Monday, September 30, 2013

Slowly But Surely

Well not everything is slow, some move more quickly, just like time. Whatever happened to summer? It seems to have just flown by this year and now the signs of autumn are unmistakeable. We have been super busy all summer so no wonder it felt like it has just passed us by just like that, so quick but one thing that did stick and linger in mind is that weather wise, it has been a decent summer.


To be honest we have been so pre-occupied that it never really hit me before that autumn is indeed here until I saw this group of ginkgos earlier today when I got home from work:


Nevermind! It does mean that it's not long now before we really have to prioritise the garden again for a few weeks as we prepare it for the cold months ahead (which we're hoping won't be that cold, mild would be very nice!).

Not long now before I have to cut back the Gunnera tinctoria
And not long now before I put this Cycas circinalis under cover
And now back to the title, slowly but surely we are starting to regain our house again. And last weekend we went full swing with redecoration starting in the lounge where all the work the builders have to do have all been done, yay!

A glimpse of our new lounge...
But work continues in other areas, like on the porch which is part of the makeover of the front garden (which we blogged about recently).

Construction of the new porch
So far so good...
I still like the idea of a pond here underneath a walkway. Gaz firmly said no.
We're definitely getting there! 

Mark :-)

24 comments :

  1. I am loving your lounge and new front porch! You must be so excited to have the end in sight. I hope you have a mild winter, but meanwhile, enjoy autumn and have some happy gardening days, which always seem to restore the world to a better perspective.

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    1. Thank you Debs! What's also exciting the both of us at the moment is the thought that we'll be in the 'furniture' stage soon. We're hoping we'll have a mild winter indeed.

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  2. Mark take absolutely no notice of Gaz, after all he is only an akountunt (bean counter).. It's all coming along very well and I am certain everything will be ship shape by next summer :-)

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    1. We hope so, and that's the aim indeed. And no more big projects by next summer (we'll try anyway), we could with just having a leisurely summer just for a change.. :)

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  3. Hooray for so much progress. We all know you too well to think that when this is done it will be the end. You'll continually be redoing things in your garden to make it more to your liking. Good for you!

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    1. Thanks Peter! All part of the process of gardening, it's nice to see some changes every so often.

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  4. Ah come on Gaz!!! Just think of the fun. You come home late, it's dark and cold but you get to walk across your pond on the way to the front door, charming no? You pause to admire the hardy plants, a friendly fish greets you...and that's when you drop your keys into the pond. Mark's working late so he's not there to let you in. So you roll up your sleeve and reach into the cold cold water.

    Ya, I think I'm with Gaz, no pond at the front door.

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    1. I was laughing when I read your reply Loree! Gaz is determined and is agreeing with you, I don't I'll win this one...

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  5. Boy! you guys have been really busy for the last couple of years -- first with pond and now with house. When all these will be done, I think you will be relieved. The porch is looking so bright.

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    1. Thanks KL! Can't wait to finish the house and hoping that next summer we'll just take it easy.

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  6. Isn't it coming along well? The sitting room will be ready just in time to fill it with plants when the weather gets bad. I think Gaz is being a spoilsport about the porch pond.

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    1. So glad it is :) Not as fast as we had hoped for but at least its getting there. And yes Gaz is being a spoilsport!

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  7. It continues moving right along. Like what's being done on that porch very much. I have already started my Fall cleanup also.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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    1. Thanks Cher! We'll have to start fall clean up in our garden soon too.

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  8. Wow, big change! That's going to look great. Don't listen to Loree!

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  9. I'm thinking back to the time one of you went out to buy pots and came back with exactly what the other had in mind. With this kind of karma at work, the front entry pond will soon be resolved to everyone's satisfaction. Can't wait to see what you do with your lounge...and the new front porch is super.

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    1. Thanks Ricki! It's only a little, rather tiny porch but should make a huge difference in keeping the house warm and tidy too (we can leave our shoes there and just walk in the house in sandals).

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  10. Your new lounge is looking very promising, and what a great new porch, such useful things to have. I hope you get your mild Autumn, so many plants to pack away, and the nights are drawing in, making painting indoors challenging too. Personally I feel as if someone stole summer from me while I was discussing the size of my breakfast bar and making seemingly endless mugs of coffee. But hey, next year you will have a wonderful indoors in which to recover from your outdoor adventures!

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    1. Thanks Janet, and that's the idea indeed, get the house sorted and it becomes a relaxing place to recover. It's a tiny porch but it's going to be very useful.

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  11. We have something in common - a grey slate sign with the number 2 on it :) It seems that the renovations are all coming together. Hopefully the winter will oblige with mildness and then next year will give you the chance to spend more time outside.

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    1. Thanks Anna! Great minds have the same tastes :)

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  12. It looks as though the mess will be behind you soon and all the fun stuff in front of you. I hope your wish for a mild winter comes true!

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