ANOTHER CRAFT GROUP DAY

 

First up for today will be some more cutting out for my next project.

I'm going to make some placemats.  Thanks for the idea KarenAK.  Not sure what runners you referred to, I make a few 'blue beachy runners'.  Maybe you meant the wave runners?  I am going to make some as placemats sometime in the next month.

We do not have another market until Tamahere in October, so I've got plenty of time to build up a good stock of placemats in all different styles.

I've made them before and they did sell fairly well... so let's get to it!

ONWARD...

TEMPTING FATE?

 

In almost every home we have owned, I've planted a passionfruit vine.

And EVERY time that vine has finally started to bear fruit, we have moved. 

So, would I be tempting fate by planting a passionfruit vine here I wonder???

Because, if I can find one today, that's what we are going to do.  I have a spot already sussed out for it.

The other thing on our agenda today is this:

ABOVE:   The lounge curtains need to come down.  And we have to add more hooks to the track and curtains, so it's not got all those gaps across the top.  The curtains also need to be pressed.  All of that should have been done 15 months ago, before they even went up, but we simply didn't get around to it.

I've looked at them like that long enough.  Time to fix them... TODAY.

ABOVE:  A fellow Stall Holder snapped this photo of me yesterday afternoon.   I was hanging on to the gazebo to stop it flying away in the wind.  Stew was taking the ground pegs out so we could fold it up.  I could only just reach the bloody top of it!  And to be honest, I doubt I could have stopped it flying away had a really big gust of wind whipped through.  Luckily that didn't happen. Flying gazebos as actually very dangerous.

And yes Darling, I can see you trying to give me rabbit ears!

Back to today, there's three things on the shopping list:

1. Passionfruit vine.

2. Curtains hooks.

3. 'Lady' handkerchiefs.

Cos I have NONE, and want some.  Tissues just don't cut it when you are out and about.  I used to use Stew's big 'man' hankies, but I want my own.  It's only taken 67 years to get me some hankies!

Oh and if we thought it was windy yesterday.... today it is even worse! And its raining too. I don't think I've seen it this windy in years. 

ONWARD...

10.41, and it stopped raining after we got out of bed.  But it's still bloody cold, and the wind is super strong and blustery.

We just got home from shopping.  We got a new curtain rod, hooks etc.  I will sort that out soon.

ABOVE: We found hankies at Farmers, and they are already washed and on the line outside.  I fully expect them to be dry in half an hour.  Hopefully they don't get blown away.

ABOVE: We also bought two passionfruit vines, but they won't be going outside until this wind settles down in a couple of days.

5.25 pm.  After OMG a shit load of huffing and puffing and swearing, Stew got the new curtain track up!  It took forever as he simply could not get the screw holder things into the wall!  But, finally, he did.  And then he put up the rail, and we both hung the curtains.

They look fantastic.  He put the rail up about 5 cm higher, so now the curtains don't drag on the floor.

I didn't iron them... I just didn't have the energy.

Why?

Because I'd spent a couple of hours this morning, and again this afternoon, cutting out the next sewing project.

I had a pork belly and lamb roast on all day in the crock pot, and OMG, they both came out beautifully.  I made sure to put plenty of liquid around them so they stayed moist.

So we had some of each with veges for our early dinner.

Now we are going to blob out and watch the telly until bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.

TAMAHERE IN SEPTEMBER

 

OK... it's 5.35 am.

We are up.

It's not too cold.

The weather is holding.

Let's get a move on, and have a nice day.

I'm hoping for some sales today... cos our last market was a DEAD LOSS, and that is very demoralising.  It makes you wonder if you should carry on doing what ya doing?  I know my runners etc are really lovely, but can people afford non-essentials now days?  It's a worry.

Only 'light at the end of the tunnel' is that CHRISTMAS is coming.  lol

Wallets free up a bit for Christmas right?

ONWARD...

ABOVE: And we have a PERFECT Spring day! First really lovely day in months. 

I'm sitting here with a hot chocolate and just enjoying the quiet before people start arriving.  

11.30 ... it is slow and steady today. Moderate sales. The WIND is being horrendous... super gusty. Everyone is struggling with it, things keep getting blown off stalls. It's awful.

2.30 pm.

We are home. We are freakin' tired.  It was a long day, made even more arduous due to the extremely windy conditions.  So many stall holders had thing blown over and damaged or broken!  And literally everyone started packing up early.

We did too, and that's saying something, because we almost never pack up early.

I was just so glad to get home out of the damn wind and cold.

I am now preparing our daily meal, which will be BBQ Spare Ribs and a lettuce salad.

