Category Archives: Greeley

Posts about Greeley, Colorado or the Greeley area

Insta-Lawn

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At one of our rentals, the backyard was just pure dirt. We had been wanting to put in a yard but thought we would wait until about a year after since we had done so much work to it. Well, this was the one that was abandoned prior to the end of the lease term, so when we got new tenants in, we let them know we would like to put in a grass yard in the back, but only if they would be willing to water it (since they pay water).  After they settled into the routine of living in the house, they got back to us that they would like the lawn and would be willing to water extra for the first month or so.

So we got to work. We ordered the compost to amend the soil and tried to line up a rototiller from my brother who does landscaping. Then we ordered the sod. Sod is much more expensive than grass seed, but it creates an insta-lawn. One moment it is dirt, and the next it’s a yard. Kind of like putting down carpet or something. So Britton worked from home on Friday and once his work day was over he was over shoveling compost into the yard.


A big pile of composted cow poo

Once the compost was transfered to the yard, it was time to till it in. That’s where the roto-tiller came in. We hauled it over but once we figured out how to start it, the tires locked up and it wouldn’t move at all. That meant: hand shoveling to till it. So the three of us -Britton, me and Martin our tenant were all out there until dark tilling the backyard.


When the roto-tiller broke

Then Saturday morning Britton worked by himself installing the sod. When he came home he was worn out! But I came over to see the outcome and it looks great!

Here are some before and after pictures:


Dirt Yard Before


After: Backyard with grass


Before: Britton is raking the tilled compost to flatten it before laying the sod


AFTER


AFTER!

We just hope that our tenants keep it well watered for the first week/month. At least we put it down in September when the weather is not quite as intense. The tenants seemed very happy with the results as did we, which is great for everyone!

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Quinceañera Party in Greeley

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This weekend we had a chance to attend a Quinceañera for a girl that used to be our neighbor.  They moved a few years back but they always make a point to stop by at Halloween and it’s always cool to see them and how much they’ve grown!  Well the other week Lizeth stopped by and delivered an invitation to her 15th birthday (Quinceañera). I can’t believe she’s fifteen! She was just a tiny kid when she lived next door!


Cassie with our former neighbor Lizeth

It was held at Island Grove Park in Greeley.  There are numerous buildings out there that are used for a lot of different events.  There were actually two quinceanera parties going on at the same time in two different buildings. We accidentally went to the wrong one at first, but it was cool to see two different ways of throwing a similar party. Island Grove is also where the Greeley Stampede is held every year.

Living in Greeley has allowed me the opportunity to live closely with lots of people with lots of different backgrounds.  There are Russians, Germans, , Mexicans, Somalis, etc.  The Quinceañera is a pretty big Mexican celebration.  I hadn’t ever been to one before.

I’d describe it like a wedding.  It’s a pretty big production with lots of food, drink, music and dance.  The food was good.  Really good.  I love tortillas and meat and there was plenty of it!  In fact there were two buildings being used for separate parties.  From what I understand the whole family chips in.  Someone will buy food, someone entertainment, someone will rent the place, etc.  I imagine that makes these huge celebrations much easier to throw!  It would be pretty expensive for one person to pay for.


We got a visit by the Mariachi Singer that made Cassie turn bright red!


It was fun to see two different parties (Lizeth on the left and the other one on the right)

It really reminded me of a traditional American wedding -for one person instead of two.  Except instead of a garter belt they do a ‘shoe change’.  From what I understand this is a change from ‘flats’ to ‘heels’.  Traditionally in the past women weren’t allowed to wear heels until after they turned 15 and started womanhood. A Quinceanera is sort of like an old fashioned debutante ball. Then they have chamberlains and dance. There are supposed to be 14 pairs of young people dancing together, plus the quinceanera (the girl turning 15) and her partner to represent 15 or in Lizeth’s case, she just had the boys plus her.


After the traditional stuff, it is a big dance for everyone to join in on!

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Falling out of Summer

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The weather has had a pretty big change here.  As I say that Puerto Rico just experienced Irene!  So I suppose change is all relative.

Once a year Cassie and I like to camp out in our backyard in a tent that was given to us as a wedding gift.  I spent quite a bit of time camping up in the mountains when I was growing up.  While it was fun, it’s one of those things that I have done quite a bit so it isn’t something that I feel I need to do.  Sleeping outside under the stars with Cassie is a lot of fun and we don’t have to drive, pack food, pack clothes and figure out all the details involved with a ‘camping trip’.


Our Tent

I used to also camp out in my backyard as a kid and across the street at my friend Matt’s house.  It was a lot of fun and I am sure parents enjoy it because your sleepover (loud kids) is outdoors!

We figured we had better get our once a year backyard camp out done because we have entered into the Fall season (maybe not officially, but you can feel it).  The weather is cooler, the veggies are ripe and the growing season is slowly coming to an end.  We’ve been getting more food from our garden lately too.


Fruit, Vegetables and Eggs

With the change in season we are starting to think about Puerto Rico too!  I hope there isn’t too much damage to the property, but if there is we can just fix and mend like we usually do!  We really enjoy our summer here in Colorado, but the winter is so long it will be nice to have a place to go where we can plant, pick garden and camp out!

I hope all our friends are doing well in PR after Irene.  The few Facebook posts we’ve seen indicate it wasn’t too bad and I hope that is the case.  I’d actually like to be down there for a tropical storm / hurricane at some point.  Just for the experience of it.  Not a major one of course!

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Summer Egg Hunt

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Now that two of our pullets are laying eggs, they’ve decided they don’t like laying eggs -or sleeping- in the the chicken coop. They will roost on the chain link fence right above the coop, but they won’t go in unless we actually physically put them in at night. As for the laying, I was getting a little worried when I didn’t see any eggs at all even from the older hens for two days in a row.


Chickens in the yard

I checked the place where they had liked to lay before under the unruly rose bush by the house, but no, there wasn’t anything there. I thought I had looked everywhere until I glanced into the mint bush and just happened to spy their clutch in there. It was so well camouflaged that I asked Britton if he could come out and try to find it. I don’t think he ever would have if I hadn’t shown him where it was. Right under our noses and super hard to spot! If you have chickens who are about laying age, make sure to check your yard for any hiding areas. Now I know where the Easter Egg Hunt tradition came about…this wasn’t just a game for kids back when most people had their own chickens 🙂


Hidden Eggs in the brush

 

 

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