The cottage. My big project of 2020.

 I am long over due to report my big project for last year.    So here we go...

The first week of January 2020  I set a goal to fix up a cottage on the property.  For those who are newer, this station (which is Australian for ranch, I guess) is my parents.    We have been here almost two and a half years.    My Dad invited us to live here and he fixed up the house for me.  He had a dream for the whole family to come back to the farm. It was the best thing of all time.   It also gave me precious time with Dad.  We had over a year here with him monitoring our progress and coming for many many cups of tea,  to pinch spinach from the garden and take some eggs as he went on his way.    He had his special chair at his special table and his own cup and saucer.   If I did'nt answer the door he came in and put the kettle on.  One time I came back from collecting the eggs and he opened the door for me and said "come in!"  

Of course at the start of last year I didn't know about Covid and what else we would face and the biggest thing we faced was losing Dad.

I am glad Dad knew about my plans and saw them coming along.  He cast his eye over all we were doing and he, who worked harder than any person I ever know, said "don't work too hard."   This is quite a compliment from him.  

I have not posted photos before as really the cottage is not beautiful or fancy or shady chic.   It is just a dump improved.  haha! 

When we came here this cottage was in such bad shape a few people said I should burn it down.   And it was pretty bad.   But we had builders at our house and I asked them to look and see if the cottage was basically structurally ok?   And they said it was fine.   So with that I thought to turn a massive eye sore and mess into an asset.  

It is now a comfortable and lovely little cottage.   And it is not an eyesore anymore,  which is good as we pass it to come in to our place as does everyone who comes here.

Now to give you the general idea here are some before photos and a video.  

All the stuff on the floor is dead flies and bees. Someone broke the front door and then left it open for years.  

Here is some laundry inspiration for you.

The bathroom was basically the same. 

I did not do this all by myself. I hired two young guys for several Saturdays.   They pulled out the carpet which was a very heavy job.   We had a huge bonfire with that.   They moved out the furniture and drier and old stove etc.

All year I collected things from the op shops and Buy, Swap and Sell on FB.  I had the goal that the cottage would have everything for five people.  Five cups, five plates, knives, forks and so on... cookware, toaster, kettle and everything you need in a kitchen.  This is also how I found an old table and chairs,  coffee tables, beds and a leather lounge.    As I accumulated things we stored them in the shed for the day it could all go into the cottage.   The only things I bought new we light fittings and a fridge.  

Beneath the putrid carpet were nice wooden floor boards!   Once we had things back to bare bones we were half way there. 

We painted everything.  It was so filthy before that I just want it to look CLEAN! 

The setting is very pretty as it looks out over paddocks, gum trees and sheep and cattle.

We put up a little rain water tank,  and got the power re connected and all that kind of stuff.

As I collected things I tried to keep the theme "down on the farm" style.  

It was a fun project to collect everything.   

I have tried to think of everything you need in a house, like a can opener and egg flip and all the random things you don't think of until you need them.

I used a lot of things I had or could pick up.  We used deer antlers to hang kitchen towels and hand towels.   

As I collect more I will put a big basket of pinecones on the veranda,  dried wildflowers inside,  a bowl of feathers and gum nuts I pick up. 

Like any project it is never exactly over as you add to it.   But now we have an asset.  A useful asset.  Left longer it probably have deteriorated beyond repair. 

It is scary to take on a big project.  The year before we moved here I painted by whole house in Adelaide in a year.   Once you announce the plan you are kind of committed to it.   But broken down into 52 weeks it wasn't that bad.  In the case of painting my house it wasn't that good either as I got tennis elbow in both arms! haha! 

I guess it would be my biggest "put it to good use" or "make the most of it" project.   I realise not everyone is lucky enough to inherit a cottage.  I am very blessed.   

But also the principal is basically the same with anything we do.    There are times I strongly feel a message come to me over and over.   Lately that message is to make the most of our time.  To be good stewards with out time, opportunities, talents and what we have.   If you have a one meter patch of garden then be a good steward of that.   Nothing is ever perfect.  It doesn't have to be.  We can instead make the most if it as we can.  I could say I have poor garden soil.   (Because I do!) But instead we work constantly to improve that soil.   Mostly this is free to do and just taking opportunities.   One day I will say my garden soil is pretty good! 

Well, for those that asked,  that is my cottage story.  I think I should call it a hut.  It is more of a hut. 

I have a list of goals for 2021 but nothing as big as this project!   I am happy and proud we did it though! xxx