Hot!!

 I have been working on getting both 

greenhouses up and running so I can

start putting plants away.    I have a

few delays but so far the Brugmansia

house is ready for the plants.   

But, it's 120 degrees in there without

the fan mid day!   The tropical one

is up to 125 degree, as I just checking.

I even had to pull in the Abutilon off 

the driveway into the cooler garage.

They were starting to fry.  So I'll 

clean they up some and add some

more supports.  They are getting huge.

I finished the hoop house to the east

of the greenhouse this morning in time

to go to the front to find a lady and her

daughter admiring the flowers about 

11ish this morning.  She loved the 

Perennial Hibiscus.   They are in full

bloom now!   But the yard is full of

bees that time of the morning so I didn't

invite her up.  I explained I was cutting

back and the yard will disappear soon.

I asked her to come back next year, gave 

her my card and she can see it all on the 

blog if she wants a tour.

I can't get over all the bees this year! d

What a difference a day makes, 20 degrees

cooler with drizzle!

9/5/2024

Back up to 100 degrees today and the smog

is so back  and there is a haze in the air.

Now ready to fill them up!

Nice And Peaceful!!

While working on cleaning up the 

Brugmansias on the driveway yesterday,

the Postal Carrier stopped to bring up

the box.  He asked how long we have 

lived here?  I told him since 1988 and

he just grinned.  Your the lady that did

the haunted yard, right?  Low and behold

he went to school with our son!   He had

fond memories of the Haunted Yard we 

did as a fund raiser for the class.  He asked

where our son was and we had a nice walk

down memory lane.   He asked if we still

do the Haunted yard and I told him, nope.

I decorate for the holiday but that is about

all.  I also got ahold of the couple that helped

us do this as we thought their son would like

to know.  What funds we collected with to 

their class for games.

I need to get the Halloween decorations out! 

Got a few lights up and decorated around the

front door with Bone's Girlfriend.  I need to 

get him out next but the big cement Pond is 

still full.

I took some fun time while stripping

and cleaning up the Brugmansias to

put them away.  I added the spiders

and lights for the outside.  First the

green what has been up for a couple

days.  Then the purple down both

side of the front.  So we have green

and purple up under the gutters.  

With red around the door and down

the sidewalk.

 I have Mr. Bones to get

out yet for his normal spot in the 

huge cement pot out front.

Last year I had a little kid that was

afraid of Mr. Bones.  So I'm thinking

of turning him into a ghost, we will 

see.

9/5/2024

Today was the day that the cement pot needed

to be cleaned out.

Before:

After:

Here We Go Again!

 A few years ago we had issues with

the neighbor to the north and noted 

that the neighbor to the east was involved.

Needless to say they are now gone!  

You just can't fix stupidity!  But yet

this north neighbor called the Sheriff

and their homeowners assn. on me.

Their treats were bogus and they know

it!  Wouldn't stand up in the courts!

He was told never to show up at our

door again!

Well yesterday guess what??   He blew

past our no trespassing sign and rang 

the door bell.  We have a sign by the 

door not to ring the door bell as it sets

the dog off.  My DH asked me if I knew

the man and I stated loudly NO!  He has

no business here!  I knew who he was and

grabbed the dog who was going nuts as 

someone was in their space and she didn't

like him.  Needless to say I was ready to

call the Sheriff on him!

You see we deal with our neighbors in 

letter form, only!  They have no business

being at our door.

Well according to DH, they too are thinking

of removing some of their trees.  Mind you

these are the folks that neglect stuff and has

a couple trees fall on their house.  What can

you say when they have more trees than their

lot can afford, plus the fire pit that burns all

the time?  Yep you are killing your own trees.

According to DH they will be doing so in Oct.

and want to come into our yard.  HELL NO!!

We have dealt with tree trimmers that came in

and kicked plants and didn't clean up at all, not

once but now twice!  We are still dealing with 

the last one on the damages here!  If you want 

to read about these, the posts are here on the 

blog.

Got to go finish cleaning up the last tree removal

as we have to take down the carport today to

get the last of it up.

