Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Forever House #39

Saturday 30th November, 2013
I had good intentions to have everything packed up yesterday afternoon to drive away from home nice and early this morning. But, that didn't happen. I arrived at the Forever House around 3pm.
next window to go in when Dave comes back
I had a trailer load of stuff that I intended to bring too, but nothing in it is needed prior to Dave's next stint of work on the house. Last time I brought out a loaded trailer my four cylinder Honda struggled on the really steep hills. The trailer stayed at home waiting for either Jeff or Dave to tow it out in the next few weeks.

In the trailer are the remaining metal studs that Dave needs to complete the framing above the block wall. I got twenty five metres at the fourth place I tried in Lismore yesterday - that amount was a guesstimation on my part so it will be interesting to see if it lasts the distance. I also bought timber for Dave to build the surrounds around the second set of French doors and another smaller window in the block wall.
I went to my darling cousin Lolly's house to collect the French doors which she has very kindly been stripping and sanding for me over the past few months. These are also in the trailer, ready to be installed very soon. Exciting.

Bird light I made 30yrs ago - to be dismantled for windows
part of bird light in window for bathroom door,
before it blew down and broke...

Jeff was supposed to come out with me this weekend to continue the wiring for power and lighting throughout. But, unfortunately, he is too snowed under with work and had to stay behind. When I arrived it began to rain reasonably heavily. I didn't know whether I was happy or sad about that - couldn't dig dirt...maybe I would have to lay on the bed and read for the afternoon! But the shower didn't last long, and I had enough materials prepared from the last trip to mix up a couple of loads of mud and lay them. That means that a row tomorrow and another on Monday will see the bathroom and mudroom walls completed, ready for painting.


After laying the mud, I washed the mud of the ceiling where three walls are complete, ready for the ceiling's final coat of paint. The ceiling sheet was undercoated and given one top coat prior to going up. I brushed down the completed walls as far as I could to the 'scaffolding' which is still in situ (this constitutes layer upon layer of pallets, besser blocks, forty four gallon drums, planks, work horses and milk crates from the floor half way up the walls.) I mixed bond crete and water and sprayed the brushed down walls ready for painting. I'll have the scaffolding moved out by the end of Monday. And hopefully I'll have prepared and painted most of the mud room as well. The proof will be in Monday's photos before I leave.

Bird window being repaired.
second of three bird windows -
this and a matching one go above the large sliding doors
During the two weeks since my last visit (sounds like I am making my confession!) I've been working consistently on glasswork at home. I'm pulling apart a bird light I made thirty years ago when I lived in Redfern in the inner city of Sydney, when I started learning stained glass. I've separated the six panels into three lots of two - there is only one surviving tail (as you can see in this window); the other two birds are tail-less... I remove solder from the central join of each 'bird' to flatten them out (as best I can), and then I draw them onto the page and make a design around them. The one with the tail goes in the window in the external bathroom door. I got that window completed last Saturday and sat it up in various poses to take photos with the light behind. It was up against the open lounge room window so that I could enjoy it that evening when a gust of wind blew through and down it came. Shit Bugger and Damn.
One of two high-lights - so no need
to use clear glass - no view to see
So, instead of resting in front of the teev, I went back out to the verandah, and unsoldered the five broken pieces that night and cut the pieces to repair it the next day.
Out of solder, and over that window, I  got on with the other windows that will house the remaining two birds. These two windows are for highlights above the large sliding doors onto the verandah. I'm using up lots of the textured glass that has come out of various doors and windows that I'm working on. I'm hoping to have both of these windows ready for Dave when he gets to framing above the sliding doors.

Some time soon my other Currawinyan friend Phil will have completed resizing the four doors he has of mine, and will bring them out to hang. I'll take the stained glass panels out to fit in their respective doors. Paint and fifty metres of very fine quarter dowl to tack around each window pane are purchased and waiting on stand by. Nearly a thousand dollars was spend yesterday on material for the house. Yikes - there is still so much to buy...

Forever House #40

Sunday 1st December, 2013 (pinch and a punch for the first of the month)
- Before -
form work in situ 2005 - 2013
- After -
the arch lives independently!
Arch - featuring Leonie's niche (left)
Just sat down at the table - 7.42pm. My dinner is heating up. I had a late swim after 6pm - left the car running - didn't want to risk the starter motor playing silly buggers at this time of night and in a wet cossy. I came back from the river to the caravan and it was still light. So I headed back down to the house with a mosquito coil in my hand and a bee in my bonnet.

