Today we finally got the washing machine hooked up and the clothesline hung.  Notice that I omitted the mention of a dryer!  My husband has channeled back to his German childhood and clothes on the line, sweet smells and all that.   All the washer directions are in Spanish of course, so I finally just put stuff in, cried a little, and pushed a lot of buttons.  It washed!  Then it started to rain, so no clothes on the line today....    
     Our German friend came over to give us a lesson in wood stoves and building fires.  We are warm and cozy now.  Who knew those big bags of things sold by the side of the highway and at fruit stands were pine cones?  And we thought they were potatoes!  You use them to get the fire going.  Still no gas, so no way to cook other than the slow cooker.  My stew was good and this is the last night of it, thank goodness.  
     Our builder is nice, but is quickly learning my school teacher habits.  I make him an list of notes and a plan for each day - always the teacher, I guess.  Our house is cozy and when I look out at the hills and the skies, it's totally worth waking up freezing every morning.  The high today was only 45 degrees.  I had on a t-shirt, camisole, sweater, and down jacket - in the mall!!  Uruguay is NOT tropical, as many believe.  The winter weather is damp and cold with winds coming from the Atlantic and Antarctica.
     Doggies are fine; Gracie is curled up next to me by the fire.  My hubby is on his way to the little village store (Almacen) for vino.   Life is good!