Queenie and Mindy

My big girl has been with me for almost two years now and all that I knew of her were about her numerous litters (7) during the first 5 years of her life and her placid temperament. The only exception had been the sight of another dog, which would transport her into fits of malicious intent.

Given this, I felt that I had to approach her with a bit of trepidation with a new puppy in my hands. At first she appeared lethargic, but it soon changed into an obvious interest. Despite my fears, she showed no sign of malice at all. Within a few days, she had grown into the mother that I knew was in her. There were numerous instances of intense sniffing and examining, followed with what I felt was acceptance. But I was still a bit antsy. She’s so big and powerful and the puppy is so tiny.

The relationship was soon to change into something that stunned me. Now, she is reverting to a side that I felt had been wrenched out of her by years of puppy producing. She’s actually playing! 

Mindy is at an age that I would term “Hellion on Four Paws”. So her level of energy and mischief is at an all-time high. Yet Queenie remains her placid self even though at times, she can hardly keep up with the twirling, climbing, dashing about, puppy. When the play gets too intense, all that Queenie does is either place her considerable paw on the puppy and immobilize her for a few seconds with a paw and her deep growl, or gently grab Mindy’s head in her gaping mouth and hold it for a while. Quietness resumes for a short while.

I have been ill with flu and bronchitis for a week and spent most of my time resting or looking at the dogs. I officially conclude that Mindy is a gift to Queenie who finally gets to learn to play. Will get on with photos next week.

Must go, Mindy found the toilet paper and pulled is all off the roll. . .

Planning, Building…and Boondocking

Well, it’s official. I’m now boondocking on my own lot. I couldn’t be more delighted. Here’s the setup. I had a front loader combination back hoe and pneumatic drill dig two holes, one for a water reservoir, the other a septic tank. The tank was dropped and filled with water and surrounded by Pomex to preserve it from potential piercing hazards. Then Michel dropped a PVC tube into the tank with some gizmo (can’t remember the name) to prevent reflux, connected it to a hose that ran to my RV pump and bingo, water directly from the outside tank, which I must add is quite larger than the one in the RV. And it’s treated water. Inside, I have a countertop filter/purifier that removes 99% of solids, chemicals, and bacteria. The water tastes wonderfully pure.

Here’s a photo of the tank. Eventually it will be covered and equipped with a trapdoor. An electric pump will bring the water to the house via underground plumbing. But that will come later.

Now the septic tank is quite an affair. Measuring on the inside 3 m. X 3m by 3m. deep, it is pure tepetate, a stone material that I encountered for the first time. It crushes easily but forms a solid base for anything from a road to a tank. At a depth of about 2 feet, it was pure tepetate and a ledge about a foot thick was made by removing the rich soil for a garden. A mason combined stones with cement over the tepetate ledge. This will form a base for the tank cover. Tubes to connect with the future plumbing were strategically installed, then armed concrete bars (called viguetas) were stretched over the stone base and across the gaping hole; bovedillas or cement blocks that fit right between the bars were installed between the viguetas and concrete was poured into the whole form. This will act as the base for a shed at a future date. Right now, I have a dump site all my own right from the rig into the septic tank. Here’s what it looks like now:

You will notice that, as accredited sniffers of all things new, Queenie and Mindy are inspecting the new installation. Note the metal contraptions rising from each corner of the platform. They will serve to arm cement that will be poured at the four corners of the shed and between which cement blocks will rise to form the building.

As a final note about construction in Mexico. The people here work incredibly hard and are relentless in finishing the job. Everything, or almost everything, is done by hand. And the constructions are solid stone and concrete, even all the way up to roofs. I’m not worried about an earthquake here. Even the septic tank would survive unless it opened from the bottom up. Then I pity those on the other side. . .