Painting the exterior or our house - part 3

Morning, June 8—Last day of painting, so I hope.  Raymond showed up a little after 8:00am all by himself, and that was it.  Nobody else showed up.  

Then, when the Fisherman and I came back from running some errands there was another young man working on the house along Raymond, a new painter I hadn’t met before.  

Santos will be spray-painting the gutters and whatever else still needs painting, but thus far, he hasn’t shown up.  Then it will be the cleaning up.  I can hardly wait!

Things are taken longer that I had expected, and the work should had been finished by yesterday, but these professionals are so busy and their business is so thriving, that they just have to take turns among themselves and among the houses they’re working on… and thus, I’ve been left behind sorts of speak… most of the work is done, so they are taking it easy with me now.  I must learn to be patient and wait.  It’ll all be done today.

Early afternoon, June 8—Santos is here now!  The gutters and last of the trims are being spray-painted, spots retouched, last details taken care of.  Santos is cleaning everything with the power washer, tools are being collected, painter's tape removed and thrown away, and everything is already looking marvelous... the back porch will have to be hose down too and floors re-stained, and then all furniture will be put back in place.  I hope we can finish this today.

It is hot, so hot!  And the garden, is like another garden—so much has transpired there while in my absence from it.  It is almost hard to believe how much it has grown and thrived in just this week alone.  I hadn’t been out there at all, that’s why.  Because of all the guys working around the house all week, I’ve kept away from it, and now weeds and broken branches are welcoming me into their green world with awesome, smiling faces that, too soon are ripped away and taken out by my intolerant hands.  So alas, while the guys finish up and the Fisherman (who is here today), mows the lawn, I’m cleaning the garden… pulling dreadful weeds, pruning the roses and vines, and bringing in handfulls of roses and perennials to make bouquets...

Late afternoon, June 8—the house is a new house now, and it’s looking so pretty and sophisticated in her new gray and white gown and marigold hat—like a real lady!  I should name her... oh yes I should!  But, what?

 

It occurred to Santos to paint the bottom part of the columns in the darker shade of gray, instead of painting them all white as it was my original idea, and I cannot love them anymore!  The dirt and stuff which is normally collected at the bottom of the columns will be less visible too, and I totally love the contrast.

One of the best things I love about this new paint color is how it showcases all the beautiful garden colors with a lovely background.  The deep red roses look particularly lovely against the gray backdrop.

What satisfaction this is!  The old house looks and feels like a brand new house, and all the colors of the garden seem to shine against the freshly painted background!  I am happy, my soul and heart are happy and I am immeasurably thankful for all we have accomplished in this old-new house of ours since we moved back!  Ready to start this new chapter, this new life with its ups and downs.  I hope my garden gives me hours of pleasure and healing… healing from my brokenness and losses, and that our comfy nest continues hosting angels, and that we can continue lighting up a candle on the altar of love, for anyone and everyone who enter here.

Tomorrow, I will be posting more pictures of our little front porch, which I am totally loving, and also the back!  Hope I won't bore you! ;)  Love you all!

Painting our house - second part

June 06—the Marigold yellow front door was painted just right before the painters gave it a quits for the day... 

It wasn’t even 2:30pm yet, when I brought out a tray of watermelon, coffee served in demitasse cups and some ginger cookies for them to enjoy… right on time, because I had no idea they were almost getting already for parting, after a hard day of work...   

From inside the house I could hear their happy laughter and enjoyment as they rested and ate what I'd brought them.  Then, in a matter of minutes one by one got into their vehicles and disappeared down the road to their own little lives… I don’t know why, I felt sentimental right there and then, as if a great loneliness had invaded me all of a sudden; for I was already missing hearing all the hubbub and laughs going on outside all day long as they worked.

I thought of mom, and of how I miss her, I thought of dad, and of how terribly lost and lonely he must feel without her, and for a fraction of time I too thought of all the lonely people in the world and how heavy God’s heart must feel suffering the entire world upon His compassionate shoulders. 

I don’t know what my Marigold yellow door had to do with any of that, but those were my thoughts right there and then.  I was not supposed to close the freshly painted door for another two more hours, so for a long while I sat at the doorstep and stayed there… deep in thoughts as I reflected on life, and on my many blessings, and on why God let my child-like faith and trust in Him be shattered into million pieces that very morning by the gigantic Rottweiler that escaping his domains came upon me while jogging... I could still feel the massive head pushing against my thigh.  And I was so sure God was right by my side... 

June 07—by 7:30am, I was already ready to go out for my morning jog, but first, I wanted to see how my little world looked outside my Marigold yellow door and, to welcome the new morning as best I know—by inhaling it through my senses so I could keep it tucked in my soul throughout my entire day.  When I went outside, Santos and Raymond had just arrived, and were ready to tackle the top parts of the house before the sweltering sun of June started warming up the land.

Yesterday after the painters left, I went to examine the back of the house, and what a pleasant little surprise I found there!  On Monday, I’d brought home with me the cutest, but old and wobbly little iron table from our local thrift store.  My plan was to get it fixed and then paint it the same Marigold yellow color as our front door, so I could put it outside with some flowerpots.  The only setback was, I didn’t know how to fix the wobbly problem thing.  

I happened to mention that to the painters one morning, and now my little table had been fixed, and it was looking marvelously firm and beautiful in her new life.   

