Two years in Teaneck

Our second anniversary in Teaneck is less than 2 months away. We have put in a lot of work into improving the house both inside (new electrical panel, heater & boiler, washing machine & dryer and more recently, automatic garage door) and out or in other words, aesthetically.

Adrian, in particular, worked really hard to get our garden and yard in shape for summer. Here's a few shots of before and after.

BEFORE

September 2009
Over-grown shrubs, un-kept hydrangeas, weeds and creepers - all great for hiding creepy crawlies and intruders waiting to pounce on you as you enter your home

AFTER

July 2011
New grass thanks to Adrian's constant de-weeding, sowing of new grass seeds
and endless top -soiling

BEFORE

September 2009
Backyard and deck

AFTER

July 2011
Backyard and deck

BEFORE

September 2009
Wishing well with over-grown ivy

AFTER

July 2011
Wishing well - all cleaned up. In the process, we also got rid of the mole family which burrowed holes in our garden. Less place for them to hide these days!

Coming up...another garden project done!

Ah Kong's funeral
by Adrian

We made an impromptu trip back to Kuching for Ah Kong's (grandpa in Hokkien) funeral. He has been very close to Serene. I remembered her telling me he dropped and picked her up from school from kindy until secondary school (high school). She said Ah Kong is a very nice and respectable person. He can be comical and funny at times. There are times we laugh at his choice of words and stunts. Having met him myself, I completely agree with her. He has lived a good life surviving World War II and visited many interesting places around the world.

Ah Kong's portrait @ the living room

Flower wreaths from relatives and friends

Grandpa's old pictures

A truckload of wreaths heading to the cemetery

Hearse van carrying grandpa's coffin

Ah Kong @ church during his funeral service

Ah Kong at his final resting place

May you rest in peace Ah Kong . (1^st December 1913 - 7^th May 2011)

SQUIRREL = PEST....*&^%$@#! (Guest blogger)

We used to be sympathetic of squirrels after witnessing the aftermath of being ran over on the road. Not anymore after what they have done to my lawn and flower beds. It is getting on my nerves on a daily basis. Holes and holes were dug all over. You would understand that they need to hide their food but digging all over and left the holes open is not even funny.

So one day, I observe one squirrel and see what it does to the lawn. Guess what...! It just keep digging randomly like searching for his lost nuts hence there are holes all over. #@%^&*(!~....! All my hard work of planting the grass has gone to waste. I would repair the lawn/flower beds by recovering the holes back with top soil and the next things the squirrels re-digs the holes again.

I have tried spreading chili powder, peppers and squirrel deterrent and they do not work. It is worst now considering it is starting of Fall season and they are compiling food for the winter season. Perhaps I should buy a BB gun....! Or trap them and drown them....!

Hole #1 (Flower Bed)

Hole #2

Hole # 3

Caught in the act..! The CULPRIT...!

Any suggestions to deter or eliminate them are welcomed.