Stew has gone to the supermarket to do the weekly shop, for diet coke and the stuff he needs for his lunches next week.

I have vowed to not buy another thing for our freezer until I have got the damn thing empty!  It's chockka block right now, I can't fit anything else in it.

So we could be having some interesting meals over the next few weeks.

10.31 pm.  We've had a most lazy afternoon/evening.  Just keeping warm, watching the telly bla bla bla.

Catch ya tomorrow.  

CRAFT GROUP TODAY

 

I'm heading down to Graft Group today... where I have no issues with anyone, thank goodness.

I am looking forward to sewing with Mc Dreamy down there again.  Baby Brother is no match for him.

The runner I am working on today will not be ready for market tomorrow, and I'm fine with that.  We have plenty of stock.

Because I will be down there over lunch time, I will get myself some food to take.  Probably a little lettuce salad with some salami.  I'm really enjoying them.

ABOVE: Stew did it again, and came home last night with flowers.  Silly man, but clearly he loves me, just as much as I love him... well 99% of the time. 

I'm not that fond of him when he's drunk as a skunk and falling over the couch!  Luckily, that hardly ever happens.  He knows better than to do that!  lol

ONWARD...

1.30 and I'm just home after spending a few hours down in the craft room. It was nice having company while I sewed.  That's the best reason for going down there.

Mc Dreamy behaved himself, no issues at all.  Thank goodness.

I have come home now so I can continue working on this current runner... and I couldn't do that in the craft room, as I'd left the batting and binding at home.

ABOVE: The weather is looking promising for tomorrow's market, though we all know that can change in the blink of an eye.

Just hoping for a good day, fine, and a few sales would be nice.

ABOVE: It was so warm in the craft room this morning I ended up coming home and changing into a dress!   And it felt so nice to be in something other than tights and a sweatshirt.

Weigh in today and I saw a .200 gram GAIN.  I'm not letting it upset the apple cart... it is what it is.

I've not been 100% on track this week, I will do better next week.

5 pm.  My back is killing me!  I've literally been sewing all day.

But, I'm really happy to say I DID finish the current Braid Runner today.

ABOVE:  It's a colour combo I've done before, but not for a long time.  I have one like this on my hallway wall, because it is one of my all time personal favourites.

I usually avoid doing the 'pointy' ends as they are a right shit to do, but this runner deserved them.

It will be the most expensive runner on our stall, as the fabrics used, (Kaffe Fassetts), are damned expensive, and this runner is really long/wide.

Now it's done, I can sit back and feel like I've had a productive day.

Stew will be home in an hour or so, then we will load the car in readiness for tomorrow's market.

AFTER THAT... time to relax.

'Relaxing' done, time to sign off for the day.  Catch ya tomorrow.

JUST A PHASE?

 

There's been a couple of things happen in the village this week that have made me feel.... unhappy being here.

First was the shitty Coffee & Chat on Tuesday, then something else happened last night that set me off again.  I won't go into details on that one though.  

So... I will not be going to Coffee & Chat today... and might not go to any more in fact.

I know I can be a 'bit' touchy and easily offended, sensitive even at times.  I KNOW, hard to believe eh?  But it is just how I am.  Full of bravado and bolshy on the outside, but not really on the inside.

I let things get to me too much.  

Right now I just want to stay in my house and forget the 'village' and forget the people here who just get right up my nose, and/or upset me.

There's quite a few, now that I've been here long enough to get to know a lot of them.

Yes, there's a lot that are just lovely too, of course.

I was walking through the Community Centre yesterday, and passed not one, but two small groups of ladies.  Both groups were standing/sitting around BITCHING and RUNNING DOWN other people who live or work here, and anyone could hear them.

I found that so rude.  If you are going to bad mouth other people, shouldn't you at least do it in private?  Not in the dining room or the foyer, where anyone can hear you?

Living here has shown me a totally different side to life and how people think they can act.  AND it's hard to get away from it all when you are in a village setting like this.

I know quite a few people who live here do not engage in any of the village activities, and keep totally to themselves.  Maybe I get why now.

So, today I'm not sure what I will get up to, other than doing a small grocery shop for those Spare Ribs Stew loved so much last night.

I had hoped there was an FBG walk on today, but sadly there isn't.  I would have really enjoyed seeing some happy faces.  Maybe I'll go down and have a swim and soak in the spa?  That might cheer me up.

Sorry for the misery guts post.  

ONWARD...

10.25 am.  I took Mc Dreamy down to the craft room, and brought back Baby Brother.  Ran into several of the C & C group.  Also ran into my lovely neighbour Oz, so I sat down in the dining area and had a drink with him.  Got asked by several of the C & C group if I was joining them?

