More outdoor updates

We have apples!  The squirrel must be on vacation :-)

And we have one lone apricot from an entire tree:

It looked ripe to pick yesterday so I did.  It was pretty small and pretty yummy!

The grapes on this one bunch is slowly turning red.  The squirrel better stay away from these!

Or I'm hoping the raccoons will stay away from the grapes too.  Look how huge these two raccoons are - that were caught on our home security video.  YIKES!

I'm glad the raccoons didn't decide to gnaw on the electrical charger/line or chew on anything under our cars!

The cacti around the house are really thriving with more constant watering.  It's pretty neat seeing some of the cacti grow.  Look at this one:

And these two tall ones have leaned even more tonight!  I wonder if it is getting TOO much water and is top heavy now.  It's testing the theory from the Leaning Tower of Pisa!!!  I really hope they don't topple over!

Both Graham and Charlie wanted strawberries.  So far only a few berries and they are quite small.  Might be a bit overcrowded in the pot.  I tried to plant some in the ground, but those died.  Hmmm...

I hope the blackberry shrubs survive in the ground.  So far not looking so great.  The leaves are starting to turn a bit brown.  Not sure what's wrong yet. Not enough water??? It has been quite hot!

The plant in the pot is a pepper plant.  A nice friend had given me 2 pepper plants.  The other one is in the front with a nice pot (as my belated birthday present).  So sweet!  We'll see which one will survive... front yard or back yard!?

I decided to work on a little bonsai-ing on this plant that I had found in the yard.  It was left by the previous owner:

It is looking quite nice and green now.  Hopefully it will survive after all this wiring.  I am trying to braid its trunks.  I remembered seeing something done like that at an airport somewhere :-)

In the meantime... more spraying!  These outdoor chairs were looking pretty beat up after being left outside without any covers.  So a fresh coat of paint to take care of the rust:

Also had to re-wash all the cushions:

I am still working on scrubbing the rust off these railings in the backyard and repainting as well:

I bought this finial from an antique store but when I brought it home, it didn't really fit! But I made it fit.  Ha ha!  Shhh... there's actually a stick inside that is holding it up!

It was black in color so I painted some primer and then painted it the same color as the gate.  Ta da!!!  But maybe just a bit crooked!  Still looking better than no finial although Bobby is neutral about it:

Here's a look at the stick that is similar to what is under the finial.  It is trimmed off from the fig tree.  Those branches are pretty sturdy!  And as for the wreath, I made it while cleaning up some vines from the side of the house.  He he... I was obviously not very focused in the yard work :-p

Here's our new wreath for the front of the house.  I managed to shape it into a heart shape with the same bonsai wires and added a ribbon.  Not too shabby!

Okay, finally finished up the new gravel area.  Looks much better now!

I am hoping this firestick plant will grow bushier and taller so it will protect the window.  I guess I should have left the ugly screen wire protector up for just a bit longer as the boys threw a baseball and it hit the window!  Well, the ball hit my "butterfly candle holder" that I decided to hang by the window and the impact of its foot must have broke the window. 

Couldn't really see the window crack in the photo so I drew it with the red marker.  Yup, crack is all the way from the top to the bottom of the window!!! Boo hoo...!!!

Other mishaps in the garden.... I sat in the boys' hanging chair for too long and broke the branch of the lemon tree!  Oops!!!

I managed to find another branch to hang the chair but if that breaks, we will have to figure something else out!  And as for figuring out one last thing... I finally managed to put the shade back up on the trampoline.  The previous owner had it up when we moved in but the boys kept hitting their heads on it.  So I used the extra sticks I had (from the fig tree) and extended the trampoline frame slightly upwards:

Success!!! For now at least.

Graham and Charlie are in parkour camp this week from 12-3pm.  Hopefully I can be more productive around the house.  Or perhaps I may just lounge on the couch and take some naps :-D

Prettiest rain barrel stand ever!!!

Okay, so I may have gone a little bit overboard with the artwork on this stand for the rain barrel.  And we don't even know if it will withstand the total weight of the rain barrel once it is completely filled!

I actually bought this sort-of bin from Goodwill for like $3.  I've painted it and waterproofed it... so hopefully it will survive everything.  This is what it looked like before.  Still have no idea what it's original use was:

After being inspired by a book that we had borrowed from the library - we started drawing:

Looks like someone is giving up!

The illustration is based on a book about Australia. I just love the details:

We added our own touch (Charlie drew the heart in between the trees) and we also changed up the colors:

Here's the snake:

Our poor eagle is looking more like a chubby one or perhaps just a pigeon??!

And then, Bobby said our gecko is a bit chubby too!  I added the sun which sort of looks like a pepperoni pizza.  Ha ha!

And then, also added the moon with a milky way.

Here is a video of the entire bin:

I sprayed the entire bin with a layer of gloss but unfortunately, I sprayed too much of it and the ink from the permanent pens starting to drip.  Oopps!!!

So looks like only time will tell once the water barrel gets completely filled, how well this bin will perform.  So till then, it will at least just sit pretty with the barrel on top. Rain rain, when will you come??!  It's been hot on this side of the hill!

Earthquake!

After living here for almost 2 years, we finally feel our first earthquake!  Well, I didn't really feel it, but I noticed our pendant lights moving in the kitchen and dining table:

The lights were actually moving a bit more as I didn't grab my phone in time to start recording.  I was obviously still trying to figure out what was going on when I looked up in the kitchen!

