An open door allowed this butterfly into my screened porch. Efforts to herd the butterfly out the door were futile. The butterfly was insistent on the direction it was going and only in that direction would it go. The stupid bug met an unfortunate end, but not at my hand.
Recently I've completed a 29 foot bench on the ground floor. It is two feet deep and features 16 feet of shelving. This bench will support long items for a future long term project. I've also completed the tool storage unit above the bench. I have yet to complete bench lighting other than in the center. For this there are four foot long LED lamps of the finest Chinese quality for $15 US each. They feature connectors where the lamps can be daisy chained together. This feature is important to me as I had outlets installed in the ceiling that were supposed to be switched to control the moveable ceiling lights. The switched outlet feature was not incorporated so now the moveable ceiling lights must be controlled by plugging/unplugging from a bench wall outlet. Daisy chaining reduces the number of wall outlets required.
Two ceiling fans are installed alongside the bench to improve the comfort level. I purchased what I thought were extension cords, but turned out to be remote outlet switches. They have a switch on the end of a 15 foot lead that switches power to a device plugged into the opposite end. This opposite end also plugs into an outlet. My ceiling fans plug into the ceiling outlets and are controlled by the happy accident of purchasing the remote outlet switches. I think there are more such switches and available outlets in my future.
I met the lady who owns the lot across the street. I inquired about removing the trees that block the breeze, but she was resistant. I then sweetened the deal by offering to replace the trees with two palm trees. She upped the ante by suggesting a row of palm trees along the road would be acceptable. I am considering this arrangement and have made some initial enquiries as to what it might cost. I've had a point in too many directions to pursue her written permission for my proposed number of tress and type at this time.
Her lot tends to have a marsh flavor, especially when it rains. The rainy season tends to bring out more of the biting/stinging things that arise from stagnant waters. Color me slathered in DEET and avoiding outdoor efforts during early morning/evening prime feeding times. If a person can't tolerate insect bites or sweating, then Belize is not for you (written as I sit here shirtless and lumpy with bites).
The neighborhood has received a new water main. Rumors suggested the new water main was in preparation for a paved road! The water main was completed some weeks ago yet piles of dirt remain behind and no work crews are to be found. One dirt pile prevents me from fully backing out of my gate, but this minor annoyance I can flip to a positive. I've started whittling away at the offending pile to fill in places where water tends to pool. It is doubtful that I'll ever make a significant dent in the pile's size, but available fill material is good to have around.
There was some scrap left over from the bench build. I had a light fixture that was never used and a motion sensor I ordered online, from these ingredients I built a stairwell lamp. The shade shields the eyes while descending from the head of the stairs. The 180° motion sensor is tilted so that it triggers when anyone crosses the head or foot of the stairs. It hides behind the decorative facia below the lamp globe. I'm not sure if I'm happy with the aesthetics, but the stairwell is more welcoming in the dark of night.
