Winter Endings

Well, I've got all of our photos posted and captioned, so I'm caught up there. Until I finally get around to converting all of our negatives to digital format, that is!

As 2009 progresses, we're concentrating mainly on the house and sprinkling in a few trips here and there. We've already kicked off the year with a weekend to Hearst Castle on the California Coast and are looking forward to a trip down to LA for the Annual West Coast Nationals for the Z at the end of April.

Spring is rolling in, and we're taking advantage of the gorgeous weather to throw open the windows and let the fresh air in. We're also planning on beating the heat of summer and establishing the gardens quickly!

The yards and gardens are almost complete. I estimate that there is one more day of work to put into the front flower beds and then it'll just be maintaining the plants. We've got to finish disposing of the old shrubs (the yard waste bins only hold so much!), repair two sprinkler heads and then I can plant. I'm planning on two blue salvias between the Azalea and the tree, and maybe another rose between the tree and the front sidewalk. More newspaper weed barrier, of course, and mulch. Then I'll fill the very front of the bed with colorful annuals that I can change out with the seasons.

I am very pleased with the progress of the back yard! Hopefully we'll be able to walk back there in three weeks or so. We'll overseed with grass seed to fill in the blanks and finally be able to move the gardening equipment off of the patio and back into the shed. All of the plants in the back flower beds seem to be doing really well, but the summer heat will be the true test. Hopefully everything will survive and we can move on to the maintenance stages back there. (I haven't forgotten to take photos of the Touch of Class Everblooming Hybrid...I just can't get to it without walking on the grass. But I can see it from my bedroom window, and it is doing magnificently!) 

My container garden is an ever-evolving project. As time and budget permit, I will go back to experimenting and expanding this little patio oasis (made possible by last year's purchase of the patio cover!) I intend to bring back the delphinium and other pretty flowers, and now they'll stand a chance back there because of the cooling shade that we finally have. I also intend to add a small table-top fountain and nestle it in with the plants for added serenity.

We're also looking at the inside of the house. The hall bath is so close to being completed - just needs trim, caulking and finishing paint. I need to change out the existing blue - it's too turquoise! I've chosen a calm sky blue and will change that out once the trim is complete.

My attention is turning to the master bath. I've purchased the calming beige paint, new vanity, new faucet, tile, bath mats and we've already installed the new toilet seat. Once I have the new counter top (next weekend!) we can begin demolition and remodel. I may change out the accessories and towels over time.

Sitting in the back of my mind is the kitchen. Hopefully we'll have that done by the end of the year. Budget constraints will make it a multi-stage project. Paint, countertops, backsplash and sink first. Then cabinets. Then the floor. (Or maybe floors, then cabinets...I'm flexible on that!) Then finishing touches - like a new light fixture. All with time and patience, and a little bit of elbow grease.

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