Top 10 things we could do in one day to make the place look better:

1. Sweep, clean and Wet & Forget the patio. Should have this finished by Aug. 8. I'm just waiting for the new Wet & Forget bottles with the spray attachment to arrive. Aug. 9. OK, I finally have the stuff but now the Pavilion workers have commanded the patio. I will work around them the best I can Aug. 14-15. Got most of it done on the 15th.

2. Clean out under the awning. Finish by Aug. 8. Wash this also - Aug. 9. Aug. 14-15. Really. This has stacked up again as of late September, but should be easy enough to whip back into shape.

3. Fix this little area up. Aug. 8. I've got a little moon ornament here. May need a light shining on it and a very small plant. Yeah, I know you want proof that it was actually done. Oct. 12, still working here, but it is going to be special. I will provide a photo soon.

4. Do something with these stinking' trash cans and keep the driveway clean. Aug. 8. Also, it would be nice to decorate this wall somehow. Im thinking of putting these trash cans in the shop. Let's try it out for a test run. In the garage for now. Sure makes the driveway look better and so far not too much in the way.

5. Get some new utility boxes. I have emailed the city a couple of times. Aug. 12, Ashley said she would handle the black one. I'm going to ask Mike F. About the light green one. They brought a bright blue one to replace the black one. I'm gonna need some green paint.

6. Get all the pots re-planted. Aug 15. This happened during the month of September. Looks great.

7. Get some window treatments. This looks pretty trashy. Need a blind on the inside and shutters installed on the outside. Okay, Daniel said he would install them if I get them. Deal. Still not done. Sad face.

8. Make a plan so this area will be grassy, but be able to drain off the concrete. I will get Jorge on this Aug. 5. Well maybe by Sept. 1 when I have grass for the wall area. Well maybe when he comes back in late Oct.

9. Rake and blow the rock sidewalk. Spray some Roundup. Aug 8. Aug. 14-15

10. This area needs to be fixed up. Okay, it can't be easily done, but this is a priority and needs some help. Several things will be done here:

• Remove the rocky dirt - Jorge 8/11
• Fix the sprinkler - X. This is not going to be fixed as we know it.
• Do the stonework repairs including capping the wall - 8/28. Fantastic!
• Dig out the decomposed granite near the house - X. Not this year.
• Replace with good soil - X. Not this year.
• Place good soil in the flower bed - Jorge 8/11 and again Oct. 8
• Install some Salvia or other nice flowers - Jorge 10/8
• Place some strategic lighting for the sidewalk - 10/4
• Add lighting for the bed - No plan as of Oct.

1. We have picked out the pool tile. We went with a pretty conservative, safe choice.

2. We finally have the front yard sodded. I'm really glad this is done.

1. Stain the flagstone sidewalk near the bedrooms
2. Shine up the slide
3. Put some drains by the wall and raise the soil level
4. Display those old license plates

1. Retaining Wall - the wall is officially done. That doesnt mean it is actually finished, it just means the deal is over and the wall builders have left. I am glad it's done.
• July 1 Trash haul off
• July 2 Backfill has been done
• July 6 Dirt is all spread out, holes filled and remainder hauled off
• Steps nearest pool did not get completed
• Acid wash did not happen
• Big Steps will stay like they are
• I will have to do these things myself as there was some communication problem and it didn't get included in the deal.

2. Pool Tile - Pool tile has been installed as of July 7. We are picking out some accent tile to use on the steps at the time of surfacing.
3. Pool Plumbing - Pool plumbing should start July 12
4. Pool Surfacing - Should start by end of week of July 12. At this point, we are going with Tahoe Blue
5. Pavillion - Now we are talking about having a wooden post pavilion created that has a fireplace.
6. Landscaping - Sodding is scheduled for week of July 12.
7. TV - The TV people have been out and found an electrical problem, that they caused. We had an electrician repair the problem and who knows when the satellite will now be repaired.

1. Retaining Wall - the wall people showed up this morning and started hauling off trash. Thank goodness! Maybe this is going to work.
• Here is a more realistic schedule. And by realistic I mean please God, please get these people to show up and use some common sense in what they are doing:
• July 1 Trash haul off
• July 2 We could fill a few holes while the back yard is nice and dry
• July 3 Top of wall prepared for backfill.
• July 3 Extend steps nearest pool
• July 3 Acid wash
• July 3 (Big Steps?)
• July 1 & 2 Backfill with rocks and dirt (with fabric in between)
• July 8 spread dirt (allowing one day of rain). Wait until it is dry enough to spread the dirt
• Everything depends on the stone guys and the backfill. Better progress than I anticipated a few days ago.
2. Pool Tile -
3. Pavillion - Jeremy and I talked yesterday and to get the steel structure close to what I want, the price is going to be 50K+. I told him this was way over our budget and suggested a cheaper alternative using wood. He will put together some ideas and present them to us. If we can't come up with anything, we will pull the cedar posts, cover them with potted plants and try again next year.
4. Landscaping - Need to call Claudia and schedule sod for July 13.

1. Retaining Wall - the wall people showed up this morning and started hauling off trash. Thank goodness! Maybe this is going to work.
• Here is a more realistic schedule. And by realistic I mean please God, please get these people to show up and use some common sense in what they are doing:
• July 1 Trash haul off
• July 2 We could fill a few holes while the back yard is nice and dry
• July 3 Top of wall prepared for backfill.
• July 3 Extend steps nearest pool
• July 3 Acid wash
• July 3 (Big Steps?)
• July 5 & 6 Backfill with rocks and dirt
• July 8 spread dirt (allowing one day of rain). Wait until it is dry enough to spread the dirt
• Everything depends on the stone guys and the backfill. That's why it is so slow.
2. Pool Tile - Manuel is there today and he is making solid progress.
3. Pavillion - Jeremy and I talked yesterday and to get the steel structure close to what I want, the price is going to be 50K+. I told him this was way over our budget and suggested a cheaper alternative using wood. He will put together some ideas and present them to us. If we can't come up with anything, we will pull the cedar posts, cover them with potted plants and try again next year.
4. Landscaping - Need to call Claudia and schedule sod for July 13.
5. Garage Cleaning - Sharlette and Shirley put the most awesome cleaning job on the garage that I have ever seen. Wow. Just wow!!!!

6. TV. Need to call the U-Verse people and tell them we had the security system team come inspect and they found no issues.
7. The Pastor's Yard. Thank goodness for this relaxing activity that is helping me keep my sanity. No one to mess anything up except myself. Today I will do as much weed eating as my battery will allow, and also some hoeing around the pool equipment and getting the back yard ready to mow again. Setting it all up for the big kill on July 5 and 6.