Spring in the orchard

After a few weeks away, and not much progress, spring has arrived and the annual war on brambles has begun !
I have opened up a new front in the top of the orchard, which has been allowed to get overgrown over the last few years, and almost completely covered in bramble bushes. With my trusty scythe (and a new Styria blade, shorter and better for thick brush), it has taken the last few weekends, but have finished clearing this Sunday. A big bonfire next weekend will tidy up the job.

Also this weekend we took delivery of our new toy..... at long last we have a ride-on mower. Bought second hand from JGW in Cross Hands. A wonderful company, so friendly and knowledgeable.

Jan had her first driving lesson, and was off and running....

A beautiful clear day, with snow on the western Beacons.

The latest project...a logstore !

Now that the Logburners are up and running, I thought it would be useful to have a logstore.

Unfortunately the prime location (just outside the back door) was occupied by a large pile of rock. The remnants of a half built extension on the back of the main house, that I took down a few years ago. The extension was part original (rock and rubble), and part breeze block (it was a right mess), so the breeze blocks have been utilised around the garden...mainly as the base for the workshop. However the rock from the original extension walls was thrown into a corner of the yard, and has remained there ever since.
But now that we have the nice back window, and needing a place for a logstore...it was time for the rock pile to move.
That took a few weekends, thankfully I didn't have to shift them very far, but it was still a big job.
When that was done, layed out a concrete slab, then made a logstore frame.
This weekend we took delivery of a load of logs from Welsh Logs who provide excellent quality wood.

Meanwhile Jan has been painting and sealing the floorboards on the first floor.
The landing is a lovely square area, so Jan's creative side found an outlet.....

Esse Ironheart finally installed...

After a few false starts, the Ironheart is finally delivered and fitted.
Looks great, heats and cooks well too. We made a simple casserole this weekend.
It's very controllable, so hopefully we wont be using too much fuel.
We did try to keep it in overnight, but not successful at the first attempt, more experimentation is needed.


Winter can now officially start !!

Apparently they come with a complimentary chocolate Lab :)

Also decided that I need a proper log-store, so have moved a huge rock pile, a remnant of an old extension I took down a while ago. It was right outside the back window, and an eyesore, so that is now moved, and I can build a log store there  (convenient for the back door)

Meanwhile the library has a few new(old/redecorated) pieces of furniture, and is rather cosy now !
The lamp is new...from John Lewis, very pretty with embroidered animals .

A piece that perfectly exemplifies the William Morris adage that you should have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.

weekend #3 in the inglenook

a long weekend and thankfully still mild weather!!
I have been trawling reclamation yards picking up original read&black/blue Ruabon tiles.
So this weekend layed them in (not easy!) and then grouted them in.
Then spent a day in the Library, painting and tidying while the tiles dried
So on Sunday acid cleaned the whole room and wax sealed it .

Now just need the Esse to be delivered and installed soon please!

weekend #2 in the inglenook

Well what an amazing day today, it felt like summer (actually probably nicer than most of the summer days!)...it was at least 18c, and even warmer in front of the house, which is a real suntrap!.

More progress inside, Jan continued painting and varnishing the floors of the Library and the bedroom above.
Library looks really nice now...we will move in next weekend.

and as it was....(notice the fire surround, resqued, painted and re-fitted)

 that floor was a deathtrap!!

I was working in the Inglenook. I dug out more of the floor on Saturday, then on Sunday took out the fire(stored in the workshop...I will use it one day when I build the orchard house). and dug out the rest of the floor. It is now ready to lay in tiles next weekend.

We have plenty of the red tiles (rescued when I dug up the hallway floor). We need the same amount of black tiles, so will call into Llanelli salvage next weekend.

floorboard sanding, and started work in the Inglenook

This weekend we hired a floor-sander, and I started with the library floor.
The floorboards in the library were delivered pre-planed, so it was pretty easy to sand them back. Once that was done, I started on the first floor bedrooms (both rooms and landing area), which have been waiting to be sanded for a long time.
Meanwhile Jan started painting the library floor. Two coats of a grey wash will give it a dark-ish look, but with the wood still visible through. Then a final coat of matt varnish to protect it (next week).

Sanding back the bedroom&landing floorboards was a much tougher job, but finished it by lunchtime Sunday.
Not the most pleasant of jobs...very noisy, and very very dusty, so ear-defenders, and dust-mask worn all day, and even then every orifice is still full of sawdust.
But a great job to get done, and now the floorboards can be appreciated in all their glory !

Photos to come, when the floors are all finished !!


While Jan continued painting (I think she will be painting some surface or other for many weekends to come!!) ...I started digging up the Inglenook.

We have ordered a new woodburner (the existing one was a stop-gap, and not very effective)
https://esse.com/range-cookers/esse-ironheart/
We will be without a stove in the room for a few weeks, but by then the Library will be up and working..... although we wont be able to cook, so will be utilising the local pub :)

In preparation for this, we will be digging up the Inglenook floor, which is a mix of old bits of brick, tiles and cement slab...a real mess.
I will be relaying in with red/blue ruabon tiles to match the rest of the room
At the same time we will tidy up the back wall of the inglenook, which is a mess (but structurally ok), and lime it. Jan had the idea of painting it with a yellow limewash, to hid the inevitable staining from soot etc...which is impossible to get rid of....we will see?!
We will also black lead the old bread oved in the corner, which will look really nice against the new lime.

That should take us a few weeks, and hopefully in time for delivery of the Ironheart..!!!

how it looks now...wait for the transformation......

Progress in the Library

Work has continued in the Library...

• Floorboards down and nailed
• Trapdoor to basement below built and installed
• Grill to basement below for vemtilation installed
• Fireplace complete
• Initial (suspended between joists) slab of vermivulite concrete (nice and light)
• Laid in the old (Ruabon) black/blue tiles resqued from the hallway floor
• Grouted, cleaned and sealed
• Log fire fitted back in
• Old original (?) Fireplace surround painted and re-fitted
• Panelling on the partition wall fitted, filled and ready for painting
• A mirror image of the Inglenook room wall
• Panelling around the sash-window fitted, filled and ready to paint
• Inluding a window seat
• Skirting fitted, ready to paint
• Lime rendering of walls nearly complete

Jobs to do....

• Finish Lime rendering (one final smooth layer on the back wall)
• Lime-wash the walls
• Paint the panelling (wall, window, and skirting)
• We have chosen F&B Stiffkey Blue
• Sand and paint the floorboards (haven't decided on a colour yet...but it will be dark)
• Figure out what to do with the ceiling !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Furnishings...
I was planing to build a bookcase against the back wall, of my own design, but am considering buying a bespoke piece, as I am not that level of craftsman !!!
We will see if we can afford it

The rug, sofa and chair were used temporarily, as we had a family event there a few weeks ago, they will be removed as we finish off the jobs above.

Nearly there !!!! :)

 

As it was.....