Tag Archives: painting

Extreme Nesting!

by . Posted on
15 Sep

Having got Arthur safely on the ground and on the udder, we had a crazy week turning our little house into a welcoming home for Benjamin.  (Having been so certain about a name for so long, I have to admit to being completely open-minded now about what he/she might be called.  I guess he/she will tell me when they get here . . . )

Ged spent the weekend sanding first the Baby’s room floor and then our room.  Which obviously necessitated complete removal of everything from both (as well as the dismantling of most of the rest of the house to protect everything from dust) so we were camped out sleeping on the mattress on the sitting room floor for almost a week while the subsequent layers of Tung Oil were applied and dried.  Not comfortable!  Especially when you are a Weeble and can’t get up from a lying position at the best of times!
On Tuesday Ged drove me into Port Macquarie for a fairly full on day of getting jobs done, supplies in, last treatments for both of us prior to the birth and a trip to the midwife (who now has my 4WD – just in case of floods!)  Then I had several days when work was completely abandoned as I wielded my trusty paintbrushes and rollers.  I call this ‘extreme nesting’!!  At 5pm on Friday night the upholsterer delivered the newly loose covered sofa and at 7 we had the lovely Chris and Ruth Latimore over for supper . . . and after some fairly hilarious and very stressed joint effort, we have a house that is truly and properly a home . . . at last.
Saturday was the most surreal and peaceful day – hot and airless and lazy.  Ged gave me a massage which was blissful and then I went for a walk before coming home to eat and sleep.  It felt as if I could FINALLY rest now that we had the home I had so long envisioned.  And the day had a most meditative quality, the calm before the storm . . . so when the Baby spent all day Sunday wriggling down into a full-on birthing position and the Braxton Hicks doubled me over, I was sure we were starting labour, and after eight months of talking confidently about it, the fear set in . . . .  But by late that night it had all calmed down (false alarm!) and it looks like we are back on track and I have had my little terror tantrum!
I will have to get Ged to take a picture as I am absolutely ENORMOUS now, and looking forward to being able to do up my shoes again.  Although as I said to Ged the other night, I have been pregnant for so long that I can’t remember what NOT being pregnant feels like.  Arthur is growing like a weed and it is fascinating to witness the herd mentality to Mothering – he is always baby-sat by someone, male or female, horse or cow, and all the cows are chasing Phee away from his new friend (much to Phee’s simultaneous amusement and disgust!).  Even Tinkerbell has become broody which is hilarious to see, and Baby is adamant that she is going to the stallion in a month or so when the Baby Bonus money comes in (after all, it has got her name on it!)
So here we sit, being patient now, clearing the desk and waiting to meet this little person I’ve been growing . . . as ready as we can be in body, mind, space and soul.  Another new chapter is about to begin  . . .

Belly belly

by . Posted on
25 Aug

It looks like the race is on between the two mad cows at Avalon . . . . Paddy is really ‘bagging up’ now and her udders are bigger than mine (close, but no cigar!).  It’s a close thing who waddles more and who eats more . . . we both have our noses in the trough 24/7!  Ged says now he knows how Daisy feels when paddy head butts her off her feed – I am scrapping for the biggest bowl and the leftovers now!! Maybe Paddy is waiting for me so Macca the midwife can deliver us both!

As for me, the baby is Head Down, Bum Up and engaged.  So pre-flight checks have been completed and he is ready for orbit.  I am keeping my legs firmly crossed until the house is finished, baby’s room ready and linen cupboard cleaned out and rearranged . . . . !
Monday morning saw me consorting on the phone with a couple of animal healers/clarivoyants for an article I am writing for the ongoing series in ‘Australian Performance Horse’ magazine about Complementary therapies for horses.  Tinkerbell and Ged’s mare, Mythri, were the subjects, and Tinkerbell told us that she had chosen to come into this life to be one child’s pony, for life, and I was carrying that child and this was her destiny.  So basically she is responsible for getting us all from the UK to Oz and then from KV to here and fixing me up with Ged and getting me up the duff etc . . . we always thought she was a spoilt, manipulative little tyke but now we know for sure!  The animal communicator confirmed that Mischa had been bitten by a snake, had gone very quickly (10 minutes) and so now we know . . .
The weeds inspector came on Thursday and was, as always, very helpful.  He told me that the ‘Travelling Stock Route’  on Crown Land across the river from us (where we have our river crossing entrance and Flying Fox parking etc) is available for rent.  So for $75.00 a year we get an additional 100 acres or so!  Can’t pass that up, so we have written the relevant letter.  It just means that if it ever came up for sale, we would have first option on it, and while we have a lease it can never be sold to anyone else, and we get to do as we will with it.
On Friday I took my big belly into Port Macquarie and signed up a new client – a lovely couple who import Natural Paint from Germany and her other business is importing organic baby stuff so we know how I will be getting paid!!  I swore no new clients this year so I could concentrate on the wedding and the baby and have taken on two newies in the last two months – great timing!!  Well they say there’s no rest for the wicked . . . .
I have been sanding and Tung oiling the laundry floor and glossing the laundry skirting boards this weekend as my new office ‘niche’ is above the washing machine so I can keep in touch during my maternity leave without having to trek up to the office.  Am aiming on getting Ged into the office next week.  Scottie came and did two days – one finishing the shed and making it watertight (just in time for the first deluges in months) and helping Ged dismantle the shed on his old place.  So we are very close to being ready . . . just not quite yet, little baby!
But the dynamic, over-achieving, whirlwind you know and love has disappeared and I am slow, sluggish and needing frequent ‘nanny naps’ these days.  The focal point of my day has always been my run, recently walk and now it is my siesta . . . who is this person?

Slow progress and paint stripping

by . Posted on
08 Jan
On New Year’s Day we left Phee with the hungover hosts and went shopping for something for Ged and his best man, Steve, to wear on the big day.  Success!  As usual, I had a vision in mind, and we managed to find the right jackets and shirt even if the pants were all the wrong sizes, but at least that gives me an on-the-phone challenge for the New Year!
Back to Avalon and work on the farm and on the house.  We were preparing for the imminent arrival of the Grippers, so Ged replaced the platform for the Flying Fox on the house side, and also made an all new ‘basket’ lining so it was solid and safe for my beloved Gripper kids.  We ordered an ‘enviro-loo’ from Brisbane which came complete with Cane Toad (oh. my. God!) and set it up in one of the old corrugated iron ‘builders bog’ that we inherited with the property.  Ged also made a sink stand and a wooden base for an ablution block out of sleepers and piped cold water to the site.  We never quite got to the hot water, but we will one day . . . .!
I stripped and sanded a little antique table I had and spent a day stripping a window – layer upon layer upon layer of paint, dating from sometime early in the last century and STILL the window is not close to being ready for painting – ugh!  I put another coat on the ceilings and painted yet more doors.  Other than that, we read some good books, went for some nice runs and enjoyed staying on the property.  The weather was glorious, the river peacable and pristine and we spent a lot of time platypus watching which was bliss (the new Flying Fox platform is the perfect platypus viewing post!)
Slow progress is being made!

The Myrtles in full bloom over Christmas.