Tincaps Celebrate Victory

Watching the Tincaps play last Friday night was the perfect date. This was our first trip to Parkview Field to view the semi-pro baseball team. The stadium which opened last year is first rate, we had a good time for a reasonable price and the Tincaps pulled one out in the bottom of the ninth for a 9 to 8 victory.

When we left Angola I asked Bruce if he would mind leaving early if I became bored, I am not a huge baseball fan but I enjoyed playing in my younger days. That was not necessary, the time flew by and keeping my interest was easy. Wondering through the food just deciding what to eat took at least a inning, the libations were equally tempting. Settling on a blueberry vodka concoction might not have been the best choice but they hooked me with the $2 price. Bruce munched a giant Philly steak sandwich that he smothered with A1 sauce at the suggestion of the grill master, he nodded his head with each bite which translates into yum, yum. Seeing apple dumplings for sale rather surprised me, I got the Johnny Appleseed connection but did not expect to be gobbling one at a ball game. Sweet potato fries sometime around the seventh inning with an ice cold draft really hit the spot, food and beverages were varied, plentiful and fairly priced.

The game itself was fun, the Caps (named for Johnny Appleseed who wore his cooking pot as a hat while planting apple trees in the Midwest) were down 3 zip in the first inning, sometime during one of our food runs Peoria scored 4 on a bases loaded home run. We lost track of the pitching changes after the Caps put in the fourth pitcher but things slowly improved and Ft. Wayne scored a run here and there. Next thing you know it is the top of the ninth, score tied 8 up and the Caps knock off Peoria three up, three down. Caps turn to bat, first batter gets a hit, next batter pops out and the third man does the job with hit to center field, Caps win by one a very exciting finish.

We chose a game that started at 7:05 which gave us the opportunity to see the park in day and night. Having grown up in Fort Wayne it was nice to see the city skyline in the background, the new Marriott Courtyard hotel overlooks the field with bleachers for game viewing and the stadium provides lots of kid friendly activities. Goofy games of musical chairs, hamster balls with people racing in them and a sandwich building contest filled the brief moments between innings and kept the youngsters entertained. The splash pad inside the park has gotten lots of use with the extra hot summer we are having and the rock climbing wall has the little ones lined up.

Two thumbs up for the for the Tincaps and Parkview Field. The celebratory fireworks were awesome.

Smile Awhile Sara

Here is a update of our latest paver and landscape job on Clear Lake a birthday present for our customer, Sara. With a young family of four and a large shaggy dog Sara was tired of all the debris that collected on the former patio surface(s) that constantly tracked into their lake home. In addition the tired, thinning junipers under the fabulous, mature Bloodgood maple were nothing more than a giant leave collectors. A 36" globosa spruce on a standard dominated the space left of the sidewalk and it took a bit of talking on my part to persuade Sara and her husband Chris it needed to go. Once we cleared out all the old shrubs the clean pallet allowed me to give Sara the cottage feel she wanted for her landscaping.

Summer snowflake viburnum, Frances William hostas, green mountain boxwood, pachysandra, upright boxwood, fineline buckthorn and Blushing Bride hydrangea provide the elegance, charm and privacy for dining on the new Coldstream pavers by Paverlock. The pavers are very rich looking with just enough texture to make you think of hand chiseled stone, I really like them. Potted geraniums give a pop of red and can be changed out seasonally.

Pavers custom cut to fit under the door threshold cover the unsightly concrete and give the entrance a finished look. A timber step allows easy access to the water spigot and we ran an extra hose around the timbers for easier watering.

Sara loves the new look and so does her family. The patio is functional once again. The free standing stacked glacial stone wall does a terrific job of addressing the grade change around the tree.

RIP Dexter

Dexter did not make it his eyes got worse becoming ulcerated, they ruptured and we ended his pain. He was such a sweet pea.

The Captain and Jim

Landscape contractors are subject to building codes and zoning ordinances especially when constructing hardscapes. As is frequently the case on Clear Lake the job Bruce did at the marina needed a variance which resulted in delays and even some anxious moments as to whether we could proceed at all. Sometimes even a simple 200 square foot patio means several hours of waiting just to talk to someone about a permit. Seems like a more efficient method could be established. I do not have the patience for permitting activity it is costly and often ill fated. On the other hand I fully understand the need for rules otherwise people would still be dumping waste into our lakes.

Marina owners Jim and Joann Stanley have recently expanded The Seaweed Cafe and contracted us to install a small paver patio large enough to hold three bistro tables. The patio shape was dictated by location and square footage maximums. To kick it up and provide permanent locations for the tables Bruce suggested three small paver circles the look is simple, elegant and functional but three circles in that small of space meant a lot of cutting. But then again, "presentation is everything."
A web cams run 24/7 on Clear Lake with four cameras shooting around the lake. One camera is located at Clear Lake Marina so Millgrove was live on the net during the week we installed this patio, we hope the men watched their manners. To spy on activities at Clear Lake the link is http://clearlakeindiana.org/fun/

Scout's Honor

2004 was a good year with a fun crew. We teamed with Dennis Spidel Custom Homes to present a house for the BANI Parade of Homes, we have participated in many parades as both judges and landscaping design/installers. As a participant it is always a bit nerve wracking, lots of self imposed pressure to win and a strong desire to really blow the top off things. As a judge you get a chance to compare yourself to other designers and scrutinize their work. The house we worked on belonged to a great couple who had fairly clear ideas on what they wanted yet sought and appreciated my input.