I said NO THANKS.  I did talk to one of the 'steadfast members' about why I wouldn't be joining them again... he was a bit upset.  He's vowed to talk to the group about topics of conversation that are no longer acceptable.  I still don't want to go though.

As I said, I'm really over the shit that goes down here.

I am now going to the supermarket.  In this mood, I better not go ANYWHERE near the cakes/buns/biscuit aisles!

2.30 pm.   I did the shopping, got $100 worth of meat.  Came home and cooked my lunch, but because it was taking so long I had 4 crackers with cheese and relish on them.  Then of course, I wasn't hungry anymore.  So now Stew is having roast chicken and veges for his dinner.... after he gets home from the pub.

Cos it's pub night right?  

I have been working in Crabby Quarters on another Braid Runner.  It's not a Kiwiana one!

I might show you tomorrow. 

I've had a lovely evening, thank goodness.

Stew and I walked up to the pub, then I went home with Steve in his van.

I had planned on walking back to the pub, to then walk back home with Stew.  But it was TOO DARK!  So Bex drove me back to the pub.  We took Lily with us, so she could see her Granddad.

ABOVE: This little girl did not like dresses AT ALL, but things have changed.  She now insists on wearing a dress every day.  She saw that one at K Mart today and just had to get it.

ABOVE: Lily at the pub with Granddad, eating chips dipped in tomato sauce.  She didn't want to leave.  😂

ABOVE: hanging with the regulars.  Bex got her to leave only because there was a fire truck in the carpark, and Lily loves fire trucks.  (the firemen were picking up a pizza).

Stew and I just shared the lamb and veges I had prepared... just the right amount for both of us this late in the evening.  

Time to sign off for the day.  I am taking on board the idea of indeed going back to Coffee & Chat and keeping my mouth shut.

I have a long time left to live here, I don't want to be a social outcast at the end of the day.

LET'S SEW SHALL WE?

RIGHT, no procrastinating today. 

I am having another go at making an oven mitt that will pass muster with the sewing ladies.

One of said 'sewing ladies' called in yesterday and dropped off her oven mitt, so I could use it as a pattern.  So nice of her.

I'm also thinking of making hot pot 'pads', to use on the bench or table.  Do you think that's a good idea?

WEGOVY:  one more week of being at the .5 mg dose, then I go up to 1.0 mg.  I am hoping like hell that starts making a difference, because seriously, nothing has changed yet.  I still feel hungry all the time, I still think about food all the time and although I am 'dieting' and being very careful with my food/portions, my loss has stalled.  And in fact I can bounce up and down a kilo in a week.  It's doing my bloody head in.  Meh, I've probably said all this before eh?  I know these things take time, but knowing that doesn't help.  

I talked to my WW Coach about this last night, and she reckons I'm not eating enough!  Seems that is a thing.  So I'm going to try adding back in some carbs, as I literally don't eat carbs most days.  So today I will have a small potato with my salad. 

Right, boring shit done with... let's get on with the day.

It will be good right?

ONWARD...

NOPE.  I lay in bed this morning, totally unenthused with the idea of sewing oven mitts/hot pot pads.

I have done a complete 180 degree turn around.  I don't WANT to do them.  They don't interest me.  It's not the direction I want my stall to go in. 

So there ya go.  Now I have nothing to do.

I will probably just keep making a few more Kiwiana type runners.  That's what I love making, and if I ain't loving what I'm doing, I might as well throw the machine away and just stay in bed.

It is a fairly cold morning, so the heat pump is on, and I'm contemplating doing some exercise.

YES, I get on the exercycle about three times a week.  I do strength exercises with lightweight hand weights.  And I bought an Aerobic Step as well... and I've looked on YouTube at routines on how to get the most out of that too.  So I am well aware I need to keep my muscles strong.  I also make sure I eat enough protein every day.

I've got it covered people!  Thanks for the concern.

And as for the haters, and there's quite a few out there.... FUCK OFF.  Said ever so nicely of course. 😂😅😖

I went down to the Craft Room to have a chat with one of the ladies there.  She was at morning tea yesterday and felt the same way as me about how it went.  It was nice to get another person's perspective on the 'racism' issue and if we had ever talked about 'it' during C & C?  She, like me said NO.  So yeah, we both agreed that the lady involved was just probably have a wobble of some sort, having a bad day etc.

Moving on, I just did 'the hill' and today it was much easier!  I was so pleased to get to the top and not feel breathless.

Lacy has just done The Hakarimata Summit Track in Ngāruawāhia, which is a climb up a bloody mountain... with 1,349 steps!  She suggested I try it one day with her!   Stupid, stupid woman.  I struggle to do 36 bloody steps.  lol

And Lacy stopped in on her way home.  And then so did Margaret ( from the village ), so I had some lovely company for a while.

