Casa 2.22.15

Posted on February 23, 2014July 21, 2017 by patrice

: This is just to give a better view of what Patrice’s tiara looks like from further away in our subdivision.

: The large window in the master bedroom is starting to take shape.

: Taken from the back of the breakfast room… There is now what looks like the beginning of a hutch – interesting. You can see the wall of the indoor patio through the archway into the kitchen

: The window in the tower is now round

: Kitchen plumbing continues – if you notice all the interior plumbing is copper

: Plumbing continues – this is going into the powder room

: Looking through the indoor patio you can see what the window looks like from the outside

: Another look at our first window – sure looks great how it reflects on the wall.

: Laundry room – the stand for the sink is coming together.

: Up on the roof a look at the detail and the tiles over the front porch.

: This whole side of the house has been plastered

: Breakfast room – the little hutch in there was completed this week and it looks like those holes are for lights actually and there is one at the top.

: Outdoor kitchen area is plastered and looks like they are starting to work on the counters

: You can see some of the plastering on the walls here

: A closer look at the window – wine bottles.

: Our first window is being put in.

Casa 2.12.14

Posted on February 13, 2014July 21, 2017 by patrice

: our crew playing after work not sure where they get the energy

: Trying to show some of the details that will be showing when my office is finished. But these details will be all through the house. All of the wood you see will be exposed. The wood is called Colorado and it is a very hard wood.

: As you can see the roofing has moved from the Master bedroom all the way over to the guest wing on the left.

: The kick plates…These will be used all around the house as they are shown but will be over the floor tiles of course.

: These are the edge floor tiles the will be on the doorways and edge the outdoor kitchen

: This is the hallway leading to my office

: Just inside the front door looking up into the tower. The window in front will be were the round window made from wine bottles from the roof minga will be.

: Lots of progress with the roof and plastering too this week. (1.25)

: This is the view from the breakfast room. I took this yesterday morning. The peak is very often in clouds so you can’t see Mt Cotacachi very often. If you can see the peak it is in the morning.

: This picture shows what is left to do on the room. Just what you see on the left side. Of course they have yet to cover the domes, but I think that should be fairly soon.

: You can see the roof is complete from this angle

: My office you can see the completed storage area over the closet area and the hallway tunnel with the ornacinas.

: There is the opening to the storage area above the tunnel to my office and over the guest bath. See what looks like a hole in the wall on the left? Well that will be a branding and will show the house construction after it is finished – Keep watching to see how it develops.

: The copper plumbing is being installed now too. all the internal plumbing is copper.

: The windows have been adjusted and a angled wall put in for the stove in the kitchen.

: Just above the front door inside the tower is a new ornacina that appeared. Amazing how things magically appear in this house.

: The front door is framed in now too.

: Looks like the roof is all but done. Just some finishing details, and of course the domes need to be done.

: Plumbing being installed. The copper is for the inside of the house and the PVC is for the outside.

: Street view, nice roof eh.

: This picture is taken from the doorway of the door out to the outdoor kitchen patio and is the entrance to the guest wing. From the left is part of the door to Patrice’s office; then the hallway to my office; above is a storage access; the entrance to the guest bath; and finally the barrel hallway from the entrance of the house.

: Kitchen plumbing is being installed and the archway into the breakfast room is complete also

: Looks like the roof is all but done. Just some finishing details, and of course the domes need to be done.

: Another look at the Tiara on the bodega. It is still a work in progress but almost done.

: More details are appearing every day. If you look careful you can see some changes are going on with indoor patio too. Those red bricks in the back seem to be holding a new curved line addition to the patio.

: New ornacinas have appeared in the hallwaygoing down to my office.

: This is looking at the back side from close to the house we are renting…Look at that Patrice’s Tiara is spreading. It now includes the roof over the Bodega!

Minga – Husay Cumbay 12.20.13

Posted on December 20, 2013July 21, 2017 by patrice

A great day for a Minga.

Our Invitation to the Minga Huasy Cumbay!!!

When: December 20, 2013 ~ 9:30am

Where: San Miguel Lot #12, Cotacachi, Ecuador

What: If you thought the Mudapalooza (Minga ~ Alpa Raymi) was the event of the year…You haven’t seen this year’s gala event, , the Huasy Cumbay!!! It is the traditional way to test the roof of a new house. What is going to happen is, there will be swings attached to the roof on the inside of the house with a fire under the swing. If it is a strong roof you won’t get burned by the fire as you swing over it.

