Part one of the plan to remove the rodents from the house is underway. Stripping the ivy from the wall in the courtyard should hopefully remove their ladders and make it more difficult for them to gain access to the loft.
It’s a messy job, for sure. Bin after bin was filled with waste, along with tons of the dryer material which we’ll keep for the chiminea.
Almost there!
Once the ivy is removed, that wall will be painted. I’ve decided not to grow any more climbers, instead, I’ll put up hanging baskets, and mount my ship’s wheels, along with other bits and pieces. That should add a little interest.
Astonishingly, since the ivy has been removed there hasn’t been sight nor sound of the little blighters! The holes haven’t been sealed yet, nor have Buddy’s services been called upon. It can’t REALLY be that easy? Can it?
The other night, Buddy was chasing something or other in the courtyard, and whatever it was, it took off over the fence. He began butting the fence and I seriously thought he’d smash through it. This fence has been here since we moved in twenty eight years ago, my neighbour tells me it’s been there since she moved in thirty seven years ago….struth! That’s sure value for money! However, it’s now wafer thin and needs replacing, all twelve panels, so, all the plants and climbers need cutting back or digging up. A mammoth task! I shall console myself by thinking how all will be well, hopefully by summer. Looks like the entire courtyard is up for a re-model!
We’re also waiting on builders to rip the bathrooms out as the floors have rotted due to the recent leaking pipes, they may also need to remove the kitchen and hall floors.
I’m taking deep breaths and chanting, ommmmmmm….
I still have dozens of plants that were dug up in preparation for the flagging last year. All these roses are pruned and need planting. Yes, and that pond needs clearing too! I haven’t ventured into the front garden yet, there, a ton of leaves sit on my spring bulbs. At least I can get stuck in now though as I’m not broken anymore!
Today, it actually stopped raining! Can’t argue with that! Still windy though, all the wrought iron birds are floored!
I was astonished to find an avocado growing in a planter in the courtyard. Being something of a squirrel, I often plant stones and seeds from fruits that should never, ever grow here. This is a tropical plant, yet it grows in our frigid winter! It’s now potted up in the greenhouse.
In other news, a friend and I took Annie out for a long walk, this is another first for me. Hubs has managed the leads to date, so I was delighted to walk her, all by myself. It won’t be long before I’m walking both dogs. I always take Buddy out on his own as he’s a squealer around other dogs.
I’ve been living on soup, of late, can’t get enough of the stuff! It’s just perfect on bleak, cold days. This batch was a great success, Asian spicy vegetable noodle soup……oh my!
And Finally…..
Went to see Jersey Boys, y’know, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, absolutely fabulous!
Oh, isn’t there just!!! Losing fence panels is a real pain as the plants nearby end up being ruined! Leaky shower???? Yikes!!! I loathe leaks, they seem to get everywhere! Good luck clearing that plum tree, it sounds like a huge job. The lamps are old corporation gas lamps, I painted them up roses and castles style when we had the narrow boat.xxx
There’s always something that needs urgent attention and money isn’t there? Just when you’d rather spend time and money on other more fun things. Every time we have a gale we lose fence panels and our shower has started leaking. And the fallen plum tree is taking days to clear. It’s fallen across the pond to add to the fun.
I love your lamps, are they old barge lamps?
Lovely that you can go out dog walking.
It’s fantastic not hearing rodents racing around, they certainly were noisy! I still have my fingers crossed though, it all seems a little too easy! It’s lovely seeing the odd blue sky and hearing the birds again, spring is not far off methinks! Thanks Brenda.xxx
How nice to be rid of the pitter-patter of little rodent feet. And it must feel fantastic to get out dog walking again. Enjoy your spring, it looks like you’ll be plenty busy.
So much work will keep you busy for weeks… my God, just don’t overdo!
I didn’t start with the gardening yet. We plan to have some new type of sinergic vegetable garden but first of all, we have to find time to do everything in the suitable period. Last year we coudn’t get peaches since the plants were infested by some parasite… now we shall find out what to use without chemicals. Samething with the raspberries…
Here in the “mild” climate not only the mosquitos are infesting our gadens.
