About Me

My photo
Here I would love to share with you our travels and adventures as international mushroom consultants. MEMOIRS about husband Pieter Vedder, who was a SCIENTIFIC PIONEER in Mushroom Cultivation Education. His practical handbook is in 9 languages and is called the MUSHROOM BIBLE: https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2020/08/modern-mushroom-growing-2020-harvesting.html

Friday, February 14, 2014

{Final Preparations for Water Control Project}

On December 30, 2013 my husband Pieter did start with the Final Preparations for our 4th Water Control Project. The previous 3, you can find below this post. All prostrate Gardenia shrubs had to be dug up and saved for transplanting them elsewhere. Can you guess what we will be doing here?...

At the Bay Window and Veranda side of the house...
Cat-man and supervisor Bandido looks on.
Freshly built concrete wall with Scallop Concrete Edger, just as is done on the outside (seen to the left)...
All shrubs have to be taken out here!
Bandido's tiny sister Tiggy-Tiger is checking out if there are any prostrate Gardenias left...
Now it is all bare and leveled with a slope, towards the outer Concrete Scallop Edger.
Tell you what... Tiggy-Tiger and her brothers just LOVED this huge sand box for rolling and than tracking sand up the stairs!
Here you see the plan. An aluminum gutter at the end (left) and it is leveled such that it descends towards that gutter.
So the caught rain-gutter overflow from the roof and sky water combined, will run away from the home.
The end of the aluminum gutter on the ground, will discharge the water here onto the little brick platform from where it runs downhill into our back yard.
From the other side you can clearly see how the aluminum gutter will discharge all rain water onto the little brick platform.
The soil that got leveled off for making the place descending, got wheelbarrowed here in a rather low and wet area near the pond and greenhouse.
Now this is the front of the house, where the front porch, office and guest bedroom is.
Also prostrate Gardenias need to be dug up here.
Same procedure; leveling off descending towards the Scallop Concrete Edger and the aluminum gutter...
You can see where the plank is how much it descends.
Ha-hah, our cat-supervisors left their Litter Clean bucket out here... 
Funny how Pieter has been using that, for mixing his concrete!
This is the end and Pieter did pour some concrete as a wall with Scallop Concrete Edger on top to mark its end.
The black Drainage Culvert Pipe goes underground from here, at the end of the aluminum gutter...
Here you see the black Drainage Culvert Pipe go underground... more or less.
There is always cat-supervision!
One growing season further and it will all be invisible.
Bandido and his sister Tiggy-Tiger like what their Papi has accomplished!
Tiggy-Tiger dreaming about her HUGE sand box but it will not be that way for long...
Check out  {Water Control Project Finished} which will be published in 6 days!
Thanks for visiting.

Related links:
{Retainer Wall Extension for Water Control} | previous post by me
{Pipe under Brick Walkway & Trench for Water Control} | previous post by me
{Our New Retainer Wall & Vinyl Picket Fence} | previous post showing you part I of Water Control
{65 Year Old Pine Tree Cut Down} | previouis post showing you preparation of Water Control



38 comments:

  1. laughing at pieter's feline crew. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Theresa,
      Oh, his feline crew was with him all the way! Very loyal and hard working...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  2. we should really be doing something similar to our house....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Daniela,
      This was just a very logic idea we came up with... But so far it looks like being sufficient in preventing water from ever running towards the house.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  3. So much work, Mariette - but worth it all in the end to keep your home high and dry! We were lucky to have wise people advise us to install a similar system along our foundation before we built the house. So far it has proven worthwhile. Water easily seeps in, but not so easy to get it back out again and prevention is the key! xo Karen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Karen,
      Oh it was a lot of back breaking work! You were lucky for being advised to install a good working system before building. We had no clue about this problem because we came from a country as flat as a pancake and never dealt with water running down from the hill. Pieter had requested the retainer wall but since we lived and worked in Indonesia, the contractor decided to not build that... Had Pieter been around he certainly would have had him built it. But in the end, we got it done now. Let's hope that will be one big worry less for future years to come.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  4. Dearest Mariette,
    it really looks like still a lot of work, and Pieter is so busy!
    I was laughing too about the Cat-Crew watching him ;O)
    Have a wonderful rest of the week,
    Claudia
    Love and hugs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Claudia,
      Oh, this has been a back breaking job but this was it for Pieter so far! The Cat-Crew was very loyal and helpful; always there and never late or complaining.
      Enjoy your week as well.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  5. You two are both clever and industrious to tackle a project like this. Most people would have hired a contractor. Lucky you got so much work done before bad weather arrived.
    --Jim

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Jim,
      Oh, this project got done indeed JIT = Just In Time! It was a tough job for Pieter and a lot of dirt to be moved and plants to be dug up. Those felines were always at his side, easing the back ache... The next part will be done by others so this was it for Pieter. Thanks for your comment and wishing you a happy ending of the week.
      Mariette

      Delete
  6. Liebe Mariette,

    von meinem Besuch bei dir,
    bleibt ein lieber Gruß hier.

