Dive on in...

When we bought our house, the inground pool was a major selling point. With three kids, and the kind of sweltering summers we have here in Queensland, it's definitely had a workout over the years. Lately, it's been looking very tired, and we've had leaking pipes, broken pool pumps and filters, tiles falling off....you name it. This winter, we've had yet another leak, and at the moment it looks more like a swamp than a pool! So, we've decided to bite the bullet and give the old girl a bit of cosmetic surgery. New coping pavers, waterline tiles to replace the slate, and re-landscaping the pool area is on the cards, and not before time, I can tell you! One of the advantages of living on acreage is that we have space to play with, but it also can pose a few challenges - like where to put the mandatory safety fencing. Take a look at a few of my inspiration pics - and if my pool makeover looks half as good as some of these beauties, I'll be a very happy camper!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHSL8sIoZMvy1CujGcrRMsB7xMGDMvSa6xzE1KfWeNomtfKhCtckLIpsIi5dlg2k8LBYKWIhL4KtShHeYUdhdOrNpDMRU1s3aeug0iXt5Q-tn0bVyTxIRvB6SGa61afmZH8M4vu5fHy8/s1600/1006p108_row_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHSL8sIoZMvy1CujGcrRMsB7xMGDMvSa6xzE1KfWeNomtfKhCtckLIpsIi5dlg2k8LBYKWIhL4KtShHeYUdhdOrNpDMRU1s3aeug0iXt5Q-tn0bVyTxIRvB6SGa61afmZH8M4vu5fHy8/s640/1006p108_row_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://realestate.com.au/">source </a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkU5pjoH0ipdmfdHBMyVhvuQu2VfPmKNNxp1uhhmNWFRMzE1mNbdo6lBi-RN6DuvYe18VXIny_J7tZTrqrIqSBw2fnVUcIdxipwDJKCeYYa_Utvhz8LtFQay84aKnAk9ZQQq0S-is67WA/s1600/verandah105682329bl1247054071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkU5pjoH0ipdmfdHBMyVhvuQu2VfPmKNNxp1uhhmNWFRMzE1mNbdo6lBi-RN6DuvYe18VXIny_J7tZTrqrIqSBw2fnVUcIdxipwDJKCeYYa_Utvhz8LtFQay84aKnAk9ZQQq0S-is67WA/s640/verandah105682329bl1247054071.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://realestate.com.au/">source</a></span><a href="http://thepicturedesk.com.au/"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7CKBCe0oqM-alpzG9Lh5Ifjw_TdqTEtjm6OhGzEYBO4IAJtIsrJ2uBpJPEhlRi1VKw1A3Rxb4o7VAAzKHIhuHjG57QN5GjP_jYbdbibjdxsSEoQAI_B0XY6BvcgiDaPI-mMf-st_gXY/s1600/bellevue+st+avalon1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7CKBCe0oqM-alpzG9Lh5Ifjw_TdqTEtjm6OhGzEYBO4IAJtIsrJ2uBpJPEhlRi1VKw1A3Rxb4o7VAAzKHIhuHjG57QN5GjP_jYbdbibjdxsSEoQAI_B0XY6BvcgiDaPI-mMf-st_gXY/s640/bellevue+st+avalon1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://realestate.com.au/">source</a></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8TaI6kKIWc3unx9SgDV8uhTO9Cl3nOst-LvLaxYln5jKhJoj6cmF9DUM9eeQnB1JuwRWlPfVhuUpfqREMWdHZjU5PKzXphYkRQuVRNYNfjlqetI4bhi3190dbURoq-xETqx0xx4pB3w/s1600/oudoor+fireplace3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="547" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8TaI6kKIWc3unx9SgDV8uhTO9Cl3nOst-LvLaxYln5jKhJoj6cmF9DUM9eeQnB1JuwRWlPfVhuUpfqREMWdHZjU5PKzXphYkRQuVRNYNfjlqetI4bhi3190dbURoq-xETqx0xx4pB3w/s640/oudoor+fireplace3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">paint