Next project!

The old restaurant toilet block is looking very smart newly painted on the outside.  I decide that we need to upgrade the interior and replace the old peach loo seats!  A coat of paint will magically transform the inside of the two rooms and I look forward to the upgrade.  Three toilets will be an improvement and the handyman promises to connect them to the water tank. Woo hoo!

Then I want to start painting all the outbuildings which are painted numerous different colours.  The paw paw trees I have been nurturing need planting and another Avocado tree has been grown from seed.

I am sourcing having a sign made for the Bavarian Hut.  The last one was blown down, helped by human intervention, I think. Genevieve had carefully sign written it a couple of years back before she went to Melbourne. I have not had the courage to tell her yet.

Back in Brisbane

Booking enquiries for the Bavarian Hut grow, my phone rings and the washing and chores pile up. This working from home is proving challenging and others in the family haven't the time to help with the chores because they have jobs to go to!  Oh, really?

 I am reminded constantly of the treasures we found when renovating up at the Bavarian Hut.  We have brought down a collection of vintage typewriters, desks, irons, sewing machines, mirror, commercial cookware, cuckoo clocks, ships lanterns, meat scale, bells, crockery and cutlery from the Hut to our home and it is consoling to be surrounded by some of the furniture.

 I find a spotless record player in a storeroom and we add to our collection of vinyl records. Bits of material and wool find a creative channel for me as I cover the tops of marmalade jars and create more teacozies. Feeling generous one day, Natalie and I pile some in the car and set off for one of the local charity shops and they enthusiastically accept them.

Bruce and I catch up on conversation in the short winter evenings that lie ahead. We discuss all aspects of the business and find our list of future projects growing.  There are phone calls and emails made to tradespeople and cleaners while we check the property ourselves before visitors arrive.  I automatically run through the list in my head.  Water tanks and gas cylinders full, lawn mown, house cleaned and linen and towels placed neatly, firewood ready, samples of tea/coffee/toilet paper/soap/dish clothes?  Maintenance issues attended to and the letterbox emptied.  Bills paid and queries followed up.

More happenings

I wishfully think that renovations have some form of ending! We continue to work on the houses, more starting than stopping.  There is the usual maintenance and because we have come off a low base of a neglected house and our multitude of jobs continue.

The bathroom in the front house is of the 40 year vintage with sloping floor and toilet that sits up awkwardly against the wall!  We had put a new vanity in with our first lot of renovations but the old shower with the shower curtains was quickly losing its appeal.

The bathroom is gutted and new tiles, shower and toilet installed. We are amazed at the difference and I am able to sit on the toilet without the wall cramping my style!

We have a month before we hire someone to paint the outside of the house.  I paint 5 colours on a piece of wood and take the opinions of family.  The colour coordinator assures me that a few "shades of grey" were the up coming trend.  We choose a blue grey with white trims.  First are the multitude of jobs that have to be done before painting.  Missing fascia boards and holes need to be repaired along with some roofing for the awnings.  A tyre on the corner of an awning (to stop anyone bumping their heads)

is removed as well as some old notices on outside toilets reminding the diners which were the men and woman's.

The rain pours and I am reminded how the house is vulnerable against the elements.  When sunshine returns, the painting begins.  Natalie and I paint the extras like the farmhouse letterbox, a statue and a birdbath.  We admire the colour while Bruce trims the camellias  and shrubs away from the house.

The old mixture of orange, brick red, and green paint will soon be gone.

After 3 weeks, we round the corner slowly and look up at the house, rapt with the colour.

The old outbuilding are now looking as though they need work!  When I comment on this I can feel Bruce's uncomfortable gaze. Everything can be negotiated and I have time on my side.  Just buy the pot of paint I say to myself, pretending I am the patient one.  

These are a few of my favourite things

Every time we are up at the Bavarian Hut we stop in at a neighbouring farm to buy fresh, creamy milk.  There is nothing like seeing happy cows and calves grazing in the green fields while stopping at the rustic diary!  Thick cream rises to the top in the milk bottle, not at all like the milk bought from the large grocery stores which in comparison tastes watery.

A little further along the road is Rosins Point, which overlooks the picturesque Mount Warning.  

Hang gliders gently soar riding the wind currents.  This is our favourite place for a picnic, looking at the spectacular views while we sit on the benches made for us.

Further up we drive, negotiating the steep drive up to Lamington National Park. Stopping at the information centre, we find our pathway and set on our walk past waterfalls, caves and Aboriginal drawings through luscious rainforest.  Sometimes the pathway ascends rapidly as we climb up towards Binna Burra marvelling at the views.

Back at the Bavarian Hut, we watch the sunset and take photographs, silent in the orange glow and the darkening shadows.  

Taking a sip of chilled wine, we stack our wood in the burner and watch the warm flames alight.  Knitting quietly or playing cards makes me realise what a lovely retreat this is. I wonder if anyone uses the puzzles I have left as we do have visitors who stay for a week or longer.