Hard Days Work

After a long time away we finally headed up to the hills. This time we took a chainsaw to "trim" a few dead trees. Also it was a good chance to clean up a few camping sites as we have a weekend planned and a friend and his wife are coming to stay. As there is very little room in the shed they are bringing their tent along. A cold beer was welcome after swinging from the chainsaw all day. A short break for lunch and short stroll to the dam next-door. We threw in a Yabby net with sausage in it. No luck just a tadpole. Next time we might need to try rump steak A quick clean up in the afternoon then back to the city. Dreaming of our next visit.

Firewood

Firewood and tonnes of it. The previous owner had collected a fair pile of firewood and was situated at the rear of the "shed". We want to put in a vegetable patch and the firewood was in the way. So we decided to move it. A huge job to move a mountain of firewood and huntsman's as well. Plenty of splinters and lots of "look out spider on your leg" Ha Ha just joking. As mentioned the vegetable patch is the next project complete with a picket fence and chicken wire to the ground to keep snakes and kangaroos out. A old gate was purchased on ebay. A post hole digger will need to be hired for the posts as digging is a challenge. Plenty to think about. The beds are to be made out of corrugated colourbond 400mm high and filled with organic matter. If there is one thing we have learned over the years is good soil is important. The inside will be painted with malthoid to prevent rusting.

The Shower

Many hours of thought was needed but not required as a trip to Bunnings sorted it out. There was the answer in aisle 21. The way the previous owner set the house up was there is no combustable material around the house with-in 2 metres brick footing that go to ground then mud-brick above that. So we wanted the (temp) outside shower close to the house but non-combustible. Not easy to do but there in aisle 21 was aluminium pool fencing perfect for the screen and we also purchased a little electric hot water service 50 litre. Five hours of digging though the clay proved a challenge and after 3 blisters the water line was run. The connections were all attached and after 15 min we had running hot water. We notice some bugs are more dominate in numbers than others on different visits. This time the March Fly had the vote as the most annoying. Unfortunately for them it requires a slap as they sting. The youngest child was on the trail off a little Skink next to the compost bins. The Skink ran under one of the lids and as she turned it over and out ran a massive huntsman. I wish I had a video camera the scream, the jump, and the run all in one. A truly classic moment.

Christmas 09

Christmas was spent at the twisted shed. It was decided after a big year we would have a quiet Chrissy at the block. The two older boys where set up in a tent to give them their space. As there was no oven a roast turkey lunch proved a challenge. But this is part of living simply, to think outside the square. We cooked the turkey in a electric fry-pan with a lid and the potatoes in the fire wrapped in Alfoil. It worked a treat. As it was beautiful day we sat outside, with our cracker hats on. As I said in the previous post the shower needed attention so we set about putting in a shower base with a brick edge and a slate base. The screen and workings would need thought later. The run-off (waste) will need to run into an absorption trench a 2 metre trench with screenings. Christmas day was spent laying in the hammock and playing with the toys Santa had bought in his ute towed by 6 white kangaroos. We had to leave after 5 days as a bad fire day was upon us. This is the unfortuate part of visiting the bush it can burn. We are very alert in this time of year, watching the weather and our surroundings.

Life's Comforts

It was decided that we needed a sofa bed. Luckily we had a spare. So a plan was hatched to deliver the sofa bed and also a small wardrobe and even smaller fridge. I went one friday afternoon with eldest child and delivered the said goods. In the evening we went for a walk to the creek. We explored the mines around the creek and wondered how tough the lives of the miners must have been hundred years ago. Digging large creek diversions by hand. Next morning was up early for the return trip. We surprised a few kangaroos at the bottom of the drive.

The Weekend Away

We couldn't wait to get away. Beat the peak hour rush and head for the hills.

Another reason we were excited was it was our youngest child's birthday

We found out upon entering the Shed that the Sofa was a sofa not a sofa bed.

For some reason I thought the sofa was a sofa bed.

Lucky there was cushions so I sent the night on the floor and Biffy was curled up on the sofa.

Next day was full of exploring our new environment.

We were all tired as we didn't get the best of sleep

Saturday was spent searching the Op shops in town to fill some missing kitchen pieces. In the afternoon, it was spent putting up the dovecot that Andrew had made. He felt he needed stamp the place with something from us.

Sunday was off to the market. Great place to find a few bargains. An axe for $15.00. The Shed didn't come with a flushing toilet or a shower. However it has a Dunny Can well a bucket. Ben says the toilet "isn't right"

The shower is a canvas bag that is filled with warm water (from the billy on the fire) then hung from a tree. I found a large slab of slate amongst the loads of things the previous owner had left to stand on. The toilet we can live with but the shower situation needs attention.

Sunday afternoon saw our first Bull-ant bite "jumping jack". I'm not surprised they are everywhere. In fact everything we pick-up has a bug or spider or ant on it. But thats the outdoors. We should be thankful for the healthy environment.

The Purchase

We purchased our first weekender in December it was advertised as a "Shed with a Twist" and was exactly that. The Shed has power and running water, telephone line was run but not connected.

It is approx 7m X 4m external with a loft 1/3 of the truss space. It has a great little wood heater and lucky "The Shed" sits amongst 10 acres of firewood. The gardens around the dwelling are established with silver birches and lots of other european plants and then surrounded by bush which is open woodland with no undergrowth. There is a high fire danger and we have decided that if the weather looks hot and windy we will leave early. The block is close to a major arterial and has access at back to escape. The dwelling is surrounded by crushed rock and sits on a brick pad

We are are quite excited about going for our first weekend.