Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Aug 19, 2015 13:14:12 GMT -5
Below is a link to the landscaping project to which I keep referring. Be forewarned that there are about 115 photos 
I don't know what will pop up but be sure to sort by File Name or it will be a mess. If you just want the quick before and after go to pix 1-15 and then down to photo 100 (bottom of page 5) to the end.
For those of you who are gluttons for punishment home improvement geeks do the slideshow. These were taken over the project life and with a few different cameras. I would walk around the house every couple of days or when a milestone was completed.
s1321.photobucket.com/user/pattona/library/Pacifica%20House/Landscape%20Project%202015?sort=9&page=1 |
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Jaguar
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Post by Jaguar on Aug 19, 2015 13:21:18 GMT -5
Good pictures, beautiful property thanks.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2015 13:22:02 GMT -5
Very pretty, Bonny...congrats on the improvements!
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kittensaver
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Post by kittensaver on Aug 19, 2015 13:22:53 GMT -5
Gorgeous!  |
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busymom
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Post by busymom on Aug 19, 2015 13:28:42 GMT -5
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Aug 19, 2015 13:31:52 GMT -5
Show off...  Seriously stunning! Those views are killer!!! |
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lexxy703
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Post by lexxy703 on Aug 19, 2015 13:33:17 GMT -5
Beautiful! OMG & that view!
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Aug 19, 2015 13:34:18 GMT -5
 Beautiful! You win the gold star for "How I Spent My Summer Vacation"!   LOL, I $pent it writing checks!
Well that and staining, painting and cleaning!  I seriously thought about painting my fingernails (for the first time in 20 years) for the party since they have an odd green and black hue from the oil based furniture paint. But nobody was looking at my hands during the party!
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ArchietheDragon
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Post by ArchietheDragon on Aug 19, 2015 13:34:25 GMT -5
Don't drink too much around your fire pit. They may never find the body.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2015 13:36:34 GMT -5
Those deer are going to love those new baby plants!
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Aug 19, 2015 13:41:11 GMT -5
Those deer are going to love those new baby plants! We're spraying deer proofing spray on the deer proof plants.
The Coral bells in DH's yard are the worst. Mostly it's the fawns testing things and eating the flowers. The Buddleia was chewed down but has since recovered and blooming.
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sarcasticgirl
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Post by sarcasticgirl on Aug 19, 2015 15:34:42 GMT -5
OH MY GOODNESS! now that is a great place for a party!  |
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Aug 19, 2015 18:03:20 GMT -5
Don't drink too much around your fire pit. They may never find the body. LOL, several of us were afraid DH was going to fall off the edge. We had six chairs including the Adirondack chairs around the firepit at 9 pm. We're going to remedy that with some rope lighting (think of the airplane aisle lighting) along the edge
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CCL
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Post by CCL on Aug 19, 2015 18:43:30 GMT -5
Love that little patio with the firepit and the view, of course. Thanks for sharing.
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Jaguar
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Post by Jaguar on Aug 19, 2015 19:59:25 GMT -5
I just had a much better look, awesome work and it looks so much better. Congrats and have fun!
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Anne_in_VA
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Post by Anne_in_VA on Aug 20, 2015 18:37:48 GMT -5
Wow! Great work!
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Artemis Windsong
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Post by Artemis Windsong on Aug 20, 2015 20:35:37 GMT -5
Lovely. Is that you sitting on the little patio?
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Malarky
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Post by Malarky on Aug 20, 2015 21:11:35 GMT -5
What was the date of your party...and may we attend?
It looks beautiful. And in a year you'll be enjoying it and all the pain and angst will be a distant memory.
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resolution
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Post by resolution on Aug 20, 2015 22:00:44 GMT -5
Wow! It looks gorgeous!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2015 23:45:55 GMT -5
Can you come organize and manage my home into a wonderful & relaxing oasis too?
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Aug 21, 2015 9:55:54 GMT -5
Lovely. Is that you sitting on the little patio? Yes, with our beloved Nikki, may he RIP. |
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Aug 21, 2015 9:58:44 GMT -5
What was the date of your party...and may we attend? It looks beautiful. And in a year you'll be enjoying it and all the pain and angst will be a distant memory. It was August 15th. It was my birthday present (my birthday was August 10th). I wanted a party but not a birthday party.
Day and evening turned out great. The party was from 6pm-8pm. We went to bed at about 1am.
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Aug 21, 2015 9:59:38 GMT -5
Can you come organize and manage my home into a wonderful & relaxing oasis too? LOL, with a fat enough checkbook anything is possible! |
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gs11rmb
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Post by gs11rmb on Aug 21, 2015 10:19:45 GMT -5
Beautiful view - I'm sure you're going to enjoy the results of all that hard work!
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garion2003
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Post by garion2003 on Aug 21, 2015 15:31:18 GMT -5
Awesome project, it looks amazing. and yes, that view is to die for!
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Aug 22, 2015 8:43:38 GMT -5
Just beautiful! Awesome work  |
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Aug 22, 2015 11:00:48 GMT -5
Thanks guys!
It's an enormous relief to be able to entertain again at the house. Since moving back we were so embarrassed at the condition that we only had a couple of people over during the last three years.
When we left 12 years ago the house was in reasonably good shape. Freshly painted, new carpet and clean. The lawn area (the Front side area with the large stones) was a lawn in good shape, the front hill looked good and L's yard was partially landscaped. "My" yard was just some Shasta daisies and wood chips. Therefore you can imagine my disappointment upon returning nine years later. All the walls needed to be painted, carpet ruined and most of the plants were dead. It's not clear to me whether a solenoid in the irrigation system failed or if the tenant's turned the water off for irrigation because they couldn't afford it. In any case I know I made the right decision to move back when I saw the property the summer of 2011. I couldn't put my finger on it but I knew something was wrong.
Despite my husband's snarky comments about the renters, I still think renting out the house for nine years was the right thing to do. The rent they paid over that time was about $250k or the amount of the mortgage. That helped us pay off the mortgage in 2010 and made it affordable to move back to a VHCOLA despite having about 40% of DH's pre-retirement income.
We still have a major project to do downstairs. But getting the landscaping done gives me a feeling that we're more than halfway done. |
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TheHaitian
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Post by TheHaitian on Aug 22, 2015 11:56:41 GMT -5
Seriously awesome job!! I want your type of coins |
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Aug 22, 2015 13:38:36 GMT -5
Seriously awesome job!! I want your type of coins LOL, save your pennies! We've owned this house for 20 years! |
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