Mood: frustrated

I’ve never worked so long and so hard and spent so much money for a result I’m so unhappy with.

Sigh…The good news is, we got the front storm door put back together and hung. The bad news is, I lost the proper bolts for the handle and the black enamel refused to cure and there’s all kinds of little dings to fix because we had to bang it into plumb. No pix of the project until the door behind it is the red it’s destined to be, but suffice to say, I’m really tired, my feet are sunburned and I’m out of sorts.

So…let’s have cute pix of the kittehs!!!!

September 4, 2011 | | 28 Comments »

I’ve been remiss…

With the pictures and find myself with an embarrassment of riches.

We took another chiropractic trip down to Pullman today taking both the kids. It was their first longish road trip together and I’m delighted to report, they were model children. In fact, they were incredibly cute…both of them. I’ve been trying to get pix of them together ever since Shu joined us and it’s been really hard. Not today. Shu has wanted to cuddle with Ysabel, and she’s been completely indifferent. Today, he got lots of furry snuggles.

Then, we came home as I was settling in to process pix and post, I went out to the kitchen for a drink, looked out the window, and saw a nice rainbow. Read the rest of this entry »

July 12, 2011 | | 6 Comments »

Gee, I thought it would look more different…

Cleaned up the leg of the yard behind the garage today, lots of moving weedcloth to get at weeds (because there wasn’t any mulch on the cloth, putting up the little retaining wall for our (eventual) headwater for our (eventual) stream, and just general weeding and picking up and throwing out the accumulated Stuff. I also moved the rest of the big rock pile from the front to this area as it will be the edges of the (eventual) stream. I was at it pretty much all day, but it doesn’t look that much different in the photos. Ah, well. Trust me, big diff! Read the rest of this entry »

June 29, 2011 | | 9 Comments »

Big Bridge Done!

Well, give or take the screwholes and some touchup painting. But that doesn’t count! it’s done. We can walk across it! I wouldn’t advise a gorilla dancing on it, but to get to the other side and to be beauteous, it should work quite admirably! (Slideshow follows) Read the rest of this entry »

June 28, 2011 | | 21 Comments »

Catching up

Busy couple of days. Making progress on the front. Have established the end of the streambed and moved a lot more rock. “Set” the bridge in front and began the third island on the west side of the walkway. Still way short on border rock but trying to use what I’ve got in a way that will establish the low side of the islands. Also got some more planking done…til I ran out of size 6 screws.  We’re thinking that someday the top of the right concrete garden bench would make a nice “bridge” for the end of the streambed. Read the rest of this entry »

| | 7 Comments »

The front bridge.

I’ve written a review of it here which explains in the roundabout fashion some of the adventures we had putting it together. What I fail to mention is that the 4star rating is for joe public. As far as I’m concerned, the challenges of putting it together would make it a six star!

Well, gee….they took it down! Phooey on them. Here it is anyway:
We bought this charming (6ft) bridge to cross our dry stream bed in our front yard…and for practice before building a 12′ bridge (from scratch) across our koi pond. We’re extremely happy with the results. (Slideshow follows) Read the rest of this entry »

June 25, 2011 | | 12 Comments »

Sometimes God’s ways…

…are not the least bit mysterious.

The crew from the First Methodist Church across the way showed up this AM at 10:30 and in the next couple of hours got all my work for the next several months DONE and done beautifully. I cannot say enough about their generosity, their cheerfulness…and their darling kids. Yes, we had a bunch, and they hauled rock and shoveled mini basalt chips right along with everyone else. (Slideshow follows) Read the rest of this entry »

June 12, 2011 | | 18 Comments »

We have bridge supports!

(Oh, joy…I never posted this. So…think yesterday)

Our friend Steve just delivered them! Thank you, Steve!

Tomorrow, we’ll paint all the pieces for all three bridges. Get a couple or three coats on in between skating, let them dry overnight…I think we’ll have to bring the cars inside the fence…then see if we can’t get at least the basic structure up on Tuesday. Even that will disrupt the eagle’s flight path.  Anyway, hopefully by the end of the week, we’ll have our bridge finished.

Now, if I could just shed my headache and dizziness. Darn it. I think it’s my neck. Don’t really know what I did but in between planting a pretty big Japanese Maple and putting the door in and just the stress and not sleeping well, I think I’ve done a pretty good number on it. I’ve been icing it and using my relaxation balls all day and it’s helped the dizziness, but yesterday while I was weeding….I really began to wonder if my blood pressure was going crazy.

Follow up: going to see OSG and see what she says. If everything is medically OK, I’ll head to my chiropractor and see if he can fix the neck. It’s better today but still far from “right.”

But the bridge pieces are a gorgeous red! YAY!

May 23, 2011 | | 8 Comments »

#1 place you don’t want to see a Bald Eagle:

Flying up from your backyard pond.

I’m just sick. Our fish have been freaked for days, hovering down at the deep end.  Not coming up to eat…We thought it was water chemistry. Have been doing water changes and all kinds of things…Today, I was working away in my room, caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye…looked up and there was a gorgeous male bald eagle soaring away…with one of our beautiful koi in his clutches. We ran out, did a head count…and realized we’re missing both Banichi and Jago, our two beautiful black and reds.

I think we know now what happened to our glorious Yoruichi last fall. WAH!

Carolyn’s out setting up a scarecrow squirter, but I don’t think that’s going to help.  We put up the sunshade but I think we need to get more water plants…fast.

Poor fishies!!!!!

May 21, 2011 | | 17 Comments »

Mornings are tough…

They were the designated cuddle time for Efanor and me. This morning was really bad. Two weeks ago was the last “normal” cuddle before I took him to the vet and got the news. I…kinda lost it. Little Mr Eushu was so sweet. He came over and purred and soft-paw patted my face…then, when he figured I’d wallowed enough, he bit me!  :lol:

Then the day turned lovely and I could finally get out and get some stuff done. Everything is way behind thanks to the weather and the events of the last couple of weeks. So…we went after compost and manure…and came back with a beautiful Crimson Queen Japanese Maple. Home Depot had a killer deal on it. Crimson Queen is one of the medium height, lace leafs with gloriously rich color.  It’s so pretty when the sun hits it. It was a real trick getting it into the car, and an even bigger trick getting it out by ourselves, but we managed, and it’s now just behind the front yard water feature, where afternoon and evening light will really set it off. I’ll try and get a pic tomorrow.

May 9, 2011 | | 7 Comments »
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