Summer 2022 Part 1: Tree Work - Porch Flooring - Outdoor Fireplace Demolition - Trellises - Ferry

Connecticut, April - Sept. 2022. 

Part 2 will include the repainted living room, and re-planting along the driveway.

Ferry

The Chester-Hadlyme ferry holds maybe eight cars for a less than 5 minute ride across the Connecticut River.

Ferry Road in Hadlyme passes a pristine salt marsh, seen below, on the way to the ferry from Route 82. The ferry is a quaint alternative to the quaint East Haddam bridge crossing a few miles north. The ferry goes back and forth all day spring, summer, and fall.

Below you can see the ferry dock. The boat itself is past those two short green towers.

Below, is a view of Gillette Castle, taken from the ferry. It was the home built of stone in 1914-1919 for stage actor William Gillette, who invented the Sherlock Homes as we know him: the pipe, hat, and "elementary, my dear Watson!" The property includes a narrow gauge rail loop, where Gillette entertained distinguished guests including Einstein. The property now is a state park with trails, museum, and snack bar, and you can tour the house.

The ferry costs $5 and sometimes includes a wonderful sea breeze.

Photo taken from internet:

Front walkway, continued:

Spring 2021: the old front walkway after removing the loose slate:

The new walkway was built in 2021 (see previous post). This was taken one fine morning, July 11, 2022

August 22, 2022. New contemporary homemade number sign to the left of the door (brushed nickel numbers bought online). Also two new Japanese holly plants to left of walkway.

Sept 1, 2022. Replacement of art-deco sconces. The aret deco look was ok, but the lights were too bright and the bulbs were built-in. The new can lights (below) have better effect.

Tree Work

July 6, 2022: The professionals came to cut the three lower limbs off the honey locust.

THUMP.

THUMP

THUMP.

The crew patiently cut from the outer branches toward the tree. The house shook every couple minutes as pieces of log would fall to the ground! On a weekday I was worried about the noise while trying to work, but it was more just wanting to watch all the excitement that ended up being the bigger distraction.

There were about 60 rings on the larger logs.

With a crew of 2, a bucket truck and chipper, they got it done in a day.

The workers piled up logs that were small enough for the wood burner, and carted the rest away. Here is LT's log impersonation...

Afterward, the vista opened up a bit

Trellises and Shrub Alignment

Two of these trellises purchased to grow morning glory and partially screen the east side of the patio.

The seed packets said several days to germinate. These morning glories sprouted in 2 days after planting, then climbed to the top in a couple weeks.

Leyland cypresses planted in front of the wood shed. 

Make note of the white fence behind the shed.

    The fence is not quite square with the house.

    The fence is not quite square with the street either and,

    The house is not quite square with the street.

    The shed is square with the fence, therefore not with the house.

To offset this visual disorientation, I lined up these cypresses and a third bush at an outward angle so that they offset the fence angle, allowing everything to balance. The Chinese call such energy balance feng shui.

Sept. 10, 2022, painted the shed Deep Woods (Benjamin Moore), a dark green with hint of sage. It reminisces of way, way north, or at least the Adirondacks. The line of bushes also buffer the starkness of the wood shed from imposing on patio relaxation, and will grow to more of a privacy screen.

Northern shades of green:

Scenery

The dogwood in spring

Stone Fireplace Demolition

The old stone fireplace: it looked tired and had to come out.

A hammer-drill was used to break the fireplace up. It was built solid with solid cobbles and concrete. Almost a ton, based on the landfill weight tickets and accounting for the cobbles being reused to build up the rock wall.

Segregation of demolition debris:

Below: No more fireplace! I've since filled the former fireplace area in with new bushes, Leyland Cypress and Soft-Serve false cypress. The soft-serves are supposed to take on a lumpy shape, like soft-serve ice cream.

There were many leftover cobbles from the fireplace demolition. The cobbles were a welcome addition to even the top of the rock wall. The concrete went to the Transfer Station. They charge $120/ton, I paid around $100 in two trips.

Enclosed Porch Flooring

Front enclosed porch - new flooring!

Alas I am not home as I write, to document the carpet style, bought from Home Depot.

The wall paint color (Beach Light, Benjamin Moore), gray carpet, and modern sconces give the room a minimalist feel.