There will be some music, dancing, wine, pizza, and a lot of laughs; so come on down!! Rumor has it, on good authority though, is that the wine bottles will be used to make one of the windows in this new house. You can be part of history once more, how is that possible you might be thinking. Well, glad you asked…You will be able to say that you drank the wine out of the bottles that made the window. It is something you can tell the grandkids about, now how many people can say that. The answer is only those that attend can, so see this is a very exclusive club you will be in.

But wait there is more… If you have any interesting or unusual colored bottles you want to donate…Please bring them with you.

RSVP

: swings are ready

: working the line 🙂

: You can tell some were so amazed at how good this brigade worked they just had to take pictures of it to prove it.

: Dang as soon as you stop the buckets and wait for more to finish mixing…dancing breaks out – can you believe it!

: The last Minga, you may recall we saw Hobbit feet, well here are the hobbit hands to go with.

: here come the buckets again…

: Moving with such machine like precision.

: Another pause in the buckets

: Never give up, stay determined!!

: And the beat goes on…

: and on…

: Oh yuck! what a dirty hand —

: Careful children, behave with those dirty hands

: This guy gets to toss each bucket all the way to the top of the roof.

: Whew, finally a break for some pizza, well ok, wine and beer too.

: Kerry trying to prove to everyone that you can open a bottle of wine by banging it in his shoe on a post…luckily, I had a corkscrew or we would have been there all afternoon. Kerry kept saying…But is is moving. Yeah right it moved really good once I put my corkscrew in it

: Oh no, the Architect and Maestro are really arsonists!!! They are lighting a fire in my house – could there work have really been that bad that they have to burn the house down?

: just about ready to let go

: tradition – swing over the fire

: The Maestro, Roberto on the left and Romero, the Architect on the right swing over the fire.

: Oh no the Electrician on the left is swinging over the fire too. Wait, Kerry, on the right is swinging too. Kerry is the guy designing the kitchen, bathrooms, and closets.

: Julia hasn’t had this much fun since she was a kid

: No! don’t make me stop – I won’t do it – this is way to much fun

: Dad, can we put a swing over a fire in our house? This is so cool!!!

: Am I really doing this?

Casa – 12.19.13

Posted on December 19, 2013July 21, 2017 by patrice

: Ahhh getting ready for the next layer, the bamboo sheets that they have been hand wiring

: The roof is being put on – just in time for the roof party, Minga Huasy Cumbay, on Friday! There will be 6 layers on the roof by the time it is completed that plastic is really the first layer

: This is the great room area and the area where the swing will be set up Friday. You can see that the first thing that is done is put up these wood slats before they lay the plastic down.

: This is from inside my office you can see the wood and the plastic over it. Look a little closer and you can see that the round beams will be exposed on the ceiling.

: Just happened to look out at the house this morning and caught them putting one of the bamboo latices up on the roof of our house. If you didn’t realize how big the sheets are – this should give you a sense of the size.

: Swings are all ready for the Minga Huasy Cumbay in the morning – It should be a swinging time. We will put pictures of it up in a separate album after the party.

NEW – website launched – EcuadorResources.com

Posted on April 14, 2013April 25, 2015 by patrice

After spending too much time trying to track down information – we thought why not network and then build a resource website for us ‘expats’

Having some spare time I started to build an online resource for Ecuador
Let me know – thoughts and input are always welcome
We are looking for recommendations or referrals for services you have used
Also if you offer an email newsletter, classes etc – details on that would be great
This is a work in progress – happy to share the work load with anyone who wants to help
We are hosting the site & doing all the work for free – no advertising, no fees to use
All the best
Patrice & Dave

Website: http://www.ecuadorresources.com

Facebook: Website: https://www.facebook.com/EcuadorResources

Beautiful Tierra Firme lot for sale in Cotacachi, Ecuador

Posted on April 12, 2013September 13, 2021 by patrice

We have 1 lot left for sale (ours, the one we had planned to build on), if you know anyone who is interested. You can email us for more details or to view. We no longer have any lots for sale!

Tierra Firma is located about a mile outside Cotacachi on the road to the Pan Americana Highway. It is tucked away off the road and entered by way of a winding driveway, through rolling green pastures and past a tranquil pond with stone water fall feature. The views from all of the lots are simply stunning. Tierra Firme has 23 lots in total and is considered the premier development in the Cotacachi/Otavalo area.

You enter this development through a winding road with many trees, walking paths, green spaces, beautiful views of the dormant volcanoes and the Andes Mountains. Tierra Firme is located in a gated community and offers privacy, security and beauty.

Lot #17 price $46,000

All utilities are underground.
Homes must be built with a Spanish motif
Average cost to build is $550 to $570 per square meter Architect service is available with most builders
Example: A 1,600 square foot home at $570 per square meter would cost $85,000 plus the lot.