BOWMAN FILES

Changes 2020

2020-09-26T07:14:00.001-07:00

The house gets a new paint. The color we chosen by hubby. I would have preferred the old color green well, avocado shade of some sort but hubby wants to be different from the neighbors and lo and behold now it stands out!

Home sweet home

2018-09-10T07:49:00.003-07:00

July 2014

2016-04-03T19:46:00.004-07:00

Removal and replacement of the Hot Tub

2016-02-27T10:07:00.000-08:00

The hot tub was so damaged that it needs to be changed. Hubby miscalculated the height of the tub and it would not get through the gate. The only alternative was to pass it over the garage which enraged him but that is the only way A monstrous crane was hired and there goes the tub to it's destination. Success!

Labor Day weekend in California

2015-09-23T21:46:00.000-07:00

Snow in Colorado

2015-03-04T15:13:00.000-08:00

It is a 20 minutes after 4pm sitting at work's lunch room waiting for hubby to come pick me up. It has been snowing a lot and we have been riding together since we have only one 4 wheel drive SUV. I need my own!

Changes in early 2013

2013-12-15T21:02:00.001-08:00

It has been a year that I have not posted anything. There are few reasons why. a-My computer have been acting up and not allowing me to upload photos. b- I have been working a lot and weekends have been too busy with shores and helping hubby with his projects. Below are few of the changes/upgrades we have done at the beginning of the year.

The front door used to be burgundy. I like burgundy but since we painted the house it didn't seem to be right anymore so, I painted it white. I like it better.

The window garden by the sink have been a problem. There is too much sun on summer that it killed my plants, the sun is on your face in the morning, and at one time almost melted a plastic jug in the sink. I have planned of making London shade to ease the sun and heat but trying to find the right rod and to attach to the metal seem impossible. I am not a seamstress but I know a little about sewing. Bought books to get ideas and maybe a pattern. So one morning while hubby and I were having breakfast, we were talking about the shade and my problem on how to attach the rod. I mentioned about wanting shutters instead. Hubby agreed and so I went in town - Placerville to go and check the shutters. Three months later we got the shutters on the window garden and the window by the table.

Before

After

Hubby's project was to paint the inside walls of the garage including the floor. As you can see it seem so clean and so organized.

Still Burning

2012-09-20T00:23:00.001-07:00

Last week of Winter 2012

2012-03-20T23:34:00.000-07:00

234

Biggest snowstorm of 2012

2012-03-05T07:11:00.000-08:00

123

Last Weekend of Feb 2012

2012-02-27T08:51:00.002-08:00

Last weekend of February, we did nothing special. Hubby and I did the usual. He of course worked at the backyard for two days. I also brought his lunch both days. On Saturday, I spotted a nice manzanita branch that is perfect, upright and nice. I asked if I could use the gas saw to cut it but Hubby would not let me. He said it is dangerous so as soon as he finished his lunch - Bruchetta with pea soup he cut it for me. Then he asked me the question "How are you going to take it up there?" so I said "I will drag it". So that is exactly what I did on top of the lunch basket and my walking stick.

Have to stop three times once again to catch my breath and below is my shadow sitting on top of a rock. What am I going to do with the branch? It's my project. It will be decorative. I will post the progress of the project.

President's Day weekend

2012-02-21T10:36:00.000-08:00

It's a three days weekend but we did not make any special plans. We stayed home instead and did work in the cabin. Hubby's project of clearing the back of the property is going pretty well. He is progressing weekend after weekend. He has been cutting the manzanitas and all the brush down below and burning them at the same time. Saturday was gray and it looks like it it is going to rain. About 13:00 the fog started to come in the canyon. I watched hubby at the deck and at a point I

can no longer see him. He started to burn the piles then it started to rain - not hard but drizzle. He stayed and burned all the piles. He was soaking wet when he came in.

His pile getting burned.

You now can see the post which is the boundary of the properties. It is painted red. He is almost done. Maybe in a couple of weeks.

Below is the view of the house at the spot where we sat when I brought his lunch as you can see the brush are gone and the only thing standing are the tall trees mostly oak and pine trees.

Here he is all greared up cutting the manzanita.

As I was ascending the sloped back yard I have to stop to catch my breath. I took picture. I started by the rock on the right hand side by the tree. Hubby and I sat under the tree on the RH in the shade. This is the view where I stood down and this is the first stop.

Below is the view down on my second stop. I sat on a rock. Note the hose. It is a precaution in case something happens when hubby is burning. There are at least 4 hoses 100 feet each connected.

The two picures below are taken on my third stop. I actually spread the towel and sat for a while. On my right there was a pile of firewood next to the rock and took a picture of the bird sitting on top of it.

The empty spot on the wet bar was filled. I got the wine refrigerator finally. We do not drink so it is filled with bottled water and energy drinks.

