Low-Hanging Fruit

We are on the cusp of the final inspection after waiting on a few last details.  Almost two years since we bought the place, and just over a year since we moved in!

The only recent major change was the addition of the gorgeous built-in bookcases that appeared around the time of the Superbowl.  Russell used the reclaimed pine paneling from the original house and incorporated it into the sides of the case.  Sometime we will paint the shelves, but the raw look matches the rest of the decor nicely for now.  The piece-de-resistance is the hidden, sliding two-part shelf that Russell built into the doorway.  Now we just need a secret passageway...

While we finish up the last of the house details, the yard is growing unattended and wild and well.  I noticed lots of loquats and cherimoyas at the farmer's market yesterday, so it seemed to be time to pick some at home, too.  The cherimoyas are especially impressive in size considering we have not paid attention to that tree in about 6 months.

The lemon-lime tree out back is no such thing, it turns out.  The lemons ripened in March/April, and now the tangerines (?) are ready to pick.  Or maybe they are baby oranges.  More investigation is needed.  I filled my shirt with them and the rest of the ripe loquats.

P.S. Go Bruins!!!

Xmas Sunshine

Details, details...

We are close to being "done," even though we fully realize the work on the house will never end...

This week Russell worked on tidying up the areas just outside where house meets the ground.  He added gravel as edging on the north side of the house and cleaned up some corners with stacked stone, succulents, and even some hedges that he salvaged from a job in Olivenhain.

the northwest corner of the garage

the back door into the laundry room

Blossom enjoying some sun by the herb garden on the porch

the yard in bloom; new driveway gates in the background

the lemon tree

cherimoyas

bougainvillea

dog tired after a hike

L.L.Bean wreath - thanks, Mom & Dad!

Don't Fence Me In

The final big piece of the puzzle is coming together slowly.  The deck is tedious work: it requires screwing down the boards two times at every foot, removing and sanding the railings, waterproofing everything, drilling holes in the posts, and stringing the cables.  We still have to rent a sander and smooth down the decking before the big coat of waterproofing.

an army of screws ready for installation

Russell strings the cables

the finished railings

Russell has embarked on another tedious project: building a stone wall to connect the driveway with the front yard.  The upper tier created by the wall should be a nice spot for bocce or ladder ball...

We had a surprise nature spectacle two weeks ago when it rained (twice) and then a double rainbow appeared at dusk.  We climbed on the roof to get a better look...