- Published on
Dan, Peter, Katie, and Sophia (on speaker) met for the annual Board of Directors On-Site Board Meeting. They will each give Branch updates. We are all looking forward to spending more time at Shang over the summer months!
- Published on
Ingrid's Comments are in Blue
- Re-caulked kitchen sink. Good. Keep that water out of the cabinet below!
- Fixed paper towel holder (magnetic ends were loose) - bar stays on holder now. I didn't know there was a magnetic element to that holder.
- Started bathroom door repair to seal bottom. Upstairs bathroom I guess. It has been scraping the floor for many years.
- Pruned olive and oak tree from porch roof. This is very important for fire safety. Hard to reach.
- Pruned apricots, grapes, plum, wisteria, oleander. Looks nice cleaned up.
- Cut plywood for new racks in corral shed.
- Loaded large cast iron sink that was burned into truck and haul to dump.
- Installed 3/4”X1 3/4” sill board at base of linen (blanket) closet with magnets.This is to keep the mice out (recent mouse activity was observed). I had noticed mouse activity in recent years and cleaned a few times...Here's hoping that was their only access point. Many thanks for sealing it up! Looks good.
- Cleared brush and tree logs along crushed fence (near old chicken coop site). This is an ongoing project and will require new fence wire for about 100 feet plus a termination post to end fence and pull wire taught. Huge job! Victor and I have made progress over the past couple years but were not skilled enough to take it this next level. We were very happy to see so much progress in clearing the oak off of the fence and rock wall. Last year, we also made progress on the part of the tree on the other side of the road. There actually are at least two trees involved, one having fallen into the other. Jake had cleared it just enough to get through. We cut limbs off, cut to fireplace log size, stacked in woodshed, created kindling with little sticks and hauled and stacked all the in-between sized material for the chipper. That is now gone :-) Yes, there is still more work to get it cleaned up. Thanks for getting this chunk done.
- Tried to pump, but seemed like battery was dead, so recharged battery and no change. Allan will have to look at this (I have notified him). Peter, please scan and send Allan's bill to me. It's easy for me to type up for sharing with the Board and then I keep a copy for maintenance and historical records. I am happy to continue as Shangri-la archivist.
- Measured upper tank for painting project. We have the paint in garage and also measured for ladder mount to be fabricated in Sacramento and brought up so ladder can be installed permanently and not against tank. Hurray!
- Repaired the stone wall behind round table. Nice to have that put back together.
- Filled in "pot hole" in clay below High Hopes road using road gravel from large pile. Could use some more in that area. I think what you are referring to as a pothole is the run-off ditch that Jake put in hoping it would deal with the clay slip and slide problem during the wet season. I am of the opinion that the pile of "gravel" is pretty lousy material. I think Kurt's theory is that over time the gravel in there will get compacted and solidly set in the clay. We'll see. It could be a seasonal task to fill that spot for summer and then dig a run-off trench again for rainy season. Or, just be aware that the ditch is there and slow down. I am not advocating any particular approach.
- Emptied fireplace of ash - put around trees Well, my interest has been piqued. I have been aware of this practice but am not confident that I know best method of application or which plants welcome it and which would not. I think having a list of which of our trees to do this for and which to avoid would be helpful. I know evergreen trees, apples and azaleas all require acid soils. So it should not be put on those. I'll do some research that can be posted.
Supplies
Purchased and delivered:
- New Melitta "pour over" coffee maker (someone melted handle the old one - not Melitta brand) FYI: there is a backup Melitta cone designed for the pyrex coffee pot and other miscellaneous coffee making tools in the cupboard to the left of the sink. They are old but functional if ever needed.
Thanks to all who helped with these tasks for el rancho.
Ingrid
- Published on
Here are reports from the two trips & many accomplishments of Uncle Peter, Peter & Vince in May (You sure know how!)
May 6th
May 8th & 9th
Supplies
Purchased and delivered:
May 6th
- Re-caulked kitchen sink.
- Fixed paper towel holder (magnetic ends were loose) - bar stays on holder now.
- Started bathroom door repair to seal bottom.
- Pruned olive and oak tree from porch roof.
- Pruned apricots, grapes, plum, wisteria, oleander.
- Removed brush piles.
- Dragged lake road and main road to turn around.
- Cut plywood for new racks in corral shed.
- Loaded large cast iron sink that was burned into truck and haul to dump.
