Here comes the sun

Bleak? Did someone say bleak?? (See last Saturday's post).

The last few days of gorgeous sunshine have reminded me that winter in our climate is rarely bleak for long! Yes, it's still chilly and the days are still short (but lengthening!), but what a difference some sunshine makes.

It arrived with good timing for our hot water heater. It was just about to need boosting with the element, but no, the last few days have it piping hot again. We're yet to boost this year. We do work with the system, for sure, by trying to reduce our demand even further when things are getting light on (that is, the temperature out of the tap isn't as warm as we'd like). But it's very exciting that the sun can do about 99.5% of the heating of our water, even in winter!

Meanwhile, Build-It Bloke has the mini-excavator booked for this weekend, so both Murphy's Law and the Bureau of Meteorology predict rain (which will hamper his efforts).

Sewer replacement - prep, prep, prep

Built-It Bloke often says that tackling projects around here is like painting a house. That is, 

How well a project works out is 80% about the preparation 
and 20% how you do the rest of the job. 

So, before we add a shade structure to the western side of the house, concrete along that side, plant more shade trees out the front and provide an even better outside run for the cats, we need to upgrade the sewer along there from earthenware to PVC pipe. It is required by Council, but it also makes sense, given the projects at hand.

Rest assured the preparations to actually do the replacement are extensive!

Here's how it looked when he started ... with cat run in the foreground (view from the back, left) and from the street end (right).

Under the tarp were floor boards, which have been moved to the front verandah, blocking access to the front door. Boy, is Build-It Bloke looking forward to having a shed, instead of constantly moving things from one place to another and back again.

With that done, things still weren't as simple as you would hope. We are forever finding old walls, garden beds and all manner of former infrastructure that has been discarded and built over or buried. This project was no different.

So far he's uncovered a huge stump (and removed it), a concrete wall parallel to the house and another concrete slab, step and small retaining wall near the verandah.

 So, here's where it's up to. Ready for the mini-excavator to dig the trench.                     

 

Oh, and in case you're wondering how the cats are coping with the removal of their run and its access tunnel, I think you'll agree that winter in a warm lounge room has them quite relaxed about it.

Bit bleak in winter?

I can't say I've been enjoying our winter weather much. Foggy mornings, the cold*, short days ... they just aren't my favorite.
* I know, it's all relative, but it's cold to me.

Herb RobertPerhaps it's being compounded by the stage we're at with projects here. As well as being a bit bare thanks to the deciduous trees and general winter slow down, we've had to remove some trees and shrubs in preparation for various projects. (Stay tuned for updates on the shed and sewer preparations). I know it will improve again once we can work around the new structures, but for now it's a bit visually challenging!

The good news is that we've planted some additional trees for shade in places that aren't scheduled for squishing in the near future. The soil moisture seems too good to miss out on. Hopefully they can get established while the going's good. We've added more pears, two persimmons, a white mulberry and a medlar. We had been thinking about ornamentals, but hopefully these guys will do an equivalent job for summer shade (and winter light), but with the potential bonus of fruit with a bit of care and attention.

Oh, and just to reassure me that it's not all bleak ... the herb robert has been prompting smiles for weeks as I pass it and admire its dainty purple flowers.