A (Not So Big) Move

A year ago, we were just getting ourselves settled into life here in Spain.  I shared some about our quest to find housing before we arrived and the difficulty we encountered trying to find a place to rent.  Eventually, we were able to sign the lease and get into a home.  

Ellee watching the sunset from the side yard.

We liked the house.  We have enjoyed the space to spread out, host friends and family from afar as well as many dinner parties.  The location was fantastic given our strict lockdown for nearly 3 months.  We had space to get outdoors despite the restrictions.  Really the only draw back was the cost of the rent and the fact that the landlord (with whom we had no contact) and the rental agent who was our liaison were not fixing anything that went wrong.  An initial selling point was the solar water heater which we thought would save us money.  We didn't have any other choice, really, because we were desperate for a place to live.  Nevertheless, as it turns out, the solar water heater had never even been plugged in or programed and no one ever came out to do so.  Upon our arrival, our neighbor informed us that the previous tenants in our house had tried to use the fire place and the entire upstairs filled with smoke.  He strongly encouraged us to not try it, and to see about getting it repaired.  We never used it and it was never repaired.  Despite regular requests, the air conditioning which blew out hot air was never fixed.  There was an open space in the wall above our bed which was home to a noisy birds nest, along with some electrical issues and a leak in the roof… we weren’t getting anywhere.  I wanted to stay for the area and the space, but it was frustrating to pay monthly and get no service in return.

At Christmastime, we met the owners of the other side of our duplex.  They came to Jerez for a visit and repairs after their tenants had vacated their property.  They have a son not much older than Kyle, and they stayed for a few weeks.  Kyle thoroughly enjoyed having a friend around!  And to add to the thrill, they spoke English…. Real English like they speak in England because they live there.  I mentioned to the owner our desire to stay in the area and our hopes to talk the landlord down a bit on the rent, since we had discovered we were paying more than our neighbors.  

About eight weeks ago, as I was communicating with the owners of the other side, she mentioned their desire to re-rent their property.  She offered us first priority if we wanted to swap houses when our lease ran out.  Initially I thought it might just work in our favor as leverage with our current landlord.  I hoped we could tell him we had an offer at much lower rent and see if he would match it and let us stay.  Unlikely, but one can hope.  I didn’t really want to hassle with moving.  However, it quickly became apparent that the best choice was to just make the switch.  We couldn’t beat the reduction in rent, along with the fact that we personally knew the landlords next door and their desire to maintain their property - all things that couldn’t be said for the people with which we were currently working. 

I laid in bed thinking about all the stuff that needed moving.  I have moved a lot of times, and I knew this would be easy in comparison to squeezing our lives into 50 lb suitcases.  But to have to touch every item in the house again…. I wasn’t excited.  And all the stairs!  The houses are tall and narrow, with three stair cases each.  Then it occurred to me.  We could pass our things across the balconies!

If this doesn’t scream hillbillies, I don’t know what does.  But it worked!  We moved the basements by going out the basement door of one side and in the doors of the other.  We moved the first floor by carrying all our things out the back doors, out the garden, in the garden and through the back doors on the other side.  Then, we secured a ladder across the balcony of our bedroom floor and passed everything from laundry baskets full of bathroom essentials to bed frames and mattresses across.  The most nerve-wracking of all was watching the guys from church pass my hammock across the roof top balcony, with one young guy scooting across along with it to guide it over the shingles.  I am glad I don’t have a picture of that moment because it made me feel sick.  The kid and the hammock and I all survived. 

It was no small effort and it took me about a week to move it all.  I say “me” because Jono helped as he was able, but unfortunately he was taken out by some kind of brutal food poisoning the whole week of moving.  Maybe he planned it that way, just to see how much I could really carry on my own since I’m always asking him to lift the heavy stuff.  A group of guys came from the church to help move the bulky furniture.  Naturally, we had to move the hottest week of the year thus far.  

I dropped probably 5 lbs.

