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.