John Stone's Picture Gallery and Video Archive

[DFS]

Hey John, any landscaping plans for the backyard?

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by daciz2

You have a beautiful home. And those skies look good too. It was +10 degrees celcius here in canada. God I love spring.

Thank you! It sounds like it's warming up nicely up there. I like 50 degree (F) weather, so long as it's clear outside.

Originally Posted by euan

Looks amazing John! Loving those big palm trees!

Me too! All those palms give the home the lush tropical feel I wanted. Landscaping makes such a difference to the overall look of a home. I enjoyed the landscaping at my old home a great deal, so doing something cool here was a top priority.

Originally Posted by tsk2264

Reading some of this stuff brings back memories of what I went through before I decided to change my life.

It's amazing what healthy food an exercise can fix, isn't it?

Originally Posted by split1911

that is a beautiful home and a beautiful piece of property!

Thank you! We're really enjoying it.

Originally Posted by DFS

Hey John, any landscaping plans for the backyard?

Absolutely, but we are going to wait until we install a pool back there to do anything with the landscape. We want to design the landscaping around the pool.

I still want to keep a large grassy area of the yard clear for running around with the dogs, but the pool area itself will have quite a bit going on. I want a very natural feel to the pool, with lots of rocks and waterfalls, and there has to be a grotto. I want the pool area to be surrounded by lots of plants, flowers and palms. The goal is to make it feel very secluded and lush.

[sox311]

Wow John, what a beautiful home and landscape you have created!

I haven't posted in a long time, but I lurk occasionally still and wow, am I impressed. You have been working hard on getting that new house for a long time. Congratulations! You deserve it!

[Demian64]

WOW! Thanks for the detailed and passionate response, John. I have had doctors recommend weight loss and even provided diet guidelines, but they weren't very sensible and even their weight targets for me were pulled off a chart that didn't take my build in to shape. I've come to realize that doctors, like one's parents or boss or clergy, are human as well and susceptible to any human failing. Also, I've realized finding a good, competent, trustworthy health professional takes a lot of effort which is really unfortunate.

I've been having issues with reflux and stomach pain (gastritis) lately and I'm sure the stress of being off routine isn't helping. The reflux is the worst it's even been which is why I submitted my response to the rather opportune post regarding the issues you overcame to get in shape and change your life. I've had high cholesterol forever and diet and exercise haven't made it move a single point either way. I keep at it, though.

Thanks again for the response! It's good to hear you overcame all of that!

Originally Posted by John Stone

When I was fat and a smoker I suffered from quite a few chronic health problems: shortness of breath, persistent coughing and wheezing, IBS, acid reflux, insomnia, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, back pain, stress, depression...

What's disgusting is that despite many trips to my doctor to address those ailments, he never once suggested that I look at my diet, lose fat or start a program of regular exercise. He prescribed all kinds of medications, none of which helped at all. I've been to other doctors since then, and they are all pretty much the same.

I can honestly say that every single one of the aforementioned chronic health problems have been 100% ELIMINATED, and have been for a long time. I take absolutely no prescription medication. I did it by eating right, eliminating soda, drinking lots of water, cardiovascular exercise and weight training.

It all seems so logical to me now, but back then I was not educated about such matters. I relied on my doctor for help, and he let me down. Only by taking my health into my own hands was I able to improve my quality of life.

Doctors (at least in the US) are failing us in spectacular fashion. Pharmaceutical companies don't want you to improve your health the right way, they want you as a customer. The doctors are bought and paid for, and willing accomplices. I think it's wrong, and downright dishonest.

I'm not saying all medications are bad. Modern medicine is wonderful when it's really needed. I also realize that some people will not change their diet and begin to exercise because they just want to take a pill. That doesn't absolve doctors from at least trying to give the best solution.

Sorry, I'm going off on a tangent now...

[DFS]

John, you going anywhere on vacation? I think you said you're just hanging around the house. I've read your updates for quite sometime now and I remember lots of vacations, but when was the last time you "went away" on vacation? I know Lisa travels for work a lot, but it's time for you to get to the west coast or Vegas or something.

I just booked my honeymoon (getting married on 8/8/08) at the Luxor in Vegas for 11 days. I love Vegas, been there about 5 times. This will be my first "real" vacation since May 2003! Can't wait for the all-you-can-eat buffets!!!

[mustbesix]

I'm pretty curious how you get back in the flow of work after a long break. I took a couple of weeks off over Christmas and I was useless for a few weeks after I got back. It seems every time I take off I realize how much going back to the grind of working is no fun.

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by sox311

Wow John, what a beautiful home and landscape you have created!

I haven't posted in a long time, but I lurk occasionally still and wow, am I impressed. You have been working hard on getting that new house for a long time. Congratulations! You deserve it!

