tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31244261911745694352024-03-14T01:40:20.258-04:00Oliver's BungalowChristine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.comBlogger317125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-62944630685457553462018-02-10T04:48:00.000-05:002018-02-10T04:50:08.867-05:00Laser therapy Oliver visited the vet today for his monthly laser therapy. We’ve been doing the hips and shoulders. It seems to really help him, so we’ve added it to his routine, along with his daily anti-inflammatory.
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This picture is from a few years ago, treatments for his shoulders. He loves to leap off things, like furniture or the 4 stone stairs in the back yard... But anyway, this picture cracks me up, such a cool dog in the safety doggles!
Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-78546565831547812712018-02-08T01:38:00.000-05:002018-02-08T01:38:33.750-05:00Bead obsession Okay, so I’m sure by now we all know of my ocd tendencies... Currently I’m all about these beaded aromatherapy diffuser bracelets. It started with Christmas gifts. And when I couldn’t find exactly the right bracelet, I started thinking about maybe making it myself.
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Now, I'm sure all you fellow crafters out there know this is the slippery slope. Both beading and scrapbooking have been really popular hobbies for many years now, and I've been good at ignoring their siren song. Until recently. The scrapbooking is a story for another day.
Anyway, I let my ocd get carried away...
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<a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="../Documents/7D02A89E-3239-4EC4-B9DE-50950F0A9884.JPG"><img title="green diffuser bracelets" src="../Documents/7D02A89E-3239-4EC4-B9DE-50950F0A9884.JPG" alt="" width="500" height="562" data-json="" /></a>
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And now, 110 bracelets later... But its okay! Because as you may have noticed from a previous post, I've finally done something my mom wanted me to do years ago: I've opened an etsy store!
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/GreenBungalowCrafts">https://www.etsy.com/shop/GreenBungalowCrafts</a>
And I've even gotten a few sales already. I even survived the shipping process, which I was quite nervous about.
So, for all my blog friends, I invite you to check out my etsy store, and if you’d like to order a bracelet, I’ve created a special coupon code for you. Please enter BLOGPEEPS20 at checkout to receive 20% off any bracelets you order!
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</div>Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-6113277676950984722018-02-06T11:28:00.000-05:002018-02-06T11:28:13.974-05:00Silly pretzel doggie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HpXV3vRRCfA/WnnXmwsM4WI/AAAAAAAAIZY/YW0r8XAVNBQGWP5wh5p_3cx6Dufv5n0cwCHMYCw/silly%2Bpretzel%2Bdoggie"><img title="silly pretzel doggie" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HpXV3vRRCfA/WnnXmwsM4WI/AAAAAAAAIZY/YW0r8XAVNBQGWP5wh5p_3cx6Dufv5n0cwCHMYCw/silly%2Bpretzel%2Bdoggie" alt="" width="500" height="375" data-json="" /></a></div>
Even at 12-1/2 years old, Oliver still manages to do something new and funny. He makes me laugh, even though I’m keenly aware of his age and how precious each day is. Truly, I love him more every day.
Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-66116890764808290322018-01-23T22:19:00.000-05:002018-01-24T02:00:09.009-05:00Announcement!After a few hiccups we are finally up and running!
We are live people!
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/GreenBungalowCrafts?order=custom&section_id=23154734">https://www.etsy.com/shop/GreenBungalowCrafts?order=custom&section_id=23154734</a>
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Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-6269047017947170592018-01-21T20:51:00.000-05:002018-01-21T20:53:58.151-05:00Carolyn <p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 19pt;">Today would have been my mom’s 67th birthday.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;"> </p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 19pt;">
</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 19pt;">We lost mom to a glioblastoma, an extremely aggressive type of brain tumor, on 2 November 2016.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545; min-height: 22.7px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 19pt;">She was first diagnosed on 1 July 2015, and with a whirlwind of small and amazing miracles, she had surgery just 6 days later and her surgeon felt he was able to remove the entire tumor. This almost never happens with the glioblastoma, as it grows very quickly and typically winds in and around the brain. Mom’s was caught. And caught early. And was operable. She made a quick recovery, coming home to stay with us just 5 days after her surgery.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545; min-height: 22.7px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 19pt;">Follow up care with the best oncologist, <a href="http://www.fhlbloodandcancer.com" target="_blank">Dr Roy Williams</a>, oral chemo and radiation. She lost very little hair through the process and physically recovered about 80-90% of her normal self.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545; min-height: 22.7px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 19pt;">She passed the six-month mark, still all clear. Typically, if a glioblastoma recurs, it’s within the first six months. Sadly, mom is anything but typical. In May of 2016, during a routine MRI, they discovered the glioblastoma came back. And it was bigger this time.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545; min-height: 22.7px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 19pt;">Since it was in the same area, surgery and radiation were out. Briefly, it looked like mom may have been eligible to join a glioblastoma clinical trial at Duke University, but getting the tumor reduced in size and her mobility didn’t overlap. She put up a damned good fight.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545; min-height: 22.7px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 19pt;">We had the most amazing home care for her final weeks. <a href="http://www.preferredhealthstaff.com" target="_blank">Preferred Health Staff</a>. They were probably one of the best decisions I have ever made. I will forever be grateful to all the caregivers, especially Alissa. Not only were they there for mom, but they were a tremendous support for me in mom’s final days. And of course Oliver did his best to keep everyone’s spirits up.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545; min-height: 22.7px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 19pt;">The caregivers, Marc, Kelly, Oliver, and I were all with mom when she passed. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545; min-height: 22.7px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: '.SFUIText'; font-size: 19pt;">I will always miss her.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545; min-height: 22.7px;"> </p>Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-50723997722329630472018-01-20T23:48:00.000-05:002018-01-20T23:48:23.679-05:00Relocating the blogThanks to our good friend Sean, Oliver’s Bungalow Blog will be relocating soon. Sadly, Blogger is nearly impossible for me to use to create posts with multiple photos, hence the change.
Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-22207558163027758092018-01-15T14:34:00.000-05:002018-01-15T14:38:45.056-05:00Ipe wood porch floor <span style="font-size: 14px;">EEEEE-pay!</span>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span>
<span style="font-size: 14px;">We opted for tongue and groove flooring for the porch, just in case we would ever decide to enclose the porch with screen or make it into a sunroom.</span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Sxqh9oa6Cno/Wl0CSrSdG8I/AAAAAAAAIXs/K4T2F3UUu-Qbs2ylfY-sO-_r2SJfZ0HmwCHMYCw/Oliver%2Bchecks%2Bout%2Bthe%2Bnew%2Bfloor"><img title="Oliver checks out the new floor" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Sxqh9oa6Cno/Wl0CSrSdG8I/AAAAAAAAIXs/K4T2F3UUu-Qbs2ylfY-sO-_r2SJfZ0HmwCHMYCw/Oliver%2Bchecks%2Bout%2Bthe%2Bnew%2Bfloor" alt="" width="500" height="669" data-json="" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Its such a beautiful, dark, rich, red color. I just love it!</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_tO484KWo78/Wl0CTFPIRmI/AAAAAAAAIXw/PIoiLgRZytwhYAWx3GkpRv480C238HfGgCHMYCw/Oliver%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bnew%2Bporch"><img title="Oliver on the new porch" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_tO484KWo78/Wl0CTFPIRmI/AAAAAAAAIXw/PIoiLgRZytwhYAWx3GkpRv480C238HfGgCHMYCw/Oliver%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bnew%2Bporch" alt="" width="500" height="669" data-json="" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">The red of the ipe is an excellent contrast to the green siding.</span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ztsaO1hwT14/Wl0CTbuNIHI/AAAAAAAAIX0/c9MN-jvAxx0FJ49InG-wUQr9qs_9Syx3gCHMYCw/Ipe%2Band%2Bsiding"><img title="Ipe and siding" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ztsaO1hwT14/Wl0CTbuNIHI/AAAAAAAAIX0/c9MN-jvAxx0FJ49InG-wUQr9qs_9Syx3gCHMYCw/Ipe%2Band%2Bsiding" alt="" width="500" height="669" data-json="" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14px;">And of course, the ipe looks good with Oliver too!</span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uuWl08XnLdk/Wl0CTvr1f5I/AAAAAAAAIX4/ZKoIOzwGC2E5wducaPHFbY0jA0r4xpShwCHMYCw/Oli%2Bsunning%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bporch"><img title="Oli sunning on the porch" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uuWl08XnLdk/Wl0CTvr1f5I/AAAAAAAAIX4/ZKoIOzwGC2E5wducaPHFbY0jA0r4xpShwCHMYCw/Oli%2Bsunning%2Bon%2Bthe%2Bporch" alt="" width="500" height="373" data-json="" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14px;">Now, a few serious points:</span>
<span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">First, the recommendations are to use a diamond saw blade. Take that seriously. If you try to cheap out, you’ll just chew through the ipe, mangling it, and you’ll run through regular saw blades like crazy.</span></li>
</ul>
<div><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Secondly, the sawdust it creates is fine, like talcum powder. Oliver and I discovered the hard way that it can cause a super itchy allergic reaction on the skin. I walk around barefoot a lot and of course Oliver is always barefoot. I didn't find any info inline about this, and the allergy specialist i saw treated me like i was crazy. But once we made the correlation and took measures to keep the sawdust cleaned up, we both stopped feeling itchy skin.</span></li>
</ul>
<div><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">Third, the precautionary measures i did find while searching for allergies to ipe are to use a respirator. Breathing that powder fine ipe sawdust would be all too easy, but it can easily cause serious and permanent lung damage.</span></li>
</ul>
<div><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 14px;">And fourth, the ipe grain is so tight it doesn't absorb much. No stain. Just oil it. With the weather we get here in Pennsylvania, we should oil it in the spring and fall. But we rarely get to that. And when they say wipe on, wipe off the oil within 30 minutes, do that. We learned the hard way. My handyman didn't read the directions, assuming he knew what to do... Marc and i spent all summer trying to undo the horrible sticky residue. I tried a bunch of things before calling the company. They had two suggestions. Denatured alcohol or sanding. Im not fooling around with sanding it, so we bought a stiff bristle scrubbing brush mop head and a couple gallons of denatured alcohol. It still hasn't all worn away, but it’s much better now. We no longer stick to the floor when we walk!</span></li>
</ul>Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-24469388069479303322018-01-14T04:09:00.000-05:002018-01-14T04:10:45.325-05:00Bear with...Between changing technology and my lyme brain, I had a spot of difficulty with the previous post. We are researching alternatives to Blogger. I appreciate your patience while we sort this out.
In the meantime, here’s a picture of Oliver as a reindeer!
