Tuesday, July 22, 2008

More of what I do all day

More Before and After Shots




While much of what I do is routine maintenance, the most dramatic changes are these reclamations of neglected properties - usually when a new owner arrives and finds the task overwhelming.  In this case, we had no ide there was a planter under the Virginia Creeper or a path under the ivy when we started.  It is harder than the routine maintenance but very rewarding.

What I do all day

Before



After


Thie new owners of this house have hired us to reclaim their garden.  I haven't met them yet but anyone who hires the gardeners before they even move in have got to be great.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Connor's Room - after the flood


For those of you who have been anxiously waiting for the after pictures - here they are.  Our computer was not working so I went out and bought myself a new laptop and I couldn't get it to read the  SD card.  After 3 attempts I gave up.  Tori popped it in tonight and it worked - figures.

So here is Connor's room now.  The walls are gray to match the majority of his car pictures.  The floor is light laminate.  He is away at Air Cadet Camp for 2 weeks.  It will never look this clean again.  I even repainted the bunk beds!  They used to be royal blue - the picture isn't great but they are navy now.


The above picture shows Connor's fish.  He wanted a kitten and I said no so he went shopping last year with a friend at our brand new Wal-Mart.  He came home with 4 comets in a bowl.  They were a bargain at 18 cents each.  I said "you know that bike you wanted for your birthday next month - it just turned into an aquarium".  That was a 10 gallon.  They outgrew that in 9 months so this is their new home - 65 gallons.  His bargain fish have cost me $800 - and cost him a new bike 2 birthdays in a row (he already has 3 bikes and a unicycle anyway).

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Connors Room - before the flood

This is what his room looked like before the flood. Off-white walls and blue carpet. And very very messy.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Jim Morning


July 24, 1929 - June 26, 2008


Many of you already know about the passing of Kevin's father. He had been in a nursing home with Alzheimer's for a year and a half so his death was not a surprise. Still, it has led to a lot of reflection on my part. What can I do - what kind of lifestyle can I live to make my life as healthy as possible? What kind of legacy do I want to leave my loved ones? What would I like someone to reminisce about at my funeral? What kind of funeral would I like? (I am thinking a simple pine box with no embalming. I am a gardener after all - just plant me!)