No Juice, But Plenty of Cheap Labor

Once again, I am at sixes and sevens. My life is again packed into boxes, and I am leerily planning a life change. This new house and property seem ideal for me. It is costing rather more than I figured to prepare the house for occupancy. Water is not available everyday. Hence, a storage tank and pump are needed. Apparently, the landlady took her tank to the new house and has agreed to pay for some of the new one with a rent discount.

Norteamericanos, it seems, are expected to employ Nicaraguans -- as gardeners, housekeepers, launderers, cooks -- you name it. I have hired Maria Jose, a highly recommended young woman, as a housekeeper for three days per week, and she is quite willing to do, well, anything. I have also hired a gardener, a young man named Byron, who has been occupying the house while it has been empty. For this, my landlady has paid him 3,500 cordobas, or about $123 per month. I do want to plant a small salad garden, and of course, the property will need some regular raking and maintenance. However, I refused to discuss anything more than 12 hours per week, at 2,000 cordobas ($70) per month. I like to garden, and I do not want to have him do it all. Nor can I afford to pay him more. He was positively forlorn at the prospect of finding additional work. Justifiably so, but I cannot solve this for him.

The new puppy is quite charming and seems to get on with Brynn pretty well. She is a galumpher, with longish legs and no idea how to manage them.

Last night, the electricity went out and did not return until nearly 5 p.m. today. I packed a few boxes today and spent the afternoon reading Homer's Iliad in the hammock. Such an unending tale of gore and squabbling deities! I nearly cried when at last the juice came back and I could check email and return to civilization.

Tomorrow, the new appliances should be delivered to the new house, as well as the tank, and Stefan's work crew will begin installing the dog fence. I am working on finding a truck and crew to move my furniture later in April. There is an ox team locally, but I do not think they will go 30 kilometers and back!