Booted and suited, and meter-reading

Perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned 'rain' yesterday.  I was all geared up to paint the garage door this morning (or indeed, anytime today) but the weather decided to be undecisive and throw in the odd sporadic drizzle so Plan A has been put on hold until tomorrow.

The carrot seedlings are beginning to get some feathery leaves

There is, however, always a Plan B.  At 9 o'clock this morning N made some phone enquiries about bulk compost.  By 10 o'clock it had been delivered!  A cubic metre of lovely, local compost, dumped in it's bag on the front lawn and needing to be bagged up and moved to the back garden.  We booted and suited up - welly boots and boilersuits - and got stuck in.  N later informed me this is why he loves me, not for any romantic reason but because I'm more than up to heavy manual labour!  

About a quarter of the way there

There was a lot of compost (and it is lovely rich dark brown crumbly compost) and we have topped up all the raised beds, got big pots ready for potatoes and tomatoes next season and still managed to fill 13 plastic bags; we never throw the empty bags away, they get used over and over for storage, taking rubbish to the tip, etc.

We've made more progress with the porch, although we are a little concerned that the T&G we've lined the walls with gives the impression of an outside loo.  Or a beach hut.  

We always read our gas and electricity meters every Monday morning and record the figures and work out our weekly usage.  We can see straightaway if we've used more than usual - last week, for example, we ran the central heating for half an hour (as it's a new system) and that was reflected in a higher usage figure.  However, we seem to be using far less than the 'average' comparable household, according to our energy providers.  We are mindful of the energy we use, not wishing to pay for any more than we need to.  We don't need lights blazing in all rooms, just the ones we are actually in (and very often we just have a table lamp on).  We watch very little TV, preferring to read, listen to the radio, sew, knit or do puzzles and we couldn't justify keeping Sky so that's gone, and we have no need to leave anything on stand-by now.  We chose not to have a bath installed in this house, and we have short (ie 5 minute) showers.  Winter is approaching and we are interested to see how the house performs in colder weather.  We anticipate being able to close off some rooms and concentrate the heating in just the ones we are using.  Our heating thermostat will be set at a sensible (ie lower than most!) temperature.  We have double-glazing and cavity wall insulation, and the loft is thickly insulated as well.  Monitoring our weekly usage keeps us vigilant and hopefully means we will stay within our budgeted payments.  To us it seems such an obvious and sensible thing to do but we are aware of people who are quite happy to pay way more than we do, and just accept it.  It's surprising how easy it is to waste money unnecessarily.  I've often thought I'd like to see how much I could save on their bills by making some very simple changes, most of which would have little or no impact on their lifestyle.  Is it being thrifty, or frugal, or simply being a bit more aware that if everyone wastes energy, then we all have to pay the (higher) price?

Work on the porch

I hadn't realised I'd not blogged since Wednesday - what happened to those four days?  We've been busy around the house, making the most of the continuing dry weather to start on a bit of outside painting.  

I've plodded on with the preservative on the big shed, just one side to go then I need to start all over again with a second coat - I can hardly wait!  I know it makes sense to get this done while I can but it requires a fine balancing act on the top of the tall step-ladders, not to mention a lot of cobwebs.  

We have also turned our attention to the porch area which is certainly in need of a bit of a make-over.  We're able to do the work ourselves - me painting (a definite trend going on her, methinks!), N setting to with some woodwork, namely cladding the walls and new flooring.  The porch is narrow (this is why it's me doing the painting), and was previously painted a rather gaudy blue.  It had to go.

Sanding, taping the window-frames, undercoating, top-coat of gloss - it's a labour-intensive job but I have been quite happy, quietly painting away, covering up the blue.  I did discover the inside of the door frame had been forgotten about, so I must add that to my ever-growing list of 'snagging' tasks.  N has done a lot of preparatory work on the garage door which was flaking badly, and hopefully I'll give that a top coat tomorrow.

