Ivy surprise

Since spring has arrived and the weekends have been nice Eric and I have been working on the yard.  While the inside of the house doesn't need a whole lot of work...the property has some issues.  The first major issue is BAMBOO!!!  We have lots of it and the only way to get rid of it is to dig it up. 

The second issue is ivy.  

This is the mound of Ivy up by the top of the driveway.  I felt so bad for the trees that were being chocked by the ivy that I convinced Eric to get rid of this patch first.  It took him two days to do it (He is amazing and is my hero!). We were very surprised by what we found underneath. 

Decomposing logs

Inch thick Ivy roots

So underneath all that Ivy was old logs that were slowly rotting.  We just didn't understand it...why would you do that.  One of our neighbors helped enlighten us.  I guess there use to be huge cottonwoods there and they were cut down.  Then I assume left there and since the previous owner didn't see yard maintenance as a  huge priority the ivy just took over.   Once we move all the logs and get things cleaned up we are planning to plant heather around the trees.
Eventually we plan to tackle the bigger mound of ivy (Which we suspect also has logs under it) next year....now on to Bamboo!!! We need to rent a Panda!

House

So I haven't been working on things lately because Eric and I bought a house!!! So I said goodbye to the apartment I have lived in for the last nine years and hello to a place of our own.  Things are still in boxes and we are slowly putting things in their place so I don't have pictures of the inside yet but I will post this when I do.

 

 Eric calls it our Harry Potter house because it kind of looks like row houses in England.

The house has a carport with electricity so eventually we are thinking of closing it off and making a garage out it. We could even eventually raise is and make a mother-in law suite there. 

I figure every house needs a pair of flamingos...of course Eric and I's are undead flamingos!

 

 One thing the house has a lot of is Bamboo!!  I put up some adds on craigslist for people to come dig up the bamboo and I have had four people come by and put a little dent in it.  Next summer, I want to put a vegetable along the side of the house...but we have to get rid of the bamboo first.  I will need to fence it in because we get a lot of deer around.

In preparation for the garden I made a compost bin out of pallets I "borrowed" from work.  I am all about the reduce, reuse, and free!!!! 

We have already received three housewarming gifts. 

 A Bacon Christmas Tree ornament!  Who doesn't love Bacon. 

 A Dish towel from my mom...just in time for Halloween and it matches my stove. 

and LuLu...our attack flamingo my friend Vicki made me and I adore!!!!  Why wouldn't you love a Drag Queen Flamingo!!