Various works

8-12 December 2019

It was all go at the house in warm sunny weather.  Lots of helpers and masses of things done.

 Dmitris and Panos were back to varnish the exterior woodwork

 Dave was raking the track over the ruts after every foray out and back.  The car was now making it in one go, taking it easy, as the track compacted each time.  We found this fabulous bug on one expedition to check conditions - it was very cross at being scrutinised and waved its tail end at us.

 I started work on terracing the sloping bank in front of the Solarium.  I have long wondered what to do with this bit of the land, and suddenly realised that it would be perfect for annual vegetable beds, as there are few trees in this area.  Not quite a front lawn, but far more useful.

 Dave started piping up the downspouts off the music room roof.

 With all the made-up limewash around, I finally got to paint our citrus tree trunks white - it dismays ants and will stop crickets eating the bark off later in the year.

 One day we were out all morning, with the house locked up.  When we returned and opened up the Solarium doors into the house, the gauge was showing a temperature of 41 degrees.

 Dave was digging and working near the chicken pen, which had them all clucking excitedly.  I noticed that there was an amazing amount of fresh greens just outside their door, so I set up some netting, and let them at it.

 Carrying on piping ...

 ... and piping ...

 ... until feeling pipped!

 

 The ramp up to the back door is finished too

 Panos and Dmitri wire-brush all the stonework on the base wall.  This has needed doing since it was plastered.  It looks much more spruce without lumps of plaster dribbled all over.

 Working water collection tanks.

Phew!  What a week.