A Flyover Blog

Wall Update

It's time for a quick progress report on our wall. Tom Ehlers at Stone Effects finished the new sign and installed it two weeks ago. It began to rain about a half hour after the job was done and we've only had 2 dry days since, so I'm a little slow in getting a picture taken. Sorry 'bout that. Here it is; looks great, doesn't it? In case you're new to Flyover Blog, we lost the wall and a good bit of the fence in an accident this summer. See this post for pics, and this one.

Next the stone masons return to fill in the bare space around the sign. Then they'll install the new pedestals on top of each of the three stone columns. Those have proven to be problematic. They were custom pedestals, cast to order, and they haven't been able to find replacements.

This week, Glenn and his crew from Wickman Gardens will arrive to replace all the landscaping we lost - if the weather holds, that is. Can't wait! I'm really tired of those bare spots. Speaking of Wickman Gardens, Mitch and I went there over the weekend and picked up a flat of pansies during their Harvest Festival. I took some pictures. Stay tuned...

Under Construction

Been getting a lot of inquiries about our wall. Yes, the big rebuild is underway. Gotta tell ya, it's been no small feat coordinating the masonry contractor, custom sign maker, irrigation company and landscapers. Thought I'd post a few pics so you'll know we're still here.

 

Just to refresh your memory, this is what was left of our entry and fence after the accident a few weeks ago. This clean up job is was a little beyond a broom and dust pan.

 

Rosales Masonry sent a crew of 6 over here bright and early on a Monday, two weeks ago. It took them 10 hours to demolish what was left of the wall and haul away the rubble. Then they brought in blocks and equipment for the rebuild.

 

Before they left, they poured a foundation for the new wall.  All those shrubs had to go. After a one day rain delay, the construction began.

 

Here's the new wall at the end of Day 3.

 

Here's the new wall at the end of the first week. Hmmm... looks bigger to me.

Rebuilding the 3rd column and the fence came next. I can't tell you how many people have stopped to ask if they can have that big pot that crashed to the ground - poor lopsided thing. I can't believe the plants are still green. More pics as the work progresses...

Peaceful Sunday. Not.

This afternoon, Mitch and I were working quietly in our offices when we heard a horrible noise outside. A 73-year old man passed out behind the wheel of his car, flew down Lone Pine and crashed into our fence, which is a substantial brick, rock and mortar structure. His car flipped and he was trapped in the vehicle. I thought I'd post a few shots of today's mess.

 

 

It took the fire department nearly 20 minutes to cut the top off the car and remove the man from the wreckage. He was talking a little when they loaded him into the ambulance. I don't know how he fared.

 

 

 

That's our house behind the rubble.

 

The neighbors have been stopping by all evening to look at the damage. Tomorrow, bright and early, the insurance adjuster will be here and so will the stone masons. I wonder how long it will take to replace this? Hmm...

 

Bye Bye Flickers

 

On May 11th, I told you about the new residents at our house - a pair of gorgeous Northern Flickers. They excavated a hole in the tall tree that had been struck by lightning some time back, but was still more alive than dead. I worried a little about that tree, but hey, what are you going to do?  Last Wednesday night we had severe weather. A small funnel cloud and swirling debris were spotted by police in the street by our house, but Thursday morning everything seemed fine - no missing shingles, no broken glass. Thursday was a busy day so I paid no attention to the Flickers.

Late Friday afternoon, I went outside to do a little weeding before the next storm came in; we were already under a Severe Storm Watch. That's when I noticed the Flickers were missing. I discovered the reason why when I took a closer look at the tree. During Wednesday night's storm, it had cracked all the way across, just above the birds' newly built home. The Flickers were long gone; I'm sure Mr. Flicker got an ear full, too: I told you  not to build a house in that tree! The entire top of the tree was leaning  - think Nearly Headless Nick from the Harry Potter series.

 

Fearing it would come crashing down on top of the house, I started searching the yellow pages for a tree trimmer. Mind you, it was after 6 on a Friday. I chose Selvey's Tree Service for no particular reason. Mitch called while I lined up the next number (I didn't expect we'd find anyone willing to come out that night.) Owner, Brad Selvey was in Kansas City at a family graduation when he took the call. He phoned one of his men at home, who came right over. He determined that if the wind did snap the tree during the night the top would be supported by the others or would fall across the street, not the house. With a new storm bearing down on Springfield, we sent him home. Early the next morning, Brad Selvey and David arrived and had the tree down and gone in an hour. I was extremely impressed with this service; what nice men!  They did a fantastic job watching for traffic and clearing up the fallen limbs so that when the job was finished, you'd never know a tree was missing.  Thanks, Selvey Tree Service!

