Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day! 

As my hilarious Aunt Lisa said today: if you have a Dad, make sure you call him! 

If not, you have the day off! 

:-)

Whole House Water Filter/Softener

We finally bit the bullet and had a whole house water filtration system installed! It hasn't been installed for that long but I can tell you, the appliances (as well as my hair and skin!) are thanking us!! 

It took a whole day to be put in and it adds more pipes to our utility room but it stands right next to the well (see the blue tank to the left?). I'm so glad we have a utility room to put this sort of stuff in rather than try and figure out where it could go inside our finished basement! I think every house should have one as it makes it easier for work to be done and consolidates everything into one area :-)

We're checking things off our 2014 To Do List! How are you doing with yours?

Happy June! & plantings

Over the years, I've done some serious yard work to not just expand the yard/grassy area but also clean up the edges and put in some gardens beds. Matt and my parents have helped plant bushes and trees :-)
We've discovered some hidden gems (wild blueberry bushes) along with some problem areas - the yard isn't even close to being level and has flooding issues in the spring, it's soil is very sandy, etc. BUT! I haven't really spent time on filling in the newly created garden beds. I basically threw some bulbs and maybe a plant or two and left them. The good news is that since I added more dirt and mulch to the new garden beds as I went along, the dirt in them is getting pretty good!! :-)

 Starting point this spring of what I call the Triangle Bed. 

It sits in the middle of the side yard and is visible from almost all angles of the yard.

 My favorite maple tree sits in the middle

 Starting point for the raised garden beds along the back of the house

 the green 'twigs' are new hydrangea shoots given to me by a co-worker

looking pretty bare :(

 enter 8 bags of dirt, 6 hydrangeas

 after putting them out there..... not going to be enough

 round 2!! plants for the raised beds in back, the triangle bed and another 8 bags of dirt

 love that my CR-V carries it all plus us and Reese - no sweat!

 This is after I put in the 16 bags of dirt. 40pds a piece.

I know. Still not enough dirt!

But the plantings are looking better.

 I have to remember that the 2 center hydrangeas will grow to be 6 ft tall

the smaller ones will be 4 ft tall - ie, must leave growing room even if it still looks a bit sparse.

 love my soaker hoses!!

 I will be adding more dirt and a heavy layer of fresh mulch on the top of everything

I might pick up 2 more astors for the far left lower bed too

 The Triangle bed received all the iris from the raised beds as well as 4 new plants. 

I'm thinking the iris may move again in future, but I'm not sure where to yet, so they'll stay here for now.

I love the idea of this garden bed being a bit more carefree/wildflower like since that's what it was when we moved in - a field of flowers and 'stuff' before I weed whacked the whole thing and made it part of the yard.

Have you been working in your garden(s) lately?