Otis in the Suburbs (3 Viewers)

[Sarnoff]

Finally finished the path.

One

Two

Three

Four

View from bench

Already have my garden in too. Also assembled my Big Green Egg XL Tuesday night.

All that is left for me to do is BBQ, smoke cigars and drink lots of booze the next 6 months.

Why the blue "H" at the start of the walkway?

It's a capital-I, the picture was just taken from the wrong angle.

 

[Otis]

Nice work.

Spring is here in NY. Landscapers just did the first cleanup. Excited to get out there and do a bunch of landscaping/planting/gardening in our first full Spring in the house. When can I start all this and not kill all the stuff I plant? TIA

 

[Rohn Jambo]

Nice work.

Spring is here in NY. Landscapers just did the first cleanup. Excited to get out there and do a bunch of landscaping/planting/gardening in our first full Spring in the house. When can I start all this and not kill all the stuff I plant? TIA

You have new landscapers now, Otis?

 

[pittstownkiller]

I'm really happy to get this done. I'm wired to save money and to find what I have sufficient but I just couldn't deal with the amount of work I would have to do if I didn't make some major changes. I'm still waiting for some tress and shrubs to be put in. I'm also almost done with the path and sitting area in the woods.

Before 2 & After 2

Here's a couple more:

SLB, why are your AC condensers up on a shelf?

 

[Rohn Jambo]

Finally finished the path.

One

Two

Three

Four

View from bench

Already have my garden in too. Also assembled my Big Green Egg XL Tuesday night.

All that is left for me to do is BBQ, smoke cigars and drink lots of booze the next 6 months.

I really like the curvy part in picture #3.

 

[mr roboto]

I'm really happy to get this done. I'm wired to save money and to find what I have sufficient but I just couldn't deal with the amount of work I would have to do if I didn't make some major changes. I'm still waiting for some tress and shrubs to be put in. I'm also almost done with the path and sitting area in the woods.

Before 2 & After 2

Here's a couple more:

SLB, why are your AC condensers up on a shelf?

A lot of places require condensers to be off the ground, on metal brackets.

 

[St. Louis Bob]

Why the blue "H" at the start of the walkway?

I'm going to take a wild guess and say it is the first letter of his last name.

Actually it is green and I just really like the letter "H".

Nice work.

Spring is here in NY. Landscapers just did the first cleanup. Excited to get out there and do a bunch of landscaping/planting/gardening in our first full Spring in the house. When can I start all this and not kill all the stuff I plant? TIA

Thanks GB.

I'm really happy to get this done. I'm wired to save money and to find what I have sufficient but I just couldn't deal with the amount of work I would have to do if I didn't make some major changes. I'm still waiting for some tress and shrubs to be put in. I'm also almost done with the path and sitting area in the woods.

Before 2 & After 2

Here's a couple more:

SLB, why are your AC condensers up on a shelf?

It was like that when I got here.

I really like the curvy part in picture #3.

Thanks GB.

 

[corpcow]

I'm really happy to get this done. I'm wired to save money and to find what I have sufficient but I just couldn't deal with the amount of work I would have to do if I didn't make some major changes. I'm still waiting for some tress and shrubs to be put in. I'm also almost done with the path and sitting area in the woods.

Before 2 & After 2

Here's a couple more:

SLB, why are your AC condensers up on a shelf?

A lot of places require condensers to be off the ground, on metal brackets.

Ours are like this too. It's supposedly "better" - helps with water runoff, etc. I don't know.

 

[corpcow]

I am going to scan in some of the quotes we got for various projects.

Needless to say, patio is expensive. The base stuff is going to be about $8k-10k, but to do anything remotely interesting with walls, post lights and whatnot it's closer to $15k. We're going to hold off on this until next year, pimp it out, and get trees and the fence in this year. Pavers are in the $16-18/sq ft range, with various extras for the lights, walls and so on. We're still waiting for some quotes from stamped concrete, but we were told that was more in the range of $12/sq ft (largely because labor costs are lower too).

Aluminum fencing is about $8k for ~270 ft with two gates. Some are cheaper, with the cheaper grade fence, and some are more expensive when you pimp them out etc. So, somewhere around $30/ft, in case you're trying to estimate.

Landscaping and trees are the worst. Quotes are all over the place, and seem really expensive sometimes compared to some of the hardscape/patio stuff. Most of this is labor, and obviously the cost of the trees which can be all over the place. If you're thinking about doing this, I woudl definitely get different quotes and keep checking - one fo the guys originally came back with an 8" tree for $1,200 and then found 3 at a different nursery for a fraction of the price. It's all based on availability.

