.....TREE REMOVAL in CUENCA.....

      Monday morning bright and early Jaime came with his worker to cut down the big tree in the front of the house.....he got this bug to take out the tree and replace it with some fruit trees.   I liked the tree but it was rather messy with the leaves dropping all over....they clogged the gutters so Jaime wanted to get rid of it....

Tree cutting in Ecuador is a far cry from the U.S.   .....  It seems as tho they have never heard of a chain saw,  they cut down the trees with machetes and axes!  It is quite amazing,  not only is it a huge job,  but they need so much strength and stamina....Months ago  a huge tree in the park was cut down  in the same manner....

It was a big job for one kid especially when he only makes $20 a day.....Jaime "supervised"   ...  more like the blind leading the blind.....problem arose when they encountered a hose like line for lights?  phone?    Luckily it wasn't too damaged so hopefully everything will continue to work....

I made sure they were careful.... all the branches were hauled away but the big tree trunk is still in the yard -- that sucker is heavy!!

Then the planting....

 

Jaime brought a purple  bougainvillea  and we planted it by the front gate.. It's in my favoite color....

 

 

The last job was to remove a large tree stump that has been here for a long time...finally got it out and it looks so much better now....

The weather has been cooperating with the new plantings....Light rain today which is what they really need......................


Yesterday we had lunch with 3 darling friends....Jean L., and Joyula and John H.....We met at a favorite Italian restaurant of Jean,   That's Amore ...... food was good and the conversation and laughs were fantastic!!  John has a great sense of humor and knows lots of good jokes!!       We haven't been getting together enough so we vowed to change that.....lunch in a couple of weeks will be at
Chill and Grill,  a great hamburger place near Super Maxi......

After lunch Rick wanted dessert so we stopped at Fruitilados for ice cream and cake and cookies....

 

This afternoon after almuerzo at the little cafe 1/2 block from our house,   Tony Bishop (the computer guru) came over to pick up Rick's computer .. glad to hear he and Katie will take some time off over Christmas and New Year's  .......

 

 
Home last night we  watched  "THE MAN WHO KILLED BEN LADEN" ...  what amazing young men we have in the US Armed Forces....Tonight the 2nd part.....
Hope you all will be able to see it too ..........