Now the inside.

So much clearing and cleaning, really only a few small or
annoying last bits to do.

Help is running out though, as Christmas looms and my girls
go away on long trips with their boyfriends.

So my plan to clear out the last and process it, is to move into
a larger storage facility and process from there.

Surprising really to still have more, as we shifted so much, it
was phenomenal.

Minor painting and cleaning to go. It is photographed, online,
and ready to sell in about 3 weeks.

Jordan helping for a day, wading through the contents, still sorting, getting ready for 2 major garage sales.

This is the loungeroom, still furnished and not disturbed yet.

Clearing out, a temporary table from boxes and planks to sort memorabilia and photos.

Last antiques to sell or donate, a theatrical and musical society did well in the end. 

Some has gone to storage to attempt further sales.

Sam cleaning insect screens, the carpet is professionally cleaned, the kitchen is painted, 

the beams are painted white.The kitchen is being packed up.

Now the laundry is cleared out for painting. 

Sleeping rough, on air beds, to stay over and do a couple of days work at a time. 

The original reception room, undisturbed, I kept some furniture.

The undisturbed loungeroom Lots of books, china and ornaments to sort.

The study/studio, a packing and storage room for goods, and a strongroom to lock.

The kitchen looks a lot fresher, and all the whitegoods, kitchen and laundry are sold and gone.

Not a great deal you can do with a 70s nightmare bathroom, but tiles are repaired, 

a bigger mirror cabinet installed, and white fluffy towels and bathmat with white soap 

and dish will look fine, plus a more subtle lampshade.

White sheer curtains instead of mouldy old cane blinds, and a good clean. A better light shade.

Close to Christmas

A crazy year, and nearly another quarter before that.

Could not have done it all, without some wonderful help
from family and friends.

As close as we got to finalising project, another challenge,
and another. Finally a big storm determined we had to focus
on our own property. Tantalisingly close.

Somehow here we are - Christmas and year end again, how
on earth did that happen? Four months overdue now, that
wasn't part of the plan.

Nearly there, a good looking house, quite presentable, a lovely
sanctuary of a garden.

Some fun colours for walls, furniture and a cheery front door.

So here are some before and after shots. This is mainly the garden
and exterior, next Blog will be the interior of house.

Next - my life begins again.

Many old aviaries, animal enclosures and cages etc. Many donated to WIRES.

 Many old garden ornaments, statues etc. which were sold at
garage sales, given away, or came to our place.

 Showing how very full the garden was, barely a walking path around,

somewhat difficult to get into some areas.

 We kept the shade house for our place, and lots of plants.

 Now there is space and design, though established trees have been kept.

Pruned back the African Daisy Tree, helped a struggling Grevillea.

Garden edging defines garden beds, and open areas of paving or other. Many, many
potted plants, the hardier ones or succulents, went into the newly created garden beds,
or to our house, sold or given to plant lovers.

A community garden took lots of garden related items or goods to sell to raise
money for their garden, which Mum had been interested in but too frail to join.

 The front patio was full of 3 giant concrete double laundry troughs.It now is quite open
and spacious. Very private, and shaded by a giant neighbouring Liquid Amber.

 Clearing out a garden area of cacti, and various plants. We gave away many
succulents, and a young Palm tree, I kept the Bromeliads. Here is my daughter's
boyfriend Gordon hard at work with a large Stump Grinder.

We had to sadly remove a giant 3m x 3m Agave Americana, after failing to give it away.
However, many of it's pups were given away or retained in the corner. The Umbrella tree,
Yukkas, and a small Jacaranda will stay.

 The front of the house is clear and presentable. Painted concrete pot liquid Terracotta to match brick.

The metal garden setting was painted a fresh, bright colour. From inside you can look out 

onto the garden view now, foliage was pruned away from the windows.

The car space being created, a delivery of gravel over cleared ground. Final painting of 

wooden courtyard can be done now we can get to this side with foliage removed.

This is how overgrown it was before clearing. In fact even more so, as the giant shrub
at front, with borer damage, is already cut back to gain an entry point.
It totally obscured what was behind it.

