Weekend all planned out....

Some new pool equipment arrived just in time to be installed this weekend.....much to the joy and happiness of wives and children everywhere :)

Back Seat Drivers

A couple of Back Seat Drivers view the action from the aft deck of the Time and Tide as it cruises at a variety of speeds across Kentucky Lake.

Photographic Needlepoint

Paracatu does not have any Wal-marts, shopping centers, malls or even fast-food drive thrus---what they do have is lots of shops, food markets and small businesses.  Hand-made craftsmanship is still very much in evidence in many things including this pillow out in the cabana of the hotel.  The rendition is mostly correct as there are three very tall palm trees (though much closer together).  The only truly artistic license used is the courtyard in front of the hotel---there is none, only a small street.

Offseason Touch-up

The staff here at the Pousada da Villa have been putting a little extra time in this off-season applying a new coat of varnish to some of the rustic woodwork.  The staff has posted signs like the one above where they've worked and I've typically been able to work through these types of signage both at the hotel and the mine site when needed.  However, the hotel staff knows where I'm from, and my obvious gringo limitations, hence the "special" sign below was posted in front of the door to my room in English. Got to love them :)

 

Soon to be Table Grapes, Raisins or Vinho

I assume that the grapes on the arbor will become treats for the guests.  Of course I have no clue what color the grapes will be when they decide to grow up!

Bunches of Bananas

These little bananas will be on the plates of guests in a few weeks.

New kid on the block

Larger than most of his avian friends in the area, this menacing looking bird with the black coloring, heavy beak and an iridescent hood of feathered chain mail, was given a large berth when he came by to check out what the parrots were squawking about.  I would think he is probably a large seed eater but it pays to be safe :)

Birds of a Feather...

We had some fairly heavy rains here in the highlands of Brazil overnight leaving these three guys fairly well soaked and preening while waiting for the morning sun to begin to dry them out.

Walkway Display

While I didn't get around to all the gardening I wanted to get done along our front walkway, the hostas and daylillies do not seem to mind.  Hostas bloom first every year (and are the kings of the show right now), about a month before the daylillies take over.

Our first daylilly (overachiever) of the year on the front walk.

In the grip of winter....

The courtyard at the Pousada da Villa, like the rest of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, is obviously in the grip of winter.  In fact, the low last week was an incredible finger numbing 12C (52F)!