The Rural Voice, 2000-05, Page 44Home Decorating
Taking on those outside jobs
By Patti Robertson
Our area was truly blessed with yet
another open winter, and in order to
move things along I've already
completed most of my interior spring
cleaning and am about to tackle the
outside jobs.
I usually start each spring season
with a "Job List", separating and
prioritizing all the odds and ends that
once done will see me well prepared
to settle into the summer season in
fine style.
I tour the outside of our property
checking the lawn, gardens, trees,
shrubs, fences, the foundation,
windows, etc. A really neat trick is to
check your roof for winter damage by
stepping way back and using a pair of
binoculars to scan for problem areas.
This sure beats vertigo and does the
trick without strain and stress.
This is also the perfect season to
re -caulk problem areas around doors
and windows, patch foundation
cracks, and my personal favourite —
mortar my flagstone patio. Yup! you
heard me right gals — I do my own
patch work!
I start by getting all my supplies
ready. Concrete patching material,
trowels, and chisels to thoroughly
clean out the cracks. I use a shop vac
to clear the area of debris. As well, I
need a hose, a bucket of water, etc.
and with the sun shining on my back I
work merrily away until all is
repaired. And if I do say so myself I
do a fine job. The last time I tackled
this project I played with placing
some small seashells into the mortar,
and also fooled around with a few leaf
and fern impressions which gave the
completed task an arts and craft
approach.
By the way, it's really quite easy to
make your own concrete planters with
great satisfaction and artistic flair.
Start with two sturdy cardboard boxes,
one slightly smaller than the other
(approx. 2" all round). Fill the bottom
of the larger box with your concrete
mix, and then set the smaller box
inside the larger
and position
evenly.
Continue to fill
all the sides
with concrete to
form a shell.
Speaking of
shell(s) it's oh
so much more
artistic if you
add interesting
shells to your
planter or try
coloured broken
glass, or
marbles, or
interesting and
colourful bits and pieces of broken
china — you truly end up with a
personalized one -of -a -kind planter.
For a change fill your planter with
succulents such as Hens and Chicks
for a very architecturally -styled
planter.
Two years ago I laid two small flag
stone patio areas, one where my rustic
wooden oench sits and the other
where I keep my wheelbarrow. This
too was quite simple. I outlined the
desired area in the shape I chose with
a flexible length old garden hose, then
dug down, removing sod, etc. to a 3"
depth, laid my stones in a pattern
using all the interesting shapes and
sizes that flags come in and then filled
in all the areas with stonedust. This
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was great satisfactory fun, and the cost
minimal.
Here's a little known secret: there's
a stone quarry just outside Hepworth
called Ledgerock. They have a scrap
stone pile that's inexpensive for
picking. Don your work clothes,
sensible sturdy boots, heavy work
gloves and dig in. The effort cost
approximately $3 - $5 per trunkload.
I give all my patio furniture a good
once over with a vinyl conditioning
cleaner and check patio umbrellas for
wear and tear. This season I'm going
to tackle painting a couple of my PVC
Muskoka lawn chairs with paint. They
are looking a little tired and
apparently this works well as a
facelift. I'd like to add a sun or flower
motif to the chairs also to create my
own personal touch. Although this
will take time, it's bound to be a fun
project with a great feeling of
satisfaction upon completion and this
way my comfortable old favourites
should last a few more seasons.
Of course all the garden tools and
the lawn mower will get a good
sharpening and oiling. The barbecue
will need a once-over and as usual I'll
set out my favourite outdoor barbecue
table. (It's actually a piece of arborite
countertop approx. 30" deep x 48" in
length to which Ward added folding
table legs). We've enjoyed this easy
care surface for about seven or eight
years now. It's convenient and is low
maintenance.
I always use cloth table coverings
on this piece as I find them more
convenient to "clean up" rather than
plastic which I have discovered
discolours and stains with soil so
readily. When it rains I find the cloth
covers just blow dry injhe wind. Of
course I'm not talking about my best
linens here and truth be known, I've
found a bed sheet also works well as a
table cover.
So all in all I'm motoring along
with a long hot hazy summer on my
mind. I plan on getting as much done
as possible long before I take up
residency in my favourite chaise
lounge. All the best to you as you
make the round of your home and
grounds with plans of having the best
summer yet.0
Patti Robertson operates Classic
Interiors in Wingham.