Showing posts with label yard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yard. Show all posts
Monday, April 26, 2010
A Little Critter In The Backyard Yesterday
We saw this possum running along our backyard neighbor's fence yesterday. I don't like possum's, too much like a large rat. But he's having a good time. Maybe eating our neighbor's figs or out of their vegetable garden on the other side of the fence.
Monday, March 29, 2010
First Thunderstorm of the Year
Last night we had the first thunderstorm of the year complete with lightening, tornado warnings and hail. Both our trucks were dinged up. Right before it started the lightening got bad and I got worried about Stan. He was at the nearby cemetery taking a walk. I tried to call him and got no answer. As soon as I hung up, Elaine called to tell me to get my dogs together and watch out because there was a tornado warning. That really scared me and when I hung up from her the bottom dropped out and hail, like I've never seen before, began falling. I called Stan again and he answered this time. He'd made it back to the truck just in time. He got home safe but liked to got beat to death making it inside the house. I was taking photos and movies because it was so severe.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Stan's Saturday Morning
What happened to Stan today as he was working in the yard!
He pulled his foot out of his book, had to raise the trailer at the hitch and wiggle it around until it rolled again off his boot. (It's a very heavy trailer.) He finally got the last root up and then got the ditch digger unloaded only to find that the tire was flat so he had to load it back up and take it back to be fixed. Now he's lost his whole morning. He gets so frustrated!
He pulled his foot out of his book, had to raise the trailer at the hitch and wiggle it around until it rolled again off his boot. (It's a very heavy trailer.) He finally got the last root up and then got the ditch digger unloaded only to find that the tire was flat so he had to load it back up and take it back to be fixed. Now he's lost his whole morning. He gets so frustrated!
Yard Work
Last Sunday Stan and Luke worked on pulling up bushes in the front yard. They are old and gnarly and some are dying so we are wiping the slate clean. But it was too much for the tractor.
So one of Luke's friend's brought his small Bobcat and finished pulling up all the bushes. While the yard is in transition we decided to put in an irrigation system in the front yard and a small patio off the front porch with a walkway around to the side of the house where the driveway is. Then we will plant another crepe myrtle tree to shade that side of the house and some flowers. We aren't going to replace all the bushes.
So one of Luke's friend's brought his small Bobcat and finished pulling up all the bushes. While the yard is in transition we decided to put in an irrigation system in the front yard and a small patio off the front porch with a walkway around to the side of the house where the driveway is. Then we will plant another crepe myrtle tree to shade that side of the house and some flowers. We aren't going to replace all the bushes.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Saturday
Stan, Dad and Ronnie cut down the big oak tree in the front yard that was too close to the house. If the tree (or a limb) fell it could fall on our house or our neighbor's house. It also was keeping the gutters clogged with leaves and acorns, grass wouldn't grow and the roots were going under the driveway and house. So it was time to come down. We anticipate planting a nice Crepe Myrtle so it won't get too big and yet provides a nice umbrella of shade for that side of the house. Stan started off climbing up in the tree to cut some limbs off so it wouldn't roll around once it hit the ground. Dad brought his old truck over to load wood for his wood stove. Ronnie came over and helped too. We all ate lunch and supper together so we made it a fun, family day. We missed Luke!! He used to love these kind of days. I happened to have one of my good days and was able to drag brush to the curb for pickup by the city. But when I hit my brick wall, I hit it hard. The pain was so bad I was heaving. I stayed in on Sunday to rest.
Our guys are well practised in using a chain saw and cutting down trees. But, with a tree this close to houses (there was only one direction to lay it down safely) it's best to use a professional. Don't try this at home.
Our guys are well practised in using a chain saw and cutting down trees. But, with a tree this close to houses (there was only one direction to lay it down safely) it's best to use a professional. Don't try this at home.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Southern Spring House & Garden Show, Charlotte, NC
Mom, Dad and I went to Charlotte, NC to the Southern Spring House & Garden Show. We love to go and we make it most of the time. We had a great time and here are some of my photos:
Of course, the first thing we did when we got there was get me something to eat. It was 11:00am and that's sugar-drop time. It was good timing anyway because we got our food straight away with no lines. At noon, there are lines at the food booths and cafeteria. I've had a real sore throat the past couple of days so this hot dog was the first "hard" food I've had. Despite being good, I was choking it down because of the sore throat.
It was right after our lunch break (and with my throat hurting) that we started in the booths. One of the first ones we came up to was Gano Excel. They gave me a couple of sample sizes of their various coffees. It helped my throat and picked me up. For their website, see the end of this post.
