Thursday, January 10, 2013

Hot Days

I am back at Hungry Jacks again for a coffee and a bit of internet. Telstra has now confirmed, once and for all, that ADSL is a no-go so we're waiting for the paperwork to get satellite services connected. 

Dan has gone back to work, so work around the house has slowed a little. Lucinda and I spend our days looking for the best ways to beat the heat. The house is completely uninsulated and has been pretty unbearable during the day, so we've been escaping to the front lawn, shops or to visit friends where necessary.

Later in the day, the front veranda - which faces East - is the best place to be, when all the windows are open, anyway.

Veranda play.

Yesterday, this pine tree came down. I am sure I don't need to explain why we felt the need to get rid of it! It was half eaten out by borers around the base and leaning precariously over our roof. Every time a storm came in, Dan and I would cross our fingers and hope for the best.

I feel a lot safer now it's gone.

Our place from the back. The pine comes down tomorrow. It is half eaten out by borers and dangerous as hell.

Lucinda and I found this little cabinet in an op shop for $5. She was very helpful in getting it cleaned up.

Saw this cabinet at the op shop for $5. It's like it was made for this house. Lucinda has been scrubbing it for about 20 mins.

It fits perfectly in our shabby bathroom.

Happy in its new home in our shabby bathroom.

In other news around the place, I've got an envelope in my bag containing what I think may be a fire ant. These ants are incredibly dangerous and the Queensland Government is working hard to eradicate them. We're in a  'high risk' area and have seen crews working to find nests on nearby properties in recent weeks. Today, I was at the compost bin and spotted what looked suspiciously like one.  I caught it and popped it in the sample bag provided by Biosecurity Queensland. Fingers crossed that it turns out to be a harmless native ant instead.

This weekend, we're working on getting moved into the master bedroom as we're still sleeping in the sitting room.

She matches her house today. #Fiftyshadesofgreen

We're also planning to sit down, look hard at our budget and work out what jobs to prioritise. There is literally so much to do around the place, it's hard to know where to start.  Roof repairs are top of the list, and insulation, and getting either the future ensuite or family bathroom done.

In the meantime, we're set up and reasonably comfortable (albeit in a rustic kind of way) in the house now.

My beloved couch and the dining room table got moved inside yesterday. If I'm selective with my angles it almost looks like a normal house.

Here's a few glimpses from around the property. You can see we have a slight problem with weeds currently (!) but at least we get some friendly visitors.

This little fella was outside the kitchen this morning. He must have wanted a coffee. #kangaroo

Here's a look from the veranda at the horses in the paddock opposite us.

I still haven't got used to how much I prefer this view. #horsesnothouses

For all the challenges the house is already throwing at us, knowing that we'll eventually have a wrap-around veranda looking out at this makes it all worthwhile.

A functional bathroom would be damn nice, though.

27 comments:

  1. I absolutely love reading all about your new country life! It's a little further drive than Hungry Jacks, but I can recommend some beautiful cafes in Ipswich, namely Fourthchild (with aircon- of course!) in which to get out of the heat! I will probably see you there xx

    *Oh, and I'm completely jealous of that gorgeous little cabinet!

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    1. My sister in law swears by Fourthchild! Will have to come in for a look soon.

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  2. All in good time Edwina! Your home is looking 'lived in' already which is a credit to how quickly you and Dan have established your stamp on the place. The cabinet is lovely and it looks like Lucinda had fun too. Good luck with the heat - hope we get some rain soon. cheers Wendy

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  3. Borrow some goats for them weeds and grass!

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  4. The little cabinet is a great find!

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  5. Looks like you are progressing. The house is starting to look like a home now...I love that little cupboard, fits perfect in your bathroom :)

    We have it hot here too, although not humid.

    Stay cool,

    x

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  6. Hi Edwina, your house is looking good, I love rustic comfortability, what a lovely place for your daughter to grow up in.

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  7. Isn't it amazing how much more it looks like home once all your stuff is in there? Seriously, go back and compare to the photos a few weeks ago.
    It's gorgeous and I love it and I want to come visit and sit on a rocking chair on your porch and sip on a G&T.

