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La Casa Pintada

August 26, 2012 By Talya Tate Boerner 2 Comments

For five consecutive days I have been showering with a strange hombre hanging outside my bathroom window. Although there is a thin shade drawn between us, perhaps we are no longer strangers. But star-crossed most definitely. We do not speak the same language.

Like a circus performer, he balances on an aluminum extension ladder two stories up, sanding and scraping and calking and hammering, always timing his work projects to appear in that spot just as I begin shampooing my hair. Maybe that corner of the house has the best early morning sunlight?

Unnerving at first, barely noticeable now.

Finally, after the spring hail storm, the installation of our new roof is complete. But still the workers cling to the walls and scale the columns like superheroes, prepping the outside for paint. Second nature to them, breathing. The constant noise and commotion bores into my brain. I can’t concentrate. A fine layer of sawdust floats on the surface of the pool. 

Lucy y Annabelle son muy locos. 
For two days, they power washed the outside. Every window leaked…. Seems blow flies don’t like water. They’ve migrated on to dryer, sunnier windowsills….

At high noon the men lounge in the driveway, lunching and enjoying a brief siesta. Recharging. 

All afternoon Latino music blares, blends with the grinding music of the electric sander, filling the air around our home, down our block, reverberating into all of East Dallas. A painting party. A week long fiesta.

Suddenly I crave a margarita.

talya

Musical Pairing:

Tequila – The Champs

Methinks I see thee.- William Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet

Filed Under: Pets Tagged With: Munger Place, Schnauzer

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Comments

  1. Colene says

    August 26, 2012 at 7:54 am

    Bravo!

    Reply
  2. TimH says

    August 26, 2012 at 11:14 pm

    Hola, T!!! Perritos biiiiien! Mi casa es su casa, usted debe venir tan quizá a Tennessee para una visita! Anyhow, I bet Lucy and Anabelle are going crazy with all the strangers around!…haha…Just remember, the Alamo…haha…sorry, my A.D.D., that just slipped in there, so let me restart…Just remember, this too shall pass!

    Reply

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Talya Tate Boerner


Hi! I'm Talya. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

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Talya Tate Boerner books
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