tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41706253621384092882011-11-28T00:13:59.094ZWhen I'm rich, this is the house I'm planning with all the things inside, and outside, and anything else that catches my eye as life goes by....Menoreply@blogger.comBlogger371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-84335459099309431632009-07-21T13:16:00.003+01:002009-07-21T13:36:12.058+01:00

Having neglected this I think it's time to pick up and start thinking about more things I want for my Big House and the accompanying land.Today I think I'll plan my mixed flock of laying hens... I think about a dozen hens will do nicely seeing as I'll have loads of visitors and there's three of us and my friend and her four kids will be living next door.At the moment we have a Warren (rescued ex

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-36936915116760815272008-11-22T09:32:00.003Z2008-11-22T10:12:23.282Z

My kids drew this and it took them literally hours of discussion, planning, rubbing out and revising. They're very proud and so am I. It's a plan of how they think The Big House might look.So, from the top ..... There are two cars and a house. The smaller car is ours and it's a hybrid of some sort and the bigger one belongs to the friend that's going to live next door. The house is really two

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-54528364218325550232008-08-24T18:34:00.002+01:002008-08-24T18:41:56.674+01:00

My kids keep adding animals. I think we're going to need a small holding instead.So far they want:Chickens for eggs.Different chickens for meat.Goat for milk.Horse for cart and poo for the garden.A couple of sheep - for wool.A cow for milk, and apparently the poo can be dried and used for fuel - What have my kids been watching? Allegedly it's dried, formed into bricks and can be burned.Pigs - for

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-70560213030671499822008-08-23T18:17:00.000+01:002008-08-23T18:18:26.384+01:00

I'm fed up with cars. They consume fossil fuel and belch out fumes that destroy the Earth even faster and the damage is irreparable.So, in the Big House we will need transport of some sort. There will be a car, or something, for longer trips but for local stuff, there and back in a day - I want a horse and cart/wagon/carriage (but not made from a pumpkin!)It's a win choice for us really, a nice

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-47447831870108479602008-08-18T14:23:00.003+01:002008-08-18T14:39:00.200+01:00

I want a herb bed, raised and sectioned but kinda wild and sprawly at the same time. I know, that makes no sense at all really. I like the idea of a carefully arranged herb garden but I know damned well that I'll not maintain it, so it'll end up sprawly and messy but lush and vigorous at the same time.Now I like chives, parsley, dill, mint, fennel, thyme, lavender, rosemary, marjoram and oregano.

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-45883683277067657092008-08-11T18:23:00.002+01:002008-08-11T18:33:02.711+01:00

Big enough for trees to grow in?Well, DS has asked - Can we please grow some cocoa beans in there too, so we can produce chocolate........ Well, if we're having a Huge Hothouse for bananas and dates I don't see why not.In fact Jungle Seeds have Banana's, Date AND Cocoa palms. Browsing through there I think there are a few things that might be fun to add into my tropical hot house - just to add

Menoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-31779988424705608322008-08-10T20:51:00.002+01:002008-08-10T20:57:15.659+01:00

We're building up a bit of a menagerie for this Big House..... The latest request from my son is that he'd like to keep bees for honey.So we googled Beekeeping and found The Barefoot Beekeeper.This site is about sustainable, chemical-free, small-scale, 'organic' beekeeping, using simple equipment that almost anyone can make at home.That works! I like the organic and sustainable part and I do

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-47620973055437129132008-08-02T17:17:00.004+01:002008-08-02T17:31:18.192+01:00

They discontinued the smokers shed....My Witchy and Horsey friends - feel free to find a new one.... I do need to be selling a few more books per month though, so you have loads of time, probably years.....And after a Witchy moment today, I'll be having a wine cellar, or somewhere for storage anyway. I shall have to find a good supplier - organic, fair trade, it has to be good stuff....Oooh, how

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-12903098264796779192008-07-27T14:11:00.003+01:002008-07-27T14:35:54.878+01:00

