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The lay of the land

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 I'm nervous about sharing, because theres always a chance this venture will end in disappointment.  However, in that case I can share that as well.  When we were in Las Vegas, Sophia and Ivan were watching the house and animals.  She texted that our renter neighbors were moving out.  She added "Now's the time to make an offer on that house, before new renters move in".  We've spent plenty of time dreaming of buying the house and property and extending our backyard.   Here is a google earth image of the layout.  Our house is at the top, currently with 2 less trees 😃 than shown. The fire lane path to the left of us, the rental property behind our home (also next to the firelane).  Now, in real time -I am standing at the corner where the fire lane meets the dead grass/2 cars parked spot as shown in the google earth photo.   When we got home, we decided why not give it a shot?  I had the property manager's info, years ago we...
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Pins & needles

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 Look at this little b*st*rd.   My husband James has 2 younger brothers.  When they were young they would play "down the drain". The game was the 3 boys sliding down the stairs on blankets. When his grandparents were over for a visit,  laughing at the boys playing their game.  James, about 6 or 7 -feeling much older and wiser than his brothers announced "Look at those little bastards!".   Anyway, this little rodent was all up in my face. I asked him what he was doing and he STOOD up on his legs and put up his dukes! I thought he was going to jump me.  Then with the chattering.  I'm in for it this year.  I think there were 7 scrambling around yesterday, and they've torn up my outdoor pillows again. I preemptively sprayed the peaches with hot pepper wax.  Won't hurt anyone, but maybe keep them off the fruit.  *I'm going to need another bottle.  I don't have a lot to share... well I do have something that's got me on pin...
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SIXTY

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 Age is just a number and all.   But I'm not loving the sound of that.  Better to think about the gift that keeps on giving, Sophia! We share a birthday and celebrated the duo birthdays this past weekend.  Sophia and Ivan are in Oaxaca, and i can't wait to hear about their adventure.  We went on a hike, and landed in a sea of Matilija poppies.   And as luck would have it, we ran in to the goats for hire.  Right this minute, I'm having the windows washed - the 2nd story is too high for me to deal with.  Plus the solar panels are getting a scrubbing.  Another task I'd be terrified to do. I spent Monday and Tuesday afternoons moving pots, ladders, etc., away from the house. I asked Ivan move the big Platycerium superbum off the porch to keep it from being damaged. They are doing a soft pressure wash of the house as well.  He took the opportunity to add more sphagnum moss to the interior.   And he mounted a baby I had bee...
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Kensington Cloud Forest

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 I'm lucky to visit  David Neumaier's garden  every few months or so.  He was part of the Garden Conservancy Open Garden tours this past weekend.  Of course we went to his garden first!  My first order is always checking the street-side Agave ovatifolias. It was a gorgeous day, sun overhead.  I could see he had been really getting in there and making changes to the front slope.  A Spring Clean! I love the variety, it feels so exuberant!  Russelia equisetiformis was firecrackering blooms, on our way down the driveway. Almost to the front... I love the cascading softness of this tall grass on the corner.   We made it!  Ivan and David are great friends. Ivan was over early to help field questions and such.  Along with the large pond on the lower level, David has several container water gardens.   Ceratostema ?, he has several varieties - dang the way they drape is stunning.  I had one in my kitchen window that ...
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