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| Our house 60+ years ago |
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| The wall along the edge of the garden |
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| The face in the window |
Do you ever start, what seems a little bitsy job only to find it ballooning and expanding until it becomes a major operation. As long as we can remember there's always been a hedge growing on top of the wall. Every year we've tried to trim it back to keep it in some sort of order.
This year, 'Chainsaw Man' thought he'd cut a bit of the brash off, to tidy it up a bit. We've had three full trailer loads so far, and hardly started.
Next job has been pulling out half a century's ivy that's entwined itself through the stone blocks.
Once we've cleared the last piece ivy
the next step will be rebuilding the wall.
We were given some old photos of our house a few years ago. I enlarged one of the photos as I scanned it today. A little blonde girl appeared to be staring through the window watching us. I can tell you it gave me goose bumps a bit. Can't decide whether it's just a shadow on the curtains. What do you think?
I really love this old house. Perhaps there'll be a shadowy figure of me at the window in fifty years time watching the next occupants as they work. That'll give them the creeps for sure.
In the meantime, back to the job in hand. Hope the weather holds. I'll post some more pics as we progress and when it's completed.
That’s definitely The Lady In White standing at the window and watching the usurpers!
ReplyDeleteWe’ve done a similar thing with a wall last week, cut off ivy and snowberry and all manner of useless growth. But I’m NOT going to pull it off, the whole wall will crumble and I don’t feel like spending a lot of money on it.
Friko, you're starting to worry me - perhaps it would be better to get rid of the ivy the way you do.Please no! Chainsaw Man - Not build the wall from scratch again. I must get some ivy killer from Coedy when we next go to Welshpool
DeleteYes, definitely a girl looking out of the window.
ReplyDeleteWhat a major job. Wish we were there to give a hand.
So do I
DeleteWhat a lot of work. My hands ache just looking. But it will be lovely when done.
ReplyDeleteJoanne, I could do with borrowing your grand children - they're ace little workers.
DeleteI blew the picture up, but the resolution isn't good enough to really be sure, though it looks like a girl to me.
ReplyDeleteOne of the old photos has got two children on it, probably nieces, one of them does have fair hair so if it's not just shadows, it could be that one.
DeleteDefinitely someone in the window.
ReplyDeleteYes, the more I look at it, I think it's what I've told Tom
DeleteWow Molly looks like a job and a half - the girl at the window is probably thinking - 'these modern methods ' nothing like the olden days !!- take care x
ReplyDeleteProgressed quite well today. Just hoping the rain keeps off a bit longer.
DeleteDefinitely a girl looking out of the window. How neat!
ReplyDeleteThe camera picks up all sorts of things, you never normally notice.
DeleteWow, Molly, that sure looks like a daunting job to take on. I don't know who or what you should be afraid of more, Chainsaw man, spooky girl in the window, or all the creepy crawlers that are living amongst the vines of ivy.
ReplyDeleteAnd for our extra enjoyment, we discovered a wasps nest in the hedge. But saying that, I've really enjoyed the work - good when you can see yourself getting nearer your goal and looking forward to the end result.
DeleteHere comes the 'common sense' bit; it's sun and shadow.
ReplyDeleteOh how right you are about starting certain jobs. I know from experience!!! Good luck.
Thank you Monsieur Magnon, I think we're gonna need all the luck we can get.
Deletewhat seems a little bitsy job only to find it ballooning and expanding until it becomes a major operation
ReplyDeleteOh yes! As we always seem to buy grotty old houses, there are always surprises :-D
Our front garden wall was encased in years-old ivy and honeysuckle which had anchored the wall and an old crumbled fence, to the ground. What a job that was. The boys had to use a pick axe to get the roots out of the ground and yes, the brick wall is starting to flake without it's protective covering of leaves.
Kath, I can remember you posting about it and you've done absolute wonders - love reading your blog
DeleteI feel a horror movie coming on Molly! It's nice though to have a photo of previous occupants and I'm sure it is all entirely innocent... We have a bank outside our house which is held up entirely by ivy and groundweed. We kind of live with it.
ReplyDeleteIt's my terrible sense of humour - I think the little girl in the window may have been one of the nieces visiting.
DeleteThe shadowy observer could probably have told a tale or two of what she saw, Molly.
ReplyDeleteAs for the wall, all I can say is Good Luck. That's a big job you've taken on there, though it will look super when it's finished.
I love the idea of working on a wall like that. It looks a big job but hope the weather holds and you can take your time with it.
ReplyDeleteWe've finished all the cutting. Today I've been clearing the debris from the back side of the wall. Next job, to pick all the loose stones up and try our hands at a bit of dry stone walling. I've really enjoyed doing it.
Deletenumber one....I love your house!!! number two....can't believe you guys are working so hard! The wall is lovely and it would seem a shame to let it become overgrown. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteLinda, thank you. Our house is very old and very lived in and sometimes it's hard just trying to keep body and soul together, but I do love living here - it's very peaceful
ReplyDeleteThat lovely welsh stone wall! What a gorgeous area you live in! Good luck with your plans.
ReplyDeleteAnnie, thank you - I think we're going to need all the luck we can get.
ReplyDelete