Some Progress

I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe.

Yesterday the landscaping men showed up and took care of the front area.  The old dying shrubs and the old Liriope were all dug out, the area cleared.  Then new shrubs were planted and some new Liriope.  Then new Cedar mulch went down and it smells great.  Some very minor trimming was done to our large Azalea bush.  It is actually starting to bloom now.

Jacquie posted online and the old Liriope plants found a new home.  So all is well there.

However, all the work in the backyard is on hold for now.  We found out that the infested trees can not be removed until an agent from the Department of Agriculture comes and inspects and takes samples.  The removals are currently scheduled for May 21st.  When that is all finished, then the work in the back can happen.  Both those trees are in mulched areas that need work.

Les and I got our Covid boosters yesterday and so far, so good.  No nasty side effects.

Take care of yourselves.  Be kind.  Life is still good.  And God Bless America!

A Public Service Announcement

I could spend a couple paragraphs here telling you about things I've been working on and what's going on here.  But instead, I will let you know of an issue. 

Last Spring one of our large trees in the backyard came out in full leaf.  In a matter of weeks, it dropped all those leaves and it looked like Fall in our backyard.  Over the year it dropped several large limbs and other branches and bits. We had been told by the man who came to cut down a smaller dead tree last Summer to watch it over the Winter and it might come back.  It did not.  This Spring, there is no sign of any leaf buds, so I called an Arborist.  He came this past week.  Took one look and said he was sorry.

The tree is infested with Emerald Ash Borers.  These things are being tracked by a national agency and he said it had to be reported.  And the tree had to be removed.  He also looked at another tree that we did not know was an Ash tree, and it also is infested and has to be removed.  Sad.  No date yet on when the people will come to cut the trees down.  

I was told to inform the HOA and let them know the EABs were in the area.  I did that.  And we received an approval letter for the removal from the HOA, even though I told them it didn't matter, the trees had to go. But it is official now. 

The other landscaping work that was to happen in the backyard is now on hold until the tree work is finished.  The work in front of the porch will happen soon I am told.  I hope so.

Nasty looking bug, isn't it?

Take care of yourselves, stay safe, be kind.  Life is still good.  And God Bless America!

Hey!

I did  not mention in my last post that while washing the windows, there was an "incident".  The very first window I was cleaning had issues and the lower section slipped out of the frame.  I tried to get it back in place, but could not.  I called our Handyman friend and he came by and put it back.  Some work will be done on that window in the near future.  For now it is secure.

Fortunately, it was one of the warmer days here, so it was fine having that window open.  Finnigan was especially happy about that.  Les took this picture.

I am taking today as a slow day and not doing much.  The last couple days I did work in the yard and got some things cleaned up and looking better.  No word yet on when the major work is going to happen with the landscapers.

Take care of yourselves.  Life is still good.  Be kind.  And God Bless America!

It's Been a While

I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe.  Les and I are okayish.

I've been taking care of projects around here, and I have people lined up to take care of the things I can not handle or do.  

Power washing of the house was done last week.  Looks very nice.  That meant I could clean windows, so now they look better.  The same day, but later, our sprinkler system guy came and did the Spring turn on service and checked the system.  He made a couple repairs, so we are good to go when we're ready to turn the system on.  We haven't done that yet.  Right before that day we had three inches of rain, so the ground was pretty soggy.  

I got our porch pansies and got those potted.  They are lovely and make me happy.

The last couple days I have done some cleanup work in the yard.  Marlowe's We Care Landscaping will be working on the mulched area in front of the porch.  The shrubs there are the originals from when we built in 1995.  And honestly, they are looking sad.  So those and the aging Liriope will all be replaced and the area cleaned up.  The first thing I told them was that the large Azalea will be staying!  We've paid the deposit and are waiting to hear when the work will be done.  They will also put down new mulch around the patio.  

New mulch for other areas is waiting until we see if we need to have the Ash tree removed.  

And we will have someone coming to repair a porch rail section.  And he'll replace the weather strip on the bottom of the front door.

Hopefully this week, I will get a few errands done, get a trip to the Commissary done, and get the cars cleaned.  I did get the car mats out of the attic and down to the garage so those can be swapped out when the cars are cleaned.  We use the Weather Tech ones in the Winter.

So that is how things are here.  Take care of yourselves and stay safe.  Be kind.  And God Bless America.  Life is good.

Remember to Change Your Clocks

Spring forward tonight!

I  hope everyone is doing well and staying safe.  Life is still good.  Be kind.  And God Bless America!

Hey

Well.....  We did have more snow and ice, and I do mean MORE.  It took a while for it all to melt and go away.

Les is doing alright, and he'll be doing his exercises on his own now.  I think the discharge nurse comes next week.  

I battled severe bronchitis for at least three weeks, but that is pretty much all better now.  Although I am on antibiotics again for another eye infection.  My eye doc said, "well, we need to have more antibiotics for longer this time".  I am doing okay.

I am just trying to keep up with things; some days are easier than others. Jacquie went with me to buy a new washer.  That should be delivered tomorrow.  Les and I got our tax form info filled out and took that to the new accountant.  We have not heard anything from them yet. 

Take care of yourselves, stay safe, and be kind.  Life is still good.  And God Bless America!

Spring Is Not Here Yet

We have more snow.  Serious snow.  I think we got around seven or eight inches.  Schools, businesses, etc. closed.  Some are just starting to reopen today.  

When I got up the first morning, our driveway and front walk were completely cleared.  MANY thanks to our very nice neighbor!  I know it was him because the only foot prints were from his house across the street to our side.  There were no tire tracks out there either.

Les and I are okayish.  The nurse and the Physical Therapist both came early Wednesday morning before the snow started. He is doing what he can.

We've been reading and watching some favorite shows.  I am feeling better, not great yet, but better, and have been doing some little extra odds and ends.

The downed limb, branches, and "stuff" that came down are all still out there in the yard.  It's all covered up with snow right now.

I need to refill the bird feeder soon.  There have been lots of visitors.  Finnigan almost wore himself out looking out the window watching!  This picture was taken shortly after the snow started.

Took this picture yesterday.

Take care of yourselves and stay safe. Be kind.  Life is still good.  And God Bless America!