Unearthing...

The Work-guys have moved out from under the searing Italian sunshine of late June, and Thank God. The mid-day temps in the Cortile were hovering in the upper margins of OVEN HOT. That maybe fine for cookin' biscuits but, not for Human Beings immersed in their Toils & Labors.

The W-Guys are having to dig a trough to lay-down bright orange pipes from the Cortile and from  an eventual Kitchen in the large room above the Sottopassaggio... or, passageway. We all had thought... Our Geometra, Our Builder, Our Work-guys, My Mr. You & Me... that it would be real nifty if we could shove one of those bright orange pipes down the Medieval earthen slew of the Sottopassagio without pulling-up the old pavement. Nope. The Medieval plumbing is full of cricks & turns, impeding the easy & straight-shot ramming of a modern-day bright orange pipe. OK. Up came the ugly 50s cement and the old Medieval stones underneath... once upon-a-time trounced by the hoofs of cows & donkeys. Soon however, all will be covered & repaved with the old stones as before.

A nice by-product of these plumbing efforts is the ugly concrete of the Entrance Ramp will be drilled up & carted away too, restoring the Ramp to its one stoney & Medieval beauty. Back to cosmetic surgery. Gads.

Going, Going, Almost Gone...

Three Work-guys & 100F heat today!!!
They immediately went to work on covering the septic tank. 

We had a discussion about putting terra-cotta tiles over the lids of the septic tank. Seemed nicer. Practicality out-voted me. There will be two concrete lids. So, if we must, we can easily lift them off to take a look at the septic tank. What fun!!!

I had just swept on Saturday where the Work-guys decided at Quitten Time to plant the bulldozer. Gads.

Floral Compliments...

My neighbors always tell me how nice our garden is looking. Of course it looks nice. Two years ago it was a garbage dump & jungle. However, I am still unsatisfied it. So much to plant & build AND THEN there's weeding to do too. 

Now, they also come to admire the hydrangeas. I guess, this is the Reward for all our efforts. Thank you. Gads.

A 1/3rd of the Cortile Restored...

The Dog wanted to know what all the fuss was about. Gratings, I said, and he ambled off to sleep on our neighbor's Cortile. If there isn't a piece of bread in it for him, The Dog quickly looses interest. Gads.

From On High...

The black & yellow septic tank is buried. The orange tubes run their undercover course. And, the metal aluminum gratings are in place. Now, it's time to put back the puzzle of the old grey stones to cover the traces of the latest water-works. I just hope the Work-guys can remember which stone goes where. I was too afraid to ask them if they had bothered to number them, etc. Seeing the saw scares me even more.

Meanwhile, on the Cortile of our neighbor, My Favored Canine, Mr. Moses-dog, naps under the warmth of a sunny June day. He takes no notice of the screeching whirl of the saw. No. He naps away. Gads.

Today's Escapade In The Cortile...

Another day of nearly 100 degree heat, what with all the sunshine hitting-off the old stones of the Cortile. Yet, despite the heat, the Work-guys continued in their quest to install my plumbing plan. Here are the latest photos...

The troughs, gratings & tubes to catch the rain water off the ramp along l'Esseccatoio... or, drying shed...  

The over-all view of the same with the ruspa... or, bulldozer... for added effect.

The Work-guys tell me all will be set right by this Friday at 5!!! Until then, more evenings spent nursing glasses of white wine in the hope that it will be true. In the meantime, I can enjoy the flowers. 

Gads.

Almost, Nearly...

but not quite totally submerged!!! 

Gads.