Rock Day

More boring work... the rock base.

They certainly don't make rakes like they used to.  In case you can't see this, the rake is in two pieces.

And the rock base.  

There is not much to say... it is just a lot of work but not as hard as digging dirt... so they say.  They were dirty and sweaty so it still looked like work.

Friday will be the fun day.  We will be placing the stones.  I have already been uninvited to the event. 

 There is controversy about the big air conditioning unit right smack in the middle of this project.  Angelee (of course) wants to move it.  And to think I could have had it on the side of the house when they first put it in but I didn't care where they put it back then.  And I still don't really care where it is.  After all, this is just my backyard.  Better Homes and Gardens will pass me by for sure with this big eyesore right THERE.  Oh well, I don't need the pressure...

Cute boys available for the picking...

Every man needs a good woman to help him stay on the track, stay focused on what is important and to help him spend his money.  If it was left up to men they would spend all their money on toys or the like... not on what is seriously important.  Every woman knows how to best help their man.  The following is a partial list of some available men... for the field is white and ready to harvest...

JG

This is a seriously cute young man.  He spent the day at my house, working on my new patio with D and Sam.  I don't know a lot about him except that he wants to get into the fire academy at Butte... so that means that he has good potential.  He worked hard all day long and he loves 

peanut butter cookies.  He is quite young and so needs some more time to ripen.

Derek

"D"...more commonly known as Derek.  This boy would make some girl a good husband as he has many skills in the home building and repairing category.  He is a "handy man" to have around.   Besides being cute and cuddly, he is a hard worker and has the capability to make some serious money.  What he needs is the motivation... and this is another example of why every man needs a good woman at his side.

Sam

Now this boy comes with a word of warning.  Be careful... unless you are up for a walk on the wild side.  He is as dangerous as he is cute.   YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! 

Don't let the fact that he is a nursing student deceive you.  Oh yes, he is smart and career minded... sensitive and extremely loyal.  But he is more... as many broken hearted women can attest.

The New Project

"What now?" I can hear you saying.

By the time "we" are done my backyard will be a showplace.  Oh, not nearly as beautiful as the Robertsons or the Harris' (remember them?)  And not nearly as beautiful as my front yard and not nearly so fun as Walt's backyard.  But, still, a yard that will not be embarrassing.  And it will be suitable and fun for the preschool set.  And oh yes, once again, way too expensive.

The sand and rock for the base... of a new patio right outside my picture window.

I guess everyone knows that a patio of any worth has to have a base of rock and then sand.

This is not the expensive part... this is cheap.  And Jordon Garrett was a really good rock and sand man.

Do you see all this dirt?  It used to be lawn.  But the workers spent the whole day prepping the ground for the expensive part.  A lot of sweat went into this part... the hard part.

The extremely hard workers... "D", JG, and Sam.

Workers working...

The fence is done...

Even the hired help deserve a break... now that the fence is done.

Sam and "D" spent the morning working on the gate.  And it is beautiful!!

The beautiful new gate..  finished!!

A view from the gate.

The new play area... still in the thinking and planning stages.  We put the old chain link on Craig's list and it was gone in 15 minutes flat.  

I have gained 10 feet to my yard with my new wooden fence... not to mention new found privacy and a move from "chainlink trash" to "wooden loveliness".  "D" reminded me that I can now get a full body tan if I should so desire.

Camping before the 4th

Holiday camping... never again!

Those of you who camp over the fourth (or any other holiday) are aware of what I am saying.  Our family has had its last "Dodge City" experience where the natives, locals and newcomers are having the time of their respective lives at the expense of all of us plain ol' campers who go to bed at 10:30 expecting to sleep.  No more "MY NAME IS STANLEY" shouted thru the trees at 2 AM.  No more port-a-potties drug thru the campground.  No more rifle shots (fire crackers are for kids) at assundry times thru the night.  No more cops driving thru the camp with sirens blaring.  No more... we say!  So we went home on Friday... the 3rd and slept well on the 4th.

Lake Almanor

Darryl, Jo, Angelee and Charlee on the rented pontoon... eating Hot Tamales and having a great time. 

Sam with his new camera.

My baby boy is so cute, don't you think?  The water at Lake Almanor was kinda cold... so I was told.  I wouldn't actually know.  We all had to wear life jackets so Joshie would wear his.

Before and after

Finally!

