It’s all about jobs being done at the moment.
The front gates have become impossible to close of late, so, Paddy was consulted and he diagnosed subsiding pillars. Armed with a sledge hammer, he promptly demolished the pillars, swiftly laid new foundations and left saying he’d be back in a couple of days.
Two weeks went by, without sight nor sound of Paddy.Yesterday, at the crack of dawn, I was awoken by a crew of Irishmen hammering down the door, demanding power, water and coffee. Bleary-eyed, I obeyed. I was astonished at how quickly they’d taken possession of the garden. Their coats, kit, sarnies, drinks and newspapers covered the garden table and chairs, and their concrete mixer, bricks and other bricky necessities sprawled across the drive and the garden.
New pillars FLEW up!
He’ll be back, he says, to sort the caps and re-hang the gates when the pillars set.
I don’t mind waiting, he sure is efficient!
Now, this structure may look a little odd!
Basically, it’s to keep Buddy from accessing Curly Cat’s shed, and to prevent him from escaping into the front garden. Curly likes to hang out in the front, and creeps through a gap to sleep in the shed in the back, I had constructed a barrier of sorts, but Buddy eventually jumped it, there’s no way he’ll ever jump that….right????
Just look at the mess I have to sort. Believe it or not, this pic is a beauty shot.There is debris everywhere!
Now this gate and panel, leading from the courtyard to the back garden has had it’s day. Waiting for that to be done too…..
In other news…
I hacked the Buddleia in the courtyard, only to have it grow back at triple speed. There have been butterflies, but definitely less than last year.
Hubs and I have been doing lots of biking….
and stopping off at the pub, of course!
I am enjoying my Victoria plums, it’s nice having plum trees that deliver early, and later on in the year.
Queen mum, Agapanthus, going from strength to strength.
The front garden is looking very green, everything flowering seems to have gone over, except for the lavender and roses.
For some strange reason, my logpile, which is under tarp, is a marvelous new home for frogs….
and toads! Who knew??? Toads fascinate me, they have such huge mouths, adults can easily hunt down and devour a mouse. Isn’t it astonishing to think this common toad can live for forty years?
Every time I peel the tarp back to add a few logs, frogs and toads leap around in a frenzy!
And Finally….
that sail hubs bought me a couple of years ago has come in handy for chimineering in the rain. Lovely it is…..just lovely!
You can’t beat a little music around a chiminea…a match made in heaven!
Oh…it’s truly brilliant getting jobs sorted, you are right, these guys would have your fence fixed faster than you could blink. They seem to have a number of jobs on the go at once, and while one set of concrete is setting, they dash off to the next location and set some more. I don’t mind the waiting as long as they do quality work, which they certainly do!
I agree re our critters being more useful….maybe we ought to train them up!
Oh….I didn’t realise agapanthus could be so invasive….I don’t mind it doing it’s thing in the old ‘orrible hedging border, the soil is awful so anything that can blossom there is welcome, and that agapanthus sure has a lovely head! xxx
Oh, I love that last photo. Not only chimineering, but maybe a little serenading, too!
Congrats on getting your pillars rebuilt. I wouldn’t mind that team coming over for a few projects…. I’ve a falling down fence that they could fix in a jiffy! I’m sure you’ve been enjoying checking projects off a list. I do wish our four-legged friends would make themselves useful. Pulling weeds ought to be a cinch for cats (mine munch on grass, but ignore weeds).
How sweetly your agapanthus is blooming. I used to have a rather large bed of them, but they are a bit too vigorous here and become completely fill the bed with roots within three years. What a time we had digging them up!
You had me smiling at the pub stops. Cycling give one an appetite!
Just catching up with your news. I expect by now the new gate has been done and you can relax a little. Glad you can get out on those lovely flat cycle paths for a break from the usual busyness at work. Both of you are very inventive what with the structure around the shed to give Curly a private space and the sale rain cover. I remember one time we did something similar with ropes and a plastic sheet so that we could have a family BBQ in the garden in the rain . Hope you’re having a good weekend and I wish you all good things for the week ahead.
