Forever House #17

Weds 26th June, 2013

The 'A' 'Team

Building up to the big "push", over the first week of July out at the farm. There was much preparation done last weekend when Jeff came back out with me to do some serious work. We towed the trailer into Lismore, via a few suppliers to pick up needed items. Fastenings, a dozen sheets of Hardiflex, and three bags of insulation was all we could fit this trip. Rain threatened and insulation is said to be useless if wet. We took what could fit in the ute on top of boxes from home. We got to the caravan after dark on the Friday night - work started on Saturday morning and went fairly solidly until Sunday afternoon. On the way home , we were driving east into a full moon all the way. It was dark by Casino. We were starving and talked about what we were going to make for dinner all the way home in the car, took turns having hot showers, and made a delicious meal to complete a fabulous weekend.

Power plan

Jeff sorted out the ramshackle scaffolding to suit his purposes. He had brought a ladder from Dad, and one of his own, to add extra trustworthiness to what was on offer. I use a lot of 44 gallon drums as my supports when mudding. But Jeff needed to be up 3m at the ceiling height. (Being tall as I am, a high ceiling was important to me - although it does add it's challenges sometimes. If I'd had an eight foot ceiling, the mud walls would be finished as the height they are now. But I am very happy to meet the challenges for the contribution the extra height adds to the feel of the house.)
We planned the wiring on Saturday - drew a plan in my journal. And Jeff  single handedly drilled the furring channel to the top hats in the areas that are our current focus. Next week he, Ken and Connor, Currawinya Dave and I, will run the wiring, lay the insulation, and sheet the areas of ceiling that cover the rooms that have mud walls. We estimate seventy square metres. 

Jeff's handywork

lfurring channel on top hats

I hovered around the edges being of assistance to Jeff when needed. I made coffees and lunch. In between times I cleaned out the rat infested shed. And Jeff and I had a four hundred dollar fire as we burned a whole mellomine chip board kitchen which I bought and took out to the farm in 2004. I am so glad it never was installed. But, I am very sorry it became a rats nest. To be rid of it is a very cleansing outcome for the weekend. The before and after photos say it all. I did save the cupboard doors, in case I decide to paint them and use them in the Forever House kitchen. I'm thinking I'll use metal cupboards, I don't want hidden wet timber anywhere. The doors I saved are slatted pine, and my cheapest option. Painted with glass knobs - I think they might scrub up. And they have a history in this project.

Before

After exhibit 2

After Exhibit 1

The house is deliberately including things with a history. Maybe that's about a place for me and mine to belong. I have moved often, but now, creating history in an already familiar place among familiar people has become important. I said to someone the other day, and I have said it often, I don't want to have to remake myself again. Life is good as it is. I have two beautiful spaces to call home. The kids have a history out at the farm as well. Much as they would rather forget many of their school experiences out there when ten and eleven; they have both embraced what is happening with the house now. Neither of them can wait for it to be finished. Spence has a heap of friends he wants to bring out. And he offered to come out and help. Maybe Christmas. Danika wants to live there some time in the not too distant future and grow vegies and make music. She keeps hassling me for my next blog - she is living vicariously through me in regards to being out at the farm often. I told them unless Jeff and I win the lottery they'll have to buy it eventually because it's my superannuation.
Back to the kitchen, I have a gorgeous Baltic pine bench top long, straight with a double sink. Long story short, I was given it by the magistrate I worked with when working in the courts. It fits perfectly along the wall under the kitchen where a pipe is set in for a sink. 

to be remade to fit the back door

While I was cleaning up the shed I rediscovered some damaged old stained glass windows I came upon a long time ago when first at the farm - I am a little unsure how I happened upon them. I always thought of them as things that needed repairing, and I don't really like repairing so didn't look at them too closely nor think much about them. But now I have had a good look through the layers of grime, and they are beautiful. Of course. So the stained glass projects I thought I had crossed off my list have been added back on. I will redesign the useable pieces of these windows into the outside door to the bathroom and the other back door off the mud room.

Will be remade for the bathroom door

and this - they are top and bottom

I didn't describe the impromptu house warming Jeff and I had with Daph and Stan a couple of weeks ago. They came over after dinner to sit around the fire with us, and no sooner had they arrived than it started to spit. We could have all squeezed around the caravan table but I asked if a fire can be moved, and Stan said yeah do you have a metal wheel barrow. Which I do. So we wheeled the fire down to the front deck of the house under roof, and tranfered the fire into a twenty litre drum. I lit the candles in the manifold in the dining room and it was exciting to be in what is fast becoming a locked up house. It was raining outside and we were cosy as. This week when there are people at the farm we'll do that often I hope. And I hope we will go down to the river where years ago we Currawinyans built a wood fired mud oven under cover. Pizza night at the farm.
I'll have ten days worth of progress to tell of next time.

$400 fire