That's not quite where I am. I'm actually in the barn, typing downstairs whilst Elmer sleeps upstairs in the new 4 bed mezzanine, fully equipped for two adults and two children to sleep in, or at least, just lie there at night...
The bale house isn't one of those projects that you can get a heap of people to slap up together in a rush unfortunately. It's a crafted house that needs time and attention, and certain things just haven't come together at the right time. If we had a simple gib board ceiling, and simple (ordinary) walls, we'd have been inside months ago. At the moment, the bales are in, and most of the house is waiting to be plastered. The netting that covers the bales ready for plastering takes some time to attach, and the plasterer can't finish until that's all done.
I feel tired just thinking about all the other things that have delayed us, but I see this as the ugly, final sprint to the finish. At SOME point soon I will live in this house, and at the moment it requires a lot of patience to put up with living in this very basic barn, when I stand in the house and dream of how wonderful it will be to actually LIVE there.
The digger finally got fixed after 3 weeks of sitting here broken. Look at the wonderful things it has done to my lawn in order to make way for an electrical cable :(
Oh and I may as well get in here before Steven does - today I reversed the whole back half of my car into the trench trying to get Elmer to kindy on time. Steven hauled me out with his van. I'm 9 months pregnant! These errors are bound to occur!
Living area. There are still about 20 bales to go in upstairs:
The kitchen, all baled and ready to go:
Guest room, semi plastered:
Elmer's room:
The utility room:
Oh and remember how we had a tiling disaster, but then it turned out there was going to be tiling done last week after all, in time for bathroom installation on the weekend!!!? Yeah, that didn't happen. The bathroom:
Self building a house like this (with numerous unexpected obstacles along the way) has been the most stressful, challenging, and emotional journey of my life. When it is all over I will be on here to tell you all how amazing it is too.
Coming next, the state of the house.......
Gorgeous.
The guest room. Plasterer comes in tomorrow to do the first coat on the straw bales. There are THREE coats of plaster. Which doesn't surprise me because most things in this house take the long, complicated route :)
Detail of the netting used to create the curve next to a door opening:
Downstairs:
As with any build, we've had unforseen delays. For example this weekend the tiler who was coming to tile the bathroom before the plumber fits it out next week, didn't turn up. I was mildly unhappy about that. We'll have someone in this week though, who should finish on Saturday in time for the plumber. I will ring the toilet man today and shmooze him (I'd quite like a toilet). The digger is still sat on the property, broken. Otherwise things are ploughing ahead!
I like the way you're calling Steven 'the digger' now....!
(10.08.12 @ 10:49 PM)Haha! Good one!! Actually there is a man out there now fixing the digger in the dark and the pouring rain at 10pm. I like this man..
(10.08.12 @ 11:01 PM)If I was a 3 year old boy I would be quite gutted when I realised the hay bales weren't staying! especially when they are no longer available to drive cars into! Remember weeks not years! you are nearly there whoo hoo!..toilet yer I'd be happy with a toilet above anything else!
(10.08.12 @ 11:18 PM)what on earth is poor elmar going to do when the house is finished! oh well he will have to find another job then! (sigh)
Excited doesn't cover it....could you ask Steven to remove his boots from "our" bedroom please? I hate an untidy room...
M x
Photographs that I appear in were taken by Liana of course!
I find myself hoping that baby number two is just like Elmer. He is such a happy, sensitive, sociable, funny little boy. He makes me laugh every day. He's very selective about friends his own age, but loves spending time with older children and adults, and bonds quickly with those he likes. He's a little behind with his speech, but comes out with new, often hilarious things every day.
He loves kissing, cuddling, and holding hands. Often if I am sat next to Elmer at the table or infront of the television he will reach over without looking and rest his hand on mine - something he's done since he was tiny, and something I'm sure to miss when he is 17.
Elmer has great empathy, so when he is playing outside and the dogs come over to lick his face, he will shout "go away dogs!", but then as they walk off, he'll watch them go and say quietly, "POOR dogs." When his cars crash on the coffee table he'll tell them "it's okay... it's okay", and fetch the tow truck to haul them off to the garage. He loves to make us laugh, and check if we are happy ("mummy happy?"). He loves dancing, chasing the chickens, chatting to family on Skype, being outside, cars, trains, diggers, fish, tunnels, insects, "apple and cheese in a bowl", mummy's tummy, being hurled onto the sofa and tickled.
Here is my favourite recent photograph of Elmer, taken by Isabella Harrex. My beautiful 3 year old.
