34. Almost Done

Well we have been enjoying our new home for almost 4 months now and are onto the last few jobs outside. 

The final boundary fence was completed last month and the garden down the driveway garden has been planted.

BEFORE

DURING

(Craig and Jan chatting down near the road)

AFTER

We have planted Crimson Spires (flowering plums) with iceberg roses in between. 

The poor spires were so happy to finally be in the ground that they are already sprouting like crazy.

Out the back we have been busy installing the pool fencing.

Last weekend Darren generously donated his time and expertise to build a pergola outside our bedroom.  This is on the west side of the house so gets afternoon sun.  

The pergola should provide a little protection but will also enable us to plant a shade garden or fernery just outside our bedroom.  I do miss having a garden for shade loving plants.

Craig painting away (I did help..just a little). 

The actual painting took longer than constrction!

The plants are in (they look so tiny..but just you wait!!!)

Craig untangling the garden hose in the background, fresh from a dip...hmm..ok the secret is out...

I CAN NOT ROLL UP HOSES!

I don't know why but I have inherited some kind of gene that renders me incapable...

Craig to the rescue..again.

Our favourite mulch..sheep manure. 

Looking out from our bedroom...use your imagination and picture a lush tropical rainforest...in a year or so.

Whew thats it now..the outside is done...well, almost :)

* ----- *

33. A Home at Last

Now that the festive season is behind us, we finally feel settled and that this is indeed our home. 

We are very lucky to still be on holidays and it has been great to have a few days to potter around and get some of the less urgent chores done.
Or...just do nothing....hahah, like that would ever happen!

 Today I plan on conquering the study, which still has a few boxes to unpack...however the fact that I am writing this is evidence of my procrastination perhaps.

Our garden is going really well inspite of the hot weather.  Those poor roses that have lived in pots for two years have taken off and are flowering like mad.

I do think the 20 bags of sheep manure have been a wise investment as the plants are thriving.

The front is almost done now.  We are just waiting on the fencing contractor to replace the super six with the colorbond that is cluttering up the garage.  

We can then plant the flowering plums (Crimson spires) down the driveway garden.

The back is coming along also, even tho summer must be the worst time to plant a new garden.

Progress in the vege garden, two tiny capsicums already :)

The herb garden has already been used quite a few times!

Today Craig put up our weather vane. 

A neighbour at our previous house had a similar weather vane that I admired, Robyn had this gorgeous copper vane shipped out for us from Italy. 

He is beautiful and already starting to take on a lovely verdigris patina.

Inside we have started putting a few things up on the wall and it is starting to feel more homely.

Our rug that Greg and Rhonda brought us back from Saudi had been given a new home.

We even have a  bed...haha..sorry Muzz, the pillows are a bit messy!

 A final shot, we are loving the blackbutt floors.  Great call Craig!
(I have to admit that I was keener on travertine but am VERY glad we went with wood)

32. Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone.

We are thrilled to celebrate Christmas is our new home this year. 

Although it seems like it has taken such a long time, the reality is that we are in and almost settled.

(Just don't look in the storeroom or garage)

The driveway has been poured and now apart from the gardens, we are at least "sand free".

Our furniture has arrived and the house is starting to feel more like a home.

The chair collection is complete.

The reticulation is almost done (just a problem getting the required length to go around the back..hopefully they will finish this week)



Roses and hydreangeas out the front.

Our token lawn area, just a little section for the dog really. (Lily's Lawn or the Piddle Patch)

Our new gate..made by master craftsman..Ryan!   Thanks Ryan, we know how busy you are, we are very happy to be able to have our pets home at last.

 

Snowbushes and magnolia.

 

Our beautiful gingerbread house made by our clever niece Taylor and her friend Tori. (Orders taken for next Christmas :)

Well that really complete the journey of our house construction over the last twelve months. 

We would like to say a big thank you to our family and friends for all your help and support throughout this undertaking. 

Merry Christmas.

31. We Are In!

Yay..we are now sleeping in our new home..well some of us are anyway!  

We are still waiting for the container with most of our furniture to be delivered and so the kids and pets are still at Dad's. 

We were so lucky to be temporarily accomodated in luxury with Chelle and Rob but it is nice to unpack and be in our own home at last. 

We moved out of our last home in September 2009 and been in rentals since, so it has been a while.

French Champagne and delicious pizza with the Mason's for our first night.

So to update:  The floors were finished last week and the fireplace installed Monday.

I am very excited to finally have this fireplace installed.  It is a sentimental piece as it is from my grandmother's original farmhouse in Maddington.  It has travelled to Denmark with Nanna and Reg, then back to Maddington before coming to us to be finally installed in our new home. 

It is an expensive indulgence but we love it, bring on winter!

As soon as the firplace and skirting boards were finished and painted we could have our blinds, curtains and shutters installed. (Thursday was a very busy day), 

The Christmas tree is up and it is beginning to feel like home.

Our new sofa, we worked out that our previous sofa (that has gone to live with Hannah) was over 16 years old...about time we updated!

It is so nice to unpack at last.

Just when everyone is thinking we are so organised...a few snapshots to bring us all back to reality.

We are sleeping on Jake's matteress on the floor until our container arrives Friday. 

Still unpacking our clothes (this is tidier now :)

Our main TV is still in the storage container.

The front area still looks like a bomb site.  This is Craig loading up the rubble and rubbish to take out to the skip bin on the verge over the weekend.

This week the driveway will go down, then fences (to keep pets in) and then finally on Friday (the first day of  our holidays) we will have the furniture that we have had to store, delivered. 

Hope to be all sorted by  Monday (too optimistic?)

Reticulation, gardens etc will just have to wait until we have some time...I need to get organised and start baking for Christmas!

30. It Is All Coming Together

We have had a very hectic fortnight that has seen us move out of our rental property.  

Unfortunately the owners of the rental would not extend our lease for another 3 weeks and so we have had to put our furniture into storage and "Couch Surf" until the wood flooring is finished. 

This is not quite as tricky as it seems as the kids and pets are being accommodated (and spoiled) with Dad and Craig and I have taken up residence with Chelle and Rob in "the Mansion". 

 If you have to be temporarily homeless, this is a pretty good way to do it!

Since my last update we have been working on the outside while the team from Floors Of Distinction have been sanding and sealing inside.

Levelling in preparation for "The Big Pour".

Mark and his team started work early yesterday to set out the form work, another early start today and the limestone around the back and verandah has been poured.  

  

We popped over this afternoon and the guys were just finishing off the texture and putting in the cuts and expansion joints.   

Here the verandah has been freshly poured, awaiting the finishing touches.

Tomorrow the guys will clean the limestone and seal it, we will be allowed to walk on it by the weekend..so looking forward to no sand and getting started on the gar

By Monday the floors should all be done and so the skirting boards, carpet, aircon and window treatments will follow.  Another hectic week scheduled so we can finally get the driveway done and then have our sea container delivered and actually move in.

:)