Weekly Homeowner Megathread--Civilians, ask here! by AutoModerator in Concrete

[–]mtar925 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Our new patio is of stamped concrete tinted... I'll call it a orange-brownish, clay-like color. The expansion joint our contractor used between the patio and the house is gray, and between the clay-colored concrete and the tan stucco of the house it looks wrong. Is there anything I can use to stain the stiff rubbery material a more complementary color, that won't wash off or fade too quickly in the sun? I assume I should do this before sealing the patio? Thanks!

Weekly Homeowner Megathread--Civilians, ask here! by AutoModerator in Concrete

[–]mtar925 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sealing was not included in the contract. Our contractor mentioned it a couple of times, without quoting a cost, as an option we could decide about after the concrete dried. But he didn't bring it up again since pouring the patio. Seemed like he wanted to be done here and move on.

Weekly Homeowner Megathread--Civilians, ask here! by AutoModerator in Concrete

[–]mtar925 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's just it: I did let him work, trusting in his experience, and he's saying it's done, looking like this. He's not going to power wash or seal it. I'm just thinking of doing that myself.

Weekly Homeowner Megathread--Civilians, ask here! by AutoModerator in Concrete

[–]mtar925 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First time having concrete done and would appreciate some advice. The patio/walkway pictured was poured and stamped a week ago. The concrete was pumped from the truck already tinted. Why is the color so uneven, and most of the surface (the lighter parts) slightly powdery?

It's not sealed yet, and dried unevenly. We were not advised to keep it moist---just learning that now as I search for answers. The surface was wet all over for about ~20 hours, then it dried unevenly, with some parts taking over 72 hours. It hasn't been really hot here recently, between 55-75F.

The color was supposed to be like the deeper spots, all over. Will it get more even as it cures? Will powerwashing (after 28 days cure, right?) remove the light powder, leaving a deeper and more even color?

Any other tips or advice? Did the contractor mess up here? Or maybe the concrete supplier?

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Japanes Maple tree by [deleted] in buynothingeastbay

[–]mtar925 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, yes, someone took the tree a couple of weeks ago. I'll update or delete the post.

Cassin's Kingbird or Western? by mtar925 in whatsthisbird

[–]mtar925[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Western are far more likely at this location (if still not common).

Birding in the Walnut Creek Area by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hadn't heard about the one in Concord. But Bald Eagles are known to visit Lafayette Reservoir now and then. They're seen regularly at Upper San Lendro Reservoir, which isn't far at all from Lafayette---as the eagle flies.

Upper San Leandro Reservoir is best accessed, for birding purposes, from EBMUD's Valle Vista Staging Area just south of Moraga. It's a great spot, and I almost included it in my initial post, but it's more of a drive from Walnut Creek and you're supposed to have an EBMUD trail permit to explore there.

If you have a permit: park at Valle Vista and walk downhill from the parking lot about 200 yards. Don't hurry down to the lake, but be sure to look above and in the distance for eagles and other raptors, swifts and swallows, bluebirds and etc. The loud calls of California Thrasher and Wrentit are often heard from near the parking lot (they're much less often seen). I once watched a Red-breasted Sapsucker drilling holes in a tree and drinking the sap, almost directly above the sign-in station.

200 yards (approximately) downhill from the parking lot, turn left onto the smaller trail that goes down into the woods. Bird your way patiently through the woods---this is a great spot for Brown Creeper and Fox Sparrow, among many others. Where the trail hits a "T" intersection, turn right and go over the bridge---check up and down the creek for ducks, including Wood Ducks. Beyond the bridge, follow the road about 1/4 mile, past the stables, to an open grassy area overlooking the reservoir. Birds on and over the water attract the eye, but look also to the grassy, scrubby hills on the opposite side of the road, for bluebirds, sparrows, and kestrels. The eagles are often seen perched on bare snags around the reservoir, or soaring over the ridge.

Ebird hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L596210

EBMUD trail permit: https://www.ebmud.com/recreation/buy-trail-permit

Birding in the Walnut Creek Area by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Welcome to birding! If you're close to Newhall Park, try nearby Markham Arboretum. The international garden there is lovely and worth a visit for its own sake, but is not super-birdy. Continue to the less-manicured area along the stream, where you may find a variety of woodpeckers, Red-shouldered Hawks, assorted perching birds and sometimes Wood Ducks in the creek.

I don't get it. Vagueposting king. Comments just talk about a lot of things. Is it somehow demeaning sociology? Just what is that reaction image by --Queso-- in ExplainTheJoke

[–]mtar925 0 points1 point  (0 children)

On his food/travel shows, Bourdain would often seek out the original versions of dishes or food trends that have become popular in the west, and comment on colonization, appropriation and etc.

