Renovation Catch Up ...

Roy and his brother helped out a couple saturdays and we managed to get the kerbing done around the new formal front lawn .. used a black oxide so it would look dark grey.

Copper bollard lights finally arrived.  Taller one at the back deck, two in front of the chimney deck and shorter ones on the four central pillars out the front.

Belong to Grey Power, and they come collect your door opener, and stack a cord of bluegum and douglas fir away in your woodshed while you're at work!  Some nice longer burning stuff to go with all our offcuts.  Great service with old keen guys.

Last Friday and Saturday we had to sleep out in the sleepout while our Laundry floor was being sanded and polyurethaned.  We thought we could come in and cook our tea, but didn't last too long before feeling sick and headache...  Stunning self portraits!  Dad's glasses got completely steamed up in minutes.

The floor turned out looking pretty nice after all that though and it's good to finally have the Laundry area all finished!

The Lounge furniture got delivered last month too, so nice to have a couple of comfy couches in the Lounge and not just chairs everywhere.  This was meant to be the 2-seater, which turned out as large as a 3-seater, so have popped it into the piano alcove for now!  The 3-seater of course is long enough for somebody to lay on and sit on together.

And tonight after dark our oldest retired builder was still plodding away getting our concrete kerb done as a border for the carparking and garden.  Guessing none of our other builders were near their worksites after 5pm :)  Don't make them like they used to!  When he's finished this, he will move on and build the pagoda/summer house type thingy to go over the wheeled seat under the gingko tree.

The pillar lights are on a sensor so look pretty at night time.  This saturday Roy and his brother are meant to be digging around the edge of the front lawn to form the gardens (with the digger that is), and spread some more soil to form the lawn, so that will tidy things up a bit more. 

That's me for now, will go warm my footsies by the fireplace.  G'night.

Before July runs away too ...

Just to keep up with some of the family who update more often (or have more time?)...
Winter arrived with a vengeance and it was nippy around the edges. This close snow soon disappeared though.

Dad and Dave cleaned out the old cow shed so feeding could be on the concrete instead of muddy paddocks, and the cows had somewhere to lay down on the dry.  Oscar was in his element and Dave was rather excited about his day..

Another quick trip to New Plymouth for Uncle George's funeral and visit with Mum & Dad and families.  Left Wellington just as the sun was rising over the harbour with the ferry coming in.

Mt Egmont looked stunning as usual coming up Raleigh Street.  Jannie took us out to lunch one day, found Waitara Beach cafe closed so went through to Inglewood for lunch.

Mum & Dad were feeling their age, and having a daughter of home probably didn't help!

Managed a quick visit to Auckland for cuddles on the way home and James was really happy saying goodbye!

It was good to have lunch at Dave & Staceys Sunday next day where Dad was happy to go and feed out afterwards while Dave found some bits to band on their newest addition while Stacey bottle fed.

Now I'd better endeavour to do a blog and pics about what we've been doing around the house in the past couple months!

About time ...

For a quick catch up on the past few months ...
A trip to Auckland end of March to visit with a brand new grandson

Then a quick visit to New Plymouth to visit the aged, sick and otherwise ..

Isaac met me at the airport coming home and tried out the exercycle with sunhat :)

Then a trip via the internet to Kate's capping.  At least it was lovely and warm by the fire which helped the leaky eye syndrome :)

A quick game of 10 pin bowling after work Friday night.  Stace was displaying her gorilla pose? and Isaac was inspired by where the balls popped up from!

 Later that night a freak wind came along and the largish tree that was at our gate had ended up across the road, and this was all that was left!

Just to show we are still supporting Sri Lanka when we had our organically grown fair trade Ginger Beer..

We along with Isaac have been interested to watch the monarch caterpillars turning into bwutterflies!

The two white camellias were in full bloom signifying another wedding anniversary.  Hard to believe 34 years.  Thanks Dianne & Kevin for the trees - given on our 25th.  They've been a picture of blooms, but the rain this past weekend have spoiled a lot.

Some gorgeous flowers for my birthday - thanks Mabel !

 And a nan sized cupcake from Isaac to have with my cup of tea at work :)  Thanks Isaac it was delicious !

The gingko tree has been spectacular again this year.. liquid gold.

Had a wonderful visit from Sheena & Eldon.  Tasting platters looking out over the water on a fantastic sunny saturday.

Two little boys with one farming toy..

Rex fed the calf while Dave & Stacey were up north.

A good morning tea visit with Les & Iris.

Next weekend we're in Christchurch. Just as we arrived a few police decided to park outside Marks gate to stop all the traffic to breath test and check vehicles... We slipped up the road the other way after discovering the road mileage was well over on the way down!  Of course Mark's pantry was bare so we had to go find food :)

A hired trailer and a vehicle with a tow bar meant Mark could have his long awaited for clean up around the property.  Lots of old broken concrete and bricks and rubbish.

 Buddy's new kennel and a brazier stoked made short work of lots of timber rubbish and shutters.

Mark's fantastic winter garden was in pristine condition with the help of Buddy!!

 Marks new chandelier was perfect for hanging laundry on a drizzly winters day making secondary use of the heat pump - after trying to keep me warm that is!  The neat little cottage turned into a chinese laundry.  Mark huffed and puffed about how warm it was (and how much power the heat pumps were using). It's a wonderful feeling on the other foot :)

Mark and Jody with Buddy after special meetings.

And this past weekend a visit from Matt, Amy & James for special meetings in Nelson.  They found our fireplace pretty hot !!

It was good to see how much James has grown and all the little talking gooey noises he makes.  We had breakfast together the day they left.  Managed a selfie of us keeping warm by the fire! James had been busy with his fingernails to forehead :)

One wasn't very happy about leaving... I wonder if the grin meant somebody was ?!  It was very quiet without them afterwards!

 Well that's a very long update... and now I've got to finish the pumpkin soup to keep me going for work lunches on these cold wintry days.

I'll update on the house renovations when I catch a breath and the electrician has been later this week!