Lovely to hear from you Linda, I hope all is well with you. Gates still aren’t up, but should be in a few days, hopefully before we go away.
I do love cycling on the flat, hills do for me!
Your contraption of plastic sheeting and ropes sounds ingenious!!! You have you a good week too!xxx
Yikes I’m afraid that contractor would have been met with a very grumpy me had he not given me forewarning that he was coming. But he did put up nice brick posts!
Nice brick posts he certainly did put up! I think I’ve resigned myself to the fact that Paddy is a law unto himself. xxx
Nice frogs! I’m glad your contractor turned out to be reliable after all.
Paddy does do great work, but reliable he aint….he shows up at the most unexpected times, but he does show up. I got the impression that he had about twenty jobs on the go and always had something setting….then he’d move on to another job!xxx
Lovely sparkly post, Dina – and I’ve enjoyed reading through the comments too! Loving Elaine’s tip about watercress clearing blanket weed from a pond, I wonder if that’s common knowledge? I have had my usual sparse sightings of white butterflies and one or two tiny brightly coloured moths. I’m used to this, being in an urban environment although I’d love to see lots more butterflies. I’m blessed with many ladybirds though (and crickets this year!) and still seeing young ladybirds forming. Loved your tale of the Irish builders – demanding coffee at crack of dawn, sounds about right! Fine workmen though, you’ve been lucky; it’s always a bit of gamble finding a good workman (at least for me it is!) xx
Thanks Caro, I was surprised to hear that watercress could clear a pond, I’ll certainly try that, I was once told barley plants could, that worked too!
Good to hear you have plenty of ladybirds, they are in decline around here, this year too, lots of other bloggers have the same problem. The lack of butterflies has been truly shocking though, and I’m totally organic!
I’ve had my share of awful builders so it’s a pleasure seeing Paddy and his crew working…..albeit intermittently!xxx
my regards to Buddy… and of course, to curly cat too.
Thanks Shimon, lovely to see you,I hope all is well, with you and Nechama…..you know I’m missing you, my friend.xxx
I had no idea a toad could live for 40 yrs! I would be so irritated to have expected Paddy back in a few days only to have him show up at the butt crack of dawn 2 weeks later asking for coffee! I hope he does good work.
I’m often astonished at how long some small animals can actually live! Toads are such odd creatures, they always look so bloated! Lol….Paddy is a force to be reckoned with, I suppose he’ll be back when the fancy takes him!xxx
I have been eating Victoria plums too, and each year I forget just what they do to me. Yesterday I had griping stomach pains and had to rush to the loo, and that was after only eating four plums. Such a shame because I do love plums but they don’t love me. Love your new gate posts, Paddy has done a good job. That agapanthus is a lovely colour, so unusual white with the blue tips, beautiful. Last week we had to get rid of our buddleia as it was rotten at the bottom and the gusty winds broke half of it off. I have replanted with a pink one this time, we have a few butterflies but not as many as usual. No ladybirds either. Saw a beautiful green dragonfly today, but they are few and far between. We used to have toads in the garden but not seen any for ages, we did disturb a baby frog though, so they are about in the undergrowth. Some baby newts in the wildlife pond too. We were suffering with blanket weed terribly but I read somewhere that if you threw in a bunch of watercress it would clear it – and blow me if it hasn’t worked. The water is beautifully clear now – it took a few weeks though. Hence we were able to see the newts paddling about. We are off for a break for a few days from Sunday – hope this good weather holds out for us – I’ll be packing my long johns just in case. haha.
Oh, how awful being allergic to plums, can you have plum jam? I don’t have a problem with them….touches wood!
I had to prune my buddleias down too, good thing they grow at speed. I haven’t seen the pinks ones, but I did get one last year that is supposed to be rainbow coloured, it didn’t do much though….
