Timeless Traditions

It is finished ...

2010-07-31T20:50:00.000+10:00

On Friday July 23rd, the Bungalow was finished. Johnno and Tom put the shelves in the cupboards and the walk-in-robe. I was so happy when I got home from work and saw them installed. I rang Peter to thank him and the guys for all of their hard work. The quality of the work is of a very high standard, and I can recommend Peter and his team.

The Building Inspector had come around to check the finished product. Johnno and Tom removed the poles of the old trellis as the Inspector said it looked untidy. They even brought the garbage bin in. They are very considerate and obliging young men, and it has been a pleasure to have them here.

I had washed my new sheets and quilt cover, and was able to put them into the linen press.

I spent the past week moving some of my craft books, magazines, yarn and fibre from the lounge into the cupboards. I still have a bookcase in the lounge room with my knitting reference books, stitch dictionaries, fibre, yarn and a few drop spindles on it. I am keeping my Majacraft Little Gem spinning wheel inside as well.

The security alarm was fitted on Wednesday. Mum says it works very well...

Today, my bedroom suite was delivered. It didn't look this big in the store.

Michael and Will very kindly put the bed together and moved the other furniture in.

I bought a computer workstation last night and Will and Michael set it up for me, as well as bringing in my kitchen dresser, another cabinet and the sewing machine cabinet from the garage. I really appreciate everything they have done for me today. I have a great family...

God is so very good to me, and I am so blessed to have my Bungalow. I prayed that it wouldn't rain, and I have been thanking Jesus all day to have had such a perfect day to move the furniture in.

I have a print of John William Waterhouse's "Lady of Shallot". I love the rhythm of Tennyson's poems. Julie read poetry to Annemarie and I when we were young. This has always been a favourite.

The picture has been in the lounge for a number of years, and I thought it would break up the white wall opposite the bed nicely.

My friend, Michelle and I went to The Wintergarden many years ago, and I bought a lamp with a woman reading a book. It has also been in the lounge, but now is suitably placed as my reading lamp.

I bought the rug in Turkey in 2008. It is natural-coloured wool.

Mum bought the fabric, and Sherree sewed the cushion-cover for my birthday a number of years ago. It has a mediaeval feel like the painting.

I am looking forward to sleeping in my new bed tonight!

Bungalow - Update

2010-07-15T18:00:00.000+10:00

It has been a few weeks since I have updated the blog. This is mainly because, although the progress has been exciting for me to see, I didn't think everyone wanted to look at plaster in various stages.

A few Mondays ago, we had a huge machine in the backyard while the man dug the trench to connect the sewerage.

Johnno has been here busily painting. Tom tiled the shower and the bathroom floor.

Mum thinks that Peter should regard me as a dream client, as I haven't really cared about the "accessories". He asked me what sort of tiles I wanted in the bathroom, and I said "Plain white ones". He suggested dark grey tiles for the floor as it would look too cold otherwise. I said OK. When he wanted to know what I wanted for the cupboards / pocket doors, I told him just basic, plain ones. He suggested satin chrome, and I agreed that would be fine.

The plumbers came last week to connect the toilet, shower, water, etc. Another man came to fit the shower-screen.

This is my cool vanity and tap. I won't have any trouble filling the kettle here.

The electricians have been here over the past few days fitting my lights and fans. Yesterday they connected the power to the shed underground. Will will be able to take down the trellis frames.

Today they put a dual switch in the loungeroom, so I can turn the outside light on when I go to bed, and I can turn it off once I am inside the bungalow. That was the mater's clever idea. She has had quite a few...

They also installed a smoke alarm, for which I am thankful. I wouldn't have thought of that.

On Tuesday, Johnno painted the back door and fitted a hand-rail for Mum to go down the steps at the end of the deck.

The floors will be sanded and polished next Monday and Tuesday. Then the shelves will be installed in the cupboards and the finishing touches done. I will have a separate security system installed. It is easier to do that than to connect it to the existing one in the house.