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VNHXNK3ca40/WlsekyEvpNI/AAAAAAAAIVY/hV71XAMmt_EfprgESRlbKafvshP2PfDLACHMYCw/Oliver%2Bwith%2Bantlers"><img title="Oliver with antlers" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VNHXNK3ca40/WlsekyEvpNI/AAAAAAAAIVY/hV71XAMmt_EfprgESRlbKafvshP2PfDLACHMYCw/Oliver%2Bwith%2Bantlers" alt="" width="463" height="750" data-json="" /></a></div>
</div>Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-11204987428514645312018-01-12T02:31:00.000-05:002018-01-12T02:31:19.509-05:00Siding<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;">Let’s see... where did we leave off... ah yes! The siding!</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545; min-height: 22.7px;">Nearly five years since the siding was installed, and I can say with conviction that I’d absolutely go with the James Hardie cement fiberboard all over again.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545; min-height: 22.7px;">Now, I was very sick during this project. So sick that I remember briefly waking one morning to the sound of siding being installed just behind my headboard. KaTHUNK! KaTHUNK! KaTHUNK! goes the nail gun. I thought, oh, Bill’s here, and immediately fell back asleep.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;">Although Marc and I had been friends for many years, we had only recently begun dating, so (perhaps unfortunately) he didn’t interfere with the construction projects. That was mom’s domain. </p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;">Looking back, there are a few things I wish we would have done differently.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;">The faux bead board porch ceilings could have been done using a James Hardie product instead of the vinyl composite. I was told that was the only option aside from wood and I was too sick to research it myself. Some things you just have to let go.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;">We clad the back porch pillars in Hardie’s faux stucco texture panels. Then they were framed out with slim trimming. If I had to do it again, I’d say no trim, and go smooth instead of stucco texture.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545; min-height: 22.7px;">And the biggest... I’d rework the placement of the back porch stairs and pillars. In the winter, the landing and bottom three stairs are exposed for snow and ice. And the location of that pillar is awkward for the symmetry of the house. I’m sure some future owner will be cursing me...</p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L4OJYGv54qo/WlbsEeRMADI/AAAAAAAAIUk/YdWInBouFAgSgFGmiz3m2fk9pOmEXYsbACHMYBhgL/s400/IMG_2221.JPG"><img class=" alignleft" title="IMG_2221.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L4OJYGv54qo/WlbsEeRMADI/AAAAAAAAIUk/YdWInBouFAgSgFGmiz3m2fk9pOmEXYsbACHMYBhgL/s400/IMG_2221.JPG" alt="IMG_2221.JPG" width="299" height="400" /></a><a style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-waSkNC5Vi3o/WlbsERpy4jI/AAAAAAAAIUk/_LsBACfz4PU5bVUSTdo6XP7qRvnMStppACHMYBhgL/s400/IMG_4070.JPG"><img title="IMG_4070.JPG" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-waSkNC5Vi3o/WlbsERpy4jI/AAAAAAAAIUk/_LsBACfz4PU5bVUSTdo6XP7qRvnMStppACHMYBhgL/s400/IMG_4070.JPG" alt="IMG_4070.JPG" width="400" height="400" data-json="" /></a><a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L4OJYGv54qo/WlbsEeRMADI/AAAAAAAAIUk/YdWInBouFAgSgFGmiz3m2fk9pOmEXYsbACHMYBhgL/s400/IMG_2221.JPG"><span style="color: #454545;"> </span></a></div>
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<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 19px; line-height: normal; font-family: '.SF UI Text'; color: #454545;">Those points aside, I love it. We often get complements from people walking by when we are working outside. </p>
<div> </div>Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-43174741157670448302018-01-11T10:00:00.000-05:002018-01-11T10:00:03.986-05:00And the best big news...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eEEJ6OAUibY/WlWZusbeodI/AAAAAAAAIQ0/mFrmUi3C17g18STycywQgr-ZfD8j-UQLwCKgBGAs/s1600/IMG_0830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1577" data-original-width="1600" height="315" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eEEJ6OAUibY/WlWZusbeodI/AAAAAAAAIQ0/mFrmUi3C17g18STycywQgr-ZfD8j-UQLwCKgBGAs/s320/IMG_0830.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 19pt;">Marc and I got married this fall!</span></div>
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Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-91854895334835922772018-01-10T09:30:00.000-05:002018-01-10T09:30:32.769-05:00But first...<div style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: large;">...some pretty big life changes, and why I seemingly abandoned this blog. Please bear with me, I know this will be lengthy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: large;">In 2012 I got sick. Really sick. So sick I could no longer function. I had difficulty comprehending when people spoke to me, struggled to read. Extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Touch registering in my brain as pain. Whole body aches and pains, like coming down with the flu. Low grade fevers every single day. Numb, tingly areas on my skin, random places. The skin on the soles of my feet hurt so; felt like walking barefoot on sharp gravel.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: large;">New meds from my new rheumatologist helped with the pain a bit, but it wasn’t enough. But the fatigue, oh the fatigue, was the real clincher. How could someone so young, who looks fine, be so ill?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: large;">So ill that I could no longer stay awake for more than an hour or two, sleeping upwards of 20 hours a day. My mom said even I fell asleep while eating.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: large;">So debilitated that I, at 32, had to have my mom help me bathe and dress. For a while she delivered me and collected me from work every day. My coworkers, so very generous, worked with me as best they could, but I felt like a really lousy employee. I couldn’t really comprehend anything I was reading by then, but wasn’t really aware, just thinking I’m not trying hard enough.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: large;">So lost in this mucky, murky brain, there were times I didn’t know where I was. Or who I was. Afraid I was going crazy, I didn’t tell anyone that last part till years later.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: large;">So weak I remember hardly being able to hold myself upright in the chair in my rheumatologist’s exam room the day he said I should ask work for a medical leave of absence. Even though he didn’t know what else to treat.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: large;">To some of you out there, this may be sounding all too familiar...