the combustion stove is a cracker

If you've read my profile you will know that we purchased a 1950's house which was pretty much in original condition when we moved in and we've been trying to renovate it and modernise it but at the same time pay homage to the fabulous 50's in which it was built. The kitchen in particular is a room that we love and seem to spend most of our spare time in and was definitely one of the quirky highlights of the house that made us sign on the dotted line with the real estate agent. Two features of the kitchen that we love are the aluminium trim laminate benchtops and the combustion stove; both of which most people in Australia rush to rip out of their newly purchased home, but we on the otherhand are in love with. This is our second winter in the house, but with so many things going on last winter (painting, sanding, carpeting, polishing, garden planting, deck building etc etc) we didn't fire up the combustion stove as we knew we had to get the chimney checked and cleaned first, as who knows when the last maintenance was done on it.

Da dah dah da da! Yesterday was the day that we lit the long awaited match and got the stove going. Ross the Chimneysweep came on Monday and cleaned out the chimney & gave us the OK to light the stove.....he also showed us the working of our Graham stove, as of course we had no idea other that this bit is where the wood goes and this bit is where you stick the biscuits to bake and don't sit plastic on the top bit otherwise it will melt!!!

How exciting and toastie warm was our kitchen? Very!

You may not know it, but I grew up on a farm with a combustion stove and I have fond memories (do I sound old saying that?) of the kettle stirring gently on the stovetop and of tins of condensed milk left for a couple of hours in a saucepan of water so that it would turn miraculously into a tin of caramel. I'm not going to mention the fact that we also had to use the combustion stove in 40 degree heat in summer...now that would completely spoil my grown up warm and fuzzy childhood memories wouldn't it now?

...more dots.

These are the most gorgeous polka dotted ceramic ware from the Diana pottery. Most of the other items from this manufacturer are incredibly daggy, but hey aren't these cool? I also have a yellow bowl and a jug and I they also come in pink. Too cute!

fridayitis

It's official....it's Friday & it doesn't seem to be ending. I seriously thought the work day was over ages ago and looked at the clock for confirmation of the hometime feeling but it was ONLY 4 O'CLOCK! Can you believe that? I definitely couldn't and am still trying to get over it. Anyway, really all I want to do is go home and cosy up on our new deck being surrounded by our lovely new green paint and.........wait for it..........knit. Yep, have almost finished my first ever grown up knitting project. It's a cardigan of sorts I guess. All the other knitting projects of mine were completed when I was way under the age of 10. These exciting and daring items included pot holders, clothes hanger covers and scarves. As you can tell by the extensive list of completed projects I totally had rectangles and squares under control. This cardigan I'm knitting now is shaped - and probably not quite the shape that it should be, but with a bit of creative sewing I should be fine. Here goes...