Living Space Organized to Live and Show

After many hours of preparation, organization, and fine tuning, the home liveable in a great central location 3 blocks from downtown Mountain View.

This home is 480sqft and features, separate bedroom, living room, mid-sized kitchen, along with almost 1200sqft of semi-private backyard area, parking spaces for 2 cars, and washer/dryer hookups seen previously in this Blog.

View from front-door of Living Room

Living room looking towards Bedroom

Bathroom

Bedroom featuring Mirror/Window like Closets with good amount of drawers and clothes storage.

Kitchen, notice the hanging Pot Rack I installed, I like to cook and believe cooking should be efficient.

Living Room facing the front entry with lots of light

Kitchen

Yard areas requiring work

This is an older home/area requiring some additional yard work. Most of this is due to established tree growth and a very dry season. The surrounding trees are shedding more than usual and have been shedding an at increased frequency as we get closer to fall.

A leaf blower or weekly gardner is a Must! The leaves are shedding an excessive amount of leaves every day. Best to own a leaf blower (collected into pile then into Yard waste container).

I have asked one neighbor politely to trim back one of the trees in his backyard. I love the trees and the squirrels (black and grey/brown), raccoons, scrub jays, crows, and other wild life which lives in them. Almost every morning I hear a barking crow convention which acts as my alarm clock.

Below are some photos of dry tree hangings off these massive trees (50ft+) which are a potential fire hazard as well as property damage.

The good thing here is, the Mountain View Fire Department and Police are right down the street!

Super Dry!

Gardening - Overall Clean-up around Property

Aftermath of weeds in other debris removed in lawn area. This effort included leveling the dirt after weed removal.

Big Thanks to my good friends Doug Fry and Chris Rosset (Pro Musician/Bass Player from SF), who made this happen!

Doug is a longtime resident of Santa Cruz and loves Gardening. He has participated in many Homeless Garden Projects (HGP). Surprised Doug did not have his HGP t-shirt on that day.

Homeless Garden Project

Keeping Doug well hydrated with IPA's while he worked hard with his Mattock (axe) and Rake. He gives us his approval gardening project is on course!

The Front-Side Parking area clean-up. Doug spent 2hrs digging up tall weeds and cleaning buried cat pooh. Poor guy, but never gives up, a true sign of a doer and follow-thru humble dude!

We ran out of Yard Waste bin space and had to use a large tarp to hold until City of Mountain View Recology could pickup on our 2-week cycle. Merle, my front house neighbor and I finished it up, good team work and great neighbor to have.

Other areas I addressed which were fire hazards were de-leafing the sides of the storage sheds.

(Before)

(After)

(Photo to be uploaded shortly)

Carport Canopy Purchase and Install

Due to large over-hanging trees, as high as 50ft or more, shedding leaves and dried-up branches, it was critical to purchase and install the Shelter Logic Canopy.

My 2000 Tacoma has been well maintained for over 14yrs and several hood and a recent roof paint job from a factory outfit Penskee, costing $1000. My insurance (Wawanesa) had covered this back in San Diego just prior to me moving here to Mountain View in February 2014.

This Canopy has saved truck from dents and paint damage. I am one who takes care of his equipment and there is no exception!

The Canopy costs $200 plus $145 to ship the rascal from Connecticut. The box with all gear weighs 200Lbs. Still, well worth it!

Assembled Solo, with some minor support from Merle my Neighbor. Started with roof frame, tarp bungee'd on, then the feet.

Complete, A Happy Truck!

Dismantle of Washer and Dryer Shack in Back

Washer and Dryer stackable shack had to go. Blocking view from kitchen window and allowing leaves and older debris to enter kitchen.

A possible fire hazard for sure in these dry weather conditions time. Unscrewed and removed 120+ wood screws and nails, including roof containing staples to hold the tar-based tiled roof, time to go for a refresh for a side by side configuration.

Washer and Dryer Hookups post Shed removal

Froggy is Happy now! So am I

Arrival in Mountain View

Arrival in Mountain View after spending overnight in San Luis Obispo.

Departing for Mountain View from San Diego, CA

Departing San Diego, CA, U-Haul loaded with trailer and tacoma truck, here we go on another adventure.