    Elisabeth

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Liebe Elisabeth,
      Danke dafür, wir sind so froh dass die harte Arbeit jetzt geleistet worden ist.
      Liebe Grüsse,
      Mariette

      Delete
  7. Lieve Mariette,

    Jou man Pieter is niet alleen zeer handig en een harde werker maar ook een hele slimme man om het te bedenken op wat voor manier het regenwater om te leiden ver weg van het huis.
    De goot doet mij een beetje denken aan de levada's op Madeira(alleen die werden aangelegd met het oog op irrigatie ten behoeve van de landbouw) of een gegraven spreng,ook zo'n vernuftig iets om het water in goede banen te leiden.
    Hopelijk geeft het op jullie grondgebied de gewenste resultaten en de grote ''poezenzandbakken'' zullen snel weer vol beplant worden en de tuin verfraaien.
    Ach die lieve poezenkinderen hebben bij jullie overal de ruimte....binnen en buiten,alleen moeten ze nog even leren om hun pootjes te vegen op de deurmat;-)

    Liefs,Ger

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lieve Ger,
      Jazeker is het zo goed bedacht om dit probleem op te lossen voor de toekomst. Maar manlief heft ook zijn studie hiervoor gehad en ontwierp al eerder de praktijkschool voor champignons met kwekerij en ook twee state of the art champignonbedrijven voor Campbell Soup in de V.S. Maar evengoed moet je je weten aan te passen aan de natuur en omgeving om inderdaad het water in geode banen te leiden. Ja, zulke irrigatie werken zijn ook erg clever bedacht. We zagen ze in México op de grote spaanse haciendas. Zodoende maakten ze het land ook vruchtbaar. Water is er wel maar niet het hele jaar door en zo kun je het wel in banen leiden.
      Nee hoor, deze grote 'poezenzandbakken' kunnen nooit meer beplant worden; zie over vier dagen het eindresultaat hier op mijn blog.
      Inderdaad is ons landgoed groot genoeg voor onze poezenkinderen. Pootjes vegen kennen ze niet, ze zijn vlug over de matten heen die in de garage liggen. Maar dat probleem is nu inmiddels over.
      Liefs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  8. Dearest Mariette;
    Oh, what a BIG job which must be required professional skill☆☆☆ For your future security!!!
    Yes, your feline supervisors are really lovely, aren't they♡♡♡ Haha, reminds me of my neighbor called my husband 'supervisor' when he had his hobby room.

    Sending you lots of love and hugs to my dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Miyako,
      This was indeed a very big job, a hard job for Pieter. The professional skill he has himself, from his education and experience in designing several big buildings.
      There will not be any other supervising job in the future for our felines. They will have to retire early!
      Hugs and love,
      Mariette

      Delete
  9. Dear Mariette,so much work,and hard work too ,for Pieter!But it;s a good project for the future!
    How cute the kitty looks!!Wish you Happy Valentines Day!!Enjoy the day!!I'm sure for that!A big hug!
    Dimi...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Dimi,
      We both felt so relieved when this mega job got finally tackled; good feeling for being safe now forever.
      Our kitties are very sweet and cute and I guess they really want to help their human.
      Happy Valentine's day to you as well.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  10. You certainly must have had a very bad water problem before with so much work to do.
    Didn't the builders do a very good job of draining the water away. I bet you both have muscles where you didn't know.
    Hugs Kay

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Kay,
      The water problem was not that bad but having to mop up water for four days in a row, 24/7 was too much to handle. It did wear us out completely and we wanted to avoid that from happening again! The builders were not that skilled I guess, not really educated... We were living and working in Indonesia at that time and we trusted they would do a good job while we were gone. Nope... the hard work came afterward.
      But we hope we will be safe from now on and can start enjoying our lives together in different ways.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  11. It's good to see kitties doing their job of supervising to ensure everything is done correctly. Good luck with your project Mariette!
    xo Catherine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Catherine,
      Oh, those kitties did stay on top of this project; you bet! But the project got completed and you will see on the 16th how it looks.
      Hugs and Happy Valentine to you!
      Mariette

