The Garden Fence - proper Old Style support and chat!

mothernerd

maryb said:

speaking of garden fences, we have to have one replaced and can’t get materials anywhere.  There seems to be a massive shortage of timber. And the cost when we do get it done will be sob inducing.  And don’t get me started on trying to get a builder to come round even to quote.  They just don’t want to know

I noticed this in the middle of last year - I was trying to find alternative ways of making raised beds since railway sleepers and cobbles are both beyond me. My own house (I'm currently in my 15th month of staying with mum, as she's ECV and I'm her principal carer) still has some cobble raised beds. DS3 and I were involved in a serious road traffic accident when he was 6 months old. I had 2 years of PTSD and when the frustration got too much I would take a lump hammer to the concrete 'car port' base that was there when I bought my house. It was shoddy and patchy (I did have photos of when I bought my house so that I could see how far I'd come whenever I was worrying about lack of progress).

One of the neighbours had beautiful cobbles but when we finally uncovered mine (I have a photo of myself and all 3 of the boys with the largest piece of concrete we dug up and it's taller than 2 of them) they were patchy and didn't cover the whole yard. So I settled for mostly flags and beds around the sides with a couple of bits to make it more interesting. B-i-l came for the weekend to do the flags (with my then DH as labour - don't think he's ever worked harder). They left all the half flags pieces at the edges and I put some of them in and eventually filled the last few gaps with cobbles.

These days if I moved 6 cobbles (or equivalent) I'd have to have a lie down. So looked at decking posts/ small panels etc for a way to diy. Lots were in short supply and several sites mentioned the worldwide shortage. I suppose various lockdowns left gaps in the processing and the stock at the garden centres and builders went in the first lockdown rush of 'well if I'm going to be at home all day, I might as well .....'. I know the greenhouse I'd love to have (will settle) currently has a waiting time of 22 months but they want your money now!

We have the promised rain so my to do list today is 'watering the garden'. The rain has saved me a good 10 hours work (hate to use tap water but things were getting desperate) so I have a free day. I was out until 9 pm doing as much as I could - think I might have got through to mum that I can get a lot more done after the afternoon heat has passed and as it's daylight, I really don't need to be locked into the house at 6 pm. The rain should give all the new and established plants a good soaking and there might even be some for the water butts and watering stations (that's a posh way of saying the top half of a 2 l plastic bottle, buried up to the top half inch so that water is directed to the plant roots). When you can't do much, you use all the shortcuts you can, especially if they don't cost much.

Florenceem

We have had rain here so Mr F was right to mow the grass yesterday - loud snoring last night - from him - I can't hear myself can I?
Finished another scarf - this one is very soft - made with Dream Catcher Stylecraf. yarn.
DD did a sleepover at her school last night - in tents - it rained - got to sleep at 2.30 and awake at 4.30 am.

MrsCD

I know how to keep mum, Florenceem. I won't tell to your DH! My DD had to catch a parent after school yesterday, ran outside to find them and got soaked to the skin.
Heading off to do my dad's cleaning now.... See you later.

boultdj

Morning bods. Thanks to the storms last night the water butts are full again.

Happy 4th July to the US bods.   

I must get back to my knitting, I'm half way through a shawl and my knitting gene has gone awol.

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

I've been in slug mode a bit, but I have managed a couple of batches of jam.  Today will be spent mostly doing chores in preparation for three days work next week. 

We had lots of rain yesterday so the garden is fairly happy. The roses are looking gorgeous this year.

I've also managed to finally finish a dress I've been working on.  At some point last year, I think around Christmas I went through my fabric stash and Identified four nice pieces I'd been 'saving', some of it for over a decade. I decided it was time to make them up. I used on pattern I had but needed new patters so spent ages trawling patterns and got three new ones as well.  I also bought all needed notions but two needed contrasting fabric that I needed to choose in person. So far I've made a blouse and a dress and I have two dresses left to make, the two with the contrasting fabric. I expect I'll be able to go and pick that out late next week since I'm off work and as of Wednesday I'll be fully vaccinated.

hugs all.x

MingVase

Lost this thread but foundit again this morning. I think I'm missing some pages though.

Could youz all space out a wee bit please, gimme elbow room here. I need to dry some croc - erm try out some wall hangings and I need a bit of space  tyvm! 

Florenceem

Wet here first thing but dry when we went to Church.
I finished a book last night - Between the Orange Groves by Nadia Marks - a very good read.
Finished a beanie hat and started on a shawl.

shanks77

Bit dreich today but went out for a bit as ex wanted new tv for bedroom for days when he doesn’t feel great. Got one and set it up for him. Got 3 loads of washing dried in his tumble dryer (block of flats with laundry room downstairs and industrial sized machines). Since Covid the council changed all the machines to 1p per go so all 3 of my loads when into 1 machine for 30 mins cost 2p and no wet washing hanging around yay.
That my friends is the extent of my excitement in life lol

Floss

@shanks77 no wet washing is well worth celebrating x

FairyPrincessk

Shanks, I'm with Floss--no wet washing is definitely cause to celebrate.

Ming, what on earth is that on the washing line behind you? I don't think I want to know.

Florenceem you choose such lovely colours!

I have a bit of good news this morning as I found out yesterday I'll be welcoming a new nibling in January.  This will be my brother's first.  I don't think swatching matters too much in baby blankets so I may bust out the needles soon.

Today, however will be devoted to work. Ho hum.