Celeste's Creations: 2010-07-18

Before

After

A couple months ago my co-worker Kimberly told me her neighbor approached her about doing Turf Wars with them. Kimberly hadn't seen the show before as she no longer gets DIY, so I quickly told her she had to do it and tell me how to sign up myself. About a month later she told me they got selected and asked if I wanted to be part of the friends and family crew. After watching many episodes of the show, I definitely wanted to see how the process of redoing a backyard from dirt to professionally landscaped in 2 days, so I signed on.

Friday Demo Day

Of course, July isn't the best time to do a outdoor home improvement project as the weather always seems to heat up and this weekend was no different. The whole week before Kimberly and I kept vigilant watch of the weather hoping the forecast would be wrong as we were experiencing a cooler trend with the Delta Breeze. But of course they quickly died for the 2 days of work and we had 100 degree weather.
I ended up working on Saturday, as I didn't have any PTO to use to help on Friday. I showed up after 8am and found the contractor's crew already hard at work. Apparently they worked until 11pm the night before and then started right back up at 6am. Josh Martin from Charis Landscape and Design was the contractor on the project and this was his first time on the show. He clearly was in it to win it as they already had the extended patio covered up, the pergola frame up, have the flagstone down, fireplace in, raised flower bed done, and the fountain done.
I went to spy on the neighbors house before the camera crew showed up and all I saw was dirt and a framed gazebo. Clearly, Kimberly's house was miles ahead of theirs.

Saturday morning work begins

Once the camera crew got there we sprung into action getting to work. Our first assignment was to get sod to the back yard. I've never imagined a roll of sod being heavy, but that first lift I realized just how hard the day was going to be. I got it hoisted on my shoulder and walked quickly to the backyard, trying to avoid the maze of wires, cords and construction crew. I was covered in dirt as it had fell down my top and my neck and chest were caked with sunscreen, creating a new mixture of mud. Already off to a dirty start. After a few more trips, I decided this was a job best suited for the guys.
I then got assigned to planting 3 palms and some begonias in large pots along with her stepmom, Gina and mother-in law, Ginger. Luckily this was a job I could easily take on and quickly finished and then looked for our new project - Painting. We had nineteen 20ft boards that would end up running the top of the pergola to paint white. It took a crew of about 6 of us an hour to finish and by this time (only 10:45) the heat started to come on. Unfortunately, this was also the end of the "easy" work to be done.

We then moved to the back to see what we could do and that is when the garden boxes got staged with mulch as we ran out of dirt. We had to shovel mulch to fill up the boxes to cover the plants still in their pots, this is where the magic of tv comes in and the viewers at home have no idea these is no dirt under that mulch and the plants are still in their pots. But of course this was all done under the beating heat of the sun.

Staged Garden Beds

This is also the first appearance the host Ahmed makes in the backyard that day. In watching these shows it makes it look like the host is in the trenches with the homeowners all day. When in reality I only saw him about 5 times come in for about 10 minutes and then disappear. While he was very friendly, it's clear he is a host and plays to the camera. I did spot him arriving to the yards earlier in the morning wearing a HUGE afro wig, but I'm sure he quickly got rid of that idea with 100 degree weather coming down on him.

Kimberly, Stephen and Josh get interviews with the stone wall supplier

After a few takes in the yards, he was off to the next house. Luckily it was getting close to lunch and we all tool a quick break (except for the crew who kept on working). Their 80 yr old neighbor in-between the battling homeowners was nice enough to have her driveway serve as the craft services area. We got Dos Coyotes for lunch and took a quick break to grab a burrito and water. While seating on the lawn taking a much needed break, the sprinklers came on. I was sitting almost on top of one, so I ended up getting soaked, which felt good for about a half hour until it turns into a sticking hot mess. We think someone turned them on to tell us to get back to work, so with that we jumped up and got back to loading up material.

Her cat Princess watches the action from the safety of the house

I ended up helping move 80lb bags of concrete and 50lb bags of sand into the backyard, before I again thought this is a job more for boys to do and sat down on the rented furniture before I passed out from heat stroke. After a quick break, which of course had to be caught on camera (hopefully they will edit that out) it was back to painting the pergola itself. By now the backyard was full of about 30 people trying to cram into one space and get their projects done. I helped her friend, Raylee with refilling the paintbrushes as the taller guys went up the ladders. We quickly got too hot and bored doing this and found a paintbrush on a pole and decided to take over the painting ourselves. It was also easier for us to smile and work our way around all the construction crew putting the rock on the bbq set.

