WOW 11th Dec 2013 with Esther http://www.estheraliu.blogspot.com/

For Xmas I have added a few wooden tulips to the pot plants and snowball lights!!!!! Taken very early this morning.

I spent nearly two hours yesterday after-noon cleaning the lamp on the left, these lamps had been dropped off at the Opp Shop, I think they may have been a gift and have never been used but ended up in some ones out shed as they are covered in dust and to clean them I had to take it all apart, washed the glass 1/2 dozen times in strong soapy water and used a steel wool to bring the stainless steel parts back to life by removing corrosion. Now I have to do the other one??????

This old rocking chair was dropped off to the Opp shop it was so filthy dirty with grease and dirt and lots more???? years of neglect no one wanted to even touch it and it was about to be thrown in to the rubbish when I weakened and said I will take it home, well it sat there on our side porch and I kept turning a blind eye to it and then last week I took the bit between my teeth and took to it. I tried soapy water but nothing moved so finally I sprayed all the wood with exit mould which is a very very strong bleach and left it for 20 mins and then went back with the hot soapy water and lots of rubbing, finally success a few hours later I could see the clean wood again, I left it to dry and then applied the varnish and I could not believe what came up such a lovely golden wood. Now it is Back to all its glory after hours of elbow grease.!!!!

My chair now????

Old stained black oak tea trolly, another drop off that was so dirty and even had burn marks from candles and cigarettes I think and covered with candle grease, very little varnish on the top shelf, I even thought it may be beyond help, but because it was oak I could not have the heart to throw it in to the rubbish skip, so home it came and here we are after 2 days work of cleaning and rubbing with sandpaper then varnishing. She is ready to be put back in to service again. My Grandmother owned one very much like it. SO it has lovely memories for me. Hers was also stained black oak.

Last but not least a restored wee table for DGS turning 5 in Jan for his school home work when he starts school in Jan 2014?????

Young Kookaburra who dropped in over the week-end.

This Young Kookaburra sat beside the fish pond to be, he is a little early for the fish LOL. but he sat there for 3/4 of an hour he was so hopeful!!!!!

Now if Mr kookaburra comes to sit beside the fishpond there is some water and life to look at but still no fish. Taken around 6am this morning, I really must reset my date and time on my camera it is saying 2006!!!!

These two orchids burst in to flower on Monday such beautifies as we have had no rain so no damage and the insects have not started to eat them yet?????

Damaged afghan squares and new ones ready to replace them. I'm using 100% 1ply mohair. Wish I had some lighter colours but this is all I have been able to find here in OZ in 1 ply 100% wool or mohair.

Fish pond view from the roof.

Swimming pool from the roof.

Looking across the river to the rainforest from the roof.

River from the roof