List Needed

So I was telling my sister today about how there are a lot of projects to do around here, and part of what makes me feel like I am making headway is to get all the supplies for those projects even when I can't start those projects just yet...it is a false sense of accomplishment when nothing is really being done.

In the course of this, I have a lot of supplies and several half accomplished projects (along with many unstarted projects) and thought I better make a list. This is just a list of the ones I have already got supplies for, not all projects which need to be done around here (which would make for a very big post).

Update: as I remember items, I have been adding them to the list, and as I have been finishing things off, I am striking them out. Having this list is actually a really good thing for me...not sure why I didn't do it before.

• Replacing all four porch lights Aug 4
• Fixing 220 outlet in laundry room Jan 10
• Setting up remote garage door opener Apr 13
• Create new screens (frames and all) for downstairs bedrooms June 7
• Set up weight room July 21
• Weedblock bed
• Reinstalled downstairs blinds July 21
• Put table together July 21
• Fixing redwood bench on pool deck
• Check insulation situation in attic Sept 7
• Changing lock on downstairs closet door Sept 20
• Painting white lattice under pool deck
• Painting all bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways and the laundry room
• Fixing electrical outlet on pool deck March 25
• Fixing electrical in garage October 25
• Fixing electrical in house March 25
• Replacing lights in two bedrooms January 3
• Replacing exhaust fan in office with light
• Mulching beds March 30
• Replacing porch August 30
• Changing curtain rods in livingroom March 21
• Planting items in yard
• Getting rid of gophers
• Redoing side beds and border
• Removing dead stuff from yard
• Removing overgrown stuff from yard
• Cleaning grout in kitchen
• Fixing grout along kitchen backsplash
• Reseeding grass
• Fixing fence on right side of house Apr 13
• Fixing fence on right side of house 
• Fixing closet in bedroom  Oct 13
• Patching and retexturing holes in walls
• Sanding and staining railing
• Sanding and staining window seat
• Pruning plants in backyard
• Touching up exterior paint
• Caulking kitchen sink and around faucets in tub July 22
• Cleaning and painting table for pool deck
• Labeling all plants in yard
• Painting exhaust fan covers, doorbell cover and intake vent covers July 22
• Replacing towel racks and toilet paper dispensers in both bathrooms March 23
• Prepping and painting all stained doors and trim white
• Installing CO2/smoke alarm downstairs April 24
• Change filters on heating/cooling system July 15
• Change out electrical 220 in garage
• Tiling laundry room
• Tiling mbath
• Tiling downstairs bath
• Installing vanity
• Installing Magic Mesh March 12
• Install new vanity lights in mbath August 24
• Install new vanity lights in downstairs bath
• Replacing sand filter and multi-port value June 23
• Install storage for extension ladder April 13
• New herbs June 15
• New plants in pots June 15
• Fix rock wall near pumphouse
• Fix support in weight room closet Oct 13
• Fix rock wall in guest parking area
• Create manual sprinklers for side yard
• Create manual sprinklers for lower back yard
• Work on pool deck boards
• Install reducers on the drip lines
• Installing new mirrors
• Moving old mirror from mbath Sept 20
• Fix electric box cover in laundry room Sept 7
• Insulate attic opening cover Sept 7
• Secured dryer vent Sept 7
• Fix hole from woodpecker Sept 20
• Install new cabinets in laundry room Sept 20
• Unpacking 12000+ lbs of household goods  March 10
• Installing bamboo floors on main floor of house  Oct 13
• Install ceiling fan
• Caulking and filling all baseboards on main floor  Mar 11
• Filling floor in kitchen Jun 9
• Patching pool  Feb 20
• Replacing pool liner July 16
• Powerwash patio furniture
• Powerwash driveway
• Fixing drain in bathtub  Nov 20
• Putting new trim pieces on faucets
• Fix porch stairs
• Fix sprinkler problems
• Fixing fence posts on left side of house
• Demo cabinet in garage Mar 25
• Replace shower door May 3
• Patch and paint touch up on stair walls May 4

These are all the ones I can think of off the top of my head, and as you can see, I have plenty to keep me busy without needing to go get any more supplies any time soon...whew, that makes me tired...LOL

Pruning Japanese Maple

Before with overgrown Japanese Maple and Lamb's Ear

I didn't get the project that I planned to get done, done but I did make a dent in the other things on the To Do list for the weekend.