What a beautiful entry Sinead! Maybe Elmer won't rest his hand on your's when he's 17,but he sure would look back at this when he's 30 and have a lil 'aww' moment!such special memories you've captured not just in photos which we all know you're good at! But also in your words! :) in other news... Glad the bubble gun is still working! Or did u buy a new one?;)
(10.04.12 @ 03:20 AM)What a beautiful entry Sinead! Maybe Elmer won't rest his hand on your's when he's 17,but he sure would look back at this when he's 30 and have a lil 'aww' moment!such special memories you've captured not just in photos which we all know you're good at! But also in your words! :) in other news... Glad the bubble gun is still working! Or did u buy a new one?;)
(10.04.12 @ 03:20 AM)yikes, i'm sorry it posted twice! and i forgot to sign off - xx marilyn
(10.04.12 @ 04:04 AM)happy birthday Elmer i hope you had a wonderful time your mummy and daddy are truly blessed to have such a beautiful happy boy much love your friend from mainly music ishtar
(10.04.12 @ 10:21 AM)Awwwww, warmed my heart this post... what a gorgeous wee boy. Looks like it was an awesome birthday! And that cake!?! Very impressive! X
(10.04.12 @ 10:24 AM)Happy Birthday Elmer. Beautiful post Sinead. We miss him very much! There is no other boy quite like Elmer and I think he is absolutely fantastic. Such a sensitive, funny wee chap. We're a bit late getting to the post. I actually have his present sitting in front of me! (alongside, Elsie's, my nieces, my mum's and another dunedin baby we know). Big post trip coming up.
xxxxxx
much love and hugs and chocolate milk kisses
Charlotte, Gallien, Amandine and Eddie
The gib board is all done, ready for the gib stoppers tomorrow who will make it look all neat and tidy. The floor is finished (apart from the inside of cupboards). My walk in wardrobe space is ready (crucial), and other behind the scenes things like switch board wiring has been done.
The digger came to dig a trench for the main electricity cable yesterday, but it broke on arrival so is waiting to be fixed.
This week should also see the tiling in the bathroom done, ready for installation of bathroom goods. The toilet system man showed up. I asked him how long until he could instal the toilet and he said "oooh, a couple of weeks?" I gave him a stern look and explained the gravity of the situation (I'm enormous so he didn't need any extra visual clues), and it turns out he can come next week.
The living area (above) floor finished.... and the kitchen below:
(that's Greg the builder's head poking up above the stairs there!)
Guest bedroom bales starting to go in:
Bales in Elmer's room:
Elmer with his earphones after a cake-break:
Our bedroom upstairs (less bales needed up here so it looks a bit more compete. The floor will be carpeted at some point in the future:
(his Dad is an electrician so we can trust the wires :)
My wardrobe:
I do normally wash his face...
So, we are still waiting on.... the kitchen, the bathroom, the interior straw bale walls, the plastering, the painting, the floor sanding, the floor tinting etc., the window sills, water, electricity, a few bits and pieces outside, and probably about 50 things that aren't essential at the moment but still need doing. 2 weeks to go.
But you have a WARDROBE!!! Woo hoo xxx
Sinead - this is sooooooo amazing! I am coming to Dunedin in Feb - if I have time I would love to stop in and say hi! What a super gorgeous adventure you are having building this amazing house!
(10.01.12 @ 07:47 AM)Elmer seems comfortable on the straw bales. Dad and I are quite prepared to sleep on them....quite romantic?? I'm speaking on his behalf by the way! M x
(10.01.12 @ 09:48 AM)Haha, yes the wardrobe looks quite liveable doesn't it? Getting the important bits done. Rachael, would be lovely to see you! Definitely. And Mum, glad to hear the comment about how happy you are on straw... :)
(10.01.12 @ 10:13 AM)Amazing Sinead What a house!! There's lots going on for your wee family, exciting times! X
(10.01.12 @ 11:32 AM)I feel like I'm watching one of those reality house build shows where it's all down to the wire!!! What a rush! Amazing what a wee deadline can do to get things moving huh?! Love it. Looking amazing!
(10.01.12 @ 10:18 PM)
Oh Sinead, you sound like you need a big old hug! You poor Mama, totally feeling for you, and yes you are allowed to complain! You are no doubt in that nesty stage and so this must be tough. But wow, if you really got busy you could make one hell of a nest with all that straw!!! hehehe. Thinking of you xx
(10.15.12 @ 11:11 PM)Thanks :) Yes I'm nesting... my car is immaculate!
(10.15.12 @ 11:18 PM)Sinead, you are truly amazing. There isn't a single swear word in this whole post! I can only imagine Steven is just as stressed, tired and challenged by build now as well. So glad your parents are there. As you say, you are all healthy, together (very much so!) and close to having a beautiful baby. He's being very polite so far, waiting at least until his due date. He stands to be a very much cuddled baby with his whole family around him. xxxx
(10.16.12 @ 02:29 AM)There were a couple of choice swear words when I reversed into the trench I can tell you! But yes, you're right, lucky baby number two to have his grandparents here to welcome him. He will be very well cuddled. xxx
(10.16.12 @ 10:10 AM)