HARD WORK IS WORTH THE EFFORT

Despite the severe pain this garden project has all been worth while. We still have a way to go but the next bit will involve raised borders and - PLANTS.

So this is it right now.

First the bin storage

I'm sure these things breed.

A couple of views one way then the other

The gorgeous sunshine has beckoned now so that's it for a while as the inside of the house needs some attention next ie cleaning - yak! hate that word and deed.

COMPLETE CRAZY

Sorry about that heading but I feel completely crazy. Totally worn out too.

The garden project is slowly getting there and today saw the end of the crazy paving - HOORAY!

My back, hips and knees are screaming in pain and my poor workmans shoulders and wrists are also screaming after mixing so much cement.

A bit of a clean up tomorrow with a couple of tip trips will make it look a lot neater then we can measure properly for the railway sleepers.

In between all this hard work I have been chilling by making a few canvases.

The next is still in my head but will start to take shape if I ever manage to move from the settee!!!!!

MORE SELF INDUCED PAIN

Back ache to be precise and my workman has sore hands from mixing cement all morning.

We started the flagging and I laid every one so far.

Not bad for today. We ran out of sand so have just tortured my little car again by carrying 4 bags of sand in the back.

Good job it's an old car now and not a new one.

Finished for today. Let's hope the sun shines tomorrow so we can crack on.

A DAY OF INCREDIBLE FUN

My SD Paula and I took off early yesterday morning and headed south to the NEC. What an adventure we had. 

Nattering all the way the journey seemed only to be about half an hour long but with the dreaded M6 roadworks took about 3 hours. 

We parked up. Paid the atrocious £10 and made our way to halls 11 & 12. It was packed! 

We just about managed to hussle our way round each show before finding a little hide away to stop for a sit down, butty and drink. Then off again.

I have never seen so much gorgeous material and even found The Cotton Patch who had Tims Eclectic Elements fabric by the meter. I got to touch each design!!!

Gradually the crowds diminished and we could get into the stalls. Both of us spent up and this is my stash hoard of the day.

Some will be fun to use now, some ongoing and the patchwork bag is fun for later.

We had a wonderful day laughing for most of it. Roll on Tatton Park flower show now when we get to have another fun day out.

Thank you for it all Paula XX 

THE GARDENING CONTINUES

Another week has flown by many of the days have stayed dry allowing more garden work.

Hubby - my workman! - and I dug out the raised brick planter in the far corner. I saved as much soil as I dare then had to take the rest to the tip as it was riddled with ivy roots. The bricks had to go too so all that meant another 8 trips to the tip. 

 Hubby then had to isolate the electrics which served the pond pump and we plan to use the wiring for a security light which we bought yesterday.

The infill - all 3 tonnes, has settled really well so we ordered a further half tonne to take it all to the level ready for paving.

So the next challenge was to create the bin area which we've achieved with a new fence panel, base and some of the old gazebo wood. Still a bit to do on this but rain is expected today so no painting. 

Coming along nicely and so far so good.

The next step is to pave the area. We've decided to crazy pave as we have a lot of flags and have been offered more by a neighbour. Once that's done I can order railway sleepers to make raised borders and start making it all look pretty.