Drifting

This border is very pleasing.  Partly because it looks really pretty at most times of year, and also because it takes almost no maintenance.  The lavender prevents any really bad weeds taking over, and the gaura and ornamental sage pop up in summer to add to the party.  There are some hardy geraniums providing low level interest further along and some lilies at the far end for a bit of something different.

Up early this morning to transplant some plants that were where the terrace will soon be.  They turned out to be tuberous, so who knows if they'll survive... But they have a prime veg garden spot recently vacated by the lettuces, so they've a good chance.

The builders had promised to come back this morning to finish their digging out work, but didn't show by the time we were up and ready to attack our local huge vide grenier.  The whole town is taken over - with I guess about 500 sellers.  We did pretty well - in that we didn't buy much and were not mugged by some lady trying to get rid of her kids' enormous soft toys.  I was almost lured into buying a tortoise for the terrace, a chandelier and a rug, but held firm... CarbBoy finally found the in-line skates of his dreams (and my nightmares) and TallGirl found the toy that CarbBoy really wanted last year for Christmas but forgot to put on his list.  Oh and TallGirl found Calvin and Hobbes in French - which made everyone happy.

I set the kids a challenge each: TallGirl was to find a bit of clothing we could alter for her, and CarbBoy a book to read.  He was quicker: the first Lord of the Rings book.  TallGirl was grumpily unable to find anything, so I relented and said she could choose something from my clothes instead (it was hot and I wanted my lunch).  And so the afternoon (still builderless) was spent finishing the skirt from yesterday, turning a dress of TG's (that had been repurposed from a skirt of mine years ago) back into a skirt (very complicated button work on the bias-cut fabric) and - in my head - designing the alterations needed to a dress and a shirt dress.

Later I ironed while we all watched Pitch Perfect, joined by a neighbour in roller blades.  CarbBoy had a lesson from him in the hall (and briefly upstairs until I pointed out the insanity of that with the stairs right there) and managed not to break himself.

I see that a guy from Yorkshire is crowdfunding a Greek rescue package.  Can't hurt...

Tomorrow some packing and garden sorting.  Then holidays!