      Delete
  12. A lot of work for Pieter, my dear Mariette!!!!!!!!! I am pleased to see that you have found the solution to the problem you had with the water in the house. I didn't know of 'prostrate' gardenias!!!! Are the flowers the same as those of the regular gardenias????
    Hugs to you!!!! and happy Valentine, if you celebrate it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Marie-Anne,
      Sure this was a mega job for Pieter; we both are so glad this is finished now. On the 16th you see the end result.
      Yes, the flowers are the very same and also very fragrant. Here you can see how they looked when blooming and you got their Latin name too: http://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.nl/2011/06/our-gardenia-jasminoides-radicans.html
      Happy Valentine's Day to you and sending you hugs.
      Mariette

      Delete
  13. Liebe Mariette,
    du hast uns die Bauarbeiten leicht verständlich zur Kenntnis
    gebracht.Dein Mann Pieter hat ganze Arbeit geleistet. Allerdings
    unter den wachsamen Augen der katzen. Herrlich.
    Einen schönen Abend wünscht dir
    Irmi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Liebe Irmi,
      Ja es war viel Arbeit und wir sind froh es ist vorbei. Die Katzen sind herrliche Tieren die immer mit machen.
      Liebe Grüsse und ein schönes Wochenende.
      Mariette

      Delete
  14. I love the building and when the work then done, this is wonderful!
    What watchful eye of the cat, beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Silvia,
      Oh sure when such projects get finished things improve and we can enjoy our home without ever worrying about the water entering again.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  15. I will have to share this with my husband. A great plan for controlling water drainage. Always nice to have such a cute helper too.............

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Emily,
      Thank you and I hope you can put certain ideas to work at your home. On the 16th you will get to see the end results.
      Hugs and Happy Valentine!
      Mariette

      Delete
  16. Dearest Mariette,
    Your husband pieter buitlt this summer the photos are all taken to bloom January Feburaly on time.
    Young Yuhsienensis is cmeellia blossoms! Neit to the clcrylie side panels that pietr put in there in the summer. January February so fight on time. Tiggy-Tiger check out weter will published in 6 days!
    We has first rainning for strming today? Just showers/clear Hi:79*Lo62 five days??.
    Hugo and love to you!
    Michiko

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Michiko,
      Oh, that Yuhsienensis Camellia sure was very pretty and blooming on time in January. Thanks to the acrylic side panels for keeping out most of the freezing cold.
      Yes, you can watch on February 16 how the end result will look like.
      Oh, we had frost and snow flurries in Dublin, Georgia... Hope the rain will not be too bad for you.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  17. Een hele onderneming dit werk, maar het zal zijn vruchten afwerpen. Grappig dat de katten zo "mee helpen". Ze houden altijd van wat reuring en zitten er met hun neus bovenop.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Beste Marianne,
      Oh, het zijn zo'n helpers, ze komen altijd bij je kijken als je in de tuin of om het huis wat aan het doen bent. Ja, deze klus zal zeker zijn vruchten afwerpen.
      Lieve groet,
      Mariette

      Delete
  18. Wow this is again a big job and greatly done! The gutter is brilliant, it sure controls the water flow!
    I love seeing your kitties supervising everywhere :-) Sorry, Tiggy-Tiger, that it's not your sand box, but you sure look happy with your Papi's work :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Tamago,
      Thank you for your visit and yes, a big job got done again under the supervision of our kitties. Without them I have my doubts if it would have turned out the same way! Tomorrow evening you will see the finished project.
      They are very happy with everything in their little lives.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  19. A lot of work is going to cost, but the water will be tamed. Regards.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Giga,
      You say it correct, lots of time and money got invested but we're free from worry now!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete

Thanks for your visit and comment.

Mariette...

Copyright:

MARIETTE'S BACK TO BASICS © 2009. All rights reserved - Text and images may not be copied for distribution or sale.

