Studio

I have to say, that progress on the studio, while a little slow in the past couple of weeks, looks like stepping up through September.

Last weekend, MONT started on the side wall frame. He just used up timber we already had lying around. The plan is to use up as much as we have and only buy what's absolutely necessary.

This week, MONT's mate, (Mr P the Builder), will be here to measure up for the rest of the room and have a look at the windows (second hand) that we have in the shed and the placement of the door, to make sure what we want is do-able.

The side fence, which is almost on its last legs, will be pulled down and the posts replaced. While that's happening, MONT and Mr P will construct the wall. The top part will be weatherboards, while the lower section (which won't be seen)  will be corrugated roofing metal, so it's not going to need painting. EVER!

So, it's all happening.

I'll share a couple of eBay bargains I've found with you later in the week. Gorgeous they are!

Action weekend

It's amazing sometimes just how much can be achieved in a single day!

MONT and a buddy got the roof to the new studio started.

They started work around 8.30 on Saturday morning....

...and by lunchtime it was looking like, well a roof.

By around 3pm the corrugated sheets had been put on the roof

...and the front boards had been put back (we saved and re-used as many of the weatherboards and timber we could)

Then yesterday, MONT filled in all the holes and joins with "no more gaps"...and painted it.

All done!...well, almost

Now, the roofing plumber just has to arrive this week to finish off and attach the spout and gutter.

Exciting times!

Studio Progress

It's well on it's way!

The posts are now in to hold up the extension of the roof.

Next weekend, work will begin on the roof itself.

The room will take up two bays of the carport, which makes it just over 4 metres long. We've been talking about the placement of the windows and the all important door, which has caused us a little bit of a problem because we need to have an entry that won't allow water in. You see the frame/walls will be built on top of the paving, so a special water proofing membrane of some sort will have to go under the frame to stop rainwater seeping in and making the interior floor wet.

We talked about placing the doorway at the back of the room, from what will be MONT's workroom/storage shed...but we've now scrapped that and the door will be placed right near where that creamy coloured planter box will be.

One window will look straight down into the driveway...the other will be on the side wall looking into the yard.

Very exciting....but it's still a long way off from being completed. It'll be interesting to see just how long it's going to take from go to whoa.

It's happening....

My new studio/sewing room is on it's way...

Not sure when it'll be finished. These things take time as MONT tells me. Regularly!

He dug out the first post hole back in April

Then a couple of weeks ago, he dug the other one on the other side and started pruning back the ornamental grape vine and wisteria.....it's over where that blue lidded bucket is near the fence

Then on Saturday, he started on the end of the carport so we can begin the extension

The wisteria's tied to the clothes line until the posts and frame goes up, then the fence will come down (temporarily) so the side wall can be constructed. That's the other thing...I'm going to lose part of my line so we'll have to find another spot for one. I can't be without a clothes line!

The finished room will measure about 4.5 metres by 3.6 (approx 15x12 feet) and it will have a wall of floor to ceiling cupboards. You cannot have enough storage! The walls will be painted white, or slightly off white to blend in with the sandstone floor and i'll get a nice rug to make it feel cosy.

On the outside, the weatherboards will be white, like the rest of the house. We've got a couple of (second hand) windows to put in and now the only thing that has to be worked out is where to locate the door.

The whole idea is to have all of my sewing and crafty stuff out there so it isn't cluttering up the spare room, which is an absolute mess at the moment because I don't have a lot of storage for all my bits and pieces

I quite like this idea for "small stuff" storage...nice shallow drawers with partitions so everything is easy to find. Perfect for cottons and trims and pins and all the little stuff that goes missing in larger drawers.

...and this is nice too...perfect for all the knitting patterns and my magazines.

I'm on the look-out for a skinny table to hold the sewing machine and overlocker and I think I've got just about everything else I need.

We hope to have it finished before Christmas...but you know...anything can happen between now and then...so we'll play it by ear.

So there you have it...this is what's been consuming me these past couple of weeks. Can't wait to keep you updated on progress.

I haven't given credit for the last two photos because I'm not sure where they came from. If you do, please let me know so I can give credit where it's due.

Cold?

It's been a bit cold here some mornings... and nights

So cold that the dogs have had trouble getting a drink

Nothing like Winter in Melbourne. Usually the icy, clear mornings are followed by a glorious sunny day. Then it gets cold and frosty again

Lovely

Bad blogger1

Yes, I am a bad blogger!

Sorry for my absence for the past few weeks. No excuse really. It's cold here and I've had a couple of days work, but I just haven't been inspired to talk about anything in particular.

