Inside or Outside!

Hi Guys,

What to do when an opportunity comes along!

Well, make it happen even if it is very hard to do.

Since living in my old family home from my childhood and now owning said home, after Mum died I did manage to keep the garden in check for the first 3 years.  But when I started working it all when haywire and began to get out of control with the overgrowth.  What did me in was the Apricot tree, which kept on losing huge branches after strong winds that then covered the small yard and would take me months to get into the Green waste bin.

No sooner than I had dealt with that, another limb would fall and all that I had chopped back would grow even more with such vigor that stunned me.  On top of this the Birch Tree had been sick and dying for some years now and also with each cyclonic gusts of winds that would have heavy limbs falling that was very close to the roof.

There was simply too much to do with home life, health, work, decluttering and the garden.  Something had to give and the garden was it.  I knew I needed a low maintenance garden, but had little time and energy in which to achieve this.

Dealing with all the 'stuff' takes time as does a garden.  Both are essential to have in check for one's well being and life style.  Mine had gotten way out of hand and the kind offers from my wonderful friends was overwhelming.

The OUTSIDE is just as important as the INSIDE.

I was looking forward to harmony once more.  But it will take time to get there even after this.  Patience is required in abundance when going through this process.

It was at my birthday celebration, I don't remember exactly how this came about that a few friends offered to come over for a garden bee to help me get back on track.  One in particular said he could easily chop the trees and bushes back.  Well, I did eventually call Tony and he did come and have a look.  Dom, Ange and I had estimated it would take around 2 weekends to just do the trimming and so on.

Tony took a look.  I tell him what I would like to be dealt with.  I thought, ah, he will see the size of the job to tackle and the huge trees to be felled and run like the wind.  But he says 'half a day tops'.  Wow.  OK I say.  And it was then I got to fully understand that Tony was a man of many talents and one of them was as an Arborist!  This will be wonderful.

I was dreading and looking forward to the day.

In the meantime, the Study is half complete.  The Lounge Room is now once again in a state of flux, but we are almost at the ready in the Dining Room!

But, finally, I got my act together to organise the Garden Bee.

While he was with us that day assessing the job, I asked if he could help my son and myself to get a few more items from my neighbour's garage.  I now have the 1960s stereo at home to take pride of place eventually.  There is only one more item after this along with the fridge over there now.  What a relief.

The Lounge Room is next to be moved around to be more open and flow through much better.

So that is the INSIDE for the moment and will keep you posted as to the big reveal of the Study, Lounge and Dining more than likely after Easter sometime.

Now for the OUTSIDE.

Fortunately, for me, I chose the very weekend where the heat had finally broken.  But the day prior to the garden bee it belted down with rain.  Not only would it be soaking wet, but would have to call it off due to inclement weather!  Rats!

The morning of the garden bee I looked up the weather radar and decided to take a chance and now glad that we did.  It was perfect in temperature and slightly overcast at the beginning ending in sunshine.  I even got my forehead slightly sunburnt!

After running around getting things ready, picking up the extendable motorised chain saw and my said teenage son from a friends place and who was not going to get out of helping drag the logs to pile up on the front lawn ready for chipping.

First to arrive was Tony.  The others where still on their way I said to him.  That's OK, picks up the chain saw and has the tall and dying Birch Tree down within 15 to 20 minutes!!!

This is just last winter how the Birch Tree looked.  You can see the top was decaying and falling apart.

Here is Tony already started.

Half way by now.

Done and dusted!

What the!!!  What just happened?  This guy was a dynamo!  Would I be able to a handle this?  Well, too late for that now.  He worked like a trojan with many needed smoko's.

We then got rid of the Oak Tree's sucker that had regrown from the last chop down.  Here is what is left of it and will need to be poisoned to stop the constant regrowth.

It was around now that my son appeared from his shower and breakfast intake.  Now to trim the magnificent Magnolia Tree away from the gutter.

It was at this stage my good friends Ange and Dom arrived  to get cracking.  Dom set his sights on bushes that had long grown over the fence and taking over part of the driveway and Ange worked on the weeds in the rockery below.

This is the side which was very overgrown by the Pittosporum Bush, which by now was a tree.
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The neighbour's bush had grown over the fence and shaded the rockery garden bed.  Dom made light work of pruning this back, which was hard work as this bush was very thick and dense.

This is how it looked after Ange got finished with it.

What a beautiful garden!  Taking shape already.