 

[corpcow]

BTW - BIG 'burb win is power washing. I never power washed before. Now, I'm afraid I'm addicted. I'm also afraid I'm going to power wash something I shouldn't be power washing.

 

[belljr]

Finally finished the path.

One

Two

Three

Four

View from bench

Already have my garden in too. Also assembled my Big Green Egg XL Tuesday night.

All that is left for me to do is BBQ, smoke cigars and drink lots of booze the next 6 months.

It's really nice but I was more impressed when I thought you did it yourself

 

[corpcow]

BTW - BIG 'burb win is power washing. I never power washed before. Now, I'm afraid I'm addicted. I'm also afraid I'm going to power wash something I shouldn't be power washing.

Oh yeah, I did (not realizing it) power wash my brick, which had some mold but is also sandblaster which, as it turns out, was a bad idea. Not it's like... ####ed up. I suck at the suburbs.

 

[St. Louis Bob]

Upstairs View

Had the deck and fence stain painted. Apparently there is a "stain" & a "paint" combination. Who knew? Bought another patio set too.Now I'm done.

 

[mr roboto]

Upstairs View

Had the deck and fence stain painted. Apparently there is a "stain" & a "paint" combination. Who knew? Bought another patio set too.Now I'm done.

Nice!

 

[St. Louis Bob]

Upstairs View

Had the deck and fence stain painted. Apparently there is a "stain" & a "paint" combination. Who knew? Bought another patio set too.Now I'm done.

Nice!

 

[Marvin]

Upstairs View

Had the deck and fence stain painted. Apparently there is a "stain" & a "paint" combination. Who knew? Bought another patio set too.Now I'm done.

That Mimosa tree rules. Sorry it's going to drop a lot of crap on your patio/deck but they look awesome.

 

[St. Louis Bob]

Upstairs View

Had the deck and fence stain painted. Apparently there is a "stain" & a "paint" combination. Who knew? Bought another patio set too.Now I'm done.

That Mimosa tree rules. Sorry it's going to drop a lot of crap on your patio/deck but they look awesome.

Thanks GB, I do too. There is a smaller one on by the fence and I have a decent sized one in the front yard too. I'm told they are basically a weed but I like them and they're different and I like different. Plus the hummingbirds like them and sometimes there are 3-4 them all zooming around at once which is entertaining.

 

[gianmarco]

Upstairs View

Had the deck and fence stain painted. Apparently there is a "stain" & a "paint" combination. Who knew? Bought another patio set too.Now I'm done.

Looks good, GB. Congrats. When my sod really grows in I'll put up a pic of ours as well (albeit it much smaller).

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

Upstairs View

Had the deck and fence stain painted. Apparently there is a "stain" & a "paint" combination. Who knew? Bought another patio set too.Now I'm done.

That Mimosa tree rules. Sorry it's going to drop a lot of crap on your patio/deck but they look awesome.

Thanks GB, I do too. There is a smaller one on by the fence and I have a decent sized one in the front yard too. I'm told they are basically a weed but I like them and they're different and I like different. Plus the hummingbirds like them and sometimes there are 3-4 them all zooming around at once which is entertaining.

those woods behind your place are sweet. I would have never guessed they were that thick based on the winter picture.

 

[Otis]

Upstairs View

Had the deck and fence stain painted. Apparently there is a "stain" & a "paint" combination. Who knew? Bought another patio set too.Now I'm done.

Totally awesome. Congrats.

 

[Otis]

Wait a minute, is that the same Martha Stewart set that I have from Home Depot .. and the same solar powered LED umbrella?????

 

[Otis]

I spend the weekend digging up some small maple tree sprouts (10-15 ft tall) and overgrown shrubs and random crap from along the fence in the yard. Got several dozen mosquito bites in the process and worked up quite a sweat over two days, but finally got it all dug out and replaced with tiny arborvitaes (bought about 20 of the one-footers at 7 bucks a pop at Home Depot -- they look ridiculous now but should look nice in a few years and eventually will hopefully fill in and make a nice privacy hedge around our yard).

Best part is I didn't have to haul the stuff away -- let my landscapers do that

 

[Wrigley]

Great job Bob.....looks ####### awesome

 

[gianmarco]

Shocking that Otis is trying to turn this back around on him with some "LOOK AT ME" posts......