 

Spring at Our House

 

Thought I'd post a couple of pics I snapped of our azaleas. Amazingly, they bloomed this spring after looking perfectly dreadful since last fall. I planned to replace all seven of them with white climbing roses - which I still may do someday - but not while these bushes look this stunning.  My secret weapon: Epsom Salts. I sprinkled it on the ground around them about a month ago; they turned lush green in a couple of days and bloomed profusely. I'm sprinkling it all over the yard, now!

 

One sad note: the three robin eggs in our little spruce tree disappeared last week, so they'll be no robins at our house this year. I took a picture of this perfect little empty nest.

New Residents

 

For the past two weeks a pair of Northern Flickers has been excavating a hole in the damaged tree in front of our house. The tree was hit by lightning a couple of years before we moved here.  Apparantly, that makes it prime digs for flickers. I posted this picture because I want you to note the huge stand of wild bittersweet surrounding those trees. I just pruned it back, believe it or not. It was heading for the street!

 

Here is a better shot of the hole they've made. They're very illusive and I haven't been able to get a picture of them yet. I'm still trying. I expect we'll have flicker babies in mid-June. I'll keep you posted.

Easter Surprise

 

As you know, we spent Easter Sunday at home. I was waiting on a call from the surgeon's nurse because Mitch had developed a fever during the night. It rained all day, so I kept him confined to the couch with ice packs and pain pills. About 10:30 Easter night, I heard a loud boom. Of course, I investigated but since it was dark and raining hard, I couldn't really see anything, so I decided it must be a trash truck making a pick up at McDonald's.

Fifteen minutes later, 2 men walked up our drive in the rain. One was a police officer. Seems a young man lost control of his car, jumped the curb on Lone Pine, drove through the grass, missed the dentist's office and crashed through our back fence behind the wild garden. Oh yeah. I couldn't see it because the damage was obscured by the woods. But once I put my rain coat on and walked outside, there was a car-sized hole, big as life. The damage is covered by insurance, but the hole was a big problem and Mitch was in no condition to make a temporary fix.

So, I called my brother, David, the next day. He and nephew Michael came over while Mitch was in surgery and patched the fence until the damaged sections can be rebuilt. Buddy, Sam, Mitch and I are very grateful!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

 

Christmas Block Party

   

Last night, the Ottawa Street Neighbors had a Christmas party. There are about a dozen little houses on our cul-de-sac, they each look like little English cottages. We're still getting to know the neighbors and really look forward to our quarterly get-togethers.

Every December, they have an a Christmas home tour, where basically everyone walks from house to house with the drink of their choice, and they visit and look at each others Christmas decorations. I've been looking forward to the block walk for weeks. Wouldn't you know it, Mitch and I both have wicked little Christmas colds and the wind chill last night was 15. I didn't think the neighbors would appreciate the newbies dragging cold virus germs into their homes, so I called Peter, our HOA secretary and told him we were feeling quite festive, but ill.

He ran down the street a few minutes later and knocked on the door, looking ever so Dickens-ish (Peter is English, you know.) They all wanted to see our decorations, in spite of our colds! So, we put on the coffee and Kahlua, set out the dessert tray I bought and had ourselves a little party. We don't have any major lighting displays - nothing animated, no inflatables, just a tasteful door wreath and a 9 foot tree with so many lights you have to wear sunglasses to watch TV. I'll post some pics in a few days.

As for this picture, no it's not a local tree. That is a lighting display from Gothenburg, Sweden. I just liked the picture. Notice the lack of inflatables. Which reminds me - I cracked up when I read Jason's comment on my tacky Christmas decoration post. He said, "When I see stuff like that I say, 'Oh look, Christmas threw up.'"

Nicely put, Jason!

I Know It's A Little Early

 

But, I thought you might enjoy seeing a picture or two from Silver Dollar City's Old Fashioned Christmas. The theme park opened last week for the holiday season, and they really do a fabulous job creating a memorable experience for their shivering visitors.

This is the first year we've lived in Springfield for the holidays; we've spent all our married life in Tiny Tourist Town, so I'm adjusting to the pace of a "normal" town!

 

We did find a slim 9 foot Christmas tree last week, and I have 2 fireplace mantles to decorate this year, so I'm trying to figure out what to do with those. If you have any ideas lmk.

Last Friday, it was 68 degrees, so we removed the blooming urns from the fence and cleared the pots from the front porch in preparation for winter. Just in time, too. We got an icy blast Saturday, with sleet. I don't know about you, but I'm not ready for winter just yet!

One more happy development - gas here in Springfield is $1.77 a gallon.

 

 

Welcome Autumn!

Autumn officially arrives today and I don't think I've ever been so excited about a new season as I am this year. We got a cold snap last week, so I grabbed Mitch and headed over to Wickman Gardens to find the perfect wreath for our front door. I think it looks great. I also found a mum. Mitch found a bee. It stung him, poor guy. He's such a good sport. I'm not big on decorating. My personal taste is sort of a collision of French Country meets Amish. A nice piece here and there is all I care for. This week, I think I'll buy a cider-scented candle. Woo hoo.