I am really looking forward to moving in and sorting out my bits and pieces. I start work tomorrow at The Gordon for five weeks, so it will take me a few weeks to get everything in there. Will and Adam will very kindly put the big things in, and then I can potter around with my fibre and yarn and books and clothes and shoes ...

Bungalow - Week 5

2010-06-15T19:58:00.002+10:00

There are some words that evoke the most incredible feelings of warmth. One of those words is

I N S U L A T I O N ...

You can't believe how happy I was on Thursday morning when I saw Johnno and Tom carrying in lots of lovely bags of insulation...

The electrician put the wiring where I want it to go, and Johnno and Tom installed the cavities for the pocket doors ...

Will came around to do some gardening for Mum, and he very kindly picked up the outdoor setting for us.

On Friday, Johnno and Tom connected the storm water drains in case it rained over the weekend.

Today, Johnno and Tom painted the first coat on the bungalow. I chose Dulux Celery, and it is a lovely, soft green. It is hard to see the actual colour here.

The plasterers dropped off the plaster, and they will be back tomorrow afternoon to start hanging it.

Bungalow - Week 4

2010-06-08T22:10:00.001+10:00

Yesterday Johnno and Tom started on the floor, and an electrician put in some of the wiring...

Peter rang last night to ask me to write down where I want the lights and the power-points, so I had to decide how many power-points I need and where to put them.

Today, Johnno and Tom arrived early to finish the floor. I gave them my plan of the electrical fixtures. Johnno asked whether I want telephone wiring and a TV aerial. I said No to both. Our wireless broadband should be OK to use the Laptop out there, and I think three TVs for two people is a little excessive...

Peter rang me at work to discuss my bathroom tap. I had asked for a high tap so I can fill a kettle. He originally priced a standard tap, so wanted to see if I was willing to pay the extra. Yes, I drink a lot of tea, so I want to have the right tap. Apparently, you can pay up to $700 for a tap! Obviously, I won't be.

Peter mentioned that they had installed the new back door. We wanted one with glass as we were losing a window. He very kindly put a handle on it instead of a door-knob, which is easier for Mum to use. Neither of us thought to ask for that, so it was very considerate of him.

The plumber was back. I now have a shower base.

Mum took some photos of the floor and the door ...

The door hit me in the eyes as soon as I walked into the lounge! It will be painted, but it made me question my choice of green for the Bungalow...

I took photos of my corner of the Lounge. It will be nice when I have somewhere to put most of this stuff. Of course, it is not all mine. Mum has worked out how she wants to rearrange the room once most of my craft supplies are in the Bungalow.

I Have a Roof!

2010-06-06T20:19:00.001+10:00

On Friday, Johnno and Tom were only here for a short time, but they finished the step for the deck and put a privacy screen on top of the fence. Very cool ...

When I was checking out the deck, I noticed that I have a shower - well, almost. There is a floor in the bathroom and the pipes for the shower.

The cut-out in the bathroom floor, which will not be tiled, is my linen press. I was going to put a cupboard in the bathroom for my towels and sheets. When I asked Peter to arrange the layout so I could fit it in, he suggested a cupboard with the door in the bedroom. This is a much better idea.

Peter the Roofer, came yesterday to have a look at the type of roof, so he would know what he had to do when he came today. It is a four-hipped roof! Of course, this means nothing to me, other than the fact that I will be warm and dry inside ...

Virginia and Glenn picked me up this morning to go to Lifeway Christian Church in Lara, for the ministry and drama presentation from "Operation Ignite". They are a team from "Return Ministries" in Canada, who have a desire to assist Jewish people to return to the Land God gave to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants 4,000 years ago.

The team consists of three Canadians, two Australian sisters and an Israeli girl, who are currently traveling around Australian churches. Their mission is to "Ignite a Passion for God's Heart for Israel". Their testimonies and the drama were very powerful. It was incredibly moving to see the love of God for both Jew and Gentile portrayed so clearly.

Miriam and her mother, Mrs Buck, were there as well. We caught up with Mark, whom we hadn't seen since our days as Life Centre Youth. He has a couple of lovely daughters, and the oldest is part of the Music Ministry at the Church. She has a great voice. It was so good to talk to him that we didn't leave until 1:00pm.

