Summer Fun

Ack! Has it really been almost two months since I've posted ? And it looks like squatters have been in here while I was away.

* kicks the empty beer cans into the corner, wipes away some cobwebs*

Ahem. Yes, well, what have I been sooo very busy doing that I couldn't even stop in and drop a line or two? It all started with the very early arrival of summer this year. Seriously, since the beginning of April, we have had maybe 3 days with rain and temps above 20C everyday. And with the arrival of summer, I was compelled to deal with some VIP's.

Very Important Projects.

The first of these was dealing with the terrasse, which I let slide into some state of disrepair and stainage last year.

Before                                                             After

Once the entire terrasse had been swept and power washed, we had the 70 year old Ungaro (yes, we ARE equal opportunity employers!) come in and repair all the cracks and spalling grout,despite his fervent wish that we replace the entire terrasse with SMOOTH rock.

Then there was this bit of street side property that has been a weed and nettle infested eyesore since we moved in.

This required the accumulation of some rocks:




Weeds begone...                                                             Eh, Voila!

Now if that wasn't enough there was another thorn in my side that had been poking at me since we moved in, this slope:

It is much steeper than it looks and cannot be mowed, which means that for the last two summers I have waved the weedwhacker over it and tried to keep the bunch grass and dandelions at bay. But no more, no I am SO done with that shit. I have rocks:

Probably not nearly enough, but enough to start. Stripped and ready to go!

Also, I have the cutest helper in the world:

Did I mention that I'm walking 5 km a day as well? Yeah, because hauling rocks and digging dirt doesn't burn enough calories to rid me of a winter of fondue and raclette, apparently.

The Big G and I have done a bit of travelling in the last few months; Basel, the UK, a wonderful luxurious weekend in Lugano and have more travel coming up : 5 days in Paris (starting this weekend !!!) and then I'm off to London to meet up with an old friend. As always there is more than enough to do and see in Switz alone and if I drag myself away from landscaping long enough I hope to do some Swiss tourism this summer too!

And the pool is open and should be warm enough to swim in by the end of the week! Yaaaaay summer!