Daydream fund challenge part 4

greenbee

Good to see you CTC Do you think you'll be completely in before winter? And what's happening about the house (I'm nosy!)

Bit worried about the lack of update from Bimble and wondering what mischief has been going on at LIR's...

I've been clearing irises out of the stream today. Which was muddy. It's now a LOT wider. I don't know why the neighbours fuss so much about weed, which won't be a flooding issue as it can easily be pulled out, but not about the massive clumps of irises, the brambles and branches in the water on the nettle farm opposite that are clogging up the channel. (Actually, I do - they think the weed looks messy... which is what matters).

I've done lots of other 'tidying' in the garden (not in the house, which I really do need to get on with). My loppers fell apart (they were my grandfather's) so my dad has 'lent' me his spare (third best) which are MUCH better. So lots of bits removed from the wild pear and the goat willow, which are looking much tidier.

I've reluctantly decided that the plum and apple need to go. They are too big for their space - the fruit I can reach doesn't get enough light to ripen, and the stuff that is ripe is somewhere up by the roof. The plum might survive if I take off the top 10ft, but they're in the way anyway (in a 10ft south-facing space between the house and next door's garage).

I really need a few more days off work to get some things finished. Then again, I really need to finish some work

Davesnave

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

Garden has just gone AWOL this year. And looks wise than it has ever been. But now that we are in, and when the weather is dry we can slowly start doing a bit.

It's virtually impossible to find enough time for gardening when building. We've just kept our heads above water and no more for the past couple of years.

We keep saying 'Next year will be easier!" but we said it last year too!:o

Irises, goat willow and water parsnip not withstanding, I'm very jealous of your streams, greenbee. I'd swap you for a couple of our plum trees, if I could! It's a good year for them once again.

It was Big Breakfast in the village this morning; an event which signifies the end of the holiday season for many, and just an excuse to have egg, fried bread, bacon, hog's pudding, black pudding, sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes and beans for the rest of us!

Sam, in much better shape, tucked into his sausage with a fork, chattering, "Sosige! Mato! Beens!" which prompted someone to ask, "How old? Two or three?" to which we replied, "Err, 19months!" :rotfl:

He's big for his age and into precise and practical, so we took him to the river this afternoon, where his Mum showed him how to net fish. Predictably, Sam soon tripped and went in head-first, but it was a lovely warm afternoon, the Exmoor rivers are clean and we had plenty of spare clothes. Traditional!:)



It's back to work tomorrow. We have 3 days to lay a floor.....:eek:

greenbee

You're welcome to come over and sort out the streams Dave Currently I'm just trying to keep things under control, and save the garden until it won't get skips and rubble dumped all over it.

However, I have now got to the stage of doing a lot of clearing, so am having ideas. I'm not going to get rid of the goat willow or a hazel that I really don't want until I've used everything I can to try to fill the gaps in the hedge/create the new section of hedge I need at the front. Some of the willow I put in the gaps this spring has taken, some hasn't. Can I try again in the autumn, or does it have to be spring (not that I'm impatient...)?

I'm clearing a bed along the back fence, and hoping I can get it dug over ready to plant some bare root roses in November. There are a few roses already (which need digging round the roots, cutting down to about 18" and feeding a LOT Next year), some stumps to remove and a robinia and hazel to come up. I also need to give the honeysuckle and clematis that are very straggly a good haircut, and think about what to plant in with the roses to cover the fence (3ft post and rail), plus what to plant as ground cover at the bottom (there are some very holey hostas at the moment, the odd hellebore and in spring, lots of those 'plastic' daffs...). It's a narrow east-facing space (about 10ft) at the back of the house, with another 10ft between it and next door's panelled fence. It gets a reasonable amount of south-facing sun in the summer, so has light all morning.

The oil tank, bins and outside tap are all round there at one end, and the log store at the other, but once the builders have stopped washing their brushes rather messily out there (and cleaned up) it could make a nice area to sit, and when the apple tree is down the corner could make a good place to put a whirly washing line. Or better still, a table and chairs for having breakfast outside.

pink_poppy

Gorgeous photo of Sam, Dave. I love the Gruffalo t-shirt (I think) he's wearing

CTC, great that you're in the ranch :j

lucielle, my SIL did the West Highland Way a couple of years ago with her pal and loved it. They did training walks beforehand and managed it no problem.

greenbee, I would much rather spend time in the garden than doing housework and the state of my house reflects that

choille, hope you're feeling better.

Weather has been glorious here, had a day out in Scarborough yesterday, it was so busy. I was hoping to do some gardening today but my feet are too sore after walking all day.

greenbee

pink_poppy wrote: »

greenbee, I would much rather spend time in the garden than doing housework and the state of my house reflects that

Mine too, although the weather hasn't been great today so I've done some laundry. Might have to rejoin (or at least look at) the flylady thread to recover some kind of minimal standard of hygiene.

I've also dumped a whole lot of bags of garden waste. And done some work.

Davesnave

pink_poppy wrote: »

Gorgeous photo of Sam, Dave. I love the Gruffalo t-shirt (I think) he's wearing

Yup, Gruffalo, though I know little of such things these days.:o I'm still trying to come to terms with the fact they've re-vamped Fireman Sam! :eek:

Maybe I've caught Sam's bug, as I'm definitely 'one degree under' today. _pale_Took the morning off, but I couldn't complete the concrete in the new porch, because our builder was inside it, completing the inner wall.

To be honest, I won't be sorry when builder departs for Australia and the pressure eases on the building front. I know we've saved a mint doing the labouring and relatively unskilled work, like concreting, but it's had a major impact on the gardening and plant sales this year. In some ways it's been harder than when he was going through the house, demolishing walls and so forth.

Looks like the conservatory/porch will be put up in mid to late October, so we'll be well weather-tight for winter. The old one might have been a lash-up, but it did a great protection job when the gales were lashing us!

Still trying to get some care sorted-out for Horse Woman. Of course, she doesn't want any, but someone with the power to act simply has to do so, or it will all end badly.....:(

We can't do anything except plug obvious gaps. DW was trying to sort her correspondence today and found a hospital appt which hadn't been opened and it was already past the date. :wall:

Bimble's quiet. Must've made out with the bit of fluff.

alfie_1

ooooooooo im a happy bunny

Davesnave

Hi alfie !
I think that means you're having whale of a time, but you can still bear much more holiday.....:)

Fay

Wow, what a treat Alfie. Enjoy every second.

pink_poppy

alfie, you managed two out of three of my very worst nightmares!! _pale_ No pics of crocodiles to complete the hat trick, please!! :rotfl:

Seriously though, glad you're a happy bunny