From the category archives:

Home Improvement

The Solar Panels Come Next

by Ryan on April 13, 2010

For the past few months, we’ve been working hard on weekends to clean up and spruce up the yard. When we purchased, the home, it was a foreclosure and as you can imagine, the previous owner had not taken care of the yard (or the home). Here are some images of the before and after transformation of the yard. All the credit goes to Lauren for the beautiful fence color and landscape design.

BEFORE (AKA “FORECLOSURE YARD”):

DURING – POST FENCE REPAIR, BRICK REMOVAL, AND NEW TREES:

DURING – LAYING OF THE NEW SOD:

AFTER:

The next project just may be some solar panels. There used to be a cap on the tax credit of 30% of the cost, up to a maximum credit of $2,000. These days, from what I understand, the solar panel tax credit has been bumped up to 30% of the cost, with no maximum – i.e. if you spend $15,000 on solar panels, you’ll get a $4,500 federal tax credit, which is pretty nice. I’ll have to do a little research to see if California is offering any additional tax credits for solar panel installation. Credits or no credits, the solar panels come next…

How To Block Out Your Neighbors…36 Eugenias

by flickr on March 27, 2010

Eugenias are the perfect privacy hedge. They can grow up to 4 feet per year. Spring is the perfect time to plant them.  Eugenias are sometimes referred to as Monterrey Brush Cherries (MBC’s), the only difference being the the MBC’s are a little less prone to attracting little bugs that can make the leaves bumpy.  We’re using the Eugenias pictured above to block off our neighbors on both sides of the yard.