Itsy Bitsy Spider

Apologies for the blurry photo. Even though it didn’t move once, for some reason I didn’t feel like leaving my hand on the wall longer than necessary, next to this little visitor to our country house.

Like the large frog that appeared inside a couple weeks ago, I saw no reason to evict it. It’s welcome to use the space while we’re not there.

Unless, of course, it decides to lay eggs and produce a thousand more Itsy Bitsies….

We don’t often see tarantulas in this part of the country, but have seen some that make this look like a baby.

My volunteer garden

zapallo squash growing in Uruguay

A monster zapallo plant spreads like crazy behind the chiquero, or pig pen.

At least I think it’s the same type as last years’ monster squash, which you may recall grew everywhere.

Poking around, I found this phallic offering concealed among the leaves. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be this shape, or if it’s a small round squash that decided to get long, or if it’s a monster squash in its infancy. Given that confusion, there’s only one thing to do: cook it.

DIY project 95% complete…

Finally got around to building a railing for the upstairs balcony. A few details still to go, but meanwhile looks like it’s always been there, which is of course the point.

I knew they were ugly, but didn’t realize how bad those drip marks look until I saw them in the photo. Would be a snap to clean them from above if not for that damned railing.

N.B. – with frequent trips to our country place and its dirt road – not to mention the dirt road we live on – trying to keep the car clean is a fool’s errand.

Staying organized’s a bitch

Noticed this at my shade-tree mechanic’s today. Apparently someone is not real good at putting tools back – note missing wrenches on left, and outlier orange-and-black screwdriver (red arrow).

Apparently spray-painting outlines of tools involves issues as well. Yellow arrows point to vice grips camouflaged with black paint, so that they disappear into their black outlines.

Which is OK. I don’t really want a mechanic working on my car with vice grips.

boWINdow

After a horrible experience with an aluminum shop that truly cares for neither quality nor customer service (if you’re local, think of the initials of the major competitor to the major hamburger chain and look on the Ruta Interbalnearia), a friend referred me to a friendly mom & pop operation.

Satisfied with my first window, I went back to them with a simple diagram of what I wanted next: a ‘bulging’ window for the kitchen. I had a diagram from the top. I had a perspective drawing. They had no idea what I was after? A hood for a stove? This went on for a while, until finally, exasperated, I said se llama ‘bay window’ in ingles, at which the proprietor threw his hands in the air, with a prolonged aahhhh! and slumped back in his chair with a huge smile.

Problem solved! You just need to know to say boWINdow.

Earthbag construction

New construction nearby.

I’ve been aware of something happening at the entrance to our country road. Today the profile rose into view – an earthbag house! I went to check it out. I’ve never seen something like this here, I told Liber, the owner. Nor have I, he replied, I found this on the internet.