Shade Garden Re-Build

There was a disaster at my Mother's Home in the form of a VERY old a dilapidated 'Shade House'. 

I can't say WHEN my Father built it but it does feature in my Wedding Photos.

It has to GO - We just need a plan ..

The only way to get Mother to agree to doing something about this was to turn it into a "Big Secret Project" while my DB was away.  We had 4 Weeks.

Demolition: 

Got to break stuff before it can be fixed.

Remove what remained of a Galvanised Water-pipe framework extension.

Remove Shade cloth including Clothesline Wire it was sewn to, as well as remaining Watering system.

Knock down Rotted Timber Framework. 

Make safe all Rubbish.

Privacy Fence Extension:

We 'Think' the infill is Cement Sheet but on the off-chance that it is actually Asbestos - It is Staying.

Work out how to and

Secure the Screen to old Poles

Reattach Shade cloth to Frame.

Lets Paint Stuff...

1 x Tin Colourbond Cream to match the Fence

and the Blue - leftover from Our Garage Reno & Still Good.

Note the 2 Tone to hide the Poles!

Framework Finished:

Needless to say there were many trips back & Forth to Bunnings and a lot of Measure twice Cut once and the inevitable "Why doesn't that fit" moment.

Shade cloth:

Attaching the Shade cloth was going to be the most challenging.

Bearing in mind that there are just DH and Myself doing this we had to come up with a way to tension the fabric and secure it and make sure we weren't short when we got to the other side...

The Overhang:

Do we cut it Off?

Let it drape at the back of the garden?

No - There is enough to attach to the top of the Fence extension... Let's do that - because everything else is too easy!

Part 2 - This Mess:

Sunken Pavers - The result of not waiting or compacting the soil after removing an Ancient Lemon Tree.

A Massive Tripping hazard for anyone let alone my elderly Mother.

Making Safe:

DH thought we could just lift a few pavers and fill underneath.. 

I have laid enough paths to know it was quicker to Lift everything, Level, Compact and Re-lay the pavers.

From Clearing off all the Pots,

Transplanting Cyclamen growing between the Pavers

Lifting and Replacing 120 pavers

and Sweeping Paving Sand in

It took just 3 hrs to do.

Not Quite Finished:

Where we left the last photo - the area was very hot.

Here is where we re-purpose that Artificial Turf from #DS's Garden rebuild.

There was just enough to cover the space.

It's a Wrap:

We returned refurbished Pot plants and installed a couple of Safety items - Handrail on the house wall and Raised planters IF she wants to potter. 

And a "it doesn't matter if it gets wet" Chair.

Did we make it?:

YES!

25 days after we moved the plants out. With a couple of weekends off.

Was #DB Surprised - I think it was more relief that the job had been done.

And Mum?  Well - After 50 years she finally stated that DH "was a Good Bloke."

* * *

Footnote: Incase anyone is interested - 

Final Cost to do this AUD $1,000.00
(not including our time and Coffee)

Extreme Gardening

It's been Five Years since DS bought his Townhouse with the small courtyard Garden bed.  

But it was someone else's Garden.

Now They need to make it Their Own.

So Out Goes the Garden Bed* - 

That wasn't hard, It was Rotting anyway

Then the Fake Turf came up.

This stuff is horrible - can't be recycled due to the different plastics used.  

So best idea is to Re-purpose it.

And then the "Oh My - What have we done moment"

All Good - just move the Soil across to the path, but keep the compressed bed - we need that.

Adding a Crazy Paved Path for some interest and access to the plants.

DIL was delighted to 'Smash the Pavers into Submission"

It also helped when we picked up already broken ones at Bunnings VERY cheaply!

(Once the path was in place the remaining compacted soil could now be lofted.)

They added a Timber Screen to the side of the Old Shed.

Now the Fun Part - PLANTING.

The idea is to have a Low Maintenance  Australian Bush Garden using plants that are Indigenous to their Local Area.

All we need now is The Site Supervisors  Approval!

(Maybe he should get a Work safe Hi-Vis Vest!)

