Noon to 4 at the house

Went hunting for a receptacle for storing water and found a passable one -- a large plastic drum, but not the blue large kind I was scouting around for. Also bought a sponge and walis tingting and walis tambo. Hung a picture of a water lily and some weavings from Davao, which was still a wedding gift from fifteen years ago from Marivic Pajaro. Will be hanging more frames and possible some curtains so the drabness of the unpainted walls can be broken somehow.

First time spending this much time in the place. No water. No tank yet for storage. Seems the water is provided every other day and the last time, neighbors were not able to store enough.

After a picnic lunch with the 5 kids and their Mom Gina, my old Yaya and her daughter Nori and 5-year old grandson at the porch (squeezing the food onto the small garden set table, the boys eating off the porch railing and sitting on the bench), we started to take a serious look at the garden. The locals felt nothing would grow unless planted during rainy season. I had other ideas. No time to waste. The garden only has around 5 clumps of turdan b locking the view, a rambutan int he front, two sili plants on the side of the house facing west, and young langka and lansones trees at the back. Ferns were growing on the side of the cliff next to the east side of the house.

I located the boundary marks and realized there is not much allowance from the house to the edge of the land, maybe under a foot, but the sides are still spacious enough to plant on. Part of the hill on the east side is still part of the property and an old concrete fence about three to four meters long stood. On top of the corner of this fence is where my solar water container should sit. I painted it black today and will install the hose and the spouts tomorrow. The hose is five meters long and will be hanging over the path towards the bathroom window. I painted the container that will be the water heater/solar shower. Hope the water is restored.

Myrna planted the sunflower right outside the fence, in keeping with the sunflower theme of the kitchen tiles and the water dispenser (non-electric) that we brought. The other plants could wait until the weather is much friendlier to planting. Basil, eggplant, lagkitan mais, fennel and chinese kale seeds will be started up first where there is water, then planted after the summer. When the kids move in, their compost and shower water will be drained through to the garden to start up the moisture retention of the soil. Also brought oregano, narra, pandanus, a variety of ornamental plants and the orange hanging flower I bought in bag o' beans during our trip there with Love and Joms.

Placed one of the traviesas on the corner to serve as a bench facing the rambutan, and if facing the other way, looking out to the lake and the sunset. Will bring more traviesas later.

The gate post fell down, the parched earth dug through. Would have to replace it with something. Also decided that none of the front yard will be used for parking anymore, will park at the neighbors. Feels very much like community. Several people passing through stopped by. NNext time, we can offer coffee. Most were on foot, only less then ten vehicles passed through in over four hours. Too bad the road did not have a proper pedestrian lane or even a step footpath.

And yes, something would have to be done about the wrappers of chichirya.