MIGHT.... SEW!

 

GOOD MORNING

Lets have a lovely day!

I have decided to make 2-3 square table toppers, as I sold the only one I've made on Saturday.  Several ladies checked it out and expressed interest, until it sold.

So, while I don't need to make a bloody thing as I have good stock, I just CANNOT do nothing!

It does my head in doing nothing.

I will make a Red/Green one, then I'm not sure what colourways to do next.  They will not be BIG table toppers, just the same size as the first one.

At our next market, at the end of January, I can take our small square trestle table, and have them on it, one on top of the other.

I'll need to make a white tablecloth for that table as well, for display purposes.

So ya, I have something to do.

I'm going first thing this morning to get the last minute things for Christmas Day. Mostly the perishables.  Hopefully the supermarket isn't too crazy!

Then I have an appointment (secret squirrel type) later on this morning as well. 

So, I will have a good, busy day.

ABOVE:  I found a tiny little bird yesterday afternoon.  I think it's a Wax Eye.  Too young to fly properly yet.  I scooped it up and brought it inside.

ABOVE:  I've given it some little bits of worm, and some water ... but it will probably die.  I'm no bird whisperer, but I will try.

ABOVE: Our plum tree is HEAVILY laden with fruit.  One big branch broke off over the weekend, so Stew had to take it off.  Hopefully we don't lose any more branches.

In other news, still nothing from the people who put in an offer on Saturday.

The people who had a private viewing last Wednesday want anther viewing soon as well.  They have a home to sell in another town, and will be putting it on the market after the New Year.  So, things are ticking along.

Something will happen eventually.

It is actually 5.45 am. We got up at 5.30 to feed the baby bird.

ABOVE: Stew is chopping up a worm,  cos if I do it I want to throw up!  Baby bird is still alive, and rather likes chopped up worm. 

Did that work? Trying to upload a 'SHORT'... of baby bird.

Yaaa, third attempt worked.

I've got a Christmas Cake in the oven.  One biggish job getting done.  The last presents are wrapped and under the tree as well.

I'm having a good morning so far.

WILL WE GET A FIRM OFFER SEALED?

 

Well here we are, another day of being on tender hooks!

Will we get an acceptable offer sealed today?  Or will 'they' dick us around some more, and make us wait all day for their decision?

I hope they don't do that, but I'm prepared for it.

In the meantime, I shall wrap some last minute gifts, which I didn't get done the other day due to stress over freakin house shit.

IF it's a fine day, we will get the gazebo and it's walls outside to dry.

I might email the gazebo maker and see if we can buy a replacement leg too.  We don't need to use the gazebo until the end of January ... so we have plenty of time to get it repaired.

8 am:  I forgot to tell you!  Not only do we have this offer in progress, but there's also another buyer in the wings, very interested in our property.

They have a home to sell, so if this sale falls through, there's a 2nd option in the background.

I'm now in the sewing room, about to make a start on my 'towelie'.

ABOVE:  And there ya go, my towelie is done.  Now I can get changed in a public change room and maintain my modesty!  I made it roomy enough to get changed under it.  

NO word from our Estate Agent yet.  Might not even happen today.  😖

WTF?

DID YOU THINK 

BY USING YOUR

KID YOU COULD

GET IN OUR DOOR?

NEVER

EVER

GOING

TO 

HAPPEN.

Yeah, we KNEW there had to be some sort of catch/ulterior motive.  Proved right.  

I'm actually enjoying today... so amusing seeing what people will try and do, like we were born yesterday?   😂😅😆  AND there's more.

Our Estate Agent rang and said she has not heard anything from the other side.  Not surprised, as I said, we think they are playing games.  We may be wrong?  But time will tell.

Whelp, no news on the house front.  Maybe tomorrow?  Or nothing.  Whatever.

Not so stressed over  it now.  You can't maintain that level of stress for long before you just go... well fuck it!

And I did say, well fuck it.

Time to sign off for the night.

Catch ya tomorrow.

