a holiday is planned

31.5.2011

BUILDING NEWS

The week got off to a flying start with builders arriving about 6.30am on Monday. It was still dark but when I joined them at dawn they were starting to build the parapet on the roof that stops the soil falling off the front. Mid morning the sun came out and things were moving fast. Again today the sun has broken through the morning mist and work is steaming ahead.

Al came over and helped us draw out the curved line he has designed for the top of the parapet wall. Geoff and Al measured out heights on the wall at 2 metre intervals and then we held a curved pipe up to the line to draw the desired shape. We needed the architect for this step as only he could make the final call.

Edd has ordered the windows to be delivered on Thursday and we have Sue coming to see if she can do the rendering. I think we will need to order more blocks to do the chimneys and solar tubes. We seem to have gone through an awful lot of blocks.

OTHER NEWS

I am thrilled. I won the E-bay auction for the table and chairs. Bo’s kids had to stand back from the computer and they counted down the final minutes as I poised, all ready and terrified in case I did not get a bid in fast enough. This stress was not really necessary as I think I was the only person bidding, but at least I stayed focussed enough not to bid against myself!

Luckily the man selling the table and chairs is OK about waiting until we drive up there when Josh gets back from Perth. I would have set off straight away on my own but Edd is keen to come too, and if we both go we can enjoy the drive to Queensland like a mini holiday. I said I would go off once the cow had calved and was over the stage you worry about milk fever or mastitis.

Yesterday was a pottery day and Thea and I worked with Maureen in her warm shed. This week I made a lamp base to go with last weeks organic flower vase. Next week I will have to make more side plates for the dinner service I am making. Thea is proving an expert on the wheel. She has made a set of coffee mugs that all look exactly the same and are totally perfect. I get more and more worried about doing wheelwork again. I am sure I have forgotten everything!

Spinning is a different matter. I spin whenever I sit down for a cup of tea or a conversation. I will soon have enough wool to start on Sylkie’s winter clothes. The lanolin from the wool is correcting all the damage a years building and gardening have done to my hands.

On Sunday I showed Bo’s kids how to make butter. It turned very easily because Donna’s milk is so rich at the moment that I have been able to collect lots of thick cream. Donna is very pleased that Simon has sent up barley from the brewery and she is at the gate bellowing for breakfast now. We have named her calf Sharron; she is now bouncing round the paddock and has coped with the wet and cold weather.