ABOVE: Those two get along like a house on fire!  Margaret has a daughter of a similar age to Lacy, who's struggled with addiction and similar things to Lacy. So they can relate to each other.  It was so nice having them here.

Now they have left and I'm making my lunch.

Then, who knows what I'll get up to?

FOLLOWING:  Anon comment and my replies in RED....

AnonymousSep 16, 2026, 11:46 AM

Going to he honest here, the "i literally dont eat carbs most days" statement is kind of delusional. Let's look at last week.
Monday - fruit for dinner (carbs) I really don't count fruit as carbs, they are 'free' on the Weight Watchers app.
Tuesday - meals not disclosed
Wednesday - meals not disclosed
Thursday - baked beans (carbs), baked potato (carbs) Half a cup of Baked beans and two potatoes... OK.  LOTS of Carbs.
Friday - meal out. Hot chips (carbs) SIX CHIPS!, coleslaw and accompanying sauce (carbs), sauce on ribs (carbs)
Saturday - Roast potatoes (carbs)  Wait for it, photo to follow of my potatoes.
Sunday - Meal out. Burger (carbs) I didn't eat the burger buns , hot chips Again, SIX chips! (carbs).

So out of 7 days, carbs were eaten on 5 days, and the 2 days you potentially didn't is actually unknown as they were the days you didn't disclose anything you ate. I dont believe everything you eat is shared so even more carbs could have been consumed than disclosed.
Not trying to be a "hater", just keeping it real.

When I say I've had roast potatoes...

ABOVE: These are what I have.  Two usually.  I bought that box of potatoes at least 3 weeks ago, and it's still half full... bearing in mind Stew has had some too.

12.20 pm.  Lunch is done and now I'm going out to pick up Mc Dreamy!  He's done.  AND they have literally charged me NOTHING for the repair!   I mean $28 is NOTHING compared to the $100's of dollars already spent on him!!!!

I am thrilled to bits.  Now let's hope he keeps going... and going... and going... !

6 pm.

I've spent the afternoon mucking around in the house, tidying my wardrobe, Crabby Quarters etc.

Did a load of washing and threw it in the dryer as well.  No point hanging it outside today, it was too overcast with no wind.  Nothing would have dried out there.

Stew is due home shortly.

I've got his dinner ready to go.  He's having BBQ Spare Ribs and veges.  

10.25 pm.  Well Stew loved the spare ribs so much, I'm going to buy more tomorrow.  Plus whatever else we might need for the next week or so.

Coronation Street has just finished, so I'll be off to bed in the next half and hour or so.

Catch ya tomorrow.

LAST CHANCE

 

After making three attempts at an oven mitt yesterday, with no happy ending, I'm giving it ONE LAST CHANCE today.

I'm not holding my breath either, because I'm just not convinced I can get one that I like, and one that will pass the 'Sewing Room Squad's' approval too.  

I still have to unload the sewing trolley after using it yesterday... yep, that's how lazy I was yesterday afternoon!

So, I'll get that done then I will do my 'hill walk'.

After that I am going to attend Coffee & Chat in the Community Centre.

And then I'll come home and get on with the dreaded Oven Mitt project.

Just to clarify something:  The Pot Mitts I made last week are only for pots on the stove, NOT dishes that are coming out of the oven.  Oven Mitts have heavy insulated batting, so you don't burn your hands on REALLY HOT dishes and oven racks.

ONWARD...

11.45 am.

And that's possibly the LAST TIME I got to Coffee & Chat!  We were happily yakking and the conversation veering onto Maori Language and other languages being taught in schools etc etc.

It wasn't a RACIST conversation, we all have our own opinions on subjects like this.

But one lady decided that ALL WE EVER TALK ABOUT at Coffee & Chat is racism, and she wasn't happy about it.  She made me feel so uncomfortable, and kinda angry. So I up and left half an hour early.

I mean, I am bloody 100% positive we have not discussed the Maori Language or culture EVER before.  And today's conversation was certainly NOT racist.

I'm going to talk privately with a few other people who were there this morning and get there opinions... have I missed days when racism was talked about?  Or was this lady just venting with a bee in her bonnet?

I am finding out slowly how fucking 'touchy' some people can be here!  It makes me want to retreat into our home and not venture out again.

I haven't come here to be involved in this sort of shit, that's for sure.

After leaving there, I went to the supermarket for just a couple of things.  Now that I'm home I'm cooking some lunch.

Then I'm joining one of my neighbours to be shown how to play.............   FUCKING BOWLS!