I know bats are the best solutions, but bats don’t fly around in the day light, and the tiger mosquitos are to be found 24/hours a day. But I don’t know other animals or insects feeding of “bad bugs” alike aphids…
Happy you got rid of the rodents… without having to kill them.
The idea of leaving the wall for hanging baskets, ship’s wheels and other antiquities is lovely. You could as well put hanging vases to grow plants or flowers…
Anyhow, I wish you good work and a lot of fun!
Hugs and have a lovely week :-)claudine
There are so many destructive insects in the garden aren’t there, here ladybirds sort the worst offenders out. I had problems with soft fruit so sprayed with soapy water, washing up liquid worked well too. The rodents are gone, for now. I am pleased about that. I haven’t the heart to kill anything so my last resort would have been humane/release traps.
You think the same as me, yes I am planning on hanging baskets for that wall, that will add a splash of colour. Good luck with your pests and new veggie garden. Look forward to hearing how it goes.xxx
Great post and images. A lot of work ahead. Cold there? We are having some of our hottest weather on record – expected to get up to 40c next week.
Thanks Peter. Goodness, lucky you with the wonderful weather!xxx
Getting rid of ivy is always a good idea. Sounds like you have some big jobs ahead of you! We just started having our kitchen remodeled, so I will be curious to see your progress.
Ivy is a total pain to remove, I’m so glad it’s off that wall, I shall keep a sharp eye out in future. Oh, good luck with your new kitchen, I do hope you’ll post some pictures. It’s the worst room to renovate though, so disrupting.xxx
I read all the way through, and then read it again, and still couldn’t find those omelets and eggs. Then, it came to me! The old saying about “to make an omelet, you have to break some eggs.” You certainly have been involved in some egg-breaking. There’s no doubt the wee mousies thought so when they arrived to find their ladder gone. I hope that solves the problem. It makes sense, now that I think about it — and it’s ever so much better than having to deal with poisons, or traps, or whatever.
I can’t believe you’ve gotten an avocado to grow. On the other hand, there was a papaya tree that survived for years at one of our marinas. We really are too far north for them, but it was on a south wall, and happy enough. I don’t know whatever happened to it. I’ll have to stop by the spot and see if it’s still there.
It’s just wonderful that you’re able to be out with the doggies, roaming the world as you are. Healing is such a long process, but isn’t it wonderful to come to that time when you suddenly realize, “Oh! I can do this! and this!” Here’s to some wonderful weather for you, to make it even more pleasant.
Oh, I’m smiling at you reading the post several times! I should be clearer!!! So far, the rodents seem to have moved out of the house, that is a relief! They are still around in the courtyard though, Buddy caught one a few nights ago, I did feel sorry for the poor thing.
I was surprised to find that avocado growing, in freezing temperatures too. Here’s to you finding that papaya tree! Nature does full off some magnificent stunts at times!
It is wonderful getting back to normal, you don’t believe you will ever achieve basic tasks in the early days, then suddenly you begin to forget you ever had an operation at all! Thanks Linda.xxx
No matter where we live … there are always jobs to be done, and just as you finish one another one needs doing … oh well, I guess it keeps us all busy! LOL!
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you’ve solved your rodent problem, I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
So pleased you enjoyed The Jersey Boys …
Have a lovely weekend, I hope the weather will be dry.
All the best Jan
Yes, there is always something needing repairing/upgrading, if only such projects didn’t come along all at once! Still no sign of rodents, fingers crossed! Have a wonderful weekend. xxx
Hi Dina,
Gosh ivy removal is a big job, you have done well. As with all these jobs, one thing leads to another. Its good to think of the warmer weather coming and working outside in more pleasant conditions.
The soup looks delicious. I can see why you are loving it at the moment.
Glad your op is healing. Hopefully it will not be long before you are out and about, exactly as you want to be.
Have a good weekend.
