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Recent Entries to this Blog
Another Haircut!
Posted: 27 May 2015 Posted: 19 May 2015 Posted: 17 May 2015 Posted: 11 May 2015 Posted: 08 May 2015 All Entries |
Pianolady's Gardens
Rock Talk
Category: Pianolady's Gardens | Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 2:36 am All the discussion about rocks on GS lately gave me an idea. I really wanted a landing at the bottom of the concrete stairs by the retaining wall, but I needed it to be free, using materials I already had on hand. I have piles of rocks, some pretty flat. So, I picked through the rocks and played jigsaw puzzle. 
Then I traced around each rock one at a time with my spade, and dug out a hole for each rock. We have the type of soil where you can do that and it just works as long as you don't need something perfectly level (like a patio). 
The eventual goal is to have ground cover between the rocks. I started with some of my $.50 perennials (mazus). Not sure this will be what I really want here, a sedum would be much easier. 
This blog entry has been viewed 365 times
Today's Plan of Attack!
Category: Home Improvements | Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:09 pm It might rain this morning, so I'm waiting for that to pass. We'll be thrilled if it actually does rain though. I did get the 2nd coat of paint on the garage doors last night, and it looks like it won't need a third coat, so I'm done with that. 
If it doesn't rain on my porch posts, I'll do one more coat of primer to cover the patched areas, and then the topcoat and they will also be finished. Then I'll help hubby mark the deck dimensions and where the posts will go, then we'll dig out the old concrete piers. Not sure we'll get anything more than that done today. Depends on rain timing I suppose. Finally I have a couple flats of 4" perennials to plant, they were clearing them out at $.50 each. I can never pass that up. This blog entry has been viewed 508 times
Where We Are Today
Category: Home Improvements | Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:42 pm Here's our home when we purchased it. 
Prior to new windows with shutters already removed. 
With the new windows. We decided the fake shutters had to go, we're trying for clean lines. 
I'm considering eliminating the screen door if I can talk hubby into it, and paint the front door a bright color. 
This blog entry has been viewed 581 times
Exterior Window Trim Finished
Category: Home Improvements | Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 3:09 pm The exterior trim got wrapped today. Now we wait for our vinyl siding to come in. Got to get rolling on that deck! Photos are a little skewed, everything is straight and level. 
This blog entry has been viewed 639 times
Windows Are In
Category: Home Improvements | Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 7:11 pm Our old windows were single pane with all the glazing coming off, so anything would have been an improvement. Our new windows are triple pane with argon gas. It should make a huge difference. We changed the configuration of the living room unit. The center window stays fixed, but we changed to casement windows on the side with a 25-50-25 ratio to get more air coming in the side windows. Top photo is before, bottom after. 
All our other windows are double hung, oak interior, white exterior. As we update the interior, all the trim will eventually change to oak. 
They're coming back tomorrow to wrap all the exterior trim then I can take some exterior shots. This blog entry has been viewed 339 times
Getting Ready for Monday
Category: Home Improvements | Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 10:17 pm Another weekend finishing up projects. Hubby got the garage finished taping and it's done, the storage pod is empty & ready to be picked up tomorrow, and he's doing some finish work on the porch posts to fill any cracks that show at the joints. Looking good! 
While he was working on that, I transplanted sedum to the retaining wall area and cleared out the areas in front of all the windows getting replaced tomorrow. I think we're ready! Last edited: Sun Jul 01, 2012 11:08 pm This blog entry has been viewed 343 times
HyVee Perennial Clearance!
Category: Pianolady's Gardens | Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 6:23 pm I guess it's hot and HyVee is clearing out all their plants. Gallon perennials were $2 this week, so I picked up everything I thought I could use. Also found 4" perennials at the hardware store for $.99. Picked up a dozen coral bells in a variety of colors, 4 hardy geraniums, 2 Mazus Reptans, and misc. veronica etc. Frankly I don't remember it all now. I decided to plant coral bells in front of the new retaining wall and keep it simple. Once it cools down, I'll transplant a low ground cover around them. Thinking about dead nettle or sedum, got plenty of both. 
The shade is starting to take over already at noon, but I tried to get a bigger picture of the area. 
This blog entry has been viewed 2956 times
Found Patio Furniture on Clearance!
Category: Pianolady's Gardens | Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:25 pm I don't put up "big picture" photos too often of the back yard due to its size & all the shade. It's difficult to get a decent photo. But right at dusk it does okay. Not much flowering now with all the shade gardens, and the vegetable garden in back....and the high heat! 
I did go out in the heat to find my clearance patio chairs I wanted to go with the clearance patio table I found last week. They don't actually "go together", but these were the more comfortable chairs. I paid 50% off instead of 70% off, but was tired of looking and decided to be happy with that. Chairs 
Table, which I did get at 70% off. 
This blog entry has been viewed 796 times
My New Blank Slate & Other Misc.
Category: Pianolady's Gardens | Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 12:44 am I removed quite a bit of plantings to make room for the retaining wall, allow for some regrading for drainage, and to open up the bottom of the stairs to make them usable again. Since it was opened back up, I decided to install a path to the steps through the garden. I'll probably have to remove a few more ferns, but it's okay for now. I was originally going to put a landing at the bottom of the steps, but didn't like it once I had the blocks sitting there, so I went with this instead with the round stone path. I think I'll put some kind of ground cover around everything eventually. 
My elephant ears finally came up. 
Beans are looking good. 
And the little bog garden is doing well. 
This blog entry has been viewed 441 times
Construction Update June 24
Category: Home Improvements | Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 12:14 pm This will probably be the last update for a bit, as we're finished with the garage & our deck materials are yet to be ordered. I suppose he'll get the deck started but we've yet to special order the planking. My husband worked 8+ hours / day on the garage over the weekend. All the old siding and old sheathing is gone; the old window and door and all the framing is gone; new framing put up; new sheathing put on; most of the taping is done. The garage has actual walls! 
This blog entry has been viewed 350 times
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