STRANDED!!!!

Sorry no pics this time. I am stranded in Bundaberg, due to some flooding that we have not experienced in years. Last week I took the long way home, Friday I detoured around 5 roads to get to Murgon and back. I travelled to Bundaberg for work, watched the rain radar and somehow I knew this would happen. I packed extra clothes for a change. What is a girl to do when they are short staffed at work and I am stuck in Bundy but volunteer for an extra shift, so instead of driving home tonight then back 2 days later for another shift , I will just do 2 in a row.
At least the shops were open this morning so I got a lot of Christmas food shopping finished. Now for the perishables on Tuesday after work and I will be nearly ready. In all of this ABSOLUTELY NO SEWING has been done. Hope your weekend was better.

Electrician's visit

He may have been 5 days late in arriving, but he certainly got in and finished numerous small tasks for me. The small light above the sink has been installed. He pulled a 6 foot snake skin down from the ceiling cavity after installing the light. We knew the skin was there since 2007 so no panic buttons were pushed. This is the view from the floor looking upwards.


Here is a view of the kitchen area with the hot plate pulled out and for a temporary fix, I have a board from an old cupboard filling in the space. The microwave is now sitting on top of that. 2 new sets of power points at the end above the tiles means no more leads and power boards running across benches. The different amperage power point for the hot plate was moved over to the stove area. So guess what, MY STOVE IS FUNCTIONING albeit without the GAS.
I have temporarily moved the hot plate over nearby so we can use either the oven or the electric hot plate. I am off to BBQ's galore to source a regulator to fit so we can maybe use a small gas bottle if the switching over of the hot plate/oven annoys us. We are waiting to get the plumber/gasfitter when we install the shower.

Just to show you it is indeed on and working, I am cooking afternoon tea. Care to join me for some oven baked goodies ( the first out of this kitchen in 3.5 years) . Alas now I have to go shopping for some Christmas Baking stuff.

I think we are now nearly ready for Archie's return. But first there is some mustering for Craig to do and some paid work for me. It took me a little longer to get home last Sunday morning, but I was pleased I left Bundaberg at 7am. Mind you I was pretty darned tired when I did eventually get home. I had to try 3 different ways to get past 1 flooded causeway near Hivesville. Belinda got through it in the X Trail but my car was just too low and I certainly didn't want to flood it.

Archie's Visit

Sounds good doesn't it. Archie is actually a cabinet maker who suggested he be allowed to do our cupboards for us.He paid us another visit as we had a problem with matching the existing laminate. So I seized the opportunity and while he was here remeasuring, we removed the half finished cabinet for a wall oven and moved the freestanding bench along to decrease the space as the stove will slide in there now. The splashback and rangehood will go above. In the background you can see the newly painted white wall of the dining area. By the state of the existing green boards one can assume that area was previously the wash up area. The large hole in the floorboards was also a giveaway to its previous function.We have now selected a different bench top colour and these will be recycled to the downstairs laundry area. A few hours later, I painted the recess with 2 undercoats, and moved in the stove. If you have lived without an oven for nearly a year, one can appreciate how excited we will be when the electrician comes and installs the power point. Then we wait to get the gas fitter so the top half will work. In the mean time we can use the existing hot plates until Archie comes back. The matter of the deleted laminex colour has probably been a blessing as we had a dilemma as to how to fill in the hole when we pulled out the hot plate. Since we now have new bench tops coming we don't have to worry.

Painting Progress

This job is certainly beginning to feel like running a marathon, does the finish line ever appear?
Here is the tall wall in the dining area of the kitchen section of the house. I have brushed one top coat of paint onto the old boards. Will attempt a second coat after I attack the kitchen side as the level of paint in the tin is dropping fast. I might need more than 15 litres for this part. At least the yellow has been covered. The dark line you can see is my appeasement to Bryan as he was complaining he needs coloured trims in the room. I have tried a sample pot of Taubman's Deep Water on the sill, actually looks ok but I thought I'd wait until the cupboards are in before deciding for a permanent solution.
Here is the view of the tall wall. I just managed to reach the top with a long handled brush. Didn't have to perch my ladder on a table either.