May 8th & 9th
- Bought and returned new propane bottle for barbecue (it is a new, full tank which we left in garage).
- Finished downstairs bathroom door repairs. Power planer to bottom and edge, repaint bare wood.
- Installed 3/4”X1 3/4” sill board at base of linen (blanket) closet with magnets.This is to keep the mice out (recent mouse activity was observed).
- Cleared brush and tree logs along crushed fence (near old chicken coop site). This is an ongoing project and will require new fence wire for about 100 feet plus a termination post to end fence and pull wire taught.
- Tried to pump, but seemed like battery was dead, so recharged battery and no change. Allan will have to look at this (I have notified him).
- Took chainsaw to Bliss Power - it was in bad shape. Picked up bar oil, spark plug and new air filter for 361 Sthil Chainsaw. The saw was returned very dirty and not cleaned when borrowed. All gunked up with black carbon. I would not loan this saw out without saying "it should be returned in better condition than when you borrowed it.”
- Measured upper tank for painting project. We have the paint in garage and also measured for ladder mount to be fabricated in Sacramento and brought up so ladder can be installed permanently and not against tank.
- Installed the new umbrella cover and set it up at Lake.
- Repaired the stone wall behind round table.
- Dead headed rose at patio.
- Cleaned patio
- Filled in "pot hole" in clay below High Hopes road using road gravel from large pile. Could use some more in that area.
- Washed Nissan truck
- Emptied fireplace of ash - put around trees
- Donated fold-up recumbent lounge chair - stored on back porch. Very comfortable.
Supplies
Purchased and delivered:
- Olive oil
- Pack of TP
- New Melitta "pour over" coffee maker (someone melted handle the old one - not Melitta brand)
- 1 gallon storage bags
- 2 pack of #6 Melitta coffee filters
- Published on
Dan and Cole had a fun getaway to the Ranch during these strange shelter-in-place times. It's a good thing they came prepared with wetsuits and floats! Shelter in place with a splash!
- Published on
We stayed two days and one night and the weather was perfect!
We had a 🔥 fire and cleaned out ashes prior to our burn but our ashes were still warm when we left so they remain. We used the big generator, and it was 65% before and after we were done. I started both Jeeps and took the yellow one down the lake. Everything looks good far as I can tell.
Saw quite a few deer, a jack rabbit, lizards and a couple of banana slugs. 😊
Rosemary
We had a 🔥 fire and cleaned out ashes prior to our burn but our ashes were still warm when we left so they remain. We used the big generator, and it was 65% before and after we were done. I started both Jeeps and took the yellow one down the lake. Everything looks good far as I can tell.
Saw quite a few deer, a jack rabbit, lizards and a couple of banana slugs. 😊
Rosemary
- Published on
- Published on
Here is a real quick report of day trip with Victor.
- oleander near garage is now totally dead. It should be cut to the ground and then tossed over the fence to be stacked for chipping.
- another old apple tree is now totally dead and will need cutting down
- drove the green Jeep only. It ran fine.
- road to the lake is in good shape. Kurt's guys ran a water truck to our lake to get water for the Mikolajcik dam project. They watered the road as they went to keep the dust down and to compact. When all done, they re-cut the run-off trough at the top of the road.
- lake is full and over flowing a little.
- saw three ducks in upper pond and two in the lower. both unusual, not mallards.
- watered around house
- charged solar lamps
- raked leaves away from garage on all three sides, from under the truck and away from propane tank.
- tons of quince and persimmons, could start picking in coming weeks
- ceiling cloth in the Nissan is hanging down again. checked engine for resident rodents, seemed clear.
- lower road through woods, above upper tank, is nicely cleared (Jake did)...until the flat spot with scattered boulder (Mom used to call picnic area). There's an oak down across the road at that point. Mostly the smaller upper branches blocking the road. Probably fell during recent windy conditions.
- we could use some paper grocery bags and plastic shopping bags to have on hand, if anyone has an excess at home.
- looked all over for a magnifying glass. Could add this to wish list along with box cutter.
- propane level 84% after recent delivery. Gauge lines are so small in these upper levels, that's why I needed a magnifying glass.
- gasoline measured 70 gallons. Left the measuring stick in the shed. don't think we need to order yet
Could they have been wood ducks? Wood Ducks are known as perching ducks, often sitting in trees, and thus have developed claws to grip the bark. The male Wood Duck is unmistakable, with a green crested head, red eye, red and black bill, white throat, and iridescent purples, greens, and browns overall. Female Wood Duck is distinguished by a gray-brown somewhat crested head, dark eye coloration, and a white teardrop eye patch.
