Juggling Plates

Managing several projects at once

I haven’t posted for a while but that doesn’t mean things haven’t been progressing. As usual I have several different projects on the go. It’s so time consuming getting quotes and ordering materials. Even small projects take time. And there’s a lot of problem solving and researching. I am working in three main areas.

The Outhouse

I had the bashed up corner of the Outhouse repaired. I am waiting for it to dry completely before I paint it. I also had the gable end of the Outhouse repainted. The previous owners left a giant tub of white Sandtex in the Garage. I have also had the thin rusty hanging basket brackets removed and replaced with some more robust ones that came from my parent’s house. Things are so thin these days!

The most time consuming project has been putting up a trellis. Sounds easy? But I managed to choose one with no form of fixings. I went into an old fashioned hardware store and they suggested using rubber door stops to fix it to the wall so there was room to tie the ancient Jasmine to it. I am worried that the plant will be too woody to tie to it but it smells so nice that I am not giving up on it until I have tried. Whilst I was clearing out the leaves underneath I found a metal pig made out of old oil drums. It’s by Eeieeio and quite collectible. Another item in the long list of items the previous owners left behind.

The garage

I am stilling clearing out the garage. The biggest project coming up is the insulation on the floor in the main house so it’s crucial the garage is clear. As this is where I am going to store the furniture while it is being done. There was so much stuff left behind by the previous owners that I have made numerous dump runs trying it get rid of things. Many things have gone, including just this week a large roll of foil insulation but there’s a lot more to do. I think the next step is selling the surplus plastic crates. Using the heavy metal hanging baskets will help with this as well as continuing to get rid of the paint. My gut feel now is that now all the paint tins need to go. There were literally dozens of paint tins and I have used a few and I think most of the remaining ones are probably past their best. I’ve got several items up for sale.

Garden

But the majority of work has been outside in the garden. After the mammoth bathroom refurbishment, I can’t face any more dust or upheaval inside. I had the drive cleaned. Apparently the resin drive and York Stone paving cost over £12,000 to install so it made sense to have it cleaned. Perhaps I should have had it sealed as well? I’ve also planted two standard Bay trees in the dragon pots in either corner of the patio.

With the better weather I have been doing a lot of gardening. Feeding the roses, the lawn and the Azaleas. Weeding. Scraping out moss. Sweeping and pruning. I haven’t planted out my pots because I am going away and don’t want them to die. But that will be the top priority when I get back. I also want to repaint the bench. There’s so much to do.

I’ve got a quote for the sandblasting the wall in the courtyard which I am happy with. He wants to take the black paint off that on the bottom of the walls as well. I will make a decision about that when I get the floors taken up and we see can see the condition of the walls. Someone came to look at the patio but has finally come back to me. I am reusing the old block paving but getting it relaid so it’s flat with a slight drop away from the house. I am also having a drain fitted so it doesn’t flood the garage and a new back door step. I finally got round to requesting a quote for the new fencing.

The next project is to repair the cracking render on the window sill. in paces it’s completely disintegrated. Apparently they used this special plaster during Victorian times to imitate stone. It’s difficult to know what to do.

The new hedge I planted last year is thriving. I am continuing to water it. I am loosening the ties in the existing pleached Hornbeams. I had always thought they were Beech until I went to order the other trees. I’ve ordered three more. They were £399 each! I want to try and make the two boarders more symmetrical. So I am going to mirror some of the planting. It makes sense to this now while next door is empty. Same with the fences. I’ve always been worried about who will move in and whether they will make lots of noise. Planting them now should mean they become well established before someone else moves in. I am aware that it’s the south facing elevation, which is why I only choose three. I don’t want to cast their garden into shade. But as it’s over two hundred feet long, so I don’t see it as much of a problem. I have the same issue with the large Laurel hedge from next door that shades my court yard.

The Wall flowers I planted from seed last year are doing well a long the garage wall and the garden wall at the front of the house.

I’ve bought some decorative stakes to try and stop the roses flopping all over the path.

That’s going to it for the garden. I will use the summer to prune the Hornbeams. Really the fences could not with painting. But that’s a huge job. It’s next on the list but I might put it off for next year.