Sunday, February 10, 2013

A hive of activity



Yep, this week it has been all stations go, go, go over here at Betsy's. We all of a sudden made the horrific and exciting realisation that it is only  a matter of weeks until the renovations start. In response, we have been a precision machine working together to ruthlessly cull the house from top to bottom. I am in charge of ebay for the easily postable and Legoman is heading up the gumtree sales for larger items. After dropping off a huge sack of parcels at the post office, a small reward was in order. Laura Ashley had these lovely hook sets for sale at half price, I think this will be for hanging up aprons in the new pantry.

Legoman has been badgering me to let him cut down this tree every day since his chainsaw arrived. I finally relented and he was a happy, happy man. This tree is right where the new double carport is going. The old carport is going to make way for a new laundry. If you fancy a new old carport, holler, this one is for sale next.



Roboboy was in heaven with all these new opportunities for critter rescue. That would be three praying mantis and one silk worm cocoon all saved from a trip to the dump and re farmed around the garden.




And try  and keep children away from the natural peeling options available with paperbark trees. Poor, poor tree. The end was swift,  even though it looks like the trunk is bleeding. We cannot believe how much more light is coming into our bedroom with this one gone.




In a moment of sleep deprived insanity, Legoman installed a new cat door into a wall that in about seven weeks will be torn down. We have small animal issues over here. If we leave the window open so the cat can get out, we get visitors. And as they raid the cat food, they they never wake me up, only Legoman.




If we shut the house, then the cat has issues and demands to be let out at 4 am. And the sound of her claws on the front door only wakes ME  up. So every night has been an argument over whose turn it is to get up. It is ironic of course that this is when our children are finally both sleeping well at night. I won't show you the bodgy outside bit but this is just a heavenly image for us both. The cat wears a radiofrequency thingy on her collar so the door only opens for her alone.





There has been a small op shop visit of course. With mountains of stuff leaving the house, a few items back in is quite acceptable. Some new additions to my glass collection.





A stationary box full of paper and envelopes for my girl.





And a lovely little table with angled legs. I think it looks like something from the Jetsons. This is the last custard corner in the house and it glows for only a few minutes in the very early morning when the sun is at just the right angle. Every other minute it is there mocking me with the fact that it is not white.





And amidst all the chaos, a bit of birthday party planning. Roboboy wrote me up a suggested schedule for his party. So nice to see that mid way he has thoughtfully  allocated time for " chit chat for the mums" after the hosing on the trampoline and before the sausages.




Back soon to show you a nearly empty granny flat and why renovations in the nineties should have been banned.

26 comments:

  1. Love your op shop finds! The table with angled legs is very lovely indeed, as are the glasses. Your new hook set looks good on that pink floral print.

    I have to ask - what is the small animal in your kitchen with the baby on it's back? Is is a possum or something?

    Gillian x

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    1. Yes Gillian, they are possums and they live outside in our carport but like to come in and help themselves. Mostly after we have gone to bed but sometimes while we are still up watching TV!

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  2. Some lovely little treasures there, all stations go, how exciting!!! :) x

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  3. I love Laura Ashley! So exciting with all the work that is to come. Looking forward to the pics and updates. I love the possum pic with mum carrying baby, but maybe not if I found them is the early hours. I have a couple of pieces of furniture with the angled legs, great finds. The list is fantastic, chit chat for mums and sosiges, brilliant! Have a great week Mel xo

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  4. We (over the ditch-dwellers) have a different perspective on possums, as in NZ they are vermin, public-enemy No.1, to be destroyed at all costs before they completely destroy our native bush and eat all the native bird eggs. Apparently we have over 80 million of them, so that's more than all the sheep and cows combined! Yet in their own country they are cute and cuddly looking, and even I went slightly gooey over your intruders. Good luck with the renovations. S:)

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  5. Oh the sheer bliss of renovating plans being REAL! I always seem to get pregnant or sick when there is a big one in sight. You are inspiring me for a possible real one now I'm back at work. I always feel just a small twinge of nostalgia for the old bits before they are obliterated...but not much. Wish I could have seen Betsy pre do- over as she seems very similar to ours in terms of age and wear and tear. Inspirational, let's hope!

