Val Vigil Blows Leafs, Doesn't Sweep

Politician, Real-Estate Broker, Accountant, and just an all-around busy person, is running for City Council. I already did a post on that (at: http://thorntonwilliamsfamily.blogspot.com/2009/09/dont-vote-for-val-vigil-for-thornton.html ), and why he should NOT be elected.

I'm finally getting around to posting a video I took on September 17 2009 ... of Val leaf-blowing the sidewalk in front of his house. I thought it was funny and really sad because of several reasons: (1) he claims to be environmentally minded, (2) in the 1 1/2 years I lived across the street from him, he NEVER used a broom to do this, and (3) well, it's obvious that he's banking on people not finding out that he isn't what he claims.

I'm not a bitter person. He did make our lives hell while we lived there, but we're now gone (thank goodness!) and it's time people found out that the sweet concerned man people THINK they are electing.... well, really isn't.

Here's the link to his contributions: http://www.cityofthornton.net/cclk/Election/Reports/Val_Vigil.pdf ... wow, $250 then another $300 from Jared Polis. Well, I guess since Val helped to get Jared elected... one hand washes the other. But ... where are the contributions from his neighbors? And how come the balance remaining in his election fund for reporting on Friday, October 30 2009 (10/9 thru 10/25) is $4,585.62? Was it all spent these last few days? What did it go for?

Anyway... here's the video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D_rgTva3IU

Vote for Ralph Moore. I met him, and chatted with him for a while. Twice! He's a good man who is very concerned about the Thornton community. Elect Ralph this November 3 2009 election day.

Keywords: election, City Council, Val Vigil, Ralph Moore, Thornton, politics, state representative, revitalization, RTD, property rights, environmentalism, carbon footprint, rules, regulations, neighbors helping neighbors, lies, community, meticulous, leaf blower, laziness, broom, recycling, respect, candidate, contributions, vote, November 3 2009

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Update: Unfortunately Val won. Sorry Thornton. You made a baaaddd choice! Nov 5 2009

Neighbors Who Are Thieves

One of the really cool things about this neighborhood, this town, is that every Spring, there is an annual bulk pickup. A day or two before their assigned pick-up day, people put things on their curbs that don't normally get hauled away. Other people drive around and take what they want. Last year we hauled away a lot of boards that we used to make raised beds for our garden, and a couple kiddie pools for same.

This year, since we're moving, we have to plant a smaller garden. We used a lot of tires last year (gotten free from Big O Tire) to hold soil or keep pots from tumping over in the wind. Since we can't use them this year, we put them and some other things out to the curb. Several things were taken, but.... well, this is the part that flabbergasts me.

Our across-the-street neighbor, Val, is not a friendly man at all. He's the one (we assume but pretty much know) who reported us last year about not having a green-enough lawn. And about me not moving my car often enough. This is a man who couldn't be more than 5'5", quite "portly", and drives a huge diesel truck that he never hauls anything in. We think he's compensating. :)

This afternoon I'm sitting at my desk, working, and from time to time looking out our front window. I see a truck stop at our tires, get out and start to haul them into their truck. Val comes running out of his house, motions for them to stop, and pretty much drags them to his back yard where he has them take away a desk. Once they get that in their truck, there's no room for our tires. They drove away.

Son of a witch stole our ... person... whatever!

Jerk.

Our Town is a Police State

Here I was, yesterday, minding my own business, trying to catch up on correspondence, blogging, and writing when I looked out the window. Our town's code enforcement truck pulls up along side my vehicle, stays there for about 15 minutes, looking at our yard, my car, etc. Finally, she gets out, examines my car from top to bottom, pulls out a pad and writes down my VIN. I send my son out to get the piece of paper she leaves on my car.

Violation Warning: This car has not been moved for 10 days or more. It must be driven every 10 days or stored in an enclosed facility.

Huh?

I drove my car last week to the grocery. Now, I try not to drive my car regularly to save on gas and help the environment, so I'm wondering (1) did they think I didn't drive often because I always park in the same place; and (2) do they think that they can control residents behavior to that extent?

Yep, we're moving. We need a farm in an unincorporated area of Colorado. This town is beyond ridiculous.


p.s. We're 90% sure that our not-so-wonderful neighbor, VAL, reported it. He's a bully, and has been quite intent (and unfortunately successful) in making our lives here at our house, miserable. I'm glad he wasn't re-elected in 2006 - we don't need any more bullies in our government.

