• Blog,  Extensions,  Extensions - External,  Extensions - Roofing,  Extensions - Structural

    First Stretch of Iron On

    December 3, 2015 /

    We are owner builders, we’ve been building our home for six years now.  Last week we began re-roofing our ‘old house’ though the intense heat of 40C/104F and then the rains have made this major project difficult but we have persevered. I’ve been keeping a record of our ‘chronicles’, so continuing the story. The previous chronicles are: Beams In Place Demolishing The Front Of The House Walls Go Up, Roof Comes Down Trusses Are On!   Saturday & Sunday Saturday we began screwing the sarking into place. The race was on to complete this task before the afternoon as my brother D was leaving then.  He was an incredible help all week,…

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  • Blog,  Extensions,  Extensions - External,  Extensions - Renovating,  Extensions - Roofing,  Extensions - Structural

    Trusses Are On!

    December 2, 2015 /

    We are currently re-roofing our ‘old house’. Chronicling the days here for us to remember and for you, those keen to know the details.  Thus far in chronological order we have; Beams In Place Demolishing The Front Of The House Walls Go Up, Roof Comes Down Thursday & Friday As Thursday was forecasted to be yet another extremely hot 40C/104F+ day, 6am saw us all awake and beginning to lift the trusses onto the roof, this was a rather exciting moment in the building schedule, trusses have a strong visual impact. The race was on to complete before the weather became unbearably hot outside. As ‘many hands make light work,’ we managed…

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  • Blog,  Extensions,  Extensions - External,  Extensions - Roofing,  Extensions - Structural

    Walls Go Up, Roof Comes Down

    November 28, 2015 /

    *Continuing the chronicles of this week as we re-roof our ‘old house’. Tuesday & Wednesday After demolishing the front of our house, the next task was to install the front wall frame and pull down the existing roof. We began this task Monday afternoon only to run into our first ‘glitch’, besides the intense heat and rain that is. Anytime old materials are involved when building/renovating it’s guaranteed the job will take longer, sometimes it’s a minor job, sometimes a major one. When double checking all was ‘good to go’ for installing the front wall, PC discovered the supporting joists under the front of the house was only a single, whereas today’s building…

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  • Blog,  Extensions,  Extensions - External,  Extensions - Renovating,  Extensions - Roofing,  Extensions - Structural

    Demolishing The Front of The House

    November 27, 2015 /

    The long, anticipated week has finally arrived, we are re-roofing our ‘old’ house!  The wall frames and trusses have arrived, the beam is in position and only light rain is predicated. In preparation we moved four rooms of belongings, including 8000 books into the other end of the house. PC took the week off work and we are forging ahead. Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday First preparation task was to pull down the front wall, this will enable us to build the wall to the same height as the ‘new house’, resulting in one continual wall and roof line. Internal walls of the front two rooms were gutted, previously our study and learning room,…

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  • Blog,  Extensions,  Extensions - Deck/Verandah,  Extensions - External,  Extensions - Roofing,  Extensions - Structural

    Beams in Place

    November 25, 2015 /

    Building work on the roof has begun in earnest, firstly however preparations had to be completed. PC measured, cut and painted these posts in readiness for the beam to go up, the beam will be load bearing for the trusses. Working with old houses is never smooth sailing, it took time for PC to find the point to measure from.  It is essential for the supporting beam to be the correct height and level for the trusses. Ready and waiting for the big day when the trusses go on. Related Reading: Demolishing The Front Of The House Walls Go Up, Roof Comes Down Trusses Are On!

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  • Blog,  Home Education,  Home Education - Curriculum Reviews,  Home Education - Language Arts

    All About Reading: Level 1

    November 16, 2015 /

    After years of teaching our seven older children to read without a scripted reading program we are now using one. I’m so excited with the brilliance of All About Reading I want to share with you our experiences as we move further through the program and complete each level.  I’ve previously reviewed All About Reading: Pre-Reading, chatting today about our experience with All About Reading Level 1. In my All About Reading: Pre-Reading review I talked about our first experience using a scripted program, about our previous method, a modified Australianised version of Spalding and of my reluctance to switch to any program as it may mean changing our phonogram sounds. A reluctance that was removed when I discovered All…

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  • Blog,  Rural Life

    Koala Passing Through

    November 13, 2015 /

    Imagine our excitement to see this little fella outside our window, hopping across the paddock heading for a gum tree. We believed he was only passing through and didn’t expect to see him the following morning. We were excited when he was still there the next day, staying a couple of nights before moving on. Koala’s will only eat leaves from 40-50 species of gum trees, avoiding the leaves from other gums of which there are more than 900 species. They also prefer gum leaves of a particular age, ‘not too old, not too young, but just right.’ We suspect this rare sight was due to the recent rains, as new shoots…

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  • Blog,  Book Reviews,  Home Education,  Home Education - Language Arts,  Home Education - Leaping into Literature,  Learning

    Leaping into Literature: An Interrupted Week

    November 9, 2015 /

    Last week was an interrupted week; a belated birthday luncheon for our teens with Marnie (my mum) and our annual local festival, always a big week. However despite the distractions we managed to achieve some reading for our Leaping into Literature theme.  Michelangelo(16) The Warrior Heir – Cinda Williams Chima The Wizard Heir – Cinda Williams Chima The Dragon Heir – Cinda Williams Chima The Enchanter Heir – Cinda Williams Chima   Princess(14) Sweet Little Ladies and the Secret at Berry Creek – Sascha Everett Horrible Science mags That Girl of Pierre’s – Robert Davis   Jelly Bean (11) Star of Wild Horse Canyon – Clyde Robert Bulla Break in at the…

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  • Blog,  Blogging - Daybook

    My Daybook: November 7th, 2015

    November 7, 2015 /

    Outside my window… it looks promising for a sunny day, this week though we’ve had a number of days teaming with rain. Just as well we are not roofing at present after all   I am thankful… for the safe and mostly trouble free arrival of our friend’s baby.  She had a rough time with her first baby post-delivery and was quite scared this time.  Praying that this birth and babymoon is a healing time for her I am thinking… about joining the periscope craze.  I’m not normally one to willingly open yet another social media account however periscope had me immediately keen as, well it’s all about talking and that’s…

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