boothros

I've kind of distanced myself from LJ lately as they informed me I'd exceeded my limit on pictures unless I gave them more money. This put a stop to me posting the Starsky and Hutch series pics which I loved doing.

My attentions however, have been diverted to a new project I literally dreamed up which has taken my time and my life. I'd never before written for just myself. I guessed that would be the case, writing for a VERY small old fandom and an unheard of ship, but SOMEONE had to write it and nobody else did.

I don't expect anyone to read the work (I never did), but one blogger reviewed it favourably which made my year. Her few words have encouraged me to write a sequel, once again a story for me, this time purely written for the pure joy of writing. I thank that blogger for permitting me to spend my time typing my nights away and I'll try and link her post below.

https://jaymountney.com/2024/05/05/april-viewing-and-reading-recs-2024/

Thanks SO much for the kind comments on my recent gardening exploits. I couldnt post a pic of these guys yesterday as I hadnt picked them up by then, but when I saw them on Facebook Marketplace I knew I had to have them. Picking up heavy concrete statues in a 30 degree heatwave however, wasnt the funnest thing I've ever done :)

I’ve always enjoyed having a garden, though the small yard that accompanied my rental house could hardly be described as such when I moved in.

It was practical however, and with some chicken wire hastily tacked to the fence, was somewhere I could let the dogs out to do their thing and over the years the addition of potted plants has made it a bit prettier. The plants and flowers however, were always let down by the backdrop of old, scruffy paving slabs and cracked and missing pointing and over the years, the chicken wire was getting far past it’s best.


I’d thought of numerous ways to improve the look of the flooring area. There wasn’t sufficient drainage (or funds) for either real or artificial turf. The construction and maintenance of decking wasn’t something that particularly interested me. Loose gravel or bark chippings would have been easy to do, but would require retaining walls or boards to be built on three sides which was unsuitable as I have a side access gateway. Finally therefore, I decided on my favourite failsafe – paint.

Back in May, I removed the ever-growing weeds and worst of the broken concrete before repointing the whole area and ordering the paint. Ideally, new cement should cure for two months before painting, but I’d dried it out slowly and when a fourteen-day dry period was forecast this month, I finally decided work could start.



During the months waiting time, I’d also made plans to overhaul the fence ordering five trellis panels and some pretty blue wood stain to paint them with. With the sudden upturn in the weather, somehow the two projects became combined to run concurrently which turned out for the best as the floor paint drying time was four hours, so trellis painting made good use of the wait. (Each panel took 4.5 hours to complete and I never want to paint one ever again!)


Once I’d started, the whole thing happened quickly. Having so many pots which needed shifting about all the time, I had to paint in sections which took some working out, but the paint, though expensive, was a pleasure to use and has produced wonderful results.


The slabs are now not only evenly coloured, but are smooth and silky to the touch being easy to sweep and a pleasure to walk on, even barefooted. The chicken wire and all it’s evil little staples, was a pain to remove, but I’m loving the blue trellis which goes well with all the red. So finally it would appear, I have a finished garden and can now concentrate again on the somewhat neglected plants and flowers. Here are a few before and after pics, I hope you like them and thanks for looking!

I saw a pigeon watching me, invading all his space
The looks of fury, fear and dread spread wide across his face
Would I hurt him, would I not, how much could he trust
This bulky human, bending down and digging in the dust
But still he sat there watching me, while pecking at his meal
And all the time I envied him, because his struggle’s real
What right have I to feel so sad, when he fights to survive
What right have I too feel this way, when beauty is alive
For I saw a pigeon watching me as pretty as can be,
and if he could live forever, then I’d I swap his place with me