Tuesday 04.30.2013

An amazingly busy day at Ramsay...a little early drizzle giving way to overcast skies and mild temps.

On Site:

Sherry
Jim Bailey
Mick
Scott
Josh Frazier - our new farm aid!
Mike Dillon - ORKIN rep
C&G Paving Company - New driveway surface on Farm Lane - two applications today...3rd on Thursday afternoon

A little like Williamsburg!

Goodlow & Roberts Roofers - at the Guest Cottage
Tate Tree Company & Rusty Lilly continuing tree trimming and removal
Arty Lundgren, J.C. Arnold - reviewing with SY for Garden/sidewalk restoration
Clay Frazier and Greg Wood - installing drain at Farm House sidewalk

Clay-the Master at Work!!

9:30pm final lock down and lights out... all is well... a little drizzle falling to end the day.

Monday 04.29.2013

A busy day at Ramsay after a likewise busy weekend.
TS, Jim Baily, Scott, & Mick were all on site this weekend. Josh Frazier has provided additional labor

Our latest equipment addition - John Deere Tractor (See post 4/22) arrived Sunday morning, and SY managed to run between the rain drops to cut the West Pasture: The new grooming mower does a great job!

Freshly mowed pasture! (Click to enlarge)

Sherry on site today
Mick, Jim and Scott continue with Mist Away system installation, etc. Josh continues to assist.
Phil Withry with Kenectico here to present Water Treatment Proposal
Mike with Orkin on site (6 hours) to evaluate Main House, Guest Cottage, and Farm House
Kevin Wagget met with Mick and SY at Studio regarding tile work
Rusty Lilly and Jeff Thompson met with SY re: grass in formal garden
Clay Frazier and Greg Wood came on very short notice to install a drain at the end of the Farm House sidewalk.

Greg (l) and Clay (r) begin to dig!

9:15pm lock down and lights out... all is well.

Monday 04.22.2013

For 5 1/2 months, the trash collection guys have come every Monday morning between 9:30-10:00am. This morning they came sneaking in at 7:20am, but since I was out making rounds with the dogs loosely  in tow, they sounded their alarm and we caught them!!

Sherry on site today.

J&A Painters on site (John F. came out for final inspection)

New Virginia Tractor delivered the 'almost' new grooming mower we discovered last week...delivery guy said, "This looks like it's hardly been used at all!"

72", 3-blade Grooming Mower

...and it will go nicely with our latest farm equipment purchase:

'92 vintage John Deere 5300 series-the small farm Workhorse!

Thanks for TJ's pics yesterday. The painters finished the Studio Garden overhaul this afternoon. Here are the final pics. A recent visitor said the Studio Garden area looks like an Alpine Village!

Potting Shed Final

Studio Final

Final lights out and lock down around 9:15pm. All is well!

The weekend at Ramsay (19th-20th April 2013) was spectacular.  

Showed Reae and Aunt Pat how to park the Gator so it could not be stolen.

Painted potting shed and studio look great.

Friday 04.19.2013

On the morning of our visit from the Albemarle County Historic Preservation Committee, Ramsay was bustling with crews running between the rain drops to mow, rake, paint, plant, decorate, and whip everything into shape.

First on deck were the J&A painters at the Studio garden...

The picket fences power washed and primed.

The Potting Shed gets a great facelift!

The PHC Committee arrived promptly at 3pm, and we dashed out to beat the coming storm. Ross Stevens graciously served as our tour guide, recounting stories from growing up here as a child, and living at Ramsay for 30 years!

Ross tells tales about the Barn

The RAMSAY Stewards

These two pictures courtesy of K. Edward Lay, noted architect and historian who serves on the Committee.

A special posting will follow soon to commemorate this delightful afternoon at Ramsay!

Thursday 04.18.2013

Today was supposed to be a reprieve from the rain, but the morning brought us heavy downpours sufficient to keep the mowing crew away...

... and deter the painters after just a few hours work (inside) on the Studio shutters.

Sherry was off today...

... but Reae and her sister Pat are here and Tom arrived later this afternoon.

SY office and errands--Post Office, truck fuel, Southern States for farm supplies, ordering lights for fish pond, mowing - upper barn paddock and Gator trail through the upper pastures,usual routines. Spoke with George Chesebro at Mountain Lumber about  buying back the milled and refinished oak boards from our old fences. The plan is to use them  for flooring in the garage 2nd floor addition and other places at the estate. What a great in-house, recycling and restoration venture! Spoke with Kevin about getting underway with tile job at the Studio next week. Goodloe & Roberts will begin new roof on the Guest Cottage early next week.

Patsy and Jessica came first thing and planted the new urns at the main entrance. They look great!! Shelton's crew did a great job setting the urns in place. They are extremely heavy! Reae and Pat added a few sprigs of Ivy later in the afternoon.