This little guy has to be trimmed up every Spring to get it off the ground, and keep it under control. While doing this, I also weeded the three beds adjacent to it and re-stabilized the Japanese lantern.

It was a good workout and I felt like I got something accomplished even if it wasn't everything I wanted to get done today.

We might have rain tomorrow but I am hoping that maybe I'll get the first part of the day to do some additional yard work.

Cleaned up tree and lantern

Flowerbeds filled with weeds

After cleaning up all the weeds

Another angle on the overgrown Japanese Maple

After its hair cute...much happier

Now at least the house doesn't look completely abandoned...if I can get the lawn mowed and two more beds cleared of weeds, the front will start too look present-able.

Stair Cleanup

This is one of those tasks that has to be repeatedly done around here, but always is kind of gratifying because it is such a stark change.

I probably shouldn't let it set for so long before tackling it each time but time gets away from me pretty quickly.

The St John's Wort is nice to have for the greenery and the erosion control, but it can be a bit evasive at times and you have to stay on top of it or the stairs completely disappear.

The fence in the background needs some work. I hope to get it fixed this spring when it gets warm enough to set cement for the new posts.

Tree Trimming

I think that this poor baby gets this treatment every year. She is so pretty with all her new leaves but always needs to be trimmed up to keep her healthy and beautiful.

Before

After

Looking good and always motivates me to do more.

Lawn Maintenance at the Bamboo Lagoon

First cuts of the year are always the most noticeable and needed...

This is what the front yard areas looked like before I was able to get at them with the mower.

This side bed needs to be dug up and replanted with plants and barked....on the To Do list.

Spring Cleanup At The Bamboo Lagoon

Lamb's Ear before the cleanup

Beds all needed some cleanup...and the weather was right, so I jumped right in. I cut back all the Lamb's Ear, cleaned up the weeds in the main front bed.

Upper bed before cleanup

Lower bed before cleanup

Little bed near the road before cleanup

Bed along front of house before cleanup

After cleanup

Upper bed after cleanup

Bed along house after cleanup

The main beds after cleanup

It didn't take too long, but definitely made the whole area look so much better....now need to focus on the rapid growth that is going already all over the yard...

Plum Tree Pruning

So I have been wanting to get out and trim the tree in front before too late. Weather and time hasn't cooperated and the tree is full bloom and is starting to leaf out. I knew it would be easier to do before it completely leafs out because it is much easier to see the branches when there are no leaves.

There was a lot of cross over inside the tree and I am sure it will feel a lot better this spring and summer. One thing I have been noticing is that there haven't been many bees on the tree because of the weird weather since it bloomed so hopefully that means not as many plums as last year.

The tree still has a decent shape and I am sure once the leaves come out, it will look great. Once I got all the branches cut or sawed off the tree, I had to quickly get them cut into smaller pieces so I could get them in the bin in between waves of rain storm. I filled the trashcan in the foreground twice with the cut pieces.

It was a good workout and felt like I really accomplished something.

Fall Cleanup Continues At The Bamboo Lagoon

45 gallon yardwaste bin, big pile

Trees are pretty much done dropping their leaves now. I have done three different pickups of the leaves from the oak on the left side of our house. It is right over the walkway on that side so I tend to attack it in waves to try to keep that walkway and the little gully we have cleared.

Walkway and gully

Today, I also skimmed a bunch of leaves off the leaf net over the pool. I need to get it all emptied so I can pull it off before we get possible snow this week. I am still not completely sure how I am going to do that without getting soaked. I have to say it has worked well to keep the majority of the leaves off the bottom of the pool.

A couple of days ago, I raked up a lot of leaves off the front lawn too but still have more to go there. Filled up the bin that is going to be picked up on Monday but might be able to squeeze a bit more in...have to go through two more beds in front with the small bucket by hand because it is small scale stuff that the rakes won't work with.

Most of the front yard leaves go into the mulch bins because there are no acorns in the front yard leaves. I was able to put three trashcans full into the mulch bins, before putting the extra into the yardwaste bin.

