Scully and I went out in the van on both Tuesday AND Wednesday this week. On Tuesday I scored a very favorable arrangement with a local landowner to clean up some bales of rotting haylage which have been pushed into a pile on the edge of some cleared land. He proposed we meet up on site. It is going to be a big job to move it (pitched forkful at a time into a trailer and same to get it off). I have proven myself to be very tenacious with handtools - I will get it moved.
We met the owner's pig dog (dog used for hunting and bailing wild pigs). He was a cute, excited, softie that just wriggled and squirmed and wanted cuddles. How on earth is he going to catch pigs? What's he gonna do? …smile them to death? The pigs MIGHT die laughing (or of cuteness overload) but as a pig-hunting technique it has no proven track record of success.
Wednesday was 'van oil change' day so we dragged the trailer out with us and left it at the local quarry before leaving the van with the mechanic. While we were doing laundry, going for a walk, shopping for groceries, the quarry man loaded the trailer with crusher-dust to fill my water tank foundation.
Scooting by the ReUse Shop in Blenheim we also picked up a nice functional handbasin with mixer tap for $5
(and a second blanket for Scully so that I can wash the first one). I hoped to also score a toilet but none there with the trap (U-bend shape) I wanted were in sufficiently good condition. I might crawl under the cabin and contemplate my plumbing and drainage options; a $5 WC option warrants a rethink.
Squandering a further $2 I also brought home a 'patio' chair to sit in and meditate on my vegetables growing once I have pitched all that rotten hay into place.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteScully rightly looks smug - those are some beaut bargains! And workouts to boot... YAM xx
Scully was sizing up whether to bark pointlessly at a car turning around in our drive. She knows I will simply tell her to be calm but she remains in semi-alert mode until they retreat.
DeleteBurning through the cash!
DeleteI am amazed at the stuff yu have to know to build a cabin- and the ground surrounding said cabin. You are the smartest ! A wolf would have not trouble blowing my cabin down.
ReUse shops are like Thrift Stores wirh no profit motive (although yesterday the till was being operated by a woman who sheepishly confessed it was her first day so she was sticking rigorously to the sticker prices!) They were still good deals. I also picked up a lushious brand new towel for $4
DeleteAnother good day!
ReplyDeleteI knew you had neighbours but hadn't realised they were that close.
That one … 80-10 yards. It is a holuday home. Neighbours on the uphill side are closer because they are currently living in a shed. They will be further away when they build their house.
DeleteDetails details, ones you'd never think of unless you're an all round DIY kiwi building her own house. You must turn this blog into a book when you finish.
ReplyDeleteReal bargains. Love that chair!
ReplyDeletePig dog is a new one to me!
ReplyDeleteI smiled at 'living in a shed' though it can't be much fun, but better than the elements. It sounds as if you are in a community of pioneers.
Unlike my caravan they have hot and cold running water (a shower too) and a washing machine. The carport on the side of their shed is a lively outdoor socialuzing (patio?) most of the year. They are doing OK.
DeleteWell, too long since Ive been here .. sorry... need to look at more posts to catch up. But you seem to be having quite the adventure.
ReplyDelete