With three years now in the Philippines, I'm learning that lots of things are less urgent in fact than they seem to be when I think about them. Food, water, shelter, electric fans, and a decent night's sleep are pretty much the top level of urgent needs, here. Having something which seems worthwhile to do just about sums up the rest of what I really need. And since I nearly always have a backlog of projects and plans, I'm learning not to let that bother me. This area is NOT a place where things will happen in the way which would be expected in the USA; to move 12,000 miles and expect "sameness" would be ridiculous.
For now, the best project will be to try to get all my "readers" caught up with what has been happening here for the last few months.
Perhaps the most notable event was the arrival of a Yamaha
music- keyboard the last week of June. I'd had nothing to
play on for 2- 1/2 years, except a small "personal entertainment"
keyboard made available on Sunday mornings. Until living
here, I had taken for granted having at least a piano or
electronic keyboard, and sometimes a fairly substantial
organ to practice on. This long period without a keyboard
showed me how much I had relied on the music work as
a creative outlet and stress reliever. I'm really thankful
that it is here!
showed me how much I had relied on the music work as
a creative outlet and stress reliever. I'm really thankful
that it is here!
This nearly-professional level keyboard came with a ready
made stand which I use in the small "parlor" at home.
Grandson Timmie is always interested in helping out.
To reach its full usefulness, the keyboard must travel frequently.
So, a few weeks went into making a heavy, padded wooden
carrying case, designed so the keyboard never needs to come
out of it when in use; and a well-braced stand which disassem-
bles quickly for transport.
The keyboard is too long to fit in the car or in the cargo bed,
so it rides in a weatherproof carrier atop the vehicle. Building
this was another few-week project.
Meanwhile, the cottage project which began early this year hit a series of snags when it was just short of "occupy-able completeness." Roof and walls were finished and electricity hooked up, but the bathroom wasn't finished, and some "construction detailing" and small projects remained.
As we approached for a work-day on November 11th, we found
the local neighborhood road-crew just beginning to set forms
to extend the concrete roadway past our main gate.
We parked a little distance away as we came and went for a couple
days, and carried our supplies to the cottage. Two work-days got
days, and carried our supplies to the cottage. Two work-days got
the plumbing finished and connected, and most of the concrete
work completed in the bathroom; there will be another layer of
smooth cement in there, and some epoxy-color coating applied
smooth cement in there, and some epoxy-color coating applied
on the shower and sink area. The "back field" behind the house
has been plowed and we will soon be growing garden crops there.
November is a good time of year to be growing vegetables here,
after the main rainy season but with still enough water and some
after the main rainy season but with still enough water and some
"less hot"* weather. Most vegetables should be "coming in" in late
January and February. *(I edited! - having mistakenly typed the
word "cooler," which absolutely would convey the wrong idea
about this area.) (This morning at 5:00 a.m., the overnight LOW
showing on my thermometer was 77 F., typical for us.)
January and February. *(I edited! - having mistakenly typed the
word "cooler," which absolutely would convey the wrong idea
about this area.) (This morning at 5:00 a.m., the overnight LOW
showing on my thermometer was 77 F., typical for us.)
The road project was poured half-width in two days' time,
and has since been completed, including a fine, wide drive-
way apron leading onto our parking- pad.
The property where we live in town is only a little over a mile from the farm. Here there is little space to spare. We will end up with about 75% of our 40 x 80 foot lot roofed in various ways. One "relief" is that we also have a separate 40 x 60 yard which we use mostly for poultry. There are a dozen or so chickens, four geese, and 8 or 10 ducks. The populations are growing at the moment with the addition of 3 broods of chicks and I think 2 broods of ducks.
Our "inside kitchen" is a 5 x 13 foot space along the back wall
of the house. The small "work counter" is usually occupied by
stored items. The actual working space is usually the dining
table which is several steps away, and separated by a display-
shelf "room divider." Lack of storage and work space makes
any food preparation task a real hassle.
any food preparation task a real hassle.
This cabinet which has been in-process for a couple months
is just now beginning to help us with the storage. It still needs
its main shelves divided and set up with "clever little ideas"
to make the best use of the space. (Now, it will take some
time, and some usage, for me to gradually come up with
the ideas and get them "made.") The cabinet would have
been a 1 to 2 day build-project in the USA. HOWEVER,
time, and some usage, for me to gradually come up with
the ideas and get them "made.") The cabinet would have
been a 1 to 2 day build-project in the USA. HOWEVER,
dimensioned lumber and sticks are not available "ready made"
in our area. Here, the unfinished table-saw (yet another project!!)
has been getting a workout cutting 1 x 2 sticks from a tree-trunk
blank slab; the slab having been cut about a year ago with a
chain-saw. I have these blanks made whenever tree-wood is
available, and then I cut them to smaller sizes as needed.
This link goes to an early BLOG which details lumber-making here.
After a few days I end up with 16 door-frame sticks for the
cabinet. This one is made with a "half-overlap" joint at the
end, and a recessed slot for the front panel of the door to fit.
