...and then there's "cutting back". Yesterday and the day before were days of cutting back. It is a lot of work and can be a painful process when you look at nasty twisting pieces that had once been flowering, lush, and beautiful.
But, heading back to the states next week; getting all of the buddleias cut back was at the top of my to do list. The starkness can be shocking, but...
...the true beauty of the Chatette and the magic of her stone shine through!
I'd learned on Monday, that any work in the front needed to be done early before the sun got too high. My last job for Tuesday was a big one...the lower terrace. Out at 7, I finished up some odds and ends on the front of the house and then...
...moved to the lower terrace.
I was very proud of myself. By 9:30, pushing 10am, I was as done as I was going to be. I had quite a pile of branches against the back wall, and many of the prettiest features of the Chatette and the terraces were shining through.
By getting this done now, all of the many spring projects are going to be easier to begin and complete. As you can imagine, I have quite a list. But, leaving knowing that we'll be back in 6-8 months in March/April helps.
One more pass of the lawnmower and I'll be leaving feeling "complete".
Happy Wednesday!
yes, I can tell you, it's just 7-8 months for packing and getting ready to get home to Cadrieu, it will go fast, lol Niels
Posted by: niels | August 24, 2016 at 08:09 PM
Can't you tell that I'm already ready to return to Cadrieu? It will come-Love to you and Bodil-Laury
Posted by: Laury Bourgeois | August 24, 2016 at 06:42 PM
great, late August-early September is a perfect time to come here ! love Niels
Posted by: niels | August 24, 2016 at 05:59 PM
Bummer on the Ipswich issue, but it looks like there is a way. Between the three of us we'll figure something out...I can't get that far north and not come to see you. I'll also have time to look around once I get back here-I'm not running out right away-I was thinking late August or early September-we shall see-Love you guys-Laury
Posted by: Laury Bourgeois | August 24, 2016 at 05:19 PM
Laury, sounds great to go on interrail :) and it would be wonderful to have you as our guest in our guest house, to sit in our overalls on our patios :) and depending on what time, pick some food from the garden, but unfortunately you cannot any longer go from Harwich, close to Ipswich, to Esbjerg in Denmark (it closed last year after more than 100 year), now only to Rotterdam /Hoek van Holland, but you can go there by boat, afternoon-trip or night, take the train from Hoek van Holland, Rotterdam up to us and I just checked Deutsche Bahn and you can make it by train in one day, starting around 8.am and be at us around 9.30pm in the evening, that's doable and you are used to slow traveling :) so let's work on that ! love Niels and Bodil, love your photo of your looong overalls :) btw, just moved my old overalls to my denim museum :) and now wearing a new old patched pair :)
Posted by: niels | August 24, 2016 at 03:44 PM
Funny you should mention that Niels...I've actually been pondering how I can get myself up to visit you and Bodil in Denmark. Jean has sold her house here so she'll be back in Ipswish-plus I have other friends in GB too...here's what I'm looking at...Training to GB-wander around on the train and see my friends-get to Ipswich and then from there they tell me I can take a boat to Denmark. I'm obviously not sure of ALL the details, but it sounded like a wonderful plan...What do you think? Would that work on the Denmark end? They all promised me that it would! Missing you both and would be so pleased to see you in your own digs next year-Love you bunches-Laury
Posted by: Laury Bourgeois | August 24, 2016 at 02:16 PM
hi Laury, sounds very familiar :) glad that you feel completed before going back to the States and very good that you come back as early as Spring 2017, let 2017 be the year, where we reunite with you F2F , love Niels and Bodil
Posted by: niels | August 24, 2016 at 02:09 PM