There's also been lots of cooking and baking, a bit of sewing in between and just generally chatting about this and that.  We have a busy couple of weeks coming up and have a number of jobs that we would very much like to complete.  The evenings are pulling in fast and there's a crispness to the early morning air.  We need to take full advantage of these autumn days - there's so much to do.

Bored? No time for that here!

Our days seem to be so full at the moment, always something that either needs doing or that we want to do (not always the same thing!)  There's a long list of little jobs that need to be done around the house, odds and ends that have to be finished off after all the refurbishment of the summer months.  So we certainly don't wake up in the morning wondering 'what shall we do today?'

This morning I set to cleaning the outside windows.  I've tackled them a couple of times since we've been here but never really got the glass sparkling so that was my task today.  And, in between the rain showers, I've not done too badly.  A lot of elbow-grease was needed which in turn has aggravated the RSI in the shoulder but it's satisfying to see through clean glass at last.

N pottered around with light-fittings, then had another look at the lock mechanism on the front door.  It's never been quite right, and I know it's annoyed him.  So it didn't really surprise me when I looked around and found the lock in bits and a request to lend a hand taking the door off it's slider!  Ah well, it seemed an opportunity to clean inside there, too.  This is what happens a lot round here - one small job leads to another, then another and so on.  We're glad we have the time, and indeed the inclination, to tackle these jobs.  And as N reminded me, by having a go ourselves, we are certainly saving quite a few pennies in the process.  Very often the job is not difficult, merely time-consuming, and by taking it slowly and methodically we have been able to deal with many awkward tasks ourselves.  We find we're more willing to 'have a go' at things, taking our time to consider the problem then searching for a solution.  We both have skills which we can utilise and there's a good deal of fun to be had in creatively thinking outside the box, and if we manage to use something we already have lurking in the garage, garden shed or sewing room, then so much the better!  

It's good to have things to do to fill our days without the need or desire to resort to shopping.  'Boredom' is not a word that enters our vocabulary at all; we both have hobbies and interests that happily keep us occupied and busy, and that's in addition to pottering around on jobs in the house and garden.  I have a list of jobs to do that will keep me happily occupied through till next year and beyond - and that doesn't even include two quilts that need sandwiching and quilting!  No, definitely no chance of being bored any time soon round here!

Along the shore

Another lovely and productive day.  Cleaning, painting, odd pottering-DIY sort of jobs done.  A bit of reading and a bit of sewing (or unpicking, strictly speaking) thrown in for good measure.

We took ourselves off for a walk along the shore this afternoon, making the most of the late autumn sunshine.  The tide was out leaving some very 'spongy' seaweed - just as well we wore boots!  A bit of rock-clambering was involved, and trying to avoid some rather slimey, slippery green stuff but all good fun and worth it just to be out in the fresh sea air, listening to the call of the oyster-catchers.

We were surprised to find several quite large jelly-fish washed up along the shore.  There's something rather unreal about these creatures.

Just to the right of the jelly-fish is a 50p piece, for size comparison

Out path back took us through woods, and we were delighted to spot a little red squirrel in the foliage above us.  

He looked at us, and we stared right back at him!  It is always magical to see these creatures so close to.

The bird-table made by GS and grand-dad has been standing in the garden for several days, with a dish of tempting assorted seeds.  Late this afternoon we spied our first diner - a wood pigeon, of course, but welcome nonetheless.

And I had to record this rather bizarre scene that greeted me when I pulled the curtains this morning.

We seem to be on the flight path for many planes as we see their vapour trails on a regular basis.  The trails are, without fail, straight.  Not this one!  It looked for all the world like a giant 'question mark' in the sky.  Perhaps the pilot was wondering where he was supposed to be going!

Misty

We've been having some really misty, foggy starts to the days here this week.  

