More Back Yard work

 

I've almost finished the back yard for the most part.  Over the weekend I added a lime tree and a lemon tree.  I planted more peppers and some canteloupe back with my watermelons.  I finished stoning the back left flower bed to match the new bed.  It looks emtpy but that is because my lantana is slowly coming back in and it's very tiny at the moment.  My neighbor chopped down 3 trees along our fence line, including one that was pushing my fencing apart!  Very exciting!  Other than that things have just been busy and not a lot of home improvement has gone down.  I'm needing to focus on the front yard now that I have the back pretty much together.

New Flower Bed

I love weekend projects that pack a big punch when they are done.  This weekend's weather was great so I decided to tackle the back fence in my back yard.  I had planted roses at the end of last summer but never got around to creating the actual beds they would live in.

Please ignore the weeds that are all over the yard.  I'm working on getting those out but for now I just welcome the greenness of them.  I had about 20 concrete bricks in the bed on the far right so I headed to Home Depot to pick up 40 more for my expansion.

40 stones at 25 lbs each.  Each carried one by one from my car to the back porch and then from the porch to the yard.  That's quite the workout.

I got them laid out Saturday morning and then Sunday morning went back to Home Depot to stock up on some more flowers and mulch.

Between the hole digging and mulch toting, Sunday was another workout.  It all turned out great though!

I can't wait until things start to fill in a little.  It's hard to see but I added another rose bush, several flowers and then my crape myrtle is starting to grow a little.

If I can keep everything alive I think it is really going to look nice in a couple of months.

Spring Begins

Rainy weekends and late freezes have been hampering my spring yard projects.  I think we are finally past the freezes so in between a few rain storms this weekend, I was able to get a little bit done.  I started with some color to get me in the mood to tackle the larger projects...like my weed issues and building out flower beds in the back.

I also refreshed the soil in my garden and planted a few items.  I am starting with 3 tomato plants, 1 jalapeno, 1 habenero and a squash plant.  This year I've removed the lattice squares.  This will help give the squash room to spread, as it tended to do last year.  In the pots I've got sweet basil, cilantro and then I'm trying my hand at some strawberries.

I actually planted the tomatoes a couple of weeks ago and they have really grown.  The others I just bought Saturday.  I still have plenty of room for a few more veggies but I'm still deciding what to add.  In the mean time I've got beds to build and weeds to kill.  The only thing still alive in one of my back bed seems to be my dog, who is really going to have to find a new place to hang out.

Live Oak Haircut

Last year I climbed up in my tree attempting to give it a trim.  It was a lot of hard work but I enjoyed it.  Unfortunately I just don't think I accomplished all that needed to be done.  I really needed help thinning out the foliage so that I could grow grass in the front yard.  Last week my neighbors were having their trees professionally trimmed and the guys stopped by my house asking if I was interested.  I jumped at the chance.  The price was reasonable and it was bulk trash week so the timing was perfect.  Friday I left for work with a very full tree and by the time I got home it was like a whole new tree!

before

after

It's a little hard to tell from these pictures but in person it is very noticeable   I had neighbors coming up to me complimenting me on my tree's new do.

before

after

You can get a better idea from the pile of branches at my curb.  The pile is about 5-6 feet tall.

Now I just need to do a little raking so that I can try planting a little more grass and ground cover.  I can already tell that more sun is getting through.  I have a good feeling about this spring!

Biscuit's First Overnight Guest

Biscuit had her first over night guest this weekend!  Hank came to visit while his mom when to watch KU's basketball team get stomped in Waco Saturday night.  Casey has been Biscuit's only dog friend so far so I was excited to see how they hit it off.

It went great!  After a few sniffing sessions, they started playing and became inseparable.  Here are some shots of their weekend.

They slept back to back.  It was very cute.  After nonstop play they would rest pretty hard and by the end of the evening they were both conked out.

Tails are wagging up a storm in this picture

These two have become great friends and Biscuit can't wait for her next play date with Hank!

Spring is Near

I'm slowly trying to come up with a game plan for my 2013 landscaping.  I am hoping to put some defined beds in the back yard, get the garden back up and running and make the front yard a little more presentable. In the meantime, my first rose of the year bloomed this week!

All four rose bushes survived the winter and look like they are going to be beautiful this year!

Oscars Night

Last night I hosted my Second Annual Oscars Watching Party!  I put up my decorations inside the house. This year even saw the addition of a red carpet.

I also put out enough food to feed seven armies.  Or at least, to feed a dozen girls as they vigorously judged celebrity outfits.

