I've been reprimanded well and truly

The twins, Caitlyn and Claire McNee, saw my list of objectives for April and gave me a good talking to. "Birchwood - okay," they said, "fair enough. But Pickett Hill? That's quite a new project. And we've been waiting for you to finish our house for over a year now! We really feel that it ought to be done first."

So, obedient builder that I am, I have put aside the other projects and have concentrated on Lavender Cottage (aka Washtub Cottage #2 with porch from Rosebud Cottage #2). Last night I spent ages putting together another one of Karen Carey's staircases. Then I found that I had to cut the stairs and the bannister to make them shorter and that is a challenge in itself. It also makes the stairs a bit steep but I have to leave room for a door in the two walls on the ground floor - I want a hallway with a wall on each side.

It took all night adjusting the stairs to the correct height, adjusting the bannisters to the correct height, sticking the little bits in that kept breaking and finally painting it with the first coat of white. Doesn't sound much for a whole evening, does it? Sigh.

And why did I do all of this at this early stage in the proceedings? Firstly, because I started it while Peter was off buying some spray acrylic sealer for me to use on the pieces. I didn't expect it to take quite as long as it did but having started it of course I had to keep going. Second, because I needed to work out exactly where to put the hole in the floor for the stairs to come through to the first floor from the ground floor. And of course how big to make that hole. Whew!

Actually though I remember now that it wasn't quite all I did last night - I also assembled the porches for both Washtub and Rosebut Cottages and painted the Rosebud one with the first coat of white. I'm not sure what colour it will end up being - I'm waiting for the girls to make up their minds, at the moment they can't quite agree :)

There's a surprise element to this house that I don't want to tell you yet, but hopefully I'll be able to show you tomorrow or Saturday night. It makes it pretty special, or at least I think it does. So keep tuned.