 

[Marvin]

Upstairs View

Had the deck and fence stain painted. Apparently there is a "stain" & a "paint" combination. Who knew? Bought another patio set too.Now I'm done.

That Mimosa tree rules. Sorry it's going to drop a lot of crap on your patio/deck but they look awesome.

Thanks GB, I do too. There is a smaller one on by the fence and I have a decent sized one in the front yard too. I'm told they are basically a weed but I like them and they're different and I like different. Plus the hummingbirds like them and sometimes there are 3-4 them all zooming around at once which is entertaining.

There was one in the front yard of the house I grew up in. It was right outside my bedroom window. They'll always have a special place in my hard-little heart.

 

[St. Louis Bob]

Upstairs View

Had the deck and fence stain painted. Apparently there is a "stain" & a "paint" combination. Who knew? Bought another patio set too.Now I'm done.

Looks good, GB. Congrats. When my sod really grows in I'll put up a pic of ours as well (albeit it much smaller).

Thanks GB, where have you been?

those woods behind your place are sweet. I would have never guessed they were that thick based on the winter picture.

You've been MIA to GB, nice to see you back. As far as the woods, you wouldn't be able to see more than 15 feet past the fence if I didn't put "the path" in. Tons of awesome wildlife. I love it.

Wait a minute, is that the same Martha Stewart set that I have from Home Depot .. and the same solar powered LED umbrella?????

I bought it from Lowes after looking everywhere for something affordable. The umbrella was ridiculous, like $190 or something so I picked one up from Garden Ridge for $35.00. There is a light in the table though but I haven't used it yet.

I spend the weekend digging up some small maple tree sprouts (10-15 ft tall) and overgrown shrubs and random crap from along the fence in the yard. Got several dozen mosquito bites in the process and worked up quite a sweat over two days, but finally got it all dug out and replaced with tiny arborvitaes (bought about 20 of the one-footers at 7 bucks a pop at Home Depot -- they look ridiculous now but should look nice in a few years and eventually will hopefully fill in and make a nice privacy hedge around our yard).

Best part is I didn't have to haul the stuff away -- let my landscapers do that

Great job Bob.....looks ####### awesome

Thanks GB.

There was one in the front yard of the house I grew up in. It was right outside my bedroom window. They'll always have a special place in my hard-little heart.

Do you swallow your tears?

 

[Otis]

CHAPTER 43: Otis vs. the Mouse

Babysitter spotted him first a few weeks ago. I went in and spotted him the other night. He scurried across the countertop and stopped. I grabbed a Solo cup, the first thing within reach. A younger, more reflexive Otis might have stood a chance. I wasn't even close.

I'm pretty squeamish about hurting animals. What's the most humane way to resolve this, other than allowing rodents to live among us? Do I get the old fashioned SNAP mousetraps? Or the sticky glue things? Giant mallet, whack-a-mole style? And I guess my biggest concern is if I get the traps that don't kill them, what do you do with them if you find them alive? Just throw them in the garbage?

I'm also somewhat concerned about being careful about what we leave out, because we have a 1-year old who is still only crawling but she gets around pretty fast. I guess we'd need to put a trap or two out before bed and make sure we pick them up first thing in the AM before the baby is around.

What else do I need to know here? TIA

 

[mr roboto]

Place the trap in spots she won't go, like in the attic, back of kitchen cabs, basement etc.

 

[squidrope]

CHAPTER 43: Otis vs. the Mouse

Babysitter spotted him first a few weeks ago. I went in and spotted him the other night. He scurried across the countertop and stopped. I grabbed a Solo cup, the first thing within reach. A younger, more reflexive Otis might have stood a chance. I wasn't even close.

I'm pretty squeamish about hurting animals. What's the most humane way to resolve this, other than allowing rodents to live among us? Do I get the old fashioned SNAP mousetraps? Or the sticky glue things? Giant mallet, whack-a-mole style? And I guess my biggest concern is if I get the traps that don't kill them, what do you do with them if you find them alive? Just throw them in the garbage?

I'm also somewhat concerned about being careful about what we leave out, because we have a 1-year old who is still only crawling but she gets around pretty fast. I guess we'd need to put a trap or two out before bed and make sure we pick them up first thing in the AM before the baby is around.

What else do I need to know here? TIA

1-There is NEVER just one mouse.2-If you put the mouse outside it WILL get in again.

3-Mice=disease (I wouldn't my 1yo playing around mice turds)

4-Don't use poison. They could die in your walls.

