Cleaning the east side

This was the east side of the house in August 2011.

Notice the picket fence window boxes, and the rusty iron roof.

Now you can see a new roof, and a larger toilet window.

A close up of the boards shows rusty water stains.

Shannon Lush taught us to cut lemons in half, and use them to scrub the boards.

The lemon juice acts as a bleaching agent.

The finished job - need sunglasses to look at it now!!

Oil of cloves

The exterior of the house is beginning to get a make over.

This is what it used to look like.

Then we cleaned up a bit.

Now we have a new roof, and the tree fern has been dug out and transplanted.

The tree fern was actually 4 trunks planted together, and a chainsaw was used to trim them down!

The hydrangeas have also been transplanted, and the old hot water service is ready to be recycled.

The vinyl cladding (which will eventually be removed) has mould on it.

This photo shows the ease at which it can be removed.

The solution is "Oil of Cloves".

1 teaspoon in 4 litres water, and the mould just washes straight off.

Leave it to dry, and then brush off any residue.

Thank you Shannon Lush !!

Kitchen - after 8mths without one !!

Kitchen up and running, we can really start cooking now!

Butterscotch self-saucing pudding . . . now where's Chris?

Zucchini slice

Gotta feed the man so he can keep working!

a lock-up . . . for the pump. Don't want it to escape!

New kitchen bench tops

We finally have had our new bench tops installed. Firstly the laminate I ordered was out of stock, and then, when it did come in, it was snowed in - and couldn't leave Hobart!

The paint color is Dulux Vintage - appropriate name!

Thank you to our daughter Jacqui, who helped choose the right "tone" of colour.

The interior decorating course is paying off!!

We now need to put the framing back around the window and the door,

and put up a splashback above the benchtops.

Robert in hot water

Hot water service is up and running . . . looking at these photos might scar you for life!!

Happiness is a hot shower . . .  at home !!



Snow

We woke to this view from our front verandah. Can't complain about views like this !!

and this is from the bottom of our driveway!

Can the imagine the wind chill factor!

Roast

The electricians came and wired in the 2 ovens & hotplates, and put in 5 downlights in the ceiling.
So pleased to be able to cook a proper meal at home that we cooked roast beef & vegies  . . . and fat free roast potatoes.

these are the left-over potatoes - for snacking on later !!

And . . . you all ask, how do you cook fat-free roast potatoes.Simple.

Start with potatoes cut into roasting size, use a fork and score the surface all over.

Place into cold water in a suacepan and bring to the boil,

cook until just soft on the outside only.

Immediately roll each potato piece in good quality dried parmessan cheese,

and place on baking paper on a roasting tray in the oven for 30-40mins.

Turn every 10 mins to golden all over.

Serve and enjoy !!