Autumn Balcony

It took me a while to find plants for autumn/winter season for the balcony. I wanted something that could possibly stay over the winter, so I waited until the late autumn plants came to stores.

At first I bought three green plants only, but it was too monotonous even though all three were different greens. I love these decorative cabbages, so I got one for a little colour. I made sure that all these plants can stay outside in the winter and may even survive it if the winter is warm enough.

The grass got a spot on the bench. I've packed away all the extra pots and holder rings to wait for spring, and rolled up the plastic rug for winter. I kinda like the wood floor, so maybe I'll keep it that way even in summer. It was so nice under the foot compared to the concrete or even the plastic rug.

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This Is Why I Love the Balcony

A cosy chair, flowers, sun behind the divider, some fibre to spin, and a cuppa. Bliss.

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Summer Preparations

The weather has been a bit erratic lately, but it is warming up. So I decided that it was about time I did something with the balcony.

New flowers, a bit of a clean, put the cypress out, and there you are. I'll probably move the cypress to the other end soon, but for now, I just want to keep an eye on it easily. Besides, the plants are just so pretty, I don't want hide them around the corner.

Things left to do: get a rug, or a wood deck, or both. The grey concrete is pretty, but it is so very cold and hard under feet. I want something that withstands the seasons and lets the water through, and is pretty. So far, a solution has proven to be elusive, but it'll come. One day I shall find exactly what I am looking for.

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Greenery

Remember when I went overboard with flowers in the Summer? No? No worries, here's how it was:

Many big boxes overflowing with all sorts of flowers. Way too many. The individual flowers got lost in the mass, and all that watering! Some days I had to water twice a day to keep all flowers happy. Not good for me or for them.

I have learned my lesson:

More space for the flowers to shine individually, fewer kinds, less watering. Perfect.

I took down the bigger boxes and stored them in the basement. I may use one or two next Summer, but probably not all three together in this configuration. I moved the cypress inside to protect it from the winds and cold. If it survives the Winter and being gnawed on by Sona, it gets to go outside again next year.

I love having a balcony. I love having the option of having plants that can go outside in the Summer. I love having enough light to have plants inside all year round.

This little thing seems to be happy in the book shelf, even though it rarely gets any direct sunlight. The light levels are not optimal, so I have to turn it once in a while for it to get light evenly. That's why it's leaning a bit, it'll straighten itself out soon.

I just love this place.

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It Has Been a Year

It doesn't feel like a year has passed since I moved. A year. Already! But it has. A year ago last week, I moved, and then crashed and slept for three days. Sona was so scared of all the new that he crawled under the blanket with me and came out only to eat and use the litter box.

It is a year later and he is a lot more relaxed. He takes a keen interest in the bugs and birds flying outside, and he seems to enjoy his life. He even has started to snuggle up to me in the chair or even sleep on my lap a bit. And that makes me insanely happy.

Last summer I was so tired and so overwhelmed by all that needed to be done indoors that I didn't do anything at the balcony. This summer is different. At first, I decided upon what hardware to buy, and now I've started filling the boxes with flowers. I might have gone overboard a bit...

There are three big rectangular boxes, three rings with medium flower pots, and one big ring with a bucket. Then there is the cypress that survived the winter, a couple of grasses in mini pots, and a round lantern. Not to mention the black rattan chair (which takes up nearly half the balcony) and the little metal night table.

It feels like there's too much stuff on the balcony right now. It's hard to water the plants in the back box because the chair is in the way. Sadly the chair is way too big for my balcony and the rattan won't survive the winter. I am going to replace it with metal folding chairs with much smaller footprint. That way they can be folded and out of the way when they are not needed, and the metal will survive the winters.

I would also like to find something to put on the concrete. An outdoor rug or wood boards, or something. I love the grey colour, but it's so cold under bare feet. And then there is the bannister of colour that defies description. It needs to be covered with something somehow because painting it is not an option.

When I moved, I had no idea how much I'd love this place. It is just the right size for me, I love the layout, the bath, the extra nook in the kitchen, and the view. Every time I think of this place, I think of it as "perfect". And then I remember that the kitchen is horrible, the electricity cables are old, and that the entry floor is dreadful.

But all that, it doesn't matter. All that can be fixed, I just need to save up, rebuild, and restore. It will take years, and I'm fine with that. I have found my forever home.

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Bought!

Today I signed a contract for a new flat. New to me, that is. The house was built in 1938, and I adore that style, Art Deco blending with functionalism. Gorgeous! It's in a very quiet area, but there is a grocery store on the corner, and a shopping centre one metro stop away. It also is a 10 minute bus ride away from work! That is an unparalleled advantage.

The flat is quite a bit smaller than the current one, but it has a full size bath tub! Whee! It is listed as 32 m², but it felt bigger. And it has a balcony! A tiny one, but still a balcony. The flat is not in perfect condition and there is lots to repair and even more to restore. The whole place needs to be painted, to begin with.

Some time ago someone had removed the original kitchen and put in a new one. They rearranged the kitchen at the same time and managed to put the largest appliances to the tightest place. I am dreaming of one day removing the cheap IKEA cabinets and having a custom built 30s kitchen with modern appliances put in. But first, I want to live with it for a while to see what exactly should be changed.

The bathroom was last renovated in 1991, and it too needs a little bit of love. Changing the lighting would be the first thing to do. The current one is of yellowed plastic and the light is so dim. The bathroom dream is to put in 30s style taps, lamp, and porcelain, new tiles, and a new deeper bathtub. But it'll do for now, I'm just so happy to have a bathtub!

There are no hooks, wardrobes, or even a hat rack in the hall. That would be the first priority after painting, and the dream is to get a 30's hat rack, some wardrobes, and an oak parquet floor. Probably not all at the same time.

The room still has the original oak parquet floor. I love it! The room only needs painting, and a slight crack in the wall repaired in addition to the various holes for art or shelves. The dream is to replace the modern sockets with porcelain sockets in 30s style.

I've never lived in a place with a balcony before, so I'm not sure what I want to do with it. It is tiny, so there isn't much to be done anyway. Flowers? Candle lantern? Some kind of seating and a minuscule table, most likely. A system to make sure Sona can't go to the balcony alone, that will be a must.

It sounds like there is lots I want to change, and there is, but the flat is in a decent enough condition to live in. The restoration isn't going to happen immediately, it's going to be a project for the next ten years, or even longer. Restoring the flat to the 30s style will be my main hobby for the foreseeable future.

I am completely in love with the flat, the house, and the part of the city it's in. My windows will be looking over a sound and there are no tall houses on the other shore close enough to see into my windows. My view is over water and tree tops. I am so exited to be moving there!

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