Way back when - last day of Blogtoberfest

It is the last day of Blogtoberfest and even though I didn't end up posting everyday, I certainly posted more regularly and met some great new blogging friends. It was a good month and a milestone one, with our builders starting work.

Now for some reason looking back over the last month also got me to thinking and looking back in general. This antique dresser not only is nearly 100 years old it is the first item of furniture I bought. (It is not normally this bare by the way, I normally have a vase of flowers and candles on it but they all have been packed up).

I loved it from the first time I saw it in the Antique Market in Adelaide and as soon as I had saved enough put it on lay-by when I was 21, over 15 years ago.

The thing I love about old furniture is that it has a story and a past. Also as I read somewhere recently it is better for the environment to buy old pieces, so that's good to know.

I have also enjoyed visiting others blogs and seeing how others have restored items found at markets or op shops, it has given me ideas for some of my existing pieces which are looking a bit tired.
Like the coffee table above, made from recycled timber, which I also bought in my early twenties, has a lot of marks on the top (hard to see here but can't take a close up a friend has it at the moment). Anyway thinking of giving it a sand and white wash to go in our new family area when completed. What do you think? The area is going to have a blue and white theme, to go with our blue sofas (the narrow space they are currently in below is going to be the dining area).

Hope you all had a good October and have a great Sunday, oh and Happy Halloween.

Tread Lightly upon this World

Freya Art & design

On a visit to the Yarra Valley a while ago I bought this card, not only because I like the design but the message resonates with me.

You may read something else into it but for me it is all about sustainability, something which we are trying to think about when it comes to our renovation, our garden and our everyday life.

With the house we are putting in high rating insulation, double glazed windows, getting a water tank, looking at solar panels, energy efficient lights and more.

For the garden I am currently learning about permaculture principles and how this can work in with the house as well.

With everyday life we try to remember to turn off things at the power point, dry our clothes on the line, put buckets under taps and more.


This design by Freya Art & Design I also bought for the colour, design and because I love the ideas it communicates. I especially love to travel, though haven't done much recently, but can't wait to with my children and explore with them. I also in accordance with the philosophy above, buy carbon credits every time we do to at least try an counteract the impact.

It has started - mess, asbestos, the juggle and more

I can't believe I haven't been online since Sunday, the last 24 hours I have had stomach virus (just starting to feel better though very shaky), my little boy has been sick and we have had builders here, it has been a bit of a juggle to say the least.

Looking from the bathroom through the WIR to the main bedroom

The week has been exciting, messy, exhausting and unsettling for the kids, all part of living in a house being renovated. Since 8am Monday we have had builders in our house and our bathroom has been fully demolished, the frame for the walk in robe has been built and last but definitely not least we had some asbestos removed yesterday, which has already added an unexpected cost.

The carpenter discovered the asbestos 10am Monday morning in the lino and bath caddy. Fairly common in houses of the age of ours (built in 1950s), but not a nice feeling all the same. At least in this instance there is only a small amount so they could continue working on other things around it.

So yesterday morning the asbestos guys rocked up and of course we had to be out of the house. Normally this wouldn't be an issue as both Hubby and I work in the City on Wednesdays and the kids go to crèche but our poor little boy was sick so we had to quickly find somewhere for my hubby to take him for the day. So good to have friends near by at times like this (the same friends who are letting us have a shower at their place).

For me though Monday was the hardest and surprisingly, even though I didn't do any of that full on physical work I was exhausted and developed a bad headache. Probably because of all the dust (though have managed to block the area off well), the anticipation and looking after the kids , who were initially very excited and wanted to watch, but got upset as the day went on. My daughter particularly freaked out when she saw the ceiling missing.

So at the end of the day we all collapsed and for the last three nights we have ended up letting my daughter sleep on the sofa bed with me while Hubby slept in her bed in the same room as our son - the hallway is in no condition for night time wanderings which my daughter is in the habit of at the moment.

Even with this, all the mess (which nothing can prepare you for) and trying to get the kids out of the house as much as possible, I am still loving it at this early stage. The guys are friendly and I enjoy seeing how it is all done.

A day on the farm

A perfect Sunday morning, the sun was out and so we headed to the Collingwood Children's Farm to meet some friends who we hadn't seen for a while. I love the Farm, only a few kilometres from Melbourne's CBD but it feels like you are in the country.

The kids love looking at the animals (so do I), which they can pat, feed or even milk a cow. I love the atmosphere of the place, the rustic style of the stone buildings, the community vegetable gardens and more.
It certainly inspires me, as I have a love for old buildings and natural materials like wood and stone. I also can't wait to build vegetable and herb garden beds like the ones I saw today. Something for after the builders have left considering they will be putting their materials in piles in our back garden.

What did you do with your Sunday, hope you had a good one?

It has begun, well sort of!

The electrician came around this morning to cut and seal or 'make safe' the wires etc in the bathroom ready for the builders on Monday to start demolishing.

Current built in cupboards - will be ripped out and replaced with a walk in robe through to the bathroom / new ensuite

We have also moved officially into our lounge which will now act as our bedroom as well. Thankfully we already had a sofa bed that we can use rather then trying to fit our Queen size bed in.

Our empty bedroom - well except for the tiles and lights all ready to be fitted.

The kids certainly enjoyed all this this morning, helping to move our bedding and then proceeding to hide under it on the leather sofa, then going through books we had moved together, very cute.

Ode to the Geranium

Many years ago I used to think the geranium was the kind of flower my grandma had in her garden, so back in my early twenties didn't think it was appropriate for our apartment balcony.

Now since having visited Italy a couple of times where I saw them in abundance, I love them and have them growing in many spots in our garden.

Not only do they add great colour to the house and garden, they also flower most of the year and are hardy in our dry Australian climate.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday, to find out more - Wordless Wednesday