Do you get like that? Do you find that you just don't know what to talk/blog about?

I'm sure it will pass and something will grab me and inspire me.

I've still got some painting to do to finish off the study and the back hallway, but it's too cold to paint at the moment.  Yes, lots to do but I'm more interested in keeping warm than renovating.

I can't believe i just typed that last sentence!!!

I plan to do some tidying up today...you know, vacuum and wash floors...and then drag out the sewing machine to get something happening.

Let's see if that will spur me on...

Maybe it's the weather...maybe it's just me. Is it just me or do you lack inspiration at this time of year too?

Rental Auctions! What the?!

What is it with some real estate agents in Melbourne at the moment...they're auctioning off rental properties.

No, they're not selling them but they don't set a rent for them. No, potential tenants have to do that!!

Some friends have moved back to Melbourne and are staying with in-laws while they find a place to rent for the next year while they get settled and eventually buy a home...

Last weekend, they started the hunt for somewhere to rent and looked at more than a dozen properties.....and were told they'd have to "make an offer".

Needless to say my friends missed out on quite a few potential homes because they "got out-bid"

What's going on? Why are some Real Estate agents not doing their job and setting rents? Are they trying to cash in on the limited number of rentals compared with the number of potential tenants?

Is this normal?

Is this legal?

....or am I way out of touch with the way things are done now?

Mood Lighting for the Garden

Some more ideas for garden lighting, which can be quite expensive but it doesn't need to be. There are some ways to get mood lighting in the garden that won't cost you much at all..

I usually put some tealight candles in little jars out there whenever we have people coming over...and MONT installed an "uplight" under a tree to make it look nice as well...

I guess whatever you do depends on the size of the garden, what effect you want to achieve and what you like yourself...

I've done a couple of things, apart from the tealights in jars...and one of the ideas came from Diane at In My Own Style. She made  this little beauty and I love it!!

Here's my version... made with an old light fitting that came out of our spare room

It's easy.... you can make it with twine or get some chain from your local hardware if you want a different look

Just tie the twine around the rim and add some pieces to hang it....or add the chain in the same way. You'll need some little jewelery pliers and connectors so you can hang it in the garden from a tree branch...

Then you can do this as well...with some of the other old fittings you have

They glow like night lights...I put a couple of battery operated tealights in them and they twinkle the night away...

So...if you see any old glass domes at the local op-shop or have some lying around the house, put them in the garden and give them a second life.

Another day, another project

I got home from shopping this morning to find MONT in the back yard...digging this.

He'd cut a hole in the sandstone paving to make way for new posts that will hold up the extension to the carport. That extension will eventually become a studio/sewing room.

I got a bit of a shock, I have to say....

We haven't even finished the back hallway modification and he's already started on this.

He says now is as good a time as any..

Me?  Well, I usually like to get one project over and done with before I start on another, but hey, that's just me.

Waiting has its benefits...

I think it's fair to say that for the past couple of months I haven't been my usual, "chipper" self.

Not sad or depressed. Nothing that extreme, just not my usual self.

But I have to admit I'm feeling a lot better and it's partly due to me getting a (part-time) job and also partly due to us deciding to, and acting on, getting Number 10  FINALLY FINISHED ! ! ! !

I blogged back in 2010, that some changes were in the wind as far as the study was concerned and now those changes, with a few tweaks, are happening. NOW!

The study window is being removed and a smaller window installed, which will give us more wall space in the study and give me a better work space for my new job.

The back door, which is near the laundry/storage room is also being moved. Out.

At the moment we hardly ever use the back door and instead walk through the dining room to get outside. We're hoping this will change all that.

Originally we planned to put a floor to ceiling cupboard here to accommodate the vacuum cleaner and ironing board and all the stuff that usually takes up residence in the laundry, but we've changed our minds. We thought it might make it too "closed in" and poky so instead, we'll place a low cupboard along the wall and a nice basket (or something) to hold the dirty laundry

Oh I'm so hoping this works out OK.

I'll post more pictures as work continues and I can successfully get my photos into the computer and resize them

Chrome vs brass - Chrome wins

The change over from brass to chrome is well underway at Number 10.

In fact one part of the job's done and it looks terrific. I've replaced all of the brass door knobs through the place and am really happy with the result

I can't believe how such a small change can make such a huge difference. It just feels like the place has been transformed!

We've also changed over one of the ceiling rods

MONT was sceptical but is now a convert.

We could only get one from the lighting store to see how it looked so tried it out in the main bedroom. The rest are on order and should be in Friday...

