Tuesday 21 July 2009

The Snowman

The girls were taken off camping this weekend by a dear friend who recognised that this was the only way the little angels would ever get a taste of life under canvas. I could just about manage a camper van, if there were enough Cath Kidston accessories thrown in, but I could certainly never cope with erecting a tent or sleeping on the ground. For me, the whole point of the past 2,000 years of evolution has been to leave sleeping outside in close proximity to plastic way, way behind.


In the absence of the cherubs, phase two of the revamping of the back garden was effortlessly accomplished (mainly by my wonderful chum Landscaping Mum - naturally I spent the time in Homebase, with one finger on my chin, faffing about between different colours of gravel while she dug, hoed, planted, watered, shifted great bags of manure around with a flick of her wrist and generally got the whole thing done).



I've looked through all my pictures to see if I can stun you with before and after shots, like they do in all the best decorating shows, but unfortunately the garden was such a wasteland before that there isn't a single proper snap of it, just the odd one of the offspring bouncing on the trampoline with a bit of mangled shrub in the background. Never mind, just imagine an unloved wilderness suddenly turning into this:





And this:








Isn't it pretty? I am so thrilled, even though another friend who has recently been landscaped says it's the equivalent of taking on a small dog, in terms of maintenance, grooming and general training.



Everything in the garden would truly be rosy if I could just get the little dears under control. They came back from camping very full of beans (literally) and disappeared outside. How lovely, I thought, they're appreciating it already. But no. I may see the new garden as a little bower of bliss outside my kitchen windows. They see it, after a bit of judicious rearranging of my newly-bought allegedly Cornish cobble stones, like this:






A snowman indeed! Harrumph!

13 comments:

Who's the Mummy? said...

Oh, that is GENIUS. Love it!

Laura - Are We Nearly There Yet Mummy? said...

Tis looking lovely. Looks like you've had Ground Force in!

Chic Mama said...

Oh wow! It looks great. Haha....I bet the children love it.

Suburbia said...

Hee hee! That is SO funny! (sorry if that was not the required response!)

TheBlonde said...

how creative of them!

san said...

Brilliant!

DD's Diary said...

WTM, I'm not so sure myself! Laura, Landscaping Mum is definitely like Ground Force, though of course wearing all the correct undergarments, unlike that naughty Charlie lady. I do insist on standards in my borders. Chic Mama, hello and thanks for popping in, yes, the little cherubs have been chortling themselves silly ...Suburbia, no, that is NOT the required response but I forgive you as I have had the odd snigger myself, The Blonde, hello and welcome, yes, they are quite inspired sometimes, SandyCalico, yes, they're clever little mites *modest blush*

Kelly said...

I love it!

mumplustwo said...

Oh what clever, creative little people you have!

Re. camping,two words: Featherdown Farms. Simply the ONLY way to camp (I'm sooooo with you re. evolution)...fab canvas tent ready & waiting (so, no wrestling with ground sheets and pegs in pitch darkness, no ruination of recent manicure) plus proper beds AND lovely log fire andandand a flushing loo inside the tent. Ludicrously expensive (there's always a catch, isn't there?) but well worth it (sleep six, so going with friends makes it cost effective - and fun). My girls (as tent-averse as I am) had time of their lives when we did it last year and I fell asleep with a smile on my face every night we were there. Well worth saving up for, really.

Anonymous said...

Imagine having nowhere to plug the hair dryer in.

How do people enjoy camping?

GG

DD's Diary said...

Dancinfairy, I know, they are clever little minxes!

Mumplustwo, just had a look at the Feather Down website and it looks fantastic! Never heard of it before. You should write about it for my lovely friend Linda at www.havealovelytime.com. They are a bit coy about prices but I've asked for a brochure. A flushing loo! It's the only way to go ....

GG, I know!! Talk about stone age. I'm not sure people really do enjoy camping, they just pretend they do to scare us x

mumplustwo said...

Thanks DD. Have visited www.havealovelytime.com (what a brilliant idea) and am def. going to send Linda an email (though it will no doubt be later, rather than sooner...)

ADDY said...

I have to say it - they have a point!! Still, at least your snowman is environmentally friendly - he's green!