Valentines Day 2012

2012-02-15T09:05:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day 2012 falls on Tuesday. We did not do anything special since Hubby and I work different times of the day. Dinner is not feasible as well as breakfast or dinner. I did cooked dinner for him and he ate it alone.

I do like the card he got me. Smart and sassy hmmmmm - I like!

2nd weekend of February '12

2012-02-12T22:08:00.000-08:00

Friday received a text from hubby, he is home and already have already arrived at the cabin. I came in early so I get to go home early too...5:30 pm. The drive up on I-50 was not that bad although it was quite very busy. Stopped at the grocery store on Missouri Flat and picked up few things for the weekend and picked dinner at Panda Express. Picking the grocery bags from the car to the house my watch got caught and lost part of the band, ah well need to buy another one.

Saturday morning cooked breakfast for hubby and I - waffles and bacon. I read an article in a magazine few months ago that you can microwave bacon. Just put it in between paper towel. Tried it and OMG it was so good, flat, and no clean up. I think I will be cooking bacon this way from now on. Hubby started working at the backyard again. He was cutting and burning. He had the water hose all the way down. I believe he had 4 - 100 ft hoses connected in series.

Lunch time I brought his lunch and He had picked a golf ball and placed it on top of a boulder. The back yard is in a slope and the ball probably rolled all the way down.

He worked all day and it is already dark but he was still burning. He sat on top of a boulder and waited till the fire burned all the branches in the pile.

Sunday morning we woke up very early, before 6. Hubby got up and I stayed in bed for a little bit and fell asleep. I was awaken by a nightmare. I guess I am dreaming about the TV shows that we have been watching. Someone is trying to kill me with a double edge knife and crossed the red river with my mom.

Hubby is already dressed to work. He already ate so I made myself a cup of coffee. Lunch I brought his lunch again. It was sunny and snapped the pictures below while sitting under the tree while he ate his lunch.

Super Bowl XLVI - 2012 Weekend

2012-02-05T22:47:00.000-08:00

Chrushed - 49'r loss from NY Giants

2012-01-22T23:00:00.000-08:00

The much needed rain have confined us inside the house. Hubby working in the office on his employees assessment's. Finished the laundry and put them away. I have wanted to leave early to go back to Sac I wanted to see the San Francisco 49'rs play in the playoffs against the NY Giants.

It has been very cold but the sun keeps peaking out. At about noon snow started to fall. Hubby hurried me up. He wanted me to leave before snow really come down. It could be dangerous going down the mountain if there is snow. As soon as I got out of the gate there is no more snow but rain.

Stopped at a department store in Missouri Flat before getting into the freeway. Got a mouse for my laptop and kitchen tools. I can't believe I spent an hour and a half in there.

Stopped at the Mexican Restaurant for lunch take out. As soon as I got home the game is about to start. Hubby and I watched it and it is hearth breaking my beloved 49'rs lose from the Giants in overtime. Ahh, well they did well getting into the playoffs with a new coach. Good job Jim Harbaugh.

Gloomy Day

2012-01-21T14:48:00.000-08:00

It's the first weekend with rain since December (2011). I went in to work very early Friday 07:00 on my 13:00 start. This is one of the good things about work. Flexible time. I know it will be raining and possibly snowing so I asked to come in early so I can get off early too. It has been raining all day. According to the radio there is an accident on I-50 at Cameron Park. It is a white car facing the other way on westbound. Stopped at Missouri Flat to pick up dinner - Chinese Food.

Today hubby woke me up very early, about 07:30. He wanted to go in town to get petrol-diesel and asked me if I wanted to go with him, It is quite cold outside and raining. We got in town and had breakfast at The Waffle House. Stopped at the store and picked up few stuff. We also visited a nursery in Diamond Springs. Checked on the plants and trees they have so we can plan when we are ready to have the yard landscaped. He needs to fix the sprinkler system first, then get some soil. Oh, they have pink dogwood and weeping cedar. The lady was so nice. She gave me a list of plants that are deer tolerant. not much of choices.

It is just a lazy day. I am doing the laundry and this of course.

1st weekend 2012

2012-01-08T22:26:00.000-08:00

It is time to take the Christmas decoration down. Why is it harder to take it down than putting it up? I need some clear plastic bins to put the decorations away so I decided to go in town, to Home Depot. The bins seem so expensive. I was not ready to pay $12.00 each so I picked only one. Stopped at the grocery store and picked up few things and lunch. Chinese food.

Sunday, I decided to go to Missouri Flat. Got all the clear bins that True Value have @ 6.95 a piece. A better buy.

Got back after lunch and I brought hubby's lunch. He has been working at the back of the property cutting brushes. While he ate his lunch I saw a little bird chirping and going around the manzanita. I guess there are insects around the stump.

Nestled under a big rock is a nest. It is probably new because there is not egg yet.