 Early in the morning we can hear the fog-horn sounding through the stillness, and peering out of the window we can sometimes barely see the fence at the bottom of the garden.  The spiders' webs are picked out in water droplets and look spectacular.  Usually the mist clears in a few hours and we're treated to a beautiful autumnal afternoon.

We've been busy pottering for the past couple of days.  There's so many odds and ends to finish off - lampshades (and renewing light fittings and wiring!), roller blinds, exterior paintwork to be cleaned and treated prior to painting . . . the list goes on and on.  We have finally worked out what to do with the huge expanse of lawn in the front garden; that will be a fairly big project later in the autumn but at least we can start planning.

Making the most of the continuing fine weather, I have plodded on with the sheds, painting them with wood preservative to prolong their use.  

Before . . . 

. . . and after.

The wood is so dry it is soaking up the preservative - I think we will need another can of it very soon!  But it pays to look after these garden buildings just as much as the house itself.  And a bit of hard work in the sunshine is more than worth it.

In the garden

The wood preservative on the sheds was given its first real trial this morning - the heavens opened and we had a downpour, accompanied by thunder and lightning.  The rain was bouncing off the shed roof, it was that hard.  But I'm pleased to say that on inspection, none of the sheds showed any sign of leaking so the painting of the past couple of days seems to have paid off.

The carrot bed (aka the old water tank!) has plenty of germinating carrot seedlings:

It's always exciting to see these early signs of growth.

And we've planted up the first of our new raised beds.  We've saved some of the garlic corms we harvested earlier in the summer and planted them out this afternoon.

Splitting the corms

Ready for planting - the huge corm centre front is Elephant garlic

There's so much to do in the garden but we just tackle one job at a time - when the weather permits!  

Yesterday we celebrated a birthday (is she really 31 already?) and an anniversary; today we shared a meal at home with a dear friend.  Nothing fancy, just good food and good company, and a good time was had by all.

Start the week as we mean to go on

These are some of the mini cyclamen that I rescued last week; they make a lovely splash of colour on the back steps.

Well, we're off and running this week!  Menu plan written out, meters read and usage recorded, bread baked, and 'to do' list being worked through as we speak.  I think we were more stressed about the flat sale than we realised.  It really is a huge relief and consequently we are far more relaxed and able to get on with things again.

Monday is, tentatively, cleaning day.  Not necessarily set in stone, but having fretted about not being able to clean the house when we were in the midst of the refurb, I like the thought of a routine.  Dust, hoover, tidy-up - the whole house was done in an hour!  We don't have a huge amount of 'stuff' cluttering up every surface so that makes cleaning so much easier.  We've also learned to put away rather than leave things out - now we have found homes for almost everything that also becomes a doddle - and cleaning the house is not the chore it has been in the past.  Perhaps it's because I wear my new apron - thinking about it, that is probably the reason!  I'm becoming quite attached to my pinny.

Having got the inside of the house sorted out, we need to turn our attention to outside.  There is a lot of maintenance to do in the garden and the exterior of the property and we will need to do this on a regular basis.  This morning was set aside to check over the two small wooden sheds, both of which were in need of a bit of TLC.  I painted them with wood preservative which will help keep them watertight and N checked them over for gaps in the planking.  

As so often happens, one job led to another and before long he had completely dismantled one of the shed doors.  There was a problem and it needed to be sorted, and N spent half an hour working out a solution and finding odd bits of wood that would serve the purpose.  The door now fits properly.  A good mornings' work.

Over the finish line at last

Who needs a take-away when we can have delicious home-made curry and naan bread?

With the weight lifted off our shoulders, N and I are now able to chill a little.  There has been a bottle of bubbly (and a slight fuzzy head in the morning - oh dear, always seems such a good idea at the time!) and a lovely home-cooked curry, a few phone calls to cancel accounts, paperwork to be checked and filed away - but mostly just taking things easy at last.  The flat has finally been sold. 

