36. Our First Year

Recently we celebrated our first year in our "not quite so new anymore" home.  It is fun to look back on the photos and see how far we have come on this journey from the block full of weeds to an almost finished house.  Our first year has certainly been eventful so we are looking forward to a more restful year to really enjoy our new space.

So what has changed?  Well the garden is coming along and inspite of the hot weather, everything seems to be thriving. 

Hmm maybe not the hydrangeas.  I grew these from cuttings (rather than pay $20+ a plant), we don't  really have an ideal spot (but I do love them) so I am going to persevere and hope that with a summer under their belt and lots of TLC they will toughen up.  I have fond memories of Nanna growing hydrangeas in Maddington, great big blue blooms.  They are also gorgeous in vases.

The vege patch has been productive.  We have enjoyed beetroot, eggplant, capscicum, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and chilli.  I am still not convinced that this little patch is productive enough to warrant the effort and expense though.  Perhaps a nice timber deck/daybed in its place??

We were very excited when our rear neighbour finally agreed to cut down the gum tree that was hanging over the back fence.  It was constantly dropping leaves, sticks, nuts, berries and flowers into the pool, which was annoying and expensive. (Nuts got stuck in the filter and we had to have it repaired)

The citrus trees are slowly coming along, a little too slowly for my liking but I am reluctantly learning to be patient. 

The groundcover/creeper that we planted underneath the citrus is crazy and grows before our eyes.   If anyone has a bare spot that needs filling...come and help yourself!

We trimmed the creeper (forgotten what it is called) back before the holidays...this is how it looked by January!

Trimmed back again :)  I even trimmed the citrus to promote bushy growth.  Anyone have suggestions as to what else we could plant here? (low maintenance, doesnt drop stuff, no invasive roots, fragrant)

The herb garden was going really well, until Lily discovered coriander.  She likes to eat it, lay on it and dig it up.  Very frustrating.

In September the first of a very few flowers appeared on the plum trees alonng our driveway.

  Whilst we were very disappointed with the show of flowers, the actual plum trees have flourished and are getting lovely and bushy. They seem to be happy in this spot as do the roses, this is nice as there are always enough blooms to pick to bring inside. 

These are Iceberg (driveway) and Serenity (front verandah) blooms.

Well thats our garden round up :)

A sneak peek at our Christmas present to ourselves, which may explain why we have spent most of the holidays being lazy at home (oh, plus my broken hand means I am "incapacitated" and had lots of appointments)

35. Ten Months and Counting

Wow I can't believe that I haven't updated our blog since March!!!!   Actually I can, life has been pretty busy, hectic and crazy.  Blogging hasn't really seemed that important.  Anyway, I am now inspired for a few reasons:

a) I found a stack of pictures on my camera
b) We had visitors recently that remarked how they couldn't believe we had only been in the house such a short time ( we kinda forget how far we have come)
c) We are really enjoying watching Murray and Julie's house progress via their blog
d) We are on holidays and for the first time in so long we haven't had hundreds of things to do and so have just enjoyed being in our home.

The family room was looking a bit bare so Craig and I searched for something to break up the long wall. 

It has to be at least 4m long, not too deep or busy and with a bit of colour.

We have had a mixed reaction but we think it does the trick.

Another development during July was the wallpapering in Niki's room.

We bought the wallpaper online last year (Norwall- Tuxedo) We were able to source the paper  from a supplier in America at a great price. (Discountdecorating.com)

Poor Niki had been very patiently waiting to get her feature wall done, which we did as a suprise for her birthday.  

Niki had Uni on the day of her birthday and so as soon as she left, we called the decorator to let him know "the coast was clear". 

He was here within half an hour and finished about 4 hours later.  We resurrected her room just in the nick of time (excuse the pun).

We have added a few more pieces here and there.  Our house is feeling very mch like OUR home now.

I did try to grow herbs in this planter, with no success, I guess they didnt get enough sun.  The herbs outside are growning well so I am cheating and trying indoor plants.

The washboard on the wall was a "find", it was hidden in a cupboard that we were looking at in an Antique Store and the tin sign was a recent purchase on our girl's trip to Melbourne.

That's all for now, next I will try to show our garden progress.

xxx

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)