For those of you who have never before been to the Charlotte Home & Garden Show, it's broken up into 3 buildings. Two of the buildings have booths of vendors selling anything "home and garden". Landscaping services, landscaping equipment, potted flowers, orchids, seeds, different kinds of mulches, etc. Then there are the "house" items like flower arrangements, pictures (originals and prints), furniture, mattresses, porch swings, pots & pans, herb mixtures, etc. There are also home building products such as kitchen appliances, cabinetry, outbuildings, shingles, gutters, sun rooms, screened porches, central vacuum systems, ladders, tools, basement systems, flooring, etc. The vendors have examples and have created showrooms of their wares. You get to sample dips made with the herb mixtures, bread and soup mixes, etc. You get to try out mattresses and chairs. You get to see the latest ideas in landscaping and home building or home remodeling. It gives you ideas and you can get their cards and brochures. They do the cooking demonstrations and cleaner demonstrations. We love this kind of thing. But there were two things we didn't like...first, this year, there was no coffee shop or coffee booths (other than the one I told you about - Gano Excel). Other than the Gano coffee samples, I didn't get to have any coffee. With my coffee (decaf) addiction and my sore throat, I sorely needed some coffee (pun intended). And the other thing, which is the same every year, is the crowds. We try to go Wednesday or Thursday morning to avoid as much of the crowds as possible. By afternoon, it's crowded and then there is the weekend and I know it's probably unbearable. When I was a teenager, my Mother had a gift shop and a wholesale business and we did many a show. My feet would hurt, my voice was hoarse and I hated people by the time the day was over. So I feel so sorry for the salesmen and saleswomen. And I don't know who I feel sorrier for...those that are ignored, losing money by the minute and are bored out of their mind or, those that are so busy they can't think and will be exhausted within hours. I try to be polite, smiling, patient when I'm interested in their product and not waste their time if I'm not interested in their product.
The third building has mini rooms and mini gardens set up to show off interior decorators and landscaping designers. It also has the orchid and bonsai competitions. I love to see the landscaping ideas. A few years ago the fire and water theme really became popular and now, every mini garden has something like that. Of course, inside the building, they can't have a real fire so they show fire places and fire pits but no open flames. The waterfalls and handmade streams are very popular. I wonder if they may be easier to keep clean than the koi ponds and still pools that were so popular before? There is usually one designer that does something that grabs the attention of the crowds and everyone hovers around... this year, I think it was the birds. One designer room was a sun porch with beautiful, colorful little birds in a large, ornate bird cage and one garden had some wild birds (the owls and hawk). It certainly grabbed my attention.
This was another show stopper. A reading nook complete with table. I loved it until I began to think about it being outside. You know, bugs, snakes, fire ants... all those creepy crawly things that can sneak through the crevices between the rocks. Yep, that might discourage me from snuggling up with a book here.
This beaitiful arrangement was expensive. I notice a lot of these pheasant feathers in flower arrangements this year.
A wobble board machine. I liked it a lot!
Bathfitters
Of course, Dad found the one and only John Deere in the house!
A retro kitchen display!
Ikea had a large showroom set up. It's the first time I remember them being represented here but they now have the huge Ikea store in Charlotte.
I loved this kitchen example. Except for the porous yellow tile on the backslpash (you want something glazed and glossy for easy clean up because porous tiles will get pretty grimy over time with grease). I loved the different colors in cabinetry and the architectural details which makes the cabinetry look more like furniture.
This sewing room table is great. It can act like a chest of drawers up against the wall or can be slid out and the table raised to give you an ample cutting space.
I want another central vacuum system.
A stove top smokeless grill being demonstrated.
I tried some various settings on my camera to catch this garden vignette.
Paper lanterns seem to be popular for parties and weddings.
Butterflies!
Snow and Ice
I just love the bright and exotic orchids!
Bonsai Trees
A fire pit with copper flames and a lamp glowing below. Notice how the fire pit is in the middle of the still pond? Nice look and the water would reflect real flames. But also a little difficult to get to when you need to start a fire or clean out the fire pit. So be sure you put stepping stones in the pool like this designer did so you can get to the fire pit easily.
This railroad track through one of the mini gardens was unique. Unfortunately it wasn't running when we came through and so it might not catch everyone's attention.
Now here is something you can do with old hosepipes (garden hose furniture).
Mom and I ordered some instant coffee by Gano Excel which is a coffee that features Ganoderma Lucidum (a Chinese medicinal herb). It was good and it's good for you. I'm a big coffee drinker so I think this is a good way to get some vitamins and stuff in me! Anyway, check out their website: http://myganocafe.com/ultracoffee
Of course, the first thing we did when we got there was get me something to eat. It was 11:00am and that's sugar-drop time. It was good timing anyway because we got our food straight away with no lines. At noon, there are lines at the food booths and cafeteria. I've had a real sore throat the past couple of days so this hot dog was the first "hard" food I've had. Despite being good, I was choking it down because of the sore throat.