*Don't worry - Any and All of the plants that were worth Saving are now resting at Our Place.

And the Turf?

That is the subject of another Post.

Starting Work

Back in May - DD had a problem with a thirsty Rat who caused a considerable amount of  Uninsured damage to her Kitchen. You can see the Original Post Here * What Happened in May

It has been a Nightmare - 

Physically, Emotionally and Financially.

Repairing the mess started with the Pantry Repairs and Re-fit.

(Unfortunately we can't make it any bigger - Just more efficient).

In the meantime the floorboards they have, are no longer available 

SO, instead of a small repair... 

the entire ground floor now has to be replaced.

(Taking the opportunity to remove some truly awful Carpet)

And amid all the mayhem - 

GD#3 made sure that Grandpa got ZERO work done!

Look Mum - No Hands!

I love this Photo - It shows TOTAL TRUST

ANZAC Day Weekend

A time to reflect and remember those that sacrificed so much.

AND with ANZAC Day falling on a Monday this year it gave a long weekend and the opportunity to finish the Deck at DS#1s place.  

A tricky ramp down to the Garage.  'Just' 14 short boards, but with DS#1 recovering from COVID, it took all Weekend to do.

Milestone Event: 

Little Miss H decided that Walking was better than Crawling, especially outside.

 - Now they will never catch her!

"Holiday" Projects Pt. 2

Meanwhile....
There was another project that had been put off until "Time and Funds permit".

This one was to help DS#1 build a deck around his home.

This also took some working out to do considering it was wrapping around the building and took several days to set the foundations and bearers in place.

Once he was happy with that, it was Smooth Sailing to get all of the boards Secret nailed down. 

Even if it was just 3 runs a day!

We had 30+℃ temperatures to contend with and NO shade. 
So it also took longer than planned to complete.

Almost done! Another project off the list and before Holidays ended!

And while the Guys were working, there has been some important Grand-Daughter bonding sessions.

Little Miss A - worked on a serious Moustache and Mono-brow look with a Babyccino that was more Chocolate Powder than Milk foam.

And Miss H decided that my Patchwork Multi-board made a great Sensory toy and enjoyed running her nails down the Sandpaper page.... 

Oh well at least Mum didn't have to trim the nails that day!

 
Splitting our time between 3 other households has kept us busy.  

But there is also work to do on the Home Front and today it was an Agriculture Victoria required Mite Check on the Hive.

We have NO Varroa Mite in Australia but we are still required to check for them - and any other nasties as well.  

Happy to report - All was well.

And we even got a tiny taste of what awaits us when we can harvest some Honey!

* * * * *

Footnote: We were not the only ones helping with this project. DS#1 also had much valued help from his DFIL!

"Holiday" Projects Pt. 1

Christmas has come and gone for another year.  The Family are on Holidays and all those projects that have been postponed during various Lockdowns have now come to the "Top of the List".

First off was to source some much needed Shade for DS#2's small town house.  

Being built out of Black Bricks and facing North West makes for an uncomfortable Summer.

Fortunately, we came across a suitable (within Budget) awning at Bunnings.

Once we worked out how to work around the Air conditioner conduit that was inconveniently above the door, it only took a couple of days to install.

The next Task completed was to help DSIL install Steps to their Front door.  

A project that was 8 years in the pondering. 
This photo makes it look like an easy task but believe me it was hard work. 

The soil is Highly reactive Volcanic Mud. 

Rock hard in the Dry and Sticky Impossible the rest of the time.  

We have watched Neighbours battle to build something, only to have it subside once the ground got Wet.

Our solution was to build frames that will 'float' over the Base soil that will hold Sandstone Pavers.

Will it work? 

Only time will tell!

The Step treads are Reclaimed Railway Sleepers - Some are so old they have Hand tooling marks on them.

There is still work to be done here - Planter Boxes to lock the pavers in place and create a raised Garden for easier maintenance.

SIL is happy with the results and the project was completed within his Week off.  

DD and Little Miss A think it's pretty cool too!