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: large;">Mom took me to doctor after doctor, every test under the sun. Nobody had an explanation, much less a treatment for me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: large;">One day, before my medical leave of absence, I was talking to my dear friend Leslie at work. I had a huge stack of old tests and blood work that my family doctor had run over the past twenty years, ready to see yet another specialist later that day. She asked if I minded if she looked. Nope, not at all. I’m not that private, plus I was desperate for an answer, ready to try anything.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: large;">Leslie and her entire family have been battling with Lyme, and other tick-borne infections, for nearly two decades. She’s repeatedly asked me if I’d been tested for Lyme. Yeah, yeah, my family doctor testes me frequently. And as we worked through that stack we could see those test results, every year or two, with the same results- a big negative at the top of the report.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: large;">Then Leslie began trying to explain the results of the Western Blot to me. You have antibodies to this, this, this, and this, she says. The numbers are low. Too low to be “positive,” at least by the CDC’s “criteria.” But if you had never been exposed, those numbers would be zero.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: large;">And suddenly the light bulb went on for me. The way she explained that made sense. Here I had been thinking that because Leslie’s whole family was dealing with Lyme, she saw it everywhere. Nope. Leslie sees Lyme everywhere, because it is everywhere!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, this was one rock we hadn’t looked under yet. When mom came to pick me up from work that day, I asked Leslie to explain it to her, I’d never be able to articulate all that back to mom, much less a doctor. Mom listened and we began the hunt for a Lyme-literate doctor. Eventually we found a great one, and with each infection we treated, my health has improved!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately, I have an amazing team of doctors. My awesome family doctor who’s willing to listen and learn, and who take the time each patient needs at every visit. A (sadly now retired) rogue rheumatologist willing to try new things and fight the insurance company for me. A terrific and well informed Lyme-literate doctor. And finally my hematologist, another rogue, and real and true gem. Without these amazing, dedicated doctors, I truly believe I’m not being overly dramatic in saying that I would not be alive today. They have my eternal gratitude and love.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: large;">I know this was a long post, and thanks for sticking with me. It may sound like it was easy, but please believe me when I tell you it was a long, hard road full of friends, family, and doctors who clearly thought I was lazy, or crazy, or worse. Luckily for me, I have some truly amazing people and doctors in my life who fought on my behalf when I couldn’t and supported me through all this. I’ve skimmed over the worst of it, most of that time is a foggy jumble in my memory anyway, now we are out the upswing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ".sfuitext";"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes friends, it’s a new year, full of new possibilities, a fresh page, and I’m ready to reclaim my life!</span></span></div>
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Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-5252197291592020932018-01-09T00:51:00.000-05:002018-01-09T00:51:00.360-05:00Welcome back!<div style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SFUIText", serif; font-size: 19pt;">Well folks, it’s been a long time… too long; but I’m back and ready to take you on a journey. A lot has been happening; plenty of fun projects, including a few that are already finished! Who doesn’t love a good before and after?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: ".SFUIText", serif; font-size: 19pt;">P.S. Oliver is happy and healthy! That face may be more white and he sleeps a lot more these days, but his heart is still all puppy!</span></div>
Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-76908167389822318232012-05-01T15:48:00.003-04:002012-05-01T15:53:24.107-04:00Knee Braces<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The shingles are complete on the front of the second floor, and we've decked it out with a little something extra: craftsman style knee braces.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oliver looking out, ready for the great escape</td></tr>
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There has been a good bit of progress around here, but not much worthy of pictures. Some dirt has been moved around, the back yard is sporting a hot pink spray paint outline of where the new retaining walls and pavers will go. New framing for the back storage cubbies. And most importantly, a new structural support beam the entire width of the house to replace the one that was rotten from the weather and apparently some heavy termite snacking. All very important things, but not terribly photogenic.</div>
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The guys were hard at work on the framing for the new porch when I left this morning. They poured the concrete for the posts yesterday, and I think I'll have something to show you tomorrow!</div>
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</div>Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-57582345194397807642012-04-17T17:25:00.000-04:002012-04-17T17:26:05.394-04:00Progress and PaversI think I'll have a good picture of what the whole house will look like soon. The guys are rocking right along with the soffit and they've almost finished the new shingles on the front. Tomorrow should be the siding on the front of the first floor. I can't wait!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t0K6GNV70Ac/T42zwFhg93I/AAAAAAAACgE/z7WbCwhV7Qs/s1600/IMG_3548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t0K6GNV70Ac/T42zwFhg93I/AAAAAAAACgE/z7WbCwhV7Qs/s400/IMG_3548.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new shingles almost done on the front!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">project supervisor kept safely inside</td></tr>
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After the front is finished, they are going to skip around to the back. Bill is going to get the footers poured for my new back porch. Yes, that's porch, not deck. The aim is to make it look as if it was always part of the house and not something that was tacked on recently.<br />
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Anyway, that's up next so that our hardscaping can get started. I'm really looking forward to my new retaining wall that will corral the mess on the factory side of the house. For that project we are planning to use Techo-Bloc. This is my current favourite color combination. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">techo bloc, mini creta, victorien and mista in champlaign grey and onyx black</td></tr>
