Site of proposed new shed (leveled spot on left of photo.)
We were hoping to get work on our water system started this past week. The well driller was ready to go and the contractor planned to come up either Monday or Tuesday. Instead he started on a new job down here and now plans to go up next Tuesday morning.
The well driller is anxious to get his work done before the weather turns bad…he’s like us, plenty of experience with weather in the mountains. On the other hand this winter is supposed to be even more dry than the last one. Bad news for the drought but it may mean we will actually get something done this year. We’ll just have to wait and see.
We were amused that the contractor’s new job was for an addition to a house down here. The addition will be 24 feet by 60 feet for a total of 1440 square feet, almost twice as large as our proposed 768-square-foot cottage. 🙂
We’re still hoping to get the water system repaired, the photovoltaic system installed and the shed built before winter sets in. There’s even a chance the shell of the cottage can be built by then, but we’re not holding our breaths. We’re still amazed that we can’t build a shed on 40 acres of land until we have the footings of a house built. It’s a far cry from when we first started building up there. When I asked then about rules and regulations I was emphatically told there were no rules and regulations in Sandoval County. Parts of the county are more densely populated now, and the rules for those areas apply to us all. (Sigh!)
Have you ever been affected by changes in rules and regulations?
oh monk! i can just smell the clean crisp air from here!!!
it will be so worth it. hard, hard work yes. but then think…
before you know it you’ll be posting pictures to us of the beautiful little retreat.
and as to rules… your attitude is the best. some things you just cannot fight. and as the old saying goes… city hall is one of them. right or wrong. it just is what it is.
luckily i’ve never had them change the rules on me midstream like you’re experiencing… you can bet some politician is behind it!
ah well. that is not going to deter the little monk. and lest they think so, just watch! (altho… when somebody gives be a day they’re going to show up… i don’t take kindly to them changing it so they can do something else they’d rather) kinda like being asked to the prom then dumped. not nice.
love and onward!
tammy j
We were having quarry tile put in our laundry room. The worker always said “manana~”. Put that ~ over the 1st n. (He was from Mexico.)
My son asked a girl to the Senior Prom. I bought him a tux with white jacket. The day of the prom the boy she “loved” asked her & she dumped my son who stayed home. Breaks my heart even now.
I suspect the front that is buffeting us now went through your area in the last day or so. Any new snow? I just read a couple of articles that said that this winter’s La Nina is projected to possibly be a record setting deep one. (We’re in a state park north and east of Lubbock, TX.)
Affected by changes in rules and regulations? Nuclear power — gradual and constant change from the regulator, the industry, and corporate headquarters.
nothing here seems to be the same anymore…in the last few years we have had the Pike River mine disaster which threw up a lot of interesting problems…then we had the Christchurch earthquake and follow on earthquakes etc…now we have the Rena a ship that missed a rather large reef in the Bay of Plenty…
gov’t is certainly getting run for it’s money as everyone side steps through the mazes created by all this…the elections are in about 6wks time. will be interesting to see how that goes
oh, forgot the RWC which fortunately is in the final throws of finishing. even some of the matches that should have been in Christchurch got shifted up here because their big stadium got very munted in the quakes.
the media have had a huge **** in the news. just tonight they are talking about earthquake-lines; they are still not much forward in the faultlines situation.
the Rena ship shows some extraordinary pictures of what is happening with it off the coast and what amazes me is how the “containers” are leaning but not crashing into the sea – some have of course…
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/image.cfm?c_id=1&gal_cid=1&gallery_id=122188#8166407
some picture here to show how the containers are “staying up, somehow” 🙂
tammy,
At least they’re planning on going up tomorrow to get started. And they’re now allowed to go in and out by themselves, without being escorted by Andy. That’s a blessing. They just found out this morning.
In general contractors are notorious for juggling jobs. Steve (architect/project coordinator) assures us Joe won’t leave us in the lurch in spite of occasional delays. I’m inclined to believe him.
When we had the greenhouse built the contractor started the project then kept making excuses for two summers. Andy wanted to keep waiting but I finally phoned the guy and he admitted he didn’t want to go up there and we should get someone else to finish the job. It was a relief to have it settled.
bikehikebabe,
That’s sad about the prom. Canceling would be bad enough, but at the last minute? 🙁
Mike,
We’ve heard those predictions too. There is a good chance a lot more of New Mexico will go up in smoke next summer.