Mainly a tropical feel, rainforest type of garden, colour was introduced by painting the furniture, 

or adding interest by different textures, like Hebelstone sculptures (Mum's ), or coloured 

leaf plants, minimal flowers as it is quite a shaded garden. 

There are red geraniums, and some Crucifix orchids, and a giant African Daisy clump. 

Nice features like ceramic pots, garden sculptures, and coloured foliage. A lot of these pieces are
on loan for the sale, just styling, and will come to our garden once the property is sold.

I would say the garden was our favourite, most rewarding project. A lot of the household stuff
was extremely difficult. In the garden, you can see results quite clearly. It is a very restful,
relaxing place to sit, we often had our meals or a cup of tea out there.

Been busy

So busy being away, fixing The Coast House. Or TCH as it
is easier to say. Very close now, very tired.

Has anything else been happening? Well, my work was included
in 2 environmental art shows.

The two birds below on left at Wallarobba.

Current theme is Thylacines. This at Hornsby Library.

Working on a big article, on street art, alternate art, spray,
stencilling, graffiti, on walls, civic, etc.

 This lady Shannon Crees I interviewed, and took photos.

 Some of her tools in trade, stencils.

 Close up details.

 My own car's bonnet, a commissioned job by Jean Luc Bachelor.

 An exhibition at Wallarobba by Erthrebil, love this monumental canvas.

Below, my daughter's bedroom wall mural I painted for her silhouettte style.

Me and my (other) girl

Last week had a chance to view the Artist Markets in The
Hornsby Mall.

Sam, Chester and I went to have a look. We had some fun
looking at all sorts of interesting merchandise and food stuffs.

I bought a nice artistic top that I will probably wear to the next
art opening, in a nice shade of seafoam green.

Sam bought appliqued cute clothing for a friend's baby, a selection
of nougat, and honey straight from the producer.

Other daughter went through the day, buying resin beads, and a
screen printed, tree of life motif tank top in bright aqua blue.

While there we attracted some attention by having cute old Chester
with us, which made lots of lovely conversation with local parents
and kids.

One sweet little girl had great fun walking the dog around in circles.
She needed to borrow our dog, because they live in units and can't
have pets.

Sam and I had our photo taken by the Council photographer .
It's nice to have a photo with your child as they grow older as they are
so frequently busy.

The Coast House

Selling and wheeling dealing, not a natural state for me.
A necessary evil.

Mum had one trip of a lifetime, her honeymoon - which took
her on the grand tour, Asia, Europe, Britain etc.

Then she never travelled, or had a holiday again. so she armchair
travelled through books, and her many and eclectic themes of
collecting.

She built a world to explore around herself. A lifetime of collecting.
I have included a small portion of a cross section of these here.

The funds will mean something though, chance of a new
future. More education and opportunity, especially for
someone advanced in years.

Rooms clear out slowly, and so too my mind will feel
emptier of heavy responsibility.

I could get some semblance of a life of my own back,
shock horror!

 There were books, and a vintage fishing rod and creel set.

 Furniture, in all states, good condition, to be renovated state, antique and junk. 

Plus various accessories such as designer shoes, etc.

 Egyptology. An interest in ancient history, and antiquities.

Mexicana, Aztec, Incas.

Religious art and an interest in the belief systems of many cultures.

 Middle Eastern.

 Reproduction Colonial, goes well with any other antique stylings.

 Frail old leadlight.

 Religious print from 1909. German.

 Whitegoods to sell, the usual 4.

 A highlight amongst the drudgery, one of my gorgeous three children, dressed to kill,
as a girl superhero. I had to help her make her costume for a cruise for Rovers,
and she said it was quite surreal seeing a huge crowd of superheroes lined up
outside The MCA at Circular Quay waiting to board their boat.

 That's my girl, go get them Princes Moonbeam!

 A pile for George, one of my buyers, religious, antiquities, 

Russian lacquerware, European, Icons, crucifixes. Books on topic.

 So much china, collectibles, display plates, jugs, glass and silverware etc.