Tomorrow hope to finish up the pool part (and will post separately on that), those small bits in the flower beds and then maybe move over to the backyard oak tree, which I haven't even started.

Tree Trimming

Pile before breakdown

I noticed when I went out the back door the other day that we had a lot of dead lower branches hanging down and with it being fire season and all, I thought it might be wise to trim them up some.

So I broke out our extended tree saw/trimmer and got to work. Pulled down quite a few branches and dragged them down to the driveway to breakdown for the yardwaste container. Raked and cleaned up the area underneath the trees.

The next day, I worked on breaking all the small branches off and then got the Sawsall with a pruning blade on it and went to town....gosh I love power tools! The bigger pieces that I cut up with the Sawsall, I decided to keep for firewood. So I put them in a tote.

All cleaned up

The yardwaste bin is almost full with the branches and the pinestraw...and we still have a week to go before the pickup...I'll just have to fill up other trashcans we have until it gets emptied.

On another note, the plum trees are doing much better now that they dropped most of their plums...now I just need to gather a few up along with some acorns for the FIL. He wants to try to plant them on his 40 acres and see if they can grow. I might see if I have some starts for him too.

Pruning Continues At The Bamboo Lagoon

Happy pruned Japanese maple

We are in the midst of some heavy smoke from local wildfires, and this has limited how much outdoor activity can occur. A couple of days before our most recent yardwaste pickup, I was able to get out and prune the little Japanese maple we have in front. It had a lot of growth sprouting from the top, throwing the shape off and then the branches were getting too long at the bottom so that it was touching the ground, which is not healthy for these little guys. So I took to it with the clippers and I am sure the pruning has made it feel so much better.

Broken branch

As you know from other posts, we have two Purple Plum trees in the yard. One in back and one in front. This year, for some reason, there is an abundance of plums on the front one, to the point that the branches are very heavily weighed down. I have been picking the plums as fast as I can and continue to be surprised that the birds haven't beaten me to them. I have been worried for a while that we would lose a branch or two (we actually lost one while I was out of town in June, and the plums weren't even ripe yet). The image to the left is what I saw when I came around the house this morning while working on some other things in the yard. At some point during the night, we lost a relatively large branch on one side of the tree. I was pretty sure it was due to four legged critters during the night, and this was confirmed by fur evidence on the tree trunk and the on the branch.

We really needed to mow while we had a small reprieve from the smoke for a few days, but obviously that wasn't going to happen with the branch hanging down, and I didn't want to the branch completely off the tree until I had salvaged what I could plum-wise. So I went indoors to get a colander and a bowl for picking, and proceeded to pick and pick and pick from both the tree and the broken branch until I felt that the waste had been reduced. I then proceeded to prune the branch off, cutting it into small bits while I went so as to not make a huge mess, and get it all into the yardwaste bin for the next pickup. While I had all the tools out, I pruned some of the rest of the tree to hopefully avoid more breakage, and tackled a few other spots in the yard where suckers were coming up.

Thank goodness these are yard shorts

After all the pruning was done, I got the mower out and started the fun task of mowing our very hilly front yard. I should mention that it was about 97 degrees out, and I hadn't eaten in 5 hours. I was only a few mins into the mowing when I could feel that I desperately needed to eat but I was determined to knock it out first. The way our yard is, I have figured out that it is easiest to start at the top, do all of it, and then mow in downward strokes over the edge of the hill to get the steepest parts done from the top. This requires letting the mower go as far as I can reach while still standing firmly at the top of the yard, and then using lots of upper body strength to pull the mower back up towards me to start over again a few inches over. While doing this, part of the time, I am under the plum tree. There were a lot of plums on the ground. On this wonderful occasion, my feet slipped on the plums right when the mower was at the farthest point away from me...and down I went onto my butt in a pile of overripe plums. The mower pulled me down the hill a bit, but I was able to get up, find sturdy ground, pull it back up towards me, all without letting go of the handle so it stayed on. I had to mow the rest of the yard with my butt looking like this but that is okay.

Once I was done, even though I was shaking with hunger, I felt a great sense of accomplishment because I knocked out everything I planned to do and the yard looked so much better. You can see in this pick that the plum tree looks kind of funny at the top, but that is because the heavy branches are still leaning to the sides. I was only able to prune off some of the lower stuff. Once the upper plums are eaten or drop on their own, the nice round shape will return.