The log cabin house with forest green trim, heavy black door hardware and contemporary, open interior marries effortlessly with the mix of woodsy decor. The owners Pete and Beth treated our crew like long lost cousins from Miami when we worked the unusual Saturday to complete their project. The mid August day brought temperatures in the 90's and Pete generously kept our beverage cooler full as we installed the sod and finished the beds. We had everyone working there that day which is something I always enjoy. Ten people working hard with precision can sure put a hurt on a property, my own personal version of a HGTV show. Seeing The Millgrove Machine really clicking is a thing of beauty.

This Crooked Lake residence won 1st Place in every category except landscaping, I lost, coming in second by two points, I knew it would be close as Franz did a bang up job on Don Wise's house that year. Of course I think the Franz job was their traditional cookie cutter look nothing exciting. Our job was fresh, full of flowers and small custom touches. Oh well can't win em all, but I still expect too.
Beth and Pete loved the birdhouses I had made to match the house although Pete admonishes me that they should easier to clean out. The custom willow, outdoor shower stall, fence and arbor were designed by me and constructed by a friend of a friend, they still look good six years later.
This lot is the typical lake lot, big on house, tight on distance between houses, strong desire for privacy, low maintenance and wanting to be the prettiest on the block. Both the builder and the home owner were scouts, Eagle Scout's I believe, so when it came time to picking thel house name, "Scout's Honor," was a no-brainer.
The side garden is loaded with perennials, butterfly bushes and roses. Varigated fallopia, pachysandra and a Vanderwolfe Pine are all present in this ever blooming garden. Early morning dew glistens on switch grass as I pop off a few photo's and we begin deadheading, trimming and fertilizing as part of our new maintenance contract, it is nice to be able to care for and nurture something you built.

Sting at DTE

DTE is a outdoor ampitheater located in Clarkston, MI a half hour from Detroit and two and a half hours from home. It was built in the 70's and seats over 15,000. Simple principle dig a hole, install seats under cover, throw the dirt on a hill and instant starlight seating, add amplification and booze. This great venue has seen nearly every famous musician, lots of music fests and even hosts school graduations.

The food, Skyy Vodka bar, on grounds nightclub, clean, easy access working bathrooms and stellar landscaping set the former Pine Knob apart from other similar auditoriums. The landscaping is really terrific, several large water features, mature canopy trees, shrubs and flowers just for starters. Segmented retaining wall stone provides seating on quaint paver patios throughout the complex.

I have been to DTE a couple of times but this was the first time I have seen Sting, super groovy. He performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The range of material covered was exceptional, The Police, jazz, country & western, Brazilian inspired rhythms and everything in between, what a talent, although he missed a note here and there over all it was one of the best concerts I have seen in a while. My husband who is not overly emotional nor a big Sting fan summed it up nicely when he said, "wow a couple of those songs brought a tear to my eye."

Free Kitten To A Good Home

This past week was catch up time for bidding, invoicing, evaluating and planning. Last weekend July 10th was our annual party, we have been having a big summer blow out for the last 25 years. The party takes a lot of preparation, we sent out over 120 invites to people all over the country, we had family and friends from Florida, Boston and North Carolina. Our buddy John Day who is a local excavator played with his band, John is a drummer, I first saw him playing the bars in Steuben County in the early 80's. He still has a smooth voice and the variety of songs they play has something for everyone, they had the crowd dancing through their final set.

Fireworks has always been a part of our party and this year was no exception. We have a big fireworks store near the toll road and it does a grand business this time of year. Six or seven hundred dollars will get you a pretty good display and last about 20 minutes. On occasion we have even hired professionals to paint the sky, which is less dangerous but kind of takes the edge off. We always have safety in mind but have been know to have a few tense moments. This year was flawless, a great crowd, terrific food and friends and family from near and far what a pleasure to see everyone.

The kitten waving is Dexter (well his name might be Dexter) I found him on my way to the job at Devil's Lake about three weeks ago. He was laying in the road, it was over 90 degrees and he could not hold his head up, there were two bloody orbs where his eyes were supposed to be, fleas were literally sucking him dry and he had a horrible upper respiratory infection (cat pneumonia) the options; run him over or pick him up. The vet gave him an antibiotic and some eye drops and told me the bad news was he would likely live since he knew I would take good care of him. Dexter was a hit at the party and the dogs have died and gone to heaven they act as though one of their precious toys has come to life. His eyes are not right yet but he has gained weight and come to life, who wants a lovely kitten?
Hibiscus, althea (rose of sharon) and daylilies are in there prime right now. It amazes me how many varieties of each of these flowers are available with a wide spectrum of characteristics. Double blooms, more blooms, huge flowers and the aroma of some of the lilies especially the Asiatic ones blows my mind. With all the rain and heat flowers are bursting this year, color and fragrance abound it seems the colors are more vibrant even on the old standards.

