Something for Rose to read on a dismal Spring day.

The rain washed away my best excuse for not blogging today. I was going to paint our brand new, picked-up-from-the-road shed door but alas! the weatherman says it's going to be [and I quote here] "dramatic weather" the next few days. If it hails, which it hasn't in years, Cushion will rabbit on about how we don't have a garage and the car and bike which live on the street will be pockmarked and devalued and of course, it'll be my fault for insisting on buying a tiny house with no parking. He just cleaned the car too and, yesterday, polished the bike. How long would a normal person take to do this? I don't know. Cushion took a day each. So long, he had to drag out a little stool to sit on, right there in the sort-of-middle of the road. Good thing we live on a short and quiet street.

*

We're almost done spring cleaning, organizing and clearing excess stuff now. Only chemicals, cleaners and paints left to sort and dispose of properly. Even the curtains and random dusty Indian buntings have been washed and now smell of Softly. The house feels so light and I'm awfully happy. Just my luck no tradie will be turning up this week.

Some things were surprisingly hard to give away, like Rufus's stripper.

And his industrial strength hair dryer.

 Oh, the backaches brushing, bathing and drying that boy gave us! I don't miss that one bit.

Random brushes, leads, collars and food bowls that belonged to him and Jordan. 

Silly, the memories that are attached to everyday things.

*

Dear Rose, remember how I promised pictures of Our Little Shed one day? Here it is. I suspect it was a dunny before.

A month ago.

Now!

Many poor spiders had to relocate that day and, I'm sad to say, I think many more got sucked into the vacuum cleaner.

I just need a good day or 2 now, to sand back and paint the recycled door that Cushion put up.

As for The Underground. You've seen what it looked like in its splendour days. Here's what it looks like now. 

"I can walk right to the back! Can you see me? It's a miracle!"

"Say, can this be my den?"

*

Hey, Ms C! Remember how Cushion promised he'd make me a new water feature, back in, let's see.....April?

He made 2! 

*

In other exciting news from the home front! Georgia's Spanish is improving! I can almost give her commands without signing now, and I talk to to her in my i.n.c.r.e.d.i.b.l.y. s.l.o.w. g.a.r.b.l.e.d.b.r.o.k.e.n. Spanish as much as I can. Cushion reckons her vocabulary is better than his. He could be right. I need more words for her! and will have to corner Mister Pablo soon.

Every morning, I wake up at 6, google Learn Spanish sites and flick through my trusty but not very good diccionario. I will have to get a better one the next time I'm in the city. When Cushion and Georgia finally wake up [they are sleeping in more and more these days, being retired], I go downstairs to make our coffee, naming objects along the way. 
             Escalera. 
                                    Mesa. 
                                                      Café con leche. 
                            Cucharilla. 
                                                                Fregadero de concina. Struth and aiyaiyai! Surely there must be an easier way to say kitchen sink?

I do the same at the supermarket and on the street. Yesterday, on my way to the gym and while waiting at the street corner for the little green man to pop up, I looked up at the clock tower and tried to tell time. By the time I figured it out, a minute had passed and the little green man was beckoning. I don't know. I could be getting a reputation as The Mad Woman, but I read on a forum that talking to your pets and yourself is a totally valid method of learning a new language. Who am I to disagree? If nothing else, it's a lot cheaper than going to proper classes.

What The Old Man had to say that day.

Uncanny.

*

Off to youtube some Spanish music now. Apparently, you guessed it! it's another great way to learn a new language.   Any songs to recommend? I like soppy ones.

Have a great rest of the week! X

 Goodbye orchids and jasmine for another year! Thank you for not dying on me like those bloody weakling herbs.