The entrance pillars are stylin' now!

Mowing crew and yard workers will arrive in the morning to put final finishing touches on the estate grounds for a visit tomorrow afternoon from the Albemarle Historic Preservation Committee. A requested visit we are happy to honor!

Wednesday 04.17.2013

Beautiful Spring morning (sun is shining!) and all morning routines went well.

Sherry on site

Oscar and Lewis on site to paint the new cross fence...(Click to enlarge all photos)

Oscar & Lewis

Getting started!

All done - finished at 7:30pm!

SY - office, telephone/emails/texts,  mowing, raking, errands, assisting all parties on site!

Clay Frazier & son Josh on site - yard work, power washing driveway, distributing mulch. Too wet to
move topsoil & refurbish stump-grinding sites. Sites well-graded and raked for the time being.

Patsy & Jessica - our loyal landscape gardeners on site -  trimming hedges, pulling weeds, etc.

Shelton Sprouse and 2 assistants set the new urns at the main entrance.

A classic touch! - Fresh flowers tomorrow

Reae and Pat arrive safely about 8:15pm

Tuesday 04.16.2013

Morning routines .. all is well... 

...but the weather front has stalled and last night's drizzle and mist continues, once again thwarting the work of painters and landscaping crews for the day.

Sherry on site. SY errands, meetings, telephone, catastrophes--you name it!!

Clayton & Son, Inc. did manage to drop off a load of topsoil for replenishing the disturbed areas where large trees have been removed.Which we plan to do when the weather clears up!!

Stephen & Susan made a trip to Ivy Nursery to pick out flower arrangements for the Main House for Friday's reception. (Pics tomorrow)

Jeff Gray (C&G Paving) on site for final questions about resurfacing Farm House lane.

Mountain Lumber Co. came out to pick up the old fencing boards. In our efforts to be good stewards (recycling) and make a few pennies on the dollar, we contacted them about retrieving the old fence boards rather than send them to the landfill. They will use most of the lumber to make "old oak flooring."

Mountain Lumber - Ruckersville collecting oak fencing

Shelton Sprouse (stone mason-left) and his assistant Dayton were on site to begin setting the large new urns on the front columns at the main entrance. Step#1- plumb and epoxy the base pieces, requiring 2 men to lift. Step #2 on Thursday will be to set the large urns -requiring a front end loader and 3 men!!

Wrestling new urn bases into place.

New Urns for Main Entrance Columns

Monday 04.15.2013

Morning routines... rainy and blustery this morning. Mild temps.

Sherry on site today

Weather has held off painters (Studio & Potting Shed)  and yard work planned for the day.

The Studio exterior and roof are primed and ready for final coats as soon as the weather permits...

Ready for final coats of paint

...and the picket fences are primed and ready as well...

Williamsburg, Look Out!!

The new slate roof materials for the Guest Cottage arrived today. Work begins on Thursday, weather permitting

A heavy load

Kevin with Aquafit-USA (tile) on site to do prep work for new shower base being manufactured.

Evening routines and all is well...

Weekend 04.13-14.2013

Late morning routines on a quiet weekend at Ramsay. Crisp and clear- needed a sweater outside for most of the morning!

Saturday

J&A painting crew on site to finish painting the chimneys at the Guest Cottage in anticipation of the roof work scheduled to begin this week.
SY mowing, cleaning debris, etc. most of the morning

Stephen & Susan left grounds about mid afternoon to attend a wedding in Keswick

Jessica & Niall tie the knot!

We placed a chain across the main entrances for security while no one was on grounds. The first time this has happened for more than an hour or two since we moved 11/9/12!!

An unobtrusive, simple deterrent for unexpected visitors!

Sunday

Sunday morning was a carbon copy of Saturday!

Joann Albertson on site at Main House for 3pm meeting with Stephen & Susan re: Reception for Albemarle County Historical Preservation Committee on Friday the 19th. She will provide food, service and cleanup. Susan is in charge of flowers and beverages.

Evening routines and all is well.

Friday 04.12.2013

Morning routines almost washed out as we had heavy downpours this morning from about 5am-9am! Good for the spring flowers though, and the grass seemed even greener by noon when the sun broke through. A little more like Spring today: L-44, H-77

Our first flowering tree at the Farm House this Spring!

Sherry on site today.
SY - Office routines, etc., test mowing in pasture using the JD 2210. Discussions continue with TS about purchasing a larger tractor for the estate.
Update from Kevin (Aquafit-USA) re: delivery of soap stone shower base. Still awaiting word from manufacturer.
11am visit from Scott Wyckoff from San Francisco. He and his wife and family will be guests at the Cottage on UVA's Graduation Weekend  May 17-19.

A quiet day at Ramsay relative to the rest of the week, in large part due to the heavy rain this morning that kept the painters, tree removal crew, and landscaping crew away!! Speaking of landscaping crews...

