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acacia
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
OMG
I just fell through a rotten wood deck. Can I just say TERRIFYING! I was just waiting for the sound of breaking bone or to feel the rest of the deck give way and plummet 25 feet to the ground. Thankfully neither of those things happened and I am just a bit bloody, bruised and shaken. Another exciting day on the job
Thursday, September 2, 2010
back to basics
Today was a great day! I have been hired to remove the front lawn of a house and replace it with a natural drift of native/partly native plants and decomposed granite. This is absolutely my favorite way to work. I went to the nursery and bought a whole bunch of plants: Penstemons, five different sages, tagetes, eriogonum, some aloes and, one of my personal favorites, caesalpinia. I have to admit that I am not sure where that plant is from, but it is seriously cool looking! My Aunt Nancy in Tuscon has a whole row of them in the front of her house. I love them.
Anyway, today we removed the 'lawn'. I used quote marks because there really was not much more than just the roots. It hasn't been watered in a very long time so was yellow. And very very very dry! When I took my socks off when i got home two little poofs of dust wafted into the air. I can't believe how completely dirty I was.
Next week I get to place the plants. That's the second fun part (after the buying part). I know how big these plants get so I know how far to separate them. Also, I like to create islands of plantings so I will place something that gets taller in the middle with the shorter things on the outside. Natural like. I want to create the feeling of walking through the hills of CA.
Here is what it looked like yesterday:
Next week it will look different!
Anyway, today we removed the 'lawn'. I used quote marks because there really was not much more than just the roots. It hasn't been watered in a very long time so was yellow. And very very very dry! When I took my socks off when i got home two little poofs of dust wafted into the air. I can't believe how completely dirty I was.
Next week I get to place the plants. That's the second fun part (after the buying part). I know how big these plants get so I know how far to separate them. Also, I like to create islands of plantings so I will place something that gets taller in the middle with the shorter things on the outside. Natural like. I want to create the feeling of walking through the hills of CA.
Here is what it looked like yesterday:
Next week it will look different!
Friday, August 27, 2010
My friend Keisha cracks me up! She works in Hollywood as I, on the other hand, just live here. She works in TV and is either incredibly busy and I wont see her for months on end, or she is unemployed. Which she is now. Four years ago, when I moved to this neighborhood, I met a lot of people because I have a dog. People who do not have dogs are always so surprised at the incredible social network you can create when you have one. You must walk them at least twice a day, mostly in the morning and in the evening. Since I did not know anyone when I moved to LA, having a dog was an instant way to meet people. Keisha is one of those people.
I did not know anything about the 'industry' (as in the entertainment industry) until I started talking with the people I met at the local dog park. I had no idea how many people were involved to get one show produced. Truth be told, I am sure that I still have no idea, but just a better one. Anyway, I have needed a bit of help lately and Keisha was willing to mow and water and clean up with me.
I saw one of my clients and she asked me if I had a new assistant and I said, well, not really, she is in TV. Barbara understood. If you live here long enough, you start to understand that people are employed and unemployed all the time. Even if you win awards, you are always having to look for that next job (movie, show, whatever). I have quite a few clients that are directors, producers, actors or writers. Its a bit fascinating, I must admit.
Back to Keisha. She was a real pleasure to have as my assistant. Her perspective is so different than mine - mostly because this is not her chosen profession. She was just happy to be out and about, something to do, a view or two to catch, and an interesting conversation to have with myself and my clients. And maybe a cat to scratch along the way.
But I have to tell you the best part. I was around the corner at Pam's house and from the patio above me I heard Keisha talking. I finally yelled up to her, are you talking to me? No no no, she wasn't. She was talking to the plants. To make then feel better, loved even. Then she played them some music, tropical music, to remind them of home. How awesome is that! It is very easy to take your job seriously. Just to do what you have to do and move on to the next commitment. It was so nice to be with someone who saw my work with a different perspective. Who was enjoying the day and the plants and giving back in a unique way. It was a moment to remind myself to remember to enjoy my work, and enjoy the day. Thanks Keisha.
I did not know anything about the 'industry' (as in the entertainment industry) until I started talking with the people I met at the local dog park. I had no idea how many people were involved to get one show produced. Truth be told, I am sure that I still have no idea, but just a better one. Anyway, I have needed a bit of help lately and Keisha was willing to mow and water and clean up with me.
