Building v Buying

Husband & I have already built and sold our first home that was located in the Melbourne suburb of Point Cook but I have always had my heart set on buying an old country homestead and renovating......but that all changed this morning when I came across PAAL.

PAAL is a kit home company that designs homestead style homes that will have all of the modern elements that I want without having to spend a fortune in an existing old home to make it livable.

We were recently talking to a local resident who is quite keen for us to purchase his home which is known as the "Old Parsonage" which was built in the mid 1800's but needs alot of work to bring it up to a standard of being comfortable although it is just a stunning home with heaps of established trees and gardens around it.

So PAAL has given us both food for thought - and I know that in my heart I can get a garden to grow with us and see it flourish over time.

So here is the Kit Home that I currently think will do just fine - The Camden.

Glamping - have you tried it??

Over the last few days Husband & I have been "Glamping" down the road from our town to the tiny hamlet of Dalgety which lies on the banks of the Snowy River.

So what is "Glamping"?

Well according to the Urban Dictionary, Glamping is

Glamorous camping. Satisfying your craving for the outdoors and your penchant for a good meal, nice glass of wine, and a comfortable bed.

No stinky sleeping bags on the hard ground and freeze dried food for me. If its not a Glamping trip, count me out.

So how do I define Glamping??

Well on the recent trip to Dalgety you would have seen us sleeping on our spare Queen Size bed mattress accompanied by Egyptian Cotton Sheets, topped by a luxurious down quilt with fluffy pillows all held within the confines of our brand new Black Wolf 6 man tent (it is seriously huge for two people and three Jack Russell's).

Outside we had a marquee for sitting in our two three person couches, a huge fold out table for eating, washing up, mixing a drink or two or a game of poker.

The BBQ was big enough to feed 17 adults (which we did every night) - two HUGE eskies that did require us to use ice and we did declare that this really would be classed as camping!!

We had the best time - and it all came down to the fact that there were No sleeping bags in sight, No air bed that deflates through the night, No hard lumpy rock ridden ground to sleep on - WE WERE IN CAMPING HEAVEN!!!

So I am now considering writing a small book for other Glampers to make sure that they have all the necessary tools to make camping GLAM!!

Another Grand Design Favourite for Sale

Everyone that loves Grand Designs will remember "Stilwater" - the house that was built over the water.

The home is one of my five favourites that have featured in the 8 series of Kevin McClouds much loved and adored program.

So once again I need to find around 1.5 million pounds to buy my little piece of Grand Designs history!!

Loving Ginger Jars

I've been on the look out for ages for some unique and colourful ginger jars.

In town this weekend there is a massive clearance sale - yes I know - another one!!! where I know there will be a few very old ginger jars needing a new home.

The clearance sale is the estate of a lady named Lily Constance and she passed away earlier this year just after her 100th birthday.

I also say two gorgeous jars in the latest edition of Country Style magazine, January 2012 on page 51 from Ada & Darcy so I have already jumped online to have a look at their website too!!

Action on the back porch!

We did a massive clean up last weekend and I got Husband to remove all of his blind and curtain business paraphernalia from the back verandah.

The end result had us both sitting back admiring our hard work and that Husband must at all times move his "stuff" to the shed that I bought him last Christmas.

The pansy's are flowing out of their hanging baskets, two new English Box are sitting at the door whilst the poor little Lobelia's struggle to get established.

We have not really had any warm weather yet in the snowies which may account for some of my flowering seedlings taking their time to get established.

Loving these rooms

I was just scrolling through the Australian Home & Garden website and came across these stunning rooms.

Getting really toey about moving into my white homestead - the dream just never seems to get any closer, which for me, is a real pain.

However, in the meantime I can sit here and imagine myself in each of these rooms - relaxing and dreaming....

Open Garden this weekend

One of my closest friends mum's is having an Open Garden this weekend with the Australia Open Garden Scheme.

I have featured "Glenelm" thoughout my blog a few times and I am just so excited to see Tina and Hans open their garden to the masses on Saturday and Sunday.

This year they are using the takings as a donation to the Snowy Hydro Helicopter, a lifeline for us here in the bush.

If any of you are in the snowies this weekend I suggest that your drop in - you wont be disappointed!!

Click Here GLENELM

So busy - So little time....

I've neglected my blog now for nearly a month and I feel bad about it.

I've had so much on the go atm and have just a few moments to share with you WHY I am not around so much.

Tis the wedding season so I have been to a few hens days etc and the weddings are about to hit us in the next few weeks.

And because I cant get enough of weddings I am holding a VINTAGE BRIDAL FASHION PARADE for a local charity called MCCR (Monaro Committee for Cancer Research) so hoping to make a bit of money for them as we ogle dresses from decades past!

I've been horse riding (never again) and had my 34th birthday which was great fun!.

We went for a weekend trip to Tathra to stay at a friends beach house and spoiled ourselves for a few days - Tathra is my heaven!

I hope you are all well and I will not neglect this long again!!