While cleaning up the mess, DH said he

got the name of the tree service and would 

give it to me later. He said they wanted to 

put plywood down on our side of the fence. 

The look on my face must of been priceless!  

I asked how many tree are they taking out? 

He said he didn't get a number out of him 

and I told him, he was fishing!

I asked if DH remembered what the neighbor 

said the last time he showed up at the door?  

Nope and I told him from now on, anyone

comes to the door they are told, go away! 

If this neighbor show up again I will call 

the Sheriff on him and we will be getting 

a restraining order on him because he was

told the last time never show up at our 

door again! He is such a liar and the issue 

he has caused in the past was enough to 

get a restraining order on him!

Yes, this is the neighbor that has the firepit

that burns all the time, the same neighbor 

that has the trees that drop leaves we pick 

up yearly and last year was 28 bags! Never 

offered to pay for the removal or my time! 

Same neighbor that the trees fell on their house!

The one that I have posted photos of the dead

branches that trash our north fence line. They 

also removed their fence to gain property to

our fence.  Excuse me it was ruled that all

property to the north have some sort of fence

up!  I will add nothing from our yard goes

over their fence.  Previous owners have 

allowed us to put the leaves between the 

fence in what the County calls no man's

land.  But this guy removed his fence and

doesn't want his leaves returned, hence he

called the Sheriff and homeowner's assn.

So why isn't they being told to put up their

fence?  Their tree roots have pulled up our

PVC fence numerous times.  To the point too

that the roots are killing our Rose of Sharons,

which were all planted at the same time.  They

range from 1 foot to over 6 foot. The 1 footer

is up under one of the huge Maple trees.  They

don't water their trees so the roots come here

as we water our gardens.   

The trees lean like you wouldn't believe and 

hang over our yard.   All DH said was he said 

the large Maple, which one?  DH said he didn't

know and again I said he was fishing.  DH said 

I get to write them a letter!  The letter has been

sent!!

Why do my neighbors feel they can trash adjacent

neighbor's yards?

When Pa's Tree Service did the west neighbors'

trees, we allow them to come in the yard to clean

up and let me tell you it was a joke!  They were

seen kicking plants, not picking up and left pine

chip, not a one was picked up.  We do not mulch

with pine chips from neighbors' trees!  We know

that is what brings in the ants.

Earlier this month a second neighbor hired SavaTree

tree service and let me tell you they were just as 

bad!  Only I refused to allow them in the yard due to

what we saw.  We were told they would use ropes and 

lower the limbs.  Well guess someone lied!   I went out

the first day and there were limbs bigger than me and

no way could I lift it over the 6 foot fence.  The last thing

I told the man was, up under that carport is a classic car

and nothing should hit it!  I was told just a few small

branches and pine cones to pick up.

They paid for the carport but nothing else.  I ended up

cutting the Heavenly Bamboo to the ground as there was

so much that came down and pushed them forward and

smashed them.  Every day they came in, our yard was 

clean and they just trashed it.  They even watched me

clean the roofs and what came down.  They didn't even

clean up the circle we live on and left the neighbors yard

full of pine cones, didn't clean up one bit.

Now you know why I won't allow Tree Services to enter

our yard, they don't clean up at all.  I just love when they 

state that they also do landscaping.

So now we wait to hear what the neighbors are going to do

to the north of us.  I cleaned up the yard weekly due to their

trees drop junk all the time!  I don't think they are going to 

put plywood all over our yard / .31 acres.   

Let me tell you the small lot they live on has

more trees than any lot in that subdivision! 

Yep my neighbors are a trip!  I have lost count

of how many times the Sheriff has been called

on me by them.  Let's just say the last Officer

that showed up left with an ear full and then I

turned him in for the BS reason he came out 

for in what he stated was a courtesy call.  Yea

right, I will not be bullied!!  I'm sure the file on

me at the County level is full of their BS!  I'm 

very vocal and they taught me well what I can

or can't say as they put their folks in place!  You

can read about my dear neighbors here.  One

Judge told some of our neighbors, "Leave these

folks alone!" Yes, we will take you to court! 