The only things left to change are the brass door handles on the french doors in the dining room and study
They'll be done in the next few weeks.

I'm a very happy vegemite.

Panettone

Not sure what's happening but I seem to be posting a lot of  recipes at the moment. I'm sure it'll pass and I'll get back to other "stuff" around here...but baking makes me happy and that's what's going on at Number 10 at the moment

This weekend it was Panettone.

Panettone's a cross between bread and cake. It has eggs like a cake, but also has yeast, like bread...one thing they both have...deliciousness.

It's pretty easy, a little time consuming because you have to let it sit and rise...but it is worth the effort
I found a couple of recipes on-line and sort of merged them to come up with my own concoction

You'll need
_________

1 tablespoon dry yeast
1 cup lukewarm water
5 tablespoons caster sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup plain yoghurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
500 gr plain flour
1/3 cup currants
1/3 cup sultanas
1/4 cup candied orange peel
1 tablespoon icing sugar

Preheat oven to 170c

In a medium bowl, combine yeast, water and caster sugar, then stir and cover and let stand for 10 minutes until it starts to foam. In another bowl, combine yoghurt, eggs, vanilla, zest and salt and mix together, then add to the yeast mixture. Let it sit for about 10 minutes until it foams and bubbles

Stir in the flour, a little at a time until a dough starts to form into a manageable ball. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 to 10 minutes, adding flour as necessary, until dough is soft and pliable, but not sticky

Place the ball of dough into a lightly greased bowl and cover with a tea towel.

It'll take about an hour for the dough to double it's size

Lightly grease a round 20cm cake tin and place two layers of baking paper in the bottom, then in a small bowl, mix the dried fruit with the icing sugar. Punch down the dough, transfer to a floured surface again and knead in the fruit

Put the dough into the cake tin and let is rise again...for about half an hour

Then bake for about 35-40 minutes,

That's all there is to it really...easy but time consuming...absolutely delicious though if you like something a little different for breakfast...or afternoon tea for the matter.

The original recipe had the oven at 180 deg and a baking time of 45 minutes. I tried it a little lower as my oven is fan forced. I also tested the Panettone after 35 minutes and it was fine, although some of the fruit on the top was a little crispy, as you can see.

But as one of the recipes stated, the more you make it the better it'll be because you'll adapt it to suit your oven and taste.

Something easy for dinner

I've had a lot more time on my hands since losing my job late last year so I thought I'd put some of that time to good use and start cooking some interesting and different meals.

...and I've been inspired by this month's Delicious Magazine. Sometimes you buy a magazine or cookbook for a particular recipe and sadly, that's all you make out of it.

Not this month's Delicious.

It's been fabulous.

A case in point.....Thai Chicken Risotto

It's tasty and very easy because you kick things off on top of the stove, then plonk it in the oven for about half an hour to finish it off.

Quantities are for 6
You need:

Peanut oil
500 gr chicken thigh fillets, cut into 2cm pieces
1 onion finely chopped
1 red chilli, chopped and de-seeded
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
4 kaffir lime leaves finely shredded
1 1/2 cups arborio rice
1/4 cup Thai red curry paste
2 cups chicken stock  (I used water)
1 cup coconut cream
2 tbsp fish sauce
200 gr green beans, trimmed and chopped
Coriander, fried Asian shallots and lime wedges (to serve)

Preheat oven to 180 c
Heat oil in flame proof casserole dish and add the chicken in batches and fry until browned. Remove the chicken and add the onion, chilli, garlic and half the kaffir lime leaves and fry for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly then add the rice and curry paste and stir to coat the grains
Return the chicken to the dish with the stock and half a cup of water. Let it simmer then cover with the lid and cook in the oven for about 25 minutes or until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Remove from the oven and stir in the coconut cream, fish sauce and beans then cover and let stand for 10 minutes.

Top the risotto with the chopped coriander, fried Asian shallots and remaining kaffir lime leaves and serve with lime wedges.

Hope you like it...it's easy and delicious for dinner on a cool night.

The fumbles

It really hasn't been my week...

First the brown sugar, then the cream cheese....

Now the milk...it's OK, I didn't cry

Not. My. Day.

Despite the heat in Melbourne today, I spent the afternoon in the kitchen trying out a new recipe for a delicious cake. I'll post the recipe tomorrow because, if I say so myself, it is a beauty!!!!

But the day didn't start well...

I had the fumbles and dropsies!.

...and things just kept ending up on the floor.

The cake though. Oh the cake...

It is a plum cake and it is one of the yummiest I've ever made.

The recipe to come tomorrow, after I've cleaned up my mess