Good morning, everyone! Today, I want to share some updates about my house and the ongoing projects around it.

Since my last update, a lot has changed. The contract workers are gone, so no more noisy mornings, but our handyman is still here full-time. Besides his daily routine of watering plants and cleaning the deck where ducks and turkeys spend the night, he’s been busy with various DIY tasks.

He repainted the entire house, which had gotten muddy during the rainy season. We use lime paint because it’s very cheap—about $5 for the whole house—but it needs to be redone annually. He also repainted the entrance wall to make it easier for our Airbnb guests to find the house. We just need a small sign by the road now.

Inside, he installed better mosquito nets in both rooms, and I sealed them with petate, a mat made from aquatic plants. This not only keeps the rooms cool but also prevents bugs from getting in and looks nice. He also built neat little doors for the shelves to keep out dust and bugs.

I haven’t seen a scorpion in months. The only issue is the old thatched roof, which is rotting in many places. Fixing it would cost at least $1,500 for new leaves and labor, and it would take a couple of weeks. Alternatively, we could replace it with laminated plastic tiles for about $500, which would be quicker and last longer, but the palm roof looks nicer and keeps the house cooler.

In the garden, he built a wooden ramp because the stairs are steep, and he partially covered the stone stairs with cement to make them less rugged. We had a scare with the lake rising due to constant rain, but the sun is out now, and the water level is dropping. We had to remove some deck planks to prevent damage from the waves, but they are back in place now.

The heavy rain also washed away the grass, so we planted more. We moved the animals to the back of the property to reduce noise and protect the grass and plants. The rooster was still loud, so I had to get rid of it to keep the guest house business running smoothly. I’ll buy some chicks for eggs instead.

With the guest house running well, I wanted to buy nice pillows and bed covers. Local options were limited, so I went to the paca, a large thrift store with items from the U.S. I found Pottery Barn pillows for $3 and a king-size goose feather duvet for $4. I also found a beautiful white cotton duvet cover for $7. Later, I bought a new one at Target for $60, but it wasn’t as nice.

I also found good quality pillows and duvets for all the beds in the house, which was great during the cold months. Now that it’s getting hot, they’ll go into storage. Another project was adding curtains in the main room. The paca didn’t have matching ones, so I bought beige drapes and dark brown plastic rings that look like wood, and the local tailor put them together. The result is great, and it helps keep the room dark for sleeping in.

That’s all for now. See you next time!