It's hot and humid here today and I'm hoping for some rain to just ease off the heat a bit, and it would save me watering the garden. I have a water butt here but it can't be connected to the down pipe from the roof because the single downpipe also channels grey waste from the bathroom - the bath and sink - and I do not want that in my water butt! Grey waste such as bath water begins to really

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-11461536932569205452008-07-24T19:14:00.002+01:002008-07-24T19:18:35.292+01:00

But that's what we had for tea tonight. Home grown spuds - mashed, home grown carrots and home grown beetroot and locally produced pork sausages, with gravy made using the water from the veg, hence the purpleness. It was delicious, but most disconcerting. I love shopping locally, especially my favourite butcher and even when in the Big House I'll still get meat from them. I might have it

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-84270099837863851982008-07-04T12:13:00.002+01:002008-07-04T12:18:18.892+01:00

We just acquired an exercise bike. It's old and grubby and the computery bit is broken but it works and will help with our fitness here.Actually it's quite fun. So, in the big house - after discussions with the kids - we'll be having a gym. In the gym we'll have a running machine (treadmill type of thing), a rowing machine, exercise bike and DS fancies trying his hand at doing some weights - so

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-34955918760571878942008-07-03T20:22:00.002+01:002008-07-03T20:28:48.330+01:00

I don't normally watch Top Gear but DS is watching it and this car caught my eye. The GM HyWire.The GM Hy- wire (called for Hydrogen and propulsion control by wire) is the first running prototype of a revolutionary automobile architecture introduced with Autonomy earlier in 2002. This new architecture utilizes an aluminium structure 27 cm (11 in.) thick and 5 meter long and that contain all the

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-69165222732996943662008-06-21T23:51:00.002+01:002008-06-21T23:58:26.250+01:00

Today I watched assorted children start of playing in a muddy, wet garden (in the rain, what better time is there to play in a garden?). They started with shoes on. Maybe I should have fetched the wellies in from the car? Anyway, they started with shoes on and when the shoes got disgusting they took them off to come in for something. I forget what, probably food or juice, or just for a moan. So,

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-42843961301590858842008-06-15T22:13:00.002+01:002008-06-15T22:27:47.628+01:00

Although I love the idea of a purpose built eco home I do also love the idea of taking an existing building and converting it to be more eco friendly.So, what shall my Big House be made of? I shall have to think on that and do some research - but I do adore the concept and design of the EarthShip.

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-14240520199892281142008-06-08T17:17:00.002+01:002008-06-08T17:31:51.314+01:00

I adore the design and idea behind the Dome greenhouse and I plan to have one in My Big House, or rather in the garden as it's be daft to have one actually IN the house...... I think the 22ft one will do us nicely, a bit bigger than we actually need so there's a bit extra being produced.

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-19449610555300632692008-06-06T17:21:00.002+01:002008-06-06T17:29:32.600+01:00

Please....A pirate ship in the garden, to play in, and an Adventure climbing frame type thing. It does depend very much on how old they are at the time though really....

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-41971989570124818242008-06-01T12:48:00.002+01:002008-06-01T12:57:31.156+01:00

We love bananas and it's one of the few fruits that aren't easy to grow in the UK. Unless you're in Cornwall I suspect...So, browsing about aimlessly as I do to switch off before bed, after a long day learning some html coding, I stumbled on the Rare Palm Seeds site. They have bananas! They'd need a ENORMOUS solar heated greenhouse to grow in but it might just be possible to grow my own bananas.

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-24655101253799413972008-05-30T22:12:00.003+01:002008-05-30T22:31:20.586+01:00

When it's sunny, well, just dry will do, I want to be able to lounge about outside and chat. I want to be able to sit in comfort with a cuppa, or large glass of freshly pressed cloudy apple juice.....So a Luxor Swing Seat I think..... Then I think a couple of Rockers - with nice comfy cushions on, and a couple of Steamer style chairs for flopping about on too.Although, it does have to be said I

Menoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-11773115139972169782008-05-24T14:15:00.003+01:002008-05-25T00:43:07.729+01:00