Today is a milestone for two reasons - and the second one is that between my swim and now, I've dismantled the arch form work that Andy built in, I'm guessing, 2005. It's down, and the mud arch stand self supported. It's fantastic! I have one last row of mud to go across the top of it tomorrow, but I couldn't see that row being the difference between it staying up or falling down. And, I couldn't wait. The time came.

I unscrewed a myriad of roofing screws with a shifting spanner, and normal screws with a very tiny phillips head screwdriver, from this very complex and strong structure. It came apart piece by piece initially, but then it required an electric drill which I don't have to unscrew some tricky screws. I made like a wolf, and huffed and puffed and pushed and shoved and levered and kicked, and eventually I blew that arch formwork down from under the mud arch. It feels like progress. No one will hit their head on that form work again. Anybody above about five foot seven had to duck under it which was a lesson learned more than once for me and many others (people wearing hats generally).
First painting - this day has been a long time coming



The other milestone reached today was that I started painting the bathroom walls white. First I did the final coat of ceiling paint, and then I started on the walls. I sprayed the walls with bond crete and water, and trialled some water based paint last visit. It seemed to work nicely so I bought a very large drum of semi gloss white paint. I started using a paint brush, but it was very hard to get a covering in all the nooks and crannies of the wall surface. I got the sponge from the sink and gave that a go. Much better. Very time and paint consuming. I thought I'd get the top half of three walls done today - but I only got the very top of the one done (after laying a row of mud on the other walls of course).
Final row of mud done for this corner of the house
scaffolding gone and top half painted
I hope to get the other two walls done tomorrow after mixing and laying the final row of mud on the two walls I've been working on. One of those is the arch wall. This shouldn't take too long - and then I'll spend my day painting. I'd really like to be able to remove the scaffolding from the bathroom and mudroom and clean them both out. I would feel like I'd achieved my goal if I got that far. 
Mini orb will go around this end for shower
OMG!


I've taken all kinds of measurements today so that I can be planning the next jobs. I'm out again in a fortnight and have the mud and bathrooms in my sights. Although I think I have decided that until I complete the mudding in the remainder of the house I'd be mad to paint and tile the mud room - it would just get filthy - so the bathroom will be completed to working order and will house the makeshift kitchen while I make a mess again in the second bedroom where the kitchen is now.

 I need to buy sandstone blocks to make the half wall (hob) in the shower recess on which the etched shower screen will be installed. I want to get mini orb to go around the three walls of the shower recess.While I'm buying sandstone blocks, I want to buy two that will act as steps for the split level in the house - one from the entry level and one from the main bedroom down into the open plan living area.


During the next two weeks at home, I'm aiming to complete all the windows containing parts of the bird light. And I may see how I go with a mirror for the bathroom. After all of those are done, I've got two sets of French doors, with a total of twenty eight panels between them. I'm giving each set a frame of textured colourless glass, with a central area of clear to see through. Not sure what features I will include - I do have another light I'm keen to dismantle - will see if that will work for these. If not I'll use the front door as inspiration - because these doors will be in the same room.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Forever House #38

Saturday 16th November, 2013
Mango!
I've had a good day. Slept eight hours without stirring - that's always a good thing. Chopped up and ate a delicious fruit salad with almonds this morning before going down to the house at seven thirty to begin my working day. The pile of dirt left over from digging the pad for the water tank was all soft and easy to work with after several recent showers. And being under the western eave of the house, it was cool and shady for that work, at that time of the morning. I was pleased with myself after filling four barrows full.
A full water tank at hand, at last - and hose
The water collection was so easy today because the new water tank is full and I had a hose fitting for it this time. Ahhh... The simple things in life...

I still had sand from last visit, so chopped enough straw for two days and set it to soaking.

The top of the walls have to be wet down where the new mud is to lay, so I did that a few times during the morning. Hot days dry the water out quickly. I mixed up two huge loads of mud and got to laying it.