I haven’t seen many ladybirds now I think on, each year is different isn’t it, hopefully butterflies and ladybirds will multiply next year. How lovely that you have newts, I haven’t ever seen any here but live in hope that they are around, it must be lovely seeing the baby ones, you must post some pics of your pond life, sounds like your pond is teeming with life. Watercress eh? That certainly is a new one on me! Oh…have a marvelous holiday, may the sun gods shine on you.xxx
I love the fact that through the chaos of pillars subsiding, curious animals, etc. etc. your life moves on with a sort of glorious flow:) Just returned from a lovely break myself, and am refreshed…however, about to have a new bathroom put into my one bedroom flat, which might quickly take the glow off!:):)
The toad information is fascinating, I had no idea that they lived so long.
Happy end of summer days to you my friend….janet. xxx
My life moves on….usually in a kind of chaotic flow though!!! I’m glad you have a marvelous break, I sympathise with you, we are planning a new bathroom too…..upheaval is a pain for sure, but it will all look lovely when it’s done. Thanks Janet, happy end of summer days to you too.xxx
We have hardly any butterflies this year, it is worrying . We enjoy cycling too and of course always include a pub on the itinerary.. But how lovely and flat it is round you. It is such a lovely time of the year to be out and about. You have had rain? No wonder your front garden is so lovely and green. How smart your front garden will look with new gates.
It is worrying, this decline, I’d say they have been down 90% on last year, normally I would have scores of peacocks, but I’ve hardly seen any.
Bikes and pubs are absolutely made for each other, we do have hilly parts around here, oh….how I loathe hills, and cycling into the wind of course. Thanks Chloris.xxx
Your new pillars look wonderful!
You have a toad, – it’s years since I’ve seen a toad here, how wonderful that he/she and the frogs have found your woodpile, a good environment for them.
I’m surprised to hear you don’t have toads, I would have thought they would be gravitating to your bog garden, well, to your garden generally. We didn’t get many but now they seem to be everywhere. Thanks Pauline.xxx
A great post, and good to see what summer brings….even late summer. I love that agapanthus …just beautiful. I think ”waiting for Paddy” is a world wide phenomena!
Lol….yes, builders sure do like to keep people waiting…..and of course there is rain! I have high hopes for those gates going back up….one fine day!xxx
Your new pillars look very good.
I love your Agapanthus, a lovely bloom.
It is worrying about the butterflies, they do seem to be on the decline.
I know everyone is encouraged to plant flowers / shrubs that attract them – a good idea.
I believe many have taken part in this years butterfly count, they were talking about it on the news today.
Good that you and hubs have been enjoying biking and pub gardens!
… and chimineering in the rain, sounds like fun!
Enjoy these last days of August and good wishes for the new month of September.
All the best Jan
I’m glad the pillars are up, it’s frustrating having heavy gates that don’t close. It is bad news for the butterflies, lots of other bloggers are noticing a drop in numbers too, like you I saw it on the news….here I’d say butterflies were down 90% on last year!
All the best to you too Jan.xxx
I haven’t seen many butterflies at all this year but my sedum will be flowering soon so I have high hopes of lots of butterflies visiting the garden then, it’s like a magnet to them. Buddy made me smile standing on the table, I know of another doggy who does that, I think he’s been watching someone else.
I’ve noticed a decline in butterflies, despite having plants flowering that should attract them, I’m hoping my sedum draws them in, usually I see hundreds of peacocks, this year I could count them on one hand.
Yes…Buddy has been taught by the best, now though, it’s only him who gets to stand on that table, well when he’s here anyway!xxx
I like the frogs and toads
Me too kath!xxx
There always are a lot of work to be done in one’s garden… (our as well)!
But we don’t have any Irish hand-worker to do the job… actually, I shall myself try to make some job as a bricklayer for a fence of stone for the flowerbed around the palm trees! Has been couple years I am complaining about, but year after year it looks even worst.
