More painting!

I should be posting more, but the exhaustion from so much painting has been kicking in. We have been working full speed to get the rooms painted that we need before the furniture arrives... which is finally today!! 

So before, our bedroom was a weird yellow colour with pretty depressing green trim. Every room in the house has windows similar to these too. The have been a chore and after I doing this set, Jacob was sweet enough to do the rest. I'm a bit of a perfectionist with these sorts of things. Even though the windows are 3 meters up, they had to be perfect... Yeah, this room took us a week. Once Jacob took over, we've been able to bust through the rest of the house. Thank you my darling hubby!

And After...

The light fitting was found in the window seat!

This is when we were still sleeping on the floor. 6 weeks of camping mattresses...

Birthdays and such..

Ok, since being stupidly busy with the house, I haven't been able to play catch up yet! I'll try and space these out as not to overwhelm you!

Happy 40th Birthday Mr. Taylor! Thanks for having us and it was such a lovely afternoon! Jacob was able to catch up with a few people he knew in his past Wellington life and I was able to spend some time with our sugar-buzzed niece...

Cutie Etta in her party dress

Lisa shows off her amazing baking... Holy yum!

And a very special Happy Birthday to my hubby. We had a small family dinner out at Sweet Mother's Kitchen with all the goodies! Including a couple Margarita Jugs...

Thank you Jacob for being so amazing. So dedicated and driven. Without you, we wouldn't be here... 

Our new home...

Finally.

After a couple heart-wrenching days, we have all arrived here in Wellington, safely, in one piece, a little tired and confused, but so happy!

I was absolutely heart broken when our lovely little dog-boys were picked up in Melbourne by Barry from JetPets. Seriously. They had barely driven away before I completely lost it and broke down into tears in the front yard. But in less than 36 hours, I was so happy again to see those little curly, wagging tails! Thank you to everyone who made their journey easier than I could have imagined. They are now happy and mostly settled into their new home, new city and making new mates at the dog park. Also, they get on with their cousin Lucy like a house on fire!!! Wednesday, the 3 of them met up at the dog park and then were kindly invited over to dinner up at Auntie Lisa, Uncle Paul, and Cousin Etta and Lucy's for some hangout time. They have been having a blast!

T. Dog and B. Ruce's first trip to the local dog park. So many new mates!!!

And so the living and working begins at Laura Ave. Over the last few days, we've been trying to clean up the inside and attempting to get rid of the musty smells. Considering the house has been a rental for ages, there is actually A LOT of work to be done. Little things that are fairly easy fixes haven't been touched and the garden and porches are overrun by ivy. The back of the house, where we had some new drainage install to stop the damp and land slips from the hill haven't been cleared. Little things.

Overgrown.

Monkey-boy Jakey!! Watch out for that... powerline.

Almost made it to the back of the shed.

The ivy and wisteria have completely overtaken the shed. Inside and out.

The overgrown wisteria is down! Mostly.

Apparently, we have a fence!

Slightly cleared, but in serious need of some mulching.

Some well deserved Hell Pizza and beer. Nice stubby holder!

Monday, Jacob will be going back to work and I'll be here doing more cleaning, filling nail holes, all that fun stuff.

Thank goodness for coffee and our first yummy breakfasts. 

The camping life.

Again thank you to everyone who has made our move and transition easy. Especially to Jacob's family and sister Lisa who was amazing to set up the Rocket (coffee machine) and hooked us up with a few essentials so we could live like humans in an otherwise completely vacant house.

Thank you thank you thank you!!!

On the home stretch..

This week has been a mix of emotions, organised chaos, packing, cleaning and catching up with heaps of people.

Since my last of work last Friday, it's been nonstop. Farewell drinks after farewell drinks after farewell drinks, followed by a Farewell Party here at the house. I think my liver has seen better days. Monday and Tuesday were filled with some full on organizing and cleaning. Basically, waking up at 6 am, straight out of bed to running around the house, blasting through rooms making sure everything was ready and cleaned for the removalists coming on Wednesday. 

And, far out! Thank you Crown Removalists! You guys are awesome! I was so happy and impressed with the way they packed and itemized everything... Sort of strangely inspiring for those like me who are a bit compulsive about those things. 

Jacob and the web of cords.

More stuff to be packed. 

Oh Shetland Ave. We will miss you!

 

Our container has arrived! You guys sure everything will fit????

See?! Awesome packing job guys!

And there goes our things... See you in Wellington!!

Moving on up... 15 days to go.

It's officially my last week at work. Finishing up, handing off clients to co-workers. Cleaning up my desk. Making sure I touch base with as many people as I can. Finalising as many details for the house as I can. Closing bank accounts, all that fun stuff.

I realised today, how much of a nervous wreck I actually am. I feel like I haven't been able to eat in days. My poor belly has been in knots. We have so many get-togethers and parties already, it's so hard to say farewell...

But progressing along, cleaning and donating heaps to Savers. It's been a good while since I've binge-cleaned the house. I've come across so many photos of family and friends and friends that are like family. But instead of getting all caught up in the memories, you just have to power on. 

So, power on. We're getting there. 

In just over two weeks, we will be sitting on our front steps, staring at the beautiful scenery of our private little valley. Power on. 

Happy Halloween!!!

Some quick pics from our pumpkin carving party over the weekend...

Have a very very very happy Halloween and sweet Samhain!

Be safe and eat candy!

Happy ______________!

Halloween, Samhain, Celtic New Year...

via For The Vintage Fashionista

The weekend catch up...

... not including my soon to be written love note to the All Blacks - who, yes!, won the Rugby World Cup on Sunday night! I think I'm still recovering... but here is the rest of the weekend!!

Chaos Kitchen. I can't wait to have bench space. And a pantry....

Running out of space. And the celebratory cake stencil!

Lemon Sour Cream Cake from the good old Edmonds Cookbook
recipe below for you eager beavers!

We are suckers for marketing.
Jacob and his Duff, me and my Dirty Granny Ciders (notice the crochet work?) - very nice btw!

Granny Squares. From now (top) and a couple years back (bottom). Such a difference!
And Halloween bunting!

Peabody you reckon? Jacob excited over his thrift find, Bruce being sleepy.

So, yes, a very lovely weekend. Catching up with some lovely friends, baking, thrifting, more pre-move de-cluttering and a bit of Rugby!

How was yours? 

125 g butter, softened 

2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 cup Edmonds plain baking flour
1 teaspoon Edmonds baking powder
1/2 cup sour cream
icing sugar

Beat butter, lemon rind, sugar and eggs together until light and fluffy.
Sift flour and baking powder together.
Fold sifted ingredients into egg mixture alternately with sour cream, mixing until smooth.
Pour mixture into a greased and lined 20 cm round cake tin.
Bake at 160°C for 45 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched.
Leave in tin for 5-10 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.
When cold dust with icing sugar.

via Edmonds Cookbook