Bailey's Blog

June 26, 2021

Long time since I have posted anything here.

We have an new addition, we closed in the back patio to get away from the bugs and flies!!

here are some of the stages we went thru:

Corner wall with fireplace was in the original plans

We decided it was going to be too massive and block our views

and we already have 4 fireplaces so it had to go

lots of rubble was created

here is what the metal roof frame looked like going up

getting rid of the fireplace turned out to be a good decision as the new layout really opened things up,

here the new corner walls await the glass

The kitchen wall is almost ready for cabinets and new BBQ, Griddle and deep fryer

Finished Kitchen Looking good!

The room turned out very nice and we love sitting here

The Dogs have a new food storage and feeding station off in an unused corner

The dogs have finally gotten used to their new doors and the love them

If it gets too hot the new electrically operated curtains give us shade

We now also have an awning over the media room window where rain used to be a constant problem

Friend Joel came over and shot some video and put this together for us click on the link and enjoy.

https://youtu.be/3--Ebkhn09s

OK here we are last day of 2016

and

my last chance to post this year.....

Things have changed a little this year,

here is a new house finished and another going up

here is the view from the gate of Santa Anita

the house on the left is the newly finished house of Caroline and Rodrigo

then past the casita on the right is the new house for Rodrigo Senior and his wife

further along on the right we see the open lots that are lush with knee high grass now that we have gotten rid of the horses (I am sure they must be better off where ever they went Kevin was over worked carrying water for them a couple of times a day)

turning to the right we see the expanse of wall that we had to replace after the earthquake damaged it to the point of it was ready to fall over. (running from Paul and Angela's wall to the front corner.)

On to Paul and Angela's beautiful front yard.

The boys and I are now enjoying a section of the lot next to ours that we had mowed and is great space to chase the ball.

Kevin stepped out to say hello; they have redone their front walk and Judy has planted some pretty flowers. they also rebuilt the low wall and cemented in the front courtyard to make it more usable.

Our front yard

we now have a row of "volunteer" trees (all grown from the seeds this tree makes abundantly)

close up of seed pods

The driveway island is happy and looking fine.

on the other side of the drive the edge planting was really looking bad so we took them our and replanted with some green suculant ground cover.

closeup of transplanted ground cover

Earlier this year we installed a white rough tile covering over the first 2.5 feet up the wall on front of house and front of the pool house to match the tiles on back patio walls. here under guest bedroom window.

and garage wall also clad with the new tile and where more new plantings are happy (gardner took out the lavender here a couple of months ago.)

Last week we had 4 new garden gates installed. Metal to replace the 4 year old rotting wooden ones that we had to paint every year, they are also wider so the gardener can now use his riding mower.

In the orchard we have figs falling off the tree

One of the lemon trees is bursting with fruit

as is our heavily laden avacado tree

also in the orchard is a very happy

Bougainvillea

Under the guest bathroom window the Lavender plants had become just too woody and the gardener recommended removal so that was done and cuttings are now planted there along with ground cover we got from the coffee coop over in Intag.

Our enclosure for the large water tank was "roofed" over and we added water purification equiptment for the well water so when the dry season returns we will be able to switch over from the city (no water) system to purified water from our well!!