Thank you! It's been a lot of work, but well worth it. I really love my new neighborhood and home.

Originally Posted by Demian64

WOW! Thanks for the detailed and passionate response, John.

My pleasure. That's a subject this is near and dear to my heart.

You mentioned acid reflux, which used to be a big problem for me. I found that once I started eating healthy and eliminated ALL carbonated beverages, the problem went away 100%.

Originally Posted by DFS

John, you going anywhere on vacation? I think you said you're just hanging around the house.

Well, I've got family coming to stay with me, and it should be very relaxing and fun. For me, cooking with my mom and the rest of the family, hanging out, watching movies and just talking and catching up are about the most relaxing things I can think of.

Because I'm the Senior Network Administrator where I work, it's very tough for me to get away for an extended period of time. Unfortunately there is no one to back me up, and that's part of the trade-off, I guess. I make a good living and I get to work from home, but there's a flip side to the coin. I'm not complaining, it's a choice I've made and I'm happy with it.

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by mustbesix

I'm pretty curious how you get back in the flow of work after a long break. I took a couple of weeks off over Christmas and I was useless for a few weeks after I got back. It seems every time I take off I realize how much going back to the grind of working is no fun.

You mean work, as in my job? Haha, I don't have a choice. I'm pretty much thrown right back into the fire the day I come back. Actually, because of my position, I generaly have to do some amount of work every day even while I'm "off".

[John Stone]

Phase 2 of the landscaping was completed today. Below is a reproduction of the post I made in my New Home Contruction Jourmal (link in my sig).

--

My landscape designer, Vince, outdid himself today. I can't believe this is my house. I'm not saying that in a "braggy" way (after all, I had nothing to do with the design); I'm saying that because my friend made our house look incredible, and I'm proud of him and very pleased with the results.

It was late in the day when they finished, so these pictures are pretty dark. A lot of detail has been lost, and they really don't do the work justice. I will take all new photos after phase 3 is complete (the continuous brick edging, which starts tomorrow and will take around 3 business days to complete).

First, here's frame #34 in the animation:



This is the right side of the garage, which was completed today. We've got a bottle brush, a few firepower plants, a firecracker plant, a large Podocarpus and a magnificent 17' Queen palm:



Moving to the left side of the home, all kinds of new things can be seen here! All four Queen palms are visible in this shot; there's a Pindo palm in the foreground with newly added rocks to the left and right; the bed around the Magnolia tree has been enlarged and now contains lots of colorful Nandina and other plants; finally, a few Azaleas in the bed against the house are visible...



This is a shot from across the island on the curve towards the new bed on the North side of the house. On the far left you can see the row of 4 mature Canary Island Date Palms, and on the right the new large bed just below my office window:



The view looking back towards the front yard...



A closer shot of the circular bed under my office window:



This is the view at the far side of our property line looking towards the front. There's a row of 4 Canary Island Date Palms on the right side of the shot, and on the left are a couple of 15' Crape Myrtles flanked by 2 Cassia plants. Between each set of of Crapes/Cassias is a large Pindo palm. The Crapes are bare now, but in the summer they will be loaded with incredible, long lasting dark red blooms. Also, the Cassia plants will bloom with magnificent, large yellow blooms. There are also a few rose bushes just out of view here, and 60 Jasmine plants that will form a nice dark green ground cover as they grow over the next year...



Phase 3 starts tomorrow!

[Ectomorphic]

Your house looks really amazing. I really like the design and the colors. I think all the greenery really accentuates it very nicely. I'm also trying to imagine what it will all look like in 20 years when the plants and trees have grown.

I'm curious, are you on a corner or something? It looks like you have a huge amount of space, both front and back. And hell, even on the side.

[Bluestreak]

Couple of things.

First, the place looks amazing. As I work closely with landscape architects often, I know that a good LA is not cheap, neither is their product, but this work appears to be well worth the cost.

And second - you ready for this? On top of all the other crime going on around here, keep an eye on all your new landscaping! A friend of mine just had her brand new home in northwest Orlando robbed of all of its brand-new landscaping - within days of closing. The landscaping was completed last Saturday. The thieves took about $3,000 in plants/trees this past Sunday/Monday in the middle of the night. They were supposed to close on the house this week, and it has been postponed due to the theft as all the landscaping has to be re-ordered and re-done.

Who the hell takes the time to dig up and steal plants in the middle of the night? Bunch o' animals in this town... [/Randall]

-R

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by Ectomorphic

Your house looks really amazing. I really like the design and the colors. I think all the greenery really accentuates it very nicely. I'm also trying to imagine what it will all look like in 20 years when the plants and trees have grown.

Thanks!

