Yard Work is Hard Work

Well if there's one thing I have learnt about myself this long weekend, it's that I freaking hate yard work. Hate it. 

I hate being out in the hot sun. I hate getting my hands dirty. I don't like doing physical, repetitive tasks. I will find any excuse to stay in the house and do something else other than things like weeding, pruning or mowing. And most of the time I just find it downright boring. 

This is probably why our yard always looks like a jungle. A jungle slash construction site anyway. 

But what I have learned is my parents-in-law freaking LOVE IT. They both like being out in the hot sun. Getting their hands dirty and whatnot. Mother-in-law has spent the past few days doing what she calls "pottering", perfectly happy. 

What a lazy girl they must think I am! Which makes me worry about my vege garden which C and Father-in-Law are going to build (at my request!). Am I going to even tend to it? I desperately want homegrown veges but seem to be allergic to gardening. 

May need an attitude adjustment in that respect, I reckon. 

Do you loathe or love yard work? How can I make it more appealing?

Holiday Road

[image: mine]

I've had the song from National Lampoon's Vacation running through my head all day. You know the one. It goes "Holiday roooooooooooaaaaaad, holiday roooooooaaaaaaaad!" I'm sure it's now stuck in your head too. You're welcome.

Last night was the night we should have started packing the truck for our Christmas roadtrip. We managed to collect all of the stuff from our friends' house that belongs to C's parents - boxes of their knick-knacks that we have been asked to take north. Today C will be playing a big game of Tetris with these boxes, our luggage and various other items like Xmas presents, trying to fit them into the truck.

At least the trip soundtrack is sorted out. I gave some monies to Apple and now have a lovely current chart playlist to crank up, plus have burned about 20 of our other CDs onto iTunes. C has obtained the technology to wirelessly transmit our iPod/iPhone music into the car radio and through the subs. Fun.

This morning I have been trying to think of more domestic things that need taking care of (besides packing our clothes). Twitter has agreed I should change the bed to fresh sheets before we go, so I can come back to that lovely fresh-sheet feeling. I also vaguely recall someone telling me that you should put plugs in your sinks when you go away, fill them with water and put your pot plants in. This also prevents spiders and ants from crawling up your drains. I cannot find a single thing about the spider/ant thing on google though, maybe it is an urban myth?

In my googling I also came across a lot of home security tips for those going on holidays. There was some really good advice that I would never have thought of myself, such as this link from the NSW Dept of Justice called "What to Consider When You Are Going on Holidays".

Some things regarding home security are quite obvious - lock your doors and windows. Others are not things I would have thought of on my own! My fave tips from this document are below.

• Use timers to automatically switch on lights and radios while you are away.




• Turn down the volume on your telephone ringer and don’t leave a message on your answering machine
  that tells callers you are away.




• Hang some old clothes on the washing line and leave a pair of old shoes outside the front door to give your house a lived in look.




• Do not post your holiday plans online (whoops!)




• Mow the lawn and water the plants so the house doesn’t look empty.




• Remove items that can be climbed to access second storey balconies and windows.




• Put away all tools and other items that could be stolen or used to gain access to your property.




• Conceal valuables such as laptops and jewellery so they are not visible from the outside. (I'll be putting everything in the safe)




• Check if your local police offer a patrol service for unoccupied residences

Do you have any tips for home security or peace of mind while you're away on holiday? Feel free to share!

On interiors

Somewhere along the line, I have acquired a taste for beautiful interior design. I think it's my mother's fault - she's kept me on a steady diet of 'home' magazines for many years.

My long-time love affair with 'Country Style' doesn't look like abating any time soon, and my house is filled with magazine holders filled with publications like 'Home & Garden', 'Home Beautiful' and 'Vogue Living'. I greedily paw my way through each new issue, wishing I had homes like those in the glossy pages of each bible (and at the same time wishing I could take photos like the ones in 'Country Style', they are so gorgeous!).

I dream of completely redorating my ordinary house - currently furnished in a style best described as 'busy mother haphazard, circa 1980'. You see, my boyfried and I bought his parents' house - and when they moved out, they left us a lot of lovely things. Useful things, like the dryer, washing machine, fridges and the dish washer. But also many other items - a lounge, a dining room set, a very large display cabinet and a collection of old drawers and cabinets that had seen better days.

Don't get me wrong- I'm grateful. I just want a house filled with OUR things, not THEIR things. I want a fresh look, perhaps a pretty French Provincial makeover in a palette of off-white, beige and soft cornflower blue. Or a green and white shabby chic house full of distressed white furniture and glass displayed on side-tables. And vases overflowing with peonies and roses. Or even an Australian colonial theme - wood floors, parquetry, beautiful silky-oak side boards and 15-ft ceilings with stunning light fittings. Ooo, and a wrap-around verandah. Littered with quirky 'found' antiques. Don't think I'm getting the latter though, as our home is brick veneer!

Recently, in a rash moment, my boyfriend and I decided to swap the living room and the dining room. It took us all day to move furniture, didn't really find a good new place for anything; then gave up in despair. As a result, there's a big bookcase blocking the light through the front window, boxes of stuff everywhere (we're gradually packing up the parents' knick-knacks) and for a memorable week, the cable tv cord running from one end of the house to the other. I just look at it all and despair. I have lacked the motivation to try to clean it up or rearrange anything.

I think I just need to admit to myself I'll never had a house worthy of 'Home Beautiful'. That might take away some of my stress about the state of my home. I am however hoping to find the motivation to get moving on the mess this weekend.

Wish me luck!