Now for the lovely green section.
Here is the before view , the green is definately not my favourite colour, it was probably quite a pleasant shade when new, but after years of grime and dirt and teamed with chocolate brown trimmings, it had to go. Luckily I don't have to paint the entire wall as the cupboards will cover the rest. The old sideboard and overheard cupboards are also departing.

Have not taken the after pic yet as I have only brushed one coat. Tomorrow will be the next coat with the roller.

I'm quite certain I enjoy sewing more than this but one has to take care of their environment also. Will be glad when I can move onto the downstairs rooms. They only have 7 foot ceilings.

Some progress

Back again with some photos of my progress on my triad. This is 4 strata units. I have since pulled off the yellow/red strips attached to the purple set. My adviser said he quite liked the yellow orange but I felt it had to go. I wish the unsewing would happen as easily as the sewing. Would help if I could find the quick un pick.


Here it is with the 5th strata set added. In this photo I still have not replaced the yellow/orange strips. I think I have also moved the blue line over one row to draw the eye in a different direction since this pic was taken. Might make one more set yet and have put it aside until next week for patchwork day. I have also decided I don't really like the watermelon strip set so it might only be used as a fill in on the edges yet.


Here's where I've got to. Back to the veranda. This is the first panel on the right hand side of the front steps. I finished sanding it ready for painting. I will now start on the longer posts and cross beams at the top. Used the angle grinder dics, the heat gun and the sander to shift some of the stubborn stuff.

This is the last panel on the RHS of the steps. Look closesly at the top rail and you can see how much of the rail was rotted. This one will eventually be replaced as it is far too whoopy to keep.
Hopefully after the beginning of December all this side will be painted. Have not decided on a colour for the top rail yet. In the background you can see where Craig has thinned the tree line a bit.

Off to wash a few more walls inside as it has to be finished painting before a cabinet maker revisits us in December also. Then I may finally be able to store some stuff that currently is homeless and a sewing area may happen.

Back at Work, Sewing and Tutoring

I must be thankful for the varied life I lead. In the past week I have been working at the day job, a tourist travelling on the new roadwork parts of the Bruce Highway, an Anatomy tutor for the uni student, back to reality doing some housework and laundry, an accounts keeper for the grazier, bull dozing supervisor ( really just a sightseer) did help plant some pangola pasture, and back to work though this time being the night shift person for 2 nights. In amongst all of that I also did manage to draw some patterns for the workshop in EQ7 ( that was certainly a STEEP learning curve but pleased I took the time to play) and have started sewing some more samples. They are along the lines of strips n curves but using a 60 triangle, quite interesting. Not sure where it will lead though. here is a basic hexagon formed from 3 strata sets.

.

The only thing housey I achieved this week was to replenish my supplies of sanding discs and paint brushes and paint. All is looking good for 2 weeks of cleaning and sanding soon when I take a bit of rec leave from work. Then hopefully the painter friend turns up ready and able to spend 2 days working hard. Must head off to work soon for another night of urgent routine work. I really wonder sometime why the public patients of Bundaberg get their pathology work done so prompt when sometimes private patients can't even be seen by their private doctor for sometimes quite lengthy delays. Of course I have to deal with traumas but thank goodness they don't happen all of the time.Catch you next time.

Sewing Again BUT still painting

Doesn't this look different. One coat of undercoat that took 2 hrs to paint after a few DAYS of sanding. Good news today before the rain was supposed to start I managed to get these 2 panels topcoated with one coat. I even got the top half of the stairs done before I decided not to push my luck with the rain too far.

The other good news is I am off to Coolwaters to teach kaleidoscopes and hollow boxes in January. So out of necessity I have sewed something. I went to patchwork in Mt Perry yesterday and caught up with the girls and actually sewed these three boxes. I have even finished the draft of the requirements list for the convenor and sent it off to her. The wonders of modern technology , I feel sorry for the generation who missed out on learning to use these things. Mind you my dad is giving it a very good go, but it certainly raises his frustration levels at times and involves some long phone conversations to me to try to make his computer work.

