12-30-11 Septic Primer & Expensive Lesson

 After Stuart finished demolishing the old Oak stump and moving most of my plants out of the way, I started looking at the front yard with an eye to possible landscaping.  And it occurred to me that perhaps with everything out of the way, this might be the time to have Action Sanitary come out and pump the tanks and explain the system to me.  That was never done when I moved in, except that I was assured that it was a brand new system.  Hummmmm!

 So...sorry for all these photos but this way now I know and won't forget the set up.  This part of the main tank is for 'solids' and are pumped here from the house via a small pump under a red bucket.  This cover is the one closest to the house.  It was pretty full and had been in place more than 10 years...1200 gal capacity.

 This opening is the fluid container, and has a filter which in turns sends the fluids to the tank area below.

 This contains the pump, the floats and the Alarm! THe pump sends the fluids right under the road to the leach line which is buried very deep in the wooden flower bed...very deep.  However we found out right away that the alarm wasn't working.  I immediately expected the worst case (sorry Todd) as there was an unexplained live wire found around the front of the house.

 Thank Goodness I called Jerry Campo as he is the one who had installed the pump in the first place 10 years ago in October!  He was able to make sure that power was running to the tank, and then determined that the pump itself was no good.

 He had written the date of installation right on the PVC pipe that the pump was attached to, so we knew everything!  He was able to check his wiring and order a new pump on the spot for delivery the next day.  Now everything is in working order, pump, floats, alarm...all a-ok!  I can't recommend Action Sanitary enough!  Believe me if there is ever an issue, I know who to call.  And I will be able to explain the system a bit better than before!

And finally, last but not least, yesterday, Sylvester and Tweedy were ready to be unveiled as the "cat" grass that my neighbor had given me had sprouted!  When it is 4" high, I will introduce the planter and the grass to the Slynx!  He is the intended recipient!
Happy New Year!!!

12-26-11 Vacation & Violin!

 My giant chimes might have found a permanent home here by the studio...I will have to decide when the new deck is done.

 Solstice crystals and shiny rocks that popped up recently as I start to contemplate which plants should be moved...

 Part of the new alarm system...it blends in pretty well!

 Danny and Jose starting to paint the big bays...

 The walls for the deck extension...they are pretty massive, but will be covered in the same siding as the house so it should seem integrated once we are done.

 Primer on!  When I went out the next morning with the lights on upstairs, the reflection from the white primer was startling in the amount of light shining down into the driveway.  Too bad I am not a fan of WHITE!

 A shot of the new deck from the area of the concrete slab where the privacy wall be...of course now it will have a window in the middle of it for circulation...

 The bay all finished except for the putting up the screens...wonder when they will be welded in place? Some time next week, when work resumes, I hope!  Once that welding on the front is done, the actually decking will be put on...I can't wait for that...then the railings, oh my, seems like the end is in sight.

 Came home from making tamales to find this charming violin, a gift from Danny, and a card from Jose...very sweet.  I was able to hang it right on the screws which are on the siding.  Very neat.

 My name is even engraved on the chin rest...you can see it if you click on the photo...couldn't get it all in with KOKO too!

Some of the collateral damage...actually this is an example of an old barrel that just needed one more nudge and there it goes.  Tomorrow Stuart will be here with his big plant mover, and we will relocated my Nandina and roses as well as my colorado spruce out of the front yard before we have anymore damage.  That place looks wrecked!

Dec.19-21 Solstice, fire place, and prayer flags

 The Slynx finds a new place to nap...and I almost gave it away!

 The new stairs to the front deck are going in with temporary steps until all the work is done.

 Danny and Jose checking out the woodstove as we test it to make sure the replaced chimney is drawing properly.

 Can't quite see the smoke in this photo, but I assure you that I could see it.

 Gossett Alarms putting in the keypad for the new system.

 And the first fire in a very long time...just a test of course, but it sure would have come in handy on some of these cold mornings.  As it was, today, the beginning of the Winter Solstice, the weather is warm and balmy!  I had my flip flops on when I was building the fire.  Glad I haven't lost my touch.

