OFF TO PALMERSTON NORTH FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS

Well it's travel day.

We are heading out at around 8.30 am for Palmerston North.

I expect we will make a few stops along the way.

The first one being in Cambridge to drop a gift off to a friend.  Then we will probably not stop again until around Taupo for brunch.

The weather is supposed to be on/off, iffy for rain/sun.  I don't really care, we will be in the car after all eh?

So, until I have something else to yabber on about, catch ya later.

9.04... we are on the road. Weather is lovely right now. Traffic is not too heavy. Feeling great! 

Because we left earlier than anticipated we are no longer stopping in Taupo. We are now going to stop in Taihaphe for lunch and a wander around.  Traffic is now light! 

ABOVE: Lake Taupo is rough today. And its bloody FREEZING. I grabbed some pumice and driftwood... its what I do. Tracking along real good.

ABOVE: it's 12 degrees on the desert road. LOTS of traffic, particularly behind caravans.  To be expected and not bothering us at all.  It's now 11.26 and we are not that far from Waiouru.

TAMAHERE CHRISTMAS MARKET IN DECEMBER

 

We are up and at 'em bright and early as per usual for a market day.

The weather is going to be 'iffy', with showers forecast for early this morning, and clearing later on.

Fingers crossed it doesn't put the customers off.

I had a restless night, and certainly don't feel 100% right now.  But I'm hoping with some food in me belly I will come right.

Catch ya later.

ABOVE: All set up and ready... its very overcast... MIGHT RAIN.  In which case we will have to scramble to get everything in. Hoping it holds off.

ABOVE: Butch (left), he sells medicinal creams and Chad, who sells amazing cookies.   We get to look at those cookies all day. We usually get one for morning tea.

ABOVE: Yes, he is wearing swimming goggles. Weird man.

The weather has picked up, and we have a really good crowd coming through. 

2.21 pm, home, unpacked and exhausted.

It was an EXCELLENT day sales wise, and the weather was sorta kind.  NO rain, but heaps of very gusty wind.  Lots of stall holders had to tie things down, we certainly did.  While our gazebo is firmly anchored into the ground, the racks are not!  So one tipped over and I had to tie it to a gazebo leg.

All in all, a good day.  We are so happy we now get a full month off markets.

We need it.

Once we get over Christmas, I will have to work on building up my stock again. 

All those cute House Tote bags went, and lots of runners/bowl cosy's etc.

Stew's gone to do his weekend shop.

I was feeling queasy, but not really ill, all day.  Packing up the stall, and unpacking it back here and ikkk, feeling really awful now.  I'm just overtired and still a bit off after yesterday.  So off for a nap now.

Later on we will pack up for our little trip down to Palmerston North and Wellington.

I'm really looking forward to that.

9.36 pm, and we are done.   We have packed up for tomorrow, and now we are off to bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.  On the road.

SLIGHT RE-ARRANGE OF CRABBY QUARTERS

 

This morning I intend re-arranging my sewing space just a little.  Like...  keeping up my tradition of moving shit eh?  lol

I got some more of the foam panels from Steve last night, and in order to put them up on the wall, I need to take some shit down, and move a few things so I can access the walls easier.

So, last night I made a small start, by sweeping and washing the work area, and moving my sewing desk.

ABOVE: Those are the two large foam panels.

ABOVE:  I will cut one down to fit on that part of the wall.

ABOVE: So the first thing I need to do is take that old wooden hook/board down.  It was there when we bought this home.  I have never liked it anyway.

Then I will cut down the foam panel, ready for Stew to put up next week.

The other foam panel is going by the back door, where I have smaller strips hanging on curtain wires.  If I put the foam panel up there, I will have heaps more room for strips.

My sewing space is slowly coming together, and soon it will be perfect.

Though, knowing me, I will still 'tweak' my sewing area for a few more YEARS.   😂😅😖  We all know it's just what I do.

The other thing that 'came to me' last night... was to paint the garage floor.  I'm sure it would make my sewing space look nicer?  What do you think?  I could do it in sections, so it's not utter chaos, and I might just do the sewing work area, not the storage end.  ???

Like a lot of working people, Stew finishes work this afternoon.

Then he has literally an entire month off work!

I don't think he has EVER taken that much time off work in his life (except for sickness once, 35 odd years ago)... so it will be interesting to see how that goes.

I'm hoping he doesn't drive me mental!

It will be a good 'test' for when he's home in March, recovering from his knee replacement surgery eh?  

Tomorrow we have our final market for 2025, at Tamahere.  We will have done 7 markets over 7 weekends... so it will be nice to take a break from them as well.

