Other projects with Steve's expertise

We made a Home Depot run on Friday afternoon and bought three six packs of pansies. I planted these outside the kitchen and dining room windows.

You get a prize for identifying what kind of bush this is It has long thorns. Steve trimmed it extensively, taking out the dead inner branches. It looks amazing now. Does this thorny bush remind you of our Plano house? We had too many thorny bushes and trees. This one may go if it pokes us!

Steve cut three big lower leaves from the three different palm trees, and they are piled in the back yard until garbage day on Wednesday. And speaking of garbage, does anyone need an old sink? It's free.

We also moved some large rocks from the back yard and other sources to give some contrast to the front yard. Also note how beautifully mowed and edged the lawn is. thanks to my honey. Steve put on a second application of fertilizer this morning, and it is greening. The lawn was sod laid last fall before we bought it. It might need a little iron to bring it fully green.

More view of the rocks by the front entry. The little solar light does a good job of lighting the walk, getting it's charge during the bright sunny days.

We also bought a long tube of pipe insulation and removed the old gross and broken covering. The pipes won't be freezing now, and they look better too. Oh, wait, it doesn't FREEZE in Las Vegas!

Okay, this was my project. My three spider plants survived the move, but the other two plants froze in New Mexico, so I redid the pots and planted pansies to brighten the front doorway.

Our other stop on Friday was to buy a new button for the NuTone doorbell, to replace the broken one that would stick and keep ringing and ringing, to the embarrassment of the ringer and the homeowner. We found an independent rep who sold us the little button for under $7, and Steve used his expertise to install it, caulking around the unit to secure and help keep the dirt and moisture out. We will need to buy a quart of matching exterior paint to touch up. And that will be my project.

My advice for today's post: if you didn't marry a handyman like I did, then hire someone to do the "honey do" list of things that need repairing. There is quite a satisfaction in having something fixed and working properly.