 Mike Gosset's temporary office and work table....You should hear the ringer on his cell phone...it is, not surprisingly, an alarm...and a very annoying one at that!  I can't wait to hear what mine will sound like as the last system had a silent alarm.

 Tibetan Prayer Flags fluttering in the breeze over the creek!

And finally, with the scaffolding down and the work moved around the corner, I was able to get down to see the utility closet.  ATT came yesterday to relocate the wires, and now just a bit of the trim needs to be painted.

12/18/11 Beams, stringers and utilities

 Rick lifting one end of the giant beam...made my shoulders ache just to watch these guys today.

 Stringers going onto the side of the house...they are really moving quickly!

 Another view from the driveway!

 The little enclosure for the power etc...I am dying to get down there to see it up close but it is too hard for me to access and then I would be right in the way.  Tomorrow ATT comes to relocate the wiring and then the roof can go on!

And another view of the stringers from the south end of the deck...almost to the corner!  And now Trent is up to date! ;)

12/16-12/18/11 Basking Cat & Leaf Prints

 The Slynx has found the perfect spot for bathing in the sun...right on the dining room floor...he positioned himself perfectly and spent the sunny afternoon out there.

 On Friday, I had my terrible backache and had finally retreated to the house and the heating pad, when I realized that the welding had stopped and it was pretty quite outside.  I didn't think it was quitting time and looked out the kitchen window.  I saw five grown men standing around the newly poured pad staring down.  Wondering what in the world was going on?

Surprise!  Leaf Prints, using my giant Fatsia Japonica leaves...I think once the pad gets stained, it is going to be spectacular!  They got so carried away that some of them will be hidden by the steps, but many will still be visible.  Thanks to Mat, Jose, Danny, Rick and Greg!  You all did a great job today and the leaves cheered me up a lot!

Dec. 16...Mirror, welding, concrete, self portrait!

 Valley Glass installing the big mirror over the sink...I thought it was nerve wracking, but they seemed to take it all in stride.

 It really looks beautiful and is beveled just like the wall mirror.

 I just had to take my photo in the mirror...but couldn't quite do it with the camera on the timer...I had a real duh moment or two trying to place myself in the mirror and the camera on the counter.  Just couldn't manage it!

 The new down spout and all the caps on the roof are finally done...the down spout which will rust on it 's own is beautiful!

 The landing for the new new front steps now has a nautilus fossil embedded and a later surprise by the guys...I will photograph that after the staining is done.

 The small shed built out over the electric boxes and phone box..there has to be a window so the PGE meter readers can stand on the other side of the fence with their binos!  We are recycling one of the little windows that came off the house.

 My Nandina which will have to be moved to accomodate the ramp is in all it's winter glory.  Where can I move it?

 The completed new landing...it looks huge, but will just be perfect once the stairs are in place.

Greg, up on a ladder welding on the brackets so the side deck can advance next week.  I love the flying sparks.  It would have made a great night photo but I am glad he finished before it got darker.

Dec. 14 & 15 Really! The front yard

 The columns welded to the plates...they really are beautiful!

 The footprint of the new deck from upstairs...can really get an idea from this vantage point.

 The front of the house with the fence gone...It will be great when the new rail system is in place.

 The small shed for the utilities...Att, and PG&E...only the phone line has to be rerouted and that will happen on Tuesday.  Then the doors will go on and the same siding as the rest of the house.

I just had to share this Dancing Shiva that arrived today...not showing scale, but the entire thing is about 12" tall and wide.  Very cool!

12-15-11 The Slynx & The Rolling Door!

 This morning while I was fixing breakfast, I heard a lot of yowling from the Slynx followed by some distinctive bumping noises...when I looked around the corner, he had actually started to push open the door to the stairs.  I put the frog door stop in place and he then went into all kinds of attempts to circumvent it.

 Frontal Assault!

Direct attack on the frog!  I am not sure what he wants to do downstairs, last night was the first time since the door was hung that he showed any interest in going down there, but then and this morning, he was determined.  I will be keeping my eye on him!