Weekend Projects

Spring is here!  It's been here about a month now and we are completely enjoying it!  Our winter garden finally started kicking out tomatoes in high-gear about three weeks ago.  We enjoyed a final harvest of cabbage and lettuce before Scott and Francois tilled everything up when I was in Minneapolis.

Also, our Lime tree flowered for the first time this spring and now little buds are growing! 

We're really excited, especially since our Mojito Mint (Yes, that is it's name - it's a little sweeter, developed just for mojitos) is growing like crazy.  Our neighbor's tree puts out TONS of limes each year so we're anticipating great mojitos on the porch with everyone soon!

As we prepare for summer, we decided it was high time to get a lawn in our back yard.  When we first bought the house, it was a dump back there!  There was a ratty fence, garbage, abandoned lattice and carpet buried in two feet of leaves (that were composting very nicely - but allowed for no grass to grow).  We cleaned all that up and trimmed as many branches up as we could, and then discovered that every time it rains hard, we get three inches of standing water in the back yard.  So then we got 4 sq yards of dirt delivered and Scott planted grass seed.  No luck.  Next he attempted to transplant plugs of St. Augustine grass from the next yard over.  Some took off, but it was too thin and frail and mostly the dogs just destroyed it running around the yard.  Also, we still flooded with rain.

Our last ditch effort entails ordering the dirt and sod and going big, doing the whole yard at once.  In preparation we had the broken cement next to the house pulled up, and yanked the chain-link fence out between us and a neighbor.

Saturday morning I freaked out a little when the giant semi truck first pulled up LOADED with pallets of sod and thought perhaps our neighbor and Scott got a little over-ambitious.  No fear though, the driver unloaded our two pallets and continued on his merry way.  Five minutes later the dump truck came and deposited 12 sq yards of dirt on our driveway.  We only ordered and paid for 8, but the truck driver accidentally loaded and brought too much, so just gave it to us.

Sunday I finished up a class for school and then headed out back to help Scott for the day.  We spread dirt for quite a while and then began the sod-laying.  Just when we were starting to get rather grumpy and tired our wonderful friends Hunter and Sashi showed up and helped us finish everything, which made the whole process so much more fun.  

Pre-dirt and sod (Saturday morning)

Almost finished 

(I am just now realizing I didn't take an "after" picture. Sorry. I will soon, as I am far too lazy to get up now and go out in the rain to get one for you).  All I can say is that it is going to be awesome and I am so excited for it all to take root and start spreading out!  We've been watering twice a day (except the last two days as it has poured and poured) and are really hoping this works!

Oh, and last thing!  Here is our NEW garden that Scott has been working on for the last week!  If you look closely you can see our version of "Wilson" (Home Improvement - anyone? anyone?) over the fence behind :) 

Overdue House Update

Alright, I am having some serious issues with Blogger today, so if the movie above isn't big enough for you, click here to see it!

We've made quite a bit of progress since this was made!  Last week Scott's parents came to visit to help us and we got a ton done!  We went through and ripped ALL the old wiring, lights and outlets out from under and above the house.  It was a disaster.  Wires going everywhere, spliced into random other wires going to places that made no sense, then spliced into the old original electrical work that was first put into the house with exposed copper here and there.  A fire hazard for sure.  Scott's dad is an electrical engineer and got some construction outlets set up for us and we're ready for all the new wiring now!

Re-siding also began and we are SO happy we contracted that out.  It's turning into an even bigger project than expected and we are glad to have professionals dealing with it.

Here's what the right side of our house looks like with all the old siding off and the house exposed...

A view from the inside.  We had to go through and sister in (Yes, sister - I'm learning all the cool construction lingo, so don't mess with me.) many of the boards that had some termite damage so they are extra strong now.  That's why some of the studs look like they are cut funny. 

We got a third dumpster last week and filled it to the brim - now our backyard is the cleanest it's been (although it's still rather pathetic looking) and we're able to take the dogs over there more often while we work.

Scott's garden is going craaazy and some of his tomato plants are NINE feet tall now.  We are running out of options for staking them very quickly!  However, we are totally digging the produce we're getting out of it and Scott goes to check on it every morning - as do a few of our neighbors as well.

Fresh salad from the garden

I'll try and keep up better with all of this.  We're going through a period of slow progress now as we set up the plumbing, electric, insulation, etc before we can start sheet rocking and such.  Very important things that cost lots of money and aren't noticeable to many people besides us.  

Garden - week 3

Our upside down garden is doing fabulous!  Here are some pictures so you can see for yourself.

Sorry, it's kind of hard to see with all the greenery behind.  They are growing so big though, and two plants are already blooming!

Also, coming soon to Casa de Mackey: a vailed Chamelion!  We are ordering him this week and he should come in the mail Thursday.  Scott is thrilled.  I am trying to get hyped up.  

Upside Down Garden

Last fall we talked about planting a garden this spring and it never really happened. Other things seemed to get in the way somehow.  We've still been wanting fresh vegetables of some kind, but haven't wanted to go to the effort of tilling up a patch of land so late in the season.  Scott found the idea for an upside down garden while perusing the internet and we've decided to try it.  We have an old swing set frame in our back yard that we've been wondering what to do with since we moved here and now we have found the PERFECT use for it!  Today we went and bought our little starter plants and potting soil and then Scott drilled a 2" hole in the bottom of each bucket and planted them.  Now we'll just be watering them and hoping for the best.

Our Jalapeño Pepper, Cherri Tomato, Yellow Pepper, & Grape Tomato plants