Think I might make a collection of these in blue to make a table topper for our dining table in its new blue/white abode. Am off to Sunshine Coast next week to be a cook and washer upper for the Uni student. Maybe when she is busy studying I can hit the shops. Hopefully her knowledge of anatomy and physiology will surpass mine by the end of the week. She starts prac at the end of November so please don't require an ambulance near Buderim as I certainly don't want her to see you there.

Where have the months Gone????

Good question, I did receive a bit of a shock when I saw the date of the last posting. We have been a bit busy with a few large logistical problems which we hope we have now overcome.
I have also joined the ranks of the mobile broadband mob so can blog when in Bundy before work and when I'm supposed to be resting . I can't see the fixed fibre cable being of much use to me, but I suppose I will have to pay a huge portion of the cost.
I have not been doing much sewing lately but hope to be able to start again soon. the house renovations are slowly moving along. I have nearly finished moving the rest of the furniture in. Have been waiting for an ex neighbour to come and collect some of her stuff so I can finally sort out a sewing room. Went to patchwork in Mt P and caught up with them all.
Hope to back there again on Nov 3, see you then.

Still Strippin' and Buildin'

I moved back onto the verandah using the old red table as a stepladder. I cannot quite reach the top safely but I can at least get about another metre stripped. I intend to go back around the house on all sides of the verandah. The above photo is 2 afternoon's work, but my time will be limited again as of next week.

This one is of the doorway into the old pantry now office, and the corner outside bedroom 2.

Great excitement, the long overdue builders ( thanks to a bicycle accident) are hard at work building the new front steps. We also now have the house sitting on half a dozen adjustable poles while 3 stumps are being replaced. Roll on an upstairs bathroom, of course that will happen when WINTER is over. The replacement hot water system still has not arrived. Luckily we have worked out how to get the dodgy one working, just long enough to wash your hair before the fan causes the heater to stop. When the plumber comes for that job, we are hoping they also install another wood heater given to us by some kind person from Bundaberg who has decided they do not need a wood heater there. Things are looking up, then when the downstairs room gets a new ceiling in place, the quilting frame might just move in. By then I will have lots of sanding to do, then painting so maybe the quilts might just have to wait a wee bit more.

C 's all fixed, I hope.

Well I can report that the camera is usable, the computer seems to be functioning better and the car, well after being told it was ready on Friday whilst travelling to Maroochydore, I arrived to find it still had the " original " problem. Another sensor replaced and it was going again on Monday. At this stage NO more warning lights have appeared on the dashboard. Looks like every modern car will need to be hooked up to a computer soon for diagnosis. Heaven help the RACQ mobile mechanics. I think one should invest in a towing company as it seems to be the way of the futuure.

I promised some pics didn't I. This is the last quilt I have finished. Note it is still in the quilting phase when this photo was snapped. It was displayed in the Bundaberg Quilters Exhibition. A one block wonder from the books by Maxine Rosenthal. Now the QCWA Piecemakers wish to try this technique. They have aready been doing Stack and Whack so they should be able to handle this. Their fabric selection for their last stack and whack had a few problems, well you can't be short of fabric for this one.

I was supposed to attend patchwork in Mt Perry this week but alas down came some rain ( for which we were very grateful though) and I came down with my first cold in a couple of years, so did not make it. Very little paint stripping happened either but I did get some done.

This week will see very little paint stripping happening as work is on the agenda for 2 days and 2 nights. I get to sleep through the election day. I still can't understand why the electorate of Flynn did not score many "goodies" as some of the other marginal Labor held electorates did. Perhaps we had a very lazy local member. I never saw him personally in 3 years at any functions in Flynn I happened to be attending. Maybe I just don't go to the right places.

Camera, Car and Computer Updates

What is it with all the C's??

I have been having camera problems, computer and car problems. I've managed to get my new computer looked at and discovered a faulty hard drive, now replaced under warranty. Today I ventured forth to load my camera software on it. I have been wanting to take some photoes of my paint stripping progress. The little piece of plastic that holds the batteries in place has broken on the camera so I have learnt to take one handed photoes quite well. I have at least achieved my goal of stripping around the house to a landmark point before we head off to the EKKA this weekend.This is the view of the front door after some paint removal.

