Looking north east, just off the patio.

Looking southeast (and no we did not get a pool, that’s the grill cover), we started to re-stain the area just off the patio in order to plant all the new plants, that we purchased yesterday, in the ground. Since we are brushing the stain on instead of spraying it this time, we have a long way to go, hopefully the rains will let up and we can get it finished and get all the new plants into the ground soon.  We did a great job today considering we got started later in the day. We got about 35 feet stained today until next time…

This is called a “Red Prince Weigela” and has rich red flowers (they look pink in the photo but they are red). This shrub grows 6 ft. X 8 ft. and will go nicely along the fence, between the patio and the shed, just outside my kitchen window!

Closeup of the “Red Prince Weigela“.

This is an ornamental grass and is called, “Blue Fescue“

This is called “Crimson Pygmy Barberry” and has purplish-red leaves. This low hedge will grow 2-3 ft. X 2-3 ft. and will be planted along the back of the patio along the fence.
Gino likes it for it’s color…I haven’t decided but I do know I don’t like the thorns! OUCH!

Closeup “Crimson Pygmy Barberry” and it’s thorns.

This is ground cover and is called “Country Park Pratia“.

Closeup of  “Country Park Pratia”. This foliage has blue/purple blooms and will be planted between the ornamental grass and the barberry bush just off the back patio.

This is a “Ruutel Clematis“. I’m going to plant it in a large container and “train” it to climb up an arbor on the patio.

This shrub is called “Little Princess Spirea” and it has delicate crimson-rose blooms. This shrub will get 2 ft. X 4 ft. and will planted at the southern corner of the patio.

Close up of “Little Princess Spirea”

This evergreen is called a “Mugho Pine” and will be planted somewhere…not sure of exact spots since we bought 2 of them.

This large hedge is called a “Schipka Cherry Laurel” and has fragrant white flowers. This hedge will get 4-6 ft. X 6-8 ft. and will go great along our neighboring fence along the south, as an additional noise barrier/view blocker.

This evergreen is called a “Dwarf Alberta Spruce” and will be planted along the south neighboring fence.

Looking eastward for the shed.
The concrete piled up in the foreground was hauled away the following day.

Looking westward into the garbage can area.

This area holds all 3 cans, with 2 cans along the back and 1 can in front, very nice.

Looking east from the front of the house.
The area along the house, where the gas meter is located, we worked on the next day…

…a weed blocker was laid down and a thick layer of river rock was placed there, which matches the property line between our house and the neighbors.
Any left over rock we placed in that area as well.

]]> http://www.espinozafamily.net/blog/2010/05/14/poured-concrete/feed/ 0 http://www.espinozafamily.net/blog/2010/05/05/frame-built/ http://www.espinozafamily.net/blog/2010/05/05/frame-built/#comments Wed, 05 May 2010 23:11:58 +0000 Carey http://www.espinozafamily.net/blog/?p=3220 This week we had the same man who poured our patio last spring begin the frame work for a tool shed in the backyard, a smaller pad for the garbage cans along the house and a walkway from that pad to the front of the house. Enjoy!

Shed frame looking north.

Shed frame looking east.

Walkway leading to driveway from garbage can area.

Garbage can area looking westward to walkway leading to driveway.

Cherry and maple blocks being glued together.

After the first drying, Gino cut them, flipped them with the end grain facing up,
and then…

…glued them together again.

Then he rounded the corners, planed, sanded, and then sealed it with a salad bowl finish (which means it’s safe and non toxic!).

The finished cutting board top.

The finished cutting board bottom; it has rubber feet to keep it from slipping.

Christmas Day
Gabbi with her new cutting board.

Corner close up with pre-drilled holes.

Hinges for the storage compartment.

He also got all the legs tapered and ready to sand, router, and stain.

This is the table support and drawer without the tabletop.
It’s all tacked together for now but Gino will take it apart to sand it.

Close up of corner assembly for leg bolts.

The new leg taper shape.

Close up of left leg taper.

Close up of right leg taper.

]]> http://www.espinozafamily.net/blog/2009/12/08/project-table-part-iii/feed/ 0 http://www.espinozafamily.net/blog/2009/12/06/project-table-part-ii/ http://www.espinozafamily.net/blog/2009/12/06/project-table-part-ii/#comments Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:46:32 +0000 Carey http://www.espinozafamily.net/blog/?p=2679 Tonight he went out for just a bit because we left, so he didn’t get as much done as he would have liked. Enjoy!

The final look of the underside of the table with supports and storage box.

Corner  support and close up of storage box.

Another close up of support and storage box.

An oak panel cut in two and then will be joined (see below) to form the table top.

Glued table top being squeezed together.

Then tonight he headed out to the garage to work on it again…

A arc was put on both ends with a router to give it a less square look.

A look at the completed arc’s of the tabletop.

A sample of what the height and look of the legs will be.
The finished height will be: 21 inches.

The happy little woodworker.

A dado cut for the storage box on the underside of table top.

]]> http://www.espinozafamily.net/blog/2009/12/05/project-table/feed/ 0 http://www.espinozafamily.net/blog/2009/05/31/new-lawn/ http://www.espinozafamily.net/blog/2009/05/31/new-lawn/#comments Mon, 01 Jun 2009 05:41:29 +0000 Carey http://www.espinozafamily.net/blog/?p=1849 Yesterday, we awoke early and headed out the door to get the sod picked up just after 9 a.m., we had rented a U-haul trailer which made for an easier hauling/unloading. Enjoy!

600 square feet of fresh cut sod; cut from the “farm” @ 3 a.m.!

We laid the first piece down at around 11:30 a.m. after Gino treated the dirt with some lime. After getting a good flow going we moved along rather quickly….

Isabel doing her part with helping lay the sod down. We let her walk on the seams to get them “meshed” together. She thought this was fun!

Looking south off the patio. We finished up around 1:45 p.m. and needed to clean out the U-haul and get it back before 3 p.m.

Looking south west; around the corner of the house toward the back of the garage.

Looking east.

Time for a “Reckless Rainbow” Popsicle…and then a bath!!!!