About the butterfly’s: this is a common problem here as well, for this very reason WWF suggest private to plant the special plants with flowers to attract and help butterflies to procreate and grow in number.
http://www.febogarden.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Buddleja-Davidii-Purple-Emperor-1024×690.jpg
There are many suggestions how to grow such plants or how to create a special corner for butterflies in your garden. Unfortunately, as it is for the lovely bees, the pollution and climate change is making devastating situations with are out of control. We are not well informed since there is a lot of talking but still we don’t know how terribly bad the reality is! Better try to sensibilize our friends, hoping that the “snow-ball” effect will take place…
A great hug to you, Dina, and to your lovely family! :-)c
I think you’d do just fine building a stone border for your flower bed….I have a go at all sorts of jobs and am often surprised at how easy it can be!
It’s awful hearing of the steady decline of the butterflies, and other pollinators, almost every plant I grow is for them, I keep the garden wildlife friendly, I never use chemicals and just hope I’m helping….that’s all I can do, I wish I could do more, if only I had acres of land to turn over to wildlife! Thanks so much for the link, big hugs to you and yours, you seem to have as many critters to care for as I do!xxx
I finally decided your sail is the umbrella — or is it a true boat sail that’s been repurposed? Language differences strike again!
Your frogs and toads sound lovely. I found a creature who’s one or the other at our local nature center last week, but I hardly can tell a frog from a toad. I know a few, but if I’m presented with one I don’t know, I’m a lost cause. What I am getting better at is identifying butterflies. We’ve had so many this year — great clouds of them, and of all sorts. It’s wonderful fun, although I have thought a time or two I might kill myself running after them with a camera. Dragonflies are more patient subjects.
Your bicycle path looks lovely. Our town is in the process of building one that’s rather extensive. We don’t have such lovely things to look at, but at least it will be safer for the bikers!
Lol, sorry….yes, hubs bought me that umbrella a few years ago to shade me from the sun in the courtyard, I burn easily. It was so huge, I referred to it as a sail, and we moved it into the back garden, it does a great job there, it covers us and the chiminea when it rains.
When it comes to identifying a frog from a toad, toads always seem to look so swollen and bloated and have much bigger mouths, they also have warts on their skin.
Good to hear you are seeing so many butterflies, across the UK their numbers are drastically reduced.
You go girl, chasing butterflies is my idea of fun!!!xxx
All looks merry at your estate, Dina, especially for Curly, frogs, and toads…I expect Sam, Annie, and Buddy are quite happy frolicking in your paradise, too. 🙂
Those plums are to die for, and the agapanthus is gorgeous. All of the gardens look good, although I had a bit of a green lull, too. Studying the gardens form my indoor perch, I’ve discovered a few open spaces to fill and figured out where a bit of color needs to tide over the late summer till the sedum, mums and asters, etc., take over. I think I’ll start a few more annuals next spring; they’re always so reliable. 🙂
I’m happy to hear that you and your dear one are biking, and “refreshing” at the pub. Just think: in a few short weeks, you’ll come home to a finished and spectacular gated entrance! Can’t wait to see it!
I really am happy seeing so many toads, we don’t usually get many. It’s funny, I have a large front garden, a medium back and yet the wildlife tends to gravitate to the tiny courtyard!
How lovely to hear how you are observing the garden and thinking through future improvements, sorting colour throughout the year is certainly challenging!
How are you doing, your time should be up by now, are you up and about again with your hands in the earth? I do hope so….missing your posts by the way! xxxx
No, not up yet; still have to use boot and walker…It has been getting me low because I sooo want to get up and outside. Took quite a few photos of the 4-leggeds on the bed with me, and actually tried to get them developed, but the computer I use for that and writing is a desktop, so it was a slog, with my leg propped upon the desk, and then, of course, the photos were all lost due to a glich…When it rains…
Seeing the Dr. tomorrow and hoping I can gain a bit more independence. We shall see. My therapist (Lena, whom I call Lena, the Warrior Princess, due to the way she yanks my foot about) is a sturdy Belarusian lass who does not get my hopes too high regarding walking too soon. But I’m faithfully doing the exercises they give me and hanging in there…
Oh Kitty, sorry to hear you’re not up and about yet, I completely get how utterly frustrating it must be. I’m not looking forward to having my hip replaced, as, like you I love my independance. I do hope you are allowed to do a little more soon!! I have my fingers and toes crossed here!