Jessica and Patsy - owner of  "I Dig Dirt"

They were here on Wednesday for evaluations--left the heavy lifters/diggers at home!
Evening routines... all is well.. TS may arrive late or tomorrow!

Thursday 04.11.2013

Morning routines.. all is well. L-62; H-84 Instant summer!

J&A Painters continue at Studio, Potting Shed, picket fences, and Cottage dormers today
Mike and crew finished up the new fence late this afternoon. This pic is from earlier this morning.

New fence along driveway almost complete

 

 

 

SY:
--Office - routine mail, email, tele, etc, post office and BRB errands for painters.
--Installed temporary fencing in upper corner of main pasture to establish "staging area" for upcoming   construction work including large, heavy vehicles.
--Tele with Joann Albertson re: reception for Alb. Cty. Hist. Committee 4/19
--Tele with Cottage guests for UVA Grad weekend. Want caterer for Sat. dinner!
--Tele Ross Stevens - will attend on 4/19
--Tele Harry L. re: operation of AC in main house
--Checked out a good used John Deere 5300 series. Negotiations still underway! (tele TS)
--Meets on site with Tate Moyer- re: scheduling remaining tree removal work. Monday-weather permitting.
--Coordinates clean-up and landscaping crews re: tree removal sites needing to be manicured. Mon 4/15
--Meets with Shelton Sprouse (stone mason) on site re: placing the new pottery urns on the stone pillars at the main entrance. In order to allow for drainage from the urns, Shelton believes the original plan of small shims and special epoxy will be the best solution. Work is scheduled for Monday 4/15.
 --Engaged some of the painters to help us move the new stone pottery outside to start the "aging" process!

The "Pottery Garden"

More pics tomorrow... Evening routines to follow soon! 

Wednesday 04.10.2013

First Spring mowing today!

Morning routines... all is well...we went from late winter to summer in two days!! Beautiful flowers are popping up all around the estate!

Guest Cottage Spring explosion!

Sherry on site today
SY office-3 hrs., meetings with people-11, emails-13, telephone calls-24, texts-6, errands-4, & generally overseeing the 3-ring circus called Taking Care of Ramsay!
Piedmont Landscaping on site for first major mowing
Mike Herring's crew worked until dark on the new fence
J&A Painters continuing at Studio, Main House and Cottage. The Potting Shed and picket fences got the once-over today!

Potting Shed & Picket Fences Makeover

The Mud Room Roof got the final coat of Black Forest Green today!

Final coat of Black Forest Green! (click too enlarge)

Evening routines and all is well.

Tuesday 04.09.2013

Morning routines...all is well...Mother Nature has taken quite a turn. 61 degrees this morning!
T, W, & Th of last week it was 29 degrees at 5am!
Sherry on site today.
SY office, POst Office, errands, etc.
J&A Painters continue at the Main House...

Final Primer Prep

1st Green Paint on the Roof!

With just the first coat!

and Studio...

Primer left - old right

The Face-Lift begins!

Monday 04.08.2013

Morning routines and all is well...first early morning with out a jacket!
Susan and Stephen witnessed the Space Station flyover last night from the prominent viewpoint beside the barn!
Sherry on site today-- major cleanup from weekend guests!
SY office work and errands to BRBS for painters

J&A Painters on site re: Mudroom roof and Studio exterior

Mike Herring's fence crew worked late this afternoon, setting posts in concrete in the low area where the spring water flows to the pond. Water was standing in the fence post holes within 6" of the ground surface.

Evening routines will follow shortly. A beautiful spring evening at Ramsay.

Sunday 04.07.2013

Morning routines on a quiet Sunday morning at Ramsay. All is well and Spring is on our doorstep!!

Our Cottage guests slept in this morning, then enjoyed coffee on the screened porch for over an hour! After an afternoon Gator tour of the estate, we gathered for pictures at the rope swing near the outdoor fireplace. They were here to celebrate Chuck's 50th Birthday!!

Chuck & Samantha

Tommy & Kim

The Fearsome Foursome

Mike's crew skipped Sunday School to finish the new fence along the west side of the driveway.

Saturday 04.06.2013

Late Saturday morning routine... all is well. A little warmer to start... and then a beautiful early spring day!
Great weather for our visitors at the Guest Cottage, who hit the road early this morning, having discovered the Mudhouse in Crozet!! Then off to Monticello and the afternoon in C'ville!  Pics tomorrow-really!!

New Guest Book at the Cottage

Early morning delivery of a new marble sink & cabinet for the future garage addition:

Marble sink cabinet

Marble sink top

Marble sink

 Mike Herrings crew on site all day continuing installation of new fencing along the driveway.

New fence taking shape

A quiet, lazy afternoon with a long walk with the dogs through the upper pastures.

Evening routines and another late evening fire for the Cottage guests.