But to all my friends........it's done enough that you would be very comfortable if you came for a visit.

 

    Everything is hand made down here. Doors, tiles, furniture, wrought iron The workmanship is awesome. All my ceilings are beautiful wood. The ends of the beams, supporting the roof and walls, are hand carved in a curved design.

 

    At first I had wanted just one floor but the view is so nice from a second floor balcony that we went for two floors. So upstairs there's two bedrooms, a full bath, a balcony and a loft that overlooks the downstairs.

 

                                                                               

                                                                   Balcony

 

 

                                             Guest bathroom, custom made shower doors

 

 

Window over stairs

 

 

Looking down from loft area.

Downstairs there's a living room, dining area, 1/2 bath,. master bedroom/bath, kitchen and laundry room.

  The kitchen is a nice size for me. I have all the conveniences that I had in the States. Refrigerator/freezer, gas stove & oven, micro wave and toaster oven. I didn't get a dish washer, I never used the one I had. I have a separate laundry room, just off the kitchen, with a full ceiling sky light. My washer and dryer are in there and it's also my animal room. My finches are there and the set up for the cats is there too. When you have dogs, you have to keep the litter and cat food away from the them. You can see that I have a puppy pen around the cat area, it has an opening for them to go in and out. Their litter area is up on a table. Dogs LOVE cat turds! There is a door that opens to the outside animal area and it's open most of the time so they come and go as they want, it's a secure area. It's flagstone and has two drains, so hosing is very easy.

 

 

                                                                               Kitchen

 

 

Laundry room, hook-up for machines on left

 

 

                                                     
                                                  Door leading to outside animal area

 

 

                                                             Kitty set-up on right

 

 

 

 

 

   My bedroom has two walls of windows that open to the side area where the animals go. I can keep an eye on them and they don't even know it! The attached bathroom has a jetted tub and shower.

The living room has one two-story wall of windows and more windows on each side of that. The fireplace is unique. It looks like a tree trunk rising up and through the ceiling. It comes through the roof as the rest of the tree. The dining area and living room are in an open space which makes the home feel very large.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                    My bedroom

  

                                                                         Fireplace

 

 

                                                                         Chimney

 

                                                Butterflies have a special meaning for me.

                                                         At night with shutters closed

                                             
                                                                     Dining area

 

                                                       My computer desk against wall

 

  

   Outside is a wrap around porch with a beautiful wood ceiling like inside. There is a flagstone parking pad also. I have a small yard but it's a perfect size for me. I have many plants all around the porch and I have a guava tree and an avocado tree in the yard. I let the cats and dogs out there when I'm with them. The dogs love to roll in the grass and the cats explore.

 

                                 The men are trimming the support pillars for the porch.

           They are hearts of pine. They come from dead trees and will last hundreds of years

 

            

                                                                       Animal area

 

 

                                         At night looking through the wrought iron gate.

 

 

 

   I'm not sorry I made the decision to move to Mexico. I knew before I came here that there would be bad days and I might regret what I did. But I KNEW that if I didn't follow my dream while I could, I would regret it every day of my life. So far I love everything about it here. The easy lifestyle, the wholesome food, the music, the customs. The only difficulty is my lack of Spanish, but that will come. Poco a poco. I have lonely days because I don't speak the language but there is another gringa here from Wisconsin and we have become good friends. She is a big help to me. I try to go out and do what I need to do. I shop, I have my nails done, eventually I'll need my hair done. Sometimes I go out to eat. Many people in town know me and help me when I'm struggling to make myself understood. Even broken English is good, that and my broken Spanish makes for communication. Yes, I miss things. Friends, what family I have, the convenience of anything I need being available, movie theaters. Most of the conveniences that I'm used to is two hours away in Guadalajara. So until next time..............Adios!