As was walking up the hill to the house I snapped few pictures. This is how the back side of the house look like after we finished painting. There is still the lower deck that needs to be fixed. Hubby thinks it is low priority at this time. He wanted to cut the brush so he can burn them when rain or snow comes. It has been very dry lately. It is now the second week of January and we have not have rain or snow. The humidity have been very low too.

I have so many things I wanted to do like this flower box above. I need to fill it with soil so I can plant flowers that the deer would not eat. I think California Poppy will work. Oh too many things to do too little time but, it will be done somehow.

As soon as I got up to the house I sat on the flower box to catch my breath. I stopped few times.

New Year 2012

2012-01-02T23:13:00.000-08:00

Good bye 2011. Hello 2012! It is New Year morning. The sun have not risen and the sky is kind of reddish.

It has been a good year for me. Hubby and I have accomplished a lot with projects on the cabin (Apple Hill). Hopefully the New year will bring us more blessings.

New year weekend hubby spent it splitting firewood. He have them piled up on the side by the swimming pool. We are ready. These will be for next year and they will be seasoned. We still have some on the other side of the house which we are going to use this year and would clear the area. I moved the stack of lumber to lower part of yard. This is going to be my garden yes, a vegetable garden.

Day After Christmas

2011-12-26T23:08:00.000-08:00

Santa's reindeers were let off our backyard. LOL! Almost everyday you can see a herd of deer grazing at the backyard. I sometimes make fun of them. I would talk to them as if they are people (No, I am not crazy, yet) I just like to see what they do. They would stop, keep still, and look at me. I would then stomp on the deck or shoo them and they would run as fast as they can.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T08:47:00.000-08:00

Day before Christmas, hubby and I worked around the yard. I was able to rake the back the house and at the side by the swimming pool. About 17:00 we left for Sac to pick Hannah at the downtown train station. We got there right on time. Her train just arrived and passengers were disembarking. We did a turn around of the parking lot because there are too many cars parked on the sidewalk picking people. It was almost after 18:00 and hubby decided we are going to eat out so, of course we went to his favorite restaurant, Black Bear Diner on El Camino. I am surprised they are open and will also be open on Christmas Day.

Christmas morning, we opened our gifts and as I wanted I got a new 17.3" laptop. Woohoo!! Now, I have have one in Sac and one at Apple Hill. My 7 years old laptop is still very good but, I wanted one with a built-in camera and newer version of Microsoft Office. I am very good with the old version but, at work we use the newer version. I need to get proficient with it. I actually wanted an iPad but he said iPad3 is coming so I could wait.

We drove down to Stockton to spend Christmas with my family. We took the scenic route through Plymouth, Ione, and Jackson. We are also celebrating Mark and Bianca's birthdays. Gift exchange is fun as usual along with great food which my sister cooked.

Had pictures taken and I really like the picture below of my niece Morgan and I. She just have her hair styled kind of like mine and she looked like a younger version of me. Don't you agree?

Below is a picture with my dear sisters.

We had a 4 day weekend and we spent all of it at Apple Hill. There are too many things to do. It seems like I need to rake all the time. I do not want to use the blower if possible, my right shoulder still is aching after the 8 hours blowing sometime in March last year.

Doubles

2011-12-11T08:25:00.000-08:00

It is fun decorating for Christmas. I have 2 of everything. What is "not fun" is taking down the decorations and putting them away.

Wood burning fireplace, efficient. We use it all the time.

Wood burning fireplace...... Never used.

Fake Christmas tree.

Real Chritmas tree. Freshly cut from the Christmas Tree farm by me.

Christmas Tree 2011-Apple Hill

2011-12-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

Search for the perfect Christmas tree at Harris Tree Farm in Pollock Pines.

Fall 2011- DIY House Painting Recommence

2011-12-03T17:40:00.001-08:00

I have been very busy the last few weeks. It has been a while that I have posted anything. Today was hazy, cold, and yet sunny. I did not really wanted to paint but, I have to. There are only few weekends that will be sunny and we need to finish painting. We need at least 2 more weekends and we are done. Yay! At this time we are at the lowest level by the in-laws quarter. Hubby takes care of the deck and mine are the walls. I did not start early. I did not get off bed until almost 08:00. I had a good night sleep in my very warm bed.

Most of the oak tree's leaves have fallen or blown by the gushing wind in California for the last few days. The front yard was clean but most of the dried leaves have accumulated in front of the the front door and the sides of the house. I

This is how the lowest level looked like when I stated this morning. One more layer of the primer white and then the siding brown. Hubby was staining the underneath of the deck. I guess it is better for the wood since it have not been painted for a long time. It really looked much better than before.

This is how it looked like after the stain is applied.

Foothill Home, One year later

2011-10-16T23:11:00.000-07:00

It has been a year, and if I count the changes we have made...countless. Looking at the front of the house it seems like it is a different house. We have been painting every weekend since May and we are almost done.