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1 Year House-versary Thoughts
1 year ago we moved into this home. We love living here, and just wish life would slow down a bit so we could more easily pause and fully...
downesville
Nov 30, 20223 min read
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Labour & Delivery Tips
“Labour” is aptly named, it is exceptionally hard work! it also seems to be one of those things for which experience doesn’t necessarily...
downesville
Jul 8, 20225 min read
39 views
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Pregnancy Tips (from my bulging apron)
As I loosened my apron strings to make space for our growing baby-bump through my recent pregnancy, along the way I gathered together all...
downesville
Jun 10, 20225 min read
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In Our Very Own Home At Last!
We spent our Christmas break moving into our new home... and we love it here! Moving has been a slow and gradual process, with a lot of...
downesville
Feb 1, 20221 min read
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Colour!
I’m so pleased with how our home-made paints have worked out. It seemed a bit “out there” when I first read about diy house paints in a...
downesville
Jun 5, 20213 min read
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Final Render
So... house progress came to a screeching halt for a few months due to a series of health crises in the family, but we’re doing pretty...
downesville
May 18, 20212 min read
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First Redgum Windowseats Complete
We have completed the rendering inside now, and have started finishing the windowseats. The girls’ room and the lounge windowseats have...
downesville
Feb 15, 20211 min read
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Lime Render Topcoat
I’m loving the look and feel of this lime render. It’s a little harder to work with than the earthen render, but the end surface makes...
downesville
Jan 23, 20211 min read
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Lime render trials
we have tried out a few different lime render mixes, but we keep coming back to a lime/sand/sawdust mix. We have a bag of builders...
downesville
Jan 13, 20213 min read
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Second Coat Complete.
A momentous day. The second coat of render has finally been completed (so long as we don’t count the groove we cut in the kitchen for...
downesville
Jan 9, 20211 min read
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Windows and Doors
Woohooo! Our house is enclosed! No more wallabies and native hens wandering about leaving droppings on our beautiful floors. We are very...
downesville
Oct 29, 20201 min read
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Hand-Rearing Animals
We lost a doe a few days ago. After that heartbreak there is real joy in the friendships being forged with these young kids. The vet said...
downesville
Oct 20, 20201 min read
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Redgum Windowseats
The redgum is beautiful to work with. Pinning the boards in place through the tongue ensures that no brads or nail gun marks will be...
downesville
Oct 9, 20201 min read
5 views
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Our First Goat Kids
Although I’ve learnt a lot about goats, there is always SO much more to find out. Goat midwifery has been interesting. It will be worth...
downesville
Oct 6, 20201 min read
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Fixing Boards and Electrical Wiring
Picture frames and similar can be hung from hooks relying on the strength of the render, but cabinets and bookshelves require stronger...
downesville
Aug 27, 20201 min read
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Hen-House Fortress Idea
We have leftover bales. What should we do with them? Well, we will be wanting a hen-house. And a fortress playroom would be fun. So...
downesville
Aug 19, 20201 min read
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Working Bee and Cob Window Bevels
We invited our friends and relatives around to get muddy with us helping to get the straw bale walls coated in the first slip coat of...
downesville
Aug 14, 20202 min read
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Solid Walls and Kitchen Planning
More bottom boxing around the remainder of the house except the en-suite walls which will be built with fibre cement sheeting so...
downesville
Jul 23, 20201 min read
8 views
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Slip Coat on Fist Wall Section
Our marvellous mud makes magnificent render! This first coat is primarily to get the straw covered. The shape will be sorted out by the...
downesville
Jul 5, 20201 min read
10 views
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First Straw Bale Wall Up
We don’t currently have a working nail gun, so the bottom boxing was assembled with bugle screws and dyna-bolted to the slab, with...
downesville
Jul 4, 20201 min read
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