I'm a sucker for old furniture

Recently on a local facebook buy, swap and sell page these items were advertised.  The owners were moving into a new modern house and the furniture wasn't going to suit. Lucky for me I was on facebook at the time of advertising and picked these lovely old pieces up for a good price.

Brown marble top washstand for $20

The marble is broken but hopefully it can be repaired with some granite glue.   We purchased this to restore for our daughter.  She owns a quaint little cottage in the Flinder's Ranges, and this will be perfect for it.

A settlers chair for $40, this is also for our daughter.  Not much restoring to do with this beauty.

And my most favourite of all. 

A leadlight cupboard for $150

 I can't wait to get this one back to its former glory.  I think it may have been originally painted with the green and cream of that era, but I am debating whether to do that or take all the paint off to reveal the beautiful wood.  Probably will do the latter...

The leadlight glass is in perfect order, not loose at all.

This cupboard is a keeper for me J

This cute dresser was $20, I think it will be such a nice piece with all that paint removed.

I don't know where I am going to put this furniture as my house is already full of old pieces, but I will figure that problem out later J

 And the person that was selling asked if we would like this old fan.  It needs a bit of work, but having an apprentice electrician in the family this shouldn't be a problem.  There are a few bare wires showing.

Are you a sucker for old wares or do you prefer the modern alternative?

xTania

Shed Update

Yeah, yeah I know,

two posts in two days, that's a record for me!

But I have to get them done while I can, there is so much busyness around here...

So the shed?

Well, it has been started and is very slowly taking shape.  Hubby only gets to do some work on it on his days off.   He has asked a mate to help him, but to get the right time when they are both free is proving difficult sometimes.  For example next week Hubby has the whole week off and his mate will be away working.  This is not a job that can be done by oneself, especially when it is the first attempt at such a structure.

You can see by the pictures how the shed is progressing J

The beginning...

supports from the main shed, so it will be semi attached.

 Holes have been dug and large pavers placed in the bottom providing a solid base for the post to sit on. Some of the posts have been cemented in the ground.

 Hubby made these two props, I am not sure what to call them.  He used plough discs for the bottoms, scrap pipe for the uprights. The top is made from flat bar, an eight inch bolt, a nut welded to a washer upside down in the piece of pipe for fine adjustment. These will help when they are putting the shed up.

   

Hubby also made this leveler thingy out of a hose and bits and pieces.  Apparently it is called a "Bunyip" or "water leveler."

This was something he found on YouTube, and it works too! 

Up and down the ladders all day, measuring, leveling and making sure everything was going to plan.

And finally it is starting to take shape J

 The props in use...

Stay tuned, I will keep you posted with the progress...

*****

Today is National Day of Mourning as we remember those lost on MH17.

Some of the shed photos were taken on the day that the Malaysian Airliner MH17 was blown out the sky in Ukraine...Such a senseless act, so tragic and distressing.  Lots of families are now grieving including many Australians.  The following events since that day have been horrific and sadly it is still continuing now :(

We flew our flag at half mast for the day as a mark of respect for the 298 innocent crew and passengers...

Such a crazy mixed up world we live in.  

Please give peace a chance.

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention that   

we were able to be Bikies for a day, riding around on a friend's Harley Davidson.  He is selling the bike, so we took it for a ride before it is gone J

Hubby now thinks he wants one!

xTania

Bits 'n Pieces from July

I was given some quinces, and not really knowing much about this fruit I decided to try and make Quince Compote with them.  This is so yum!

 QUINCE COMPOTE

From The Margaret Fulton Crock-pot Cookbook

Cooking time: 10 – 12 hours on low

5 quinces

½ - ¾ cup sugar

Rub 5 quinces with a cloth to remove the down.  Put them whole and unpeeled into the Crockpot with 1 cup of water.  Cover, turn heat to Low and cook overnight or for 10 – 12 hours. They will become a deep amethyst colour and should be soft but not breaking up.  When they are cool enough to handle, peel, halve and with a teaspoon remove core.  Cut off blossom end, cut into slices or leave in halves.  Arrange quinces in a glass bowl.  Make syrup with the liquid from the crockpot and ½ to ¾ cup sugar.  Cool. Pour over quinces.  Serve with cream if liked.

I made my all time favourite pie, Lemon Meringue J

A foggy morning.

Doing repairs to

the fan in our oven.

Flowers...

 Young agave.

 Icy morning.

Minus five here two mornings ago...brrr!

 Our hens are laying more, 

we are getting between 7 - 11 eggs a day now J

We needed more wood for the chilly nights...

Some of our girls.

Sunset.

 Warmth.

Citrus...

Mandarins make excellent juice.

And cake J

Recipe here 

Organising my cupboards...

These spices are located above my stove and have needed sorting for so long.

All listed now and easy to find J

Labeling is good J

We have had more than one visit from a fox.  

We lost four of our girls and a rooster this Winter.  The fox has been coming onto our property in the middle of the day and taking them. We cant let the chooks roam around at the moment as it is not safe, and they are not happy about it!

We are already picking some of our Quandongs.  These are usually not ready until September. I made a wild peach crumble with this lot J

I am still picking tomatoes from our summer plants, but not for much longer as severe frosts over the past few nights have turned the plants black.

And another pretty end to the day...

xTania