Category Archives: Home & Garden

Wellfleet Renovation Status

Covering the HVAC, which was getting leaves and fruit dropping from the neighbor’s tree. I want the tree hangover to be trimmed because every year this causes a lot of work for me, although at least I was able to put it in compost and ate a few of the fruits.

HVAC was put in and has power, but the vents are not in the most ideal places. I wanted to hang a specific tapestry in this area, but now I will not be able to because of the placement of this vent that was not there before.

Painting of the rooms has been done. We are pleased with the final green and gray colors. The purple of the big room is very consistent with how I bought the house, and I love it.

I’m very concerned about rodents getting into the crawl space, as that’s what caused the fire. The wires must be covered with metal to be impenetrable.

After moving in these trees were dramatically pruned so that the window overlooking the next door neighbor and my house was fully exposed. Now that they are finally growing back, I hope they are never pruned again, although I will be adding some privacy to a few areas.

Wellfleet Garden Needs Help

We watered the garden and straightened up some plants that tipped over.

Pruning that I have to do on the bushes the dead branches of this plum tree are going to be important, especially because some of the dead branches reach over the back fence. Otherwise, I did trim a bunch of branches that were growing THROUGH the fence this day.

Artichokes and Lemons

We had a wonderful time with fellow Stephanie Miller fan (we’re both Steph-heads), Vallejoan, and progressive activist friend Diane Hume in her gorgeous home and garden. We compared notes on several subjects and check out this beautiful haul I got from her garden! Fresh lemons and artichokes? My favorites!! Diane is another reason why I know I made the right decision when I moved to this city five years ago!

Globe Moss

I had to move the Spanish Moss to my treasured fire-surviving globe. I will distribute it more evenly, but I like the way it looks, particularly when it rotates from the solar-powered spinner. For those who did not see the relevant earlier video, the thieving squirrels in this backyard were stealing a lot of it for nesting material. So far, they have not been able to reach the moss in this location. Meanwhile, Snoopy, Bonnie, and foster dog Penny are with me on a lovely, sunny morning.

Selfish Squirrel Stealing Spanish Moss

May 7 Update: Caught the squirrel trying to steal my Spanish Moss again today, so I decided to “go in another direction” with it and put it in a less accessible place. This globe was very close to ground zero in my house fire. I repainted it red, and now it is a sanctuary for the remaining Spanish Moss I have staged to return to my garden when I move back home. It’s hanging from a solar spinner, so much of the day it will rotate. I can hardly believe the boldness of the squirrel (there is video footage of the thief in the act below). I also have footage of my hand-feeding this squirrel old bread at this rental house, but give a crumb and he’ll take a mile of bedding, I suppose.

Shea took this footage of a squirrel stealing the Spanish Moss I put on old CD racks outside. I staged the moss in this mostly shaded part of the backyard here so I could take it back to my garden in the house under renovation. This moss was gifted by Wendell and Manny on Mare Island, but this SELFISH squirrel wants it for his nest! What is this neighborhood coming to?!?!?