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.