Fire,Fire,Burning Bright.

For the first eleven winters we have been at the farm before we retired we made do with the aging old free standing fire in the lounge room that kept the place  reasonably warm.
Once we moved here full time we removed that fire so renovations could progress and have survived the cold cooped up in the kitchen with the old woof fired cooking stove.We had blankets hanging  in the open doorways to keep the warmth in. Thank goodness we had that  fire or we  have really  been more miserable than we already were.

Because we were also having the floor tiled( a very long slow process by  an older really lovely man) we have been unable to install our  wonderful new bakers oven style  wood heater that we have had stored out under the carport for about a year.

So this week the tiling was progressing and we asked the  fellow if he could finish a selected area we had chosen to install the heater and grout it so that we could finally bring the fire in. "No problems" he said and sorted that for us.

Firstly there had to be indepth discussions between  the men on how all the flue bits went together,

Then they  brought in the heavy beast and positioned it where it was selected to go.

Marked exactly where the  hole in the ceiling for the flue was to go,

Then  after more discussion  got up on the roof to life the sheet of roofing(which runs the full length of the roof)

Only to find that it was impossible to locate the flue there as the beams were all too close together and didn't leave the required  safety clearance.
So down they came and talked to me to  decide on another  location in the lounge to position the fire.

A new spot was chosen, albeit at the expense of my big tv/storage unit, but we really had no choice, as the only other suitable location  involved moving our hot water service on the roof.

They  then positioned the heater underneath and went back up onto the roof to install the   outer flue casing and brackets to hold everything  steady.

They also installed the Decktite silicone boot that  prevents leakage around the flue and off the roof, this has a flexible band around it that molds into the profile of the roof and is  also sealed down with roof and gutter sealant

Then the next step was to  place the lower flue pieces on from inside,

And then back up on the roof for Brian to feed the higher sections down to  join into the lower sections

Once all the pieces were connected and fastened the  stove was checked and  appeared to be just a little off centre,

So that was sorted quick smart by moving to one side about 20 mm.
The final  thing to be  installed was the  cap and down draft lid apparatus that sits on top of the flue and also  stops rain from entering the flue.

And then it was all completed, all that was left was to test it out.

Just as the job was completed as if on cue the  next door neighbours arrived with a bundle of kindling in one arm and  wine, beer and nibbles in the other to  mark the occasion.
So we had a small fire lighting ceremony,

Checked that the flue was drawing properly and  it was. ( we made sure the flue was the correct height above the roofline.)

And then we  all sat around our lovely new  wonderfully warm fire and  enjoyed a few hours of  conversation and food and drink, a very pleasant way to pass the evening.

I am very, very happy with our new fire, the  coldness in the house was really starting to get to me and I had become moody and down, but as soon as the warmth penetrated right through the house my spirits lifted immediatly. I haven't tried the oven yet but am really itching to do so, but the top  boils kettles and  cooks vegies in pots beautifully.
Am  in love with my new fire, you bet I am.
Until we meet again down the track,
Take care,
Cheers,
Jane.

The Last couple of weeks catchup.

We have had a busy couple of weeks , not just here at the farm but  away visiting our daughters and  their families.
We had a short trip  to visit our oldest daughter and son in law  and our gorgeous 2 year old granddaughter and her 4 week old new baby sister.
We then traveled to   visit our youngest daughter ,son in law and 5 year old granddaughter and 11 month old  grandson.
Our daughter has returned to  full time work,  for a few months and we along with  her husbands'  family are helping out with  occasional babysitting when needed.
While there Hubby helped them and their neighbours to remove an old  asbestos  fence down their driveway  taking all the proper precautions required for such removal and disposal.

We also helped them with  a little garden tidy up and repairs ,myself helping with the children to allow my daughter to get out and  get a few jobs done that she can't manage  to do with the children underfoot .

Our old blue girl loves to travel also, as she gets to see her doggie friends as well, there is Doug the kelpie and  and there is Josie the black labrador. They are all great mates and have been buddies for years.

Our Gazania  flowers at the farm  are starting to bloom, and hopefully if we get a few more showers of rain  the display will be stunning  over spring.
The bees are already   finding them and buzzing around madly.

They are such a striking flower.
A reader on my face book page told me that in the state she lives in they have been declared a noxious weed, which is a shame as they are such a great dry climate garden plant that can survive extreme conditions  and still perform well.
Brian has started  off a few lots of seeds in starter boxes,

When I checked them today they are doing well in their mini greenhouses, hopefully they will  shoot and we will  have some  early tomatoes ,zuchinnis and squash.

A friend and neighbour had a birthday the other day, so we popped up to their place with a  birthday cake and a few drinks, a new vanilla buttercake recipe that wasn't too bad, will certainly try again.

