The north-east side of our house is a solid wall, uninterrupted by doors or windows. It is also the side least public (away from the driveway or the back deck area). When we moved to the house, 4 good-sized boxwood shrubs were planted along that wall and at the time we appreciated how they broke up the tall expanse of cream and visually grounded the house a little. I moved one of the 4 shrubs early on, to make a little more room to plant along the fence. The remaining 3 shrubs grew and prospered, I pruned them back but tried to leave them their natural shape (no hedge clippers here). A shade bed was installed in front of the boxwood and for about 2 seasons all was well.
Those shrubs are big. The grow deep into the shade bed. They need a severe pruning. DH suggested the possibility of taking them out entirely, I wasn't sure (after all, mature shrubs are a good thing, right?). This winter delivered several heavy snowfalls, the result of which were severely damaged Lorapetalums. A decision was made to move some and eliminate some others and to replace them with something else (more on that as it develops).
We had two arbovitae flanking the front steps. Bag worms took one and were working on the second one. The first one was removed last fall, the other one will be out of there within days. All of this re-landscaping is going to make it much easier to place the ladder for the desperately needed repainting of the window frames and the replacement of the shutters. A house washing seemed in order (and is long overdue to be perfectly honest).
All in all, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to get rid of the boxwoods after all, have full access to that side of the house for washing (and possible maintenance) and reconfigure the foundation plantings. The shade bed is now roughly 5-6' deeper than before and my mind is already plotting how to rearrange things. I was worried that we might end up regretting our decision, but it already looks so much nicer (though very bare and still with stumps, they will be removed before long) that I can't believe we didn't think of it sooner. Of course I didn't take pictures yet (too tired yesterday, after all of the fun), but I will try to get some over the course of the week and post them.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Do what you can, where you are
I find myself with an unexpected day off today. One of my co-workers needed to have Friday off and we switched. Of course a switch means that I will be working the same number of hours and days as I usually do, just shuffled around a bit. I don't know what it is about such a switch that makes me feel as if I am getting extra time. I feel energized and ready to DO something. There are things to do in the garden, of course, but after the severe rains we have had for the past few days, that may have to wait until tomorrow, so the ground has a little more time to drain away the deluge.
My instincts for "Spring cleaning" usually kick in in February, since to me that is the emotional beginning of my year (mine and DH's birthdays are only 2 days apart) and it fits well in the gardening year (not too much going on yet in the earlier parts of February. Of course this year there was the SNOW (everybody around here still refers to it in all caps, and rightfully so, it was something to be experienced). Well, it looks as if we have caught up with ourselves after the snow, so now is the time for all good (wo)men to come to the aid of their house.
I think this morning I will treat myself to an hour or two in the sewing room. I doubt I will do any sewing, in fact that is the last thing on my list, but I should be able to right some wrongs in there and maybe tomorrow, I can make use of it for an hour. I should take pictures to cheer myself on (and to provide something for the sewing blog that hasn't seen any attention since November).
My instincts for "Spring cleaning" usually kick in in February, since to me that is the emotional beginning of my year (mine and DH's birthdays are only 2 days apart) and it fits well in the gardening year (not too much going on yet in the earlier parts of February. Of course this year there was the SNOW (everybody around here still refers to it in all caps, and rightfully so, it was something to be experienced). Well, it looks as if we have caught up with ourselves after the snow, so now is the time for all good (wo)men to come to the aid of their house.
I think this morning I will treat myself to an hour or two in the sewing room. I doubt I will do any sewing, in fact that is the last thing on my list, but I should be able to right some wrongs in there and maybe tomorrow, I can make use of it for an hour. I should take pictures to cheer myself on (and to provide something for the sewing blog that hasn't seen any attention since November).
Monday, March 15, 2010
Stuff and such
Work is very very busy lately and I seem to never get a moment (even on my weekends) to blog, but at least I am still tracking with my 365 project. I am actually very excited about that, I love my new camera and am starting to get more and more into the mindset of taking pictures much and often.
Taking pictures more regularly is slowly building a habit of looking at things as "picture opportunities". Recently, the same thing happened about blogging. DH had to go to the VA hospital in Richmond, VA for an appointment and I came along for company. The entire experience was just a collection of little episodes that positively cried out for a bog entry. I am not going to go into it, DH can do it better justice than I can, but the entire episode was a string of "are you serious?" moments (i.e. the hospital can not be found via GPS, nor via road signs, which stop right before the critical turn; while there is free valet parking, there are no restrooms in the lower area, unless you go into a ward; etc). The people were very nice and helpful, though.