5-Set up half a dozen snap in various spots and bait with peanut butter.

6-The traps are cheap and if you don't want to "handle" the mouse after it's dead. Toss the trap with the mouse. Then replace with a new baited trap.

7-Keep the FFA updated with the head count.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

When we first moved into this house two months ago, we had a mouse. Little ******* was roaming around in our cupboards at night pooping up a storm. Had to put away all of the silverware and other kitchen stuff until he was caught. Pissed me off because all I wanted to do was get stuff unpacked and organized and this little ******* was messing with my plans.

I bought some poison in a trap looking thing, but it turned out it wasn't a trap. It would kill it slowly over time. The idea of a dead, rotting mouse under my cabinets wasn't appealing, so I ditched that. I went back to Lowe's and got a snap trap that looks like a little mouse hotel and some tacky strips that are actually more appropriate for spiders and other bugs. I set these out in the kitchen and waited overnight.

My wife wakes me up while feeding our son a bottle around 3 a.m. "I think we got him. I can hear something."

She looks petrified. I go in the kitchen and sure enough the glue strip has a tiny little mouse, maybe two inches long, stuck to it. It was struggling so much it's head was mashed into it. Basically, it wasn't going anywhere. I was surprised how small this guy was. No wonder he was able to navigate through the drawers.

I picked up the glue strip with this little guy still writhing around, threw it in a garbage bag, and took him outside to the garage. After about five whacks, it was all over. Wife was horrified. "Did you just bash him against the ground? Eewww!" He was sort of cute, but after seeing all of the #### he left behind, it was personal.

No more mice after that one. I think we actually brought him in with our stuff, some of which was in storage for a while. .

 

[Sarnoff]

CHAPTER 43: Otis vs. the Mouse

Babysitter spotted him first a few weeks ago. I went in and spotted him the other night. He scurried across the countertop and stopped. I grabbed a Solo cup, the first thing within reach. A younger, more reflexive Otis might have stood a chance. I wasn't even close.

I can take care of it for you. No mess, no fuss, mouse will be removed cleanly and humanely. Just cut another one of those $5,000 checks.

 

[Worm]

Just get the snap traps. It's the most humane way (imo) to just kill them and be done with it.

Pro tip: put a cheerio (or something like a cheerio) in the peanut butter when you set the trap. It gives the mouse something solid to pull at to trigger the trap. It is possible, and I've seen it, for a mouse to just lick the peanut butter off the trap if that's all you have on it.

 

[gianmarco]

CHAPTER 43: Otis vs. the Mouse

Babysitter spotted him first a few weeks ago. I went in and spotted him the other night. He scurried across the countertop and stopped. I grabbed a Solo cup, the first thing within reach. A younger, more reflexive Otis might have stood a chance. I wasn't even close.

I can take care of it for you. No mess, no fuss, mouse will be removed cleanly and humanely. Just cut another one of those $5,000 checks.

Was wondering what took so long.

 

[gianmarco]

No more mice after that one. I think we actually brought him in with our stuff, some of which was in storage for a while. .

Well, he can also opt to display the remains of the first mouse he catches as a warning to the other mice that Otis means serious business.Or he can just get a hawk.

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

Cat = no mouse.

 

[Otis]

CHAPTER 43: Otis vs. the Mouse

Babysitter spotted him first a few weeks ago. I went in and spotted him the other night. He scurried across the countertop and stopped. I grabbed a Solo cup, the first thing within reach. A younger, more reflexive Otis might have stood a chance. I wasn't even close.

I'm pretty squeamish about hurting animals. What's the most humane way to resolve this, other than allowing rodents to live among us? Do I get the old fashioned SNAP mousetraps? Or the sticky glue things? Giant mallet, whack-a-mole style? And I guess my biggest concern is if I get the traps that don't kill them, what do you do with them if you find them alive? Just throw them in the garbage?

I'm also somewhat concerned about being careful about what we leave out, because we have a 1-year old who is still only crawling but she gets around pretty fast. I guess we'd need to put a trap or two out before bed and make sure we pick them up first thing in the AM before the baby is around.

What else do I need to know here? TIA

1-There is NEVER just one mouse.2-If you put the mouse outside it WILL get in again.

3-Mice=disease (I wouldn't my 1yo playing around mice turds)

4-Don't use poison. They could die in your walls.

5-Set up half a dozen snap in various spots and bait with peanut butter.

6-The traps are cheap and if you don't want to "handle" the mouse after it's dead. Toss the trap with the mouse. Then replace with a new baited trap.