One of the things that frustrates me about the house we're in now is that we have nowhere for people to come and stay. Then when we go and stay with other people we end up sharing a room and no-one sleeps properly. So, I want one of these. Or something similar, preferably using a sustainable wood source.ideal as a weekend guest lodge, a garden office, or simply a private facility in the garden to

Menoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-77814023751733769872008-05-21T10:36:00.002+01:002008-05-21T10:46:29.081+01:00

I want space, lots of space. I saw a house on telly where most of the ground floor was open incorporating a sunken living space with 2 or 3 comfy sofa's, fire and telly, with a low coffee type table in the middle. The sunk part had I think 2 steps down into it and although roomy enough to sprawl was definitely set up as a relaxing space rather than somewhere that kids are under your feet all the

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-6091882169780573332008-05-18T23:17:00.002+01:002008-05-18T23:21:48.036+01:00

I love an open fire, and there will be some nice woodland nearby so I can collect deadfall wood for burning. The house will be heated well enough that I don't *need* a nice open fire but I shall have a fireplace set up so I can have one if I want one.There are times and occasions where a proper flame fire is lovely. I think I'll have it in the living room with those nice comfy, sprawly sofa's and

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-11143211287173113092008-05-18T00:19:00.002+01:002008-05-18T00:25:48.379+01:00

Well, sofa's more like as the living room will be just HUGE enough for more than one. I want a sofa I can flop on, doze on and stretch out on in comfort. I want to be able to sprawl on there with both kids and not be squished. I want a reasonably high back so I can relax without getting a stiff neck, and I do like the posh recliner ones too where you can pull a little lever and a foot rest bit

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-85061773602816029162008-05-16T18:57:00.003+01:002008-05-16T19:02:17.061+01:00

I came across the Baobab Trading Co. today and I love the sculptures, so I'll have a couple of Ravens in the garden and a spider on a wall somewhere. You'll have to scroll down for images.sculptures are hand-crafted from reclaimed metal, using old oil drums, by a group of skilled artists from Zimbabwe.

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-11710734448430820352008-05-12T15:20:00.002+01:002008-05-12T15:31:45.393+01:00

I write on my computer, I chat on it and I run a business (or 2) on it. It's an invaluable bit of kit in any house I live in.So in my Big House I will be having my own desktop machine in a work area/office space. It'll be the top of the range for when I get it with huge amounts of memory and a massive hard drive and it'll look cool too. I'm fed up of my clunky monitor and want one of those flat

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-32122056160667227202008-05-11T00:55:00.003+01:002008-05-11T23:48:08.239+01:00

We have a couple of friends who smoke. I do insist they don't smoke in the house and they're fine about it, they just pop out onto the garden if they need to.The kids and I were talking about it today and while we'd rather they quit it's not something we can influence. So in My Big House, by request of my children, our smoking friends get their very own shed.This is a particular shed, with large

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-37339027149416590952008-05-06T23:08:00.003+01:002008-05-06T23:15:07.802+01:00

Today I have been continually chucking stray balls back over the fence.So, today's addition to my Big House is a long driveway so there's no kids playing right outside my house and hitting my car with stray footballs, and banging on the door demanding the return of said football - without any measure of a request, let alone any level of politeness.Then there's the balls over the fence from next

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-76799744501456700212008-05-04T21:29:00.002+01:002008-05-04T21:40:13.243+01:00

I have a kitchen and a living room here, we eat in the kitchen and I have a corner of the living room for working in.I'd love more space, more boundaries. So, in My Big House I will have my large kitchen, big enough to sit and eat in for most of the time. But I will also have a separate dining room for posh and parties. I want to host parties, I want to fill my big house with people I care about,

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-64127189549641342802008-05-02T13:08:00.002+01:002008-05-02T13:13:07.619+01:00

My washing machine is heading into hyperdrive and it's NOISY! I'd love for it to not be in the kitchen but there's nowhere else for it here.So, in My Big House I will be having a better, more efficient, quieter machine and it'll be in a laundry room. A separate room, probably off the kitchen but with a door I can shut. It'll have a tiled floor so I can sweep and mop it and it'll be warm enough to

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-2314402488041916172008-04-29T16:00:00.002+01:002008-04-29T16:15:10.353+01:00