Right, I'm off to start me day.

10.52 am.  I've been out and about.  I picked up Stew's necklace.   Then I took all the Christmas presents over to Steve 'n' Bexs.  I don't want them in this home while we are away, even though the security here is excellent, still a bit twitchy about leaving it all here.

Then I got one foam panel up on the wall, just nailed on temporarily.

And then I crashed.

I have the shakes really bad, and feel like throwing up.

WHOOPS!  I forgot you really should eat something before taking strong painkillers.  My bad.

I am now paying the price.  I'll have a break and something to eat and hopefully I'll be OK soon.

3.07 pm. I had a 2 hour nap, woke up and thought yeah, feeling better.

I started working in the garage again... then.... vomited. I fucking hate vomiting...  I've no idea why I'm feeling so ill. I'm used to the painkillers, and have had some crackers. Grrrr. It's slowing me down. 

I've had to stop working.  Every time I get a bit hot I vomit.  Not fun. Clearly I'm not going to get my room sorted out today, nor am I going to finish that next runner.  😖😕  Hopefully this passes quick, cos we have to load the car tonight, and have Tamahere Market tomorrow.  I can't afford to be sick.

Pffffft... what a waste of perfectly good Diet Coke!  It's all coming up again.  Ikkkk.

RHONDA:  I don't think how I've been feeling today had anything to do with my diabetes.  I thought it was painkillers on an empty stomach, but as I've been ill all day, now I think it's a bug.

But thanks for the 'care'.

ABOVE:  I managed to finish this runner on the baby machine, but I'm never using that goddam machine again!  It was a bloody nightmare to use, it didn't like the extra thickness of the fabric and batting.  I literally had to PULL the fabric through, as the feed dogs didn't cope.  *sigh*

I am feeling a little bit better right now, but not fantastic.  I hope like hell I feel better in the morning, cos setting up the stall while being sick won't be fun otherwise.  AND Yes, I will still be doing the market, I ain't no quitter.

And on that note, I'm outta here.  I'm absolutely done in and am going to bed.

ANOTHER DAY OF SEWING AHEAD OF ME

 

Today I plan on stitching up another Blue Wave Runner.

Makes me laugh as we probably won't sell any of these new ones on Saturday ... cos it's supposed to be WET.  And that will keep the patrons away.  😖

But that's just the way it goes.  I shall at least have plenty of Wave Runners going into the New Year, which is a positive.

ABOVE:  Remember me buying this clothes rack about 6 weeks ago?  I had some of my clothes on it, in the garage.  But it started to get right up my nose, because with all the clothes on it, it took up a lot of room.  So, I crammed my clothes into mine and Stew's wardrobes, and I listed it on Facebook Marketplace.

For a quarter of the price I paid for it... and of course, plenty of arseholes then offered me less than my asking price.   It annoyed the shit outta me, so I have pulled it off.

I CAN use it in the sewing room.  For the past couple of days I've used it to drape unfinished runners on.  Works for me.  With only runners on it, it doesn't protrude into the room too much.

I can't think of anything else to yabber on about right now, so catch ya later.

DISASTER!!!

McDREAMY HAS DIED.

I AM ABOUT TO TAKE HIM

TO THE SEWING MACHINE

HOSPITAL.

HE MIGHT BE GONE FOR WEEKS!

I am hoping it's an easy fix, but it probably isn't.

I've been waiting for this day for a very long time, and am so thankful I still have my 'back up machine'...

ABOVE: This is what I call my BABY Brother.  It is very basic and I can hardly remember how to use it!  But it will 'do' until McDreamy comes home again.

I had to cut that runner off the machine to get it out, as the needle would not lift up.  Luckily it's an easy fix for the runner.

Right ... I better go and drop McDreamy off at the repair shop.

12.27 pm, home from the repair shop.  While there I browsed their limited fabrics, and found three greens to buy.

ABOVE:  Those pieces of fabric were 'end of bolts', so instead of charging me for the full amount, she only charged me for 2 metres of each. Which meant I got OVER a metre of fabric for free.  I was amazed, and thanked her profusely.  Not many places do that.  Certainly not Spotlight!  

Anyway, I'm home for just a minute, long enough to put me face on (fuck I forgot me face!), then I'm off to Chartwell Square to pick up Stew's gold necklace which has been repaired and cleaned.  It's clasp broke.

OH and I just got a message from Breast Screen Aotearoa saying me boobies were 100% OK, no sign of anything nasty... so that's a relief.