Ask some of the neighbors that have moved

away after they pulled their BS!  The drug 

dealers, the folks that sold stolen goods, 

the folks that stole your gas or other goods

and more!

Yes, the cameras on our home work!

Got a letter from the neighbor to the north

and again he is saying something different

from what he told my husband.  

According to the law the trees are on their

property and we don't have to allow them 

on ours!  The gull of these folks, they want

us to give them full release of liability.  That

isn't going to happen nor are their Tree folks

going to have access to our property!

He stated work would be done on one maple

tree but his letter states 4 now.  He also stated

the work would be done in Oct. now it states

the work would be done Sept. 24 and 25th.

They want to put down plywood in our yard,

that isn't going to happen as they are not going

to have access!  

Yep he said one thing and when asked to have 

it in writing the story changes.  What is that

golden rule?  Time to write another letter.

They should be getting the letter and by the

way a copy went to their tree service.  I just

don't trust this guy!

Again no access to our yard!  It will be clean

and it better stay that way.

It's time to go to court!

New Outlook!!

 Thank you Microsoft!

Love the the 2 clicks to get

rid of spam and unverified

spam!  Blocked and deleted!

Less time to get rid of than 

it took them to create the spam!

Best new update yet!!    I can 

tell you most of mine is from

Germany, whom thinks they are

slick and sending from all over.

I have tracked the IP addresses that

they use.

A Day Of Rain!

 Finally!!  

We really need the rain!  They are 

even saying a possible snow in the

mountains.  Sorry but it's a little 

early for the snow word!

Let it rain!  A day of rest and

potting up some plants.

Not, some stupid spammer

called at 7:15 am! Now you

know why I don't answer the

phone.  No respect!

Well the sun is shining so I 

need to water the greenhouse. 

What Greeted Me This Morning!

 

Brugmansia Corner starting to bloom!

8/22/2024 - Photo

Just breath taking and fragrant!!  Got to love those

night bloomers.

The South side photo.

Again Smoke Is In The Air!

 The closest Fire is 44 miles away

but the smoke is heavy in the valley.

Well the neighbor to the northwest 

thought they would grill tonight, 

more smoke in the air and no one

could open their windows for some

fresh air.

Smoke and Cancer go hand in hand!

Come on rain!!

A Storm Is Coming!

 Can't wait!!

Still raining but it was a fun ride!

I was out closing up and turning 

the greenhouse lights on.  Saw the

bolt of lighting and it's was time to

come inside for sure.  Lots of 

lightening, thunder, wind (60 mph)

and rain!!

Calm for right now!

8/14/2024----Microsoft Update

 Wow, needed the BitLocker numbers

three times today to get the laptop updated!

Heads Up!!

What A Day/Week!!

 Information and photos will be posted

soon!   I need to cool down some!

On Sunday while watering the neighbor

to the east walked to the end of our

driveway and said, "We are having the

trees remove on the 12th and 13th."

I looked at him and said, "thank you!'

That would be Monday and Tuesday, 

less than 24 hour notice!  

Monday is DH flex day and so he was

home.  I asked about the classic carport

as the neighbor's move their carport in 

their back yard and remove the chain link

on the west side.  DH had other plans for

his day off and all he would say is they 

better be careful.  I reminded him of the 

neighbor to the west, the mess I had to 

deal with after they removed their trees.

I also reminded him of how they cleaned

up the yard and kicked the plants.

All he would said is he hoped they hire

better tree folks.   

Well he didn't get his wish!!

I was out watering when they arrived.

I was not a happy camper at that time

8:00 am on Tuesday morning!  My time

to have some peace and do some yard

work.  I finished the watering out back

and turned around to find a worker waiting

for me to come back to the front yard.

He told me they would be roping all the 

branches and I would have very little things

dropping in our yard, they have no control 

of the pine cones.  I looked at him and told 

him that there was a classic car up under

the carport and they better be careful.  He 

then told me they would clean up afterwards

in our yard.  NOPE, was my words!  I have

dealt with other tree trimmers and no one 

has permission to enter our yard to clean up

due to what I grow.   I told him we have had

damage from these trees in the past and

thanked him as we knew all about the trees.