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Everybody else seems to think I should go with brown, but I see greys. With the silver roof and all the raw concrete that was used in 1930, it is honest and original. I was even leaning toward <a href="http://oliversbungalow.blogspot.com/2008/07/oli-and-hostas-and-pavers.html" target="_blank">re-using these super simple concrete pavers</a> we dug up from the cabin. But everyone is afraid they will break. So far they haven't, I have loads more, and you can still buy them new, so I actually don't see the problem. But I can't get anyone else on board, so, new techo bloc it is!</div>
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All browns just make me think of the bland brown neighborhoods that have cropped up the last couple of years. Blech! Again, I don't want something dated 2012.</div>
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So for today, I'm leaning toward the mix of medium greys with a touch of brown, and an accent of charcoal grey. The main field colors would be the wall and the floor. For the walls, they do come in the charcoal grey as well, so I'm thinking maybe a 10% mix of dark grey with the 90% medium tones. The edging around the floors and the stairs in charcoal grey will be a snazzy contrast, and help define edges to prevent falls and mis-steps. And of course then we need to make the caps dark to tie it all together.</div>
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Please, I welcome comments or suggestions regarding my color choices. I have to stop changing my mind very soon so they can be ordered!</div>Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-63762117356094910132012-04-13T11:55:00.000-04:002012-04-13T11:57:02.358-04:00Back Steps Gone!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TC-SWKuVp58/T4dG_UfS5kI/AAAAAAAACes/tNH28ku1Ztc/s1600/back+of+the+house.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" qda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TC-SWKuVp58/T4dG_UfS5kI/AAAAAAAACes/tNH28ku1Ztc/s400/back+of+the+house.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XF9QEUEGLkY/T4dHAt9g5VI/AAAAAAAACe0/FYuQ8tw3Gyg/s1600/back+steps+gone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XF9QEUEGLkY/T4dHAt9g5VI/AAAAAAAACe0/FYuQ8tw3Gyg/s400/back+steps+gone.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OzB1PwqM4uA/T4dHCCrsqhI/AAAAAAAACe8/JKU3GERLt8s/s1600/cistern+full.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" qda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OzB1PwqM4uA/T4dHCCrsqhI/AAAAAAAACe8/JKU3GERLt8s/s400/cistern+full.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-20379497970278104592012-04-12T11:05:00.002-04:002012-04-12T11:07:23.080-04:00Expect the Unexpected<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">digging up the yard in preparation for retaining walls and new porch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gee, I hope it doesn't rain!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a surprise find, and no, it isn't buried treasure</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9X0ygDn9yrg/T4btHebc7iI/AAAAAAAACdU/9P3sBzWrP1Y/s1600/IMG_3503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9X0ygDn9yrg/T4btHebc7iI/AAAAAAAACdU/9P3sBzWrP1Y/s400/IMG_3503.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">what's under the hatch???</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ILw4VofpIA4/T4btKzeEzJI/AAAAAAAACdc/utD35y9qEqY/s1600/IMG_3502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ILw4VofpIA4/T4btKzeEzJI/AAAAAAAACdc/utD35y9qEqY/s400/IMG_3502.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">down the hole: rocks, water, and... is that Oliver hair?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gEYdmYiF8LQ/T4btO_AoDdI/AAAAAAAACdk/HfWwrI1-iHE/s1600/IMG_3500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" qda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gEYdmYiF8LQ/T4btO_AoDdI/AAAAAAAACdk/HfWwrI1-iHE/s400/IMG_3500.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">now we just wait to see what we can do about it...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-63622057207235191632012-04-05T12:15:00.000-04:002012-04-05T12:15:54.534-04:001940 Census Update from ancestry.com<br />
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Wowza! Ancestry anticipates having every image of every single 1940 census sheet scanned and online by tomorrow! Isn't technology amazing?<br />
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They've already started the indexing process, and as soon as all the pages are scanned, they'll have all hands on deck for indexing.<br />
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I am so excited. I easily located my grandparents just by skimming through the 30 pages of our small town. But I have other ancestors I've been waiting to track down, and they lived in big cities or I don't know where, so I'll be needing the handy name search. I can hardly wait!Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-52053475747421147372012-04-03T15:20:00.000-04:002012-04-03T15:20:00.307-04:00And So It Begins...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It is official. Demolition has begun. Bill and Billy were at the house bright and early this morning. They made short business of the front dormer's siding. Here's what the house looked like when I left for work. Blue skies!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">naked dormer</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">recyclables!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and a happy project supervisor!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-50491356078106631302012-04-02T19:15:00.000-04:002012-04-02T19:33:47.886-04:00Newest Addition<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a8ffn6BLvJY/T3oo5UcpFzI/AAAAAAAACbM/_Dk4nG_gLzc/s1600/oli+vs+roomba+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a8ffn6BLvJY/T3oo5UcpFzI/AAAAAAAACbM/_Dk4nG_gLzc/s320/oli+vs+roomba+2.JPG" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">curiously listening to Roomba's beeps</td></tr>
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We welcomed the newest addition to our household this weekend. Say hello to Roomba 770. We love her already. Not only does she clean, but she provides golden retriever entertainment!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m2Fccb-p45M/T3osCc1fIcI/AAAAAAAACbs/YpfgxILtE6k/s1600/oli+vs+roomba+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m2Fccb-p45M/T3osCc1fIcI/AAAAAAAACbs/YpfgxILtE6k/s320/oli+vs+roomba+2.JPG" width="238" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">not so sure about this thing... gonna bark!</td></tr>
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Roomba chasing Oliver</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OKhqiFly8x8/T3ot1FnDtKI/AAAAAAAACb0/oiN-Jr2xpdA/s1600/oli+vs+roomba+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="280" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OKhqiFly8x8/T3ot1FnDtKI/AAAAAAAACb0/oiN-Jr2xpdA/s400/oli+vs+roomba+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">attack stance!</td></tr>
