TomCat's new digs!

[Pushka]

If sewing isnt your thing, custom made in ebay: BABY SET NEW Flat Fitted Sheet Bedding Bassinet Crib Cradle Cot Cotton Blend | eBay

It’s BC’s thing.

 

[blackcat20]

Custom cut foam from Clarks under $20, versus around $40 for a not quite right mattress from a baby store. I think that's that sorted. Sheets I can make myself. The cradle is only for daytime naps downstairs (so under supervision), we have a newer one upstairs for overnight, and a cot which we need to collect in the next week or two.

Trying to sort out soil/turf/sleepers for the front yard. Looks like first weekend of Feb is the go.

 

[love_the_life]

Custom cut foam from Clarks under $20, versus around $40 for a not quite right mattress from a baby store. I think that's that sorted. Sheets I can make myself. The cradle is only for daytime naps downstairs (so under supervision), we have a newer one upstairs for overnight, and a cot which we need to collect in the next week or two.

Trying to sort out soil/turf/sleepers for the front yard. Looks like first weekend of Feb is the go.

Sounds like you’re run off your feet! Make sure you get enough rest there Missy.

 

[blackcat20]

Sounds like you’re run off your feet! Make sure you get enough rest there Missy.

Baby moon this weekend, I am looking forward to the break!

 

[Pushka]

Sounds like you’re run off your feet! Make sure you get enough rest there Missy.

Blackcat20, you do realise you have a few surrogate grannies here don’t you!

 

[QF WP]

Oh, I'm sure there will be plenty of offers @Pushka et al

 

[JessicaTam]

Custom cut foam from Clarks under $20, versus around $40 for a not quite right mattress from a baby store. I think that's that sorted. Sheets I can make myself. The cradle is only for daytime naps downstairs (so under supervision), we have a newer one upstairs for overnight, and a cot which we need to collect in the next week or two.

Trying to sort out soil/turf/sleepers for the front yard. Looks like first weekend of Feb is the go.

Hang on ...

Cradle for downstairs naps; upstairs cot for nighttime sleeps; soil/turf/sleepers for front yard snoozes?

 

[blackcat20]

Someone decided to be 'helpful' and whipper snipped our nature strip some time today. Unfortunately it was the weeds we'd Zeroed yesterday so now theyre too short to pull out when they die, and the seeds have been scattered everywhere Absolutely no idea who either.

 

[Pushka]

Someone decided to be 'helpful' and whipper snipped our nature strip some time today. Unfortunately it was the weeds we'd Zeroed yesterday so now theyre too short to pull out when they die, and the seeds have been scattered everywhere Absolutely no idea who either.

Probably the council. They have to keep things down esp with the hot weather approaching and possible bushfire risk.

 

[JessicaTam]

Probably the council. They have to keep things down esp with the hot weather approaching and possible bushfire risk.

In Victoria I have found that the resident is responsible for the nature strip.

 

[Pushka]

In Victoria I have found that the resident is responsible for the nature strip.

Really? Ok, a not so Good Samaritan then. I guess they thought they were being neighbourly.
We take care of ours, water the two new trees and the lawn. But it’s surprising even in places like Toorak Gardens etc how unkempt those are left. You’d think given their house prices they’d look after them. And council only mows every 3 months and only those that are thigh high by then.

 

[JessicaTam]

Really? Ok, a not so Good Samaritan then. I guess they thought they were being neighbourly.
We take care of ours, water the two new trees and the lawn. But it’s surprising even in places like Toorak Gardens etc how unkempt those are left. You’d think given their house prices they’d look after them. And council only mows every 3 months and only those that are thigh high by then.

One of the attractions of my current house is that it is on a battle-axe block - so no nature strip to look after.

 

[blackcat20]

Either someone didn't like the weeds (that we were sorting out) or they were trying to be helpful....and made it harder for us to get rid of them in the process. Every other nature strip around us is all long weeds, ours is the only one with turf.

 

[JohnM]

When you say you 'Zeroed' them, do you mean 'touching' them with a Zero (aka glyphosate, aka Roundup) wand? (And why would you want to pull them out when they die? - they would have shrivelled to nothing if that had happened.)

Are the weeds broadleaf?

If so, there are selective herbicides that you can use to much more simply take out broadleaf (ie. dicot) weeds in grass (ie. moncot) turf by spraying the whole area.

Also, if seeds were scattered, you left the operation too late. Glyphosate is slow-acting but does depend on high levels of photosynthesis for efficacy. Seeding plants are in photosynthetic decline.

The key to using selective broadleaf herbicides in turf is to treat when germination is complete, but before flowering/seeding has commenced. Usually, in southern Australia, that means late winter/early spring.

 

[Pushka]

One of the attractions of my current house is that it is on a battle-axe block - so no nature strip to look after.

I don’t mind them so much. In this heat it’s nice to get around with the water later at night. No one around. I can get cool with all the splashing etc. They do give a nice entrance to the house. When they are cared for.

 

[blackcat20]

When you say you 'Zeroed' them, do you mean 'touching' them with a Zero (aka glyphosate, aka Roundup) wand? (And why would you want to pull them out when they die? - they would have shrivelled to nothing if that had happened.)

Because two foot dead weeds don't look great (they shrivel up and die, but they dont vanish). The seed heads were only scattered because someone blitzed through them with a whipper snipper, spraying them everywhere....

 

[blackcat20]

Soil and turf ordered so that we can complete the front and side path next weekend. This is the general plan.


Box in the front is where we've planted the tree. Planter box to go under the window then grass for the rest.
Pavers and river pebbles up the side path. Standard roses for either side of the path. Garden to right of driveway will be left for now as it will only be damaged when (if) building starts on that side.

 

[Pushka]

Soil and turf ordered so that we can complete the front and side path next weekend. This is the general plan.
View attachment 151030

Box in the front is where we've planted the tree. Planter box to go under the window then grass for the rest.
Pavers and river pebbles up the side path. Standard roses for either side of the path. Garden to right of driveway will be left for now as it will only be damaged when (if) building starts on that side.

You’ve really maintained the momentum which is good.

 

[blackcat20]

You’ve really maintained the momentum which is good.

Doesn't feel like it some days. We had planned to do it all over the Christmas break but we were both far too unwell. We have our housewarming coming up so the pressure is on!

 

[Pushka]

Doesn't feel like it some days. We had planned to do it all over the Christmas break but we were both far too unwell. We have our housewarming coming up so the pressure is on!

While we did have a bit of a severe medical crisis after we built, but it’s also easy to let up. And it took us ages to get back on track. But there has to be days when you need a break and then you look around and want to get going again. Plus, there are other things on your mind.

We’ve had an enforced break on the reno’s here because of Christmas and those builders breaks. But come Feb and I’ll be pushing them to get cracking again. They’d delayed doing the external painting as they wanted consistent weather; well they’ve got that now. We’ve told them everything needs to be finished by end of March. We’ve been doing the garden up for over 18 months - it was already established of course but it needed an update and we started these house Reno’s about 10 months ago knowing it would take a year all up. And I’m making sure they do it by then. Now we are pouring the water into the gardens etc in this heat.