On the way back we ran some errands and then had to stall a bit, since DH was expecting a call on his cell, which he would have missed had we gone home (poor reception there). We decided to take a look at a truck that had caught our attention earlier, on our way through to the other end of town. We used to have an S-10, but donated it last year (poor thing was on it's last leg). We knew we wanted/needed to get another truck, but the size and power we were looking for came with a corresponding price tag. I could not see us spending that kind of money, period, and especially not on the "extra" vehicle. I should mention, that I am the truck person in the family, much more so than DH, and that I looove big trucks. So we took a look at the aforementioned truck and, well, we bought it.
It is a 2003 Chevy Avalanche in prime condition. It had one owner, who has kept meticulous records and has, I am certain, has never taken that dear truck off the tarmac. It's all snazzy inside and has all the little features that I would like to have, but will not spend the extra oomty-something thousand dollars to get (such as fog lights and a really nice sound system). So last Saturday, when DH was at drill, I took the new truck for a few errands, grinning like a fool the entire time.
Taking pictures more regularly is slowly building a habit of looking at things as "picture opportunities". Recently, the same thing happened about blogging. DH had to go to the VA hospital in Richmond, VA for an appointment and I came along for company. The entire experience was just a collection of little episodes that positively cried out for a bog entry. I am not going to go into it, DH can do it better justice than I can, but the entire episode was a string of "are you serious?" moments (i.e. the hospital can not be found via GPS, nor via road signs, which stop right before the critical turn; while there is free valet parking, there are no restrooms in the lower area, unless you go into a ward; etc). The people were very nice and helpful, though.
On the way back we ran some errands and then had to stall a bit, since DH was expecting a call on his cell, which he would have missed had we gone home (poor reception there). We decided to take a look at a truck that had caught our attention earlier, on our way through to the other end of town. We used to have an S-10, but donated it last year (poor thing was on it's last leg). We knew we wanted/needed to get another truck, but the size and power we were looking for came with a corresponding price tag. I could not see us spending that kind of money, period, and especially not on the "extra" vehicle. I should mention, that I am the truck person in the family, much more so than DH, and that I looove big trucks. So we took a look at the aforementioned truck and, well, we bought it.
It is a 2003 Chevy Avalanche in prime condition. It had one owner, who has kept meticulous records and has, I am certain, has never taken that dear truck off the tarmac. It's all snazzy inside and has all the little features that I would like to have, but will not spend the extra oomty-something thousand dollars to get (such as fog lights and a really nice sound system). So last Saturday, when DH was at drill, I took the new truck for a few errands, grinning like a fool the entire time.
Monday, March 1, 2010
I guess I should feel slighly guilty, but I don't
The post I totally blanked out on yesterday came back to me this morning, so here it goes:
I live in the country about 20 minute from a lovely small town in Virginia. Recently, a few new consignment stores have opened around town, but I have not had an opportunity to go check them out. One of the stores is on a main traffic routs so I drive by there about once a week and get to see their changing window display. They had a very nice sweater in the window that called to me, so last Thursday, I stopped by to check if it might be the right size. I think it might fit, but label wise it's too small, so I didn't ask the nice lady to take her display apart on the unlikely chance that the sweater might fit. Still, while I was there I took a look around.
Then I tried a few things on and eventually I took several of those items to the checkout. It was then that I discovered that they had a store wide 50% off sale to make room for their spring clothes. 2 sweaters, 2 long-sleeved tees, a Chanel-esque jacket and a three-piece suit for $26 and change. It is almost obscene! I should feel guilty, but I can't. Not only that, but I am going back in the next week or so, to check on those spring clothes (of course I will have to pay FULL PRICE, so I don't know....)
I live in the country about 20 minute from a lovely small town in Virginia. Recently, a few new consignment stores have opened around town, but I have not had an opportunity to go check them out. One of the stores is on a main traffic routs so I drive by there about once a week and get to see their changing window display. They had a very nice sweater in the window that called to me, so last Thursday, I stopped by to check if it might be the right size. I think it might fit, but label wise it's too small, so I didn't ask the nice lady to take her display apart on the unlikely chance that the sweater might fit. Still, while I was there I took a look around.
