Let there be roof!

Today, Mr D and Scotty finished off the roof over our new stairs. And it is looking great. We couldn't be happier with the final result. I'll let the images do the talking though...

view from the sunroom

back view of the new stairs and roof

Protected stairs

side view of the sunroom side of the Sow's Ear

Let the painting begin!

Roof for the external stairs

Work began on the roof for our side stairs late last week. 

Mr D and Scotty returned after having some time off between building projects. These lads are such hard workers. They are well-oiled machines. If only they would discard their shirts Jason-style (his pre hi-vis days), this whole project could be called perfection...

In this image, the main support post and framework was erected

The new roof line will help break up the mass of the weatherboards on this side of the Sow's Ear. Traditionally Queenslanders sit on stumps and are not usually enclosed with weatherboards to ground level. It can look odd when homes of this type are weatherboarded all the way to the bottom...

progress on new roof framework

We are planning to use the downstairs area of our house as extra living space as our boys grow and mature. Building a roof over the stairs is our cheat's way of obtaining indoor/outdoor access without cutting into the existing internal layout of the Sow's Ear.

It will keep relatively dry during wet weather and if we get fancy we can enclose the structure with vertical slats or lattice. The image below is an illustrative example of what I mean

vertical slats enclosing external stairs

This week the tin roof, guttering and barge roll will be installed and hopefully this project will be another one ticked off the list!

Ipswich day trip and Queenslanders

I have to say that one of my most favourite places to visit for a day trip is Ipswich. Now that the road work from Brisbane to Ipswich is mostly finished it's a fairly smooth run to the 'Swich.

The thing I love most about Ipswich, apart from visiting my fairy op-shop mother midcentury Jo, is the historical Queenslander homes. They are stunning examples of Queensland's early colonial and early 20th century architecture - many homes are being restored and others are waiting to be brought back from the brink.

There are pockets around the Denmark Hill Conservation Park which literally make you swoon...if you love Queenslanders. And so affordable compared to Brisbane.

Here are some photos of a couple of spectacular homes, which caught my eye.

This home was just spectacular. It is perched high on the street with views looking over the heart of Ipswich

Foxes guarding the entrance to  another old home. Amazing that they are still intact!

Beautiful stone Queenslander

This is the back of the home in the image above.  It may be where the kitchen was originally located with its two rainwater tanks. 

This is a former Baptist church which has been restored. This Art Deco building will reincarnate into something different when it is reopened soon.

On our last Ipswich visit, we visited a little cafe in Brisbane Street called Fourthchild which is simplicity done at its best with meals prepared with quality organic and free range produce. We only ordered morning tea and it was exceptionally good fare.

Lemon cheesecake and banana cake thing. So good.
Image stolen from Katherine at theoldboathouse

And a trip to Ipswich is never complete without saying hello to beautiful Kerrie at her shop ES Traders. She has the most exquisite treasures and many one-off pieces which she sources from overseas. I covet her Venetian mirrors. Kerrie's good taste and impeccable style is transcendent.

Stunning mirrors - my instagram photo does them no justice

And another good thing about Ipswich is its op-shops. I'll show you some of my purchases soon...

Flea with a retro vibe

Keep this Saturday free if you love a little bit of trash and treasure. My friends Chris and Susan, who are the publishers of Australian Modern and Brisbane Modern, are hosting a massive flea as part of their Neighbourhood Watch community.

It's going to be huge, with 22 stall holders from the neighbourhood. Items for sale include a 60s swivel lounge, 60s bar, and there will be a lot of small collectables to 'ooh and aahh' over. And everything is priced to sell, as no one wants to take it back home with them again!

I'm having a combined stall with Son #1 too - with a smattering of retro homewares (think retro kosta boda and iittala) and more contemporary crockery and pre-loved Star Wars toys. I'll be raising cash for our bookclub Christmas party (Son #1 keeps the cash raised from his toys though). 

Belgian milk glass jars...so cute!

Life is incomplete without a 1970s Scandi crystal plate...

Members of our bookclub have their hearts set on eating prawns this year...we hope to make that dream a reality....

The very generous Jo from Desire to Inspire donated all her excess teak and monkey wood serving ware to our cause when I visited her last week, with all proceeds going directly to the purchase of prawns. A good woman, our new bookclub patron.

There are some great monkey wood pieces. Fabulous for summer parties or for the beach house or for the retro pad. I've kept the fish right at the back as it is some kind of awesome, a couple of smaller leaf dishes for the boys and the square tray in the middle.

Here are the details if you want a fun morning out:

Saturday 8 September

8am-12pm

Buy-Browse-Meet

9 Burchell Street, Carina

(cnr Burchell & Cotswold St)

There will be hot dogs and drinks for sale too.

Paths and parrots

There will be some more renovating activity mid-next week when Mr D and Scotty return to build a roof over our new side stairs. They came on Saturday morning to do some prep work including cementing the metal stirrup for the post support.

Before they arrived Jason and the kids were busy clearing a new path and removed  a narrow garden bed that was against the Sow's Ear. It makes a lot more sense now to have a wider walkway on this side of the house.

walkway from side stairs. We will need to reinstate a new concrete path later down the track when money allows...

All the concrete that was removed from the path and Jason's father's day work boots

Jason loves his hi-vis.
Mr D, our builder, is not a fan of hi-vis, and is so appalled to see Jason wearing it voluntarily...
"What are you wearing that parrot gear for, man?"
A good question.