7/26: Another Saturday of Yard Work

Yesterday, I bought 7 ivy plants, 1 10-foot crabapple tree and the above giant pine (not so giant yet). Doug picked up the drill early this morning from Home Depot - no way he could have dug all of the holes today by himself. Here he's putting the drill bit on the auger.

Here's the hole he made for the pine!

Pine in place with Weslee holding it straight while Doug adds potting soil to give it a good start in life.

I gave the little pine tree a great big soak after we tamped the dirt around it.

Here it is showing, in the background, where the aspen tree stood and died.

We've moved on to the front side yard to make a hole for the 10-foot crabapple tree.

Here's the line-up of ivy and the blue circles I drew so Doug would know where to drill the holes.

And the crabapple and ivy finally went in. Only ... did I forget to mention that of the 7 "ivy" - it's really only 6 ivy and the middle one is a honeysuckle! It actually has blooms and smells heavenly!

I got it when I had to go back to home depot to get more ivy for the north front yard. Couldn't resist!

Here's the new crabapple and pine trees from the south view. That blue blur is Doug! (Different clothes because we'd showered for Doug's mom's visit and lunch.)

Now some more pictures...

See how the unexpected asparagas is coming along? Amazing! It's nestled among the soy bean plants. One is in the bottom left and one is at the top right.

I couldn't resist taking a picture of this beautiful bloom. It's possibly a pumpkin. Guess we'll find out in the next month or so.

This is a wonderful little "something" that might also possibly a pumpkin. The leaves are huge as is that bulb-thing. Hoping it's a giant pumpkin!

Doug's mom was amazed at all of the food-greenery we have created in our front and back yards. She took home a freshly-picked yellow straightneck squash, several cherry tomatoes, and some lettuce. We had an enjoyable afternoon with her, and frankly, needed the break from yard work.

That's all for now. I'm quite burnt from my time outside, as well as sore and in desparate need of my chiropractor. Doug is sore and slightly burnt on his arms. Weslee is burnt on his neck but as a kid, quite resiliant and watching "Peter Pan" in the living room. I'm sure I'll be asleep before it's over. Have a wonderful day, all! Vikki

7/9: Gourds, Mr. Frog, Asparagas, and Landscaping

Gourds on Jun 16 2008

Gourds on July 09 2008

Amazing comparison! So much so that I had to take out

the netting so they wouldn't strangle. The vines are winding

into the "lawn" - hope we won't get in trouble!

Yes, Mr. Frog is still here! He appears to burrow into the sand by the tires of gourds and blueberries. We don't usually see him unless he moves. And he doesn't really care to be sprinkled when I'm watering the garden!

Here's that pic of the surprise asparagas I promised yesterday. You can barely see the teeny just above where I typed the word "Here". But the other is a bit bigger - right above where I typed "... And Here". Note the size against the bean plant. The people who buy our house will have a couple of asparagas in the Spring - can't harvest in 2009 but should be able to in 2010. Lucky people! Could this be a selling point?!?!

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Another estimate for landscaping - they are ranging from $2500 to $6000. Afraid we can't quite do any of them. Perhaps will have to continue reseeding ourselves, and hope they'll stay off our backs if they see the "lawn" constantly wet. The wonderful code compliance person, same person from last week, dropped by with an excuse for not coming back before now, and here's that information on free soil testing. No comment about all of the work we'd done on the yard. Figures. So I call the number for free soil testing, and lo and behold, it AIN'T FREE!! Surprise surprise surprise!

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I worked on my book some more. After Doug got home, we did more work on our website. We hope to be up and ready by the first of August. Now, as I type this, we're watching the DVD of "The Secret". Positive thinking and all. Vikki

7/5: Getting It Up To Code

A Bee.


Yesterday, the Fourth of July, we rested, grilled out, and took stock of our goals and how to accomplish them (esp with the new problem of lawn care code). We spent about an hour reading the city's code online this morning. Amazing that there are so many rules about the kind of grass, the percentage of grass to cement/rocks/pavers to house to trees and decorative items.

We spent over $200 today for just grass seed, weed and feed, compost/potting soil, seeding soil, and sprinkler attachments. Doug pruned one of the dying trees, thatched the front yard, sprayed Revive, distributed weed and feed, and weeded. I worked in the backyard as I watered the garden - pulled weeds, moved empty garden boxes around, pruned the tomatoes and more. All of this activity has exacerbated my carpal tunnel and other major problems.