these beams white and you have the perfect outdoor fireplace </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKdKvw4qfyFUYJhUTtSZ52Ng2MhoMM0UVp_2XURkit0rJdhSKfG1kr2mFsUsWInCvN3NMjUffnrI7RgHiMmSfWeogXigmAZSiS0HP2id4JSrEJiP_gcDOwrSLKB0bPSIjFqEiPgeoY88/s1600/905161253_Kr6cz-O.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKdKvw4qfyFUYJhUTtSZ52Ng2MhoMM0UVp_2XURkit0rJdhSKfG1kr2mFsUsWInCvN3NMjUffnrI7RgHiMmSfWeogXigmAZSiS0HP2id4JSrEJiP_gcDOwrSLKB0bPSIjFqEiPgeoY88/s640/905161253_Kr6cz-O.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">this is a similar pool to ours - and that little poolhouse would be perfect!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnsjYXxG7kQkSDCNKReRSdAblX072FcsH44F1ZrbOAACxc7w9YRnLAOJFa23FGXr2oofNXM7BzaROtTwQmDiBZre_RYVDHY7yXm8J-esMBN1vEdHRijvLBAMF-ekfrRW2FCIRwlBctj4/s1600/poolhouse+studio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnsjYXxG7kQkSDCNKReRSdAblX072FcsH44F1ZrbOAACxc7w9YRnLAOJFa23FGXr2oofNXM7BzaROtTwQmDiBZre_RYVDHY7yXm8J-esMBN1vEdHRijvLBAMF-ekfrRW2FCIRwlBctj4/s640/poolhouse+studio.jpg" width="588" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9ThwaylxTS3oV2n1AA2e2n2vhiFnXxvwwjcjpTRD7yTXvaqurP9Rzudueu8TUAlUlecTFDvpHSjL9HDRzZxagtAR7RybeeGenDA818tMYcCG6Ys7rOw1eocfHzUb78ziU6XgegA4f2c/s1600/79avalon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9ThwaylxTS3oV2n1AA2e2n2vhiFnXxvwwjcjpTRD7yTXvaqurP9Rzudueu8TUAlUlecTFDvpHSjL9HDRzZxagtAR7RybeeGenDA818tMYcCG6Ys7rOw1eocfHzUb78ziU6XgegA4f2c/s640/79avalon2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://realestate.com.au/">source </a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">sandstone surrounds maybe?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHs8fmyaxvoR8itawogLeZYrkQAVmFM8S5BtRrNyyD_lQ2IIlJ5_HRzj1iO0Z8GvocGeVZMwBsiUc8D9KyW5lU-UuHHHEzAaighmHji4aYTPxZPBqzUhnLm3ZEY38N_2bd3RXclAH1QU/s1600/103248084el1150348581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHs8fmyaxvoR8itawogLeZYrkQAVmFM8S5BtRrNyyD_lQ2IIlJ5_HRzj1iO0Z8GvocGeVZMwBsiUc8D9KyW5lU-UuHHHEzAaighmHji4aYTPxZPBqzUhnLm3ZEY38N_2bd3RXclAH1QU/s640/103248084el1150348581.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://realestate.com.au/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">source</span></a> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now that weekend sport is done for the rest of the year, (after my daughter's nail-biting one-point win in her netball grand final - nothing like giving your parents a heart attack in the process!) we'll have a bit more time to spend on getting this house into shape. Can't wait!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a>

