Just keep digging…

And just like that, another week has gone. I know we’re not alone in finding this year zooming by, but it really does feel like yesterday that I was writing our last post.  

With the nights closing in earlier and earlier, it’s hard to get outdoor jobs done in the evenings, so we really rely on our weekend time. And this past weekend was no exception. Lucky enough to have yet more help (some who came back for a second time!) we managed to install our first ever stock fence – the first step towards child/dog proofing the grounds. Our wooded area runs alongside the [albeit very quiet] lane, hedged off but with numerous gaps that run temptingly down the bank out into the lane; on the other side is a cow field that’s double-fenced with barbed wire and electric, but is a very climbable/jumpable height. So we decided to improve the situation with a new fence on one side, and higher fencing on the other. Stock fencing (poles and a square wire mesh) will, over time, blend nicely into the hedge and look more natural, while still preventing any escapes. 

The start we made in digging holes last week really helped – as this weekend (over three days and Monday evening), we managed to finish digging all holes, installed the poles, and then stapled and tensioned the fence wire. And the final result isn’t bad for our first attempt (even if I do say so myself 😊 ). We still have a bit to finish off at the far end, as well as the raising of the left fence and installation of the near end – but this was a “big job” that we were really keen to complete before the weather started to turn, so we’re incredibly pleased to have finished the first part. 

We also were lucky enough to have help to tame one of the more unruly parts of the garden! Our rhubarb patch was in dire need of an overhaul, with prolific weeds and bushes made up of more dead wood than live wood. A pair of secateurs, a saw and a willing helper – and after three days we have a far more respectable corner of the garden, complete with round-pruned bushes, no weeds, and a pile of branches to chop into firewood that reached my shoulder! That’ll keep us busy over the next few days anyway :-)