Shed to Be

Breezy and in the high 30s, low 40s, this first day of March.

We have a new addition to the homestead.  We went up to Kloter Farms today and bought an 8 x 12 garden shed!  On sale, it was $2,700 and that includes installation on a 10 x 14 pad of crushed gravel.  And it includes delivery.  It also includes a 4 x 4 wood ramp.  Much less than I expected to pay.

Here's what it will look like, including the transom windows in the doors, and with two small working windows on either side (or two together on one side).  It will be at the top of the driveway, facing the pavers, right next to the paperbark maple.  The color will be red with red trim and red doors, just as shown here, but with a light cedar-brown roof.

Now we have to get Board approval.  Jim will go to the town tomorrow to see what building permit we need, if any, and whether we need hurricane straps, since the shed sits on pressure treated 4x4s in the gravel, but is not attached to the ground.  If the town does require that, it will cost another $150.

If we can get approval from the association, it will then require that we prep the area:

• need to take out the rose bushes
• need to remove and replant the creeping thyme
• need to remove and replant the small penisetum grass at the corner.
• the daffodils there can be sacrificed

Some regrading and smoothing, then we are ready.  Alas, the ground is far too frozen and snow covered right now to do any prep work.

Split Japanese Maple

Warming, into the low 50s today and partly sunny.  As the snow recedes, the mess is revealed.  And the disasters.

The 'Crimson Queen' weeping Japanese maple in front is completely split in two from all the neavy snow this winter.  Not only was it buried by snowfall, but also by repeated piles from the snowblower as it cleared the front walk.  Shoveling off the front porch meant even more got dumped right on top of it.

I think I will try to bind the halves together with rope and see if they will graft back together.  I wonder if that could work.

Snowdrops are emerging under this damaged maple.  They are tiny and just coming up in the damp mulch, facing downward and not much to look at.  I really need big sweeps of these tiny clumpers to get any effect..

Sigh, I'm pretty discouraged.

Rain, and Lots of It

Pouring down rain today, very gloomy, in the 50s. 

This will wash away a lot of the deep snow cover, but what an ugly mess.  And what a dreary day.

Snowdrops

In the 40s today, some melting, but everything is still buried in deep snow cover.

The snow has receded a little bit under the Japanese maple in the front garden.  I saw a couple tiny green shoots... the snowdrops emerging!  But I did not get any photos, and the expected snow / sleet / rain coming tonight may rebury them.  In the next couple days we expect rain, but also about 1 to 3 inches of snow.

Weather Station Demise

Windy, in the 40s today.

I haven't seen the front walk garden since it was buried in deep snow after Christmas.  With warmer temperatures and some thawing over the past few days, that sun-warmed space melted, and the poor bedraggled plants are visible again.

The little bun shaped chamaecyparis are misshapen from heavy snow loads.  The Birds Nest Spruces are sturdier and flatter shaped and survived better.

Everything is still wobbly and "unrooted" feeling in the soft wet earth; the voles did so much damage this fall.  I sprinkled more rat poison in their holes and around the bushes, but they may already be gone from the first application back in December, I can't tell.

The weather station bit the dust. The 2 x 4 pole it was mounted on, formerly a birdhouse pole, broke off at the base and keeled over in the snow.  You can't tell here, but apparently the base was all rotted. 

It's now in the garage; we'll have to figure out a new arrangement for mounting the instruments.

Sharp Tools

Yesterday I finally took all my pruners, loppers and shears to Pfau's to be sharpened.  I have tried in the past to do my own sharpening with the small whetstone I bought.  I downloaded a video tutorial, I tried my best, but never got a good edge, and the process was awkward.

So for a few dollars per tool, I'll have them professionally sharpened in time for spring.  I even took my sewing scissors and garden snips in too.

What a Time

What a time I had at Mammoth.  The scenery and vistas and wild mountain splendor of the Sierra Nevadas was awesome, and the time with both boys was priceless.  I skied pretty well!

Disappearance

Snowing again, only a few inches this time.  Temps are in the 30s.

The Black eyed Susans have finally disappeared.  Only one last seed head barely peeks above the level of the snow.  The heated birdbath creates its own salvation in a hole in the snow cover.

Tomorrow I leave for California and a long weekend skiing at Mammoth with Tom and Greg.  The weather should clear and I should be able to get out.  Can't wait!

Crystal Scenes

Minus 1 degree when I got up this morning, but with the bright sun today it will get into the low 30s.

Everything outside was crystal coated in the bitter cold.  Very pretty.

 

 

I skiied yesterday at Sundown, but didn't dress warmly enough and got really cold.  This has been quite a winter so far.  The Black eyed Susans are just about completely buried, with only a few seedheads peeking above the snow.  The birdbath is buried.

Ice dams and icicles are forming everywhere, and impossible to keep clear.  The news is full of roof collapses all over the state.

And more snow / sleet coming tomorrow!  Can it be?

Relax

Icy rain today on top of several more inches of snow yesterday.  In the 20s, gloomy and bleak.

Relax.