213 Countries visited with 277 flags since:

free counters

Total Pageviews

Blog Archive

Google Analytics

Labels

4th of July (8) Accordion (7) Advent (24) ALL SAINTS DAY | ALL SOULS DAY (2) Aluminum Roofing (11) Amaretti cookies (15) American Airlines (4) American Mushroom Institute (2) Angels (123) Angels We Know By Name (12) Archiving (29) Arizona (19) Australia (25) Auto Immune Disease (12) Ava Grace's closet (10) Baccarat Crystal (65) Backyard Wildlife HABITAT Certificate (8) Barlow Tyrie Capri Lounger (2) Bathing Suits (10) BB and L (4) Belgium (2) Benjamin Moore (14) Biking (33) Birthdays (38) Blissful Relationship (113) Blog Award (20) Blog Pageviews (14) Blogger I Admire (33) Blogger Tips (27) Bobèches (6) Bok Tower (3) Bridal Gowns (6) Britex Fabrics (12) Britex Notions (10) Bulgaria (3) Burberry (31) Burberry Tuxedo (5) Bypass Surgery (8) Cable Car (5) Camille Tharaud (9) Campbell Soup (42) Canada (31) Canada Rail Vacations (4) Candles (40) Carbon Footprint (10) Carillon (2) Cat Nurse (1) Cathedral/Basilica/Church (89) Ceramic Chandelier (6) Certified Podologist (2) Chanel (20) Chaperon (5) Cherubs (20) Childhood (19) Chile (7) China (15) Chocolate (33) Christie's (28) Christmas (63) Christofle (28) Christofle (Memoire) David Rosenberg (11) Chronic Kidney Disease (15) Citizen Journalism (8) CitizenM (2) Coffee Cup (5) Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass (8) Communism (14) Conference (35) Congress (29) Consulting (152) Costco (2) Countries visited (38) Courtesy (1) Croatia (1) Curaçao (14) D.S. Mullis (Author) (1) Dad (116) Damixa (7) Danish (6) Daughter (69) De Gaerde (1) Declaration of Independence (5) Delft Polychrome (1) Delftware houses (10) Delta Airlines (11) Denmark (2) Dessert (10) Diabetes (13) Diabetes type 2 (22) Diabetes type 2 Recipe (10) Dialysis (13) Dieng Plateau (2) Dining with Royalty (1) DMC (28) DNA (6) Doensen Sfeerhaarden (2) Domain Name (1) Door Décor (1) Doris Plaster (1) Down Duvets (6) Dupuytren's Contracture (3) Dutch American Heritage Day (5) Dutch King's Day (5) Dutch Queen's Day (4) Dweilen (3) Easter (25) Eco Friendly (31) Eco Storage (4) Edible flowers (11) Education (79) Edward Bok (5) Energy Star (10) England (16) Escada (138) Etiquette Training (5) Fairmont Hotels (16) Family (166) Family Memories (117) Filet Lace (12) Filet Lace Embroidered (4) First Lady Melania Trump (2) Fleur de Lys (11) France (6) FREEDOM (11) French (72) French Country Style (55) French Lavender Sachets (5) Friendship (273) From Pilgrim to President (2) Genocide (2) Georgia (36) Georgia State Flag (4) Germany (12) Gero Zilmeta 528 Menuet (17) Gevaphone (4) Gift from Blogger Friend (36) Gillis Video (7) Giovanni Raspini Charms and Co (42) Giovanni Raspini Silver Desk Items (11) Giovanni Raspini Silver Frames (11) Giovanni Raspini Silver Gifts (17) GIVEAWAY (23) Going Green (36) Graham H. Boonzaaier (5) Grand Canyon (4) Graze Picking (1) Hand Crocheted (105) Hand Embroidered (28) Hand Knitted (29) Hand made Lace (23) Happy New Year (10) Hawaii (5) Healthy Heart (20) Healthy heart recipe (27) Healthy Living (73) Heart Attack (19) Heeroom (13) Helicopter (2) Hermès (2) High Tea (8) Highlights of the Mississippi Cruise (8) Holocaust (1) Hong Kong (7) House Blessing (2) Hungary (16) Hurricane (4) Hyatt (118) I Will Follow Him (1) India (44) Indonesia (23) Interlock Metal Roofing (15) International Workshop & Seminar (2) Irok gallery (13) ISMS (34) Italy (58) Japan (7) Kashmir (9) Kichler Xenon Under Counter Lights (2) KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (57) Kruisherenhotel (1) Lace (6) Lacquered Brass Window Decorations (14) Lampe Berger (11) Lampes