Secrets and Surprises

I've seen out the old year and welcomed in the new. 

Every year is a new adventure, a new chapter to fill, a journey to continue with destination unknown and this coming year should certainly be one filled to the brim. 

We've been keeping a little something pretty quiet, our own little secret surprise.

This is one of those secrets that has been fairly well kept. Well to a certain degree. 

I've told family and friends but now it is certainly out in the open, being official in the the social media world as of the new year.

Do you want to know what it is?

Maybe you've guessed already (or maybe you've been hanging out on instagram).

 

Mr Sparky and I have a little Possum joining the family!

Due on the 1st of April (a little fool like its daddy), there are somewhere around 13weeks until we meet this little one. While I am happy to have it baking away for now, I can't wait ... we can't wait!

We are keeping everyone in suspense, and frustrating a few, by not finding out whether Possum is a girl or boy. 

By the way did you know how hard it is to find neutral clothes at the moment? 

To start off with I thought I would really want to know but know I like the fact that I don't.

Mr Sparky is voting boy (of cause) and I really don't have a clue.

We haven't done much in the way of finding baby stuff. I've found a couple of suits and singlets and been gifted a few more. We also came home from Christmas loaded with some handmade goodies to keep our tropical bub, snug. I love having such creative and talented family members!

 So now I've let you in on our little secret, that is definitely not a secret any more, I'm off to do some bump growing.

Have you had any good secrets brewing lately?

How to ... Slab Timber (by someone who doesn't have a clue)

Well before I start I have to admit (as you would tell from the title) that I am no expert, this is Mr Sparky's domain. I am just the humble slave right hand man, unless another is found to take my place like last weekend.

So first things first you have to set up the mill, well in this case you do as it is a portable one, and you have to make sure you put it in the right place.

So first step is to survey the area or in this case decide whether to set the mill up in this spot or move it to the back of the farm ... I guess this spot it was.
 

 

Then you get to work putting it together. Like one of those metal puzzles in giant form.
 

Sometimes you do running repairs, fixing crooked supports ... by bashing them with timber (not convinced on this one).
 

You then need to check everything over, make sure you have fuel, oil, all that.
 

Next you bring in the big guns and put the tractor to work towing in a log to cut up.
 

Once the log is under the centre of the mill make sure everything is all lined up.
 

Then start her up (after you put on safety gear like ear muffs and glasses) and start slabbing away.
 

Here is the portable Lucas Mill all set up and ready to go.
 

You push the cutting blade/ saw forward on the tracks using a bar mounted over the mill.
 

As you push forward the saw in this case cuts the desired amount of timber off the log in a long slab. When it gets stuck you just pull the mill back and try again.
 

Once one slab is done you wind the mill down to cut another.
 

That is after you have moved the slab out of the way.
 

Once you have slabbed as much of the log as you can without the mill being on the ground you move what remains out of the way and bring in another log. The rest of this one will be done by stacking it on top of the next partly slabbed log.
 

The mill creates lots of sawdust and sprays chips and dust everywhere hence the need for safety glasses or sunnies.
 

Sometimes log require parts being chopped off before cutting. The first cut on a log usually ends up in the 'burn' pile unless Mr Sparky takes a liking for it or knows someone who wants it. It is usually just the sap wood or outer timber on the tree.
 

A slab all done and ready to move.
 

Mr Sparky and I like seeing what patterns or markings are revealed. We also love the smell of freshly cut timber. I am certainly being introduced to the different smells of different timbers.
 

Mr Sparky has been working away at this project for the better part of last year, it is for our future, our home one day. Can't get much more romantic than that, well that's what I think.

Note: for anyone who hadn't worked it out Mr Sparky is in the hat ... the non hat wearer is a 'ringer in' who was giving milling a go, leaving me jobless.



Totally loving learning new things.

Happy Birthday!

Last Saturday Mr Sparky decided on our way up the Gillies Range to throw a surprise 18th Birthday party for his sister, Miss A. Not only that but we were going to have it down at the Beatrice River, their favourite swimming place. Wanting to go all out we did a quick run through the cheap shop in Atherton for balloons, string, plastic wear and an 18th Birthday banner. Then it was a run through IGA for some meat ... a family pack of sausages which kept us fed in style all weekend, some steak, rissoles, bread, onions and of cause a cake (gee if I'd know we were going the day before I would have made one, ah well). Miss A was contacted and told to get down the river for a BBQ, bring a BBQ plate, the boys and anything else we will need. Apparently we didn't need tongs or a knife but we made do, Mr Sparky's stanley knife from his tool pouch came in handy.

Things just fell into place and it even managed to stay mostly fine despite the rain around the area, although at one point we did quickly erect a tarp ... lucky we had one in the car along with scissors and electrical tape (can you spot where Mr Sparky's staple item came in handy?). It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon and I even braved the nippy waters, jumping in with Mr Sparky for a swim. Later on he confessed that he didn't expect me to get in. He he I showed him there, guess he forgot I'm a water baby. Definitely refreshing but not too bad.

 

Have you ever thrown an impromptu party?

Totally Thursday Link Up

 This Thursday I was totally loving my handy Mr Sparky and these lovely, rustic frames he whipped up while I was away down south.
 

 

 

 

Linking up with Jacana for Totally Thursday.