Blog

  • Tulip Update

    My labors to celebrate Spring 2025 have paid off. These beauties mean more to me this year than pretty flowers. I am recovering from yet another surgery which means that lifting bags of compost and mulch is not in my immediate future, but I will not dwell on my misfortune. I will instead celebrate all that I have planted and established since purchasing That 90’s Ranch.

    Landscaping your home can impact the resale potential of any home. That 90’s Ranch had great bones and just needed a little tweaking. Maybe it won’t happen in 2025, but I sure am glad that I have accomplished what little I have! Hope you are having a great Spring!

  • Come on Spring!

    At least 5″ of snow fell on Tuesday and subzero temperatures followed. The frozen Ranch requires little maintenance and is prepared for these types of events but longs for Spring. I replaced the old vent free gas fireplace that was present when I purchased the home in 2020 in the living room with a wood burning insert. One of the best decisions I made and am grateful that I was economically able to. The wood is messy and my little wagon full of wood was heavy to pull in the snow, but there is no better comforting warmth than wood heat. The fireplace was originally built as an open hearth fireplace and the insert is made by Vermont Castings – Montpellier Model and barely fit in the existing opening.

    As comfortable and snug as the Ranch is, I have a bit of cabin fever (don’t you?) and am anxious to start pulling the leaves, spreading compost and anxious to see if my efforts to fill in the blank spaces I made last year, come back this year.

    Oh and I planted 100 tulip bulbs which were marked down 75% at my favorite big box store. We had an unseasonably warm Fall and took the chance hoping that maybe I wasn’t too late. This is only the second time I have ever planted tulips. My technique was primitive pushing a trowel as far as I could into the soil, pulled it back and dropped the bulb in, pulled out the trowel. It did take me 2 days because of some health issues but I have my fingers crossed. We will find out soon!

    Hope you are warm and comfortable!