I saw one of my clients and she asked me if I had a new assistant and I said, well, not really, she is in TV. Barbara understood. If you live here long enough, you start to understand that people are employed and unemployed all the time. Even if you win awards, you are always having to look for that next job (movie, show, whatever). I have quite a few clients that are directors, producers, actors or writers. Its a bit fascinating, I must admit.
Back to Keisha. She was a real pleasure to have as my assistant. Her perspective is so different than mine - mostly because this is not her chosen profession. She was just happy to be out and about, something to do, a view or two to catch, and an interesting conversation to have with myself and my clients. And maybe a cat to scratch along the way.
But I have to tell you the best part. I was around the corner at Pam's house and from the patio above me I heard Keisha talking. I finally yelled up to her, are you talking to me? No no no, she wasn't. She was talking to the plants. To make then feel better, loved even. Then she played them some music, tropical music, to remind them of home. How awesome is that! It is very easy to take your job seriously. Just to do what you have to do and move on to the next commitment. It was so nice to be with someone who saw my work with a different perspective. Who was enjoying the day and the plants and giving back in a unique way. It was a moment to remind myself to remember to enjoy my work, and enjoy the day. Thanks Keisha.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
just thinking
Today is hot. I am not a big fan of the heat. I find it hard to concentrate. Especially when it is so sunny out. Funny enough, I love the fact that it is sunny for 5 months straight, but when it gets into the 90's, I am all done. That's where paperwork comes in handy. "I am in the office" is a true statement and any business has paperwork that has to be attended to and I am not one to shirk my duties, especially when it is so hot out.
Unfortunately, I am sitting in front of my computer with a blank head. I cant seem to concentrate on anything at the moment and I already had a frappucino. I figured if caffeine and sugar cant get me going, nothing can. Maybe it is the large sleeping dog next to me. She looks so comfortable... its like she is telling me that this is how you deal with a hot day... sleep must sleeeeeeeep
It is thursday and I am not going to take a nap (yet) but instead need to concentrate on two designs that I am presenting on saturday. I have managed to make two separate design meetings on the same day. What was I thinking? Two different couples with small children (and one with one on the way) who are looking to make their backyards kid friendly. And safe. And attractive too, cant forget that. And most people want low maintenance these days and of course, low water use.
I find that a lot of my clients in Los Angeles are couples with young children. When I was working in Santa Fe, most of my clients were older and generally did not live there. Their house in SF was a vacation spot so they were really looking for the 'Santa Fe style'. In Los Angeles, most people live here because they work here. On long weekends (July 4th or Memorial Day) the city clears out. In Santa Fe, holidays were packed. It is a very different dynamic. So peoples' needs are different here: they want vegetable beds and play areas, spaces for everyday use. My biggest challenge is to fit all of the required elements into a single space.
Hmmmm, I think I just figured out what to do......
So off I go, renewed from a bit of mental musing!
Unfortunately, I am sitting in front of my computer with a blank head. I cant seem to concentrate on anything at the moment and I already had a frappucino. I figured if caffeine and sugar cant get me going, nothing can. Maybe it is the large sleeping dog next to me. She looks so comfortable... its like she is telling me that this is how you deal with a hot day... sleep must sleeeeeeeep
It is thursday and I am not going to take a nap (yet) but instead need to concentrate on two designs that I am presenting on saturday. I have managed to make two separate design meetings on the same day. What was I thinking? Two different couples with small children (and one with one on the way) who are looking to make their backyards kid friendly. And safe. And attractive too, cant forget that. And most people want low maintenance these days and of course, low water use.
I find that a lot of my clients in Los Angeles are couples with young children. When I was working in Santa Fe, most of my clients were older and generally did not live there. Their house in SF was a vacation spot so they were really looking for the 'Santa Fe style'. In Los Angeles, most people live here because they work here. On long weekends (July 4th or Memorial Day) the city clears out. In Santa Fe, holidays were packed. It is a very different dynamic. So peoples' needs are different here: they want vegetable beds and play areas, spaces for everyday use. My biggest challenge is to fit all of the required elements into a single space.
Hmmmm, I think I just figured out what to do......
So off I go, renewed from a bit of mental musing!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
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