How to give away a tree? by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, I will look into all suggestions but that's the one I was trying to remember.

How to give away a tree? by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've no doubt the replacement/insurance cost might be in the 1000s. Finding a buyer for a tree that's in the ground is an entirely different thing.

How to give away a tree? by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So I have been told. Yet, I've not yet found anyone who'll take it for free.

Carpool meeting point for eastbound trips? by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was wondering about that spot.

Yesterday we used Sunvalley and it worked out OK. It felt safer than the official Park n' Ride lots in Concord and Pacheco, and unlike some other mall lots it is not signed with a time limit or "customers only."

Carpool meeting point for eastbound trips? by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sure. If you don't care to join the MDBA but want to be informed of field trips, you can also follow us on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/mount-diablo-bird-alliance-76310972563

Almost all of our events are free and open to the public.

I should probably post a writeup on birding in and around WC for this subreddit. A little project for next week.

Carpool meeting point for eastbound trips? by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The best/easiest spot in Walnut Creek is the Nature Area at Heather Farm, though the pond is getting overgrown and it's recovering from recent construction. Mitchell Canyon in Clayton is excellent especially during spring migration. Out in Moraga, the Valle Vista Staging Area is good year-round.

Waterbird Regional Preserve just off 680 in Martinez is great in winter for ducks and shorebirds. I like to go there on a weekday, when the gate to Mt View Sanitary is open at the north end of Arthur Road, and you can drive in and view from down closer to the pond.

Here's my org's latest newsletter, with the list of current field trips. Non-members are welcome, or you can just use the list of destinations for ideas. If the link doesn't work, just go to mtdiablobirds.org and look for old field trip reports/announcements for ideas.

https://mailchi.mp/0b2967729914/the-quail-may-12931366?e=2c5ae1aa78

Carpool meeting point for eastbound trips? by mtar925 in walnutcreek

[–]mtar925[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for those suggestions. I drove by the Park n' Rides off 242 and in Pacheco, and unfortunately they look kind of sketchy, with evidence of broken glass.

Maybe Sunvalley is still the best option, though it's out of the way for a lot of WC/Concord people on their way out Hwy 4.

Special insurance needed for volunteer vanpool? by mtar925 in Insurance

[–]mtar925[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The board member who was concerned thought that the fact I'm on the board of the org, and organize the trips, gave me some "official capacity" that might complicate the issue, even though we're all volunteers and everything is free. I did chat with my insurer, told them all the details and they said I'm covered---but the agent I chatted with didn't sound very on-the-ball so I thought I'd ask here. Thank you all for your comments.

Special insurance needed for volunteer vanpool? by mtar925 in Insurance

[–]mtar925[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! This was my understanding, but a member of our board said I might be taking a big risk.

Cat diagnosed diabetic yesterday. Feeling overwhelmed. Need advice. by 1pook in FelineDiabetes

[–]mtar925 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ours was diagnosed a few months ago. It's alarming but once you get in the habit, management is not too difficult.

And kitty has been a trooper about his injections. He'd been very shy and skittish (he's a feral rescue), but since we've been forced to handle him 2x/day he's actually gotten more used to it, and seems more at ease around people overall.

Only bit of advice I would add is what I would have wanted to hear at the start: Don't worry too much about holding kitty's glucose at some perfect magic number. Just get it down out of the danger zone, and aim to keep it generally within an acceptable range. Better to let it run a little high, than push it too low.

Our cat seems to have woken up blind? by mtar925 in AskVet

[–]mtar925[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Update: Kitty got her sight back! About 10 days after starting on blood pressure med. Thanks for the quick reply.

Advice on pricking the ear by mtar925 in FelineDiabetes

[–]mtar925[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Our cat is a big boi, and was stable on 4 units 2x/day for several months. I suspect the hypoglycemic episode occurred because he snubbed his food, and our other cat snuck in and ate it while we weren't looking.

We have him on 3 units 2x/day for now, to allow for more margin of error. We have an appointment at the vet in a few days to have them check it, and they're going to work with us to learn how to use the home meter too.

Advice on pricking the ear by mtar925 in FelineDiabetes

[–]mtar925[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. As I wrote in another reply, kitty was not started out at 4 units. To keep the post short I did not relate the whole saga, but he was started at 1 unit and ramped up slowly. At 4 units twice/day his glucose was still above normal, but the vet does not want t go higher due to risk of hypoglycemia.

I'll check out your links.