This was from a 6.4 magnitude earthquake on July 4th, that originated in Ridgecrest, which is about 3 hours (175 miles) north from us.  Then, another earthquake happened the day after, which was a 7.1 magnitude - also in the same area.  Weirdly enough, I didn't feel that one either!  I was in the shower.  Ha ha!

Hopefully  there won't be too many more! Because look at what it has done to our driveway!

We also had a auto-shutoff valve for the gas line coming into the house. It was pretty freaky watching homes go up in flames (on the news) after the earthquake happened.  We're down by $215 but probably worth every penny at this point!!!

Summer swimming camp

We signed Graham and Charlie up for 2 weeks of swim camp via the YMCA.  Well, technically it was only 7 days - Tuesday thru Friday and then, one day off for July 4th.  The YMCA is using the outdoor pool of the local high school.  It's pretty nice!

It was nice and gloomy the first week, which was actually quite nice.  Here are the boys warming up with their freestyle - first one swimming is Charlie followed by Graham:

Here is another video of Charlie starting out with his freestyle:

It's amazing how much they improved just within the 2 weeks!  I was also trying to give them pointers and show them some videos.  But wow, it's like pulling teeth sometimes.  Why do they always fight what I have to say??!

Here is Graham at the end of the 2 weeks of swim camp.  Much for efficient with his breathing:

And I think Charlie made a really huge improvement on the last day - trying to turn his head more when taking a breathe instead of picking up his head:

Graham has always been a good diver, but Charlie was still diving in feet first - as seen in this video:

And look at Charlie's diving at the end of the week!  I guess practicing on the couch at home actually helped!

My silly boys!

Last day of swim and Graham and Charlie still won't get out of the pool.  Looks like Graham is up to no good!

Nope!  Graham just wanted to build a "raft" as he puts it.  What a way to relax and end a 2-week  swim camp:

I am hoping to have the boys continue with their swim. They were swimming so many laps during their lessons although I don't think they will swim that many if it was me with them in the pool. We'll see how it goes!

Almost impaled!

We almost always head over to the beach now after Graham and Charlie's music lessons.  I hope these boys don't think it's going to happen the same way when school restarts!

We are testing out our new purchase from IKEA.  Boys insisted on getting it!  It is much easier to set up compared to our big huge umbrella.  Plus I don't have to worry about it impaling anyone on the beach:

I think the "tent" only fits 2 people comfortably at the time, depending on which way the sun is shining. Snack time!

Graham really playing enjoys in the sun on the sand.  My poor washer and dryer on the other hand, does not like sand.  I keep forgetting to clean out the boys' pockets before throwing their clothes into the laundry:

Just realized that my sun-burnt feet are finally peeling... like 3 weeks later!

Speaking of being impaled, we were almost impaled by this one umbrella that was set up next to us!  Graham was outside of our tent and Charlie and I were inside.  And the next thing I know, the bottom of the umbrella - which is a big metal screw - stabs our tent! 

The umbrella went right in between me and Graham.  The umbrella stand did knock Graham on the side of the head, but thinking back this could have been really bad!  PHEW!!!  So glad there were no injuries and no blood.  I am no longer setting up camp near an umbrella!!!

Trip to IKEA

IKEA was sort of "on the way home" last week after visiting a friend/the organizer for the Long Beach Women's Open at El Dorado GC.  We decided to stop at IKEA for a little bit to browse around and also for an early dinner.  Obviously Bobby is not in town!

Pizza for Charlie and Swedish meatballs and mash potatoes for Mommy and Graham.  Not sure what Charlie noticed by the exit but he seems definitely surprised by it:

Who knew Graham loved his meatball and gravy THIS MUCH!

Graham and Charlie obviously knows what they like at IKEA.  These big recliners do seem pretty comfy!

Here we are at the kids section and I am guessing our boys aren't the only ones doing this:

2 hours later (and a few dollars over our budget later)... we finally have our usual soft serve ice-cream:

A fun and productive evening at IKEA! :-D

The many (sleepy) faces of Charlie

This is probably quite mean of me but how can you not post these!  Charlie is almost always falling asleep in the car when we are out and about in the afternoons:

And you wonder why he complains about his neck being sore after being in these sleeping positions:

I don't remember what we did on this day, but he was totally out!  At first in the car and then, he moved into the front living room and plopped himself on the couch.  He napped for another hour or so before I had to finally wake him up for dinner!

This one was a pretty recent one - just before the boys' music lessons.  Bobby said he looks like our pet giraffe.  Real nice, daddy!

Thankfully, Charlie wakes up and is all excited about his piano classes.  His teacher is really impressed at how well he is doing and how well he can keep his attention span for a 30 minute class:

I mean, what's not to like about a teacher that has bright pink hair and a pink cat-themed dress!  My piano teacher when I was growing up was so conservative! Graham is also taking his violin lessons at the same time in the same studio.  Sunset Learning Studio was recommended by a mom from school. Graham is choosing to play the violin for 4th Grade and his first trial lesson this past Monday went great!  He is loving it :-)

We were actually going to stop Charlie's lessons and have him learn from Mommy instead after our unexpected towing expense with the City of LA a few days ago.  At first Charlie was fine with the idea but then when I told him to tell Daddy how his lesson went later that day, he started to cry and was like "I want my piano lessons!!!"  So... looks like we are sticking with the lesson.  All that discussion between me and Bobby just basically went down the drain within seconds of Charlie crying.  See what your children can do to you - twist us in their little finger.  Ha!!!