By this stage Tony had already started on the side of the house getting a very overgrown Pittosporum bush trimmed away from the gutter.

This is how what was left of that bush from the front driveway with my three wise monkeys dragging more branches out from the backyard to the frontyard.

Certainly no where near the gutters now.

Roses were pruned and what was left of any rubbish removed.

From the other viewpoint before most was cleared away.  Still more weeding to be done along here.

It was around now that my high school friend arrived, Sue and Godparent to both my children.

Tony was long gone and into the backyard making light work of the huge Apricot Tree that had so many limbs fall over the years creating havoc for me on a regular basis.  Unfortunately, it had to go.

Here is Tony already half way through the Apricot Tree.  You will notice the overgrown grass and what a shambles the yard looked.  Very rustic.

More than halfway by now on this lot.  Weeds still sprouting up loud and proud before being trampled down.

Many workers look on, but also could double as supervisors.  You know, like the guys who make the roads or lay the pipes and there are at least 20 of them to get the one job done!

The stump will now serve as an excellent perch for a Bird Bath or seat.  Next to the shed was this bush that housed masses of spiders and covered in cobwebs and always gave me the heebie jeebies and was situated right where I wanted the BBQ to go.

Here is the shed and what was left of the Apricot tree last year.

Finally the spider bush was gone.  BBQ won.  Spider Bush lost.

Tony who turned out to be a total surprise.

The house had a foot path along the house, but due to the other at least 40 year old Magnolia by now Tree had to be trimmed back in order to use it and also trim away from the gutter of the house.

Mum would never let Dad prune certain branches.  She would be horrified at this, whereas, Dad would be dancing for joy!  It means the pathway will now be able to be used without tall people being clunked on the head.

Now, almost at full strength with volunteers, there was a continuous stream of long limbs being dragged out to be piled high on the front lawn along with what was left of the Birch Tree.

Coffees, teas and smoko's later and many water stops to re-hydrate, we were getting through the endless amount of overgrowth from the last 3 years.  I had kept up till then and when I started working again the garden just went by the wayside as I said before.

Tony watches on having a well deserved smoko in-between lopping's.

It was just as we were about to start on the massive Lemon Tree that never stops fruiting all year round that my daughter and boyfriend arrived looking rather bleary eyed.  They were promptly instructed by all of us what was what and safety instructions and then left to it.

Everyone arrived at just the right time to keep the energy level up and running.

Apricot done and next up the Lemon Tree.

This is how massive the Lemon Tree had become.

Checking the chain and a refuel later to start on the Lemon Tree.

By now I wasn't sure I had done the right thing.  I hope I have.

Lemons retrieved for the last time till it recovers and fruits once more.

A little lopsided, but can be worked on after it gets over shock.

The entire crew/team worked well and in unison.  It was fantastic.  Fun even.

Once the Lemon Tree was done and dusted it was at this stage we discovered under the massive Monstera Deliciosa bush with it's huge leaves there were 4 little feral kittens hiding.  I caught a glimpse of one which was a champagne colour.

I called the local RSPCA to be told that it was a Council issue and that I would incur a charge to hire a cage to catch them and then they would be put down!  I will have to try and find an organisation that helps these little critters.

We turned our attention to the Plum Tree that by now had taken over the washing line.  This one had huge thorns and we had to be very careful when handling this lot and will have to do the same when we get to chipping this lot.

Plum Tree slowly taking shape.

My son looking on .

It was around now that the skies started to threaten rain, but Ange yelled at the skies and ordered them to stop.  The skies listened.

Time for lunch and a well earned break.  Laughter, chatter and mucking around took place and it was just then after all had been cleared from the back fence and I had said my back neighbour will be delighted for the extra sunlight on their vegie patch, and just like magic up pops my neighbour who loved my Mum very much to say how happy she was to see me.  We cried as we had not seen each over for quite sometime.  I wont let time slip by till the next time.  She is just gorgeous.

Everyone commented how happy she was to see me.  Nice to know that.  I have such wonderful neighbours.

Getting ready for that break.

Gathering together.

Ange my angel brought lunch for all and boy did it go down well.

So nice to see the laughter in my backyard once more.

Break over and we get cracking once more.

By now the Green Waste Rubbish Bin was filled to the brim and I went to ask another neighbour for the loan of hers for this week if I could.  She did and even brought over some much needed rakes and huge brooms to make light work of the clean up under the carport.  Thank you bella for when you might read this.