What a shame about the pictures after all that effort!! Jeez….as you say, when it rains it pours!!! Hugs.xxxxxxx
Those pillars do look sound. It can take a while for them to stabilise. You seem to have got a good workman and team there.
You’ll be glad to get your garden back, and with the plants starting to reduce their activity now, it will be a bit easier for you to pick up any remaining debris.
I like the post box that Curly Cat can post himself into…quite ingenious!
Your local toads and frogs know when they’re onto a good thing, they’ve found themselves a rooftop. There is a woodland a few miles from here where conditions are absolutely right for seeing these creatures scuttle about. It can be difficult to spot them, they are so good at camouflaging themselves.
Chimineering sails……….there’s a sunset song in there.
xxx
I was impressed with the standard of work, so don’t mind waiting for completion, they were a good humoured crew. How did your kitchen pan out in the end? The borders around the pillars did suffer so need replanting, you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs I suppose.
Oh…I wouldn’t mind hearing more about your local toads, yes, they are the masters of camouflage! Thinking of a song….if there isn’t one, there should be!xxx
I managed to kill the buddleia here … 🙁 I hope Curly’s shed is Buddy-proof. Our new son in law brought his dog into the garden and the next thing we knew, neighbour is round complaining that she was in hers. She had leapt a 5-foot fence!! That’s the problem with having so much springer in her! Next day SIL and Hub had to buy more panelling and add to the height of the fence.
Always love your posts, Dina.
Ah, there is a tale to be told about Curly’s shed!!! I shall post that soon!!! Oh noooooo…sil has another Buddy then? I can just see that fence getting higher and higher….sighs….thanks Gill.xxx
I havn’t seen a toad for years sadly. We had plenty here at one stage.
Now we the garden is full of marsh frogs………..big marsh frogs.
Could that be the issue I wonder ??
I did not realise that toads lived for so long.
It has been a dreadful year for butterflies in the garden.
I have seen so few.
This really does concern me……
We don’t usually get many toads, but lately I have noticed they are on the increase, such strange bloated looking creatures aren’t they? I don’t know a great deal about marsh frogs, are they dominating your environment and driving the common toads out? It’s surprising how long such small animals live isn’t it?
Oh yes, the lack of butterflies is awful for sure….I just keep on planting pollinator friendly plants.xxx
Toads. I need toads..
Can I swop builders for toads do you think?
Lol….I have builders and toads…..definitely keeping my toads!xxx
Super post…..Great header picture…. Always a joy to read your ‘Cheering posts’. Hugs!💕
Thanks Bushka.xxx
Other than the occasional rare sighting we have had no butterflies other than the whites maybe the odd gatekeeper. This is even though we have about seven buddleias on the plot. If the butterflies come now they will be too late as the flowers I have just about gone over.
It’s the same here Sue, lots of honeysuckle and buddleias, but a notable drop in the numbers of butterflies. It is worrying.xxx
A most enjoyable post and lovely pictures. That agapanthus is a beauty. xx
Thanks Flighty, daughter bought that agapanthus for me, she obviously has a good eye.xxx
Toads – how amazing! A mouse and 40 years?!! Your new pillars look very smart and I love the thought of chimineering in the rain – so cosy. xx
It is surprising how long lived some creatures are isn’t it? Some seabirds can reach an astonishing age! 40 years does seem like a long time for a toad though. Chimineering in the rain is the best! I love it. xxx