it was about a plan 10 years out. Over the next 2 years the subject got more precise as we researched possibilities and options. 8 years left and then something happened and the plan had to be agreed, finalized, financed and executed within 12 months.
Life has a way a dealing odd cards sometimes. You must be careful what you wish for because sometimes you get it. Then It's not what you got but what you do with it.
Spin those 3 cliches, with a pinch of luck and we end up with a full house. 3 cats and a dog trumps 3 cats and no dog.
Renovations where always part of the plan. Getting here by winter was necessary to give us time to do the necessary works. Since the new year everyday is about opening our apartments for our first guests. In less than 60 days now. We have up to 3 sets of clothes during the day: Painting grubs from morning to evening, clean jeans in case we must go out or meet someone, and pyjamas.
Also part of the plan was a dog. We are in the countryside with big plot of land, we live and work on site. We have never had an 'unsafe' moment since we've been here but a good dog is always more than fun and joy and bags of crap. The security aspect is just as important. That's why we specifically wanted and called out for a Doberman. Sweet. affectionate, dependant dogs that are so smart you can raise them to any degree of aggressiveness from none to scary as shit guard dog.
And so life dealt us this card called Dixie. A 6 month female Doberman living in a confined space, in sore need of room to stretch her legs and arms for big hugs. A magnet of affection and love. And now we have a full house... all while it's in a total state of renovation inside-out. Dixie will be raised with a degree of aggression of zero. Her job is to care not scare. That means we must take the time. Or make time.
All we needed now was a young 22 kilo puppy to introduce to 3 long time resident cats while we have are hands full of paint. The amount of back and forth between one apartment or another for whatever reason is multiplied by 12. The amount of time to complete any task is multiplied by 3. We must be walking the equivalent of 20 to 25 km per day. And now we take the dog for a walk to the cafe. Supposed to be good for the thighs, butt, mine's just sore :-)
Dixie arrived 4 days ago. Tonight as I write she is asleep at my feet. I'm sitting at my desk 2 meters away from the sofa where Sylvie is with Patch, Winnie and Tom, the 3 cats. All relax. Must be something about a roaring hot fire place on a cool windy night....
Somehow, somewhere, in some form or another, these moments are being stretched into the walls of Monte-Bougainvillea along with each stroke of our paint brushes. This full house is a reflection of type of atmosphere we wish to convey to our guests (apart from the pun about being full):
Open to all, in a quiet, peaceful, setting of comfort, where at any time a scheduled few can enjoy a particular slice of life under the sun in leisurely comfort.
And we take care of the rest.
We are open for bookings and we love your likes. But it's when you share the love that we like most.
Thank you for sharing.
Sylvie & jc
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