A long weekend at Underhill

Last weekend I broke with my usual pattern and stayed down at Underhill for two nights. We (Geoff, Jen, Ivy, Ponyo and I) were joined by Elaine (who did all the washing up as well as helping with other jobs). Nathan and Karita, Brad and Mic also came and joined in.

Ivy just loves being at Underhill and there was only one short cry one night when Jen got up to the call of nature.

Mic is always fabulous with Ivy.

My project for the weekend was to finish tidying the Tool Shed so that now you can actually walk in to retrieve the tools needed and PUT THEM AWAY.

In the process I was able to get some of the tools stored in the Scullery and Geoff and Jen's shed. Geoff put up a weldmesh wall lining in the Scullery and we cut lots of hooks for cups and utensils. This means that the Scullery is also looking orderly. There is still a lot to go in there though.

Unfortunately I did not remember to take photos of those two achievements.

One of Geoff's project for the weekend was to set up more solar lighting in the Living Area. This achieved we had to wait extra long in the evening to test it as now daylight saving time has started and it does not get dark quite so early. I even have light in the Scullery!

His other project was to dismantle the stove area end wall and remove the old stove. This all meant that we started using the chimnea for cooking. It is really a great way to cook. We were able to produce a camp oven roast, fluffy rice, toast, barbequed sausages, and even porridge. In fact it is much better than any of our stoves have ever been.

Geoff is now playing lego with bricks to see how his new rocket stove construction will work.

One surprise when we arrived was to find that the eggs in a nest in the second loo had hatched and were well looked after by mum - a Grey Shrike Thrush.

We are all really pleased with the achievements of the weekend and feel that the whole area is becoming more liveable.