We’re hoping the drought won’t be so bad that our well runs dry. There are no guarantees with the weather so different from before.
The weather here has been spectacular the past few days but it’s supposed to turn colder for a bit.
Cathy,
Thanks for the link to those great pictures. I’m guessing things will be changing a lot in the coming years. It’s time to practice our resiliency.
great scott!
it took that guy 2 whole years to tell you he “didn’t want to go up there!” not my kinda guy.
and bhb…
here’s what happened… she married her “love” that she dumped your son for and then they couldn’t afford to live on their own so they moved in with his folks and she had to get a job at the local dairy queen. she was/is a very unhappy person. your son on the other hand, grew up to be a handsome, accomplished young man who didn’t let the little witch affect him in the least. it’s we moms who will always remember!
and cathy… oh my goodness. you wonderful nz’ers have had ENOUGH! here’s to a break for your breathtakingly beautiful land and sea. (rena was my darling mother’s name!)
and mike… wow. wish i were tagging along with you!
love to all.
be safe.
tammy j
thanks Jean and Tammy…
one of the major problems we have here is the population numbers, we just don’t have many people – things get very tight-knit at times, with few people to make the bigger decisions. The news media get “hold of things” and everyone at the bottom end of life get ratty with the top end (heads roll easily) but when that happens there aren’t any to replace them…
lots of ordinary folk wanted to help clean up the coastline, some got in their cars from places hours away and drove to help – to be told “you are not trained” – most couldn’t see what that involved…so anger broke out, I don’t think anyone rioted but still the media grabbed hold of that anger.
cleanup monies are top on list of needs – who is going to pay and why…and the amounts get bandied about by the media!
We did hear from some people who have household goods in container on the ship, human stories but they were like a pea in a storm! You have to feel for those people who have their lives and livelihoods tied up in that mess.
just like the Pike River coal mine where the workers are still underground, waiting to be buried by those above…the earthquake/s in ChCh where a lot of perfectly good buildings, some built apparently to correct standards collapsed and killed people…it has been such a bad 18mths down here.
So whatever has ailed me, seems very minor in comparision when you look at the wider picture. But still life has to go on…(shrugs shoulders)
Tammy you’re right. Son didn’t seem upset getting dumped at the prom, tho’ males don’t show emotion like girls who cry.
I liked your story ending. Here’s the real ending about that son. He got a PhD in physics & worked at the lab here. Married a woman who didn’t like living here because we invented the Atom Bomb & such. She’s the boss because she had an article & almost full page pic of her in TIME magazine standing with 2 men. (June 10 but forget what yr.) She does computer artificial intelligence. She writes books that I can’t understand page ONE.
Son doesn’t want to work so he kayaks, bikes, skis & takes the 2 kids (9 & 11 yrs) who are learning that. They all spent 6 mo. in France (learned French) than 6 mo. in Santa Fe (near Jean & us) where they took Chinese & Latin etc. Left end of June this yr.
I think the football player or whoever, dumped that girl after the prom because she was such a pushover. Good ending:)
tammy,
We, we can fault him for the first year, but after that we have to take responsibility. As the saying goes,
Cathy,
In the U.S. we sometimes think the country is too big for our vote/opinion to count for much. Thanks for pointing out it doesn’t really make much difference. They never ask us anyway.
bikehikebabe,
Thanks for telling us the end of the story. Your son was clearly not scarred by the experience. Just the opposite, it sounds like he has an idyllic life.
Try not to put your weight on one leg and move around with the help of a walker; exercise twice or better, three times a day specifically aimed at strengthening surgery damaged muscles and tendons, and to live a life confined to the home without access to one’s one bedroom, to learn about new rules and regulations. I am not whining, just letting you in on some secrets!
I relate to all that, having gone through the same hip replacement. My job is even harder. I was not using that hip as much anyway because of a bicycle injury 23 yrs. ago. Try & break a 23 yr. habit. I’m doing it though but it’s taken awhile. 🙂
Rummuser,
How long do they estimate it will be before you’re mostly recovered? And how is your rehab coming, bikehikebabe? You both have my sympathy and good wishes!
Eight weeks minimum from the date of the operation and perhaps going up to twelve! Thank you.