What was left was on the other side of the house was what I referred to as the Triffid Bush that had grown to gutter height and was many many meters off the ground, being the steep side of the block.  I had trimmed it many times before and it seemed to just grow even more to spite me and cover my son's bedroom window to block whatever sunlight there was to be had each time.

I requested for it to be cut at the base.

Here is how the side of the house looked before the chop.

 Just after the huge ball of twine was dragged out for good with the ground covered in twigs galore.

Keith made the side of the house look fabulous once more.

 By jove we think we got it.

Aija looking on at the huge mass, which has stopped just there where it is to be cut down to go into the Green Waste bin over the next few months.  It was massive.

Being that there were 4 guys and this one massive mass of a bush they all decide to drag it out in one mass.   They heaved and the hoved and shoved and pulled.  What a fiasco.  Zigis is missing from this photo.

The young guns, being Zigis and Keith, raked what was 3 foot long grass and by now trampled down with masses of twigs within it. This way when we do mow the lawn the mower will stand a chance.

After the huge raking by Zigis.

The yard at the back now looks large compared to before and will be a useful place once again soon enough.

I now have a clothesline to use once more.

I can see outside!

It really has given me a renewed motivation to get stuck into the 'stuff'.

Here are some photos from the day.

Proof of work done.

Were I will set up the future BBQ.

My boy worked long and hard all day long on little sleep.

Soon to be a tranquil spot.

Mum and Dad watch over the day's proceedings.

Will be nice to have matching outside and inside in the end.

Little pile started.

 Bigger pile piling up.

Growing pile.

Adding to the pile.

Front yard about to be taken over.

The entire front yard is covered waiting for chipping to become mulch.

It was such a great feeling to finally get this done and the bones of the garden started.  It is only the first part with much more to do like weeding, getting the lawn back in order and fine tuning the low maintenance side of things.

Have since found out that the friend of Tony's is no longer in the biz of chipping so will have to find out if the council can help out or find the cheapest quote to get it done.  Small issue compared to what it could have cost me otherwise.

That night my body was a mess.  I could hardly move, but in a good way.  I personally started at 7am and finished around 4.30pm.  Most of the work on the garden went from 10am through to around 3.30pm.  We achieved a hell of a lot in a short amount of time.

And Tony was spot on.  It only took half a day!  Way to go.

To the crew.  One big huge THANK YOU.  xxxxxxxx

What a team!

Next up will be moving the Lounge Room furniture around.

Cheers till after Easter.
Anita who is almost one happy camper.

TWO YEARS ON THE HHH BLOG!

Hi Guys,

Mini catch up.

Forgot to post at my two year anniversary of the Hoarder's Helping Hoarders Blog due to ironically decluttering!  If I had to forget, at least that is a decent reason and an appropriate one at that.

At that time, Kez came to help move the computer mid February after me piling things every where else to accommodate this action to get the Study up and running.

Boom, no go!  WHAT!  This is a disaster.  No working computer in my study!!!  NOOOOOOOO!!!

Yep, apparently I am on cable and hadn't pre-planned for this and now I have this huge mess and now a lag in getting the room up and running.  It didn't last long as my daughters boyfriend came to the rescue.  I felt bad that I had messed Kez around.  She took it really well and said 'no probs', but I was not happy at getting her to come for no reason at all.  However, it gave her a chance to see my progress.  She liked what she could see and what I had achieved so far over the years.  She has seen me and at times helped me with this cycle over the years since my other home over at least the last 8 years or so.

How time flies by.

At least most of my friends do get me and why I have to do things the way I do.

Also, some happy news for a change, became a Stepgrandmum.

At that time I spent most of it moving things around to accommodate what was left of the furniture from my neighbours garage to be moved across.  And Kez did help me with that at least.  Illness held up my progress after that.

Many of my friends who have helped me over the years, I must say how grateful and appreciative I am.  I am one lucky woman to have such fantastic friends.  If it had not been for my 2 children and these fantastic friends, I don't know what I would have done.

The next thing on the list to get done was the working garden bee that I had to do as not often one has a friend who offers to help get the trees and overgrowth sorted that is a professional Arborist.  And some of the large trees were dying and limbs were falling and it was only a matter of time till one came through a window or onto the roof.

Am taking pictures of the ongoing saga, but am keeping much under my hat till the big reveal.

The next blog is about the Garden Bee day.