This is what it once looked like, before I attacked it with a heat gun and grinder.

This is one of 5 verandah doors before paint removal.

Here is the front door plus to the right hand side view after stripping to the support beam.

This is the starting point for my return. I have not quite finished the 5th set of verandah doors.

The other c problem is the car. It is still awaiting parts at the dealership in Maroochydore. Hopefully they can sort out the problems and fix it.

Now I hope you understand why the quilting content is a bit lacking. I did manage to get 3 ready for the recent Bundy Quilters Exhibition. Will post a pic next time.

More Problems

More problems have arisen to prevent me from uploading too many pictures. My camera has decided break a small piece in the battery section. Been busy learning to putty windows etc getting the house ready for winter. Brrrrrr!
See you soon
Ruth

Back in the "real" world

I'm happy to report that finally we have the internet connected at last. Now I can start showing you some of the things I have been doing instead of sewing. But once again you will have to wait until I upload some of the photos. Mainly been doing a bit of stripping lately.
Hold on you say? No it's not the clothes removal, nor the patchwork version but indeed a bit of paint ( lots of flaky stuff) removal.
Stay tuned I will get organisd next week.

April Notes

No I have not disappeared from this planet, we have been experiencing some turmoil in our lives due to a set of controlling aged parents. My husband has decided that he is old enough at 51 to not be kept held to ransom by greedy ageing parents any longer. Anybody who has experienced the non communicating that happens in trying to keep a farm together for the family will understand what we are saying.
As a result we are in the process of shifting house, business, cattle and possessions. It is compounded by the fact that 2 internet providers have so far failed to be of much assistance.
I hope to be back to "normality" by about July 2010. Then I may be able to start doing some beloved sewing again instead of house renovations so as not to freeze come winter. See you then if not before.

January Jottings

Time has certainly whizzed by since I last posted a report. Christmas and New Year has been and here we are over half way through January 2010. We did a bit of relaxing in the rain over Christmas and New Year spending most of the time over at the new farm. Lucky for us there is a huge dam nearby and thanks to a niece, we spent some time water skiing and tubing. New Year saw us all have a quiet time in various places. I think only 2 of the family were in the same place.

There has been 2 deaths of people from Monto since New Year affecting our eldest daughter greatly ( both people were sudden) one a result of a traffic accident, and who's loss will be felt greatly by all of the community. Danielle needs a bit of extra support to assist her in her job to help her pupils get through this tough time.

We caught up with the family from Mackay and had the boys visit for a few days. They loved the train trip back to Mackay. The Sunlander certainly is a grand old girl. Only 1 and a half hours late into Mackay from Bundaberg.

The glamorous girl featured in the last post has received her results and did well for her efforts. She has been accepted into Sunshine Coast University to study Bachelor of Paramedics. Already her grandfather is worrying about her and the effects of traumas on her pysche.

I have been working on my Sunshine and Roses quilt from QNM Cover Series patterns. Wow I have 1 compass with 64 outer points completed. Only 8 to go. Thinking of retiring when I finish it. The applique will be the challenge.

I have nearly finished the class preparation ( very interrupted this year) for Coolwaters Retreat at Yeppoon for QCWA Piecemakers. I think I have managed to remember everything.

I have just finished 2 nights and 2 lates at work and am beginning to enjoy working the late shifts. On day shifts for the rest of the week and due to some unpleasant colleagues attitudes to work not really looking forward to them.
I also plan to re organise my class lists of classes that I teach and add a few different ones.

Big events are coming up this year for me so I must prepare for a lot of changes. The first one will be the youngest leaving home for uni and that's not too far away.

This is the view of the verandah where I have spent a lot of time removing the last bits of paint. A long way to go yet. There are only 11 sections like this one. All of the floor boards need replacing as well but we are trying to preserve most of the railings. Looks like I'll be painting more than sewing this year.