It was right after our lunch break (and with my throat hurting) that we started in the booths. One of the first ones we came up to was Gano Excel. They gave me a couple of sample sizes of their various coffees. It helped my throat and picked me up. For their website, see the end of this post.
For those of you who have never before been to the Charlotte Home & Garden Show, it's broken up into 3 buildings. Two of the buildings have booths of vendors selling anything "home and garden". Landscaping services, landscaping equipment, potted flowers, orchids, seeds, different kinds of mulches, etc. Then there are the "house" items like flower arrangements, pictures (originals and prints), furniture, mattresses, porch swings, pots & pans, herb mixtures, etc. There are also home building products such as kitchen appliances, cabinetry, outbuildings, shingles, gutters, sun rooms, screened porches, central vacuum systems, ladders, tools, basement systems, flooring, etc. The vendors have examples and have created showrooms of their wares. You get to sample dips made with the herb mixtures, bread and soup mixes, etc. You get to try out mattresses and chairs. You get to see the latest ideas in landscaping and home building or home remodeling. It gives you ideas and you can get their cards and brochures. They do the cooking demonstrations and cleaner demonstrations. We love this kind of thing. But there were two things we didn't like...first, this year, there was no coffee shop or coffee booths (other than the one I told you about - Gano Excel). Other than the Gano coffee samples, I didn't get to have any coffee. With my coffee (decaf) addiction and my sore throat, I sorely needed some coffee (pun intended). And the other thing, which is the same every year, is the crowds. We try to go Wednesday or Thursday morning to avoid as much of the crowds as possible. By afternoon, it's crowded and then there is the weekend and I know it's probably unbearable. When I was a teenager, my Mother had a gift shop and a wholesale business and we did many a show. My feet would hurt, my voice was hoarse and I hated people by the time the day was over. So I feel so sorry for the salesmen and saleswomen. And I don't know who I feel sorrier for...those that are ignored, losing money by the minute and are bored out of their mind or, those that are so busy they can't think and will be exhausted within hours. I try to be polite, smiling, patient when I'm interested in their product and not waste their time if I'm not interested in their product.
The third building has mini rooms and mini gardens set up to show off interior decorators and landscaping designers. It also has the orchid and bonsai competitions. I love to see the landscaping ideas. A few years ago the fire and water theme really became popular and now, every mini garden has something like that. Of course, inside the building, they can't have a real fire so they show fire places and fire pits but no open flames. The waterfalls and handmade streams are very popular. I wonder if they may be easier to keep clean than the koi ponds and still pools that were so popular before? There is usually one designer that does something that grabs the attention of the crowds and everyone hovers around... this year, I think it was the birds. One designer room was a sun porch with beautiful, colorful little birds in a large, ornate bird cage and one garden had some wild birds (the owls and hawk). It certainly grabbed my attention.
This was another show stopper. A reading nook complete with table. I loved it until I began to think about it being outside. You know, bugs, snakes, fire ants... all those creepy crawly things that can sneak through the crevices between the rocks. Yep, that might discourage me from snuggling up with a book here.
This beaitiful arrangement was expensive. I notice a lot of these pheasant feathers in flower arrangements this year.
A wobble board machine. I liked it a lot!
Bathfitters
Of course, Dad found the one and only John Deere in the house!
A retro kitchen display!
Ikea had a large showroom set up. It's the first time I remember them being represented here but they now have the huge Ikea store in Charlotte.
I loved this kitchen example. Except for the porous yellow tile on the backslpash (you want something glazed and glossy for easy clean up because porous tiles will get pretty grimy over time with grease). I loved the different colors in cabinetry and the architectural details which makes the cabinetry look more like furniture.
This sewing room table is great. It can act like a chest of drawers up against the wall or can be slid out and the table raised to give you an ample cutting space.
I want another central vacuum system.
A stove top smokeless grill being demonstrated.
I tried some various settings on my camera to catch this garden vignette.
Paper lanterns seem to be popular for parties and weddings.
Butterflies!
Snow and Ice
I just love the bright and exotic orchids!
Bonsai Trees
A fire pit with copper flames and a lamp glowing below. Notice how the fire pit is in the middle of the still pond? Nice look and the water would reflect real flames. But also a little difficult to get to when you need to start a fire or clean out the fire pit. So be sure you put stepping stones in the pool like this designer did so you can get to the fire pit easily.
This railroad track through one of the mini gardens was unique. Unfortunately it wasn't running when we came through and so it might not catch everyone's attention.
Now here is something you can do with old hosepipes (garden hose furniture).
Mom and I ordered some instant coffee by Gano Excel which is a coffee that features Ganoderma Lucidum (a Chinese medicinal herb). It was good and it's good for you. I'm a big coffee drinker so I think this is a good way to get some vitamins and stuff in me! Anyway, check out their website: http://myganocafe.com/ultracoffee
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)