Getting rid of ivy is a nightmare, but so satisfying when it’s down. I am going to be more ruthless with the stuff in the future. It was really springlike today, the birds were twittering and the sky was blue, what a difference that makes! I even saw a female blackbird taking a bath in a bin lid full of icy water! I am enjoying normal life again, I will never take mobility for granted again. Thanks Cheryl.xxx
I hope that you’ve seen the last of the mice. Good luck with replacing the fence, which as you say should much better when it’s all done.
I like soup as well, especially at this time of year. xx
I am happy to say that we seem to be rodent free….long may it remain so! That new fence has been a long time coming, I can’t believe the old one hung on so grimly for so long. Oh….you just can’t beat soups at this time of the year, especially with crusty, fresh bread.xxx
Good morning dear Dina….Well it looks like you have your work cut out for you for the next ten years !:) However, I know that you and Hubs will get it all done with a smile on your collective faces :):)
Fingers crossed that the rats have left and gone elsewhere and that you enjoy a wonderful weekend. So pleased to hear that the new hip is working beautiful. Janet xxxx
Hahaha, yes, there is always something isn’t there? As you always say, this too shall pass. I shall hang onto that! We haven’t heard a peep out of the rats for weeks, I am hoping they have moved to pastures new. Buddy caught a young one in the courtyard recently, I did feel sorry for the poor little thing, but that is what terriers do I suppose. It is marvelous being able to walk properly again, thank god we have surgeons! xxxx
I hope it is that easy! For your sake and mine. I can still hear scratchy feet on the ceiling above my desk. Glad to hear you’re not broken anymore. I’m itching to get out in the garden, but it’s currently a swamp!
It’s very quiet around here lately, no scratching or running….before it sounded like an army of rodents. I don’t think they can get in their hole anymore, maybe yours are climbing up something…. we have the swamp too….roll on spring eh?xxx
I think it was Buddy that finally brought law and order to the garden. Once you took down the ivy near the fence he could see them as they poked their noses through, and let them know who was in charge. I would have thought that Curly could put fear in their hearts. I was never bothered by rodents because I always had cats… but then, I didn’t live in the country. And I have to join your other friends in my enthusiasm for your soup. If I was in the neighborhood…
I agree with you about Buddy restoring order, he is utterly determined to get at the rodents and I think they know this, terriers have astonishing tenacity, they simply never give up. Buddy sits in the same spot for hours hunting them. Curly doesn’t frequent the courtyard garden he owns the front and many a mouse has been caught by him there. I think he’s past hunting these days though, I only occasionally find him with a mouse or chick. He was a ferocious hunter back in the day.
Oh if only you were in the neighbourhood….sighs….thanks Shimon.xxx
I’ve spent so much of my gardening life getting rid of ivy, I sympathise with you… Hope the bare wall fixes the rodent problem. Great that you are back walking … One dog at a time .. Nice to get out even in winter. We saw The Jersey Boys when they came to Melbourne .. Loved it!! Hope you get a bit of sunshine soon. 😀🌞
The thing with ivy is you never notice it until it’s a forest, then it’s an utter nightmare to get down, it glues itself to walls and fences. I am pleased to see the back of it on that wall, I don’t think the nesting birds will be very impressed though, still, there’s plenty more of the stuff around the garden. It’s simply marvelous being able to do things again, thank goodness for medical advances. These Jersey boys sure get around, they are fabulous for sure, glad you got to see them. Oh sunshine, bring it on!xxx
Wow, Dina, that ivy removal looks like a huge job. I’d feel wonderful knowing it was finished!
As warm as it’s been here, I can’t believe all the greenery in your yard and gardens…and an avocado, to boot; that’s amazing. I can’t wait to see what comes of your gardens now that you’re strong and taking long hikes! Happy news!
The house remodeling, and then the fence replacement…goodness. Wouldn’t it be grand to go away on a lovely vacation and have it all finished when you return?! But I dread such things and then they’re over, I always think they were not so bad, after all. Hope all will go smoothly for you both…will you get to redecorate the baths, too? Hope it won’t include your perfect kitchen, but it sounds like it might, huh? We have a few major remodeling tasks before us, too…I think we’ve rebuilt this entire house, and then some in the 20 years we’ve been here!
