Category: Landscaping

Sneak Peek

Because I don’t listen to my own advice, I’m pleased to show you another unfinished project… getting to this point was too exciting…long time coming.

I. HAVE. STAIRS. (this is where I do a little dance, not unlike Elaine in Seinfeld)

Once I’ve stained the wood and all that jazz we’ll have a proper before and after, but this is beyond thrilling for me. The hog panels kick ass.

Oh, and I finally sold the 19th century buffet, so Flototto has moved in from the living room at last…big change-ups afoot here.

To Do: Lattice Replacement

One of the items I listed on the To Do List is getting rid of that horrible lattice underneath the deck of our front entry.  We considered ripping it off right away, but the black hole that was underneath it actually looked worse…there are some unattractive parts of the stucco under there and it’s best to keep it tucked away.  Since we plan to use that area as additional storage for garage type items, we want to keep it enclosed with a door.

The look we’ll be going for is similar to the treehouse walls built over at a PreFab Project.  Very simple and easy to DIY, we’ll screen and add the stained strips as well as install a clear corrugated roof under the deck floor to keep water out.  Ideally, you’ll never see the roof…it will be a stealth roof.

photo by A PreFab Project

Much nicer look than this…no?

So with the hog panels as railings up top, and the slats as screening underneath, I think we may finally have a respectable entry…one day…soon I hope.

Landscape Update

tree rat revenge

stairs in the yard

front steps

concrete landing..where you can't land

front steps2

side walls

side walls

back

Well, I’ve been avoiding this hot mess post because I wasn’t sure how to bitch about it without sounding like a brat.  Impossible.  So here it is.  It would appear that I won’t have a front door by Christmas.  The Plan was not followed closely enough and now, our wooden stairway has to be rethought.  Currently, the way it is designed will drop you on the first concrete step, rather than at the pad on the gravel patio…thus forcing you to step over a wall to get to the patio.  I don’t think so. We’re screwed by about 16 inches.  We may have to zig zag a bit to make up the difference which REALLY BLOWS.  I think it will look weird and awkward and poorly planned…YA THINK?!

Just to make sure I get kicked when I’m down…the tree rats are getting a little revenge.  Remember that new paint job?  There’s about 4 boards of cedar left on the entire house since we haven’t replaced the door to the crawlspace behind the house yet.  They’ve been going for it.  Bastards.

I’ve never had a renovation surprise beat me before and I’m working hard to make sure this one doesn’t either.  I’ve been a bit depressed about this development since I usually have an “aha” solution to these things by now.  I know there’s been a lot going on…distracted…denial.

Today I walked around, looking at the old staircase lying in the mud …(my God all the mud…everywhere)…and realized it was time to walk away….at least until after the holidays.  Stick it on the shelf…even though every time I come up the driveway it will scream “failure!!” to me…Talking to the CC, I was reminded of the big picture.

CC:  Does it look better than it did…even unfinished?

ME:  Sigh….Yes…

CC:  Does it add value to the property?

ME:  One would hope!

CC:  Well, then.  Whatever it ends up being, it will be miles ahead of where we were… AND we’ve added value despite the problems.

ME:  You’re right.  You’re ALWAYS right…..

That’s why he’s a keeper.

Bratty pants here is taking deep breaths and will revisit with a solution at a later date with a fresh mind.   In the meantime, we need to fill the beds with topsoil, finish the patio with a layer of  crushed stone and basically spend a lot of time shoveling and hauling.  I’m still sore from Sunday and I barely made a dent.

So, do I put a wreath on a door you can’t get to?

no entry

The Color of Dirt

The first coat of stucco went on…and my heart sank.  It looked pinkish brown…way too much red pigment, so I talked to them about mixing in a bag of black for the second coat….MUCH better. My goal is to match the color of the soil as much as possible so that the wall recedes into the hillside.  When that first coat went on…all I could think about was how many hours I would have to spend staining it to tone down the color….very relieved I won’t have to do that now.

Santa Fe Red!

looking very Santa Fe scary to me here…..

WAY too red

First Coat Stucco

Then the second batch of mortar mix…..

second coat-new mix

new mix color

You can see the difference between the 2 colors below….

contrast 2 coats

When will it end?  Soon..we hope.  Weather has been cooperating so MAYBE by the beginning of next week we’ll be done with all this mess….6 weeks and counting….

Onward

Things at ModFruGal Prison came to a standstill for 10 days…but we are back on track and moving forward with a reformed crew.  (Long story…I won’t bore you with the details.)  We’ve been calling it the prison since those cinder block walls are so cold and unwelcoming at the moment…seemed to fit.

down to driveway

at garage wall

front

former front entry

At the side

Ugly….but I remain committed to the vision.  The block will be capped and rendered with a dark brown mortar/stucco so that hopefully it will blend in with the soil. In the spring, I hope to soften the edges with modern plantings like Equisetum Hyemale or Field Horsetail.

Equisetum hyemale grow where you're planted

photo from Grow Where You’re Planted

(Not) Shi**ng my Pants

big wall

more big wall

So…the wall/s….were looking WAY bigger than the Plan dictated.  I was a bit scared and freaked out, but I’ve been hangin’ with these guys for awhile now and I watch how they work..they seem to get it, know their stuff and best yet..are good communicators.  Inspection time for sourced out jobs is most revealing when the crew have knocked off for the day and there’s still good daylight to see what the day has brought.

The day this wall was built had me a little unnerved, but I knew Rodger was with me…I watched as they shot the laser levels to make sure the grade was within centimeters of the plan…but it just looks SO BIG.  It measured out accurately, but I envisioned the bottom step area more open, more welcoming,  than the previous “rotten wall of go away” Just as I began to worry…I am reassured the following morning…..”all these tall blocks…they’ll be cut down at a sloping angle to act as a handrail to follow code”…and to be less visually intrusive. “Phew..I was a wee bit concerned.” Heh.  Nah..I didn’t need an extra glass of wine last night..I was cool.  Rock on Rodger.

See, I knew these boys were on my team.  It may look bizarre and scary now, but I’m keeping the faith with my dudes.  I’m imagining the final, SMALLER product… rendered in tinted concrete and filled with zen modern plantings…..and in the end…I just want to finally sit under my Sugar Maple without being smack dab in the middle of a termite eaten snake pit.  It’s all good.

eyes on the prize - sugar maple