LIME WASHING THE INTERNAL LIVING ROOM WALLS

Although June had been game for lime washing the interior walls of the single storey section of the Roundhouse, when it came to the living room she handed over the paintbrush to Ed.

The job required balancing on planks propped up on Bolivian style scaffolding and having a strong head for heights.

The creamy white lime wash made the living room appear even larger than before.

Above is a photo of the door to the terrace and the two colonial style windows modeled on those of a tapas restaurant in Sucre.

AUTUMN AT SKY HACIENDA

We are now a month into autumn and noticing the different weather patterns.  Misty mornings give way to piercing blue skies, now that the rainy season is over.  Eagles soar overhead, looking for prey.

Misty morning

Eagles ride the thermals, sometimes as many as a dozen

Deep golden sunsets

Although the days are getting shorter the sunsets are incredible - watching them is our favourite past-time  when work is over.

Fireballs at sunset

Easter chicks

Home-made hot cross buns

ROOF TERRACES

We were so pleased with the roof terraces once they had finished being painted.  The only problem was that in the strong autumn sunlight, they were almost blinding.

We started thinking about introducing some colour to tone the walls down, not easy with lime wash as colours fade quickly in the sun.

Dixie and Cassi like running around on the roof terrace

Crisp white walls

The outside of the upper living room looks even larger

Of course, putting furniture and plants on the terrace later would break up the vast expanses of white.

INTERNAL DOORS AND FLOORS

We decided on wooden doors for the internal rooms.

They are made of solid tarara wood and are 4 cm thick.

View from one side of the main bathroom to the other

 And here is a close up of the floor - black slate cut into narrow bricks.

GARDENING

As the garden had a slope to it, we had to create terraces to avoid excessive run-off during the rainy season.  Ed taught Rosando how to make a dry stone wall and he did a great job.

The first terraced garden for soft fruit and vegetables

We planted out tomato plants started off in the greenhouse

...and some corn that grew in our compost heap!

But we were running out of big stones, so we drove up into the mountain above Sky Hacienda and purchased a couple of lorry loads from the relative of one of our workers.

Rosando obviously has the Inca touch when it comes to building walls.  Below is part of the wall to the outdoor kitchen.

CARNAVAL YOTALA

Oruro is the best place to be in Bolivia for Carnaval, but it is an exhausting and expensive experience.   By contrast Yotala, our nearest town, is a more intimate setting for the festivities.  

Families gather in the plaza

Jelly and cream

The dreaded globos - water filled balloons

Emergency ponchos are a good way to stay dry

No-one is too young to be skilled with the water guns

Balloon seller

Roast pig - a Yotala delicacy

A cross decorated with fruit, corn and other offerings heads the parade

Local women dancing

PAINTING AND PLUMBING

June is lime washing the terrace

Ed is lime washing the terrace

...and we decide to paint the dome blue

Ed finishes the complicated network of pipes and valves in the pool/jacuzzi pump house.