7-Keep the FFA updated with the head count.

Dumb as I am about this stuff, I actually thought of this. That sounds like a terrible idea.

 

[Otis]

When we first moved into this house two months ago, we had a mouse. Little ******* was roaming around in our cupboards at night pooping up a storm. Had to put away all of the silverware and other kitchen stuff until he was caught. Pissed me off because all I wanted to do was get stuff unpacked and organized and this little ******* was messing with my plans. I bought some poison in a trap looking thing, but it turned out it wasn't a trap. It would kill it slowly over time. The idea of a dead, rotting mouse under my cabinets wasn't appealing, so I ditched that. I went back to Lowe's and got a snap trap that looks like a little mouse hotel and some tacky strips that are actually more appropriate for spiders and other bugs. I set these out in the kitchen and waited overnight. My wife wakes me up while feeding our son a bottle around 3 a.m. "I think we got him. I can hear something."She looks petrified. I go in the kitchen and sure enough the glue strip has a tiny little mouse, maybe two inches long, stuck to it. It was struggling so much it's head was mashed into it. Basically, it wasn't going anywhere. I was surprised how small this guy was. No wonder he was able to navigate through the drawers. I picked up the glue strip with this little guy still writhing around, threw it in a garbage bag, and took him outside to the garage. After about five whacks, it was all over. Wife was horrified. "Did you just bash him against the ground? Eewww!" He was sort of cute, but after seeing all of the #### he left behind, it was personal. No more mice after that one. I think we actually brought him in with our stuff, some of which was in storage for a while. .

See, I'm not sure I could do this.

 

[Otis]

Cat = no mouse.

Yeah, but then you've got a cat. That's worse.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

beware, it becomes personal, oats v mice.

i went with the both the sticky traps and the snap kind. took awhile, but i got the little ####ers. you can also put more industrial type traps outside. i don't know if pay any association type dues to your city, county or whatever, but mine came out and put them up for free.

 

[St. Louis Bob]

When we first moved into this house two months ago, we had a mouse. Little ******* was roaming around in our cupboards at night pooping up a storm. Had to put away all of the silverware and other kitchen stuff until he was caught. Pissed me off because all I wanted to do was get stuff unpacked and organized and this little ******* was messing with my plans. I bought some poison in a trap looking thing, but it turned out it wasn't a trap. It would kill it slowly over time. The idea of a dead, rotting mouse under my cabinets wasn't appealing, so I ditched that. I went back to Lowe's and got a snap trap that looks like a little mouse hotel and some tacky strips that are actually more appropriate for spiders and other bugs. I set these out in the kitchen and waited overnight. My wife wakes me up while feeding our son a bottle around 3 a.m. "I think we got him. I can hear something."She looks petrified. I go in the kitchen and sure enough the glue strip has a tiny little mouse, maybe two inches long, stuck to it. It was struggling so much it's head was mashed into it. Basically, it wasn't going anywhere. I was surprised how small this guy was. No wonder he was able to navigate through the drawers. I picked up the glue strip with this little guy still writhing around, threw it in a garbage bag, and took him outside to the garage. After about five whacks, it was all over. Wife was horrified. "Did you just bash him against the ground? Eewww!" He was sort of cute, but after seeing all of the #### he left behind, it was personal. No more mice after that one. I think we actually brought him in with our stuff, some of which was in storage for a while. .

See, I'm not sure I could do this.

I had a similar experience at my first house. I felt terrible for the little guy so I shoved him in the tail pipe (of my care) and cranked it up. Didn't take long until it was dead.

 

[mr roboto]

If you can corral them into a little fenced in area of your yard Guru can run em over.

 

[Otis]

Traps set.

I got these sweet ones that are set inside a black plastic box, so really you don't have to see a whole lot and easy disposal.

I still feel bad for the little guy. I guess we have no choice.

 

[Otis]

####. I just heard one of the traps snap.

BRB

 

[mr roboto]

####. I just heard one of the traps snap.BRB

 

[squidrope]

####. I just heard one of the traps snap.BRB

 

[Otis]

MAN DOWN

 

[Otis]

Traps reset.

 

[=Smackdown=]

MAN DOWN

Looks well fed - probably having all kinds of mouse sex all over the house.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

if you caught one that quickly, there are probably many more, sorry gb. or mice in NY are dumb.

 

[Otis]

if you caught one that quickly, there are probably many more, sorry gb. or mice in NY are dumb.

Shtick?