Dive on in...

When we bought our house, the inground pool was a major selling point. With three kids, and the kind of sweltering summers we have here in Q...

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The Chaos Theory

Those who know me well also know that I can be <strike>hugely</strike> a little on the messy side, especially when I'm working on a new painting. And to make matters worse, after a while, I find it impossible to ignore the chaos. That's exactly what's happened this week. I've had quite a few ideas for new artwork, but I just can't manage to get going on it when my studio looks like it's been ransacked. So yesterday, I spent a few hours tidying up, and while I still have a few things to take care of (like organising my tax return paperwork - argh!) it's looking much better, and already I'm feeling clearer and more focused. While I'm honest enough to realise I'll never be capable of keeping a fastidiously tidy studio, it doesn't stop me from being smitten when I spy lovely examples of serene (and tidy!) work spaces. And if said workspace happens to overlook a stunning garden (and maybe a pool?) then who am I to argue?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YIYwSPSixqPomCB1Fb_NwkJLV9dyBdjsKoe-g-Fnte9-mn9uWmg3xLf9FkGPyeGlqgtbPIc3XLCcn8d95-RlSoEvaien2TnljNw_r1trfSUU3MtJqEuepTv7gU-59ZJ9HZmcNdxhnVo/s1600/poolhouse+studio+maggie+tabberer+barn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="617" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YIYwSPSixqPomCB1Fb_NwkJLV9dyBdjsKoe-g-Fnte9-mn9uWmg3xLf9FkGPyeGlqgtbPIc3XLCcn8d95-RlSoEvaien2TnljNw_r1trfSUU3MtJqEuepTv7gU-59ZJ9HZmcNdxhnVo/s640/poolhouse+studio+maggie+tabberer+barn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Maggie Tabberer's barn in the Southern Highlands</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51LBJM31QPxq3IrkCf7AAs2jD3PYZnWwwHg-U800IAJqDlcfYMpclrGb0coQ_ueFgHbDVlGCz7q4OQFjkweTl9GQ6HG4XkUnnGf2sxFjiIp3guuGJRVOmX5pLTMYKndVGHUQSybmcFH4/s1600/poolhouse+studio+bellevue+st+avalon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51LBJM31QPxq3IrkCf7AAs2jD3PYZnWwwHg-U800IAJqDlcfYMpclrGb0coQ_ueFgHbDVlGCz7q4OQFjkweTl9GQ6HG4XkUnnGf2sxFjiIp3guuGJRVOmX5pLTMYKndVGHUQSybmcFH4/s640/poolhouse+studio+bellevue+st+avalon1.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Avalon stunner via <a href="http://realestate.com.au/">realestate.com.au</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO3DAfzE90VGWgLF5ko9I9BrpP81W08-bW4T7cuIS1Q9Dj8w_yngPFmxl4yGDbr1EWnpUNWoXvjIM57HPZxyRf1qHGKGRiTwbypjCwvWV9ceXj1xZ1efrcdfOQrlUwGpBrKFtYA9lRbw/s1600/poolhouse+studio+carithers_exterior_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="441" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO3DAfzE90VGWgLF5ko9I9BrpP81W08-bW4T7cuIS1Q9Dj8w_yngPFmxl4yGDbr1EWnpUNWoXvjIM57HPZxyRf1qHGKGRiTwbypjCwvWV9ceXj1xZ1efrcdfOQrlUwGpBrKFtYA9lRbw/s640/poolhouse+studio+carithers_exterior_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">source</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">unknown</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lT16tiEP_iDWnlCeNvl1XXuMNTjCvgJuWqRohceHWQcs0qQLEueGcrgOhDHQGR0Jvj1AzvMAMWfByQ05tzeFvt6YWzcWbYm98ZQ2fn4djoYQZt_oVGE53RU85aoJR07ts69EW3Hjysw/s1600/poolhouse+studio+carithers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lT16tiEP_iDWnlCeNvl1XXuMNTjCvgJuWqRohceHWQcs0qQLEueGcrgOhDHQGR0Jvj1AzvMAMWfByQ05tzeFvt6YWzcWbYm98ZQ2fn4djoYQZt_oVGE53RU85aoJR07ts69EW3Hjysw/s640/poolhouse+studio+carithers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">source</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">unknown</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Would it be too greedy to want this next one just a little bigger? Probably, but hey, this is my fantasy studio, so I'm going to upsize my order.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxNCxZI_TO1YTPmysysOQp3HwaefcXlghPVxgyq9scfmhyBTGP6_qdSAMuvZVyQweTw6WLriJZPL1NqaqFqAo4OlP7NY7jlfrhwRcm6bNyR3U5Tli9fmKPz8toOSqm8bV9hBe56BHeTQ/s1600/poolhouse+studio+via+traditional+home+dormitorio+de+invitados+junto+a+la+piscina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxNCxZI_TO1YTPmysysOQp3HwaefcXlghPVxgyq9scfmhyBTGP6_qdSAMuvZVyQweTw6WLriJZPL1NqaqFqAo4OlP7NY7jlfrhwRcm6bNyR3U5Tli9fmKPz8toOSqm8bV9hBe56BHeTQ/s640/poolhouse+studio+via+traditional+home+dormitorio+de+invitados+junto+a+la+piscina.jpg" width="483" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">via <a href="http://traditionalhome.com/">traditionalhome.com</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsJ_epZ5OBbTglGR-AxGkNUGcMwHy7X-Lqd159tTmVJya4cXWYk5mjErHFOV9omvCpPfURKJdnELT5tf1XrA5soTQDEExErRZNre3XxK4OhZ4QDKX4B-f6tyBkYblRYErryJUo03BYE0/s1600/poolhouse+studio+chester_6673via+canadian+house+and+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsJ_epZ5OBbTglGR-AxGkNUGcMwHy7X-Lqd159tTmVJya4cXWYk5mjErHFOV9omvCpPfURKJdnELT5tf1XrA5soTQDEExErRZNre3XxK4OhZ4QDKX4B-f6tyBkYblRYErryJUo03BYE0/s640/poolhouse+studio+chester_6673via+canadian+house+and+home.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">via <a href="http://canadianhouseandhome.com/">canadianhouseandhome.com</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZufGkJ5S2eNSFv81I6q6M0264oV7x_LAJQsEQntURccHUBRvM5pBmr8XJqUOfxhulstw2a0qpM6JvqZsSxgTAYU_GMToDNZjb2VuVJaZm2LEbB39kNaUIdUrc49o_xr-vcqjXQEY7Es/s1600/poolhouse+studio+via+verandah+house+blogspot+com+Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZufGkJ5S2eNSFv81I6q6M0264oV7x_LAJQsEQntURccHUBRvM5pBmr8XJqUOfxhulstw2a0qpM6JvqZsSxgTAYU_GMToDNZjb2VuVJaZm2LEbB39kNaUIdUrc49o_xr-vcqjXQEY7Es/s640/poolhouse+studio+via+verandah+house+blogspot+com+Picture+1.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://verandahhouse.blogspot.com/">via verandah house </a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Inspired yet? I am!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ok, back to work for me. Have a great day everyone,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

The Chaos Theory

Those who know me well also know that I can be hugely a little on the messy side, especially when I'm working on a new painting. And to...

Read more »