You see, at some point during the day, one of the painters, a gentle Mexican man by the name of Mr. Torres had it fixed it for me without me knowing it. I guess, in appreciation for my kindness and all the goodies I offered them?  And I didn't even had the chance to thank him properly, because his job was done, and I never got to see him again.  How sad I felt.  

Today, only two of the six painters came in to finish up whatever was left from yesterday, and the house, including its premises, felt soundless and emptied.  

I almost wished I were the Alicia from the Grand Hotel TV series; that girl who lived in an early 20th century aristocratic hotel with her family during the reign of King Alfonso XIII, and whose life was all about the mysteries that involved her family and the hotel servants, always busy, always bursting with people and interesting happenings.

Can you tell I’m feeling kind of lonely these days?  I truly, most truly enjoy my little life away from the office, but there are times when I need ‘people’… need to feel their nearness hear them talk, laugh, know I’m alive.  I’m a case I guess.

The backyard is a total disarray of broken branches and stomped on plants.  But what can I say?  I should have expected that to happen, being already June and all the plants in full growth.  But that’s how long it took me to find the proper guys to work on our home.  Six whole months!  And I’m so glad it all happened the way it happened.  Because, I got to meet some very wonderful hardworking people, upon whose souls I am placing all of God’s goodness, and blessings, for them and for their families.  

The job is not finished yet.  Santos and his guys will be here again early tomorrow morning to finish things up and take care of all last details.  Then, he will hose down the front porch and even help me put the furnishing back there, he said.  Then, I can finally show you around!

I can hardly wait to see everything cleaned and freshly painted. I don’t have enough hours in my day to enjoy all the little things as much as I want.  Everything is so precious, and I’m so fortunate God thought of me in His divine plan of creation and salvation.  “O Lord, who lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness” (William Shakespear).

Painting the exterior of our house...

June 4—on this beautiful sunny summer day, I started my day with a sense of heaven.  Blue, clear skies welcomed me to the new day, and by eight sharp the painters arrived.  I went out for my daily morning run and when I came back I was surprised to find them still there.  For some reason, I had this idea that I was not going to find them there upon my return, but they were already taping off windows and filling holes and such.  What a relieve!  We’re finally painting our home!

Later, I went out to do some errands while the painters worked on the house, then decided to stop at Lowes.  My beautiful Savannah rose had to be returned.  The poor thing had never prospered.  From the very first day I planted it, it started dying away.  This had never happened to me before, not even in my very firsts years of gardening.  I blame myself for not having watered the plant enough, right after it was planted, or maybe for not having make a deeper hole, or maybe it was the ants?  There’s a colony of them living right in front of where I’d planted this rose.  Whatever the reason may be, it died, and I didn’t want to wait a day longer waiting to see if it was going to get better.  I’m done with that. 

I didn’t see a specific rose that I liked for that space at Lowes, so instead of buying whatever they had out there, I bought a lovely Sweet William in deep brilliant red.  

I also came home with a new plant—a Kangaroo Paws plant.  That’s the name.  I felt in love with it from the very first time I saw it.  Like a lover I kept thinking about it, and I think I might had even dreamed about it… or maybe was it only those very first illusive thoughts right after waking up when you can’t tell if you were dreaming or just thinking or remembering something?  The thing is, I had to get it!  And thus, I did.  I already had the pot.  A beautiful ceramic pot for which I didn’t had a plant.  Perfect!  Just perfect!

My house in going to be bursting with potted plants this winter.  I am already considering this, for I already had so many of them last winter.  Now, I have doubled that amount, with all the new geraniums I have planted this spring. 

By mid-day a couldn’t see a single thing outside.  It was like being shut-in in some quiet cocoon of sorts… It was the painters putting painter’s plastic in every window.  It felt cozy, but somewhat claustrophobic.

At 3:00 I made a coladita (Cuban coffee because three of them painters are cubans) and called the guys in for a break. Coffee, cookies, cold bottled water and coke, in case some of them wanted some. 

June 5—the real job has started!  The ‘real’ painting day has come, the first dabs of paint have been dispensed, and now the front of the house is almost done.  This is going fast, the guys have been working since 8:00 this morning, and I’m loving every corner, every column every trim in the new colors!   I’ve been feeding these guys two or three times a day... watermelon, fruits, bread, coke, juices, cold water, cookies, and they are loving all this attention.  I don't have to do this, but I do.  They deserve it all—working so hard under the scorching sun so I can be happy! 

While the workers painted outside I decided to paint inside.  And thus, this plain Jane terracotta pot got a new look with acrylic paint.

I’m not an artist, and I’m very sloppy, but ideas are plenty, and this is what I came up with… something to match the overall décor of the house.  I’m loving it!

June 6—the first painters came quite early this morning, I saw them heading down the road as I was already out there jogging.  They waived and continued on towards the house.  This is going fast.  The preparation of the house, is what really takes more time.  Spraying is something of a second nature to these guys.  And everything is looking magnificent, all the columns already gleaming in extra white, just as I had envisioned.  People around here don’t go for that, and I cannot understand why.  They paint their houses in one or two colors, but the columns and garage doors are always painted in that same color of the body.  No contrast, no difference.  Not to mentioned those boring front doors.  Is, as if people don’t have eyes to fathom beauty ahead of time, or before things are done.  I’ve already foreseen my house just the way I wanted it long time ago.   And every corner and every color chosen perfect.

They will be working on the highest parts of the house today, including trims and front door.  Is 9:44am, and I have already feed them on coffee and croissants.  They are so appreciative.  And so am I.