Water woes...

Argh. The water main coming off of the city meter is leaking yet again. The plumber came out around two weeks ago and re-crimped the connection which seemed to work at the time, but this evening while I was out in the yard (again) I noticed that it was once again sopping wet around the meter box. And seeing as how it was not that way this morning while I was out working in that area it looks like the plumber will have to come back out. I did check, and it isn't leaking fast enough to be turning the meter which is good. I sent another email to the builder and will call them tomorrow afternoon if I haven't heard back from them by then.


So frustrating. It seems to me that they may just have to redo that connection there. I don't know anything about plumbing, but that would be my first/easy solution to the problem. We'll see what happens. Thank goodness it is still under warranty!

Also, I am somewhat worried about the vitex and may dig it up and replant it. It was terribly root-bound in the pot and I am not sure if I got the roots loosened enough for it. I think I might also plant it just a bit deeper so that it is easier to get water directly to the rootball while it gets established.

Post a comment Tags: house, water, warranty, vitex

Yard update...

Feel free to skip this if you are getting sick of hearing about plants and such.


I finally got the last small holly bush moved up by the mail box. I replanted the large holly bush that I had dug up the other day over by the storm drain between my house and Tommy's house. I weeded the majority of the planting area by the mail box. I went out and found a new clematis and some portulaca and got them all planted in the front walkway bed. I also found a new card reader while I was out. I did some weeding around some of the other bushes. And I have done two loads of laundry. All before 10:00am on a Saturday.

This evening I am hoping to start getting the edging installed around the planting bed areas. Right now, it is already getting too warm out to do much more real work outside. I just hope that it doesn't rain until later in the day tomorrow so that I can get out to get more gas and then get the lawn mowed. We'll see.

I think I am going to wait until fall now to move the five larger holly bushes that are in front of the windows. Or at least until I get the red rock ordered and spread. I also want to be sure to get the patio done before I mess much more with moving and adding any more plants.

It is getting there...it is actually starting to look like a real yard. Once the rock is down it will really help make it look more "finished". Then this fall I will focus on the lawn.

There will be photos coming one of these days.

Post a comment Tags: yard

Cliche of cliches...

I ordered my mom flowers for mother's day. Not just flowers though, I got her a pretty planter full of Lily of the Valley. They smell good and I think they will grow in the garden out there...I hope so anyway. There was a gardenia plant, but it won't grow outside there. It is too cold.


All I have to say is holy cripes flowers/plants are freakin' expensive these days. At least when it comes to having them delivered. 

*sigh* Ah well, she is worth it. My mom rocks!

2 comments Tags: flowers, mother's day

And away we go!

This afternoon I will finish planting the three spirea (Bridal Wreath Spirea - they grow in a fabulous arch off of a vase shaped base and get to be 6-7 feet tall and wide when fully grown) that I bought this past weekend. Luckily, for now, I will only need to dig up one little shrub in front of my bedroom window to make way for the spirea that will be going there instead. Eventually, all the shrubs there will be moved, but for now, I absolutely HAVE to get the new plants into the ground. 


I did get the vitex planted...it is mounded up a bit higher than the natural ground level so I will need to go get some more soil and mulch this evening and put it down to help hold water and protect the roots until it gets established in its new place.

I am excited...already the plants that I put in the ground earlier this spring are leafing out and looking lovely. If I could just get around to finally edging out the bedding areas and getting some rock ordered and spread, the yard would look really great (despite the lack of lawn). And of course there is also the still looming patio extension project that needs to be gotten to.

Plants first...and then some weeding. Ick.

Oh yeah...any suggestions on how to smother out grass? I would really rather not have to try digging it all up in the bedding areas, an currently we do not have the newspaper so I don't have any to lay down under the mulch (oooo though I do have plain newsprint left over from my move out here). Anyway, other non-chemical suggestions would be greatly welcomed!

4 comments Tags: plants, yard

Clyde...

I am sad. I just got the email notice today that Clyde's HomeAgain microchip service is up for renewal on the 25th. He still hasn't been found or come home and I am more convinced than ever that a wild animal got him. It is heartbreaking to me. Right now, the ultra-hopeful side of me is contemplating extending his service one more year - "just in case". But the more realistic side of me says that it would be a waste of money.


*sigh*

I hate this. He should be here.

The last (good) photo taken of him...

4 comments Tags: sad, clyde, homeagain, still missing

Dog Park


_MG_5268, originally uploaded by neilcar.

We all went to the dog park yesterday. There are several tennis balls that are laying around to throw for the dogs - there is also water available which is fantastic! Marly LOVES to fetch..Neil got some photos taken yesterday that are much better than my recent shots of her.