One of the things I like about the guy who did our landscape is that he designs with the growth of the plants in mind. He wants everything to look great many years from now. He did our landscaping back in 2005 at the old house, and three years later everything looks even better than the day he finished.

Originally Posted by Ectomorphic

I'm curious, are you on a corner or something? It looks like you have a huge amount of space, both front and back. And hell, even on the side.

Yeah, it's a corner lot. It's around a half acre.

Originally Posted by Bluestreak

First, the place looks amazing. As I work closely with landscape architects often, I know that a good LA is not cheap, neither is their product, but this work appears to be well worth the cost.

Thanks, Rog!

Yeah, it was a really big investment, but one we made without hesitation. Not only does the lush landscaping add a lot to the home's look (and value), but Lisa and I enjoyed the upgraded landscaping at our old house so much that we couldn't wait to do something even cooler here. We're 100% satisfied.

Originally Posted by Bluestreak

On top of all the other crime going on around here, keep an eye on all your new landscaping! A friend of mine just had her brand new home in northwest Orlando robbed of all of its brand-new landscaping - within days of closing.

Dude, we had some of our landscaping stolen the day before we closed! It wasn't big deal, as they took crap plants and they were replaced right away by the builder, but the idea that someone would do that is just bizarre. After talking to my neighbors, it seems that almost everyone had plants go missing the day before they closed! Not one single person I've talked to has ever had a problem after moving in. It seems like in all the cases it's an inside job.

That said, yeah... I'm concerned about theft. I've got my security cameras watching over everything, and at night the IRs glow red and are very visible. The DVR records any motion, and if any of the cameras lose power or video an alarm goes off. You know what goes off after the alarm (rhymes with "rock", and is much louder).

[DFS]

Yo, that would be the most hilarious headline ever!

"THIEF SHOT DEAD ATTEMPTING TO STEAL CANARY ISLAND DATE PALM"

Ha, dude would deserve it!

[John Stone]

[Hmac58]

Hey John,

I love the house - I've been a residential and commercial appraiser for 15 years and your house is beautiful. I love the lines and the "stone" work - very nice - not too much of it either - just the right amount.

The landscaping really stands out at me too - since it is so different than what I normally see for homes in Missouri! I like it.

Enjoy it and enjoy your time off this week.

Monte

[Apolon]

Beautiful house John and at the Ice cream truck!!

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by Hmac58

I love the house - I've been a residential and commercial appraiser for 15 years and your house is beautiful. I love the lines and the "stone" work - very nice - not too much of it either - just the right amount.

Thank you very much!

The stone accent work is an option offered by our builder, but we elected to hire a company independently after we closed so we could have more control. The color and the layout we picked are not offered by the builder, so we've got something unique in this neighborhood.

Originally Posted by Hmac58

The landscaping really stands out at me too - since it is so different than what I normally see for homes in Missouri! I like it.

We were going for a very lush, tropical feel, and I think Vince achieved that, and then some! I think the landscape will really shine as the plants grow out and become established. For example, the 60 Jasmine plants will spread out and form a thick, deep green ground cover in part of the garden. The surrounding plants will really jump out against the deep green. I'm also very excited about seeing the two Crepes in bloom, as well as the Cassia plants.

Originally Posted by Hmac58

Enjoy it and enjoy your time off this week

Thank you--I just signed off from work, so I'm officially ON VACATION!!

I'm going to go take a shower and make a drink.

Originally Posted by Apolon

Beautiful house John and at the Ice cream truck!!

Thank you!

The ice cream lady saw me take the picture from my office window. She looked at me with the one of most confused expressions I've ever seen. Yeah, nice acting. I know what she's really up to.

[Shamie]

John, you going anywhere on vacation? I think you said you're just hanging around the house. I've read your updates for quite sometime now and I remember lots of vacations, but when was the last time you "went away" on vacation? I know Lisa travels for work a lot, but it's time for you to get to the west coast or Vegas or something.

You like in such a nice house now, it is nicer then most vacation places. If I were you, I would hate to leave my house. You live in Orlando, I think that is the number one or number two vacation destination in the US, so technically you are always on vacation.

[chris mason]

Very nice home John!

[John Stone]

Originally Posted by Shamie

You like in such a nice house now, it is nicer then most vacation places. If I were you, I would hate to leave my house. You live in Orlando, I think that is the number one or number two vacation destination in the US, so technically you are always on vacation.

I think my boss would agree with the last part of your final sentence.

I pretty much stay away from the areas most people come to Orlando for. I mean, I've been to the attractions many times over the years, but usually it's when a friend or family member comes to town and wants to go. Thankfully my mom and her friend are not into the "touristy" type stuff, so we'll be checking out some of the more hidden Florida wonders while they are in town.

Originally Posted by chris mason

Very nice home John!

Thanks, Chris!