Now the sun is much higher in the sky it clears the hills behind us, and on sunny days streams in through the windows. In the very darkest shortest days of winter we had sun for only an hour in the morning. Now it stays around for much longer, lighting up the room and dancing on the walls - showing up the bits I missed when painting!
This first year in the house will be tracking the sunshine!
There is still masses to do, and of course I can be selective in what I show on my blog!
the window sills, for example, still need their coat of paint. I opted for good old mdf painted white. I'm slowly preparing them and priming with an mdf primer. I've done two so far!
The wood burner (the one that doubled as a Christmas tree) has yet to be installed. First the floor needs to be laid - a rather big expensive job, particularly as I have chosen oak. I did look at bamboo and other sustainable flooring, but oak has such a mellow look, and I think will suit the house perfectly
Still the wonderful view goes on. Here it is, looking in through the oven door!
and in my space upstairs (slightly less muddly than it was, and due a photo soon!) this is what I see as I'm writing this blog and looking through the window. The colours today have been beautiful, vivid and strong. The tree branches have an almost white, silvery glow to them.
I've been busy! After much corner taping, sanding down and painting I've produced (in terms of decorating at least) the most finished room in the house - the guest room! Ok, there are still no floors or skirting board and the door frames need painting, but apart from that this is a finished room!
Oh, and the mirror has to be hung on the wall too! I need to buy a length of chain when I'm next in Inverness.
Sometimes when I get a bit despondent and think nothing is coming on and the house will never be finished I have to remind myself that this was our house a year ago almost to the day; still packed on a lorry! I took this photo (hopping up and down with excitement) on March 13th last year. The driver parked in a lay-by just before the turn into Letters while he studied the feasibility of maneuvering a huge lorry up a single track lane with passing places, that ends in a field with a not very large turning point
But he made it and so did the house!
Can one be proud of window sills? Well, I'm proud of these. I sanded down between coats and used a pad to apply the paint, and I think I've managed a superb egg shell finish, free of brush streaks, almost!
I've just heard the weather forecast and looked out of the window - I hate these dull, cloudy overcast days!
