Back to a public blog again

With Joe's concerns about this blog being public and the dodgy characters nosing around at the top house, I unwillingly made the blog private.

What a palaver that was, pretty much most of the people I was aiming it at didn't ask to be an invited reader, it was an biggie to ask however, not everyone wants a Google account, so thank you to those that did sign up.

I wasn't sure if I would continue with it, but then I thought I'm doing this for our benefit mostly and I wanted to keep a record of the ongoing renovations.

So I'll carry on recording our progress with the top house and the occasional other stuff.

We're at the stage where the electrician is running new wiring for sockets, lights etc. A plumber was in last Friday to make a start on what needs to be done. They're coming back towards the end of this week. Which meant we had to go and choose a bathroom!! We've never made such quick decisions before 😀

We're waiting on quotes for windows and we should have the kitchen plan and costs this week. Tomorrow, Tuesday, the flooring guy is coming to measure up.

So a lot is happening, just nothing to share yet.

However, Joe's been busy clearing around the water tank as it's had it's day and needs replacing. He's also made his way through the tall grass and brambles around the side of the house, almost to the outside/craft  room and removed a very ugly fence.

This is what you see as you come up the drive, it's very overgrown, the post and rail fence has been removed too

Looking back from behind the water tank

Views across the neighbouring dairy farm

The space behind the water tank and along the side of the house

Moving further along, on the left is the wood shed and a Manuka tree, both will need to be removed, we're installing heat pumps, we don't want  log burners

Standing with the wood shed to the left my future craft room is visible, the ugly fence panels have gone

Still lots to be cleared at the side of the craft room

Looking back towards the woodshed and Manuka Tree, both are being removed

If you can see where the removed fence panels are on the floor in front of the woodshed, this is where we are putting the spa, outside our bedroom window, overlooking he neighbouring farm.

Taken from the deck looking out at the view, it'll be much better when all the gorse has gone

View from our bedroom window

And that's it for today, hopefully I've got the settings right and you can see the blog again

See you next time x

Sue

A full on day

 It was a really busy day today, at 8am some one to measure up for replacement windows, then at 9am the plumber arrived.

At 11am we had an appointment with a company in Te Awamutu that designs and builds kitchens, we had a plan, they'll put that together. 

The sparky starts on Sunday, so things have been set in motion, which is great.

After all that we rushed home, picked up our car then headed to Kia to collect our new one, an upgrade to a Sorrento, that will be more able to tow a caravan when we are in a position to buy one.

We joined Michael and the grandies at the Backyard in Whatawhata 

365 day in stitches - the new car

See ya next time

Sue xx

Top house update - Day 9

 Since my last post, we've been making choices. Michael was measuring up so we could get some quotes for materials. Tomorrow we have appointments with the people who make the joinery for windows, the plumber and kitchen designers and  makers so a full on day that will also include picking up our new car, but more of that tomorrow.

On Wednesday afternoon we chose tiles for the bathroom

Michael has beem adding extra noggings in the walls

 

A recess in the shower wall for shampoos etc

Looking down the steps to what wil be the new entrance and repositioned WC

 

A new entrance door will be where that window is, 

the space within the pink framing is where the WC will be

In the space between the steps and the new door , we're planning on putting a bench seat and coot hooks, which will be something like in the photo below this one

WC walls on left door left of that leads to the garage

WC, steps to main living area, Michael pulled out the old ones and rebuilt them so that the risers were all the same and the step depth was a bit shallower

Now for other stuff, I've decided to stop doing a good thing ever day, I will carry on the 365 days in stitches though as they are going to be pretty much the same

 

 

                                                     Day 13 finished hexies to start flowers 

 

 

Day 14 started sewing hexie flowers

 

 

Day 15 chose tiles for the bathroom

 

Day 16 Lots of sawing up the top house

New books arrived this week, first is the inspiration for 365 days in stitches

Two Tilly Rose books which completes my collection of all of her books so far

Phew! That'll do, see ya tomorrow x

Sue xx

A restful weekend and family time

 I didn't blog over the weekend, it was all about relaxing and enjoying family time.

Saturday Joe and I drove into Hamilton to look in a few places for tiles, paint, flooring etc, and gathered some samples. In the afternoon Michael and Tash had friends around for a BBQ, it was lovely to catch up with them.

Sunday was another lovely family day

Daily challenges Day 11 & 12

A good thing every day, Family time

365 days in stitches

Day 11 BBQ, with the oddest shaped sausage you'll ever see !

 Day 12 Family

 

Top House News

Top house update, a day of measuring, making outside cladding choices and interior skirting, coving and architrave. Joe's currently up the house trying to get some power back on and reconnecting a water supply. 

Things are at the making choices stage, so this week there might not be many photos

 

That's it folks

 

Sue xx