I find it really satisfying to use up the last of anything, so when my big jars are depleted of all their food supplies I take an unusual amount of pleasure in washing them and refilling them the next day after they have had time to thoroughly dry out.
I know ... I'm sad, but it floats my boat. 😄
It's even more satisfying when the contents of the new bag of something all fits neatly into the lovely clean jar without any leftovers. But sometimes you have to make the best of it and have a big jar and a little one for things like my lentils.
Other things that Alan ... with a lot of help from the builders ... has been filling up this week include the foundations of the garage.
The builders filled with concrete and Mother Nature added two inches of rain.
The hole where the front door used to be.
The final thing filled up this week was the hole where the bathroom window used to be. Our fridge freezer will be stood in this space, sometime in the future.
I can almost see it now, well when this floodlight is switched on that is, without the light the old bathroom looks more like this.
We are making good use of the old front door and bathroom window as they are going to be used on the garage once the walls start going up next week. We have also managed to save the original garage door, which will be going back on.
We are trying to make use of as much as we can both in a bid to save money and the environment. The brick and block mountain currently in the garden from the demolished garage, is going to be used to bring the floor level back up before the top slab is laid, and the interior walls of the bungalow that are being demolished will be used to infill some of the floor cavities inside.
The good stuff such as the old kitchen, the electric cooker, the interior doors and even things like the lightshades have now been sold and the bungalow is pretty much an empty shell. Today Alan is up in the loft rolling up the insulation so he can get access to all the electric wiring up there to strip it out, and of course that is going to be reused too, with an additional layer on top to make sure we will be well insulated.
Sue xx
When I saw the pile of bricks, I knew you would be reusing them. We often laugh about the fireplace that is buried in our front garden as we were desperately trying to infill with rubble from around the site. The garage floor also brought a smile as my the four year old niece ran around on the wet slab despite being told not to. Norrie had to quickly wet the slab and smooth it out. At least the rain stopped you having to water it to save it drying out too fast-ours was laid in a heatwave and I was on watering duty! And yes, I love to recycle my jars for storage/ crafting. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI love that you have a fireplace buried in the front garden, imagine any excavations that happen years in the future, it will cause some confusion. 😄
DeleteThe inside of our gate posts in Wales had round hollows, as they were made from the granite that curling stones had been cut from. I love little secret things like that.
Well done, Alan (and company). Accomplishing quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteThings have really moved on this past week. 🙂
DeleteExcellent progress.
ReplyDeleteIt's really coming on.
DeleteI have lots of Useful Jars (trying to control the saving of Useful Boxes though!). I must have missed the new plan for the bungalow. If you are shutting up the front door, where will you go in?
ReplyDeleteI get ruthless with boxes, if I can't think of an immediate use I squash them before I get too attached. 😄
DeleteThe side door will become the main entrance. Three doors into a small bungalow seemed a bit excessive.
I am just the same about jars - and get frustrated when there are a few tablespoonsful which have to live in a jam jar and definitely Must Be Used Up First. You are making excellent progress. The garage will be so useful when completed.
ReplyDeleteI jiggle and shake trying to fit things in, but there was far too many lentils over this time. It will be our main storage for out of season things and also logs. It was very necessary to rebuild it.
DeleteLots of things have been accomplished again. Alan is a very useful chap to have around isn't he! We would love to have a second loo installed somewhere in the bungalow but haven't a clue where it could go. We simply have no vision....
ReplyDeleteAngie
He's very capable when it comes to DIY, he's really enjoying working with the builders too ... although he says they talk non-stop. 😄
DeleteLook at where your main soil pipe is, and the water supply and see if there's a room that you can add an 'en-suite' to. You don't need much space for a toilet and small hand basin.
Two inches of rain on the concrete! I hope that's not a sign of how well the garage will drain?! :)
ReplyDeleteThis will hopefully be addressed in the layers added on top of the foundations.
DeleteThings are moving along very nicely.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Yes, we're really pleased. It's mostly due to really good workmen, who were all recommended by our architect.
DeleteI think I’m falling in love with Alan🤣 June
ReplyDeleteHe's mine, all mine. 😄
DeleteRe: secret things…I found a 1947 farthing in my garden many years ago. Because it was the year I was born I kept it. It use to be farm land that the house stands on so in my imagination I thought maybe a farm labourer had lost it whilst ploughing a field. Ten years ago when we made many changes to the house one being a new front porch when the builders left for the day I suddenly thought of the farthing and dropped it into the big hole where the cement was going to be poured into the next day. I love the fact that one day it may be found and someone will wonder as I did what was the story of the 1947 farthing.🙂 June
ReplyDeleteThat is absolutely brilliant. ❤️
DeleteI laughed at your line 'I squash them before I get too attached' - I catch myself thinking "I should save that, it might come in useful" all the time. (Eye roll!) But my best line is from my bestest, dearest aunt, who told me one year that she'd given up saving plastic bags for Lent!!
ReplyDeleteYour renovations/building is coming along quickly. You are so lucky having Alan, my husband is a complete incompetent in all things practical, and the house must be protected from his attempts! His most recent one was doing some outside painting touch-ups ... but using GLOSS, instead of matt paint ... believe me, it's obvious!! (Double eye-roll!!) But I love him.
'Giving up saving plastic bags for lent' is precious. 😄
DeleteI know what it's like to have DIYer who actually can't, but believes he can ... that describes my first husband to a tee.
I love a good glass jar to fill with bulk purchase items. I also have a great fondness for boxes and tend to keep more than I need of them! You are making great progress on your new house.
ReplyDeleteI think not having the space to store excess boxes has almost cured my old habit. Living small has many perks. 😀
DeleteI love love love your repurposing and reusing building style.
ReplyDeleteIt's just sensible isn't it, both for our finances and the planet. 😀
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