My Front Yard!

As summer is here I thought my front yard needed a bit of a spruce up....and funnily as I was just thinking this, as if by magic, a team of front yard fixer upperers appeared and started beavering away...making my wish come true.

Over the summer school holidays which are from the beginning of June to the end of August the shire employs high school students for various tasks cleaning up and beautifying the town....and they are paid a rate of around 600ISK per hour (approx $5AUD).  I have seen students in large supervised groups picking rubbish off the beach, weeding between the cracks in the footpath (I pity the group of kids who drew that short straw), helping with the Sumertím organised activities for the younger children and happily for me my front yard is on the list as well.

 Here they are planting the border after the edge had been dug out and the fresh soil brought in.

 It took a few days to get all the plants in and each night the young seedlings were covered to protect them from the wind.

 and now it looks like this thanks to the shire and the teenagers of this town.

Nearly Done!

Nearly all the major work is done, I painted a bedroom earlier in the week...It needed it desperately, I had intended to do it after Jesse moved out, however the day after he left Dom moved back in for a couple of months before going to Melbourne...when Dom left, Eva moved into the room so I never got the chance.

The only major job left is to paint the front fence which I have started and managed to get one coat on yesterday but it needs another...but hey it rained early this morning so I think it best to leave for another day.

A very overcast looking sky today...not a good day to paint outside!

Before!

After one coat!

So will work on sorting and cleaning up inside, remove some of the unnecessary clutter and then the old place should be ready for sale. The Perth market is very buoyant at the moment and places seem to sell relatively quickly, I don't think this house will take too long.

Hopefully the roses will keep blooming as they make the house look good!

However I seem to be doing everything back to front, selling my home before I have got residency in Iceland but I am taking a leap of faith that it will all work out...fingers crossed!!! Hopefully Unnur, I will get back there in time for some Berry Picking with you!

Besides painting the bedroom I managed to catch up with a dear friend Judy and fit in a little retail therapy...my style...at the same time (no shoes, clothes or handbags for me) we visited Shedwallah in Freo.

Shedwallah is the place for those interested in all things exotic, oriental...furniture, carpets, rugs, textiles, garden pots etc it is a great place to while a way a few hours...6 Stack St Freo.

I bought floor rugs and cushions...which will make the house look good but the stuff can move with me to Iceland.

The purchases...Afghanistan Balouchi tribal wool rug and two saddlebag cushions.
Iranian Meshecl wool runner for the entry hall

I also bought a slightly damaged kilim in their hail sale...it had a slight run of colour that is hardly noticeable...a bargain for $100

And this lovely handmade chainstitch cushion for my bed...they even had large floor rugs in chainstitch they were absolutely magnificent and mind-boggling in the amount of work.

It was a week of catching up with friends and family, on Thurs night I enjoyed a meal with Mai-Yung a dear friend from uni days and on Fri had a lovely lunch with my two younger sisters Kerry and Donna.

Donna

Kerry

I must say I am enjoying not being tied down to a 9-5 job.
Aah...I did make the right decision not to paint today as it has just started to rain again.

Just one more thing...one of the kickstarter projects I have pledged to (1024 bits of you and me) time is just about up, so if you feel inclined to sponsor go to the link above.

Happy Easter!

I wish you all a very happy Easter where ever you are. Enjoy your well deserved break!

A week ago I caught up for lunch with two dear friends and work colleagues from ECU days, Judith and Gill and this photo is a hello to Ross who also used to work with them!

Well I can tick off a few more things on my mental inventory on the house renovation list, back garden...tick, front garden...tick, decking painted (back and front)...tick. Last weekend Jesse spent Saturday with me working in the front garden ( he is such a good son). Jesse pruned the very large hedge that I have...even though he has never pruned before he did an excellent job.

After the hedge we dug up the old couch lawn down the side of the driveway and planted 'Summer Scents' which will eventually grow to a small hedge.

Decking tick!

Hopefully over the Easter break I will be able to tick off a couple more things. Tomorrow I am getting a second quote for new front screen door and the renewing of a few flyscreens for the windows and next week will ring insurance for a couple of new windows that are cracked or broken plus all the blinds and windows are to be cleaned....phew!..we are nearly there!

Just because he makes his presence felt...Squeak!

Grumpy Squeak!

Fat Squeak!

and to sign off...something from the garden!