As we had a busy day planned I had popped a frozen chicken along with a few  new potatoes and carrots into the slow cooker and set it going. It is wonderful that we can now use  a slow cooker   and not have to worry about the electricity.

It cooked beautifully and was just perfect when we were ready to eat.
A friend of ours had borrowed our egg incubator and has since hatched out a couple of batches of chickens.
Among them were   5 roosters and as he doesn't eat poultry at all, and his wife only eats it occasionally they passed the roosters to us.

We brought them home  the night before last and  this morning they decided that they were going to  take over the chook yard and were arguing and scrapping with our roosters and hens.

Brian decided that , this morning was their last so he captured them  all and tied their legs  awaiting their dispatch.

We heated up the water in our   big pot( a new  galvanized garbage bin bought for this purpose) and Brian  did the deed, and now they are resting  in our refrigerator for a few days before I decide  what to do with them. I have been thinking that it may be chicken curry, sweet and sour chicken and  maybe a nice roast dinner with one of them.

The night before last we  went next door for a bonfire and a few drinks, we are all taking advantage of the good weather when we are allowed to burn, the heat and dry will return soon enough.
At one point the flames shot up high into a big pine tree above, but extinguished itself quite quickly.

Our tiling is continuing slowly, between us being away and the tiler having commitments  of his own, progress seems to be crawling at snails pace, but yesterday and today saw him cut and lay all those fiddly edge pieces and doorways which all take time.

We have worked out, that he will probably take another 5 days before he is totally finished, I can hardly wait for it all to be finally completed . I am sure it will all look  wonderful when this is all over.
Hopefully when I post next  I will have some lovely photos of my floor to publish.
So until we meet up next down the track, I trust that you all will take care,
Cheers,
Jane.

The Old Railway Barracks.

Now that we have moved to the farm full time , we have  begun to join  a few of the local organizations and volunteer groups that do such a wonderful job on many projects  around the town.
One of these groups that we have joined is the  Rail heritage  group that have restored and  Maintain the old railway barracks.

It was originally constructed in about 1925  to service the steam train drivers  after they had competed a shift to eat and sleep and bathe  before beginning their return journey.
Binnaway was a thriving   rail town with approx 20  steam locomotives per week  through the town.
With this comes a need for repiar, servicing, water, housing, storage and accommodation.
With the  move to diesel locomotives, the need for all the associated infrstructure was no longer required and a lot of these buildings were either demolished or fell into total disrepair.

A few of the existing rail pieces have been used in the main street  and add a certain character to our quaint  little town, and these areas are maintained by   various volunteer groups.
The old pump house on the river (adjacent to the "Pumphouse Camping ground" used to  pump the water up to the  huge elevated holding tanks which are still located up near the Barracks building.

This wonderful team of volunteers, worked tirelessly and with  grants from various government and other sources and sheer determination  , stripped the asbestos  roof and replaced it with corrugated iron, stripped and refitted the kitchen, and repainted the entire building in heritage colour scheme.
After all this hard work they   produced really great   budget accomodation  that was desperately needed in the town.
There are now 11  air conditioned  rooms,each with twin single beds, a communal hallway,  shared bathrooms,that are wheelchair friendly.

There is also  a communal kitchen, where guests  enjoy a light breakfast ,communal dining and lounge area.

They also restored to working order the beautiful old  coal fired  cooker that  used to supply many a hot meal to weary  railway men.

This is a really dedicated group of people who have worked so hard to get this project up and running  and do  whatever they can to keep  this brilliant accommodation  open for   locals and travelers  alike who often  make use of  the facilities.
A recent grant plus a lot of fundraising saw a great new outdoor  barbeque  added to the  barracks for the convenience  of the guests.
One of our upcoming fundraising occasions  will be to supply  morning tea, refreshments and BBQ lunch at the  wonderful" Bilby Blooms"  native nursery  open day located  just out of Binnaway. on Saturday 26th September. The managers  of this great  business are also  dedicated volunteers  to our group. This day will help with much needed funds for the barracks.

So if you happen to be in the area, or passing through or looking for a night away,  please don't hesitate to support our  wonderful Binnaway Heritage Railway  Barracks as with out  all the  lovely people that stay in these  lovely old  restored heritage buildings, they will fade into history and that would be such a terrible shame.

With my blog and facebook page, I rarely recommend , advertise or push any product or service, but this is some thing I truly believe in and we  must maintain and support  these wonderful  NON PROFIT orginizations  and projects   and do what we can to  help.
Please keep us in mind if ever you are in the area,
So until we meet again,
Please take care,
Cheers,
Jane.