Since the house plans are taking a bit longer to complete- we want to be sure everything just right with them. We've decided to proceed with back yard landscaping. We are reshaping the rear slope and bringing in some very large boulders. This will add accents and structure to the land. We have chosen Nathan Cleaver Construction to assist with this and create the boulder outcroppings.
We were able to obtain the boulders from two local sources.
Nathan started by carving back the rear slope and creating depressions where the boulders will rest.
With the large excavator he was able to carefully position each boulder giving it a very natural look. Nathan is very talented.
He even placed some flat boulders to serve as steps!
Look how large some of these 'big boys' are!
All finished and it looks great! Notice Cheryl (at left under tree) is already planting shrubs in amongst the boulders !
All is quiet for the moment...
In keeping with our sustainability goals we continue to search for ways to reduce-reuse-recycle!
We have gathered rocks, uncovered during deconstruction and initial grading, for use in the new landscape. Wood chips from the downed trees will also be used to amend the soils.
We also have these cool fir tree rounds the contractor cut for us- any ideas? steps, table tops?
Concrete from the old foundation awaits placement as a base for the new driveway.
We even salvaged an old cast iron treadle type sewing machine base left at the property and will use that for 'yard art'.
It looks like we can start with the backyard landscaping design and begin to plant some 'foundation plants' as this area should remain clear of the construction activities. Friends have given ferns, huckleberries, and various plants. We have salvaged plants from our own current yard and while attending WSU sponsored 'plant rescues' in the region. We also have salvaged a number of plants from their original location on the property and have 'tucked' them away in our make-shift on site nursery, all awaiting placement in the new yard!
There are several mature fruits trees on the property, two of which are these pear and apple, we recently had pruned and were told by the arborist still had productive years left in them. So why not keep them! We also have another apple and several types of plums.
We are currently working with the architect on house designs so stay tuned!
We spread out wood chips, that we created, along with straw and good compost on the bare spots to fortify the soils and suppress weed growth this Spring. This should keep things looking pretty before we start the excavation of the new home.
Then we put up a storage tent to keep the tools dry and a place to hang out. I will have to get some electrical stubbed into it for the coffee pot!
Cheryl's friend Nancy, a fellow Master Gardener, came by to show us how the Native Americans harvest the bark from Western Red Cedar trees to weave baskets, hats, purses, etc. It was harder than it should have been because it was too early in the season. Traditionally this process is done in the Spring so the sap is running and the bark peels off more easily.
These strips will be soaked and used in the Raab Park children's summer program.
Boy oh Boy were there alot of invasive blackberries on the property! We spent 4 days cutting them down and putting into huge piles to haul off. Some canes were 15 feet long!
Next on the list are the trees, but first a blissful moment to enjoy the sunrise across Eagle Harbor that morning- Beautiful!
Now, its time to get to work removing these four trees. The excavator was so powerful that it could simply push them over- they were no match for this brut!
The limbs were trimmed off and sent through the chipper to create piles of chips to then be spread on the land where the balckberries once were. This will suppress the berries return and any weeds. Nothing goes to waste on this job!
Then the roots were cut off and sent to the wood recyclers to be ground up into mulch.
We even coaxed the workers into cutting us some large rounds for future use as patio table tops! Aren't these beautiful?
Sadly a Lawson Cypress, the one tree that I had hoped to mill into lumber, was so badly diseased with rot in the base that it won't yield much. Still a good thing that we chose to take it out as this had a high possibility of failure in the near future.
We all worked hard that day and took a moment to sit back and enjoy the beautiful sunset!
Here is a very interesting look at the past... During the deconstruction of the Old House we discovered between the layers of walls several old copies of the Seattle Sunday Times! The word is that newspapers were often used for insulation. Great re-use but wouldn't pass today's code! Here is one from March 1, 1936. Headline article demands the Nation put finances in order! Ha, looks like we haven't learned much since then. Woolworth heiress gains strength after giving birth to son. Interesting to read back through the news of the day...
More interesting stories, read the one about the bachelors! Check out the advertisements... Ranges for $79, radios for $45, $19 for hand sewn women's suit! and dining set for $49 and two for one dental plates, and 1936 Ford V8...
With all the recent large truck and equipment up and down our lane we decided to tidy things up and lay down a fresh layer of gravel. This base rock will hold up to the rigors of construction activity and then we will finish it off with a finer gravel for the top coat. Who knows, this gravel may have had a previous life in another form.
First, the dump truck operator determines the settings on his tailgate to disperse the rock as he drives down the lane. Then he hops aboard the tractor to finish smoothing and wheel rolling for compaction.
What a beautiful job, Nice Work Rosenbaums!
Before working on the concrete pile the propane tank must be moved out of harms way. The tank will be reused for the new house.
First the large pieces of concrete footing are gathered up and placed into a pile.
Finally the smaller pieces of concrete are all 'raked' together into the pile using the excavators bucket. The truck awaits the load up. The concrete will be taken to a facility that grinds it up and turns it into small gravel like pieces to use for base rock below slabs or even in some concrete mixes
Very little will end up in the land fill.
