Fall Colors

Progress

Assessing the Work

Shift change; Foremans Jack and Zoe stayed the same.

Continuing Progress

Steps

Just before the storm hit, the steps were finished.

Day-by-Day

Construction Update

Tree Maintenance

Today, we are doing some tree maintenance. The squirrels have burrowed and hallowed out this massive tree.

Landscape Design

It's a challenge for a Chef and a Geek to design a hardscape with enough soft green space without creating a weeding nightmare. I cannot wait to see what we come up with...

Veranda Expansion

We are very excited to update the approach from our parking to the house. The entrance will be more obvious, well-lit, clean and landscaped. Stay tuned for pictures.

74...Finally!

Latest goings-on at the Manor

As the last rays of sun shine on us in the Northern hemisphere, we are spending every moment we can on Marco's Veranda. It is such a great place to have a cookout and watch the sun set. We will miss this space when the weather turns.

In the meantime, we are starting to think about winterizing. With any old house in the Northeast, we have relied heavily on oil heat. Obviously, we must consider alternatives. With nine fireplaces, wood is an obvious option. The problem of course, is that we can't stoke the fires 24/7 and when the embers die out, all the warm air is sucked straight up the chimney. We are looking at fireplace inserts. Well, one to start. So many choices, restrictions, design options, initial cost outlay. In the meantime, I must go shopping for full-length lined draperies.

Veranda Extension

Marco's Veranda is the only place to spend summer. Today, there is a new extension that hopefully allows grilling flatbreads more easily.

Gardening

Curb appeal. It's all about the curb appeal. This is our third Summer at the Manor and the flowers in the front are spotty, at best. This year, we removed the overgrown boxwoods from either side of the front door and replaced them with topiaries on the step. All of the flowers have been replanted to the side garden and the front is a neat row of 2 qt (almost cartoonishly tiny) boxwoods.

The remains of the ditch that you can see in the background from where the electrical line was buried, are now being reseeded. Hopefully, in two weeks, and after this afternoon's rains, we will have grass.

We are still touching up a few things, paint and splashes of color in the front. Refinement.