LAST MARKET FOR 2024

 

But do things I must. Like get ready for market at Tamahere.

Our last market for the year, thank god.  It's been a lot, what with trying to sell our home as well during the busy time of the year.

At least once we are set up we can sit and 'relax' for a few hours right?

I had another terrible night's sleep.  Just can't get over those viewers dicking us around yesterday.  Thank goodness we now get a break for a couple of weeks.

ONWARD...

The rain gods are being nice.... so far. 

We are supposed to have thunder storms and rain, but so far, nothing. We have blue skies!!!@

ABOVE: We have less out today, just in case it does start raining.

Bring it on...people I mean 😂😃😆.

OMG do I have some surprising news! More when we get home from market...

1.42 pm, home from market.

And this is how our day has gone:

1.  It didn't rain like it was supposed to, UNTIL 12 noon.

ABOVE: And then it absolutely BUCKETED DOWN!!!  Luckily we had made a decent amount of sales by then, cos after that, the market died a natural death.

2.  Packing up, and our neighbour backed into our gazebo.  Luckily I didn't do what I instinctively thought of doing, which was step between her car and our gazebo.

ABOVE: Her towbar hit the gazebo leg and munted it.  I think it can be replaced, I'll find out on Monday when I ring the company I got our gazebo from.  Costs will be paid for by the lady who did the damage.

3.  Mid morning I got a phone call from our Real Estate Agent.

Those people from yesterday, who bad mouthed our home?  Made a bloody offer today didn't they!

And it was a fairly decent offer too.  We are now in negotiations, re:  Price and settlement date.  They want a very early settlement, which won't work considering time frames for public holidays, lawyers, builders report etc.  So .. it's a work in progress.

4.  On our way home, on the expressway, doing 110 kmph.  We were in the outside lane, about to pass by a big truck.

Next thing...

ABOVE: On our left, out of NOWHERE, screams past a car, which swerved right in front of us, passing us, AND the truck, in one foul move!

The road was wet.  It was soooo close to hitting us I almost said goodbye to me bladder!!!  I was shocked to the core.

It would have been a disaster if he hadn't managed to squeak through the very small gap.  

I never want to be that close to having a massive accident again.

Sadly I couldn't get his number plate because he was simply going too fast!

IT.  HAS.  BEEN.  A.  DAY.  And now I just feel wrung out and jumpy as fuck.

7.24 pm: we've had a nice, quiet afternoon.  Heard from our amazing Estate Agent twice this afternoon.  Our counter offer was given verbally to 'their' Estate Agent, and they are now 'considering it'.

We don't expect to hear back this evening, they seem to like to play games.

We are not engaging in games, we will just hang in there until they come back with either a slightly higher number, or they back out.  Either way, I'm trying not to get me tits in a knot. 

What will be will be.

And that is it from me for the day.  I'm feeling much chiller now... just had dinner and now going to settle down for a bit of shit TV!  Seriously, there is bugger all worth watching on the telly.

Catch ya tomorrow.

A SECOND VIEWING... THEN FAMILY HERE FOR LUNCH, AND DINNER

 

And here we are, the last Friday before Christmas.

And I do believe I am ready for it.

First up for the day, we have people coming for their second viewing of our home.  Hopefully that goes well.  I will, of course, update you if there's any news, or not.

After the viewing, I am going to get something yummy for lunch, as Stew and his sister Khady are coming home for lunch today.  Khady is passing through Hamilton, and is stopping in to visit with us.  That will be lovely, we really enjoy seeing her.

Next, we have some family coming for dinner, and early Christmas Present opening, as they won't be here in Hamilton on Christmas Day.

I have the last three presents to wrap today, then I will be totally done with presents.

Unless I get the urge to go and get myself something (on Stew's behalf of course!) 😂😉

ABOVE:  My gorgeous pottery house had a big chunk of it's roof knocked off quite some time ago, and I finally got around to repairing it.