As for your soup, I’m drooling. Soup and salads are my favorite meals, always have been. My family used to laugh at me when we’d go out to eat to a nice restaurant and I’d order soup! Even in summer! Yours looks so delicious!
Yay, Jersey Boys: what fun! Did you dance? 🙂
Thanks for your beautiful, lively post. They always cheer my day terrifically!
Thanks Kitty, getting that ivy down was a nightmare, but as you say, so good once done. We are still waiting for the builders to start work, they’ve been around assessing but never seem to give a start date. I’m hoping that we won’t have to redecorate as all the walls were newly tiled. I think we’ve practically rebuilt this house too, sometimes it seems never ending, but as you say, you soon forget once everything is sorted.
I am a soup and salad fan too, especially home made soups….oh yum!!!
Of course I danced! xxxx
Your experience of The Jersey Boys was a totally different one from ours in Edinburgh about 2 years ago. I don’t think any act would dare to be less than good when visiting Merseyside!
What an amazing amount of energy you’ll have to store up to use for your big garden and house projects. I am sorry to hear about the floors. Plumbing can be quite a worry especially as so much of it is out of sight. It will all be lovely when it’s done, I am sure.
You are fantastic, already gardening lots and taking dogs out for a frolic.
Xxxx
What a shame that the Jersey boys weren’t up to scratch in Edinburgh, they were fantastic in Liverpool, maybe they improve over the years. We are still waiting for the builders to start work, they come around, huff and chuff and disappear as fast as they came.
It’s so liberating being able to get back to normal, I’m so glad to be pain free again. Thanks Menhir.xxx
Ivy is an absolute pig to get down, isn’t it! Well done that gal. It could be that the small furry blighters are just biding their time …
What do you feed your roses with ? Our plans are sadly neglected as I’ve been away so much, and I need to make up for it.
That soup – yum yum!
Hugs xx
Oh yes, ivy is a total nightmare for sure. I hate the way it clings to walls and fences and destroys everything. Having it off that wall is just wonderful. Still no sign of any rodents….my fingers are crossed. I always plonk a little horse manure or rotted compost on my roses, they need it here as my soil is so sandy and roses are such greedy plants.
That soup certainly was yummy, must make it again, I’ve been on stir fries lately…xxx
My sister would be so envious as she loves Jersey Boys. I wonder whether the rodents are laying low during all the activity – aren’t they very wary of new things?
There’s still no sign of the critters, I think stripping the ivy may have resolved the problem. I’m hoping so….xxx
There’s always jobs to do when you own a house and garden. Fingers crossed that you’ve solved your rodent problem, perhaps they can’t reach the holes now the ivy’s been removed. Glad you had a good time seeing the Jersey Boys, I love musicals.
Yes, it’s never ending sorting a house and garden. Big jobs always seem to come together, like buses! Still no sign of rodents! It’s marvelously quiet!xxx
Your soup looks delish – I could have done with a bowlful yesterday as it was very wet and windy here. Lots of DIY on the horizon for you. Just keep on with the chanting! Fingers crossed that the wee beasties are gone for good and I’m very envious of your trip to see the Jersey Boys! xx
Spicy soup is so warming, I just love it during winter. Your weather sounds as bad as ours, here’s to warmer days! Still no sign of rodents, I’m beginning to think the problem may be resolved.xxx
I guess it’s only big projects for you, Dina. Really really big and complicated projects! Frankly, They take my breath away. I’m amazed at how much you have done to clear away the ivy in pots and rubbish. Let’s hope the rodents have packed up for good!
Your soup sounds terrific. Those warm spices are perfect in cold weather. And glad to see you getting out for non-gardening or house-related projects.
I must say, these endless projects are becoming old, fast. There has been so much disruption of late, still once it’s done, it’s done. All quiet here rodent wise, that is certainly a result. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Oh that soup, how I love spices, I just love the combo of garlic, chili, ginger and turmeric. xxx