Other sticks have been made into the face-frame on the front
of the cabinet.
This door frame is just about ready to be glued and nailed,
with the front panel to be installed at the same time. The
4 doors on the completed cabinet (3 photos above) show
the paintwork which attempts to make it not look "too plain."
There are always plenty of small projects like the ones above, going on and on and on, here. But that would be pretty much the same anywhere I am. So now I'll shift topic and try to give you a short look at some things which are particular to our part of the Philippines.
You might be in the Philippines if:
you've gotten used to scenes like motor-canoes headed out
for night fishing, just at sunset;
3 boys walking with a carabao is not unusual;
having coffee at church might look like this;
the pink fluid in the Coca-Cola bottles is gasoline
for sale;
your house is endangered by coconuts;
All sorts of powdered coffee mixes are available with many
odd seeming ingredients (mushroom extract and ginseng?);
this display is in place on Oct. 2 in a department store;
. . . and this one.
A few weeks ago our church had a Saturday outing to a swim-resort. To reach the site, you must wind your way through country-roads for something over 2 miles from the main road. Definitely secluded, but impressive a to how elaborate a place can be "in the middle of nowhere." A few of us "scouted" about 3 days before the event, and it's a good thing we did, as finding it with a load of people along would have been quite a chore.
The main pool extends to the left of this photo about 60 feet and
is 12 feet deep at the far end. The small pool to the right is 3 to
4 feet deep and the smaller pool near exact center is about
18 inches deep. The water slide at upper left is built on the
hillside and is about 70 feet long with 2 small curves.
To the right of previous photo is this large "open pavilion"
building which has vending and swimwear rental. Upstairs
appears to be planned for a restaurant/ entertainment venue.
I took this photo immediately on our arrival on the day of the
outing. ONLY the girl standing behind the car had been an
inside passenger. The others visible here had all managed to
ride in back with the tailgate closed. I KNOW there were 13
riders inside, mostly small kids' with 2 or 3 medium adults.
There was discussion later whether the total count was 24,
or 26. THE WEIGHT is something I am careful about, and
this many "small people" amounted to less than 1,400 pounds,
easily within the load range of the vehicle. I kept the speed at
30 mph and under, for the 14 mile trip.
The sheltered picnic area had hanging gardens - potted in
Coca Cola bottles and suspended with nylon fishing line.
The creativity impressed me.
The water slide in use. I managed to get on it 4 times; with
about 70 steps up the hillside to reach the top, my slightly
gimpy left leg wanted no more! (Gotta "save some" for
the clutch on the way home, me being the only driver.)
But when you get a bunch of Baptists near water, it isn't
just about swimming, usually. I kidded Pastor Zach about
just sending the candidates down the slide next time, but
he just grinned (grimaced?).
Well I hadn't intended to go real long with this posting, but as it is Thanksgiving Day I'll include a few scenes of the Thanksgiving potluck from earlier this week.
We had an opportunity to share thanksgiving praises.
Later, one end of the table was spread with freshly cut banana
leaves, anticipating the arrival of the "guest of honor" - - -
- - - who arrived in the same manner as the "Ark of the Covenant."
(But I don't think the Jewish priests ever considered using this
method to carry pork.)
Quite a crowd was moving in and out of this circle, gathered
around one event- of- interest,
which turned out to be ice-cream dipping. I was only "thankful"
to get close enough, through the press of bodies, to get
a quick free-hand camera shot, which happened to catch
the "real action." (Yeah, I got some ice cream, later.)
Well, it is Saturday morning after Thanksgiving Day, and I have finally got back to what I was doing on Wednesday and the early part of Thursday. There are more photos that I could put up, but I think this is a pretty long posting already.
I'm not ONLY thankful on Thanksgiving Day! We have been here at Tibiao for a little over three years, and - except for the expected "challenging days" which come along - I'm GLAD to be here. I get to choose how to spend my time, now, and I enjoy most of what I'm doing. Attitude determines the outcome of many things, and I can purposefully CHOOSE for my attitude to be "gratitude," regardless of how things seem to be going at a given moment. My challenges (mostly things being uncooperative as I "tinker and make") are the "backside of blessings!" The BLESSING is having the things which have the NEED to be worked on, and of having the materials and inclination to do so! But I admit I still haven't developed a LOVE of grinding and filing metal - - -
(Google Map link which hopefully shows our location: https://www.google.com.ph/maps/place/Tibiao,+Antique/@10.2302167,117.8278081,6.25z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x33af945fc45116eb:0x4765a8250b35d3da?hl=en&hl=en )
Our hope for each of you is that you find the place best suited for you and enjoy the life that the Creator has given you. Have a wonderful day!
Tim and Bernadette Larson
Tibiao, Antique Province, Philippines
LATER FOOTNOTE: I have tried 5 or 6 times to correct the text alignment of the last few paragraphs, but the "system" just refuses to let me do it! Sorry if it ends up looking a bit "funny."