A bright new paver patio and fresh landscaping are what Sara wished for her 40th birthday and we are pleased to be installing both. These photo's are in progress and show the area after the old concrete and green indoor/outdoor carpet (ugh!) have been torn out. Weed barrier (fabric) is the first step of paver installation after the are is leveled we use Dewitt Pro V which is super heavy. The old timbers will be cleaned and greenery will provide the charm and ambience Sara is looking for.

Terrific Theresa

Beauty, brains, braun and a pretty smile, Theresa has the whole package. Alot of people confuse Theresa and I, often I refer to her as my clone, frequently customers request her and my worst days are when she is absent. When she applied for work elevan years ago she was eager, down to earth and looking for something new. Theresa absorbed this business like a sponge, listening and retaining, never afraid to tackle any project, working hard. She seeks perfection in her performance and demands it in others, I will be forever grateful that Theresa came into my life. Thanks Squirt.

Fins Up, Here Comes Dinner

When I saw these caterpillars dangling above my little pond I just had to go get the camera. Emerging from their nests high in a shag bark hickory tree, sliding down silken threads these little babies made the mistake of dropping into the water. Another three feet and they would have been in a tasty bush instead of being tasty fish food. I watched as my little goldfish suddenly became the kings of the pond, much of there time is spent hiding from predators. Hungry water snakes, herons and bullfrogs devour any small goldfish I put in and freeze gets the bigger fish in the winter. One day I would like to be in a location more friendly to raising Koi and give that a shot.

Gaga Over Gage

Last week we worked for our accountant on Lake Gage so I took the opportunity to take a few photo's of past jobs on Gage. Having lived my first 18 years in Steuben County on Lime Lake (connected to Gage) I always thought of this clear, kettle lake my home territory. It used to tic me off when another landscaper was working on the lake, thankfully I have outgrown the need to do every job within five miles. I often still bicycle from my house around Lime Lake and Lake Gage it is a swell ride with some decent grade changes and great scenery.

The house with the round window we landscaped twice, once with each new addition it was in the Remodel Showcase and our installation was well received. The neighbors are close together on this lake often the minimum 6' off the property is utilized for a total of 12' between houses. Privacy is always an issue and people generally do not want it to seem they are trying to shut out their neighbors, it is usually one of the first things I like to address.

The circle pavers we ran between the house and neighbors fence solved a lot of problems for our customer. First we reduced maintenance, installed something beautiful where nothing but powdery earth and moss grew and made the space a functional walkway from the road to the lake. Full circles and half circles spun down the length of the walk with small cut outs for little plants, still looks great 8 years later.
This house was a major remodel done by our friend Roger at Designing Innovations he introduced us to the home owners and we were able to come up with a design that suited their needs. I love postage stamp size lots they are so cute and cozy. The arbor and fence were a violation of building code so a variance was needed. The home owner a retired attorney was happy to put on his lawyer suit and go to the zoning meeting, you can see who won.

The Moody Blues at the Embassy

Last Sunday night we saw The Moody Blues at the Embassy Theater in downtown Fort Wayne. The Embassy is a stellar example of the fine architecture and craftsmanship that was prevalent in the old vaudeville theaters built during that time period, 1928. The Emboyd as it was christened was part of the Indiana Hotel until the hotel was torn down in 1971. Saving the Embassy which was converted into a movie house became one of the passions of its organist, Buddy Nolan.
The Embassy would have no doubt succumbed to the wrecking ball if not for the efforts of the Save The Embassy Foundation. It took time, lots of effort and imagination but funds were finally secured and the grand theater was resurrected. The intricate floor tiles, plaster work, gilding, heavy baroque crystal chandeliers, velvet curtains and balconies keep new visitors twisting heads to take it all in.

The old pipe organ sat in front of the stage and when I was a kid watching Saturday matinees rooting on the good guys Buddy Nolan would miraculously appear. Hands pounding the keys trying vainly to play louder than the screaming kids as the reels were changed. He sometimes caught our attention and we sat back in our threadbare velvet chairs feeling the hum and timbre of the great organ penetrating our bones and "skulls." Awesome for a kid.

The newly expanded stage which once hosted the likes of Bob Hope, Laurel and Hardy, Red Skelton and many others now is state of the art and expanded to accommodate orchestras, Broadway plays, popular music and icons such as The Moody Blues. The 2500 seat auditorium feels at once intimate and cavernous but all the seats are decent albeit being a bit small.

Three of the original band members from the sixties are still playing in The Moody Blues, they sounded great and got a lot of energy from their second younger drummer, keyboard player and the two young women who sang, played guitar, keyboards and flute. I saw them a few years ago with The Fort Wayne Philharmonic which was a wonderful show as well. I did snag a little illegal video but with the poor shot of the stage and sound quality it does not do the show justice.