There are many, many projects and jobs to keep us busy and occupied through the autumn and winter, but we intend to take our time, just pottering along.  Yesterday, with the weather still holding well, we were back in the garden.  The task of bringing order back into the garden is going to take a while, and is a bit daunting if I'm honest, but it will be one step at a time, and we will enjoy ourselves as we tackle it.  

So Saturday found me wielding lump-hammer and chisel as I did battle with some cemented-in brickwork (it is no longer there - it didn't stand a chance with me in demolition-mode).  It is so satisfying to get stuck into something like that.  My thumb now sports a plaster (*sigh*) but the area has been cleared and is ready for N to fill the hole with a bit of concrete.  Just clearing that small patch has opened up the whole area, making it far more accessible than it was previously.

Today N has been sorting out the various pots dotted around the garden, moving some plants into the greenhouse ready for winter and just generally having a bit of a clear up outside.  A little more order has been achieved.  

A couple of weeks' ago we bought a wicker laundry basket from a charity shop.  It was a bit dusty and dirty, and the seat cover needed recovering, but nothing that we couldn't fix, and at £3, a good buy to replace our present basket which is on it's last legs.  I have given it a thorough clean (laundry liquid and warm water), and allowed it to dry naturally outside.  The old seat cover was removed, the foam interior washed and dried, and today I made a new cover from some old curtains I had in my stash.

  

The revamped basket is now in our bedroom, clean, smart and ready to double-up as a spare chair if needed.

Tomorrow we will start on the 'snagging' - all those little bitty jobs that need to be done to finish each room off.  Again we will take our time, and if the weather continues to stay dry, no doubt we will be outside more than inside.  That's fine by me.

Jam

I had a mammoth jam-making session on Tuesday, blackberries and bramley apples, and finished up with seven jars full of deep red sweetness.

We had 2kg of fruit, so that meant 2kg of sugar (that's a lot of sugar!) and it filled the pressure cooker, the biggest saucepan I have, almost to the brim.  Hmm, methinks I should have kept that preserving pan I used to have all those years ago.  It soon became clear that all that fruit, sugar and liquid was going to need very, very careful looking after.  Trying to maintain a 'rolling boil' when the jam was constantly in danger of escaping the pan made things quite interesting!  However, we did eventually reach setting point - the 'wrinkle' test on a saucer in the fridge - and it was so satisfying to pour the jam into pots.  We have, of course, done a taste test (several, just to make sure) and it is delicious.

After several weeks of uncertainty, this morning finally brought the phone-call we had been waiting for.  Phew!!  By the end of the day we had rather more control on things than we have had for a while.  Huge relief.  A good nights' sleep is in order, then we can start afresh tomorrow, a weight off our minds.

The beginnings of a vegetable garden

The weather over the weekend has been wonderful (no doubt the Bestival-goers were relieved they weren't knee-deep in mud this year!) and we have spent most of the time outside.

The 'veg plot' is at last being got to grips with.  It was way too big to work in it's entirety and we always knew that raised beds were the way to go, having been reasonably successful with them before.  We made a good team; N cutting the wood to size with the chop-saw, both of us then 'squaring' the beds up before he staked the corners with offcuts.  Then I stepped in with sieve and bucket, breaking the earth up and fishing out the stones for the gravel paths.  Seeing the results of our labours so immediately was very gratifying!

Autumn fruits just ripe for the picking!

Yesterday we took ourselves off for a stroll down the local country lanes.  We found a veritable hedgerow feast waiting for us so it was just as well we had gone prepared with containers.  I will be making jam tomorrow, all being well.

And now for the garden . . .

Having more or less finished the refurbishment inside, the good weather this week has lured us (as if we needed any incentive) into the garden.  We have been looking forward to having the time to spend sorting out the garden - it is in need of a fair bit of TLC, to be honest - and it's been good to start a bit of pottering outside.  

There is a lot to do so we are just taking things slowly, one job at a time.  We have emptied the old compost bin (thankfully no 'nasties' lurking) and will be able to use the compost when we come to planting.  The bin is now set up in a new and far more convenient location ready for use.