You see we have had an arborist out and 

was advised to be careful and knew what

could happen.  

The previous owners of the house cut clear

up on the east side and did nothing on our

side.  If we wanted to trim, we couldn't and 

we had limbs over the top of our shed.  DH 

has taken several limbs off the shed before

they moved.  After the bad storm and the limbs

coming down and taking out the greenhouse 

and fence they had a cheap tree trimmer come

out for the appearance they did something.  

That company butchered the trees even more.

 

The house was sold and we informed the new 

owners by a letter of the issues.  The next winter

was bad and I continued to clean up the messes

that were weekly, sometimes more.  I had

parts from the portable greenhouse that was

put in the west garden bed for shade.  I put up 

a partial setting to cover the greenhouse and 

store the potted clematis over last winter to 

protect them.  I held my breath all winter!

The plastic and frame are still up due to all

the sap coming out of the trees.  I have to 

order new plastic this fall as it's totally covered

in little dots of sap.   Sure saves the greenhouse!!

When the crew took lunch break I ventured out

to check on the mess.  Let's just say they 

weren't as careful as they said they would be 

and the carport needs to be replaced due to 

damage we found.

 

  

Poor Heavenly Bamboo took a beating with all

the limbs dropped.

So I grabbed the rake, opened the

fence and raked the mess to the 

driveway!  I  noticed that they 

has some gal out there and they were

out by the truck across the circle.

NO one came to the door to tell us

of the damages! 

Mind you this is all caught on the

cameras that we have on the house.

It took me 2 hours of work to clean up 

this area and this is what it's like this am

when they arrived to work.

This is a national tree service.   When DH got

home after a day of work he was not a happy 

camper!   He had gotten the photos of some of

the damages!  Photos of the mess and when he

saw me he knew I had a ruff day!  I pulled up 

the camera footage and he saw it.  He asked 

if someone came to the door and I told him 

no!

So we both got on the computer to find out

whom we needed to contact.  Boy were we 

shocked at what we found.  Nationally know

company and DH was ready to go to BBB 

on this mess.  Their out of Portland but list 

their address here in Vancouver as the Portland

address with a 360 area code to appears

they are local for the area.   Their information 

is not what we had happen to our yard and 

the mess that was left in the neighbor's yard 

over night.  What was left on our driveway 

was raked to the neighbors yard and the bucket 

that I picked up was then put on the mess.

There is no way we can get to the mess between 

the carport and fence until the car is removed!!

When I went to bed early, DH was still on the 

computer scratching his head at what he was 

reading.  I looked at him and he said he would

handle it.  He had ordered a new cover for the 

carport as he knew he couldn't wait for them 

to cover the damages.   He left this am with a 

letter in hand.  What ya bet it was only the carport

he requested for damages??   Not the damage 

to the Bamboo??  Or what mess I had to take care

of.    

Don't get me wrong, we are glad to see 

these trees gone but what we have to deal 

with to get this done isn't right either.  

Is it fair to trash your neighbor's yard

and have to deal with the mess? Tree 

folks are the worst.  We laugh when 

we read how they state they care!  

Folks that have forest trees in their 

yards don't care what their neighbors 

have to deal with.  Let alone when 

they are huge what it's like to remove.

These trees needed to be removed 

before they do damage and nothing 

will grow up under them. Let alone 

what their roots do to adjacent properties.

8/14/2024

The chainsaw is going so I will have

to check out that mess later.  They

didn't even offer to tarp the area 

in question to protect our property!   

I went out at lunch break and one

truck was gone, the guys were sitting

in the shade having lunch. Only found

a few branches on the ground but more

between the fence and carport.  A

much better job for just a couple

trees. But the male cones are all

over the place.  The regular pine

cones were clear over the shed.

I then went out and watered as 

the trees were drooping, I didn't

get a chance to get out earlier as

I had chores and got my check up

phone call.  I was told to take the 

day off after over doing it yesterday.

I'm still in the recovery period after

surgery!  I was in the front yard and 

heard video taping??   Yes, did you

miss the cameras on the house??

