Candlemas

This week, the workers were going to install the laminate floors.

Unfortunately, there was a problem.

There is this old linoleum tile floor that was under the carpet.

The tiles are coming loose.
Though the laminate floor will have a foam padding under it, the loose tiles would still be noisy.

The tiles also can't be removed in an economic way, because it probably contain asbestos.


The floor installers gave us the option of going back to carpet.
Another option was to cover the tile floor with a layer of plywood.
We decided to go with the second option.

They left with us this pile of flooring for the rest of the week.

This afternoon, at last, they brought the plywood.
They will begin to install the floors tomorrow morning.




Part of the renovation includes painting the exterior of the house.

Today, those workers came and pressure washed the exterior of the house, and sanded down the trim.

They are also going to paint the patio, because it is also the outside color.

The patio is still piled up with books and boxes!
The mess and disorder can be exasperating, but at last the end is in sight.


Today at church we celebrated Candlemas, or Dia de La Candelaria.
It is a combination of different celebrations, mostly involving candles and the presentation of the child Jesus to the church, 40 days after his birth.

I only sold 100 candles this evening, which was hardly any...

People brought their statues of Jesus to be blessed.
They dress their Child with elaborate clothes and thrones.

Everyone places their Jesus on the altar, and at the end of the Mass, there is a chaotic scene as everyone rushes to get their statue back.
(This year, they gave everyone a ticket, and it had to match the ticket on the statue.)

This Jesus lost his shoe and hat in the melee.

Every member in this family had their own Jesus!

The large one was exquisite, and lifelike.