Phil the man who is is re-sizing my doors for me called past when he saw my car. He was on his way home from Currawinya after five days working for neighbours. It was good to see him and show him where the doors will hang. He says he's already done one and a half of the four doors he took a couple of weeks ago. And he is working on the others on Monday. All these little bits of progress are so satisfying. Phil left and back up the scaffolding I went to get that lot of mud done. Time for my one coffee for the day and some lunch.
A light Dad had that I will use for the front entry
As I set the milk to heating I could hear what sounded like a muffled radio. I followed the sound and found my dear Mum and Dad had driven out to have lunch with me - and they couldn't have timed it better. They had a good look around. We ate and chatted on the front verandah for a good couple of hours. I wasn't worried about time because the couple of internal walls I am working on only take five loads of mud each row. I can only lay one a day - a second row would make the first row slump.

I don't get to sit and yarn with my folks all to myself very often - and in such a quiet beautiful setting. We had a lush downpour while we sat. The eaves on the verandah are nice and deep and it is generally well protected.  Mum's very keen to paint a wall when we get to that. Which isn't too far away if all goes to the timeline.

After waving them off I mixed three further loads of mud and layed it.
One mixer load, on average is a fifteen shovels of dirt, a tin of sand, three hands full of straw (preferably wet), and water to get it to the right consistency, less water than usual at the moment due to the soil holding moisture.

Next time I come out I'll complete mudding the current walls up to the ceiling. And I'm hoping I can paint the ceiling and walls the same weekend - but that is quite ambitious and probably unrealistic. We'll see.
I brought some Bond Crete with me today to trial spraying a one to four mix with water on to the brushed down wall, and then after half an hour drying time, painted a couple of patches  on top of that with water base paint. I had two kinds - some clay paint Susan gave me and a gloss outdoor paint. The bond crete spray had a wonderful effect on the wall - sealed beautifully. I don't know what I was worried about. I was trying to do the purist thing and use limewashes and prickly pear snot etc - because I "wanted the walls to breath!". But I also want something that is a really good base for whatever else it requires over time. And I don't want the walls to give off any dirt or lime. This process is really easy and it will look amazing. So I can't see why I shouldn't buy some white satin water based paint and a large tin of Bond Crete and go for it. It will be transforming - I'm very excited.
 
Sunday 17th November, 2013
I went a bit mad in the mud and bath rooms after finishing my row of mud on Sunday. I took a trowl to the mud around each bottle cleaning them up and giving them a wash. I also filled any larger cracks or holes with fresh mud so that when painting it will be a better surface. The bottles looked bright. Mud is so amicable a material.
And after that, the trusty Triton and I pulled out five lantanas. Chipping away at it. Then a swim of course before heading home till next time.We won't talk about the starter motor - suffice to say I used her as little as possible, I left the motor on when it was reasonable, and I said encouraging things to her and some prayers which all seemed to help keep any incidents to a minimum.
Bond creted wall up to ceiling above clean and tidy bottles
Patching the holes and large cracks ready for painting
I'm taking a week's holiday after Christmas New Year which means I'll be out at the farm for about eight days early January. Hopfully Jeff will be there for whatever time he can spare too. That could well see the next stage of the mudding, around the two internal walls of the main bedroom, finished. Yes I think that is the plan. In the meantime my friends and I will be working on our various tasks - mine being to compete the bathroom and mudroom, tiles, painting walls and doors, plumbing, etc all done.

By Christmas?! I have two more long weekends before then, and Jeff would come out on both, Dave will be back to assist. There's a good chance. I have to make a glass panel for the external bathroom door seeing as I stole the original to use as the front door. And I have to get some sandstone to build part of the shower recess. A plinth for the shower screen. Some mini orb, a shower and taps, and also make a mirror. Oh, and some metal and timber for Dave to go on with when he returns. Wish me luck.

Forever House #37


Friday 15th November 2013 (cont)


Thank you Susan x
I unpacked after Brisbane, repacked for the farm, stopped at Bunnings on the way out here, realised I'd left my work boots at home, met Jeff on the Bruxner Hwy to collect them (he's very kind to me). Stopped at Casino for food shopping and fuel, and then at Susan's at Mallanganee to collect a magnifique mosaic she has made to donate to the Forever House. Such a lovely gift. It is glued and grouted onto a large paver, so will be part of the pathways or garden. Such a lovely thing.




You're beautiful Dan x
I've been to Melbourne for several days since last trip to Currawinya. Had some quality time with my daughter Danika. Such a treat. It's the second visit since she went there to live and study in February this year. I'm getting to know and really enjoy Melbourne. 