I was excited to have all three of the new Lays flavored chips to serve!  I'm not a huge lays fan but just had to know what Chicken and Waffles chips tasted like.  I think the Sriracha flavored one were my favorite.

It was a fun night with awards for Oscars Bingo and then I guess I can't complain about the Oscar Ballot contest since I took home the winning pot!  Is it wrong to invite people over and then take all their money?  At least it's an improvement over last year when I took home the least correct predictions award.

The awards ran a little late but good times were had by all!

Glutton for Punishment

I have killed nearly every green living thing that I have brought into my house, not to mention several green things outside.  My outdoor skills are improving (slowly) but for the most part I've switched to fake plants on the inside.  This weekend I decided to give indoor plants another shot.  I really wanted a large plant in the living room.  I decided on the Fiddle-Leaf Fig.

It has beautiful big leaves!  In it's native habitat these things can grow to 40+ feet but since I'm growing it in a container I hope to grow it up to about 6 feet.  That is, if I don't kill it first.  Anyway, it's beautiful and was only $9.99 at Home Depot.  I'm really tempted to get more but I guess I'll see how this one works out first.

It is supposed to get a bunch of bright, filtered light.  Hmmm.  I may have to put it closer to a window for day to day living, and then move it back for company and such.  I'll keep you posted if I can keep this guy alive!

Pinterest Solves Problems

I don't even remember what kind of search I was doing on Pinterest that led me to this fabulous idea.  I was probably scrolling through the DIY area.  I had added a shower caddy to my shower several months back.

We went through the honeymoon phase where I loved it but lately I was more annoyed with it.  It interfered with my shower head hose and I was always knocking things off.  Enter Pinterest.  Someone had posted using an everyday hook to hang the caddy anywhere versus having to hang it on the actual shower head.  Genius!

While picking up stuff for my closet remodel, I grabbed your basic coat hook.  I just picked it because I thought it was pretty.

It works great!  I can't believe I've never thought of this.  I guess this is the first time I've ever had to deal with a molded one piece shower before.  Anyway, not only does it no longer get knocked about by my shower head, now I no longer have to maneuver around a stream of water when trying to find my face wash.

Sometimes Pinterest puts a little too much pressure on you to be creative and crafty but other times (like this) it really helps out with solutions to everyday problems!

Shoes are Settled In

I am now proud to report all of my closet items have found homes back in the closet and my bedroom floors are now clear.

My heels went up in the shelves.  I will probably end up adding a shelf or two to hold more.  My ballet shoes and flip flops are in containers on the bottom shelf.

I bought a shoe cubbie for more storage.  I bought two but after putting the first one together I realized they don't fit my taller heels very well.  So one will stay and the other one is getting returned.  I'm just glad they are no longer all over my room.  While it seems I may have an excessive amount of shoes (not that I believe there is such thing) this is after I tossed about 10 pair to the donation pile.  I also got my side shelves reinforced.

Now I'll be able to store off-season items up top and get them out of the way.  Glad to be 100% done with all of this!

Biscuit Update

Biscuit is still loving life.  She recently redid her crate with a new Molly Mutt duvet.  The old one had several holes from the previous owner and she was enjoying digging on the holes.

Hopefully this one will stay in one piece for a while.  She is also still obsessed with the squirrels in our yard.  In her defense I really think the squirrels taunt her.

They get in the longest staring matches until the squirrels finally run off.  All of this excitement wipes her out by the end of the day.  Excuse the photo, but she's not the most ladylike sleeper.

We are both excited about spring around the corner.  We have had a few nice weekends and have really enjoyed jogs at White Rock Lake.  Biscuit also enjoys rest breaks.

I'm glad she has adjusted so well.  Even if she does torment Pablo on occasion.  Let's be honest...everyone torments Pablo by their mere existence.  He's not the most social character.

Closet Finish Up

I have been working on my closet after work each night and it is now about 90% complete!  The rods all got hung up.

I also put up 12" shelves above the two top rods.  I was going to do another 1"x4" support along the length of the shelf but I think I've decided to go with an L bar support instead.  I still have to buy those but they should be a snap to install.

It was exciting to start moving all my clothes back into my closet.  It's been driving me nuts having them spread all over the house.  

It definitely feels more spacious than my last configuration.

I am still trying to decide the layout for everything and how to organize my shelves.  I have an area on the inside right where I will be putting in shoe cubes.

 I'm really glad I finally got this done.  Now everyone cross your fingers that it doesn't all rip out of the wall and come crashing down.