hiccup - kitchen update among other things

 This is what the kitchen looks like right now.

Its what it looked like yesterday afternoon.

Handyman was sick today.

Today wasn't a great day for me either. I began to doubt that everything will be finished by the end of the week. I was not happy.

Meanwhile, I spent quite a lot of time in the workshop... I started a few projects and continued work on a few things I started ages ago then left languishing. I'll have photos soon... unless they're total failures... in which case I should share them anyway so you can see how badly I can stuff up at times.

I've been experimenting with some milk paint I bought recently. I've never used it before and I'm still not sure if I like it...

Either that or I'm just doing it all wrong...

Eh. Its all about learning and experiencing new things.

Learning from our stuff ups.

And finding ways to fix them or get rid of them.

z

the benchtop - kitchen update

Just a quick note to let you know things are progressing in the kitchen. Despite being laid up with my back for 2 days, then another 2 days with some stomach bug, I've managed to do all the painting - walls, door and window frames, skirting boards.

Yesterday afternoon Handyman brought over the kitchen bench. Today he's fitting it.

Easier said than done as there's that nasty 45 degree angle to contend with. Lucky it was Wayne who insisted it be done that way so I don't have to feel guilty when I see how had it is to get just right.

The other day he put the rangehood up and we discovered that when they sell these things they don't give you nearly enough stainless steel cover for the vent... you have to buy more! Seriously, we have a low ceiling in the kitchen and it was about 2 inches short of being safe and steady!

Wayne has made a 'plinth' for it to sit on on the ceiling. Looks very art deco. I'm painting that today so the job can be finished.

Besides the benchtop to put in, the sink to be fitted, the plumbing to be joined up, the dishwasher put in place, the edge trims for corners and the cornice, there's not much else to do...

ha ha ha.

z

ouch - kitchen update

 

I woke up with a very stiff neck this morning. I've got a heat pack on it but to be honest I don't hold out much hope for that.

I'll just have to cowboy up and work through the pain.

Why, you may ask.

I finally got to do some actual work in the kitchen. I had planned to do the painting during the week, in short bursts every afternoon after work. But you know how it is. Daylight savings turns off, its dark at 6pm and my body says "wind down".

Not to mention that we've been home late almost every day this week and small bugs like to dive bomb wet paint at night.

So yesterday, my regular day off, was it. I got up early and got into it straight away.

I undercoated the ceiling and plaster wall in one type of undercoat. I undercoated the pine lined walls in another type. And I undercoated the door and window frames in oil based undercoat.

I undercoated the skirting boards which are cut and ready to go in. I want those suckers painted before they go in so I don't have to crawl around on the floor to paint them.

I didn't even stop for lunch.

Well... I did stop around 11am...

The dogs had been barking persistently for a long time before it registered that it was not normal. So I went out and sure enough, there was a wallaby near the dam.

An obviously sick wallaby.

Last year we had them dropping like flies in the area. Cats spread toxoplasmosis, which native animals have no immunity to. It attacks their nervous system, they go blind and wobbly and basically die of starvation.

I did not want that to happen to this little fellow. I put on my boots, grabbed a blanket and a dog cage and went out to catch it.

It was obviously blind cause it couldn't see me but it had keen hearing. It ran off towards the stable and trapped itself in a corner where I managed to catch it easily.

I took it to the vet. If there's a chance it can be cured they'll pass it on to wild life carers. If not they will put it down. A way better death than weeks of getting sicker and starving to death.

I hate it when I see them suffer. That was my good deed for the day.

Anyway, I grabbed a frappe from McDonald's cause I'm addicted to them and if there's something I just can't resist, its temptation. The vet is right opposite McD's....

You could say I had a liquid lunch.

I didn't stop till after 5pm when all undercoats were done.

I also put in a bit of time packing all my fabrics into plastic containers to empty the old kitchen dresser which I'll be moving to the kitchen.

This morning I have a dog to groom, then its back to work. doing topcoats. I hope to have one topcoat on everything today, another tomorrow.

Handyman will be here tomorrow to get back to work and he promises he'll work through till the kitchen is finished. He told the other guy he's been working for that he has to finish my job. Even if he has to sleep here to get it done by the end of the week.

I better get the guest room ready!

z

the best thing about living in the country

One of the things I love about living in the country is the sound of animals instead of humans around us. Every morning we wake up to the sound of the ducks and geese fussing around the dam. Birds hopping around the roof and catching up on gossip. The sound of Chipmunk telling us its time to let him play with the big guys. Not to mention the rooster crowing about how great life is.

I just love it.

This morning when I woke up the dogs let me know we had a visitor. A big wallaby was spending some time in the middle paddock. I tried to creep closer but I spooked it.

Probably a good thing. The dogs were all set for a game of chase.

Today the sun was shining which was a nice change from the cloudy days we've had lately. The horses were up near the mostly finished stable munching on hay. There's Cass, making a break so I won't put her mask on (she has to wear a mask to avoid sunburn).

Chipmunk is now enjoying days out with the others. They all get along pretty well. The girls sort of avoid him but he and Wally are still best friends.

He's put on a bit of weight since we got him. He's got a big round tummy now. He's just so adorable I can't stand it. He comes into the casita every evening when we're preparing their dinner and he follows us around like one of the dogs. We love him.

Wally is the biggest of the horses. And quite round. Though not as round as Cass!

Dancer is much finer than the others. Unfortunately I haven't ridden her for a long time. I've been so busy and the weather hasn't been nice. To be honest I want to ride, but not if the ground is muddy and slippery. I'm nervous enough on stable ground!

I love having horses so close to the house that I can hear them chomping grass.

When I feed them I spend time cuddling each one. Except Wally. He gets butt scratches if he's good but no cuddles. I don't trust him to keep his teeth to himself.

The girls love having special one on one time, though sometimes Dancer chases off Cass so she can get all the cuddles.

Animals really are good for the soul...

z