Yard Work

OK – thats clearly not yard work… buuuuut … I took no photos today so I am sharing the current crocheting projects first before I waffle on without the aid of photos to tell you what a fab job we did in the yard 🙂
You might remember I started crocheting a fancy blanket in blues for my Canadian niece? Well… its nearly done.
Then I got distracted – I bought myself some lovely yard and got all keen to make myself a cosy knee rug (winter is coming after all)

I love the colours and its a bit chunky!

Then I found some thin yarn (by accident) that I thought might make a nice baby blanket?? So I put aside mine and started on that. Happily a friend had a surprise baby (yah – thats how out of the loop I am with people) so I have a bubs to finish it for

Its a nice blend of silvery greys – its slower work with the thinner yarn and small hook. Not sure how big to go… and it will need to be something used on top or for show maybe – I am just thinking small fingers in those holes… Still… I can work on the idea 🙂

Of course, being in the middle of three blanket projects isn’t enough and I picked up some yarn the other day for another Christmas present I have in mind. I wanted to do something new so I learned how to crochet the willow pattern granny square! (I love youtube)
Its hard to get the colours right in the artificial light -and there is a cream yarn too which I have now made up two squares of – they all look rather nice together. Will have to get Margie to teach me to crochet them all together when the time comes (If I can hold off starting any more that is!)

I am enjoying doing these ones.

Anyway – yard work!
Tomorrow we are due to collect Rino from the airport in the early afternoon. I thought the yard was looking so shabby that it was about time we made it look like we actually care!
Jeff got out the mower and made a start. I moved hoses, cords and miscellaneous ‘stuff’ to help out.
We took the netting off the raspberries – oh dear what a mess in there. I had to get the spade and dig out heaps of massive thistles that had taken over.
The kind with armour-piercing barbs.
I am not sure I enjoyed that bit. 😀
I also weeded the front path – it really needs a new load of woodchip put down on it. There were also the straggly geum plants – they send out flowers on long stems that look great… but after they die off they look not great. They’ve been looking not great for too long.
The sunflowers had had it, so out they came – as well as weeding back one half of the strawberry patch.
Meanwhile, Jeff has mowed and whippersnipped his way around the yard and garden. So much easier to navigate in the veggie patch now!

While I was weeding something, Jeff decided to take the steel plate off the septic to take a look… and I am thinking ‘what were you thinking????’ (Hey Rino, welcome to Tassie, don’t mind the pong haha)
BUT – its mad. I have to take a photo. There is a concrete slab down the back with the steel plate on. Lift plate to reveal… a whacking great hole bored down about 15-20ft and probably about um… a metre and a half wide?? (I’ll take a snap)
Its all dirt walls and goes down into dirt. A small polypipe goes down into it but its one that comes from another area and goes nowhere.
Ummmm… I wonder where our septic goes?
After seven years here we still come up with mysteries!!

Well… since we are having a guest come in I figured I should come in and wash the dirt off, make up a bed and do some vacuuming and tidying.
I am in the bathroom washing my hands – a lot (that red dirt!!) and I glance in the mirror to see an ant on my head!! One of the half to three quartre inch, massive pincer type ants!! NOT COOL!
Cue the mad ant dance.
I’ve flicked my bandanna off in the hope the ant went with it. No ant to be seen.
Since I have hair you could lose a badger in, I had to yell for Jeff to come and inspect. Getting bitten on the head by one of these buggers was not going to be an optimal end to the day.
He cant see anything, helpfully hands me a hairbrush and stands back.
Hair must have been surprised at the vigorous brushing since it doesn’t get groomed much.
No sign of ant falling out or ant on floor or vanity or bath or bench.
Time to disrobe – didn’t want the chance of ant rummaging about in any of my crevasses.
Finally while I am standing there in my foundation garments, ant wanders over the bath mat.
Ant is now missing along with all toilet contents in the mystery septic.

Life around here is never really dull
Cheers!