Then I tried a few things on and eventually I took several of those items to the checkout. It was then that I discovered that they had a store wide 50% off sale to make room for their spring clothes. 2 sweaters, 2 long-sleeved tees, a Chanel-esque jacket and a three-piece suit for $26 and change. It is almost obscene! I should feel guilty, but I can't. Not only that, but I am going back in the next week or so, to check on those spring clothes (of course I will have to pay FULL PRICE, so I don't know....)
Sunday, February 28, 2010
No wonder
The fact that I struggle to blog with anything even resembling consistency or regularity is obvious. I have never really been able to figure this out, after all, I think about things, I have stuff to say, why don't I blog about it? Over the past hour I thought of about 2 post, possibly three, one of which I was tempted to do tonight. I thought I'd wait, so I would have a post for tomorrow, after having posted already today.
It is gone. Totally. Completely. Gone. I no longer even remotely remember the topic I was so enchanted with mere minutes ago, it is completely wiped from my mind. Bother! I don't think it's age or CRS, I think it just is a sign of the times, dump anything that isn't immediately required, to avoid overload. But really...no wonder I never blog.
Next time I think of a blog post, I will at least make myself a note.
It is gone. Totally. Completely. Gone. I no longer even remotely remember the topic I was so enchanted with mere minutes ago, it is completely wiped from my mind. Bother! I don't think it's age or CRS, I think it just is a sign of the times, dump anything that isn't immediately required, to avoid overload. But really...no wonder I never blog.
Next time I think of a blog post, I will at least make myself a note.
Just because it's late, doesn't make it less true
I have carried the seeds for this post with me for a few weeks now, but until now have not had, or made the time to actually commit it to a post. A few weeks ago the Virginia, DC, Maryland section of the country was buried under about 20 inches of snow that mere weeks later were followed by two back-to-back winter storms. The government closed for almost a week, drivers were encouraged to stay off the roads and even the Washington transit system came to a grinding halt due to snow.
We were lucky in that we both made it home before the weather hit and therefore were safe. We did, however, lose power. For 5 days. Our house is all electric, so no power means no water, no heat, no nothing. We were not unprepared, we keep some camping gear in the house, so we were able to cook and we had back-up lights. We do have a small propane heater, but it is designed to heat a small tent, not a house. We have a fairly well stocked pantry with food and water stores, as well as candles, paper products and some additional pet supplies. We knew there were two big items still missing from the emergency preparedness plan, an emergency radio and supplemental heat. We had wisely left the cars on the bottom of the hill, so after two days, we managed to drive to town and arrange for a propane heater and the radio. Overall, I give us good marks for preparedness. We will improve a few things in case of future problems, but the start is made.
What really came out of this experience though, was a reaffirmation that my husband and I are very well suited to each other and make an excellent team. Neither one of us got frustrated, whiny or pissed and quite frankly we had a pretty good time throughout the whole experience. We worked together, made things as comfortable as possible, played games, read and did our chores. I'm not sure I'd want to repeat the experience anytime soon, but it is good to confirm yet again that my life partner and I are one the same frequency.
We were lucky in that we both made it home before the weather hit and therefore were safe. We did, however, lose power. For 5 days. Our house is all electric, so no power means no water, no heat, no nothing. We were not unprepared, we keep some camping gear in the house, so we were able to cook and we had back-up lights. We do have a small propane heater, but it is designed to heat a small tent, not a house. We have a fairly well stocked pantry with food and water stores, as well as candles, paper products and some additional pet supplies. We knew there were two big items still missing from the emergency preparedness plan, an emergency radio and supplemental heat. We had wisely left the cars on the bottom of the hill, so after two days, we managed to drive to town and arrange for a propane heater and the radio. Overall, I give us good marks for preparedness. We will improve a few things in case of future problems, but the start is made.
What really came out of this experience though, was a reaffirmation that my husband and I are very well suited to each other and make an excellent team. Neither one of us got frustrated, whiny or pissed and quite frankly we had a pretty good time throughout the whole experience. We worked together, made things as comfortable as possible, played games, read and did our chores. I'm not sure I'd want to repeat the experience anytime soon, but it is good to confirm yet again that my life partner and I are one the same frequency.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
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