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</div>Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-1934196183288983262012-03-31T13:50:00.000-04:002012-03-31T13:50:00.038-04:001940 CensusSo, if any of you family tree climbers out there have been paying attention, we are just days away from the release of the long-awaited 1940 census.<br />
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For my generation, this means I'll get to see a little more about my grandparents and maybe their parents. I'm lucky because I've had the opportunity to know all of my grandparents in my lifetime. Some better than others, but still. But it's funny, you know, because I seem to get the same stories out of my grandparents every time I ask, tell me about your childhood, your family when you were young.<br />
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For me, going back through the 1930 and 1920 census have given me little tidbits to take back to my grandparents. Prompts, if you will. I can ask them about this certain thing I found, do they remember that. It seems to open the floodgates. Then I get new stories. This is one of the things I love most about genealogy.<br />
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So for myself, I know right where to go to find my grandparents when the 1940 census pages for Pennsylvania are made available on ancestry.com. Hopefully sooner, rather than later!</div>
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<a href="http://www.ancestry.com/1940-census?o_xid=50820&o_lid=50820&o_sch=Social" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="http://link.ancestry.com/u.d?S4GjKzTe9TSok_8Gd4183=611" /></a></div>
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The deal is, that Ancestry.com will be seeing these pages they day they are released - April 2nd - for the first time. So, don't expect to be able to log onto Ancestry on Monday and snap! find your ancestors. It just isn't possible. Ancestry is going to have to scan all the pages. They will make them available as they are finished. But we still won't have searching capabilities. But it isn't the end of the world, we'll just have to treat it like the microfilm versions of previous census, before the days of Ancestry.com. We'll have to use <a href="http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3028&o_xid=50820&o_lid=50820&o_sch=Social" target="_blank">Enumeration District maps</a>.</div>
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This will make things pretty easy for people with small town families, and help narrow things down for families from large cities.</div>
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So, while things will be very busy at work, with the end of semester, and busy at home with all the construction, I'm still planning to keep up on the latest with Ancestry's 1940 census offerings.</div>
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Stay tuned, and feel free to ask me questions! I love to help fellow genealogists!</div>Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-30807932686274287302012-03-30T13:10:00.000-04:002012-03-30T13:11:18.184-04:00Siding Mock-Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yc8dzkhAp1s/T2zTV-tUiaI/AAAAAAAACY0/s0UJjZie23c/s1600/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="242" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yc8dzkhAp1s/T2zTV-tUiaI/AAAAAAAACY0/s0UJjZie23c/s400/Picture1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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You may recall that I mentioned before that we are going to be getting new siding this spring. Yes, it is finally happening! My mom's cousin Bill is our wonderful carpenter and he says siding is his favourite job. We'll see if he still feels that way after he is done with the bungalow!</div>
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Anyway, right now we are just waiting for the siding to come in. Bill ordered it and we expect it in about another two weeks. I think Bill is planning to start deconstruction next week, weather permitting of course. We will be recycling the heavy-gauge aluminum siding, not only because it is the right thing to do, but we may get a bit of money back. That would be a nice bonus.</div>
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We will be getting brand new James Hardie siding. I know it is more expensive than vinyl, but I'm against adding anything plastic to my house if I can help it. I also think it will pay for itself in the long run. See yesterday's post regarding the hail damage!</div>
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<a href="http://www.suburbanbuilders.com/hardie_siding/MOUNTAIN%20SAGE%20PLANK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" id="il_fi" src="http://www.suburbanbuilders.com/hardie_siding/MOUNTAIN%20SAGE%20PLANK.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="326" /></a>The bottom half of the bungalow will be getting lap siding in <span style="color: #274e13;">Mountain Sage</span>. I honestly don't know what we settled on. Beaded, not beaded, smooth or wood grain. Doesn't really matter. I like them all. That may surprise you that I don't haven't agonized over every detail. It surprises me. Maybe I'm growing, letting go of control. Maybe I trust that it'll turn out beautifully no matter what. Maybe I'm just too tired. Probably a bit of all those!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SVzEVywkzsQ/T3XjyVtFShI/AAAAAAAACbE/yMspFW2b6iY/s1600/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SVzEVywkzsQ/T3XjyVtFShI/AAAAAAAACbE/yMspFW2b6iY/s1600/Picture1.png" /></a>The top half will get the straight edge shingles in <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Heathered Moss</span>. Normally I like a randomized look, but after living with my first mock up for a while, I decided I would prefer the straight edge over the staggered shingles for the bungalow.<rect fillcolor="white [7]" filled="f" id="_x0000_s1031" insetpen="t" o:cliptowrap="t" o:preferrelative="t" strokecolor="black [0]" stroked="f" style="height: 249.16pt; left: 33.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 2.88pt; position: absolute; top: 180.05pt; width: 317.3pt; z-index: 1;"> <fill color2="white [7]"></fill><stroke color2="white [7]"><left color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></left><top color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></top><right color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></right><bottom color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></bottom><column color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></column></stroke><imagedata o:title="New-HardieShingle-03[1]" src="file:///C:\Users\cla14\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></imagedata><shadow color="#eeece1 [4]"></shadow><path o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></rect><rect fillcolor="white [7]" filled="f" id="_x0000_s1032" insetpen="t" o:cliptowrap="t" o:preferrelative="t" strokecolor="black [0]" stroked="f" style="height: 366.98pt; left: 33.