It's our own faults really since we decided to put another window into the lounge as well as doing the outbuildings. So we stripped everything out and made our preparations. The place looked like something out of Dexter (if you have seen the series on the TV you will know what I mean).
The work began by removing several granite stones and rebuilding the lintel and surround and we had a window made to fit the hole. Just a double glazed panel that doesn't open but will let in the light.
The mess ensued but was worth it. Here is the view from the outside now
and inside ..
We also painted the stained wooden ceiling and understair panels to help light circulate more. It is great because we can now sit in the lounge and read a book without having to turn on any lights. We now just have to re-hang paintings and put out photos and stuff.The back yard baracão (outbuilding) structure is complete and I have to say it is looking really tidy, at least from the outside, although the finishing inside is rough. 
The roof tiles were second hand and since our existing ones are now not made, we could not replace the cracked and broken ones so it was a complete roof job. They removed the rotting joists and beams and replaced them with wood that we already had. So now we do have a roof that is rain proof hopefully and should last at least another 20 years with luck. We now have to do the finishing, paint the concrete areas and fix a metal door to the tool store end and it should look pretty neat and tidy.
The roof tiles were second hand and since our existing ones are now not made, we could not replace the cracked and broken ones so it was a complete roof job. They removed the rotting joists and beams and replaced them with wood that we already had. So now we do have a roof that is rain proof hopefully and should last at least another 20 years with luck. We now have to do the finishing, paint the concrete areas and fix a metal door to the tool store end and it should look pretty neat and tidy.We will render the inside wall of the open section and maybe put in a concrete floor and decide what it will be later in the year.
The only problem has been the incredible mess that Portuguese builders make when they work and they have no real sense of clear as you go. So my tidy patio and back yard is back to looking like an earthquake zone again and the inside areas of the baracão were full of rubble. 
There are broken bits of tile, wall, bricks and roof all over the newly laid gravel and concrete snots everywhere. And when I ask who is going to clear it up?? Well a shrug of the shoulders and an 'Oh, so I'll have to arrange for someone to come and do it!' Duhhhh.
There are broken bits of tile, wall, bricks and roof all over the newly laid gravel and concrete snots everywhere. And when I ask who is going to clear it up?? Well a shrug of the shoulders and an 'Oh, so I'll have to arrange for someone to come and do it!' Duhhhh.The builder came this morning and took away the rubble...yipppee!!
So we have begun the clean up and need to process the old wood into fire wood and stack it in the new wood store. There is lots of it and the old roof wood is full of nails. Joy!! But we will have plenty to burn this winter.
We have painted the barn outside walls and fitted the handrails for the steps, thanks to help from Steve and Vanessa.
On the plus side this month the weather has been very summery and sometimes too hot but we managed to have a day at the seaside taking Scraps for her first introduction to surf and sand. She was not amused by the fact that the water would actually come to her!! But we did have a great break and it wasn't too hot a day either. 
We have had some incredible sunsets 
and visitors to the garden 
as well as great vistas on our walks to the lake in the mornings for Scraps's constitutionals.
On the plus side this month the weather has been very summery and sometimes too hot but we managed to have a day at the seaside taking Scraps for her first introduction to surf and sand. She was not amused by the fact that the water would actually come to her!! But we did have a great break and it wasn't too hot a day either. We have had some incredible sunsets and visitors to the garden as well as great vistas on our walks to the lake in the mornings for Scraps's constitutionals.
With the temperature up into the mid 30´s by the afternoons we are taking advantage of hammock time.
Fraser has put together a new website of his work and friend Debbie in the UK who is a website designer, helped with the final glitches. He now has 4 canvases with the Corte-Real Gallery in the Algarve and is adding his current works to the web-gallery as they are completed. The plan is to now begin to contact other galleries to see if they are interested in exhibiting his work. The link to the site is http://fjmayart.com/ if you would like to take a look and do comment if you'd like. I made a couple of quilts this month for friend Lou who, after 7 years of frustration and trying in more countries than I can remember, has finally adopted two baby boys. Not sure if the quilts have arrived in Kuwait yet.
We think she is amazing and incredibly brave. She is a single, full time working mum too!
We think she is amazing and incredibly brave. She is a single, full time working mum too!And we thought taking on Scraps was a challenge!!!
She is almost fully grown up now and a completely different animal to the one we found in May. 
It's also produce time so I have been busy making pickles, chutneys and jams and ice-creams, in fact anything that involves veges, apricots, cherries, pears, plums and peaches including bottling and freezing. Our friends with mature orchards have provided us with lots of fruits. My larder looks like a local store at the minute but I hope to be able to sell the residue later in the year at the monthly flea market and to give some to friends.
