Landscaping - Part III

I begged Matt to come over for another round of punishment...the work was just getting overwhelming and the deadlines looming. I also asked my friend Pam to again help. Luckily the both of them were ready and willing to assist...it's times like these I truly see the importance of having family and good friends.

The house was looking good with the brown accent...






More planting...




Matt putting the finishing touches on the wall








The turf arrives!



The yard has to be perfectly levelled for the turf...




Got too late that day...Matt figured he saw a UFO. Hey, as long as they can pick up a shovel come on down!!

Landscaping - Part II (And Tofino)

The next day it was up to Matt to take over the retaining wall and he did so with NASA-like precision...damn fine job!!








I worked on the side retaining wall and the perimeter drain...




Had to do some funky stuff to get it below grade




Pam came to help with planting...



...and Tash painted the belly-band




Unfortunately all too soon it was time to take Matt back to the plane. I dropped him off on my way to Tofino for two overtime shifts




On the winding road to the west coast a bear presented himself. He had no problems with me being only 15 feet away...




OK, maybe NOW he as a problem...




The beach in front of my hotel...








On the way back I ran into another bear...it is that time of year!




Just another reason it would be difficult to leave the west coast

Landscaping - Part I

It was time to push forward on the landscaping and I had numerous people working on it to get things rolling. My brother Matt flew over to help...family is always there when you need them most!


A blank slate...






The beginnings of the slate fireplace...






The fumes were obviously getting to Connor...




Retaining wall time




Levelling and pruning...




At the end of the day a much needed steak BBQ!

Crunch Time

It is now officialy crunch time. The appraiser will be here May 7th and the transfer process has officially begun. That means hitting the house harder than ever before...this weekend it was literally "extreme renos". The excavator came for Fri/Sat and Cliff and I finished the fence Sunday. Saturday was by far the busiest day with Connor, Keith, myself and the excavator working a 12hr day.

We started first with the big mound of dirt in the back yard...gonna miss the ol' thing...













Time to get rid of the old fence...







Cliff didn't know what to think with it all gone. Hey, at least his gate still works!




The big pile was dragged out to bring the back yard level up




The cat was oblivious...




I was the concrete man...used the mixer and transported what seemed like a hundred barrows of the stuff




But it sure as heck was worth it...










The front yard was no smaller a challenge. Got a whole pallet of landscape ties and Connor and Keith went to work...










What a grand entrance, this on it's own should sell the house...

Off To Seattle

It was off to Seattle last weekend to take a break from Victoria and celebrate Tasha's birthday. We took the Coho ferry from Victoria harbour and drove from Port Angeles to downtown Seattle.

They sure have a unique way of parking on the ferry...




Port Angeles is a major freighter port of call.




We had to take the Kingston-Edmonds ferry and I couldn't believe what they had in the cafeteria: corndogs!!




When we pulled up to the hotel the valet took a look at the car and must have thought "Hey, the Ho-Jo is down the road"...but he parked us anyway.




View from our room...




There is always an idiot with a camera...




Couldn't pay me enough to do this job!







We went an a guided tour of Seattle and checked out many sights including the locks...




Cool sculptures...







Pike Place Market...










Great view of the city



All too soon it was time to head back. But not before loading up on clothes at the outlet and discount stores...actually I was the one that had to be dragged away!

It was a great time but nothing beats the sight of home sweet home!