unfinished business

Back garden pergola

There was a large Sago palm planted in that brown patch you see and had died from a powdery fungus. I am trying to burn out the stump so that I can put a plant or planter there. I think some adirondack chairs would really look nice there.... lordy loh another job for the carpenter and more expense for me. I can't really afford it that means I have to sell more pickles and chutneys.

I would like some hanging solar lanterns but I have two boxes of stainless steel solar lights I haven't opened since last year. I will have to find spots for these eight new lights. I have the low voltage lighting in the back garden and every year I have to clean them up and repair the many broken connections. They have been neglected and am wondering if to repair them and use them or to get rid of them. You know what I think I will keep them and put the solar lights elsewhere.

This pergola is waiting for some more slats at the top and some braces. I have just bought the remainder of the wood and am now waiting for the carpenter to come and finish. I plan to put some shade cloth over the slats to create a shaded area to sit and dine amongst the water lilies. I am thinking of opening the garden for tea during the high season and am slowly working towards this. I really hope to have this finished by the end of this month (November).

I have a few unfinished projects around the garden to be completed before Christmas 2008. The back pergola has to be sanded and stained. I am contemplating a teak or blue stain. You see I have a large can of blue stain I picked up at a bargain a few years ago (hope it is still good ) and haven't found anything to stain in it and am looking to put it to good use. I also like the teak look for garden structures. Well I am going to try it out on pieces of the wood and let you know. By the way, last week I took a table at the British womens Club of Barbados at their fund raising sale. I sold many bottles of my jams, chutneys, pickles and salsas. It was only for two to three hours and I managed to sell just over $250.00 worth of stuff. (US $) I paid $5.00 for the table and then gave 20% of sales to the club. Not bad at all!