While there I couldn't resist hunting down a recycled building materials outlet. I was on the look out for some original old hearth tiles to include in the design which will frame the post belly stove. I went to Steptoe and Son's at Collingwood (the website does not reflect the experience at all). 
I was like a kid in a lolly shop with the huge array of beautiful old items. From terra cotta vents, to hearth tiles, lights, mantlepieces. Lucky I couldn't go too mad because I had to be able to fly home with my purchases. 






I've bought a stack of ten hand made 1920's tiles, and two unmatched but similar wall lights which will go  either side of the bed in the main bedroom - pink to match the windows in that room, which I salvaged fom the aforementioned original homestead where the jacaranda stands, down the slope from the Forever House.
So, a bit of Dan, and Melbourne will feature in the biographical story of the house. I trust there will be an opportunity to collect something relevant to my son Spence to incorporate in the work.

So after a lovely stirfry veg with smoked salmon - I'm ready to have a read and sleep ahead of two days mudding.


Forever House #36

Western Sky
Eastern Sky

Friday 15th November, 2013 - 8:14pm

Hot and sweaty at the caravan table. I didn't get here until late today, close to seven. I spent the first while taking photographs of the evening sky and other splashes of colour and interest that caught my eye. 


Check out those closed in mud walls behind the rose







The rambling rose on the dunny has the sweetest pink flowers on it - I've never seen it with flowers before.







And, the long established jacaranda, at the site of the original homestead nearby the Forever House, was vibrant in it's contrast against the green of everything else.







There's been obvious rain; the newly positioned tank is full















and the usually dry pond (a situation I must rectify) has water in it, and everything else looks fresh and green again after all the dry weather.

The Reluctant Pond
Jeff was supposed to accompany me out here this weekend. He was going to get on with the wiring while I mudded . But our plans changed last minute. We've been gifted a quaint (good kitch) timber and gold velvet lounge by Jeff's parents who have recently moved and have been culling their belongings, especially things that don't suit the new modern unit.

Sweet moon
We drove up beside a brewing storm to their place north of Brisbane yesterday afternoon to see and stay in the new abode, celebrate Jeff's sister's birthday, and relieve them of their petrol mower and garden tools. A win win situation. We should have towed the trailer when we thought further, about the lounge. They needed it gone.
We returned from Redcliffe this morning.


Jeff very kindly offered to hire a covered box trailer in case of bad weather, which is predictable lately , and is driving back up to Brisbane tomorrow to collect said lounge suite. Another win win for Jeffs parents and us. Although we'll be storing it for the interim (wherever we can make room at Tucki) , I think ti will be quite perfect in its eventual home.

I don't have a pic of the lounge yet - that will have to wait now till it goes out to the farm sometime in the not too distant future. There are two two-seaters and two one-seaters. It will suit the ecclectic feel of the House, as well as bring a touch of Jeff and his family into the biographical nature of the fixtures and fittings. Which I think adds to the Forever House-ness.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Forever House #35

Weekend of the 26th, 27th and 28th October
Metal framework across the front - and Quans French doors
I was so excited this weekend to get out here and see what Dave has been up to with the metal work. The house looks amazing with the framework he has done across the front entry of the house and down the western side. He has about as much to do again to complete this framework around the other side of the house up to where it meets the mud wall at the bathroom.

AND!!! he installed the first set of French Doors (these ones are from Quan).

Dave and Gab came over to greet me soon after I arrived on Saturday - I think they were keen to see my excitement at this progress. I am so blessed that I have Dave and Gab's support during this mad dash to the end. Dave says it's like I'm
bringing together a hacienda and a tin shed! Which is true I guess - and it seems to be working out just fine. He's off to work in SA for about six weeks or so on the wheat harvest. There is heaps that I can do and Jeff, during that time.

Front door (still to be resized and painted)

Close up of front door glass

During the ten days since I was last here I have got on with the three panels of stained glass that I've been working on. I've changed my mind about where that door will go - it will be the Front Door. I have another door I can use on the external bathroom door - that matches the Mud room door. I've been worrying about how much it would cost me to get the intended front door from Quan up to scratch. It is fragile and would need quite a bit of tender love and care. Labour costs would be a bit high I think. I've spoken to Phil (another shareholder who lives in Lennox Head and who is a carpenter), about resizing all the doors for me. I've measured all the openings - and Phil will work out whether he will do the work at our Tuckurimba place, or take the doors home to his at Lennox. Once they are resized he will take them back out to the Forever House to hang. I will fit the glass panels, sand and paint them in situ I guess. We'll play that part by ear when the time comes.

