Posts for the porch, my happy helpers, and Watermelon Planting

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 September 9, 2022

Wherever possible, I'm trying to use materials from the ranch in the construction and renovation of the primary Casa.   As I've already said, I started with the original building that was just one large room for sleeping.  (the Mayans do their cooking outside).   My design was to add on to the front of that building for another area of living, dining and kitchen, and then a large front porch across the front of the new addition.  This past week we finished the addition and now it's time to build the cover for the front porch.  The porch itself will be rock, rather than cement, and there is a short retaining wall in front of it with a flower bed and a few trees.   For anyone who is wondering, "no" the house will not flood.   Because the back of the house is also sloping away.   

My supervisor needed the post and so he sent Salvador, my hombre jefe out with some men to find 4 suitable post.  A few hours I saw them come walking back and besides being happy they had done the task, I had to smile too because they had a pride in their work, and a happiness, and were whistling as they carried the posts back.   I guess it reminded me of the Snow-White cartoon movie with the dwarves "Just Whistle While You Work".   ja ja

Casita 2 is to the left in one photo and that is my next project after finishing the primary Casa.




Today also marks the start of our first planting of Watermelons.  My hombres are very excited.  I've told them that we will keep what we want for ourselves and their families and take the excess of melons to the produce market in Oxkutzcab and split the money they sell for.  We planted about 15 meters of them










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