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 2.88pt; position: absolute; top: 180.05pt; width: 467.33pt; z-index: 1;"><fill color2="white [7]"></fill><stroke color2="white [7]"><left color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></left><top color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></top><right color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></right><bottom color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></bottom><column color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></column></stroke><imagedata o:title="New-HardieShingle-03[1]" src="file:///C:\Users\cla14\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></imagedata><shadow color="#eeece1 [4]"></shadow><path o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></rect><rect fillcolor="white [7]" filled="f" id="_x0000_s1032" insetpen="t" o:cliptowrap="t" o:preferrelative="t" strokecolor="black [0]" stroked="f" style="height: 366.98pt; left: 33.75pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 2.88pt; position: absolute; top: 180.05pt; width: 467.33pt; z-index: 1;"><fill color2="white [7]"></fill><stroke color2="white [7]"><left color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></left><top color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></top><right color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></right><bottom color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></bottom><column color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"></column></stroke><imagedata o:title="New-HardieShingle-03[1]" src="file:///C:\Users\cla14\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></imagedata><shadow color="#eeece1 [4]"></shadow><path o:extrusionok="f"></path><lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></lock></rect></div>
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<a href="http://www.usaremodelinginc.com/images/sitephotos/services/siding/trim/9.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" id="il_fi" src="http://www.usaremodelinginc.com/images/sitephotos/services/siding/trim/9.png" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="280" /></a>All trim that will be replaced, or newly created, will be in Artic White. There will be a "belly band" around the middle of the bungalow, dividing the shingles from the lap siding.</div>
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<a href="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4085/4962766048_000557ab71_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4085/4962766048_000557ab71_b.jpg" width="133" /></a>We are also going to add knee braces. Yup. I don't really know if my house originally had them or not, but I like the way they look. Some houses in my area have them, some don't. We already have some supporting the little roof overhang over the side basement door, and supporting the kitchen window. Just for my piece of mind, Bill is going to install real, structural knee braces under the dining room window overhang. It does sort of dip down there, and while I suspect that happened a long time ago and the house is now stable, I'd still feel better with some support there. Plus they will look cool.</div>Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-681688874937507932012-03-28T10:30:00.000-04:002012-03-28T10:37:46.773-04:00Last Year's Hail Damage<div style="text-align: justify;">
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Last spring we had a wicked, nasty storm. Lewis was at home, but I stayed put at work because we weren't sure it was really safe to travel. Better to stay in safe shelter than risk getting caught in a bad storm in the little VW, blowing all over the highway.</div>
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Anyway, when Lewis first called to tell me how bad it was at home, I couldn't really understand him. I thought he was going through the automatic car wash!</div>
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When things subsided a bit he went outside with the camera.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">big hail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HCjE2efyEJY/T3IwzHh8HcI/AAAAAAAACZ0/68RYvYqwdGo/s1600/IMG_3323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HCjE2efyEJY/T3IwzHh8HcI/AAAAAAAACZ0/68RYvYqwdGo/s400/IMG_3323.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hail-littered lawn</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">poor posies</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dKY2N5cq9Xs/T3IwuW7xtFI/AAAAAAAACZs/dhZTXPMmAiA/s1600/IMG_3322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dKY2N5cq9Xs/T3IwuW7xtFI/AAAAAAAACZs/dhZTXPMmAiA/s400/IMG_3322.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">garden recovered, but zucchini leaves took a beating</td></tr>
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When the skies cleared, Lewis realized that we were very lucky. No broken windows, only some broken tree branches, no downed trees. But the siding, oh the siding...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YiCSILdhV_I/T3IxpGcmfEI/AAAAAAAACas/_wAJ0miMZEI/s1600/IMG_3402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YiCSILdhV_I/T3IxpGcmfEI/AAAAAAAACas/_wAJ0miMZEI/s400/IMG_3402.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMV2YgKFzMo/T3IxvK_uqRI/AAAAAAAACa0/8qrXTOO5TDI/s1600/IMG_3405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMV2YgKFzMo/T3IxvK_uqRI/AAAAAAAACa0/8qrXTOO5TDI/s400/IMG_3405.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">those streaks aren't dirt, either</td></tr>
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The hail actually struck the house so hard that the paint has been scraped away, right down to the bare metal. When you run your hands over the siding, you can feel all the pits and dents caused by the hail.</div>
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pits, dents and no paint</div>
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So, a project we though we were going to put off for several more years got bumped to the top of the list. And, you know, it isn't such a bad thing. While we have the siding off, we can remove all the old, unknown layers and we will be insulating from the outside in. While we have all the walls open, we are getting air conditioning (yay!), and replacing a few damaged windows. Also we are going to be getting the roof scraped and re-painted and we are getting new gutters. Gee, is that all... it seems like there is something else...</div>
