Welcome Home!

Well, welcome to my home!

At long last, here is a preview of the place. Next time I'll invite you inside :)

Nothing says "Welcome!" like a cage!

And this is INSIDE the 7-ft. wall with electric fence on top!

Our 2-car garage, currently housing my sweet loaner from work (complete with steering wheel on the right) and a full-size freezer. And the B.O.B.

 Looking toward the front gate and driveway

To the left of the area above, with rose bushes in the middle. And you thought Africa was dry and desert! (Or at least I did.)

Standing by the grassy area above, looking toward the back of the yard. They are preparing this dirt area to install a pool. The trees along the edge are fruit trees.

 

There are several citrus trees, a couple avocado and banana trees, and a guava tree.

Standing by the fruit trees, looking toward the house (and the future-pool area). The house is really like two houses connected by a hallway -- a big U shape. There is the main house in front (the part on the left of this picture), and then the back (at the right here) is a 2-bedroom guest house with a living room, kitchen and bathroom. Visitors are welcome!

Another view from the fruit trees, looking toward the front of the yard.

The back of the guest part of the house.

A week after we moved in I realized that the window and door at the very far end in the picture above were not accessible from inside the house. That's when I noticed there were some keys on the giant key ring labeled "Servant's Quarters". Lo and behold, we have a whole other bedroom with its own bathroom back there! The week after that, we had it all set up and furnished, and Nile's new nanny/our new housekeeper started. That's right, she's LIVE-IN. It has been so great already, a built-in babysitter.

Past the guest-house patio, the side of the house. Pretty barren. Needs some grass or something. What's with all those manholes?

This is some serious electric fence, too. If anything touches the electric fence, a really loud alarm goes off and automatically alerts the security force. The other night we had a storm and I think branches kept falling on it, because it went off three times that night! Kind of jarring to wake up to!

At least there are a few things growing toward the front part of that side of the house.

Back to the front of the house, looking toward the gate. And my plumeria tree!

The iron gate! Pretty heavy duty. It opens and shuts quickly and easily though, with a remote control.

My beloved plumeria! It is so fragrant and takes me back to memories of Hawaii.

We are really enjoying the patio. Have you read the "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" books? They are set right here in Gaborone, Botswana!

p.s. if you want to say it like the locals do, it's "Hah-buh-ROH-nay"with a rolled "r".

Another day out on the patio.