Unfortunately, we also discovered that kids have to be 12 or older to be in the dog park, so we had to cut our trip short. Luckily, Beth had decided to hang out with the dogs for awhile while Neil and Chloe and I went and ran some errands, so the dogs did get some good play time in. Now we know and next time we will go to the lake where Chloe can be with us too.

5 comments

Monday - May 5th

Trivia for anyone who cares...Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's independence day. It is instead, the celebration of Mexico's first victory over the French. Their independence day is actually September 16. 


However, I am never one to pass up a good opportunity (excuse) to drink beer and each Mexican food...so viva la Mexico!


Another unproductive yard-work weekend. Though I did purchase more work for myself. Ha! I finally found a vitex (Chaste Tree). Up until Saturday, every nursery I went to looking for one looked at me like I was crazy -they had NO idea what I was talking about. I also picked up three Bridal Wreath spirea. I have finally made the decision to dig up the bed in front of the windows and replant those hollies along the side of the house where they can get big and not be so overbearing. The smaller bushes will go up by the road around the mailbox. One of the spirea will go in front of my bedroom window...and a Japanese maple will go in front of (to the left side) the dining room window...close to the walk way. What is going in between? I have no idea. 

The other two spirea will go at the corners of the house along the garage side. And the vitex is going off of the corner of the patio where it can get big and show off its gorgeous blue flowers.

I also need to get the lawn mowed today or tomorrow. Blech. Of course, I can't do it this morning because I am out of gas for the mower and have no inclination to drive into town just for that. Besides, I have two con calls today that I have to be on. 

I guess I will tackle the inside cleaning today instead.

2 comments Tags: plants, yard, cinco de mayo, housework

TGIF

As soon as this con call is over I am done for the day. Whew. What a week...and this call is a joke.


Once it is done I will change out the laundry/start another load and then I am going to consider going outside to weed-whack some more of the top of the hillside and the gully. But maybe not...I might nap and then weed-whack tomorrow afternoon.

Tomorrow morning is Farmer's Market day. Hopefully we will get there early enough to get some steaks and some pork. I am also hoping to grab some eggs and of course lots of veggies.

OK. Call is over. Time to decide what my priorities are...I think, actually, that I might work on cleaning/organizing my office.

Oh yeah! I got my "stimulus" deposit today. Thank goodness...I totally screwed up my personal finances this past week and this will cover it. Whew! Who ever would have thought I would be thankful for the IRS?

Post a comment Tags: friday, farmers market, chores, tgif

What?!?

I am still in small town, nowhere PA. This morning what to my wondering eye did appear? Snow! (There may as well have been reindeer too with as shocked as I was.) Tomorrow it is supposed to be 65 here. Go figure.


I finally get to go home tomorrow - everyone here has been really nice and accommodating of my extra time spent in their branch today. But, I can't wait to get out of here and sleep in my own bed. My back and arms are killing me from the weed-eating this past weekend and I haven't been sleeping at all in the hotel.

I miss my dogs!

And my cats!

(Oh yeah, I miss my guy too...) ;-)




In other news - apparently I am only about 2 miles (as the crow flies) from the crash site of Flight 93. I am not going to go, but it was interesting to hear some first-hand accounts of what the folks here saw and heard. 

OK...I am off to goof-off for a bit before I try to get some sleep. Tomorrow morning is semi-early. I have a 2 hour drive back to the airport.

3 comments Tags: work, travel, lonely, pa, flight 93

Pennsylvania

I am back in PA. This time in the Western part of the state...a couple hours outside of Pittsburgh. It is amazing to me how dilapidated this entire area is.


I understand Pittsburgh can be a great city with some fabulous museums, sports, art, etc...but so much of it has been let go. I know the economy here is rough - has been - since the decline of the American steel industry. But still, it is an entirely different perspective to witness it first hand.

There has also been a strange little cold front that is blowing through (same with back home too)...temps dropped over 10 degrees from this past weekend and are then expected to rise almost that much with this upcoming weekend. The overnight low tonight is supposed to get down to freezing here. Strange. Good thing I remembered to bring my jacket!

Apparently this evening Neil bought each of the dogs a hickory smoked beef thigh bone. This is after they got to go to the park again today and chase squirrels. *laugh* According to Neil, Beth got to witness just how fast Sadie can be. She doesn't show it much these days with as stiff as she is getting, but for a squirrel? Oh heck yeah! Tomorrow there are a couple trips to the dog park planned...I am jealous. I want to go too!
Sadie bone
Sadie bone
Now it is time for me to finish up the work I was doing this evening and maybe read a bit before I head to bed. Unfortunately, traveling out of this place doesn't work well so I am stuck here until Thursday. *sigh* Too bad I wasn't thinking at 4am on Monday while I was packing and didn't also throw in some project stuff I am working on. I am sure I will come up with something to fill my time.

1 comment Tags: work, life, park, travel, bone, sadie

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Anne

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Anne
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