    In the most non-creepy-stalker way possibly of course... :)

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    1. I'll whip you up a g&t any day! You'll have to fight me for the rocking chair though :-)

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  8. Think of it as "camping in comfort", love your cabinet find. The best goodies come from those hidden away shops.

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  9. I certainly do feel for you having to live through this heatwave with no insulation. The house is completely unrecognisable - amazing! xx

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  10. I don't know that I have actually commented before but I have been silently following and loving your journey thus far.
    My hubby has a transfer to Brisbane on the cards if we want it and would be based in Ipswich so we have been googling acreage within a 30-60 min drive. I have fallen in love with a few properties, some in need of a bit more than some TLC but I think we'd be up for the challenge.
    Your house is looking very homely :)
    Tammi x

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    1. Tammi, Dan works in Ipswich. Our area is about 35 mins drive and we are loving it here. Great, welcoming community. If you want a recommendation email me - edwinafreeme@gmail.com

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  11. That view is so lovely, I can already imagine that wrap around verandah. And i love the little cupboard you found, looks perfect in your bathroom. You must be boiling out your way, at least you won't be washing many clothes if Lucinda can spend all day in a nappy. Perhaps give her a spray bottle and she'll be sorted for the week! mel x

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    1. Mel! We are boiling. Seriously boiling. I had two fans on Lu's cot today and she still woke up sweating. Spray bottles would be a good move actually.

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  12. Your photos make you house look absolutely charming, rustic and quirky. I'm sure at times you feel it's the complete opposite. Don't fret. It'll all come together and you have all your blog readers backing you 100%. I think you're going to end-up with something stunning and jaw-dropping, and you'll look back at these early photos and shake your head and laugh.

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    1. Aren't you lovely. I was just thinking today, I can't wait to look back on this phase and smile fondly. And then retreat to my comfortable bathroom for a soak and to forget all about it again!

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  13. when we were in the lockyer valley we used to head to Ipswich or Toowoomba on hot days, just to escape. The valley seems to be hotter than anywhere else most of the time! Also the Plainlands hotel to play pool for hours in the air con, miss that place!

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  14. I love the rustic look of your images. The peeling paint behind the bedhead and so on make for fab pics! I know what you mean about budgetting for priorities etc. We have been here 4 years in April and we have achieved so little, all due to lack of money. I feel jealous when I see a home with a new roof - one day I hope that is us! Your place is going to be amazing!
    x

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  15. I agree with other comments, Edwina, your house already has the look of a cosy family home compared to the first photos you shared. I continue to enjoy this journey you are on. I also appreciate it is not an easy road, but you will eventually catch that rainbow at the end, and I'm hanging around for that day.
    I'm pleased you've said goodbye to that tall pine tree, we reluctantly had to do the same with a massive lemon-scented eucalypt. You'll sleep easier on stormy/windy nights from now on, I know we did.

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  16. wow.... with furniture in place, your home is coming along and looking so cozy! i agree with others, the peeling paint almost looks purposful and rustic. i love that you are sharing this journey on your blog - crazy to see how things looked when you first peeked at the home and how far you've already come with it!

    andddd is that a kangaroo?! haha so cool ;) maybe that was a little american of me... but i've only seen one once in my life!

    have a lovely weekend, my dear!

    xx, kara

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    1. Thanks Kara! It is a kangaroo,yes. Just a small one but we've seen some whoppers nearby. They're always welcome but are generally pretty shy.

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  17. Love the update! The house is really coming along! :) Good luck beating the heat, I know it's tough this time of year there!

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  18. We are roasting out here at Kilcoy too. Our house is old and even with the insulation we put it it still gets very hot. Love the cabinet.

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  19. Qlders are best for cross ventilation in the hotter parts of the day, make sure to keep or maximize the flow ways when renovating. This is the best way of cooling and much cheaper then air conditioning as these houses are hard to insulate correctly.

    Fire ants are tiny and very very aggressive. I hope they aren't them.

    Keep the lovely photos coming, it is great to watch the progress.

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  20. I'm just overwhelmed by how green it is near you. Wow.
    Mum has said that the fires on their property has stirred up all the jack jumper ants; thsy have to be really careful when they go outside. Fire ants sounds dreadful.
    Good luck with your budgeting and priority lists!

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