Close up of Mud Room Door Glass
I will just keep on with all the glasswork to be ready as needed. I have nine glass projects to do: Front door, Mud room door, External Bathroom door, Two sets of French doors, two highlight windows above the sliding doors in the dining room and two wheels in the internal walls. I also have two solid timber bedroom doors and another door with six glass panels that will go between the mud and bathrooms, to resize, sand and paint.

Mud Room Door (to be resized and painted)
In regards to the time line I started last time I was here, I'm on target so far. Will try to keep on track between now and the end of January and then take stock of what's left to do. I've asked my brother in law Mick to come out in the Easter School holidays and help me bag the block walls on the outside. I'm hoping to glue gyprock on the inside of those walls. And my sister Danielle is taking on designing/tiling/mosaicing the hearth and the wall behind the fire box. So hopefully Easter will see both of these jobs done.
I'd like my hearth to have this look and feel.

If any of you living close have any old pavers that you'd like to see the back of - let me know.
And I'm also very keen to save any old stained glass windows that might otherwise live forever under a house or worse still be thrown to the tip.

Forever House #34


Sunday 27th October (continued)
Donna, Andy and Meegs Mudding in Jan 2005
My friend Andrew was saying a couple of weeks ago after I'd published my last two blog posts, that he can't believe the effort it takes me out here at Currawinya shovelling and sifting and sorting out big rocks from small rocks. He says he couldn't do one barrow load. And my friend Meegs said recently, that when she came out to help me mud in January 2005, she didn't like to say at the time, but she was pretty overwhelmed by the project I had taken on. I get what they are saying...


The burnt out house that I bought
In some ways I feel I need to qualify the manic drive I have to finish this project. On my trips out to Currawinya I often have a wave of anxiety wash over me; and when I arrive and settle in it goes away. Fires could be part of my concern. I am building on a slab that is the remains of a burnt out house. And, I always hope I'll spot any snakes before they spot me - although over the nine years I've been coming here I've not had reason to be alarmed by a snake.
The original house before the fire (Vicki and Tony's house)
There's the thought of the money I have sunk into the project over the years. Including the share purchase, the materials I've bought, and the labour I've paid for, it's about one hundred thousand dollars so far. Jeff and I have just borrowed some money to pay for a solar system and any further large ticket items like the water pump and plumbing requirements, the corrugated sheeting for the frames Dave is building, tile adhesive and grout, sealing and painting materials for walls, bagging for the block wall, etc. Then there's the time and effort that I and so many others have committed over the years, including my kids - whose young lives were largely influenced by this project.

nearly up to the roof in the bathroom/mud room area
Loving these bottles with the light behind
There's two choices I have - one is to give up and leave an expensive dinosaur on the landscape, that in no time would be consumed by the bush. Or... the other is to complete it. So although the list of things to do is immense, it's a no brainer for me - I just must keep on keeping on while I am still of an age and ability to be able to. I've made my bed so to speak and am lying in it! And happily so. I am glad to leave a huge sculpture as my life's work. In less than forty-eight weeks from now, although I may do little else for the year (other than paid work) - my efforts and drive will be rewarded. Well that is the plan.

Sometimes weird stuff drives me - for example: proving to myself and anyone else who is interested, that I'm not as useless as a certain second husband would have liked me to believe. And, another is that years ago, a friend of my first husband did an amateur reading of my handwriting. He told me that because some of my "t's" weren't crossed properly, that meant that I never finish anything. I have him to thank for completing my writing degree after nine years, and also for completing the Forever House after nearly ten!

Bedspring reinforcing. The arch formwork will soon go!
Today I completed the final row of mud that has completely closed in the external wall of the mud room. And I laid a row on the internal two walls that make up the bathroom and mudroom. Seven loads of mud all up. And tomorrow I'll do another row on those internal walls - which will take five loads of mud I'd reckon. That will leave a good three to four rows to get those walls up to the ceiling.