I stuck some brown fabric over the gap, glued it in place, then glued lichen and pebbles over the fabric.  It looks really good I must say!  You wouldn't even know it was ever broken.  I might even add more lichen in other places on the roof, to tie it all in.

I love it when I get an idea that works.  😊

And that's all I have for now, go off and have a wonderful day, cos I'm going to.

ONWARD...

It's 9 am, and I have done everything necessary, except the very last minute things.

I'm feeling so damn tired today.  I got NO SLEEP at all last night.  Just overthinking everything.

I've been out and bought some lovely club sandwiches for our lunch.  Now I am just killing time until I need to get out of here.

My plans for this afternoon?  Take a NAP!

11.21 am:  And the 2nd viewing is over.  And now we wait for feedback.  Nerve wracking.

In the meantime, I can now await Stew and Khady's arrival for lunch.

Coco won't get out of the car.  I put the dogs in the car and take them with me when there's a viewing.  But today, Coco is refusing to leave the car!  She loves the car obviously.  Marley, not so much.  I wonder how long she will stay there?  It's very hot in the garage...

1.52 pm:  YES, Coco got out of the car when Stew and Khady arrived home for lunch.  We had a very lovely visit with Khady.  And now they have gone back to town and I'm here on me own again.

All is good.

Nothing from the Estate Agent yet.  *sigh*

BIG FAT NO from the second viewing.  They just pointed out all the things that they didn't like about the house!  So why the hell did they come back for a second viewing and completely waste my time?  I'm so angry right now.

9.24 pm and our dinner guests have just left.  We have had a really LOVELY evening, it really perked me up.

Nothing like good company and a couple of tipples to perk ya up!

ABOVE:  I cooked Spaghetti Bolognese for dinner, then Andrew made us dessert.  We had ice creams dipped in popping candy!

ABOVE: That popping candy was rather fun I must say!  Quite an experience.

Stew and I just finished packing the car in readiness for tomorrow's early start.

AND the clouds are gathering... it is going to piss down tomorrow!  I don't know why we are going to be honest.  But, as it's the last market before Christmas, we better I suppose.

And with that, I'm done for the day.  I won't be long out of bed for sure.

Catch ya tomorrow.

 

VIEWING THIS MORNING

No lounging in bed for me this morning.

We have a private viewing scheduled for this morning, so I need to get up and get the house sorted.

Stew did the vacuuming for me last night, so that's one big job done already.  Thanks Darling.

All I have to do is the bed, bathrooms, kitchen, scoop dog poop and so on.

Not a lot really, but it does all take time.

I have not heard how the viewing went yesterday.  

I will be doing my last minute Christmas Shopping after lunch today.   Then I really can just relax.

ONWARD...

12 midday, and that viewing is over.

I think they stayed on the property a really decent length of time... so who knows?  We will now just wait for a report from the Estate Agent.

And the report is in on today's viewers.  They are coming back tomorrow morning with more family members for another look.

PRAY for a positive outcome.  I'm NOT getting my hopes up too much as we have been in this exact position before, and it came to nought.

But *SQUEALS*.... a second viewing is GREAT.

ABOVE:  I braved the manic traffic, and went out shopping.  First up, I bought some towelling fabric, as I want to make myself a 'Towelie'.. which is just a towel you can drape over ya head, wear, and get changed under.  I'd rather make my own for $30 than pay upwards of $100+ for one.

ABOVE:  Next stop was Chartwell Square, where I got the last 3 Christmas presents, and a few groceries.  

One more grocery shop early next week and I'll be sorted for Christmas Day.

It's now 1.40 pm, and I feel like I'm done for the day!  It's been so busy already.

I am not going to even start making my towelie until after tomorrow's viewing.  Sewing towelling makes a bloody mess!  We don't like messes right now.  lol

Several hours later, and I can honestly say I have done 5/8th of F All this afternoon!  I just felt wiped out.  I think it's more mental exhaustion than physical.

My mind is constantly doing the 'What if' shit.  So annoying.