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  6. Your house seems really quite large. How exciting to think the renovations are almost GO! You still haven't lost your knack of finding fabulous things at the Op Shop. I'm thinking of having a garage sale to get rid of some of our surplus. We had possums once in our house and I've come to hate them. I know it's a strong emotion, but our possums were grubby and fought alot. Hang on, no that was my children.

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  7. I love the Jetsons' table, in fact it looks like a Jetsons' TV with the innards taken out!

    How sweet is your intruder with it's baby on it's back?

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  8. This post put a smile on my face!
    So many lovely things...including that possum.
    We had a possum intruder in the middle of the night last week.
    He nests in the tree just outside Toddler C's room and while he has never hassled us before for some reason he decided to visit. He came in through the window, pulling down the curtain and the curtain rod in the process.
    Hearing the clatter, Daddy R and I of course woke up and ran to Toddler C's room...there was the little ring tail as cute as can be on top of the wardrobe.
    We shooed him back out and all was well.
    Don't worry...Toddler C slept through the entire thing. So did the dog.

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  9. We had three MASSIVE trees on our tiny plot which we removed a couple of years ago when we were about to renovate (using a different plan that I eventually pulled the plug on.) I hate cutting down trees, but ours were way too big and right in the way of the proposed extension. I'm still deciding on some replacement trees which will be a more suitable size. xx

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  10. Gorgeous rack! Yes possums - as a kiwi they are to be killed at any opportunity . It is quite funny how two neighbours have a totally different outlook on them! Big pests here and they damage everything!

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  11. we had to remove a pencil pine that was alongside the drive way - james cut most of it down with the chainsaw and then the fun part was tying the stump to the towbar and putting the pedal to the metal - the amazing thing was how long it took to come out! Lots of revving that 6 cylindar - cheaper than a stump grinder though!!!

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  12. Love his little itinerary - sounds like a great party chit chat and all

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  13. I am always impressed at what you do at Betsy's, Mel, and there is so much to love about what you've been doing lately! I love that critters are in such good hands with Roboboy, and his party plan is fabulous!

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  14. Oh my goodness those possums are in your house, they look cute but are just a bit scary with those claws. I hope the new fancy cat door is helping to keep them out of the house. I love Roboboys birthday party ideas, very cute. Have a great week Mel. xx

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  15. um Mel?...is hubby wearing chaps??!...did a horse come with that chainsaw?!....roboboys list!!....man does that make me smile....all systems go....deep breaths, here we go...(I can say we cant I?)..
    Alx

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  16. This post made me laugh...I'll take my bears and moose any day...what was that sweet little creature in the house? Heidi

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  17. It's all happening chez Betsy! So exciting. We have possums too right outside the bedroom window and they screech all night but if I saw one with a baby clinging on its back like this I'd probably let it stay :-D Your boy's list is gorgeous. Mel x

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  18. Woah Mel! You're a busy bee, all of this AND birthday party. well at least you'll get a chit chat break at some point!

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  19. Nice information.Thanks to share this great information.
    printer supplies toowoomba

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  20. Love the Laura Ashley, it's gorgeous. I might even have to source one for myself. The little cupboard is so cute. The birthday party agenda made me smile, very cute.

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  21. We too have the possum issues on the roof,fighting and stomping on their way to raid what remains in the mango tree.Don't get me started on the cat trying to get over the lattice doors in the early hours of the morning! Love your goodies and the plans for the kitchen btw.

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  22. sausages spelt phonetically is classic!

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  23. Oh my god that mum and bub possum shot is the sweetest thing ever! Noisy but so cute xxx

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  24. There are some nineties renos at ours that should've most definitely had the kibosh put on them. Yellow (custard) paint being the least of them. That kid of yours (the list maker) is one in a million Mel. Chit-chat for Mum's? He's brilliant.

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  25. wow!! Your house was too cute.. Hope see more updates on this renovations.. DIY Carport

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