We didn't hide them and yes we have

video of what went on.  Even me tossing

the wood chips when I cleaned up 

the roadway.  They left chunks of

wood in the roadway.  Can't wait to 

see how they leave everything today. 

The Irony of this all is several of 

their workers commented on how 

nice our property looked.  Yep 

they take good care!!

Let's just say if I ran my business

this way I sure wouldn't have any

customers!  I'm sure glad we didn't

open the gardens back up after the 

heat!   Wood chips all over the 

plants, so I try to clean them off

by over head watering.

Evening--- I was right on the carport damage.

He decided to call them this morning from 

work and the gal was to call him back but 

didn't.  I know she was out here talking to

them as I heard a female voice while cleaning

up.  Again no one came to the door today!

She told DH that they would pay for the

replacement.  I'm not holding my breath!

Just like I would only have pine cones in

the yard, right.  Today I had pine chips

all over the place, across the roof all the

way into the front yard by the door.  The 

driveway was covered and again the 

street was littered with wood chunks

that they just left.  They will come back

in the morning to a clean circle as I blew 

the stuff to the curb.  Some folks take 

care of their property and don't want to

live in a pig pen!

Today they did the last four trees to the

north in stripping the branches.  I got to 

watch the top of one of the trees come

down with a swish and watched branches

fly, just priceless!!  

I was in the kitchen and ran to grab

the phone.

Today they trashed behind the carport 

and more branches between the carport

and the fence.

Plus left this mess at the curb, mind you

they had the chipper here and just didn't

get it all picked up.

Yep in the roadway!

I had to wash down plant and the driveway

this evening.

Can't wait for tomorrow when the trunks

come down.   I'm betting on the cut and

drop route of getting it down.

8/15/2024

Day 3 of the removal!

Ya all know how clean we keep our 

property and know when it comes to

tree removal when it's fall is the proper

time to remove.  You don't want to do

it during the growing season!  But what

can one day.  All you have to do is watch

the poor guys that have to come out in the

heat to work.  

Due to the rain coming this weekend I'll

be out and vac up what I can as I'm sure

I'll have a mess after seeing what they

did yesterday!  

No respect for the neighborhood!

****************************

The chipper is going and the first 

section just hit the ground.  I sure

hope the folks that hired these folks

are up!   Let the booming begin!

Yep cut and drop!  I'm home with the

Sable and she is shaking like no 

tomorrow.  I even took her out so 

she could see what was going on.

We came back in just in time for the

FedEx delivery.  The poor man had to

trek up our driveway in the snowing 

pine chips as they didn't stop when the

truck pulled in.  I just told him I was so

sorry for this mess.  Yes the whole area

is covered in chips!   

I even had to go out and pull the top of

the brug house cover over the back end.

Do you believe in Karma?   They are 

dropping the 10 foot cuts to the ground

right over their drain field and septic tank

area!!  Can you feel the earthquake from

there?

Read the August Clean Up post for

what I had to do.  Photos there.

8/16/2024

So sorry I had you go to the other post

as I was so tired last night!  Why?

I cleaned all three roofs, plus gutters,

the deck, sidewalks. Sable's gravel 

area, behind the classic carport & 

gravel DH parking sport.  The car

will have to come out to clean what

is between the carport and the fence

and brug house. 

While on the house roof I gently

blew off the Brugmansia below, as

they too were cover with pine chips.

I was so tired I blew off the driveway

and cleaned the circle as the tree trimmer

didn't clean up!

Back up the driveway and again watered 

down the plants to remove more pine chips.

Then washed down the driveway to get the

pine chips that were missed.  Watered the 

plants and then sprayed water up on the 

roof to get what was missed.  What a mess!!

The tree trimmers were here by 8:15 when I

was out trying to water.   The last tree went 

down around 12:20 pm so I was out by 

12:15 pm getting the ladders out.  Sorry Dr

I was up the ladders yesterday, the first time

putting weight on the new knee.  Off the roofs

in less than 45 minutes while the crew watched

me clean.  While up there I got some photos.

Then I started to vac up the mess.  9 totally

full bags were collected!  I finished by 3:20pm

and cleaned up before finishing the wash down.