Sprinkler Issues

Old diaphragm

Well, it seems I spoke too quick.

While over 700 miles away, I get a text from our neighbor that our sprinklers are shooting water straight into the air in the middle of the day, which is not on the schedule. She let it run for a bit thinking the timer would turn it off and when it didn't, she thankfully came over and turned off the valve to the front yard system and spigot. Of course it was about 800 degrees here while we were gone too...

I am sure that the old diaphragm died...thought we would get one more week out of it, and we didn't. So I looked up the sprinkler people online, and called their supplier to order three diaphragms thinking we might as well replace all of them at once. They haven't come yet and I am starting to get worried since we can't water in the front at all unless by watering can.

Oh, and while the gushers were going, which of course I can't determine anything about yet, a lot of bark in one of the beds got washed out...more fun work to do...LOL. I am hoping that there is not another leak in the system somewhere else...

Update: Now that I think about it, we do have a spigot in the garage, I might see if it is still functioning with the front turned off, because I could put in a rotating sprinkler for the front in a few spots. Especially if the delivery doesn't come today. Have to wait until it gets shady in front though...

Pruning Again

Before

Yardwaste day was creeping up on me and I wanted to get that bin filled up so I would feel like we were getting our money's worth. There is so much to do here in the yard that at times it is completely overwhelming but there is nothing to do about that but tackle one thing at a time.

We have a second Purple Plum tree in the backyard that is in desperate need of pruning and while I can't prune it as it needs to be done, I definitely can make a dent.

Tools of the trade

This tree sits right off our back deck and the branches at the bottom were so low that you would hit them walking down the steps on that side. There was some dead stuff in there too, and a ton of crossing branches and suckers from previous trimmings.

I grabbed the small pruners, the big loppers and set to work. It only took me a few minutes to realize that I was going to need more than those two tools. I had spread out a tarp on the deck because when I pruned the front plum tree, I found out how much of a mess cleaning up these branches could be when there were plums already on them.

In the driveway

I went back to the garage and decided what I needed was our sawsall with the new pruning blade on it. This was a perfect excuse to bring out a power tool and I was looking for any excuse. So grabbed the sawsall, our new blade, and the extension cord, set it all up and set to work.  With the sawsall, I was able to take out a couple of big branches I would have not been able to do before.

After

Once I got everything cut off the tree, I bundled up the smaller stuff on the tarp and took it down to the driveway to be cut into small bits to put in the bin. I had to drag the two bigger branches to the driveway on their own since they wouldn't fit in the tarp and I didn't want to mess up anything else during the course of dragging them down the side of the house.

It took a good 30 minutes to cut most of the smaller  pieces up to fit in the bin and then I had to fire up the sawsall again on the two branches to cut them in thirds. None of them were more than two inches in diameter so it was no problem.

If you look at the tree now, it looks a lot better even if it isn't as good as it would be should we hire a professional. And it is great to be able to walk under it without getting hit in the head by branches.

Small Tidbits At The Bamboo Lagoon

Progress on a few projects have been slow but I have been knocking out a few little things where I can.

Before

The St John's Wort was trying to take over the steps on the left side of the house again so I worked on that as I could, also cleaning out the side beds of any grass or weeds that I saw creeping through. Due to weather, this took me a few days to finish when normally it would be a short afternoon project.

This pic was taken when I had already gotten a few steps done. Since cleaning this up, I have sprayed the crevices with vinegar, which will have to be redone periodically but it does keep the weeds under control without being bad for the environment. I have two pump sprayers and one is for vinegar and one is for brush killer.

After

I have to use brush killer (which isn't good for the environment) on the blackberry, and small oak trees that keep creeping back up. It is unfortunate but other than burning the blackberry (which isn't an option) getting rid of it permanently is pretty hard to do. I have a huge section of it in the upper backyard that needs attention before it becomes a completely out of control. I have been waiting for the flowers on another weed to die so I wouldn't have to deal with the wasps that were all over the place. Now that the flowers are dead, it is time to get those weeds pulled out and the blackberry dealt with. The backyard is a little bit overwhelming for me so I am trying to just focus on small projects rather than the whole big issue that is a lot to deal with at one time.

