Our New Tropical Fun, Funky, and Crazy Office Furniture

Unfinished Table

Unfinished Tables

We needed some tables for our computer room. And we looked around at many places and balked at paying hundreds of dollars for something that we didn't even like. Then we came up with the idea to head down to the Rotary and do some shopping for several woven baskets. So Happy we did since we spotted the exact tables we were looking for all over Cuenca!

We found two matching tables we liked and even a hutch. All were unfinished/unpainted. The fun part is the folks that make the furniture are recycling unwanted materials, as well. Big bonus for us. They are taking pallets apart and making all kinds of furniture with the wood.

We got the tables for $45.00US each and the hutch for $25.00US. Then all three of us went to Kiwi hardware store and bought several fun tropical paint colors and polyurethane for under fifty bucks. Oh, and some sandpaper and paintbrushes, as well.

Sanded and Primed

Momma and I sanded, primed, and painted the tables and then I urethaned them several times so they were protected. After several weeks of effort they were done. It was well worth it...we have some of the most colorful, creative, and very inexpensive tables around. We liked them so much we even went back and got a few more things to paint.

Early in the Urethane Process

Starting to Paint the Shelf

When we came to Ecuador we knew we wanted to have some colorful bright and cherry things that would be more local. As we have decorated our home we keep adding more things we find that we like. I must say these tables have added quite a bit of fun to our days.

Urethane Process

Finished Desks...Still Setting Up the Office

Cuenca, Ecuador is Really Starting to Feel Like Home

Cuenca, Ecuador T-Shirt Image

A few days ago, Heather and I decided to head off to the Rotary even though it looked like rain.  The ladies wanted some baskets and we needed to see if there was a matching nightstand to the one we purchased on a previous trip.

We took a fast cab ride to the Rotary and off we went in search of items we hoped to use to decorate our master bedroom. I also had an idea of having some wood frames made for our windows.  I wanted to make some screens for our homes windows.  I would have to guess that 99% of homes here don't have screens...and I HATE bugs.  I already had some screen material that I had previously purchased at Kywi (hardware store) during an outing about two weeks ago.

At the custom shop I was asked to come back the next day to see about the frames as the builder was out.  It worked out okay for us as Candice suggested we just hot glue the screen to the brick outside the windows.  The solution was easy to do and saved us some cash.  In addition, we can remove the screen and take it with us if we ever move.

Tile #1

Tile #2

Tile #3

Back to the Rotary:  Heather found a few baskets and three tiles she had falling in love with during a previous trip.  We also found three hummingbirds that are had carved from balsa wood and airbrushed. Very pretty.

Large Hummingbird

Medium Hummingbird

Small Hummingbird

We only got a few things when the sky's decided to open up on us. We caught a cab home and got in just in time to avoid getting soaked. It was a fun short trip out. Cuenca is becoming comfortable for us. We are still discovering things and trying new stuff but at the same time we are beginning to feel comfortable as well. We are learning streets and our apartment is almost complete. Cuenca is Home!

Our 3 Hand-Painted Tiles

Our Set of 3 Hummingbirds

Heather and Dan's Date Day! Chocolate, Mediterranean French Cuisine, Rotary, and a Surprise for Me :-)

Yesterday, was one busy day!  Dan and I headed out to spend the day together.  We caught a cab outside of our apartment to head out to start the day with some lunch.  The cab driver dropped us off about 100 feet from our destination.  Which was a very good thing.  Let me start with this...the movie Chocolat is one of my all time favorite movies.  As we got out of the cab, a cute little shop caught Dan's eye Godika Chocolatier.  He said lets go in and check it out.  Once we went in the door I knew this was going to be my new favorite shop.  Dan took a seat and let me pick some goodies for him, Mama, and myself. I was a smiling fool...like a child on Christmas morning.

*Sorry for the foggy pictures...I need to be careful to clean the lens before hand.

Godika Chocolatier in Cuenca, EC
Gran Colombia 12-57 y Tarqui

15 pieces for $7.00US

Outside of Godika Chocolatier

Outside of Godika Chocolatier

Then we headed over to Villarosa for a romantic lunch.  We had heard about Villarosa during a lengthy talk with the manager "Giovanni" at the Hotel Santa Lucia's Trattoria Novecento.  He told Dan and I that Villarosa was there biggest competition.  We have since learned that the same family owns both locations.  We learned this via Fodor's.  Here is the link: http://www.fodors.com/world/south-america/ecuador/cuenca-and-the-southern-highlands/restaurants/reviews/villarosa-restaurant-449200/

Competition or Family doesn't really matter.  The food at both places were amazing some of the best food Dan and I have ever eaten.  Now the prices at Trattoria Novecento is more reasonable than Villarosa.  Both are extremely high in price compared to most restaurants in Cuenca.  We are now reaching the end of our moving/vacation splurge of shopping and dining.  Things are about to change as we are about to start living on a budget...on May 1st.

Villarosa in Cuenca, EC
Gran Colombia 12-22 Entre Tarqui Juan Montalvo

Caipirinha de Maracuyá
Fruta de la pasion, limon, aguardiente, soda

Heather Ordered:  Steak Frites

Dan Ordered:  Curry Chicken

The Bowen's Shared:  Apple Pie w/Vanilla Ice Milk 

Receipt:
Steak Frites "Heather's" - $14.90
Pollo al Curry "Dan's" - $11.90
Bottle of Agua Sin Gas Grande "Shared" - $2.60
Caipirinha Drink "Each" - 2 Free with Card from Giovanni :-)
Apple Pie ala mode "Shared" - $5.50
IVA 12% Tax - $4.19
Auto Tip Service Charge 10% - $3.49
Total Bill - $42.58

From Villarosa we headed to the Rotary to look for a few more items for the apartment.  

On the ride home in the Taxi we were talking with the driving and we asked him which river we were on and he told us that this was the Tomebamba River.  On clear days you can see many people doing their laundry.  Nice Tire!  The stuff that comes down river...

Tomebamba River

Here are some of our finds from the Rotary.  We had so much fun looking through all the booths.

Our New Fruit Basket

I liked the colors.  Not sure what it's function will be :)

Basket for Hair Clips and Such

We picked this coat and/or key hanger for Mama :)

Zoey's wants to be near all the new stuff.  Guard FurBaby :)

1 of 3 New Wall Art

2 of 3 New Wall Art
The 3rd one will have to wait until the next trip.
It started raining and we jumped in a cab. 

Mama's New Building Set for Her Room,  She fell in Love
with them and just had to have them LOL :)

Sasha Waiting to See if We Brought Her any Yummies :)

Then after we when done with show-in-tell Dan surprised me with some simple colored pencils, crayons, and, sharpener, and paper because about a week ago in passing I said I would love to start drawing.  So Sneaky and So Sweet! <3