Path to happiness…
Can mere bricks and mortar make a girl happy?
(Or even a close-to-middle-aged battling-to-stay-brunette female?)
I pose this question today, because over the weekend,
my ever-lovin’ Hubby of the Year undertook a mission
which indeed brings me enormous joy.
Of the ‘Oh my God, she nearly lost them’ variety?
Yar.
Well Mr Incredible put me out of my misery on Saturday
(the lop-sided load in the trailer parked right outside the front gate
was a painful reminder of my perilous trip home from Big Town last week!)
…
So he got to work…
He had some help of course… here Violet does what Violet does best:
He had some help of course… here Violet does what Violet does best:
Supervise.
“I fink you need more sand Daddy!”
Dash was busily doing his best to actually help but failing to follow instructions completely (as most seven-year-old boys are wont to do) and pour extra water into the wheelbarrow instead of the cement mixer.
Oops.
Mr Incredible did recover, but that first load was mighty sloppy!
…
And our other family member?
Well he sulked a lot after being chained up near the action
– Great Dane puppies and wet cement –
not a combo we were willing to try!
…
Here is the second load of wet cement being poured into the pathway already dug out by my energetic hubby.
Hey… I carried some of the pavers.
Hey… I carried some of the pavers.
(And I have the sore abs and arm muscles to prove it!)
It was totally a team effort!
I liked the look of the tool and the cement…
OK, I was possibly not being particularly useful at this exact moment!
Let’s not get picky…
This path originally had several large pavers that Mum had bought ‘temporarily’ placed like stepping stones between our patio and the gate – over about 7 metres.
Couch grass used to grow between them but with so much foot traffic (dog and young human mostly) it had become very bare and dust (or muddy) and a bit of a nightmare for anyone contemplating cleaning floors in our house. (And I do occasionally contemplate such activity. Sometimes I even do it!)
Couch grass used to grow between them but with so much foot traffic (dog and young human mostly) it had become very bare and dust (or muddy) and a bit of a nightmare for anyone contemplating cleaning floors in our house. (And I do occasionally contemplate such activity. Sometimes I even do it!)
So it was with great excitement that I anticipated a non-dirt walkway for my house-bound traffic. Mr I would pour a couple of loads of cement and then carefully lay the pavers on top.
This is a clever scheme to simultaneously prevent the pavers from moving AND stopping weeds erupting from the path…
Dash and Violet were particularly helpful off-siders.
Dash even managed not to step in the wet concrete…
And while I carted armfuls of the bricks back and forth, I admired the precision of my paving man… here he demonstates the herringbone pattern.
As they say in the classics: I LOVE HARD WORK…
As they say in the classics: I LOVE HARD WORK…
I could watch it all day long!
And that’s pretty much how long it took.
And that’s pretty much how long it took.
As you can see from the shadows, this was taken at about 4pm.
Still a few more pavers to cut for the odd-shaped holes in the path,
and a heap more landscaping to do around it,
but my path is basically built.
Viola!
…
Of course, not everyone understands my excitement at such things….
Axel appeared to take up ‘stick-smoking’ to break the boredom.
10 Comments
T Lee
That dog! He is TOO much! The path looks great. Way to go Mr.I
traceelements
I'm impressed about how quickly that job got done from when you brought the pavers home!
Leenie
Woohoo! aren't guys with useful skills sexy!? Mr. I looks as good or better than Hugh Jackman in his grittyness. The supervisor is a sweetheart. Got a kick out of the stuffed toy next to Axel. So sad he was kept out of the fun. Hope you didn't get concrete on that wonderful camera. Try a little ice on those sore abs. Errrr, maybe not.
Country Girl
Wow! They make it look so easy!
And these photos are FAB!!!
rhubarbwhine
Love the stick smoking 😉 That first shot of Axel is crystal edged, perfect. Wow, wow.
(And I am so happy to be able to post you a real comment again. Happy dancing!)
jeanie
It looks fantastic!!!
Reddunappy
Great walkway!!! love it.
Anonymous
You know you are a REAL woman when you would much rather have a lovely sidewalk installed by the loves of your life that having a diamond 🙂 excellant job!!! Axel you win the saddest puppy of the day award 🙁
signed
theresa in Alberta
Heather
I loooove brick walkways! That's one talented hubby you have. And two cute kids. And one SAD puppy!
Pony Girl
I love the big photos, BB! 🙂 They truly showcase your great photography!
I can't believe how BIG that pupster of yours is getting!!