House building update

                                                                  Swimming Pool

Entrance

view from back terrace to front door

 

I can't believe how much time has passed since posting on our blog. Time flies, especially when building a house. Being computer challenged does not help. Well the update is I plan to start  moving  into the new house on June 17th. As of today, this is where the house is. This coming week they need to finish electrical so they can close up the ceiling. Next step would be finishing the repello on the wall and do the ceiling then begin tiling. Windows, cabinets and granite to follow.

kitchen

Kasie's bath

 

 

 

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF OUR ARRIVAL TO COSTA RICA

As we celebrate our first full year in Costa Rica today, I thought I would post some pictures of our home building from last week. This shows the progress that has been  made after two months of construction. We still hope to be in some time in June.

driveway to lower and upper lot

side of house from lower lot driveway

front view of house from upper driveway

front of house

looking through the front doorway through the back

left back side of house

right back side of house and pool

 

 

 

 

 

 

The building began - January 2013

creating the foundation

with lots of rebar and concrete

Kasie on the tractor

this will be the sunset view from the master bedroom

sunset from the back patio (terraza)

we often go to the property right before sunset

to see the progress and watch the sun go down

our adjacent lot for guest house/chiro office

(currently workers eating and sleeping quarters)

 

PROPERTY - pre excavation. These pictures were taken in November 2012. We often ride the quads to the property to check the progress. Top picture is of Kais meeting with our engineer.

Home Building Begins

NEW YEARS RESOLUTION- keep blog up to date.
It has been six months but as we ( or should I say I) committed in our Christmas card, we are going to use our blog to keep you updated on the building of our home in Costa Rica. (I tend to use Facebook for all other things Costa Rica as it is so easy to use and post pictures.)
What has happened so far? At the end of December we had four days of excavation. We actually have two separate areas to build on - one smaller lower lot (guest house, chiropractic office) and one lot above for our home. Excavation was for the driveway and widening the upper lot and removal of trees and shrubs we couldn't keep. We also started the process of water drainage (a huge concern in Costa Rica due to the amount of rain we can receive in a short period of time). Two concrete boxes and the concrete pipe under the driveway have been installed. We also have water on the property and our electrical box was built this weekend so it can be installed tomorrow. We picked up our finalized plans and building permits this week and tomorrow we will begin staking out the house and pool. Also the living quarters and supply shed will be set up tomorrow so workers can begin the building process this week. Our foreman is ready and our builder has returned from the states today.
LET THE FUN BEGIN!                                                         Kim

I can't believe it has been almost one month since writing on our blog. I guess the old saying 'time flies when your having fun' is true. In June, we were back in the US for Kais' brother's wedding reception. We enjoyed seeing Kais' mom who flew in from Washington and his sister and her family that drove from California. We were able to celebrate Father's Day as well as an early birthday for Kais. We also hit Red Robin for the Boca burger we were all craving (can't find those in Costa Rica) and did lots of shopping (mostly food items we wanted to bring back to CR). Top items on our list were: black licorice, canned albacore tuna, real peanut butter, real maple syrup, nuts, and supplements. Some of these items you can find here but they are extremely expensive, ie small bottle of real maple syrup - $30 us dollars or $15,000 clones. We arrived at the airport with 6 bags of luggage and two bins full of food. We didn't look as crazy as last time we left Denver as we didn't have the pets with us. Leaving was bittersweet as we enjoyed the time with family and yet we were anxious to see Ruby and Tigerlilly back home. We left the terrible fires burning in Colorado and came back to the clean air and sunshine of Costa Rica. The week of our return was Kais' milestone birthday. (he won't let me say the number anymore). My attempt to learn how to cook continued as I made him his favorite dessert From scratch, carrot cake. Our friends here are wonderful as they are always willing to tolerate my attempts. Kraig has started his cooking classes with the wonderfully talented Sue and Kasie continues to finish her Sophmore year. She is looking into attending the local school here as it would accelerate her Spanish. This week we also start with a Spanish tutor as well as begin surf lessons. Life is becoming busy as Kais saw 29 people last week and I am teaching yoga two days a week. However, unlike the states, we still have lots of time together as a family and rarely feel rushed. I have found great joy being more present, thinking less about what I need to do in the future or what has happened in the past. Every day is a new experience and we are blessed to be living PURA VIDA!

For this weeks post, I thought I would share what it is like to live among nature in Costa Rica. First, there is an immense number of birds from flocks of parrots that wake you up in the morning to black vultures that keep the area free of road kill (which unfortunately we have too much of). I began seeing what appeared to be mice or rat droppings in the house and quickly enquired of friends only to find out that it is left by the many friendly geckos that live amongst us. They eat the many bugs and spiders that find their way inside, therefore our friends in nature. Outside, in the morning, we would find similar droppings near the door openings but on a larger scale and were told these are from the bats that help keep the bugs and spiders out of the house. Unfortunately, their dropping are dangerous if inhaled so they are to remain outside.(Our neighbor came home to a bat inside). Our next creature which is much more common are the stray cats trying to claim territory around our home which causes our kitty, Tigerlilly to screech and the stray to spray her through the screen. Ruby is pretty good about running them off but it usually takes a few times. We were also left with what I thought was cat do-do on the back patio only to find out it was from the frogs and toads. Yes they are big enough to leave cat-sized droppings. Along with the lizards, iguanas (Harry is our resident iguana that lives next door that we see ever day) and occasional snake, we have yet to experience the tarantula in the shower or the scorpion in the bed (these happen occasionally if you live in the area long enough). The most dangerous are the poisonous snakes that we are careful to avoid as they can be deadly. You learn to truly respect nature living in Costa Rica and learn to be apart of the process and not fight against it. See more next week. PURA VIDA !