Bogieblog

What a Difference

Bought my 2018 Explorer July 29, 2021 with 33,570 miles on it. Friday, I took it in for its first service since then at 37,207 miles. The truck's system started telling me a couple of weeks ago that I needed to get the oil changed soon - I imagine because I do mostly short trips of 2-3 miles. The computers to my vehicles used to let me go 5-7k miles when I was commuting 60-100 miles per day. The main point is that I drove 3,637 miles in 10 months. I used to drive a minimum of 3,600 miles every two months (that is only to/from work).

This WFH thing has really worked out well for me.

Blooms for Week of 6/19/22

Have a lot of things that are having an off year. The false indigo (baptisia) and rhodies out front flowered, but were not their usual showy selves. Most iris didn't deign to bloom. OTOH, the variegated weigala and peonies (pictured previously in this blog) were stunning and the azaleas in the newer bed, while still small plants, did very well.

But there is the ninebark. Year after year they put out flowers, but they just aren't showy or flashy and they are easy to miss. But every year I am stunned by the beauty of the after-flower. Even with the copper foliage, the red stands out and is attention getting.

The butterfly weed has just started going. And, seeing the baptisia pods (in the background), I gotta get out there and snip them or they will be all over (I already have plenty of babies thank you). Actually, I wouldn't mind the babies, but the stalks are woody and stabby so need to be actively cut down to the ground versus things like the butterfly weed that can basically be raked out

Oh yeah, the foxgloves in the "woods" out back are also looking nice. I transplanted 1 yellow foxglove over there a couple of summers ago. There are no yellows back there now, but they have sported into light pink and a patch of darker pink. The lighter ones nearly glow at night.

Wishing My Dad

A very Happy Father's Day.

General Updates

Solar Update - We are still waiting for electric company, Eversource, to approve the interconnection application. There is no moving forward until that happens and like many companies, they are understaffed at this point, so we wait for the approval. The solar company is well experienced at these4 types of delays, so the contract has the guarantee install by date as no later than September 30. I was hoping things would go smoothly enough that it would be closer to the 10 week window than the 20 week window, but there is nothing that can be done.

Basement Window update - My handyman has ghosted me. Apparently all he wanted to do was the painting. Wish he had told me of that sooner as I could have started making other plans. Oh well, nothing I'm not used to and I hadn't payed him for that part yet, so it's just more time. I was trying to get the two large (and BTW, useless) windows in the basement & garage blocked in. But even companies that do foundation repair are only interested in replacing the windows - and most don't service this area anyway (I live in the triangle of doom I tell ya). So, I have a contract out to replace those two plus the small hopper window that also caries the exhaust from the dryer. They will be dual-paned, argon filled with composite frames (at least they won't rot out as the present windows are doing). Well, I have a tentative contract as the install specialist still has to come out out tell me if it is feasible (the ramp is in the way plus other challenges). Earliest the install would happen is September.

Tree Removal Update - No update. Still waiting for the tree company to schedule. They did say 2-4 weeks out, so we are still within the time frame. I've used this company before, and I used to work with his wife, so I'm pretty sure I will be taken care of. And even if they take a bit longer than the month, that is fine. I did add the extra 3 trees, so it will be  a full day instead of being able to sneak it in as a half day filler job.

To make those west and south jealous - I started up the heat yesterday afternoon to keep the house at 68*. The high yesterday was 61 with heavy overcast and stiff winds. Today may get up to 64, but otherwise will be the same. So, the house gets no solar gain to keep it warm enough. OTOH, it is great weather for mowing. I did my place yesterday and will get the neighbor's done today.

And for the funny of the day, I stopped at the local grocery store last Monday and saw this.

No, the picture is not funny, but my reaction was. I couldn't help but think I wouldn't be advertising my wealth like that and leaving it in a parking lot. With wood and gas prices sky high (gas is pennies under $5/gallon) obviously someone either won the lotto or got a huge inheritance :D

Peonies and Weigala

The peonies are doing superb this year, as is the variegated weigala. Edulis Superba is the first pink peony and Festiva Maximus is the white peony.