Tomorrow Weslee will aerate the soil (front and back) and help me pull more weeds, I'll use Roundup on more weeds, and Doug and I will do more about those dying/dead trees. IF it doesn't rain.

It got up to 98 degrees today but was down to 88 by 5 p.m. Scorching hot. Tomorrow it is supposed to rain. We'll see.

Meanwhile, as much as we hate to say this, we are choosing to leave this home for another. It is our strong intention that this house will sell quickly once we put it on the market, and that our perfect home in an unincorporated area will show up. Please please please please.

BYW... lots of tomatoes on our 19 plants! One was orange this morning and began turning red by this afternoon. One plant has a ton of little bitty tomato clusters on it - can't to figure out which plant is which! (All of my labels/markers faded in the sun so NO CLUE!)

We'll be uprooting our blackberry plants by the end of summer so we can take them with us - give them a chance to acclimate themselves in a pot before wintering inside. Then we'll work on that part of the backyard.

Guess that's it for now. We appreciate your support as we go this upheaval. Oh, and I guess we won't be the "Thornton Williams Family" at some point. Ah... will cross that bridge when we come to it. Vikki

7/3: Getting On With Life

Can't let the Code people bother us. So instead of staying angry about the notices for our weeds, dead grass and trees, and tire planters, I worked on a solution. Several landscapers will be here next week to give estimates on landscaping (CHEAPLY) our front yard. Plus, this weekend, we'll attempt to hack down the dead trees, kill more weeds with more Roundup, and re-seed the lawn with something we haven't yet tried (or bought).

Meanwhile, while Doug worked, Weslee and I did our one day of errands. Bank, post office, thrift store (school books and summer clothes for Weslee), dollar store, Sam's and Wal-Mart. After we got home and put most of the things away, we got down to business.

School-work/curriculum planning: before we register for his private school, I need to plan his 6th grade curriculum. He loves workbooks, so we gathered everything I had purchased for this year, in addition to reference books (incl "How to Write Your Best Book Report") and all of the fiction books. He's reading: Sorcerer's Stone, Prince and the Pauper, Red Badge of Courage, Borrowers, Bridge to Terabithia, The Secret Garden, and The Iliad. And more. So much to cover this year, and since he still doesn't really get math, I'll be hiring him a math tutor in September.

As to the garden, it's looking good. Lot of tiny tomatoes showing up (we've had flowers for a while). Tiny eggplant. One pepper starting to turn colors. Harvested more radishes yesterday and lots more blueberries and lettuce. Tossed the cabbage to the compost pile because it had too many cabbage worm holes - more holes than leaves. Hoping to resurrect the cauliflowers and cabbage. Beets need another few weeks. Didn't water today but it just started raining so yippee!

Have been so busy with gardening and schoolwork and family that I haven't done much writing lately. Soon. Very soon. V.

7/2: Lawns and Code Violations

I gotta learn to keep my big mouth shut. Met with code and zoning people earlier this week about getting a variance to keep chickens and bees, and that must have started something because all of a sudden the Thornton Code Compliance officers came a-knockin' on our door because we have a few too many weeds, no grass, and we're using tires as planters! Get real! Here's what they said:

1. "Please cut weeds from property - includes rock area. Please remove tires - these cannot be stored outside." HUH? Deadline: Jul 9. Uh, yeah, right. THEY should try to get rid of the weeds because I have tried everything I can think of. I pull weeds constantly. As to the tires - I don't consider using them as planters as "storage". I called the code compliance office - they said as long as we make them not look like tires, we might be able to keep them. Duh... gee... thanks.

2. "Please remove the dead trees in yard. Landscaping needs improved - area by corner is mainly weeds and rock area mainly weeds. Yard needs water and weeding." Deadline: Jul 31. Uh, let's see, I water daily but with no results, I've reseeded three times. No luck. Our soil doesn't grow anything but weeds. The code compliance office said the county extension office can do a free soil check for us. As to the weeds, I've used roundup three times and pull weeds DAILY but do they care? Nope. As to the dead trees, I explained that the person we wanted to help us wasn't available until the end of August but nope, that's not good enough. Fine! Instead of doing it nice and nearly, we're gonna hack them up and NOT replace them with walnut trees like we'd planned.