Only because Sam is here that I am finally able to get my 'before" and "after" pictures of my house.  So... here they are.  It takes a village (Angelee, Sam, Jo) to help me to do the most simple computer maneuverings.  And I would like to thank the village for their patience with me...  And I love this Mac... not much different from the big babooshka in the other room.  A big thank you to Sam for his help with this laptop and another big kiss to Angelee for her help and pushy encouragement to me for my newfound blogster abilities.

Did you notice the lovely little wall... that was all Sam.  Who knew?

The design plan was all Shannon.

The planting and the following of the plan?  All Mike and Sam.

I am still mad that the city had the gall to "cite" me for my yard at this point.  Can they not see that we were in the middle of a "redo"?  And it is hard to believe that there is $800 worth of dirt in this little project.  I won't even mention further cost... but it is moooooorrrrrrre... lots more.  But it is way worth it.  

A big thank you to Shannon, Mike and Sam.  Sam was the actual force that started the whole darn thing.

(The back yard has begun with the construction of "the fence". 

One Side Done

Half of one side done

One half done... beautiful!

Keith's fence was the first so this is technically his second.

The Fence

My yard is not beautiful enough...

oh no... not nearly.  Now we (Sam) is putting up a wooden fence along the sides of my back yard so it will match the back fence put up by the "richies" behind me.  (And by the way, can you believe they called me up one night and asked me to turn off my backyard lights because it was messing with their TV... but I am not still thinking about that).

Anyway, I am reclaiming 10 feet of yard... 5 feet on each side.  I am sorry Angelee but I don't remember how to get this picture turned right side up.

These are the worker bees... slaving in the hot Oroville sun.

Sam, Aaron and Jessie (Sam's roommate)

Before shot... putting in the fence posts

Either Aaron is holding up the post or the post is holding up Aaron.

We have a lot more work for this guy..  he is excellent slave labor.

This is a secret confession... but this is my garden area that Chris Avila came over and rototilled for me a couple of months ago.  But I did not put in a garden... it just grew back... only worse... if that is even possible.  So now... instead of a garden, I (Sam) is putting in a fence.

Then and now...

I have looked everywhere for my "then" picture but I can only find "now"

This is my yard in all of its beauty.  Shannon designed it and Mike and Sam put it in.  And it is growing... not dying.  I have a before shot... when I received my arrest warrant from the city... well it wasn't exactly an arrest warrant, but it was a warning to attend to the problems in my yard: the high weeds and the dust.  Who doesn't have dust and weeds when you are in the middle of an improvement project.  I was so mad... but at least I am not still thinking about it!!  Anyway... I cannot find the before picture but at least I have now.  My mom would be so proud!

Final images from my visit to Oregon

Day 2... back in California

I drove about 7  hours back to California on Thursday.  And now on Friday I have a few more images that I want to remember from my trip.

This is a very private spot on Jan's property... so private that I could not make there because of the horrible steps down to the river.  Oh, did I not mention that they have a river running through their property.  Anyway, the river is way high in the winter and way low in summer.  Since this is the beginning of summer there are still waterfalls and a low, but still babbling river.  So, this is a picture of Jan's "fairy grotto" (or whatever the heck her daughter Amanda named it).  Jan had to take the picture because she does not care if she falls and breaks her leg

This is a picture of my best purchase in Oregon.  It is in place in Oroville... ready for any cat to come looking for his favorite bathroom spot.  It is called a Scarecrow and does not discern between cats, people, cars going by or nothing in particular.  I am sure many of you coming to my house will meet the scarecrow first hand.

Jan sent me home with a baby cactus.  This is a beautiful blossom from the mother plant.  Just look at this blossom and imagine this at my house someday... because you know it will never actually appear.  Jan can grow anything... its so annoying.

These are Jan and Larry's children who are still at home... Ellie, Gus and Max.    

This is Bill and Rosie, good friends and close neighbors of Jan and Larry.  I really like visiting them.  They are a way cool couple.  I especially like Bill.  I always said that if Bill were not married to Rosie and about 20 (or so) years younger, he would be the man for me.  He is so much fun.  And I admire Rosie for being so patient!! They travel, crab, feed hummingbirds, have a cat that catches hummingbirds for sport, have a garden that the deer eat, can tuna or salmon  (or some kind of fish),  have a yard that is beautiful, can grow anything... they are simply amazing.   Rosie is a nurse and a good cook while Bill is a character.  Jan has lots of friends in Oregon but these guys are the best!!