When we got back to my house, Peter and his boys were just about to leave, having been there since just after 10:00am...

This shot is through the back window of the bedroom. It was hard to get a clear picture around the other side because of the reflection on the glass.

After lunch, I went to buy some new kitchen chairs. We saw them last Monday when we went shopping, and Mum had had time to consider buying them.

I saw an outdoor white wooden table with four chairs, and decided later in the afternoon to go back to buy it. I also purchased a three-seater bench in the same style. The bench will go at the end of the deck closest to the fence. It is long enough for me be able to read in a reclining position ...

It is coming along nicely ...

2010-06-03T19:24:00.003+10:00

Yesterday, the plumbers arrived and installed a tap on the side wall of the bungalow, as well as the internal stuff. After the wall is painted, they will move the tap back.

While the plumbers were doing their thing, Johnno and Tom were finishing off most of the weather-boards and then they started on the deck.

When they left last night, this was the stage it was at...

This shot was taken through the Lounge Room window this morning, so it is not clear, but it shows the merbau wood deck being installed.

Mum and I are very happy with the size of the deck. I am glad we chose to have the extra length.

We plan to pave the ground between the deck and the fence, and put some plants in pots against the fence. With the height of the deck, I can see into the neighbour's yard, so having tall plants to block the view would be good. We will ask Will what he recommends.

The deck is big enough for a nice outdoor setting. Mum can sit outside on lovely winter days, like today, with the sun shining and no wind, and have a cup of coffee, and sew or read.

We had considered putting a sail-cloth overhead to give me some protection from the rain, but have decided not to. It will be nicer to have the sun and light.

Bungalow - Week 3

2010-06-01T18:43:00.005+10:00

When I got home on Friday evening the guttering had been put on, as well as blue metal on the roof.

Johnno and Tom arrived early this morning. They wrapped the bungalow before installing the sliding door and the windows. Afterwards they started putting on the "weather-boards". These are made of a hard composite material. They are already primed for painting.

The bedroom window is on the left, and the bathroom window is on the completed wall.

The bedroom window is on the left, and the living room window is on the right.

I guess because Dad loved working with wood so much, he instilled a love for wood and wood-work in each of us. Ever since I was young I have wanted a sleigh bed. I found a bedroom suite I really liked, and Mum and I went to the shop yesterday to order it. I am using the rest of the money Auntie Pat left to me to buy it. Last year I bought a Moosie - a Drop Spindle made from Moose Antler with some of the money. It is so cool ...

Mum and I discussed the length of the deck yesterday. In over thirty years of living in the house, Mum has not needed to give anyone access beneath it. Therefore, Mum decided she would prefer the longer deck, which blocks access to the man-hole.

I saw Peter this morning, and let him know that we would go with the longer deck. He told me that the plumber will need access under the house! I said, OK, we will have the shorter deck, as we don't want to make things more difficult for him.

Peter came in later, and said that Johnno reminded him that previously they have made a section of the deck that screwed down instead of being nailed. This is the simplest fix.

Peter told us that the Roofer will be here on Saturday. He said that this time next week, I could do a dance in there. Well, I don't know about dancing, but I might be jumping for joy!

God is so good, and I am so blessed...

What a difference a day makes!

2010-05-25T20:44:00.006+10:00

I spoke to Peter as I was leaving for work, and he said they would be raising the fire-rated wall this morning. It has very thick plaster, so they needed assistance.

Peter also gave me the quote for the deck. He gave us two prices for two different lengths. Peter advised us to choose the shorter deck, which leaves the man-hole under the house accessible. Mum was still in bed, so I left it on the table.

When I rang her to discuss it, she said that the frames for the walls were all up.

This is the Craft / Living Room. It has a high narrow window at the rear and a sliding door at the front.

This is the Bedroom. There is a window in each of the front and back walls.

The Walk-in-Robe is at the rear, and the Bathroom is at the front of the building.

