After some pretty nasty weather Friday night and Saturday, it cleared up enough on Sunday for Matt and me to really tackle the patio. I had 3.5 tons of road base and 1.5 tons of concrete sand delivered on Friday along with the pavers. 3.5 plus 1.5 equals 10,000 pounds. The driver for Pioneer was just barely able to fit his dump truck up our driveway and drop one load (the road base). Once it was dropped we had no other choice but to drop the sand closer to the end of the driveway.
We got started right at 7:30 and I called it a day about 4. It was a long day. The good news is that this was the big job. Now that it's done, we probably won't have another day as long or as hard as this and a lot of the work hours are now behind us. We laid the road base with shovels and wheelbarrows and then left the house to rent the plate compactor. After all of the road base was compacted, we had to throw some of the dirt back on the top and compact it since we were a little low. I had pulled out too much dirt while excavating and really didn't know how much the road base would compact. We then laid the sand and compacted it too...and have about a wheelbarrow of sand to spare. As far as materials used/ordered go, we were right on the money.
We ran a chalk line (snicker snicker) along the house and I laid the paver border following the line. In case anybody is wondering, sidewalk chalk makes great chalk line chalk if you're willing to "color" the string by hand. I'd also recommend using as pink of a color as possible on the job site if you're trying to maximize "mockage".
Today was a lot of work even though the pictures don't look that different. We're ready to lay the pavers now (I'm going with a diagonal running herringbone pattern). Once the pavers are actually in, I think you'll really be able to see the difference in the pictures. With a little cement glue, a diamond bit saw blade, and my rubber mallet, I should be done with the patio by Easter. Interestingly enough, that's (Easter) also our 3 year house anniversary. For the modern era, glass or crystal is the gift you're supposed to give on the third anniversary. You can make glass out of sand, so Happy 3rd Anniversary, house.
Today was the first day that Julia picked up the home phone while it was ringing. Without prompting she ran over and grabbed the phone, pushed the correct button and answered. "Hello? Ok. Bye-bye!". Then she hung up the phone. Stacey's friend had to call back a few minutes later...
Not much has changed since the last time I updated you on the backyard. We've had some snow, but more importantly, we've really only done grunt work. We did lay down some gravel and fabric against the wall for drainage, but otherwise the highlights have been smashing cement to bits, shoveling dirt, tearing out the old steps, and hauling it all away.
So, these pictures aren't much different then before. I have ordered 3.5 tons of road base and 1.75 tons of cement sand that will be delivered on Friday afternoon. Wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow, we'll fill in the area and then compact it this weekend. Ideally, we'll be ready to lay the pavers next weekend after this step (and one other one).
Tonight I made fill marks on the house at the height of where the base should stop. After looking at the area for a little bit, I realized I should run some string to make sure I had ordered the right amount of base. Luckily enough, I discovered a few sections where I had pulled out too much dirt. So, I shoveled back in a little bit of dirt so that we wouldn't get to the end and run out of base and sand. I'm glad I double checked it. In general, most of the area has the 6 inches required with some having a little less. We should be good to go for this weekend.
...for now.Spurs won again this weekend, further distancing themselves from Liverpool and Villa. There are only 8 league games left in the season. 3 of them are very difficult, 4 of them are winnable, and the other match yet to be rescheduled against 4th place competitor City could go either way. Assuming we can win our FA Cup game on Wednesday, our match against arch-rivals Arsenal will be rescheduled for a later date. So, the two biggest games of the season could come towards the very end of the season. If we happen to make it to the final of the FA Cup, there will be another massive game at the end of the season for Spurs. This could all be very exciting if it plays out.If I had to rank, in order, what's most important to me:1) Prevent Arsenal from winning the league (or have other teams beat them)2) Finish 4th3) Win the FA CupI think all are possible...yet none may happen. This could have a great or terrible ending. Most likely, it will be a bittersweet combination of the 3.UPDATE: I just found out that the Spurs - Manchester City game has been rescheduled. It will be the penultimate match of the league season for both teams. This could be big.
Julia’s been watching me work in the backyard from patio door the past week or so. On Sunday while we were sitting watching basketball on the couch the following happened:
Julia: I need to go to Home Depot
Aaron: (laughs) You need to go to Home Depot? For what?
Julia: (smiles) Umm…
Aaron: To get some rocks?
Julia: Yes, to get more rocks for the patio (heads for the garage)
Aaron: Are you going to take my truck?
Julia: No…your truck is too big for me. I take Momma’s car
Aaron: (laughs) OK
Julia: I need momma’s keys right now
Aaron: (gets up and gives her the keys)
Julia: Ok, bye Momma and Dadda! I go Home Depot now!
Aaron and Stacey: (laughs) Ok, bye!
Julia: (opens door to the garage, walks to Stacey’s car, tries to put the key in the lock, tries to open the door)
Aaron: Do you need help?
Julia: Yes.
Aaron: (opens passenger side door)
Julia: (crawls into back of car, then to driver’s seat, tries to put keys in ignition) I need help Dadda
Aaron: (puts keys in ignition, decides to end the game at this point)
Later, after a day of lots of cuddles, she tells Stacey that she’s the “bestest Mommy ever”.