More will be collected when the classic car 

comes out from the carport.  While on the 

shed roof I noticed another hole in 

the carport roof.  I couldn't reach it to tape it so

DH had to do so when he got home as they say

rain over the weekend.  Doesn't give us any time

to clean up and put the new cover on the carport.

Let's just say I'm moving slow this morning.

DH has to call the company this am to let them

know the price of the carport.   I will have to 

cut back all the Heavenly Bamboo as they are

pushed forward to the point they can't be saved.

I had other plant damage!  We will see how the

Brugmansia fair as they are in bud! 

Every day the Tree Company came in to see our

yard cleaned from what they did the prior day.

As we keep our yard clean!   The cleaner your

yard the less critters and mess you will have to

deal with.  It also brings in the birds, dragon

flies, and butterflies.    I did miss some of the

blooms as I was able to get out and deadhead 

them last night.

I'm sure the BBB would love to hear from us!!

Anyone want to bet how long it will take 

to remove the trunks off their yard?

8/17/2024

We spent our morning cutting back the Heavenly

Bamboo that were trashed the first day of the tree

removal.  It was so nice to get my white PVC fence

back!

After I got this done it was time to take Sable

out to her area!  She just keep looking around

and when she got done potting, she came to me

with a huge smile!  More area for her to roam!!

She is on happy camper to have her area back!

We are enjoying the light that comes through the

kitchen window.  It's brighten up the kitchen! 

I have ruined 3 shirts, a pair or pants and a 

pair of shoes due to all the sap!

8/25/2024

We got the classic out and started the cleanup

where we found over 12 inches of pine needles,

cones, limbs and male cones on the east side.

With 8 inches in places on the west side, the 

front half I vac out regularly so that wasn't

as bad as the shed area.  We still need to move

the ladders and clean behind the carport.  That

will wait a week to allow the allergies to calm

down and I get over my bloody nose.  We removed

45 gallons of pine stuff.   Both bins are full and

I still have 40 gallons for the pick up in 3 weeks.

So I have ordered another bin just to get all our

yard debris.  I haven't been able to get all our

stuff out due to the trees around us, it's been like

this for years.  Hopefully I can get caught up with

the third yard debris bin.  No one offered to pay

us for any of the debris we have had to take off

our yard from their trees!

I was able to clean our fence to the back end of 

the carport.  I am in hopes to get it all cleaned

this fall as it's really dirty up under the trees. 

It is so nice to have a clean fence!   I do it once

a year along with the rain barrels.

8/26/2024

Today was the day to finish up and put the classic

car back into her new home!   While the last of the

carport was being put up I was able to remove the

sap pitted cover on the greenhouse.  I got the last

of the cover roll I found I only had half of what 

was needed.  So I order a piece to fit the greenhouse.

I took the shop brush to the outside of the greenhouse

to clean it, the sap that was dried won't come off.  The

cover was covered with sap so there was no way I

could leave in on.  DH asked if I got a big enough

piece of Vis queen to put a couple more hoops up.

He wants to be able to go up under the hoops so that

we are out of the rain when we take the dog out.  We 

well see what I can arrange. 

8/31/2024

The frame is up and ready for our delivery to cover.

I then moved the top of the brug house to straighten

it as it got moved when the tarp was up on the carport.

Well that is a mess!  So in Sept. I'll have to order 

another roll.  There is no way to clean this stuff.  

It should of been replaced as I just put it up last fall.  

I will have to see what I can find to clean this

to get the tape to stick.  

Once this is done it's time to start moving the

plants into their winter home.  The jungle will

be gone soon!

Another Request For Albutilons Bloomers / 2024

 Here they are:

A. 'Red Tiger'

A. 'Julia'

A. 'Salmon'

One of our crosses.

A. 'Deep Pink'

A.  Pink X Voodoo

This is the whole collection but two!  They

are growing like crazy!

9/6/2024

Started to strip the leaves today 

to start putting them away.  The

leaves felt gritty.  

9/11/2024

I can gladly state that all the stripping

of the leaves is done and just need to

find room to put them away.

While stripping the leaves, 

I was able to take some cuttings.