This blog  was short, sharp and sweet.

Cheers
Anita

What Whirlwind mess!

Hi Guys,

Wow.  Haven't been on for a while.  Yet again.  This stop start bizo can be very frustrating, but this time round it was essential for me to take time out for my personal well-being.

Again, life threw at me it's twists and turns.  I wont go into it other than to say it has been extremely emotional in an almost crippling way.  When you believe someone who has let you down time and time again before and you try as you may in your heart want to trust that this time years later that they mean what they say to only fall short yet again, does end up doing your heart and head in.

I have decided enough is enough and taking back my power and will not allow any person/s to ever try to put me back down no matter their intentions.  I have had it tough for a very long time now.  Years in fact.  But I don't dwell or wallow for too long and instead choose to take the positive path and keep on climbing to get to where I deserve to be.  And I will get there hook or by crook.

Having this sudden halt has actually been a Godsend.  It has given me the knowledge within that I am on the right path.  That I have done my best with what I had.  I chose to live in a good suburb for years in a dwelling that was admittedly damp but all I could afford to give my children a chance at a better future.  For them to have better schooling at their disposal.  There are areas in any city where you can live cheaply, but does also hold you back in what is available to you and stopping your potential.  I wanted more for my 2 children.  I have paid a heavy price personally, but the rewards have out-wayed that tenfold.  I made the right choice for all of us in the end.

The reason I say this is a few odd bods from outside my family have 'judged' my situation and have actively tried to make me feel bad about it.  It did get to me at first for a moment.  But in the end only served to make my resolve even more firm than before and now know I am on the right path.  Do not allow others to put you in a box and poopoo you.  Poopoo back.  For me this time I am just going to hold my ground.  Time for this certain lot to know I mean business in this regard and will not be a push over easily ever again.

So here I am.  Ready as.

Since my last post my son and myself have moved the glass cabinet and made the couch free to use once more.

Due to the desks in the study being set up and a blank canvas, I got the 2 cabinet drawers from the kitchen bench and moved them to the study to place the borrowed fax machine on top of them to better utilise the space.  Due to this, I got stuck into the kitchen and have changed everything around and now have a free bench and can see most of the floor.  All this is going round and all the time stuff filling the bins every week to the brim.

Today, I will move all the stuff around the kitchen dining table as my pal Kez is coming to help me move the computer to the study and help me reset the computer and set up the new printer maybe as well if time allows.  I will be able to then move the last item/s, which is the camphor chest to the end of my bed.  This is when the real work starts and that is going through all the paper work.  This will feel so good.  Each day I have been plugging away little by little.  And slowly it is leaving this home.  Love love love love LOVE this.

No matter what life throws at you and it will, of this you can be sure, the way to deal with it is just take a deep breath, regroup and restart small and before you know it there you are almost done.

Today will be a huge day.  I will look like I am in an even bigger mess than before.  But I know better as looks can be deceiving.  I know I am getting the volume of stuff down.  Such a good feeling.  Have some photos, but so want to show you the before and after shots so you can see what I mean by a whirlwind mess all at the same time.

While going through this whirlwind mess, with each item moved other stuff gets moved to accommodate the item/s to be place temporarily elsewhere.  Temporary could mean days or weeks and hopefully not months or years.  If that is the case you really are going too slow.  You then just get that sorted and you go to the next step to move the next set of item/s and this is where the whirlwind mess starts to make sense.  You move those item/s along with the other stuff that has been somewhat downsized in the last move to go temporarily elsewhere, yet again, to find it's final home eventually, be it useful or in the rubbish bin very soon.  I am about to move the next lot of item/s and have to move all the other item/s first to make it possible to move.

After this I will get my son to help me move the old 1960s stereo from the neighbours garage to go in the lounge and the Sewing Tredle Machine will go back into the corridor near the kitchen and laundry for the moment till the next set of chess movements which involved the Dining Room and Lounge Room much later on.

I will then concentrate daily on the boxes of stuff and placing the items in their 'new' permanent home and bag up what is to go to the Salvation Army, Rubbish Bin or to be sold or given away.

This will have to do as a mini catch up till next time.

Getting closer all the time.

No news on the job front, but in time i am sure that will change and in the meantime, I have to make use of this time.

Am organising with some dear friends to get the backyard back into ship shape order and low maintenance so I can keep it from overgrowing ever again.

I am looking forward to stating 'Job done' one day later this year.

Cheers all,
Anita