This is the view from beside the house. The Bathroom is the front corner facing you.

It is very exciting ...

Bungalow - Week 2

2010-05-24T21:02:00.011+10:00

I rang Mum today to find out what was happening, and she said that there was a lot of timber, and that there were windows in the front yard. Peter and the boys were here at 7:30am and left around 5:00pm. There are now frames ...

I have a good Mum - but you already knew that. She realised that it would be too dark by the time I got home to take photos, so she took them for me.

Mum spent the weekend cutting the Black Boy rose and the geranium from the trellis. The geranium had completely covered the rose. The only time you knew it was there was when it was in bloom, and the branches made their way out from amongst the geranium leaves.

Sherree and I planted it about 10 years ago. Grandma had had one when Mum was growing up, so she would like Will to plant it in the front garden.

The green colourbond is the side wall. It has to be fire-rated because it is so close to the fence. Peter asked me what colour I wanted, and I chose a soft green. I have decided that the bungalow will be green, as there won't really be a garden or lawn any more.

Besides, green is my favourite colour. I love the freshness of it. God has given us so many incredible shades of green.

Only the neighbours will be able to see this wall though.

You can see the windows and the sliding door leaning against the house.

The upright posts which support the electricity cable to the garage will eventually be removed. Peter suggested having the power go directly across from the bungalow, so he will ask the electrician to do that.

Mum said that Peter thinks they should be at Lock-up stage in about two weeks, depending on the weather...

My Bungalow

2010-05-20T14:28:00.012+10:00

I am posting the progress of the building of my Bungalow for my family and friends to see. Mum has been very generous in allowing me to take over the back yard.

Will is such a blessing! He has worked so hard preparing the yard for the builders. I helped on Monday and Tuesday, and Adam, and his mate, Chris, came around on Wednesday. They helped Will shift the last of the soil from the garden beds to a new bed behind the garage. They also assisted him with pulling down the last wall of the garden shed. As the rotary clothes-line no longer exists, much to Mum's dismay, we will be having a fold-up line installed where the garden shed used to be.

This is what the backyard looked like on Tuesday afternoon:

Peter, his son, Johnno, and Tom arrived yesterday at 7:30am to put in the stumps.

The yard looked like this at 7:00am today:

Now the yard looks like this:

It looked much smaller when I drew it on graph paper!

This will give me a large Craft Room, with two built-in cupboards with floor to ceiling shelves. I will be able to put away most of my spinning, knitting and sewing supplies in these.

I bought a Horn Sewing Cabinet from a nice lady in Geelong West on ebay. I can put my sewing machine and overlocker in the cabinet and close it all away when it is not in use.

I can also have my spinning wheels [I now have six] set up with different fibres on them and just spin what I feel like when I feel like it...

I will also have a large bedroom with a walk-in-robe, and an ensuite.

The rear window of the lounge room will be converted to a door, and there will be a small deck connecting the bungalow to the house. This will make it more convenient to access.

When Mum looked at the size of the base, she suggested that we swap...

Umm, no, thanks.

Australian Knitters Bag Lady Swap

2008-01-13T10:12:00.000+11:00

As the Tea Pot Cosy Swap was so enjoyable, we are having a "Bag Lady Swap", but of course men are able to participate as well. The Swap closed on January 7th, and we have until the end of March to mail it out.

I have requested a Drop Spindle Bag to take away with me, so I am posting a couple of pictures of my spindles for my Partner to see:-

Tea Pot Cosy Swap

2008-01-13T09:32:00.000+11:00

On the Australian Knitters group on Ravelry, we had a very successful Tea Pot Cosy Swap. Everyone who participated loved receiving the awesome parcels from their Swap Partners, and lots of fun was had choosing items to accompany the Tea Cosies.

Tinkingbell sent me this lovely Tea Plunger Cosy in Patons Jet:-

I sent this to Ozrockchic.

My "Art" shot...

Ravelry Invitation

2007-08-10T07:38:00.000+10:00

I just received my invitation from Ravelry. My username is Trishca.

