Fidget has been getting better at feeding herself, she is very good at eating her sticky wheatabix...

We went to our first session of the new term of sing and sign. Fidget has moved up to stage 2 classes, so we learnt lots more words today about food and eating.

On our way home we stopped at Aldi and among other (rather more dull things) we picked up a super tent-tunnel-teepee set and had fun playing peekaboo and crawling through the tunnel (I had a go too and can confirm it is great fun).

Fidget was 14 months old on Saturday. We spent the day working on the garden again. M moved hardcore into place for the last of the paths, leaving a spot for our herb patch.
Then weedproof membrane and slabs recycled from the old garden...

then gravel...

Fidget had some fun playing with a bowlfull of water...

By Fidget's bed time it was all done.

Today was spent tidying round and picking apples, then washing apples, bagging apples, making apple puree, apple crumble... If anyone wants some apples (cookers) - just let us know!

Sunday - day 2 of the turf laying adventure, the morning was dry and the forecast was for a dry day. It was quite nippy out, so Fidget put on her hat and we went out to see how Daddy was getting on.

The edges were done and the topsoil had been moved into position the day before, but it was a little too claggy and lumpy to work with, so we decided to leave it until later to try to level and stomp on the soil.

By the early afternoon, there had been no rain, and with a stiff breeze was drying the place out. So we felt we could get started. M and I levelled off the soil, compressing and raking it, and then the momentus occasion of laying the first turf!!....

It went down quickly, Fidget and I played on the deck and watched.

And before bedtime came...it was done!

It looks fantastic, now we just need some more rain to get it established. Wonder if we'll get any?!

Today, Fidget and I enjoyed the deck, with a bit of painting

and playing with her umbrella, waiting for that rain!

Fidget is her Father's daughter - here she is carefully putting away some pennies...

On Tuesday afternoon, mummies meeting was held here. S and A joined us, then Mush and mini-Mush, then S and little S.

Little S is starting to walk, and was making good progress, even pulling along the circus elephant...

Then S and T joined us, it was lovely to see them both, as they usually can't make our regular get together anymore, but could because it was school holidays.

The plan for this weekend was to get grass laid on the ground we had cleared. Some extra topsoil and turfs were ordered, and then it began to rain... and rain...and rain. I know it's been a wet summer, but we were naively hoping for a reprieve after the relatively good weather of last weekend. So the turfs and topsoil arrived on Friday and it all looked rather desperate, as there is no way we can compact the soil when it is sodden. But this morning, M gamely got up and out there, to finish the edges to the lawn and then move the extra topsoil into position.

What a hero!

Fidget was impressed...

While Fidget had a nap, I helped out with some of the shovelling.

Then we had a great surprise, a work colleague - S, having heard our sad tale and finding himself in the area, had come across to lend a hand.

What a star!!! Thanks S!

On Friday morning before she was dressed, Fidget fell over and split her lip. I popped her pj top in to soak and put her dressing gown on.
isn't she a cutie!

I went off to work. Granny and Grandpa arrived to help out with the weekend activities. When I arrived home, Grandpa and Mark were nearly finished with putting the balustrade around the deck.

On Saturday morning, we got started, Fidget and Granny played together, M and I started to clear the lawn area and Grandpa started making a gate for the deck.

Pretty soon, Aunty M and Uncle A arrived and got straight into weed clearance.

We kept finding lots of frogs and relocating them at the far end of the garden, by the way, this is not the pile of stuff cleared away, this is an actual shot of our "lawn" as was...

Saturday was a warm day, so Fidget cooled down by playing with a tub of water...

(the work on the gate continued...)

(The clearing continued...)

The lawn area was full of bindweed and builders rubble so it was slow going and hard work. It was a lovely warm evening, so after showers we sat out to enjoy a takaway on the deck.

Sunday morning was misty and damp

Fidget went out in her wellies, to check out the state of the weather....

It was pretty wet, and given how tired we all were, it was a slow start to the day.

But we did get out and finish off the weed clearance, it already looks so much better, ready for laying the turf next weekend.

Grandpa had done stirling work on the gate, and by the afternoon it was finished. Fidget thought it was great for riding on, less good for keeping her out of the garden.

Final job was a bit of rotavating, before clearing up and putting our feet up!