We've been gone for a couple of weekends so things got a bit out of hand at home. The grass in the backyard was a foot deep and weeds were taking over the garden. Actually, the veggie garden was burned out this summer and I need to get it started again.
All Summer I've had to periodically walk outside and shoo off a local woodpecker. While we were gone he managed to bang a 2" hole in the side of the house. I'm not sure how to end this behavior. One article recommended a large convex mirror attached to the wall. It evidently makes the woodpecker think he's being attacked by a larger bird as he flies toward it. It might be fun to try if I can find a medium sized convex mirror. For now, I'll just confuse him with a large gecko covering up his hole.
Our shelf at the pool collapsed. I need to either fix or replace it. I haven't decided which yet. It looks hopeless but I liked it so much that I'm having difficulty letting it go. It evidently has no such problem.
Another irrigation valve bit the dust while we were gone. I walked out in the yard after arriving home and felt myself sinking. The thing had been leaking and slowly but constantly watering the grass for several days. I replaced it Saturday. It's the third of five valves (4 in back, 1 in front) that I've replaced in the last few years. I should go ahead and replace the last two but probably won't till they break.
As an electrical engineer, I should be ashamed of the wiring job. I'll get around to fixing that one of these days. I guess the plumbing doesn't really look much better but hey, I'm not a plumber. Bottom line; it works.
Adios