- Published on
Hi All -
Peter
- Took new umbrella cover home to return for correct size (vendor sent wrong size). Umbrella is currently sitting in garage. Will return to install the correct size during next trip.
- Redwood lattice project for arbor above round table is 100% complete. See attached photos. There were two panels of lattice leftover and my dad may use them on a future project (nothing for sure yet). The extra panels are stored in the new shed. The Wisteria is really taking off on its own already; getting into the lattice, etc.. Ingrid, maybe when you go up next weekend, you could trim some of the Wisteria tendrils off the ground and any reaching to the house. I think the Wisteria will take over the lattice easy enough but we do want to make sure it does not grow where it is not wanted. Note: The lattice is NOT strong enough to walk, crawl or rest on.
- Watered all around the house as well as trees along the driveway and some going up the hill. Those trees way up the hill are pretty thirsty! Vince also watered out by the corral, including Ingrid's little plant (which was pretty stressed) and the dwarf Oleanders.
- Looks like deer and possibly bear took all the plums and some apples already. One of the plum trees (above the wood shed) has damage.
- We took about half of the pears from the little tree behind the house. It is loaded and we are fearful of bear destruction. We took all the ones on top so that IF a bear comes in they may not destroy the tree. Ingrid, the rest are for you and your crew. Crossing fingers!
- My dad brought up his very, very long pruner and trimmed the apricot and grape vine away from the house and all the dead wood in the Hachiya persimmon. He had to wait until summer to prune the persimmon so he could see the dead wood clearly. Vince propped up a couple of the really heavy branches.
- Kurt has removed all the large boulders from the corral and placed them at the turn in the road where the stone wall starts as a repair to that section. Some big truck (or something) drove too close to the curve and crushed it so Kurt built that back up.
- My dad raked all the rocks and wood from the corral and used them as fill for the runoff ditches in front of the main gate. I've done this a couple times over the years to fill the ditches that are caused by the "streams" of rain water during the winter.
- Vince and I put together all three (3) storage racks in the new shed. They are pretty good racks. They each have a small cable that is attached to the shed structure (in case of earthquake) that can be easily unscrewed, if needed. We assembled each rack with slightly different shelf spacing for a variety of different sized tools, materials, etc. All of the shelves can be moved, as needed.
- We moved all the fuels that Ingrid put in the shed to the other end as it is the "cooler" end. The end with the pedestrian door is the one that gets hit by the sun.
- Each shelving unit came in a large cardboard box. My dad brought all three up last weekend. This trip, my dad's truck was full with many other things and could fit only one of the empty boxes in his truck but perhaps others could take some home? Ingrid, could you please bring up a box cutter for Shang? We could use it for a number of things, including breaking down the large boxes so that they can be taken home for recycle.
- We did not mow (too busy) at the house or the lake - both need it.
- We pumped 3 hours on one day and 2 hours the next day (lots of watering). The tank was left with about 4-5K gallons. There is a full tank of gas at the pump (waiting to be switched).
- My dad repaired the electrical outlets in grandma's bedroom. He replaced one that was broken and added one. They are both modern with GFI and USB charging ports.
- At my request, my dad made two small wood blocks to elevate the headboard of the bed in the "front" room about 1.5". The head was sloping down and it Drove-Me-Nuts. Anyway, it is correct now 🙂
- Both the Green and Yellow Jeeps need repairs. Ingrid, can you ask Allan to inspect and make repairs? Yellow jeep needs a new battery and Green Jeep has carburetor issues (I think that is what my dad said) and runs very rough. In general, work is needed on both and it is time for the board to refresh our memory on what they both need (big and small).
- Crank on large window on third floor needs maintenance and repair. Can Allan do this? It is very loose and getting worse.
- My dad brought up his power washer and cleaned the entire patio area, stairs, etc. Very clean looking now.
- The week prior, my dad took home that little table at the front of the patio (it is actually an old school desk - fun fact). The one that sits over the two recycle boxes. He took it apart and it needed A LOT of TLC. The sun did a number on it, of course. Repaired with wood, glue, small nails, and a lot of stain to protect it. He brought it back up this weekend and it has a new lease on life.