I mentioned that we have already spent a lot of money on this place and redoing the sod and doing the kind of landscaping Officer *** mentioned would cost a lot of money we don't have. Her response: "that's the cost of homeownership". BULL!!!

Can you tell I'm furious? Doug is too. After work, Doug moved the tires from the front yard, and got out there with the weed wacker and brought down everything that was more than a couple of inches taller than the ground, and used the push mower. Weslee will get out in the morning, before errands, and sweep the walk. This weekend we'll all get out and rake the dead grass, broadcast more seed, rake it in and water. AGAIN. And roundup the weeds. AGAIN.

Actually, now's as good a time as any for this little bit of news.... we thought this was the house where we can live out the rest of our lives. Where we can raise our children, and grow old together. We specifically bought this house because there is no HOA and therefore, felt like we'd be ok to plant and landscape to our whims. Not that we planned to do anything completely unusual but we wanted the freedom. The option. Obviously, we were very sadly mistaken.

So we're thinking that maybe, instead of doing all of the improvements like finishing the basement and adding a couple more bathrooms, extending the kitchen, adding a sunroom, attaching solar panels, and central air, we'll continue fixing the basics and the lawn as best we can, and sell it. Yep, we'll move! We've already made a lot of improvements, fixed the roof, got the squirrels out of the attic, banned the foxes from under our back patio, and replaced ALL of the appliances. Surely all of this work, and the required landscaping, will bring a decent asking price in the Spring.

Questions: this property was a VA foreclosure, in holding by Fire Incorporated. Since it was laying empty last year, surely the weed and lawn problem was bad last year. Was Fire Inc given a violation notice? If not, why? If so, why wasn't anything done about these problems?

Once we get this house ready to sell and probably on the market with our favorite real estate person - Kris - then we'll research to find (probably) an un-incorporated area near Doug's work. We'll find a house with a bit more land. We'll be able to have chickens and bees. Where we can use old tires as cheap planters. Where the soil isn't quite so bad that 90% of what we plant will die. Where Weslee can run with the dogs, chickens and goats, and he can build a treehouse. Where he can participate in 4-H.

Good thing we haven't started adoption proceedings yet. Hopefully when we move in the Spring. And get settled.

Yep - look what my request for chickens and bees started. Of course, it's highly possibly (maybe even probable) that one particular neighbor who is quite anal about his yard, might have turned us in. Vikki

Zoning Update for Chickens/Bees

Met with Lori at the Thornton City Zoning Dept. While it's not possible to request a variance so we can have chickens and bees, it is possible to write my councilwomen to request a change to the code and/or ordinance. She gave me some great suggestions and I'll work on the letters as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, she reminded me that we can have 2 ducks (huh?), so I started researching about keeping ducks in a backyard. So far it looks like it would be possible, especially while we're waiting for clearance to have chickens. Eggs similar to chicken, still good pest control and weed control (doesn't like lettuce as much as chickens which is a major plus!), and somewhat docile. We'd have to fill a plastic pool daily but 10+ gallons should be enough, which we can re-use to water the garden the next day. We'll look into ducks further.

On the way home from the meeting, I squished my left foot in a door, tearing a chunk off the toe next to the big one. So I'm hobbling around, and in major pain. Thus, today's blog entry is short with no pics. Thanks for reading! Vikki

Our First Harvest!

Yahoo!! Get a load of this picture - our first real harvest from our "land"! Top left, rhubarb across a bowl of our first clippings of black-seeded simpson lettuce, beside heirloom pink beauty radishes, beside our 8 blueberries, beside a beet thinnin' (yummy) and then a few of our tree's cherries.

Dinner tonight consisted of salad (bag of greens from grocery to which we added what we picked). Weslee tried a teeny bit of radish - too spicy for him. But he sure gobbled his share of the blueberries and lettuce! I nibbled on the beet greens - yum! The rhubarb, cherries and 3 of the radishes went in the fridge.

We have cabbage worms attacking our greens, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. Need to research what to do about them. They somehow found their way under our tulle netting - must have a hole somewhere.

Still looking for a book to help me figure out how to be a self-sufficient gardener but my local barnes and nobles only had John Jeavons "How to Grow More Vegetables" - kinda ok but looking for Jackie French's "Self-Sufficient Gardener".

Have a meeting tomorrow morning with my local zoning office to see about getting a variance for us to keep a few chickens (no rooster) and a hive of bees. Wish me luck! V