N has been busy building a raised carrot bed:

Out attempt to deter the dreaded carrot-root fly

It's a jolly nifty bit of work; the container is the old water tank from the loft, removed when we had the new central heating installed, and the 'legs' are odd bits of wood we found under the shed.  A bit of upcycling like this is always satisfying!  The seed packet recommended sowing a few months ago but we have nothing to lose by trying a late crop.  It will be interesting to see how things progress.

Whilst N was busy with veggie gardening, I began the task of clearing up some of the beds along the side path.  We have a general idea of what we want to do in the garden and I think it's going to take quite a while to put those plans into practice.  So I started small, digging up and potting up a large grass (I could do with finding out what it is exactly!) that we want to move into a border that isn't made yet.  I was delighted to discover, lurking underneath the leaves, clumps of little cyclamen.  

These have been carefully dug up and will be re-homed elsewhere in the garden.  Soil has been sieved for the carrot bed, and stones salvaged for gravel pathways.  Nothing goes to waste around here.

Pottering in the garden soothes the soul. We have had some good news and some bad news this week, and being able to spend time outside, hands in the soil, has been very therapeutic and given me space to reflect.

Along the cliff path

Firstly, a couple of 'Ta Dah' moments:

Kitchen floor finished . . .

. . . and bedroom curtains finished.

It was a lovely late summer's day today so we took full advantage of the weather, drove a few miles to Sandown, parked up and walked along the cliff path to Shanklin, then back along the sea wall.

The cliffs along this stretch of coastline are prone to landslips and with all the wet weather during the winter, several areas have yet again disappeared - the path has been re-routed a few feet inland:

The old path and new path separated by the new green railings

 - or fenced off altogether!

I guess the path went over the cliff!

There are some steep ups and downs - good for the leg muscles!

Looking up to the cliff path from the sea wall

The return section along the sea wall is flat and ideal for a leisurely stroll in the sun.

Looking out to Sandown Bay and towards Culver Cliff in the distance

It was a lovely walk, and we met up with an old friend along the way so stopped for a good natter.  We all agreed that we are fortunate to live in such a beautiful place with the sea on our doorstep.  It was good to get out and enjoy it today.

September in the garden

I don't normally post twice in one day but I'm hoping to do a monthly update of progress in the garden and intend to take photos from the same location on the first day of each month.  I should probably aim for once a week but from past experience my good intentions have a habit of quickly fizzling out so I'm aiming low in the hopes of succeeding!  

Now the end of the decorating is within sight, N and I have begun to mull over ideas for bringing the garden back to life.  A big(ger) garden was one of the things we very much wanted and we certainly have a blank canvas to work with.  

So, September's gardening photos.

Plenty of work to be done!

Motivated Monday

We have been busy little bees today.  Fully motivated to get jobs done.  N has beavered away with the kitchen floor, and I got a second coat of paint on the walls then pressed on with the curtains.

Looking smart, or what?  My DB has worked incredibly hard all day, muttering away to himself, coming and going, measuring and cutting.  He stopped for a cup of coffee for elevenses, and grabbed a bite to eat for lunch but apart from that has been determined to do as much as possible.  He now has bad knees, and aching shoulders but he, and I, are so thrilled with the result of his efforts.  There are just a few lengths still to fit but, all being well, the kitchen floor should be finished by lunch-time tomorrow.  

My job, apart from keeping out of his way [ ;) ], was spending some time pinning and stitching.  Just the hems left to turn up and sew; hopefully I shall have the time for that tomorrow.

Life is slowly sorting itself out.  We hope that by the end of this week the bulk of the decorating will have been completed.  Little by little, daily routines are becoming re-established, and with it a sense of stability and purpose.  It's been an interesting summer, so say the least, but I think we're both looking forward to an autumn of pottering again.