Kitchen secrets and plaster knives
Did I tell you there is a pandemic? Something about some virus? That there are still people that think they are invincible? And that they do not show up at work because in the end the virus crept in? Nobody seems to escape, but what can you do about it? Some workers are in quarantine because family members are infected. Some deliveries can not be made because suddenly most of the drivers are ill.
We have enough face masks at the building site, but hardly anyone uses them. They are outside most of the day, so why should they? But as soon as we get runny noses ourselves and feel a bit jittery and feverish, we take a test at home once more. Luckily we are still safe. So maybe our sneezing is caused by dusty trees and grasses? Because it is so incredibly dry outside.
Dry
We could really use some rain now… It has been months since Portugal was treated nicely by a refreshing rain shower. While everywhere else in the world people are tortured by blizzards, unexpected snow storms and floods. Here some reservoirs are already drying up. Farmers are worried. And I already fear all the forest fires that are preparing themselves to roar around this summer. Unfortunately Meteo@IPMA does not foresee in any drop of rain somewhere in the near future. But on the upside of this situation: this is perfect weather for building projects.
Workshop
I am totally in love with the carpenters workshop, and very happy to join the boss once in a while for a visit. The dusty space looks like generations of people have been working here on their projects. I come across very strange machinery, tooling and materials. The saw dust of long forgotten projects still clings to everything in every little corner. It is a paradise for photography, as if I want to keep ancient times alive. Before it disappears. In the Netherlands I doubt if these workshops still exist, where new kitchen and bathroom cabinets are being built. They will all have been replaced by shiny factories where neat and similar cabinets are pooped out on a conveyor belt. In this dusty space a project is in development, bespoke, for us only, with a beautiful quality. I feel very privileged!
The carpenter yet has to make a whole lot of drawers. He has to learn what we mean by a larder unit. And keep enough soft-close parts in stock. But the kitchen island is almost ready!
Cork work
The stock of cork has finished, but some parts of the house are still bare. We miscalculated or mis ordered at some point. Oh well, new freight will arrive at some point. So our cork workers can also wrap all the columns on the verandas. But there is more to do for them in the meantime. The installed cork plates are anchored with special dowels. Netting is stuck on them, as a fixator for the stucco that is spread out with plaster knives. Just the two of them, they work day in day out to cover all the corners. In the meantime they chat, all these hours. I pick up their cigarette stubs in the weekend.
Do not forget to take a look at the building development page, from time to time.
Color scheme
Later on, the stucco will be painted. You can help us choose from a wide variety of housing colors in this country. We provide you with some suggestions, but in fact every color is possible. As long as it is RAL 9010, guys… 😉
