Friday on my mind

I haven't been out and about in the blogging world lately. I've been working more than I am used to, which means yay for money, but boo for blogging. I don't know how full-timers do it, I really don't, I'm only working a couple of days a week and between that and kinder-gym and play dates and grocery shopping and never ending renovations I feel completely swamped. Anyway.

Tomorrow is our babe's second birthday! Ever since her cousin's birthday about 5 weeks ago she has been obsessed with birthday cakes, and "'appy birdy cake' in particular, and the singing, and the blowing of the candles (the 'camels,' hehehe!) and so on, so we are going to have a little festival of SP, and of cake (two cakes, in fact, one tomorrow which is baking right now, and one on Saturday at her party), with added balloons and bubbles. Should be fun! I have been slack on the photography front lately, so instead of sharing any of my own pictures here are some of the images I have been saving on Pinterest to give me ideas for our little girl's big day.

I'm going to start blowing up balloons as soon as this post is up so that we can do this in the doorway for the morning:

Source: treyandlucy.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

And yet more balloons will be strung out on the patio like this:

Source: ohjoy.blogs.com via Katie on Pinterest

And her cake - at least the party cake - will be an extravaganza of sprinkles:

Source: raspberricupcakes.com via Katie on Pinterest

And of food colouring:

Source: sugarspicedesign.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

And be based on a little bird:

Source: etsy.com via Katie on Pinterest

Anyway, it's late and I must get puffing on those balloons, but isn't it a parental tradition to be doing birthday prep at midnight?

Early Autumn?

It was only 21c in Adelaide today, which is very, very weird for the middle of February. Most years, around about this time, we swelter through our annual 40+ Celsius heatwave for a week or two, but so far (fingers crossed) this seems to have passed us by. I'm not complaining; it's lovely weather, and absolutely perfect for gardens provided we water diligently. I am wondering if Autumn is here early this year - some of the trees in the main street are starting to blush already. Autumn is my favourite season, and if it turns into an Indian Summer that might be quite nice, so long as it rains, (please, Huey!)

The veggie patch is doing beautifully for us at the moment and we are able to make complete pasta sauces or ratatouille with our harvests now! We got this whole entire box of veg the other day in a quick whip around the garden (for the record we have: overgrown spring onions, loads of baby corn, two different eggplants, some pale green capsicums, three different zucchinis, yellow and green beans, Desiree potatoes, and the inevitable tomatoes).


And on the home front? The kitchen is starting to look like it might be finished in the near future! We need the electrician and plumber to make another visit to hook everything up and attach some power points and our pendant cords to the ceiling (we've tacked them up just to see what they look like). We also need to make a decision on the splashback. We do have some tiles we like but are looking to see if there is a more economical option out there (probably not, but best to check!) And we need architraves and skirting boards. And to put on the door and drawer handles. And to put on another door or two (they were up, but the boys wanted to use different hinges so off they came). But apart from all that, it's almost done.

And you might notice that the top left unit has changed? That's because I'm a woman and I'm entitled to change my mind. Originally I wanted book shelves down both the left and right hand sides of the top cupboards to the bench. I got vetoed on the right hand side shelves and I can't even remember why, but we kept them on the left side. I didn't like it, I prefer symmetry and, actually, we all thought the same. So out came the power saw and the bottom was lopped off and I think it looks much better this way.

Our kitchen is taking shape.

I have been reminded that it's been ages since I've done a renovation update. You'd think that nothing had been happening, which is not true. Lots has been happening, but I had hit the 'over it' renovating speed bump I think most people encounter. Anyway, I've dragged up some energy for a quick post with a couple of progress piccies to share.

So.

Floorboards: tick! In the extension they are what the floorboard industry likes to call 'Australian Chestnut,' which is not a chestnut at all, but at least four different species of Eucalypts. We don't know what the floorboards are in the old part of the house, they may be 'some kind of wood from New Zealand they used a lot back then [in the Fifties] but you can't get it any more.' That was the best description we got after taking a sample around to a number of floorboard places, mostly people said, 'sorry, no idea.' After hearing this, we decided not to worry about trying to match the boards, and just chose something we liked the look of ('not too pale, not yellow or gold, not dark'). It's interesting that the unpolished new and old boards didn't look too dissimilar, but once they were polished the differences really came out. The new section is fabulous and sleek and uniform, while the old section is much more varied in colour, from light greys to quite dark reds. I absolutely adore it. I am so pleased that I got my way when I vetoed carpet! I've apparently forgotten to take a decent picture. Instead I just have this one: hallway boards (original), without context, and featuring an extension cord....


And then out in our extension, our lovely new floorboards, featuring renovating dust, the very beginnings of our new kitchen, and cute child:


Which takes me nicely to the next part of the post: our kitchen! The idea was to spend our money on the appliances (specifically, the ovens, stove and rangehood) and scrimp on the cabinetry. The kitchen is essentially black and white (black cupboards, whitish benchtops) which feels fabulously brave and risky and modern and was one of the reasons for doing it more cheaply, so that in 10 years when I wonder what the hell we were thinking it's not such a wrench to upgrade it! The splashback will probably be turquoise tiles (I wanted something bright to help with all that black so it wasn't gloomy) but isn't organised yet.

The photo below is a halfway shot as FIL fits the rangehood:

And, lastly, a shot from Chef D's phone from the other night. Missing from the kitchen at this point are the lower doors and drawers, splashback, sink and the island benchtop, however you still get a pretty good idea of the overall layout. Also missing is the lighting, which is something I have developed a bit of an obsession over and intend to devote a whole post to in the near future!

xx