I got some more mulch from my mom recently and I have mulched the bed that the new bamboos are in, which has really helped with the moisture retention of that area. It was a sloped bed and everytime I tried to water it, the water would run off before it would soak in. Now the bamboos are much happier and it makes the watering much easier and much more effective.

I also finally got the little bed in front that I created months ago, mulched and the plants there are so happy too. I have cut back the daffodills and other early blooming annuals that are done for the year so it is a bit cleaner as well.

I need to take pics of some of the blooming items. Just found some cool looking Chinese Poppies in the backyard but that is for another post.

I feel like I lost my momentum when I finished the main middle bed in the front yard, but I am trying to get back at it and not let the procrastination get the best of me. There is a lot of work to do to get the place back up to snuff but I think that once it is back where I need it, maintenance won't be too bad....it is just the catch up that is killing me.

Pansies And Mulch

Spring has spung in this small spot

Knew that we were supposed to get some rain and thunder this evening, so on top of all the other stuff I got accomplished today, I was determined to get the pansies I bought two weeks ago into the ground and then get the three beds I have been working on mulched so they would not dry out so fast.

I didn't even start on the planting until after 3:30 in the afternoon because I was working on several other projects most of the day. I saved 3 of the pansies for one of the hanging baskets that no longer has anything alive in it. I want to get two trailing plants to put in each basket too. I found a bunch of little weeds trying to come up in my newly cleaned out beds...but I dealt with them.

So I put in 5 little bunches of pansies in groups of three. Then I used the two bags of awesome mulch that my mom gave me last fall. It perfectly filled all three beds including along the underneath of the Japanese Maple. I will be excited when the perinnials all start to grow and bloom.

New Bamboo At The Bamboo Lagoon

So excited about this new bed. Cleaned it out during the massive cleanout for the other beds. It was filled with a bunch of random neglected stuff and I am so thrilled to find a great purpose for it.

Bed from top (before)

It is a little triangle of a bed that borders our front porch and the driveway. It gets a lot of sun.

Bed from driveway (before)

I got these clumping bamboos from the same guy that I bought the other three from last season. He had a couple other plants I got today too but they don't have ready homes just yet.

Bed from top (after)

Anyhow, I had to dig to fairly big sized holes for these two guys. Used the shovel instead of the trowel just to make the work go quicker and to beat the rain which started to come down right as I got the second one planted.

Bed from driveway (after)

I think they look awesome, and will be very happy in this spot once I get some mulch on them.

Cleaning Beds And Planting Perennials

Bottom two beds (before)

I hit the nursery and the DIY for some flowering plants for the front three beds in our yard. We have a dwarf Japanese maple in the top of the three beds and I really didn't want to plant anything that would distract from that. I also wanted to have the beds be some what low maintenance.

So I started at the bottom and worked my way up, weeding for a few hours each day. It took quite a while to knock they all out partly because I can't just pull a weed, I have to dig it out so I can get rid of the roots and hopefully not have to weed it again the following week. In the midst of my marathon weeding project, I also cleaned out a bed for bamboo (see most recent post) and also mounted a small offensive against the dandylions hanging out in our front lawn (since it is too cold still to use weed and feed yet).

The two flats of plants

After shot, this top bed was filled with grass

All three beds after weeding

I discovered in the process of it some daffodils and some hyacinth coming up in those three beds as well as some sections of ground cover. On the downside there were whole sections of the top two beds that had full grown lawn in them, and it was growing between a lot of the granite rock border. I had to pull the rocks out and clean around and below them just to make sure the grass wouldn't be making its way back into the beds any time soon.

With layout of plants before planting

After planting, and Lamb's Ear is coming back

After planting but before mulching

Once I got them all cleaned out, I set to putting in the 18 perennials I got from the nursery (one flat). I still need to put those pansies in and then mulch all the beds, but at least I managed this much before our storm this week.

What we think is a geranium (before)

Geranium with daylillies and tulips coming up nearby (after)

I also tackled cleaning up this one plant in a bed bordering the front of the house. I didn't do a thorough job on the rest of the bed yet, but it is on the list as are several other beds in the front yard. And this isn't counting the backyard....LOL.