Stew arrived home and I dropped him off at the pub.  I opted to stay home again, I'm simply not in the mood for the pub or socialising right now.

A quiet evening is just what I want.  Ha ha ha!

Yeah, like I have been doing that?

Nope.  I took quite a few boxes out of the 'gym room' and put them in a wardrobe, so the gym room looks more spacious and less messy.

Empty boxes got taken to one of the back sheds.  I've scooped leaves out of the pool, and watered gardens and pots.

It has been really HOT (for New Zealand) the past few days. And humid.  

We are expecting rain in the next couple of days, which means a wet market on Saturday.  Bugger.

It's now time to sign off for the day, ain't nothing else happening around here.  Well, I might overflow the pool if I don't keep an eye on it, so that's what I will do.  😏😉🤪

MORE TWEAKING

 

Poor Stew.

After dinner last night I had a 'small' job for him.

I wanted him to dig up a shrub we had growing on the back fence line, and put it in that 'gap' by the pool fence.

We can, (and did), put anther plant there, as it won't grow big like the other one.  It's trunk and branches would never support the weight of a climbing child.

ABOVE:  Now it looks good again, much better than the two tomato plants in pots that's for sure.

ABOVE: We put the tomato plants where the shrub was, and the chooks too.

I'm really happy I got that sorted, as we have a private viewing of the house tomorrow.

After that private viewing, we will be having a break until January the 5th, when we will have our first Open Home of 2025.

ABOVE:  Maggie, this is the fan we bought.  I would say it is no better or worse than 'other' fans, except that it runs on power or battery.  It is quite powerful on it's highest setting, which would be perfect outside on a hot day.

ABOVE:   OMG I did it!  15 Christmas Presents wrapped, and only 3 left to go.  I have to do a wee bit more shopping to finish them off, then I will be DONE.

Worst job ever invented.

I have done Fabric Christmas Bags before, whoever asked about that the other day.  I have no idea what happened to them.  Probably went home with people, never to be seen again.

I could have done that this year, but I put it in the can't be arsed bucket. 

It is now 11.30 am, and I am thinking of heading off to the shops to find those last three gifts.

ABOVE: And here I sit, down the road, waiting for a private viewing to be over.

I got 20 minutes notice they were coming through!

Luckily, all my hard work every morning pays off sometimes.  The house was ready for showing in ten minutes flat.

And thank god I'd finished wrapping the Christmas presents, and everything was away again.  

I doubt they are our buyers ... they only stayed 10 minutes.  If you are really keen, you stay longer usually.

Now my head is pounding, and I need to just chill out for a while.

Well, that's enough chilling out!  It's now 8.30 pm.  It's been a quiet afternoon.  I did bugger all.

Stew arrived home, we had a light dinner.  Stew did the vacuuming for me, in readiness for tomorrows viewing.  I didn't get it done today.

I doubt we will do anything else this evening except relax.  It's been a long day, but not too hot.

Catch ya tomorrow.

NEW SIGN... AGAIN!

 

Thank God, I actually have nothing pressing on my agenda today.

I do have three runners to put bindings on, but that's about it.

ABOVE:  And there we have our THIRD big billboard!  OK, the first one was only up for two weeks, but still!  Who has three different billboards up in the space of three months?

AND I don't like this one.

They used a photo of the front of the house, and like,  FUCK ME DAYS, you can SEE the front of the house from the road, why would you put a photo of it out the front as well?  Too late now of course, they didn't ask me what photos I wanted did they?  It's the first mistake they've made.

So, before I start sewing today, I need to get cash out for next Saturday's market.  The 'float' one needs.

I also have a couple of other things to pick up, then I can come home and sew a bit.

Once those three runners are finished, I can move on to the next biggish job.  Wrapping Christmas presents.  Oh yaaa.

ONWARD...

YAAAA!

OUR POOL COMPLIANCE LETTER ARRIVED.

BIG TICK .

It is now 10.18 am, and I've been out and about since 8.30 this morning.