So we’ve come to the other side.  It’s identical, only a mirror image.  Still trying to get my brain to work backwards.  That's the only thing I have to get working.  The air works.  The garden is nicer, with a big beautiful tree perfect for a tire swing.  There are a few fancy upgrades in the kitchen and laundry room.  There are screens in the windows so we can leave them open without getting eaten by mosquitoes.  The solar water heater is functioning.  The house has WiFi included.  We have been reliably informed that the fireplace works.  To my knowledge, there are no birds’ nests in the walls.  And we are paying less.  It’s a win-win-win-win-win!

Gotta figure out how to run the sprinkler system.  You guessed it; it didn't work on the other side.

I love my coffee station!  These lights are going to be so pretty in the fall/winter evenings.

Possibly my favorite part! A spice drawer!

~Abby

Rudy Off Duty

Have you ever wondered what Santa’s staff does during the year, when they aren’t on duty at the North Pole?  Sure, the elves are busy building toys all year.  And Santa is keeping his eye on the world’s children, checking who is being naughty and nice.  But what about the four-legged creatures?  What is there for them to do all year as they await another Christmas Eve whirlwind delivery?

I can’t tell you for certain about Dasher or Dancer, Prancer or Blitzen or any of the others for that matter.  That is, except for Rudolph.  When he finished his 2019 rounds with Santa and his co-workers, Rudy decided to pass his 2020 vacation days with Ellee right here in Southern Spain. 

It all started when he got stuck in a toy bin at Lidl on Christmas Eve during a routine quality inspection.  With his irresistible red nose and smiling eyes, he caught Ellee's attention immediately.  She was heartbroken at the thought of leaving him behind and sobbed as I tried to distract her with something else.  I had to set my mother pride aside and secretly request that he stay at our house after he had delivered all the rest of the world’s toys that night.  He quietly promised, stating that he’d always wanted a holiday in a warm climate!

Christmas morning he was here resting on the couch.  Exhausted from the previous night’s escapades, he slept a lot the first few days he spent with us.  Ellee made him comfortable and assured him she’d be ready to play as soon as he had recovered from his overtime.

Before long, we were all on our way to Austria!  Of course, we all know that the magic of reindeer flying only applies on Christmas Eve.  Thus, even Rudolph had to strap into a plane as we journeyed from Spain to London and then on to Austria the next day.  

Barely over the jet lag of Christmas 2019 himself, Rudolph struggled to stay awake on our first long day of travel.  We journeyed from Spain to London by air.  Once in London, we caught a train, then the underground, another train and then the shuttle to a guest house before settling in for the night.  You can see him and Ellee here, curled up on the last train, ready for a good rest that chilly London night.  And he thought guiding a sled around the world in a single night was hard!

Because it was a special treat for all of us to play in the snow, Rudolph humored us and tagged along on a few sleigh rides himself.  I think I heard him murmuring under his breath about thinking he was getting away from the snow by parking with a little girl near the Spanish coast.  How wrong he was!  Rosie, having only just turned one, needed a bit of help steering her sled.  Rudolph stepped right up for the job and kept her straight on course!

He really enjoyed our cozy little apartment nestled on the side of a spectacular mountain.  He passed his free time gazing at the awe-inspiring views and keeping a watchful eye on our drying laundry.  He nestled in with Ellee while the kids watched Sound of Music endlessly.  And he even got to join Kyle and Ellee to see the cockpit on our journey home!

(The view from our balcony)

There’s always a seat at the table for Rudy....

Now that the sun shines endlessly and the heat drives us all to take a dip in the neighborhood pool daily, Rudolph is enjoying his ideal Spanish vacation.  His days are spent sipping chilled drinks by the pool, relaxing with Ellee in the hammock on the rooftop, and dreading the day Santa calls him back to the frigid North Pole for another holiday trek.  

Since his birthday is today, we had cake and celebrated all the fun we’ve had together so far this year!  Ellee informed me on Monday that his birthday was just around the corner.  I don't know how I forgot.  Yesterday I whipped up a little quilt to warm him on blistery nights in the snow.  And for fun, we found him a sleigh so he doesn't lose his touch by next Christmas.  Happy birthday, Rudolph! 

(Thanks for his "R" shirt, Lollee!)