- We hauled a bunch of clipping from the hillside and around the house to the big excavation hole next to the wood shed. Now that we no longer burn clippings, this is a good place for clippings that will break down. It is an alternate for things that do not get set-aside for the chipper program.
- My dad vacuumed the work bench area in the garage again.
- Found a baby rattlesnake in the lower bathroom. It got in because we left the door open. They cannot get in there unless the door is open as all the holes have been sealed up. As is our practice, my dad got the bow rake out and carefully removed the snake down below the road behind the house. All snakes are a vital part of the ecosystem and rattlesnakes are threatened. I'm not suggesting that others move snakes if they are not comfortable doing so but just be mindful that rattlesnakes are a native species and eat mice.
- I pulled some of the blackberry spires in the loquat/grape/azalea cluster but more need to be pulled. My dad was saying that you can "paint" (very carefully) a little Roundup on the branches, spires of plants and it will kill just that plant. Never done that but those blackberry vines keep coming back no matter how many are pulled. Frustrating.
Peter
- Published on
The shed is in place, as you can see in the photo. It looks nice, is very tall. Basically, I think we came up with the best location for it. There's only a little regret that you see it (upper part only) instead of oak woods, from the patio when looking out over the rock wall.
We will need to get a padlock for the large door. The pedestrian door has keys, I left on the dining table.
I picked up construction debris inside the shed and outside around the shed. That included bolts, washers and very sharp small scraps of aluminum. Be alert for the aluminum scraps I may have missed. There is more clean-up to be done of the corral floor...dirt and debris piles. I have tried to separate out most of the oak bark (left after splitting wood there) that got mixed in with dirt and rocks during the foundation work. My intention is to haul it to an appropriate spot in the woods to dump, next time.
The green Jeep seems to be running rough. I'll ask Al about it.
Finished weeding on the side of the house and spread wood chips to discourage weeds there in the bed. Needs a thicker layer of chips, next time.
Below are two "in progress" pictures.
Only part of this boulder was visible and needed to be moved for the pouring of the slab. Who knew it would be this large? Probably happy to be done with it, the team left it in the way of one of the openings to the corral.
- Published on
Work party of two: Sophia and Ingrid.
We had a great time together and beautiful weather. We discovered a pygmy owl caught on the back porch, banging into the acrylic. We carefully removed a few panels to allow it to fly out.
- Put all panels away in the usual fashion except decided it made sense to clean them when putting them back up in the fall.
- Mosquito hunt, no puddles found. Mosquito activity was oppressive during our board meeting and still again while Sophia and I were there. There was not such a problem on a subsequent visit on 5/9. We did not get over to check in the dump truck, which has been a problem in the past.
- Sophia raked and removed accumulated leaves in the swimming pool. I have checked several times over the past months and was pleased to see that it has been draining fine.
- Sophia refinished the lid of the large trunk on the back porch. She has a lot of training and experience in furniture refinishing so it was a perfect project for her. Future visit could include working on the rest of the trunk. In the process of cleaning the trunk, I found my solar phone charger in a drawer! So happy to have it back.
- Sophia mowed one gas tank's worth and I weed-whacked one gas tank's worth. Still lots left to do!
- Filled a 5 gallon straight gas can. put a new label on it, the old one was falling off. Task: check gas level with stick. (btw, last time I was up, the valve had been left unlocked)
- Back porch mattresses: we tested the various mattresses, moved them, tested again with surprisingly good results. End result is that we now have two queen sized beds that are reasonably comfortable on the back porch, the double bed is unchanged. What needs to be done: remove the extra long double box spring. It is on top of one of the queens, we have no place/use for it without the mattress that went with it. There was a foam pad on one of the queens. I have left it indoors on the wicker bed to keep it clean. Is this something that someone really wants to have up there? I will be buying replacement plastic mattress covers.
- Vacuumed second floor Mom's bedroom and hallways.
- Weeded and put down wood chips in various places.
- Fixed plant bed for silk tassel that was disturbed in the process of removing a large boulder for the shed concrete pad.
- Sorted out bark from debris pile left by bulldozer. The pile has dirt, large rocks and the bark that was left from wood splitting job. I want to find a place in the woods to dump the bark. The large rocks could be pulled out. That would leave messy dirt that I am not sure how we want to clean up.
- Upper tank water level seems to be sufficient for now but it is probably safe to re-activate the pumping system. It will soon be time to start watering. This is something Allan does for us every year. I will report separately on the concrete pad.
Ingrid
