Saturday, August 18, 2012

Our First Compost Toilet

After a year or so, we finally have a commissioned compost toilet, and  it has successfully completed it second week.

toilet gallery and greenhouse

as it was last year - some change eh ?

new door

neat and tidy, (in need of paint )

covered in sawdust - and no smell
 Strictly speaking, it is a compost toilet, not a composting toilet, as the composting is done separately, in a dedicated compost bin.

I theory you can leave the emptying for a few days, and there is no smell, but we've decided to empty it every day, as part of the 'shutting up shop' routine, so it will be nice and clean for the start of each day.

This may sound like a chore, and not very pleasant, but so far it's been fine, not smelly, and worth it, as we know it's for the good of the garden.


bucket, compost bin, and rain water to hand for rinsing out 

After a year or so we will have good fertile compost. Opinion is divided about whether it is safe to put the composton vegetables, so to be on the safe side, we will use it on the other parts of the garden. We have plenty of other compost for the veg plot.


inside the compost bin, every so often we cover this with a layer of grass cuttings as odour control

the instructions!

We are happy with our work, and so far the 'customer' reaction is good, with such comments as: 


"Very light and airy"
"Much nicer that a portaloo"
So, good beginnings, we'll keep you posted of our experiences 

Here Comes The Sun: Newcastle Arts Festival

Get down to Newcastle Co. Down this weekend for a great Arts Festival, lots to do for young and old, and all in glorious sunsine!

These pictures were all taken this morning:












Sunday, August 12, 2012

Newcastle promenade yarn-bombed

Some lively yarn-related goings on in the town this morning!

Newcastle promenade yarn-bombed « newcastle rocks:



'via Blog this'

2nd Anniversary

It's two years to the day that we completed the purchase of 64 Dromara Road - and what a time it's been. So much done and yet the time seems to have flown. We were so excited that first day.

From the initial clearing of the site, to moving the mobile home in, starting the gardens, renovating the Turnip House Workshop, and now finishing the Gallery, it's been non stop 'doing'.

Still, the enthusiasm has not waned, we're just as excited and full of plans as we were then. 

Parts of the project are more or less realised, (or at least in a usable condition). 

So along with the anticipation of what's to come, we can enjoy what we've achieved.

Now that's an even happier state of being!



Monday, August 06, 2012

International Felting

A great day today felting with new friends from France.

Test pieces and felt pens in the morning, and then fortified by soup and cake there were major bowl creations after lunch:


fantastic!
getting started - mop tops!



just add water - and effort!
getting stuck in




the finished products - riotous colour!

justly proud of their handiwork

very creative




all my own work - well done

Sunday, August 05, 2012

Picture perfect - Sunday afternoon

Great day today - good (by our current dismal standards!) weather, about 16 degrees C but dry and sunny on and off.

It is good just to be about the Gallery and garden on days like this - not like working at all!

Some pictures:

sunny Sunday - sunflowers



Crocosmiae Lucifer - living up to it's name

the largest daisy flower I've ever seen

Agyranthemum - my favourite

new flower bed and water tank bed - plus Furby on the prowl!

looking to the Mountains

up to Slievenaboley

from the picnic lawn

the Gallery behind the sunflowers

the Sun Terrace - really warm today


the fireplace and dresser

up the street

looking across to the fruit garden

Bernagh with sunflower

Jewellery by Frances White in the Gallery

welcome!

Renovation Reflections

the roof of the dwelling house - a sorry sight

I have just put down some of our thoughts  for the website on what we're about up here


It kind of sharpens the focus and objectives to take a step back now and again, take stock, and re-prioritise.


Now that the gallery is open, and we are getting a steady flow of people, it really feels like the old place is coming back to life, albeit in a different incarnation. 





It's heartening to see the old newspapers, plans, pictures and artefacts from the house being poured over, sparking conversations about other times and places. 


It feels good.



Saturday, August 04, 2012

Felt pens at the ready!

Today we had another felt workshop with 5 delightful creators. Lots of craic and enormous amount of work produced, despite the laughter and the food!




mad felt pens!
fantastic designs on our sample pieces


full of good cheer - and carrot & coriander soup!
look what we made!


bags to carry everything home!

 More Felt Workshop dates to come, check out the website www.turniphouse.com Or book your own with three or four friends at a time to suit you!