~Abby

Neighbors

I really hate to complain, but I’m so fed up I have to tell someone.  For months, we’ve lived in relative peace with our neighbors.  We only share walls with one other house, so what was the likelihood that the folks on the other side will be unbearable and we would be unable to settle our differences?  They have been occupying the other side of our walls the entire time we’ve lived here.  Obviously, they were here first.  For a long time, the noise was bearable.  Sure, there was some occasional bumping and banging and a bit of arguing here or there.  Nothing we couldn’t live with….

Morning mist

...Until recently.  After welcoming triplets into their family, the otherwise quiet couple is now dealing with a frenzy of activity.  I can, of course, sympathize with the mother and father and pity them as they are up half the night with their wailing offspring.  Having one at a time was hard enough on my sanity, I can’t imagine having three.  But the fussing…. The arguing over who’s turn it is to get up with the crying baby… the bumping and banging in the middle of the night.  What might have at one time been common arguments over petty things, now sounds like downright domestic disputes.  I’ve considered calling the cops.  They bump and bang so much, I’m afraid sometimes they’ll fall in through the walls.  I can’t imagine what all they are doing to cause so much ruckus.  We have had some quiet hours, thankfully, but the late nights and early mornings are the worst.  The babies are loud, the parents are arguing and I finally had to contact the landlord. I don’t know what he can do, really, but I have had enough.  I can’t cope with being woken up repeatedly.  It’s causing us all to lie awake and ponder how to politely recommend some sleep-training and tough love to the exhausted parents.  I don’t know exactly how long it’s been since they welcomed their babies, but surely it’s time for some sleep. 

What with the virus and the strict lock-down we’ve experienced here, I imagine they are overwhelmed with caring for their children alone.  Tensions are obviously running high and I feel for them.  Families aren’t allowed to mingle and I imagine no meal-train was set up for them amidst their return home after the birth.  Judging by the sounds of it, they’re up managing meals all hours of the day and night.  Clearly they are overwhelmed with their own situation and have little concern for our peace and rest.  I would like to offer to bring them a meal, but we don’t speak a common language and I have no idea what they would enjoy.  Plus, we still aren’t supposed to socialize and I wouldn’t want to put them on the spot to refuse my offer.   Often when things are apparently going smoothly and all the babies are content, the parents sing at the top of their lungs and leave us with little peace.  I’ve tried politely tapping on the walls, which has rendered no response.

I haven’t even heard back from the landlord; clearly he is at as much of a loss as we are.  Day and night I consider that in time, these days will pass and hopefully a bit more peace will come to our neighbors.  But for now, I’m quite ready to find a way to evict them and wish them well on their way.

In the meantime, I suppose we will continue in our cohabitation with our feathery foes and hope when their babies fly the nest in our bedroom wall, we can all get some much needed rest!

~Abby

Stitching the Seasons

Today I finally completed a project I've had on the back burner for over three years.   When returning for our second term in Mokhotlong, I brought along fabric blocks and lots of embroidery thread to hand-stitch an embroidered calendar.  Using a real calendar, my sister sketched the intricate photos for me to copy.  To transfer the photos to fabric, I would tape the sketch to the window and tape the fabric block on top of it.  Then using a fading pen, I would trace the picture onto the block before I started the stitching.  Truthfully, I grossly underestimated the amount of time it would take to stitch 12 extensively detailed blocks.  It didn't take me long to realize I might've bitten off more than I could chew.

I started the first blocks toward the end of 2016.  Shortly thereafter began my increasing battle with headaches for the following two years.  Because I felt worst when sitting still, I ditched the stitching and took up jogging instead.  Finally, after my headaches were under control (thanks, keto!) and we had made our big move to Spain, I determined to finish the project I'd started!  Each block was obviously very detailed and time consuming.  I arrived to Spain with three completed blocks and one barely begun.  Since November, I've finished the last nine!  Nestled under a blanket by the window, sunning on the balcony in a chair, drinking my coffee, listening to podcasts, waiting for dinner to cook, little by little I have whittled away at each scene.  

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

My plan is to make this into a wall-hanging with sashing between each block.  It's on my project list for the next time my mom comes to visit or I get to visit her.  I'm too scared to attempt it alone, for fear of ruining my hard work!  But today, I'm relishing the fact that the blocks are finished and I can get busy making something else.

Do you have a favorite?

~Abby