Put A Lid On It, Shape It All Up, & Time for Rememberances

After the walls and floors are all in place, the next thing to deal with is the roof.  The roof of Calabash Mountain Villa is magnificent, especially in the center portion of the structure.  We have that very high cathedral ceiling, and as you can see from the pictures, it took lots of reinforcements to ensure it was constructed safely and securely.  The beams, the plywood, and the shingles were all done with great care. 

               




Our next focus is on finishing the walls inside the Villa.  We plastered all of the walls to provide a nice smooth surface; then we painted the walls with colors that reflect the vibrancy of the Caribbean.  

   


And, remember those piles of rocks from when we were first clearing the land?  Well, they are back – as part of the front of the Villa.  The cut-stone facing is from the very rocks that were busted as we began our work.  The cut-stone facing was not in our initial plan, but along the way it seemed the perfect thing to do.  There are other places in the area that have done this and it really appealed to me.  We were really fortunate to have this resource that only cost us 

the time spent busting up the boulders for use.  

What great opportunities have you had to use what you already had, to enhance a project?  Isn’t it sweet when this happens?

Each day as I drive back and forth between my brother’s house in Soufriere to the site of Calabash Mountain Villa, I take in the local community.  I reminisce about my growing up in this community.  A lot of the things that were part of my childhood are still here today.  Many of the buildings are wooden and over 100 years old.  I remember incidents and people as I look at these old buildings.  I remember a childhood filled with love and community spirit.  I remember a time when I could go anywhere without any worry about my safety.  During my time down here, building, I have become reacquainted with some family members and met ones that are new to me.  It is great to have such a feeling of connectedness to the community.  A lot of the tourist sites that I remember from my childhood have been renovated and enlarged to accommodate the volume of today’s tourists.  What have you experienced after going back “home” after being away for a while?  Were things the same or very different?  Were you happy with the changes?  Leave a comment and let us know.

Taking Shape & Staying Motivated

By June 2010 things were really taking shape.  The two wings of the Villa went up first, then we tackled the center portion which holds the kitchen, common area, and on the level below the game room and laundry.

I am sure that people watching the build-out from afar were wondering just what we were up to, what this place was going to look like. But for me, who knew what it was going to be, it was exciting to see my dream take form day-by-day. And at the same time, was the realization that there was a lot more work to be done. As the building was going up, I also took some time to tend to the landscaping. We planted various flowers and foods along the winding path up to the Villa from the road below.

And one of the things that would keep us motivated was seeing those spectacular rainbows as they framed the work we were doing. What kinds of things keep you motivated when you are involved in a huge, laborious task? What would you like to have around to keep you motivated (keep it clean)?

Built Tough Against Nature's Beauty

Once the beams were up; then came the floors and walls. We used cement blocks for the walls. This is really hard labor. Again, hats off to the crew for making sure it was done right, so we would have an excellent structure that is safe and secure for our guests.

You can see from the pictures, steel continued to be an integral part of the construction process. As I took pictures of the construction, it was natural for me to make sure I got the scenery in the pictures. I want you to see what it will be like as a visitor enjoying the surroundings. When I share pictures with my friends, they all say how much they would like to visit and experience this serenity first hand.

What do you think of this setting as a place for vacation? Do you think it will help you relax and really "get away?"

Made By Hand

Once the land was cleared and leveled, we began staking out the building, marking where the columns would be placed, and making sure we were on target with the plans so as we build up, it will be in line with what we planned. Making the columns was the next big task. Those cement columns did not come ready-made. And because of the area, we are building to be able to withstand hurricanes and earthquakes.  That meant we needed to make steel-reinforced cement columns. Again, location and resources meant we had to bend steel by hand. I marveled at how my crew went about this task. I watched and learned what it takes. Here are a couple of pictures of them doing that work.

                                    

                  

To make steel reinforced components, we have to make the mold for the cement using wooden planks, put the steel in place, and then pour the cement. Throughout the structure there are steel-reinforced concrete beams and platforms.

Hats off to my crew who worked hard and made sure it was done correctly!

Could you ever see yourself doing this work?