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All you old house owners out there know what it is like. One task leads to another and another. This spring's project is turning out to be a big tangled mess of things that overlap. We're in for a fun ride!</div>Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-89895106755833374462012-03-27T15:40:00.000-04:002012-03-27T15:40:00.567-04:00Bathroom Knobs - Vote Now!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n8m4drJuPVs/T3IUkfMAvvI/AAAAAAAACZU/Epnvbt6aOxE/s1600/IMG_0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n8m4drJuPVs/T3IUkfMAvvI/AAAAAAAACZU/Epnvbt6aOxE/s320/IMG_0240.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 drawers on the left, 2 doors and a bottom drawer on the right</td></tr>
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Remember our <a href="http://oliversbungalow.blogspot.com/2007/11/house-tour-downstairs-bathroom-after.html" target="_blank">downstairs bathroom</a>? You know, the one where Oliver hangs out in the cool shower during the hot summer?<br />
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Well, it has been finished for, oh, about five years now, and I've decided it is about time we get some knobs on those cabinets!<br />
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I've been eyeing the knobs from Van Dyke's for some time, and I've narrowed it down to an old favourite and something new that might fit the bill. Trouble is, I can't decide... what do you all think?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F9ahpVPZ0aM/T3IUo5UMq8I/AAAAAAAACZk/K-3KlKU-SFY/s1600/topaz+glass+knob.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F9ahpVPZ0aM/T3IUo5UMq8I/AAAAAAAACZk/K-3KlKU-SFY/s200/topaz+glass+knob.bmp" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vandykes.com/etched-glass-knob/p/700360/" target="_blank">topaz glass knob, $9.99 each</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYImp8cu7xA/T3IUm3wLEQI/AAAAAAAACZc/FEMRhXi9kdo/s1600/02041089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dea="true" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYImp8cu7xA/T3IUm3wLEQI/AAAAAAAACZc/FEMRhXi9kdo/s200/02041089.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vandykes.com/belwith-keeler-bridges-square-knob/p/211823/" target="_blank">satin nickle knob, $3.79 each</a></td></tr>
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Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-40592960314539505582012-03-23T13:55:00.000-04:002012-03-23T13:56:20.543-04:00On a Happier Note<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ljcRXt0GpNE/T2y3pKox59I/AAAAAAAACYU/_nAn2-pUJDU/s1600/IMG_3423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ljcRXt0GpNE/T2y3pKox59I/AAAAAAAACYU/_nAn2-pUJDU/s400/IMG_3423.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a sun-dappled Oli-dog</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BsZNgFaDTs4/T2y4Ij7ks_I/AAAAAAAACYk/B3DtJOmFKPo/s1600/IMG_3434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BsZNgFaDTs4/T2y4Ij7ks_I/AAAAAAAACYk/B3DtJOmFKPo/s400/IMG_3434.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lilac sprouting on both sides this year!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ui2J-SZyF54/T2y4N7UOO8I/AAAAAAAACYs/xviOHCqc3dM/s1600/IMG_3436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ui2J-SZyF54/T2y4N7UOO8I/AAAAAAAACYs/xviOHCqc3dM/s400/IMG_3436.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">daffodils and tulips and hyacinth, oh my!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HAr0qlQFzCw/T2y34xDBoDI/AAAAAAAACYc/AvtxmiL8pC8/s1600/IMG_3422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HAr0qlQFzCw/T2y34xDBoDI/AAAAAAAACYc/AvtxmiL8pC8/s400/IMG_3422.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">forsythia and purple leaf plum in full bloom - at the same time!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124426191174569435.post-84651897701648733922012-03-21T14:45:00.000-04:002012-03-21T14:48:05.016-04:00Bleak Back Yard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, up until now I wasn't completely unhappy to see so many trees come down. Most of the pines were planted way too close together and were all unhealthy because they were too crowded. We thinned those out. They took down the junky poplar tree. No big loss there.</div>
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Then they "trimmed" my apple trees. My antique Grimes Golden apple trees. They are now about 1/4 the height they were. Yes, I know they definitely needed some maintenance. But I'm not running an orchard, either. I was less concerned with the productivity of the crop than with the overall health of the trees. I believe they are nearly as old as the house.</div>
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I was going to have my friend's grandfather come in and take a look at them. He is a forrester with much passion and knowledge of apple trees. Well, all trees. But he was very excited to hear that I had two Grimes Golden trees. Before they were just allowed to go wild for at least a decade. Now I'm embarrassed to show him what has just happened to them.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fB5aqjyqKK4/T2obkUYJs5I/AAAAAAAACYM/gXFVDH7HBII/s1600/IMG_3421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fB5aqjyqKK4/T2obkUYJs5I/AAAAAAAACYM/gXFVDH7HBII/s400/IMG_3421.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sad apple trees and yucky view of the factory's tanks and parking lot</td></tr>
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The real tragedy of the day was my mighty elm tree. You may recall that it took quite a hit from a storm a few years back. The top 1/3 of the tree came down. Took out a nearby pine. Thankfully it didn't fall toward the house.</div>
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It got a good trimming after that and many people told me to just take it down. I wanted my forrester friend to tell me if it could be saved, and if we could work around it when we went to regrade. Sadly, I woke up to this sight this morning.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fNSX7r-A6Yg/T2obbu3DcsI/AAAAAAAACX8/qItTo8-nDOA/s1600/IMG_3419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fNSX7r-A6Yg/T2obbu3DcsI/AAAAAAAACX8/qItTo8-nDOA/s400/IMG_3419.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">previously disguised view of the factory</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o5GpB9KcSTI/T2obh1mslMI/AAAAAAAACYE/ztDN9DAFvHc/s1600/IMG_3420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img aea="true" border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o5GpB9KcSTI/T2obh1mslMI/AAAAAAAACYE/ztDN9DAFvHc/s400/IMG_3420.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mighty elm, reduced to its parts</td></tr>
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Now it is too late to save it. I'll admit that I cried. I really loved that giant shade tree. It protected the back of the house from the sun. And wind and rain. I believe it is very old and it did not have Dutch Elm Disease. What a gem. The yard looks really different now. Bleak and barren. Maybe I'll get a picture of the whole yard later. </div>
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</div>Christine@Oliver's Bungalowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14098874510166931749noreply@blogger.com3