Can you see the patio area now? We laid out and built the wall that will serve as the boundary for our patio. In the next few days I'll dig out some of the dirt so that we can fill the area in with the appropriate base materials. Once all the gravel and sand is in, we'll compact it and then lay the pavers...and throw down some steps while we're at it.
So here we are - the beginning of spring in Colorado. That can only mean 1 thing...it's backyard time baby. As you can tell from these pictures, we haven't exactly used our backyard in the three years we've lived here. Since this is one of the last major improvements on my list and with baby #2 on the way, I'm highly motivated to get this done before 1 June.I've recruited a professional consultant, contractor, handyman, and brute squad in one to help me get this done. Overall, this shouldn't be a very difficult project technically except for the stone patio. That part of the project will be the most time consuming, techincal, and expensive. So, we're going to hit that part first (also considering the weather flucuations). After that, we'll extended the sprinklers, and lay some rocks, mulch, sod, and plant a tree. A few flowers and some patio furniture later, and the project will be completed.With Julia growing up and #2 on the way, this area will be a great place for them to play outside. We'll obviously play with them some of the time, but we'll also have the option to sit on the patio and sip iced tea while we turn them loose.
Over the past few weeks Julia has been exclaiming her excitement with the phrase, "Oh, I love it!" It's actually pretty cute when you know the context. Usually, it's about something that she has just learned about, no matter how dull or insignficant. The conversation usually goes like this:Julia: "Dadda (or Momma), what's that?"Dadda (or Momma): "That's a mouthguard"Julia: "What's it for?"Dadda (or Momma): "It makes my teeth feel better at night"Julia: "Oh, I LOVE it!!!"This phrase works for all things - from oily rags to ice cream as long as it's something new that she has just learned about. It's pretty cute to see this is her reaction to discovering new things, even if she really doesn't know what they are yet.
Today we received a mailer from Boylan and Company, a realtor in the local area. On the advertisement from them it listed a website with information and statistics about our neighborhood (Ridgeview at Stetson Hills). I was fairly certain that our neighborhood had held its value over the past few years despite the housing market and economy. I didn't have much to back up my claim other then my observations on what the listing and selling prices of houses have been in our neighborhood. I was happy to find out that the market statistics back up what I had thought to be true. The website, various links, and statistics confirmed that our home values had at least stayed the same and also filled me with confidence that buying in this neighborhood was a good decision.
The website has a great video summary of our neighborhood. Some of the better quotes from these realtors about our neighborhood are:
- stable home value is the unexpected bonus
- continues to be a stable neighborhood in terms of real estate values and market activity
- the micro-market of Ridgeview at Stetson Hills will do well in 2010
- a terrific seller’s market because demand is high
- through the course of the current real estate market downturn, this area has been extraordinarily insulated holding value and seeing strong resale activity
- this area has proven its ability to withstand the worst of economic markets
Statistics (as of February 2010)
Ridgeview at Stetson Hills vs. Colorado Springs (+ or - for us)
Housing Inventory
3 Months vs. 7 Months (+)
Median List Price
$211,000 vs. $185,000 (+)
Average Sale Price
$229,000 vs. $207,000 (+)
Listing Discount
1% vs. 3.4% (+)
Days on Market
51 days vs. 86 days (+)
Additionally, the average sale price for our neighborhood has been around $100-$110 per square foot. That's a little too high for our house in my opinion. If it were $90 per square foot we'd break even. So, the value of our house has essentially remained unchanged despite the housing market crash. Additionally, selling a home in our neighborhood doesn't seem to be a problem and from a sales/market perspective, a desirable place to buy a house. I'm glad to know on many levels that I was right.
Well, today is my 3 year anniversary at work.
March 5, 2007 seems like so long ago. We moved in and purchased our first house and had our first child (among other things) since then. I don’t really have a lot to say about my job except that I’m glad I have one right now. Overall I can summarize by saying that it’s been a really good fit for me (and the fam). Maybe I’ll look for a new challenge in a few years; maybe not. I guess it’s a good thing that I’m not in a big rush either way.
The last two nights I’ve come home from work with a present for Julia…i.e. a sucker. A coworker had a pile of them outside her desk and I grabbed one each night on my way out the door.
Today Stacey called me at work because Julia wanted another one. The problem is, they’re all gone. It was cute to have a “conversation” with Julia on the phone though. She took the phone from Stacey and said “hi Dadda”…and that’s about it. After a few seconds of not saying anything I asked her if she wanted something from me to which she responded “yeah”. She didn’t get the words out but I knew she wanted to ask me for another sucker. Even though she talks nonstop at home she hasn’t started talking on the phone yet.
Since the free ones are all gone, I may just have to swing by the store on the way home tonight and pick up my own bag of dum-dums.
For those who didn't notice the World Cup 2010 countdown clock on the right section of my blog, we just passed the 100 day mark! Only about 3 months to go now...
As I mentioned in a previous post, we recently moved all of Julia's "baby" furniture to the boy's room in preparation for baby #2. That left Julia with an empty room. We purchased some really cute yet inexpensive furniture from Wal-Mart and this past weekend I put it all together. At 2 years of age Julia has no problem sleeping on the same twin mattress I used when I was single and purchased 10 years ago. Our approach was to buy something that she will be able to use for another 10 years. I think we scored a winner.
In case you're wondering whether or not Julia likes her new furniture, I think the pictures below answer that question.
