I know I've mentioned the renovation of our house and as I find this tedious enough to live through, I'm not inclined to spend too much time here recording it all for posterity. However, I feel a huge relief that finally - December 2011, I've unpacked the last three rooms with boxes in them.
We had the back of our house knocked off through the depths of winter and lived without a kitchen for six weeks. We had our backyard dug up by large earth moving diggers, so that the electrical wires could be laid underground. Great swathes of Canberra clay soil were exposed for tracking into the house. The courtyard was also dug up to relocate plumbing. Then months later, a deck was built over the broken courtyard. When this was finished, we then packed up our entire house - all the books, craft, furniture, and possessions were removed so that for two days the floors could be redone. And now, finally, December, everything is returned, unpacked and back in place.
I have a few reflections about the process; what we did well, what we learnt, what we wouldn't do again. I wont bother the world with these reflections. But what I will say here, on my crafting-life blog is that I reminded myself of the need to create even while life is chaotic, dirty and disturbing. I also reflected previously on my need to bake cakes at a time when the kitchen was overwhelmingly dysfunctional.
At times, I've felt it was a madness to join a bake-along while renovating a house/kitchen but you know, I've really loved it and at times it helped keep me sane. I have loved focusing on something creative and delicious and sharing it with my family, friends and with you all.
But most of all - I'm glad it's over.
I am not the kind of house proud person who wants to spend her life renovating and redecorating. I now have an improved upon space, a slightly more comfortable, functional house that allows us a greater range of eating, entertaining and study options. In the immortal words of Babe "that'll do Pig".
I'd much rather make progress on my tapestries, embroideries, baking, knitting, quilting and really, really I'd like to try and make some clothes.
There's also the small issue of a vegetable garden .......