I haven't been knitting much lately. I need to make some shawls for my sisters, but because they are lace, and I haven't had a lot of brain-activity happening for the past 12 months, I have only started one... I have five sisters and a mother...

I have been spinning - a grey merino fleece in the grease, and some pale fawn alpaca.

I received a Bosworth Kauri Mini Spindle last Friday, so I have been spinning silk on that in my lunch-breaks at work. It is absolutely gorgeous and I am very happy with it.

My mother and sisters' Titles

2007-05-17T09:08:00.000+10:00

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Her Most Serene Highness Lady Shirley the Venal of Longer Interval
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Duchess Julie the Kind of Leighton in the Bucket
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Venerable Lady Sherree the Imposing of Chortling Chesterton
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Her Most Serene Highness Lady Michelle the Educated of Tempting St Mary
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Empress Sharron the Precocious of Lower Beanthrop in the Hedge
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Venerable Lady Annemarie the Incontrovertible of Featherstonehaugh St Fanshaw
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title

2007-04-02T07:56:00.000+10:00

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is:
Grand Duchess Patricia the Feline of Ofsted in the Bucket
Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

What I have been doing lately...

2005-01-15T23:10:00.000+11:00

On Sunday I spent the afternoon winding skeins of yarn into balls using a ball-winder and swift. It was very relaxing...

Some of this is handspun, but the majority is what I have received from Joslyn's Fiber Farm Sock of the Month Club

The ball of cream wool at the middle back is the merino handspun for my Kiri shawl... {Join the KAL}
I have reached Row 31 for the second time. On Thursday night I got to this row and when I looked at my knitting, I realised that one of the first two leaves wasn't right... The merino frogs just as easily as it knits up, so I am glad I didn't use the Kid Silk Haze that Polly used when she made hers.

Kiri Shawl

I have been a member of Joslyn's Fiber Farm Clubs - Sock, Shawl and Scarf - since last April, but have only just started knitting any of the kits.

I am making a pair of fraternal socks for my sister, Sherree, from the August pattern. The pattern is Fiber Trends "Ribs on the Side", designed by Joanne Clark. The wool Joslyn supplied is a wonderful acid yellow, called 'Sunny Yellow', and a great pinky-red, called 'Sherbet'. I started knitting the toe that Joanne designed, but it is far too long for Sherree's foot, so I have frogged it and replaced it with the usual toe I use for cuff-down socks. This has decreases every second row. I will see Sherree tomorrow, so will make sure this toe is fine before I graft the stitches together.

This is the too-long toe I frogged...

I have the first sock of Joslyn's own design, called "Totem Socks", on the needles. The wool she sent with this pattern is called 'Bird of Paradise' and the colours really evoke the richness of these flowers. These socks are for me. I knitted socks over the past 12 months mainly for my family and a pair for a friend of mine, so it will be nice to finally knit the Club Socks for me.

Totem Socks

I love the fibres that Joslyn has included with all three Clubs. There is an incredibly soft Alpaca for the October Scarf Club, as well as some lovely mohair for a lace Moebius scarf, another Fiber Trends pattern.

New Year

2005-01-01T12:41:00.000+11:00

I thought as it is a New Year, I would create a place to keep me accountable to complete my Works in Progress.

I have been spinning for nearly 12 months and intend to use a skein of Merino to make the Kiri Shawl as part of the KAL Tracy has organised - http://woollywarbler.typepad.com/.

I have started a Swatch Cap for the Hand to Hand Sweater KAL which will commence on January 15th at knitbabysurprise-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. You will need to have a copy of Elizabeth Zimmermann's "Knitting Workshop" or Schoolhouse Press Spun Out #20 to participate. I am using Bendigo Woollen Mills Aran in Magnolia. This is an Australian 10-ply pure new wool yarn.

I am also knitting a Faroese Shawl for my mother in Bendigo's Classic 2 ply. I bought the pattern books from Schoolhouse Press - http://www.schoolhousepress.com/.

I have socks to make for some family members ...

2005-01-01T12:33:00.000+11:00

Merino Tops handspun - just over 100 grams