Berger A Century of History by Gérald Vilcocq (10) Language (67) Last Call by Neiman Marcus (24) Lavender Sachet (4) Le Chameau (2) Le Jacquard Français (37) Leather Coat (3) Leather Garments Factory (12) Leather Shorts (2) Leather Skirt (3) Leather Vest (5) Leprosy Infection (5) Leprosy Project (10) Leprosy STIGMA (8) Limburg (48) Limoges (18) Limoges Table Lamp (7) Log Cabin (6) Logee's (12) Maharaja Amarinder Singh of Patiala (1) Mainstream Media (1) Margraten (6) Marl Caves (12) Mason's Patent Ironstone Mandalay (18) Maximum Baggage Weight (10) Meeting Blogger Friend (9) Mega Task (33) Memorial Day (8) Mexico (24) Miele (18) Millinery (13) Mom (130) Montblanc pens (1) Moral Compass (19) Mushroom Cultivation (73) Mushroom Editorial Review (24) Mushroom Quality Criteria (23) Mushroom Technology Transfer Seminar (10) Mushrooms Canada (4) Mushrooms in our Garden (19) My Boots (26) My French Connection (2) My Hats (18) My Publications (7) My Sewing Creation (54) Nativity Scene (6) New Netherland (2) New Orleans (11) New Orleans School of Cooking (2) New York City (28) Organ (15) Original Content (30) Ormolu (6) Our Balcony (17) Our Bathroom (8) Our Bird Feeders (10) Our Bird Houses (16) Our Bridges and Wood Trail (58) Our Canine (31) Our Dutch Clock (3) Our Felines (162) Our Fiberglass Window Boxes (34) Our Flower Bulbs (67) Our Flowering Shrubs (134) Our Flowering Trees (30) Our Flowering Vines (37) Our Flowers (63) Our Fragrant Flowers (172) Our Garden (59) Our Garden Critters (78) Our Gazebo (57) Our Greenhouse (22) Our Home (163) Our Life in Indonesia (76) Our Life in Italy (36) Our Magnolias (55) Our Palm Trees (20) Our Pet Squirrel (1) Our Pond (28) Our Pot Plants (52) Our Rose Arbor (5) Our Rose Suite (16) Our Roses (61) Our Shrubs (7) Our Trees (53) P.J.C. Vedder's Memoirs (183) P.J.C. Vedder's Publications (84) Patio (35) Pearls (27) People to People Citizen Ambassador Program (28) Plagiarism (6) Poem (1) Poinsettia (7) Poland (1) Pond's India (23) Pre-Diabetes (9) Prednisone (9) Princess Diana (10) Quercus Virginiana Grand View Gold (32) Quotes (61) Religious Paper Lace (2) Relive (54) Replacements Ltd. (19) REPOUSSE Silver (10) Resilientista (31) Ristorante da Maria (35) Romania (5) Romantic Boxes with Pansies (2) Romantic Rose Boxes (7) Rose Jewelry (10) Rose silverware (65) Rose Stepping Stones (5) Roses (6) Rösle (7) Rotary International (5) Royal Mail (1) Saint Nicholas (13) Saint Valentine's Day (14) Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th (12) Santa Barbara Plantation (3) Santa Claus (12) Saving Energy (18) Scraped Content (9) Serbia (2) Servitude (1) Silver Knife Rests (19) Sinden Award (13) Singapore Airlines (1) Singing (35) Sinterklaas (10) Skiing (5) Socialism (7) South Africa (20) Spain (1) SPAWN MATE SYMPOSIUM (2) Spectrenoir (95) Storage and Organizing (6) Super Power Readers (4) Sweden (2) Switzerland (13) Table Setting (32) Taiwan (3) Tanner Krolle (4) Tavel (1) Tea (25) Tea Cup (15) Thailand (2) Thanksgiving (11) The Bridge (13) The Netherlands (22) Theodore Haviland France (2) Toile de Jouy (5) Tornado (3) Toyota RAV4 (14) Transparent Acrylic Bolts and Nuts (3) Travel (436) Travel by Rail (25) Tropical Thunderstorms (4) Uncle Bo Whaley (17) UNESCO World Heritage Site (22) United States Citizenship (10) United States Flag (12) Vases (100) Viking River Cruise (10) Vintage Lampe Berger (13) Vintage Woodworks (33) Vinyl Picket Fence (22) Water Control (20) Wedding (13) Wedding Anniversary (21) WeFie (14) WGXA.TV (3) Wolford (22) Wool Fedora Hat (8) World Bank (2) World Leprosy Day (4) World Polio Day (3) Writing (92) Yves Delorme (8) Yves Saint Laurent (3) Zegna (12)