Ready To Go.

We are almost ready for our return drive to Wisconsin. The landscaping is complete and Sandy has been doing some of the room decorating, we have completed everything we intended to do plus more during the past month. We have also been getting to know some of the people living in the community; we have attended a couple “puppy pool parties” with the group from the dog park and Sandy was invited to the ladies luncheon by a couple of our neighbors. We have also gotten to know a few people who are regulars at the lap pool and workout room; when we return in October more organized activities will start as people arrive for the winter.

 

Before the curbing people returned, the landscapers removed the first curbing, dug down to the proper grade and clearly marked what they wanted.

 

The new curbing went in pretty fast.

 

A little hand work was needed to finish the job.

 

The next day the artificial grass arrived. They started with some fine stone, wet it, and compacted it.

 

The pieces of artificial grass were sewn together.

 

After some TLC the end product looks great.

 

KoKo approved but still insists on her trips to the dog park.

 

While the pet grass was going in out back, cabinets were being installed in the garage. This is Andy, his real job is teaching history to 10th and 11th graders, it was hot and he said he would rather be in school.

 

The finished product looks good, John says he has seen RVs with less room inside than this cabinet.

 

John also got new cabinets for the small workshop area.

 

 

Sandy has made a few trips to The Home Store with one of her new friends to start decorating the house. This was something we thought could wait until fall but we had the time to get started. John has been busy this week putting up wall hangings and helping arrange the other items on the cabinets and floor, the results are a definite improvement.

 

Outside, the walls have been painted to match the house so the landscaping process (and dust), is complete.

 

The wall hangings are actually the same size, the wide angle lens distorts the image a little. The area rug adds some color to the room.

 

The kitchen may need another item or two.

 

A centerpiece for the table and a large piece for the corner add to this area.

 

A large mirror for the foyer.

 

Another area rug, a basket and vase for the floor, some wall hangings from the old house and a new wall hanging make the den cozy but we need another chair.

 

 

 

A leather covered bench (under the window), the chairs (remembrances from Sandy’s mother and father), …

 

and some new wall hangings add to the master bedroom.

 

We have enjoyed the past month here but it will be nice to get back to the mothership and close out the summer at Rainbows End. There are some appointments we have to make and friends to call so we will be busy but will enjoy seeing everyone again. While we are gone a neighbor will be watching the house until we return.

Try Again

The paver crew was at it bright and early today and they brought a working concrete saw with them so they were able to finish up by early afternoon. The softscape crew was right behind them and they were able to finish grade the east side between the house and walkway along with the front yard. Another load of granite was delivered and they spread that in the front and the east side, after a little cleanup they were off to another job.

The job supervisor stopped to see the progress and to inform us that the formed curb around the dog grass area was going to be removed and the crew would redo that job. We had not talked to him about the curbing but he said that it turned out so badly that they didn’t want their company name associated with it. The picture we posted last night made it look much better than it was, the crew free handed it and the curve was very asymmetrical with the deepest portion of the grass offset way to the right of center. We were not going to argue his offer to remove it even though it will set the finish date back a day or two.

 

This slip form curb will be removed and they will try again. The pet grass was scheduled to be installed on Monday but this will delay that for a day or two or three…

 

No such problem with the paver crew, their work looks great. The walkway runs from the rear patio to the front.

 

The walkway and garbage can parking spot look great, they brought up the grade between the house and walkway and finished the drainage system for that area.

 

The walkway ties into the front patio.

 

They did a great job with the patio, and…

 

extending the paver theme down to the end of the driveway.

 

Pet Grass? Why do we need Pet Grass? I enjoy it when my limo takes me to the dog park three times each day!

Working on our list

We have been checking items off of our to do list while the landscaper has also made a lot of progress. We stopped at the RV storage lot here at the Ranch to get some information for this fall, at this time there are plenty of open spots so we will call them in September to reserve a spot for the mothership; covered storage is not available yet but the lot looks pretty secure.

The landscaping is moving along, we still hope they will be done by early next week. Yesterday the walls went up and the paver crew got started today, they also spread our first load of granite in the backyard. With any luck the pavers will be in tomorrow and they can do the final grading, spread granite in the front yard and paint the walls to match the house.

 

Yesterday started with the wall footings and...

 

concrete block dust.

 

That meant the walls were going up.

 

The wall in front is for the front patio, the small one on the side hides the garbage can and helps hide the satellite dish.

 

After the block was up the stucco went on.

 

This morning started with the formed cement border for KoKo’s pet grass being installed, it looks alright but it’s not done according to plan so we may have to discuss this with the supervisor.

 

The paver crew started working on the front patio.

 

The first load of granite arrived.

 

The granite covered the back and west side of the yard,…

 

it really makes a difference.

 

The paver crew was preparing the base for the walkway.

 

There will be pavers along the edge of the driveway.

 

By the end of the day the patio was looking good, they may have finished it but their concrete saw wouldn’t start after lunch.

 

They did get a good start on the walkway.

 

This side of the driveway is complete and the granite is in place.

Birthday #3

On Saturday we celebrated our little buddy’s 3rd birthday, KoKo had a pretty good day that included some extra play time and a few more treats than normal. KoKo is adjusting to the new home but she seems to be more territorial about the house than she is about the mothership. The crowd at the dog park is a little hard on her, she is not out-going with the other dogs but if they don’t crowd around her she relaxes a little and does her business. KoKo has been a part of our life for three years now and we pray for many more.

 

Hey people, this is KoKo’s day! Let’s play ball!

 

Cool, the treats start early! What’s with the “Wait” command?

 

Alright, Thank You!

 

 

We have been taking advantage of the facilities here at the ranch, we swim laps one day and work out on the machines in the fitness center the next. After our workout we shower in the locker room before heading back to the house, it’s a tuff life here but we seem to be adjusting; when we come back in fall the hot tub and steam rooms may seem more appealing. We are settling in very nice but we know we will be leaving in another week so we are talking about the other activities we will take part in when we return for the winter.

The landscaping is progressing a little slower than we thought it should so Sandy had a heart to heart with the supervisor about the time line we were promised, the plan is coming to life and we have been assured we will see the finished product next week. The plants were put in today and they look good; the City Inspector approved the wall footings this morning so they should go up this week.

 

You call that a footing? Nothing like they need up north.

 

Gravel, sand, pavers and block for the walls were delivered yesterday.

 

The crew was here today to put in our plants. This is the backyard, the centerpiece is a Palo Verde tree backed up by two Golden Barrel Cactus and two Mexican Orange Honeysuckle bushes.

 

After the plants were in they staked the Palo Verde and put the finishing touches on the irrigation system.

 

Also in the back is an Ocotillo flanked by two dwarf Red Oleander and two Trailing Lantanas (lavender), in front is a Gold Lantana.

 

The Mexican Fence Post.

 

Out front on the right side of the driveway there are two Texas Sage plants we hope will help hide the utility boxes, a Bunny Ears Cactus and an Orange Honeysuckle.

 

There will be a small walled patio in front of the house; the plants include another Ocotillo, Bunny Ears, Red Fairy Dusters (2), a Desert Spoon, two Gold Lantanas, another Orange Honeysuckle and a Parry’s Agave. Should have plenty of color here.

 

An overview of the backyard, there are three Texas Sage plants between the mound in the foreground and the Fence Post cactus.