(Almost) final grading and working garden
Less writing, more pictures this time.
Sometimes we go up on Friday and struggle to see what has been done during the previous week. Other times, we arrive and are struck but the fundamental changes in the house. This trip fit the latter pattern.
Susan's working garden is really taking shape. The group doing the work is from the nursey across the road and they are doing a beautiful job. When all is done, Susan will have a collection of raised beds, each with a dedicated irrigation circuit, an area with fruit trees, and a separate area for row crops. Roses (for cut roses) will be scattered throughout. In addition, she'll have 20 amp electrical service and a site for a future garden shed.
Up at the house, the rain held off long enough to allow the last major grading to be done. We were very nervous about heavy rains setting in before this could be completed because if this happened, we wouldn't be able to do final landscaping before late spring or summer. By Friday, the grading had been completed and the excavation and grading for the driveway was under way.
The grading will allow the landscaping for what we are now calling the "courtyard" garden which is the area close in to the house. Above the retaining wall will be an intermediate garden which will provide a more natural transition to the oak groves beyond.
As a sign that the finish is in sight, the hot tub is being delivered on Wednesday. It will be embedded into the deck on the far side of the pool just like at our Oakland house. This makes the spa feel built in while preserving all the advantages of not building it in.
As another sign that the end is in sight, the painters have started. They began in the rooms by the pool and the first coat of finish colors are in the exercise room and garage.
Last year we had a picnic for a group of friends and family the day after Thanksgiving. At that point, there was some wooden framing but no walls or windows on the first floor. We're doing the same thing this year. Maybe next year we'll actually have Thanksgiving at the house.
Sometimes we go up on Friday and struggle to see what has been done during the previous week. Other times, we arrive and are struck but the fundamental changes in the house. This trip fit the latter pattern.
Susan's working garden is really taking shape. The group doing the work is from the nursey across the road and they are doing a beautiful job. When all is done, Susan will have a collection of raised beds, each with a dedicated irrigation circuit, an area with fruit trees, and a separate area for row crops. Roses (for cut roses) will be scattered throughout. In addition, she'll have 20 amp electrical service and a site for a future garden shed.
Working garden.
Working garden from below.
Working garden from above.
Up at the house, the rain held off long enough to allow the last major grading to be done. We were very nervous about heavy rains setting in before this could be completed because if this happened, we wouldn't be able to do final landscaping before late spring or summer. By Friday, the grading had been completed and the excavation and grading for the driveway was under way.
The grading will allow the landscaping for what we are now calling the "courtyard" garden which is the area close in to the house. Above the retaining wall will be an intermediate garden which will provide a more natural transition to the oak groves beyond.
Courtyard garden (Click for a larger image).
Driveway work.
As a sign that the finish is in sight, the hot tub is being delivered on Wednesday. It will be embedded into the deck on the far side of the pool just like at our Oakland house. This makes the spa feel built in while preserving all the advantages of not building it in.
Hot tub platform. Deck will be built around it.
As another sign that the end is in sight, the painters have started. They began in the rooms by the pool and the first coat of finish colors are in the exercise room and garage.
Last year we had a picnic for a group of friends and family the day after Thanksgiving. At that point, there was some wooden framing but no walls or windows on the first floor. We're doing the same thing this year. Maybe next year we'll actually have Thanksgiving at the house.
posted by Jim Barstow at
7:58 PM
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