After doing as much as we could with the paint pole, we headed back to the front yard for cleanup duty as the time was quickly winding down. The last hour was full panic mode of deciding what projects to leave unfinished (flagstone on the steps and grout on the bbq countertops) and bringing in the staging elements (rented furniture). At 5pm the clock stopped and the judging began. During the last hour a ton of neighbors and friends of the contractor crew had shown up, I think many in hopes of either being a judge or being on tv as some were dressed up for a construction site.

Ahmed mans the bobcat with the remaining flagstone

A neighbor hoping to become a judge, but doesn't as she spends the afternoon with us

Ahmed showing off his good side before changing for the camera

Ahmed briefs the judges

It took another hour for the judges to go through both yards and decide who the winner should be. The prize for the winning homeowner is $10,000 to be split with the contractor and a couple of lounge chairs and huge patio umbrella. By this time we were all dirty, hot and tired. Kimberly and her husband, Stephen, had worked their butts off the last 2 days, in between doing on camera interviews and trash talking the other homeowner. Now it came down to see if all their and our hard work paid off. They gathered us all in the hot sun again and Ahmed revealed the winner in one take - the other homeowner - Brian. I quickly said I can't believe it and can't wait to see his house as I can't imagine it better than what we just built (which Ahmed quotes my comments to the camera). But it would be another hour before the camera crew is done filming and doing last interviews. I headed home ready to take a couple showers, eat a quick meal and go to bed. I was so dirty and gross I underdressed in the garage and a piece of bark fell out of my bra. I also had paint in my hair and a dirt tan line on my feet.

Josh and Jess' hardworking crew from Charis

Kimberly and Stephen's hardworking family and friends crew

This morning I woke up barely able to move. I think I might have done some serious damage to my shoulder and have many bruises and knots on my legs. But in the end it was well worth the experience and Kimberly's new yard. Now I just have to recover enough to try to get me and my neighbors on the show....

Kimberly's after- fountain and trellis

Fountain to cover-up the garage

New stone fireplace

Close-up of the fireplace

BBQ and Bar

Clever use of the secret building material

Close-up of the veggie garden beds (to be "planted" at a later date)

Neighbor Brian's house - the winner

Brian's gazebo with artwork of his 2 whippets

Brian's firepit and water feature

Brian's use of the secret weapon - sculpture of him and his 2 dogs
(We think this is what put the voting in his favor)

While on my staycation, I decided to take a daytrip down to Calaveras Big Tress outside of the town Arnold. Fonda has heard about this place that was closer than Yosemite and more impressive than the Maricopa Redwood Forest. So for mom's 64th birthday, we all piled into her car and drive to the woods. It's an easy drive to the state park (unless you are Fonda and panic at the sight of a hill in front of you). The drive only took about 2 hrs total and yet it seems like you are deep in the forest here.
We started our day with a quick picnic lunch before heading off on the less than 2 mile hike. This trail is the easiest hike through a forest of trees so tall you can fit it into the frame of a picture. The trail is clearly marked and graded with gravel for ease of walking (or even wheelchair accessible). There is also a vistors guide you can purchase for 50cents and it gives the history of each Big Tree and other interesting facts about the park.
After a couple hours in the woods we decided to head further into the park to see the river. After a quick reststop (which you didn't want to be downwind from) we find the parking lot right next to the river. Now for someone who are used to beaches, this is your typical climb over rocks to a ranging river that you don't want to jump into even on the hottest of days. The water was freezing and the water was quickly moving downstream. We crossed the bridge and Jasmine and I climbed down to get a closer look at the river rapids (Jasmine had to stay on higher ground as no one was prepared to jump in and safe her if she fell in).
We had a great day filled with nature and then headed home through Jackson and had dinner at a local diner, where everyone seemed to know each other.
I would highly recommend this as easy, quick, and pretty getaway from the busy city and enjoy all that nature has to offer to renew you soul. A great way to spend a birthday!