For a few weeks now we've been referring to the downstairs (currently downladder) of our palapa as "The Bottom". It recently moved up the To-Do List right after power, internet and running water as a big priority. So many of the other projects that we need to get done depend on the bottom getting completed. Last week we turned the corner by getting 2 of the panels done (our palapa is an octagon with 8 sides that we call panels). After finishing the walls, screening, and painting we were finally able to gravity feed water in from our 500 liter rainbarrel just on the other side of the wall from the sink. We ran 1/2" pipe in and 2" pipe out from behind the sink that connected with a drainage pipe that we installed last week while building the shower. Both that drain and the drain from the shower were designed to irrigate an herb garden directly behind the palapa. With our new walls in place we also were able to run a gas line in for our stove and refrigerator. The stove was something that we had to have as soon as possible. We had been cooking our meals on a fire hearth in the backyard. That meant, in order to even fry an egg we had to go out and get dry firewood (in the rainy season), light the fire, and then stand in the sun while cooking over a hot flame. White Rabbits galore. So needless to say the stove is a big hit.
Yesterday we got a good day of work in by bracing and framing 5 more sides of the bottom and plan on getting it finished up today. We still have to screen, tack on the plycem and paint (maybe)...
