Aaron & Yvonne Gave This To Us

They found a stack of moulds for concrete garden ornaments and planters in the hard-rubbish. There's a mexican-with-a-donkey planter too and a whole lot of other stuff. Fake log planter...

My Room Is Almost Ready

It's the nicest room ever. Look at the view (of next door) I am forced to see as I (potentially) sit at my (favourite) red table and sew with my faithful sewing machine and (happy tra la la) overlocker. JUST LOOK AT IT WILL YOU!! The rhododendron is directly outside the window and there's dappled light and little birds and EVERYTHING!

I have so many plastic storage containers it would be embarrasing if I was that type, but as it is, I love looking at them and planning and planning and planning.

But... I never have to use it really, because I can just look at it.

The plan press and the stack of wire drawers will be in the 'library' when the house is finished. Although I'll have to put these two drawers of pretty pretties somewhere else... Hmmm...

Good Morning From Me!

I'm at work, which means I have no access to my camera or photo's of the house... and we've done so much! My sewing room has beautiful clear plastic boxes to the ceiling. Almost to the ceiling. At least as high as I can reach. Of course one always wants the bottom box but I can cope with that. Even if I never do another stitch I will be delighted with being surrounded by such potential. And of course I will do many more stitches.

The nearest and dearest is putting up another shelf today, just for me, so I can store the last of The Stuff. The stuffing to be precise. The feather/sponge mix; the pure feather; the polyester and the kapok. All labelled neatly in recycled bags left over from packing.

I have sorted the 'I don't know where to put it so I'll throw it in this basket' basket. You all understand the amazing sense of freedom and lightness that comes with having done that!

We went to pick up the ply for the rest of the book boxes, but they'd missed half of the cutting list, so that (the last thing to be done to move in and unpack properly) will take another week. But then, the verandah will be empty and I can sit out there and finish my red plain cloth quilt like an old fashioned Grandma, on our lovely Ross-made chairs.

xx

And... I folded the washing!

x

I Don't Mean To Gloat... But...

It's so pretty here. I took these in the near-dark while I was waiting for the bus to go to work. The sheep watch you walk past and murmer to each other... nice dress... what's she looking at... etc. Peace and quiet before the onslaught.

Somebody Is One!!

Miss Bling!! For all of her many and varied presents, the shiny plastic necklace (I made) took the scoop. Thick, unbreakable elastic just so you don't worry. You can trust me on the baby safety thing. She didn't even try to take any of it off, but paraded around with bracelets and necklaces like a true princess. Happy La!

My Chaise

There are a couple of stories about the chaise longe.

1: My Grandma saw it on someone's front porch when I was about 12 (I'm 50 this year). It had old 'leatherette' upholstery and wasn't in bad condition. Dunno how many times she saw it before she eventually went in and casually asked if they wanted to sell the 'old couch out front'. Apparently the guy went inside to ask the missus and came back and said 'how much?' to which she replied 'you tell me.' He said $50 and she stood there, stunned, knowing what an amazing piece it was and with a bit if an idea of its worth. He mistook her amazement to be hesitation and said to her... 'Ok, $40'. She paid for it there and then and took it home, balanced atop her shopping jeep.
She covered it with that striped material... er... ah... Regency Stripes... and gave it to my Mum.
2: I held a party when I was 14. My innocent and sweet high school boyfriend... you know, the one you dream of kissing but only do on one occasion because you're both too shy... was moving to Perth. We had gatecrashers who were a bit rough and somehow knocked the back off. It's a weak point I guess... so Mum and Dad put it under the house...
3: ...where the upholstery rotted. A few years before my separation 11 or 12 years ago, they gave it to me.
4: My (ex) husband promised to have it fixed up. Mainly because he never bought Christmas presents and gave me an IOU the day after Christmas out of guilt. But, as money came and went for a few years... more promises were made, ala Birthday etc... but no go.
5: We separated and soon after recieved a big tax refund and I said to a counsellor (we had a last-ditched-effort to find a solution) I was going to fix up the Chaise with my tax. To which the ex said, no let me. The counsellor said it would be a good gesture...
6: But...
8: 4 years passed. I finally got my share of our money. And ordered the fixing-up there and then!
Pure silk, hand-loomed silk, no less!!!! French. Perfect workmanship. Lots of money, but it had to be.

Getting Along With Things

The brilliant boy's bookshelf. Moving was no chore, apart from the weight... the books were already packed and we just reconfigured the stacking in the new house. We need more so the wood is ordered. One or two screws make it secure, although this stack doesn't seem to need any.

From my darling Grandma, painted in Porter's paint (Pricilla Pink).

rr

Wall piece by Kinda Kaiser. 2003ish. I saw it at an exhibition at the George Gallery.

The lad thought Pink Doll made the bedroom unmanly, so I went to get her friends before his parents arrived, just for a bit of good old-fashioned fun. Can you make out the lamp?? Another Grandma find (I love it but someone else hates it).

My caring and daring fella put a roast in the oven, then cut a hole in the wall, one hour before the in-laws arrived for dinner! It's great! You can watch tele from everywhere.