five weeks and counting

We have only five more weeks here before we head home so I am looking around for something else to beautify this lovely place.  I've done about all I can do in the house; I've tiled every available surface, painted everything, seen to all the furnishings.  (We were in Colima today and I checked on the progress of the redo of the sofa and love seat; next week [hahahahaha]).  So I have looked beyond the walls of the house to something I can do to make the neighborhood surrounding us more attractive.  I am not the only one ~ resident or visitor ~ who tries to make our little village a prettier place.  It's true that there is a lot more that could be done to improve the streets, such as filling in killer potholes, but that's the city's responsibility, not ours.

Across the street from our house is just about the ugliest wall anywhere.  It is a cement block structure, grey and stained.  A real eyesore.  It surrounds a lot that, I hope, will never be built on but I have to look at every day.  So I've decided that my new project is to paint it some wonderful color and plant bushes along the street to hide it and make looking at it a whole lot more pleasant.  First we hired Omar and his brother to clean the areas around the wall of all the weeds and debris.  That in itself made a huge difference.  Then we went to an excellent vivero on the road to Colima and bought eight plants, four bougainvillea and four oleander (adelfa or laurel).   Eight plants, the one-gallon size, set us back 200 pesos ($13.50).  We may need more but this will be a start.

 I'm not going to plant these things until after Easter as they will get trampled on by the revelers who park along that wall.  But after, Omar (gardener) and I will lay them out and get them in the ground.  Both are fast growing here and pretty tolerant of mid-level neglect.  I bought them now so they can acclimate to the Cuyutlán salt air and not keel over when I get them in the ground.

Before planting  I want to paint the wall before Easter so will go to the Prisa store in Tecoman to consult with the paint guru about what kind of paint to buy, how much, and decide on a wonderful color.  Something Mexican.  Bright!  If I concentrate I can get this done before we go and leave behind my contribution to the beautification of this part of town.  Lord knows it needs it.