So, I get over to Chartwell Square, parking is a bloody NIGHTMARE, but eventually I get a park.  I go inside to Michael Hill to get Stew's necklace.  WRONG SHOP.  It's at The Base.  So I head over to The Base.

The traffic there is even WORSE, if that's even possible, so I go around the roundabout and come straight back home!

I will pick up his necklace tomorrow at 9 am, when I am sure of getting a park.  

Now, it's 1.36 pm, and I'm going to have some lunch.  

Then go and finish that runner, on Baby Brother.

7.31 pm, and I didn't finish that runner.  I sat in the lounge and did a jig saw online.  My lower back is killing me today, really bad.  Sewing too much, sitting too long no doubt.

Stew went to the pub, I walked up and picked up the car a bit later, and visited the kids for a while. 

Then I met up with Stew at the pub for a little while, then we left early as yeah, my back was not good.

Home now and I've taken some pain killers, hoping they kick in sooner rather than later.

And that's me day.  A bit up 'n' down.

Catch ya tomorrow.

FINISHING OFF TWO BLUE WAVE RUNNERS TODAY

 

I had totally forgotten what happens to my legs/feet over summer.  Particularly when I'm sat sewing for hours on end.

Last night I put hair remover on me legs and was shocked at how much they had swollen up during yesterday's sewing session.

BTW:  shaving works better than the hair removal cream, but I still find it easier to use the cream.

Back to the legs/feet:

ABOVE: Doing my 'party trick' and making dents in me legs.  There's an ankle under there somewhere!  My legs and feet were terribly swollen yesterday, so today I am taking a fluid retention pill to clear some of it.  It means I shall be on the freakin' loo peeing half the day.  Instead of just once in the morning and once at night.

Best I stay home today 😂.

I am planning on finishing the two Blue Wave Runners today, and perhaps starting another one as well.  So, best I get on with it.

ABOVE:  Oh yeah, the other thing I noticed last night... a bruise on the back of me foot.  It's a bit sore, yet I have no idea what/how I did it? It's  a strange place to get a bruise.  Weird.
LOL, ya get all sorts on my blog eh?

1.43 pm:

I've been doing exactly what I said I would do... sewing and finishing off the latest two Blue Wave Runners.

ABOVE:  After finishing them, I decided I needed to tidy up the fabric strips wall...

ABOVE: That was a really good exercise, because it has shown me where my 'gaps' are.  Clearly I need more greens.

So, when we go down to Palmerston North and Wellington on Sunday - Tuesday, I will stop in at a couple of fabric shops and see what they have.

Yes, we are going on a short trip down to Palmerston North to visit Mike and Joyce, Sandra, Chris, and Anne.  After that, we are also visiting a dear friend in Wellington, before getting back here in time for Christmas.

It is going to be a bit rushed, with having the Tamahere Market on Saturday as well... but oh well.  We will be sitting in the car for a lot of that time!  lol

As for RIGHT NOW, I'm taking a break, putting me feet up and hoping to keep the swelling down.

I've piddled about 6-7 times this morning... which is great.

I am drinking 1.5 - 2 litres of FLUID a day, so don't know how I can be dehydrated?  YES, it's Diet Coke... NO I won't drink water.  So there.

We had a short/sharp Thunderstorm about an hour ago, it was spectacular!  Lots of thunder, and pouring rain.  Now?  Sunshine and clear skies.  

DEHYDRATION vs.  FLUID RETENTION.

I have had FLUID RETENTION since I was in my early 20's.  So over 47 years.

I have been seen by various doctors about it over all that time.

I have had tests until I'm blue in the face, heart checks, kidney checks, bla bla bla.

ALL have always come back as NORMAL.

There is no reason for the fluid retention, other than it is worse in hot weather.  I still have it all year.

If I drink more, I do not pee more.  If I drink less, I do not pee more.

I am usually a twice a day piddler.  I am used to it.  That is why I have to take fluid retention medication on and off, when it gets bad I take it more often.

My Doctor is well aware of this weird aspect  of my body... and is not concerned as I have passed all the freakin tests thrown at me.

So calm down peeps, I know you all care, but I am fine.

Just got chunky legs/feet right now.   😂😉😊

SOMETIMES I think I share too much information.  ???

9 pm:  And I'm bloody KNACKERED.  Sewing all day, and I've finished laying out the next one, which I will start stitching tomorrow.

And that is me done for today.  I shall watch Coronation Street, then head off to bed.

Should be a nicer evening, the temperatures have dropped, thank goodness.

Catch ya tomorrow.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANTE, AND MOSAIC GROUP CHRISTMAS GET TOGETHER

 

HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY TO DANTE!

WE HOPE YOU HAVE A FABULOUS DAY.