I got everything I needed, and more.  Very happy with my morning so far.

Now, I'm going to have something to eat, then head into the sewing room.

Catch ya later.

ABOVE: And there you have the last runners for 2024.  I'm taking a break now.  150 Braid Runners made in 17 months, not bad if ya ask me.  Of course, there's been other runners made as well in that time, and Bowl Cosys etc.  But the Braid Runners make up the majority of runner sales now.  

I suppose that means I'll keep making them. 😊

Next.   Wrapping presents.  Might do that a bit later on.

ABOVE:  I just went to the supermarket for a few bits 'n' bobs.

I'm doing a 'dummy run' on cheese/ham and cranberry pastry parcels for Christmas Day.

Stew and I get to try them this evening.  I also want to see how they freeze, then defrost before the day.  Not sure how that will go?

Anyone know?  I will put some in the fridge and reheat a couple for my lunch tomorrow.  That might be a better idea then freezing them???  I dunno.  😣😑

ABOVE: Well that was a success!  They are delicious.   Next time I will put a double layer of pasty on the very bottom though, as the cheese and cranberry sauce is quite liquid.

I've put 4 in the fridge to have tomorrow... I will see how they reheat in the oven.

I've decided not to freeze any.  I'll just make them the day before Christmas.

Stew got a job to do after dinner... more on that tomorrow.

Time to sign off for the day, catch ya tomorrow.

HAPPY ACTUAL BIRTHDAY DANTE

First up for today, the birthday cake from last night's dinner:

ABOVE:  a 'Smash Cake', bought from Woolworths.  I'd never seen one before.

ABOVE:  This was amusing, then terrifying... that boy scared me!  I was sure he was gunna stab himself in the eye!!!  

But, disaster averted.  Cake smashed open, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.

I am sewing this morning.   And at around 11 am I have a man from the Hamilton City Council coming to do the compliance check on our swimming pool.

Fingers crossed all is as it should be.  I'm pretty sure it is, but I won't relax until we get the confirmation email.

Now.... time to start the day.  I hope you enjoy that video!  

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  My view this morning!  What a stark contrast to yesterday.  It's nice though, as it's cooled things down.

I'm now sewing...

And then the building inspector arrived.  And took a million photos, crawled into the shrubbery, hung over the fence... and said "You only need to remove THAT tree".

So I removed said tree, after borrowing Steve's reciprocating saw.

I got it all down except the trunk.  Bex came over with the kids and she took down the trunk for me... cos it involved lots of bending down low.

Not my strong suit.

Once it was down there was a gaping gap in the fence line, it looked awful.

So I solved that eyesore real fast.

ABOVE: Our Willy the Waiter came off the front fence and got mounted quite high on that fence... to fill the gap.  Then I dragged our Tomato plants and put them there as well.  And some pottery chooks.

NOW it looks good again.

Problem sorted.

Now I await the building inspector's email to confirm all is legal.  I had to send him a photo of the tree down, which I did.

I will probably go and buy a nice shrub for that spot, cos I don't want to leave our tomato plants there forever.  But that can wait.

NOW... I'm off to have a shower, I'm filthy!

I worked on those runners this afternoon, but got none finished.  I'm kinda knackered.

I have not received the HCC email yet, bugger.

DOGSTARS AND KY GIRL:  Mel answered your questions perfectly.  Pool safety is a big thing here in New Zealand, and I 100% endorse all the rules and regulations. If it saves even one life it's worth it.

Stew arrived home, and did EXACTLY what I told Bex he would do!

He took most of the tree cuttings OUT of the trailer, cut them up smaller, then put them all back in again.

ABOVE: Taking it all out...

ABOVE: All chopped up, and back in the trailer.  You sure can fit more in when it's cut up I must say. 

We are now done for the day.  Hopefully tomorrow we get confirmation from the Council that our pool is compliant with the regulations.

Stew reckons it could take a while, as they are notoriously slow.  But the man today did say he would get it to me today or tomorrow, so I live in hope.