In my current, small house - but not a bad sized garden - I have 3 trees.I have a young birch (I think - certainly from that family and type, I got it from Freecycle!) Anyway, that one is just for shade and because it's beautiful, even before thinking about the wildlife habitat potential from any tree in the garden. It's leaves are just coming out and it's gorgeous.Then this Spring I put in two

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-22126714477609005992008-04-27T11:10:00.002+01:002008-04-27T11:33:24.415+01:00

Staying in the kitchen for now as it's cold and wet outside in reality.In the kitchen I've put an Aga and a table (with some chairs), and stone tiles on the floor. I need to decide on the tiles at some point don't I? And other appliances. Ah well, another blog post at some point.So, cooking. On my nice big, bio-fuel black Aga with chrome trim...... I shall be cooking with Le Creuset cookware, in

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-88815807798013824052008-04-25T14:06:00.003+01:002008-04-25T14:22:34.757+01:00

Forgot to do the table yesterday - sorry.So a nice solid, wood table for in the kitchen. Must seat 6 and must be wood. I love wood.I found this while browsing. It's chunky, solid and it'll look ace in a huge kitchen with plenty of space for a decent sized table, and standing on stone tiles.Something like that anyway, so I'm not going to link it because it's just *one like that*.

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-39958655173247678882008-04-23T22:16:00.002+01:002008-04-23T22:27:08.876+01:00

A dome greenhouse, a big garden, and a field for horses, 5 bedrooms, wooden floors (apart from the kitchen, which will have stone tiles.) and a large vat of soap nut juice.I want a big kitchen, with plenty of space for sitting round a table that would hold 6 (I'll think about table design tomorrow) and it will always be warm because of the Aga sitting on one side. I think it just has to be the

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-46357623679593364022008-04-22T16:04:00.002+01:002008-04-22T16:10:33.703+01:00

Waging war on molluscs and other unwelcome garden fauna - Using soap nut juice. Slug vs soap nut juice (a light misting) = Slug diesGreenfly vs soap nut juice (plant drenched) = Greenfly leave - as do black or white fly. So, all plants that I have put in and might want to eat or admire at some point this year have had a good dose of soap nut spray. Eldest child has taken on the job of observing

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-9157609849821348942008-04-21T17:21:00.003+01:002008-04-21T22:37:57.652+01:00

No slugs allowed in my big house, or snails. The little so-and-so's have eaten ALL of my baby sweetcorn plantlets. They were a bit bigger then seedlings but they were doing ok, so I stuck them out in the coldframe. Obviously they were nice and tasty. All but 3 eaten down to the compost and the remaining 3 severely munched too. I think I need to go and see if they're worth bringing inside to

Menoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-20553426144455840512008-04-20T11:17:00.002+01:002008-04-20T11:28:48.529+01:00

So far I have a dome greenhouse (must google those), a big garden, and a field for horses (not mine, I just want the poo!)It's a wet, cold, yucky day here and we're cramped and squashed in this house. So in my dream house (when I'm rich and famous, or just rich - that'd do too.) I want 5 bedrooms. There's three of us so that's one each, one to use as a play/study room but with a sofa bed so if

Menoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-5769602452249531402008-04-19T14:57:00.003+01:002008-04-19T15:00:02.794+01:00

In my big house I will have......A big field for a friend to keep her horses in - so I can send the kids over to collect the poo for the garden (which will be big and filled with interesting things, including a dome greenhouse) The greenhouse (geodesic dome) will be big enough to grow things in and sit in for a cuppa. So it needs a kettle too, and a piped water supply.....More tomorrow, and do

Menoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4170625362138409288.post-31277239287329431422008-04-19T12:19:00.000+01:002008-04-19T12:22:21.903+01:00

I was having a conversation with someone yesterday, along the lines of that game you played in school where each person thinks of something to buy, take on holiday or whatever. Then the next person has to remember the previous things and add one. Then the next person has to remember all the previous things and ad one, and so on until everyone is falling about laughing and can't remember

Menoreply@blogger.com2