10 year low tide at Bandon

Day 5, June 24, 2009

So... today just happens to be my temple anniversary...33 years... but I degress from the interesting part of my vacation.

Anyway... our adventure for today was to go to the South Jetty at Bandon to see the ten year low tide.  Jan had never seen the tide so far out.   Anyway, we were there to see a ship that had sunk there in 1950 somthin' so we were there for "ship wreck" high adventure.  But alas, even though we made the effort to actually be there on time which happened to be 7:45 AM... there was no ship wreck to be seen.  So we had to comfort ourselves by shopping in Bandon.  Don't believe for one minute that the economy in Oregon is bad... I alone have made my contribution and I am sure we will be reading about Oregon doing much better soon.

Here is Jan looking for the elusive "ship wreck".

Look at the low tide.  This is usually all under ocean.

Do you see the Coquille River lighthouse in the distance?

And yes, I am coming home on Thursday.  I have no more money.  My friends are sick of me.  I have gained enough weight for one vacation.  My car is full of gifts, plants, yard art, chocolate, Oregon tuna, a new Bandon jacket for moi, wall art, earrings, bracelets, fudge, a vase for Cyndi for her b'day, shirts and THREE HATS...  

Great fun for all.  California, HERE I COME!!

CRATER LAKE

Day # 4... June 23, 2009

Who among you have not been to Crater Lake?  Me and Larry.  It is the prettiest lake I have ever seen.  It is indeed a crater that has filled with rain and snow water.  The evaporation is the same as the input each year and so it stays the same level.  It used to be a volcano thousands of years ago.  The volcano collapsed on itself and left a perfectly round, 6 mile across hole in the ground, that has filled with water that is now a bright blue lake.  (I even know why it is such a brilliant blue, but you will have to ask me before I bore you with the details.)

I don't know if any of you have ever seen "rock star" toes in flip flops in the snow.  Oh yes, the elevation is 7000 ft. so there is still snow in June.

The lake is really  this blue and Jan and I are really this beautiful.

This photo shows the snow, the little volcano sticking up out of the water, and the caldera.  You can actually see what the inside of a volcano looks like.  Amazing!

You can see the caldera really well from here.

And this is the famous Jan and Larry.  And yes, Larry is a real life cowboy.  Any of you who happen to be in the area are more than welcome to come to their house to stay for a few days.  They are excellent hosts.  I do not hesitate to recommend them.  But you should probably call first... :)

The Ocean

Day 3... June 22, 2009

Here I am on a beach on the Oregon Coast.  This is yours truly at Bastendorf Beach.  As you can see it is absolutely beautiful.  The day is windy and the ocean is rough.  We had a glorious day shopping and exploring the coastal cities of Coos Bay, North Bend and Charleston.  Jan and I skipped out by ourselves and did only what we wanted to do with no regulations, rules or timetables.

Jan and I are at the Coast Guard Station at Chicken Point.

Harbor side at Charleston boat docks.

A view of Charleston Bay.

Tomorrow look for more exciting adventures from Crater Lake.

Oh... the most exciting news of all.  You will all have to come to my house and view my new yard art.  And yes, I did buy it.  And yes, I love it.  And no, I did not get it at the dump.  And no, you will never find one like it unless you too go to Charley Town in Charleston.

Heaven... a mere 7 hours away!

Every year when I go to Oregon, this is what it looks like... green, green and more green.  It is so fun to leave the lovely Oroville (cough, cough) and come here to where it is either green and lush or sandy with an ocean view.  Oh, I know, it rains a lot and the weather is not hot enough to grow tomatoes yet.  How awful!!!  As for me, 65 -80 degree days are perfectly wonderful and they grow enough tomatoes for me in Mexico.  So... this is Jan's view from her deck.  

They live in a small town called Coquille which is about 45 minutes from Coos Bay and the ocean.  The drive from the ocean to their house looks like this... all year long.  If we are green from Feb. to April we consider ourselves lucky.  The rest of the time we are "golden".

This is the garden.  I can't believe I have a friend who LOVES to work in her garden.  And no, that love of gardening is not contagious, because I have not caught any of it.

The red front door.  Why does everyone love a red front door?

Look at these flowers.  They are everywhere around her house.  

Tomorrow we are going to have chowder at the High Tide restaurant that looks over the Cocquille light house.  Sound like fun?