LOVE YOU YOUNG MAN.

Gosh the lead up to Christmas this year is busy for me!

I have another Christmas get together today, this time in Cambridge.  The mosaic girls are meeting up for morning tea at 'Cs' home.  I am sure we will all enjoy that.

After morning tea, I will be coming home to sew up this lot:

ABOVE:  Two runners ready for the stitching phase.  That will take me the rest of the day I'm picking.

1/46 pm.  As you can imagine, I've had a fairly busy morning.

I sewed for a little while, then went over to Cambridge for our get together.

ABOVE: There was a nice bunch of us today, and we had a nice time.

ABOVE: Some nice views of 'C's garden, which is stunning.  It is full of mosaic ideas, and I'd like to try my hand at the balls and square planter next year.

ABOVE: on my way home I stopped at Bower Bird and got a few more blues and greens for wave runners.

After that I went to the post office and posted things to VICKIE...  I hope you get them!

Crazy time of the year to be posting anything really, but hopefully it gets there.

Now?  Lunch, then back into the sewing room.

5.17 pm, and Stew just arrived home, nice an early as we are going to Steve 'n' Bex's for Dante's Birthday dinner.

So, no WW tonight.  Just as well, I've gained at least 2 kilos.  I'm going back on Trulicity tonight!

That experiment did not work.  All I've thought about since going off it is... FOOD! 

ABOVE: Dante chose a very yummy Christmas Caramel Smash Cake.  It was bloody delicious.  Bex sent me home with some left over cake... I might have to divvy it out to myself over the next few days.  Just a tiny bit each day shouldn't hurt right?  😂

ABOVE: After Dante blew out the candles, I thought the little smoke swirl was awesome. 

We are home now, and I've had me injection... so hopefully that kicks in fast.  While I thought it wasn't being effective lately, without it altogether I'm bloody hopeless.

There's just too many goddam temptations at this time of year eh?  I really need to work on my WON'T power.

Perhaps that cake will be shared with my neighbours.  😊 

Time to sign off for the day, I need to put my feet UP.  I'll show you what's happened to them tomorrow.

CRAFT GROUP CHRISTMAS LUNCH

YEP, I slept in!

But I am up now, and rearing to go.

I'm going to spend a bit of time in Crabby Quarters cutting out more strips for more Blue Wave Runners.

I  want to have at least two more ready for next Saturday's market. 

It is our Craft Group's Christmas lunch today, so I am being picked up at 11 am by one of the village ladies.  Car pooling today, which is really nice.

After that I'll continue working on cutting out strips, until I feel I've got enough colours ready to go.

ABOVE:  Yesterday afternoon ... these kids enjoying keeping cool in their paddle pools.  It certainly was a hot day.  I'm bloody tempted to get myself a paddle pool as well.  I wonder if Coco would enjoy it too?

Hmmm.

ABOVE:  The red Table Topper on 'Hs' dining table, she also bought a small blue/teal/green runner for her coffee table.  She was so happy with her choices yesterday.  

Right, I'm off to do some work. Catch ya later.

1.35 pm, and I'm just in from our lunch, which was very nice.

Lot's of happy chatting going on, and very yummy food.

Now though, I'm straight back into the sewing room to continue making wave runners.  

I've got one half laid out, so maybe in an hour or so I will be onto the sewing part.

GREAT NEWS!  Stew has a date for his knee replacement surgery.

March the 5th, at Braemar Hospital here in Hamilton.

Just three months to wait, which is excellent.

I'm sure I can keep myself from throttling him until then.  😂😅😏

There's three options to get this operation done.

1.  Have private health Insurance and get it done privately and it doesn't cost you much at all.

We had health insurance years ago, but Stew was made redundant for a year and that was one of the first things that had to go.

Once he was re-employed, the health insurance was prohibitive because we (by then) had some health issues, which made it too expensive.  It is STILL too expensive given our health issues.

2.  Go on the public waiting list, which would take anything from 18 months - two YEARS.  And even then it wasn't a given he would get it done.

3.  Pay for it ourselves, and get it done privately.  Which is what we are doing.  It is a HUGE HUGE expense, only made possible because we downsized and have some savings.

As for me not being a 'Crabby Nurse' while caring for Stew during his recovery... anyone can come and give me relief ... ANYTIME you want.   😂  Home baking, meals etc happily accepted!  

'Baby sitting' the man so I can go out shopping also accepted.   "JOKING"  ON THE BABY SITTING.  Stew just took exception to that. lol

10.39 pm, end of the day.  I'm ready for bed, catch ya tomorrow.