To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow

Afternoon All,  

You know when you start a task and sometimes regret it almost immediately? Well, that was me, and Mr. Warehouse last weekend. However, as the weekend had rolled around again we found ourselves in the garden, grey skies above, a chill in the air, and threatening rain, despite being gloriously sunny all week.

Why? Well with Bozza Jozza confirming that plans for Easter are underway and that from 29 March 2021, outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households will be allowed and it is understood this will include gatherings in private gardens, it was time to get ours spick and span. So shutting down the laptop for the weekend and delivering the last few Woofty's Dog Treats boxes ordered through my first ever Etsy store, there we were busting a nut to try and get everything done in time for our friends and family to soon join us, some of them for the first time since September last year, or even further back.

Our plans really started as soon as we bought the house back in November 2018 as Mr Warehouse and I had always said the garden, whilst big (the biggest on our whole street by the looks of things) is a little plain and needs a "little bit of spice" (I really need to stop scrolling through TikTok). We had thought about a small extension or conservatory, maybe in aid of making the kitchen a little bigger or just giving us more living space. That type of thing was a great idea although costly. After looking into it we decided whilst we have the space to extend, it is far too risky, considering the planning and permissions, not to mention the fact that as it is a shared ownership property where we only own half of the property, we still don't know if we would get all of the value for the works done to the house or just the 50% of the cost since that is all we own.

So in lieu of this idea, last summer, as everyone was during the first lockdown we decided to take the plunge and get the patio extended. This would lend itself to having more "floor space" but also, in the summer once you pop a gazebo on it, some garden furniture and tart up the garden with some pretty flowers it will soon look lovely and almost as another room in the house. An extension without the full commitment of an extension. But we hit a bit of a brick wall when we came to quotes from local landscape gardeners and tradesmen. The job was going to cost hundreds, and that was just labor. No parts, no cement, no sand, not paving slabs. Just a man. Well, a couple of men. Or women. But for nearly the same cost as we paid for the hard-flooring the whole of the downstairs, if not more, I just didn't know if it was worth it just for parties and get-togethers and maybe the odd sunny weekend.

For the better part of six / seven months, I just couldn't see the real value it would give for nearly £1000 by the time everything was done. And so I consulted next door. She had laid the patio herself, not a huge amount, but nevertheless, she did it. Giving me some helpful advice Mr Warehouse and I took the plunge, purchasing the much-sought-after Buff Riven Tiles. Used in most new builds, these patio slabs come with sightly riven textured paving are functional and durable, perfect for shed bases, patios, and edging around your greenhouse. Nearly killing my car in the process we collected them all and there they lay in our garden for the winter, Coronavirus concreting our solitude plans for two during the remainder of 2020.

But the beginning of the month saw a blinder of a Saturday afternoon and heading outside Mr. Warehouse and I thought it would be a good idea to see just how easy it would be to lay just one row. So we did. One slab, then two. Three and four and then two more. Admittedly it took nearly four-hours the first time (all the while I was literally working in just a bra - And not even a sexy one at that), and a lot of sweat, and lumping dirt and heavy slabs around. But we did it. And before we headed to bed that evening, my future husband beckoned me over to the back door to gazed out over our hard work, lit up by the moonlight as the dogs had toilet time. I was proud. Proud of being able to save me a damned pretty penny and proud of not only gardening, something I didn't particularly enjoy helping out with as a child, but heavy laboring and landscaping.

Now don't get me wrong, neither of us are Bob The Builder or Charlie Dimmock, but we were doing an alright job and since then we have completed a further two rows meaning we are well over halfway done. Just two more weekends and we will be done and ready to host family garden parties (of up to six) and maybe even a BBQ'd lamb to celebrate Easter in a way that is closer to normal than last year. I have already started excitedly looking at buying a nice Gazebo to shelter from the rain, chill, and provide a little shade if it's too sunny. I have found the perfect one in B&M of all places, a luxury Steel Framed Gazebo, perfect for relaxing during those long summer nights. Not waterproof entirely, but shower-proof, the woven polyester canopy, complete with mosquito nets to keep out the bugs and a powder-coated steel frame for strength and durability is exactly what we need.

All I need now is a cute coffee table, some reupholstered and restuffed garden seat cushions, flowers, sleepers, edging, maybe some more pots and gravel. Oh and a fire pit. And a garden rug! Phew, better get a shifty on!

If you would like to purchase anything then please feel free to check out my store at: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Wooftys or visit our Instagram @WooftysDogTreats and use "TATOATS21" to get 10% off your first order over £15.00.

'Til next time, Love A.Lou x