The first thing we wanted to see was the new floor. When we bought the house, the tile floor was sort of pink, and Ted really didn't like it. The new floor was done while we were in Virginia. It's redder than it looks in the picture, and we are really pleased with it.

The other change that was made while we were in Virginia is the rail by the pool. The sort of "split rail" fence that was there when we bought the house looked really dangerous, considering it's quite a steep drop from the terrace to the land below. We like the new iron railing, and I'm sure I won't lose a grandchild now.

New Years day started off with a bang.

There is a lovely spot for a fountain by the front door. It was never completed, and the previous owners kept lots of plants there. Ted just couldn't wait to get started making a fountain. He found a little pipe near the floor that looked like a good starting place so he managed to un-cap it. Man oh man, water was gushing everywhere! Luckily there is a drain in the bottom, and he was able to get the water to stop spraying all over by wrapping a towel around the pipe. But the water kept coming, and the pressure pump for the whole house system kept pumping. Soon water was flowing down the street. We were really lucky that he found a business card for 24 hour plumbing repair in a kitchen drawer.

Ted finally turned off the water to the house and the next morning we washed our faces with water from the pool. A few hours later Teresa and Emmanuel Aldeco came to our rescue. They moved here from Georgia five years ago, and as you can see, Teresa is an American. So no communication problem at all. Teresa is a bubbly, fun filled person who seems to know everyone in Puerto Vallarta. And Emmanuel solved our gusher problem, and a few more besides.