The roadside garden peonies are show stoppers. I need to get a more current picture of the Madame Emile Dabatene and Felix Crouse as this in early in the bloom cycle

The iris are kind of lackluster as most have declined to bloom this year. What has bloomed have been very pretty though.

The huge rhodies out front are also lackluster - for them. I guess they need an off year every once in a while. Th few blooms are very nice though.

Lupines - 1st year I've gotten blooms

Variegated weigala is outstanding this year. I don't remember it ever being so full of blooms

And just because, here are gratuitous cat on a box pics

My pictures and Typepad just don't get along. Now I have to upload each picture 2-3 times before they will take. However, the picture manipulation tool is actually appearing and working for me (it rarely does), so I guess I shouldn't complain.

Update: and now the post says it has been saved, but it isn't uploading (and yes, I "published" it). I guess it really thinks I have posted too many flower pics :D

Ready for the Tree Company

Yesterday I took 5 out of the 10 panels of the fence down so the tree company's crane will fit back there.

I filled in the livestock fence posts holes and tamped them down.

Comparison - 18" long garden tool shows the post hole is about 2' deep (as it should be)

 

Now I look at that part of the backyard and think how much it changes it - for the better. Mowing yesterday was also easier (naturally. So now I'm torn; do I take it all down or do I put that part back up when the tree company is done? On the one hand it looks much better. On the other hand, if a cat escapes out the back door and down the ramp the fence would slow her down.

I haven't let Rita out in a couple of years and she is good with that. However, Spot is an confident girl who gets by me a couple of times a year. She has not made it to the end of the ramp yet, but that could always change. I also figure one day she will accidentally open the back storm door since it has a lever handle. Rainey is a more cautious cat than her sister and I don't really worry about her as I don't remember her even trying to get out a door.

Preparing for Solar

While I was on vacation, on 5/18 to be exact, I received word that the structural engineer reported that no modifications are needed for the roof to bear the additional weight of racking, panels, etc. They sent the report to my town for permitting purposes.

On 6/1/22, I received word that the permit has been approved. I am impressed that the town moved so fast! Currently the solar company is working on the rest of the install logistics.

Now that I know that the install is happening, I will have some tree work done. The tree work needed done regardless, the forthcoming install has just motivated me to have it taken care of it sooner as to later. There are several objectives for removing some trees and trimming back others:

• Remove potential runways for squirrels and other varmint from accessing the roof (which would be bad with the inverters and cables that will be up there - they could potential take to chewing them).
• Removed diseased / dying trees
• Open up the canopy in the back yard a bit for increased solar production. Actually this is just the bonus as if everything were healthy back there, I wouldn't have anything done besides a bit of a trim.
• Reduce possibility of tree limbs breaking and landing on the roof
• Reduce "lean" of trees towards the house

My tree guy (the one that took care of the willow and a couple of other trees in 2017), came by yesterday to take a look and supply an estimate.

• He says the crabapple just needs a good trimming and not removal. Currently it is the tree that is closest to becoming a squirrel runway (but not there yet). It is an old tree so I was afraid it would have to come down, and was happy to hear that trimming/shaping is all that is needed.
• As expected, and much to my disappointment, a black cherry needs to come down. (I was happy to learn that I had identified it correctly though)
• Several of the junk maples need to come down. I was sure that was the case, some of them are dying, one is diseased (although still fairly healthy) and some of them just have too much of a lean trying to catch the western sun.
• In addition, here are 3 trees, 2 junk maples and 1 black cherry, that should come down. The cherry is dying and has ants that the woodpeckers go after, and the maples are diseased (and dying back in the crowns). Unfortunately, those are right on the property line, so I have not accepted him taking those 3 down. I need to get a hold of the owner of those apartments and see if he has an issue. If he gives the okay, then I will have those taken out also.

At this time, I have accepted removal of 5 trees, cutting the crab apple back, and cutting back some other tree limbs. That total could go up to removal of 8 trees. All of the trees being removed are 80-100' tall.

I need to take out portions of the chainlink fence in the backyard to give him better/easier access. Fortunately that fence is made from panels, so removal will not be that big of a chore. I'll do that this weekend or next.