Melissa and Jeff are still here, and will be until Saturday. Since Melissa's discovered MSN IM with practically everyone under the age of 16 (and the noise of each and every one of them logging in is going to send me round the bend) and Jeff has discovered Civilization IV, computer time for Angus and myself is bordering on nil. So posting is a bit scant and, when it happens, a bit light on the scrolling for a change.

Their visit is going well, actually (hope I don't jinx it here). They're in pretty good spirits, only one argument between anyone (it was between Jeff and myself, actually, and I stood firm and we came out the other side just fine and still friends). They both like their brother and sister and Jeff in particular is a real sweetie. He adores his baby sister, and Melissa naturally has gravitated towards her infant brother. They both claim it's because they hope that "the babies don't go wrong, like their older siblings have". Whatever the reason, it's lovely to see.

Yesterday we hit the garden hard, armed with help as we were with two teens. We've raped and pillaged the garden, ripping out the designs the former professional gardener had. We're grassing over everything, which may be boring but it will be far more manageable. We had a massive bonfire to take down trees, shrubs, and the former rose arbor that we had (that had to come down, it was rotten). This is Jeff taking down the rosebushes, and Melissa and Angus and the babies are standing by to saw the arbor down*.

Also in the picture is what looks like a massive ring of dirt around our ancient apple tree. It was a raised garden about one foot deep around the tree, filled with ferns and spiky things and who the fuck knows what. Last weekend I eradicated it, and did a victory dance after. It too will be grassed over and turned into more garden space.

Melissa discovered that the pebble dash on the garage (which we are keeping) was very loose. It didn't take long for me to have a go at it, because the brick underneath the pebble dash will look good once it has some roses growing up the side. We're kicking ourselves for not trying to do this sooner.

I'm not so much into construction as I'm into destruction, and once I dug in I didn't let go.

Especially once Angus gave me an electric chisel.

What you can't see here is:

- Me going and putting safety goggles on
- Me braving a ladder
- Me swearing a blue streak when some of the render fell on my foot.

But hey, I made serious progress.

We made dampers in the smoldering ashes, which all 4 of us ate with a heaving helping of blackcurrant jam. It took all day but at last the entire garden is done, and ready for the onslaught of Spring.

And we had a good day doing it, too.

-H.

*of course the babies didn't saw the arbor down. They loaded the rendering into the wheelbarrow instead**.

**kidding. Don't call for the blue car or anything like that. They napped in the safety of their nursery.

Posted by: Everydaystranger at 09:52 AM | Comments (20) | Add Comment
Post contains 549 words, total size 4 kb.

1 Looks like you had a fun day! There is nothing I like more than pruning back the gardes... I'm no good at planting, and keeping alive, so the destruction is what I do! Grass is great - easy to keep and great the children to play on. The garage looks good too!!

Posted by: Suzie at February 27, 2008 11:41 AM (weSjv)

2 Jeff just discovered Civ IV and you were able to get him outside to work? My wife is still mad at my brother-in-law for introducing me to Civ II. I've been through III and now IV and everytime it's a binge. It's worse than pr0n in terms of its addictveness. I'm itching to get outside too, but we still have snow on the ground!

Posted by: ~Easy at February 27, 2008 11:48 AM (XD24A)

3 Wow, I can't believe what you did to that wall!! We had NO idea how much work the garden would be when we bought our house and its not even that big a garden!

Posted by: Super Sarah at February 27, 2008 12:09 PM (iJq4V)

4 I love that you work in what looks like pj bottoms and wellies!

Posted by: Angela at February 27, 2008 12:34 PM (DGWM7)

5 Ha! Um...Angela? Yeah. Those are indeed pajama bottoms and Wellies. I definitely work the fashion, don't I?

Posted by: Helen at February 27, 2008 12:44 PM (FgK7H)

6 Wow, why would anyone cover up brick like that? Looks great! Happy to hear the kids are getting along.

Posted by: Christina at February 27, 2008 01:21 PM (J6Yo6)

7 Looks like a fun day!!!

Posted by: Andria at February 27, 2008 01:31 PM (Oo4k1)

8 What are dampers?

Posted by: Amy at February 27, 2008 01:47 PM (I9LMv)

9 Oh, I LOVE power tools. That looks like a fun one! Go you with all the motivation and so much accomplished. And congrats on everyone getting along. What a relief. Cheers!

Posted by: wRitErsbLock at February 27, 2008 01:53 PM (+MvHD)

10 That's the sort of shit I hire people for, because I'm very inept with just one child. If I had two, I would certainly never get anything done ever again.

Posted by: statia at February 27, 2008 02:18 PM (lHsKN)

11 That looks like fun! You weren't kidding about making progress. I love your gardening attire too and think the last picture of you and Angus is wonderful because you look so happy. I had to look up dampers myself. What a fun way to wrap up a bonfire. I hope the rest of the visit goes just as well if not better. Thanks for the update!

Posted by: Lisa at February 27, 2008 02:46 PM (EcHBm)

12 I echo the comment made about getting anything done with just one baby. You are my superhero idol Helen. Love, love, love your wellies!

Posted by: Anita at February 27, 2008 03:11 PM (vb/Jk)

13 I can't wait to get outside, but I'm doing the opposite of you. I'm un-grassing everything and putting in vegetable and edible flower gardens.

Posted by: Jen(aside) at February 27, 2008 03:30 PM (yAsX1)

14 1. It may be just me, but I seem to remember that the garden was one of the reasons you loved this house so much. Did I hallucinate that? 2. I love your wellies! I so wish I would get a chance to wear mine. 3. I bet your neighbors love you, with all the demolition and power tools and bon fires, huh?

Posted by: amy t. at February 27, 2008 04:04 PM (3dOTd)

15 Seriously, the pyjama bottoms make the outfit.

Posted by: Uccellina at February 27, 2008 05:28 PM (rxhy8)

16 WOW....you're good! Next time, would you come over here and help me remove the pebbled ceilings in my house?

Posted by: kenju at February 27, 2008 05:36 PM (yvCMb)

17 What is this....grass? Here we have about 2 feet of snow still, and more coming. You amaze me. Just, wow.

Posted by: Teresa at February 27, 2008 10:16 PM (hHFGT)

18 Holy Cow! Look at how skinny you are! You just had twins? NO WAY! You look so awesome.

Posted by: The other Amber at February 27, 2008 11:26 PM (zQE5D)

19 yea you're looking just a little "TOO FINE" to have just given birth to twins...damn woman! progress on the house looks great....I COVET the weather you are having in the UK....here on the other side of the pond in Atlantic Canada, we just had 20cms of snow followed by freezing rain (lovely) and they are calling for a blizzard on Saturday (wonderful)....and true to form...my due date is Friday.....and there is NO SIGN of alien life yet....I had a feeling I'd be giving birth in the middle of a storm....I just figured it might be figurative instead of literal. awesome! take care

Posted by: wn at February 28, 2008 02:13 AM (DYqq7)

20 We have the same wellies! I am so glad it is all going well abs x

Posted by: abs at February 28, 2008 10:17 AM (+gJH8)

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