Yep.  There's a charity bowls tournament on next week, and I've been badgered into joining a team.

Save me now.

ABOVE: Well it finally happened!  I played bowls.  VERY BADLY.  Though I did 'win' three ends out of about eight. lol

Oz and I will have another practise before next week's tournament.  And I will wear a t-shirt, cos you get a bit warm playing that shit.

I can't see me continuing with bowls ... one off's here and there would be OK, but not as a regular thing.  

It is now 2.30 pm and I really don't feel like doing much else right now, so I will blob out for a while, and listen to a true crime doco while doing a jig saw.

7.15 pm.  Just home from Weight Watchers, which was a very small meeting.  There are less and less people attending WW now.  Could be the price.  Could be just because it's cold.  Who knows?  It's certainly NOT as popular as it used to be.

Stew arrived home and went for a walk, so he's just walked in the door as well.

I lay on the couch for an hour this afternoon, put my earrings in my sweatshirt pocket.  When I got up I had lost one of my earrings.  I hunted under the couch and all over the house to no avail.

Stew helped me look under the couch again just now, using a torch and Yaaa! We found it.  It was really upsetting me as they were a pair that our grandson Archer gave me for Christmas.  And I love them.  

ABOVE:  These are the earrings I love so much.  They have coloured sand and tiny REAL seashells in them.  

So that's my day, done and dusted.  I'm now going to sit and warm up under my heated throw, because it was bloody cold at the WW meeting.  

Bring on summer... then I can bitch and moan about being too hot.  😂😅😂

MONDAY, AND STEW IS HOME

 

Stew took today off work.

So he's had a 4 day weekend.  Nice.

Today he has an appointment (secret squirrel stuff) at 3.15 pm.  So we basically have all day to do what we want.

We can't sleep in today though, as we are taking the boys to school for Steve 'n' Bex.

While we do that, Bex is taking Steve to hospital for an operation.  He's getting his appendix taken out. It has been recommended by his gastric team.  There is a chance by having it out his Pancolitis/Crohn's Disease might improve.  Might not too... but it's worth a try.  ANYTHING is worth a try!  

He's going to be in hospital for a couple of days, then straight back to work.  He's crazy.  I hope he takes it easy for a while!

I might go to Craft Group today, it depends how I feel later on in the morning.

And that's me for now, catch ya later.

ONWARD...

Right, that's done, boys are at school and Steve is at the hospital.  Not sure when he has his operation, but probably this morning sometime.

Stew's appointment this afternoon just got cancelled, so he's now having to re-schedule that.

We are off for a walk now...

ABOVE: And there's our little walk recorded.  I'm going to be using Samsung Health to record my walks from now on as Map My Run/Walk keeps glitching on me, and I'm over it.

Time to pack my trolley for craft group...

10.10 am:  And Steve got as far as the pre-op room... then 'they' decided he wasn't well enough for the surgery!  He's in the middle of a flare up, so surgery is now postponed.  What a pain in the arse, all the plans he's made to accommodate this surgery, for nothing today.

It will still happen, but who knows when now?  Grrrrr.

3 pm, and I've just spent 5 hours in the craft room.

I'm sure you have heard the saying 'Too many cooks in the kitchen" right?

Well I've got another one... "Too many sewers in the sewing room".

I made three pot holders today, and not one of them was "RIGHT".

So I've shelved the idea of pot mitts right now.  I'm done with that.   When I'm over today's effort, I MIGHT try the original pot mitt idea... a long one piece with half circles each end for your hand.

7.42 pm:  Well ... not done anything else today!  Lazed away the afternoon just sitting in the lounge watching TV and doing jig saws.  

Might just do more of that this evening! lol

Catch ya tomorrow.

CAMBRIDGE TRASH & TREASURE IN SEPTEMBER

 

5.32 am, and yep, it's cold.  But not FREEZING.

We are heading off to market (in Cambridge) in about 20 minutes or so, depends on how long Stew takes to get ready really.  I'm much faster than him.  😂😆

Bex will be there as well, so that will be nice having her right next to us again.  It works out well for her too, we can watch her stall if she needs to leave for food or a bathroom break.

I just remembered this photo I took yesterday:

ABOVE:  Have you EVER seen fruit THAT EXPENSIVE?   Not only that, but when you think about how much pulp is inside a passionfruit, you are basically paying over $100 a kilo,  just for the pulp!!!  Outrageous.  I would NEVER pay that much for fruit.   Would YOU?

Right guys, I better go.  We've got a market to get to.

ONWARD...

ABOVE: And up comes the sun. Nice to be setting up in daylight again I must say.

8.01 am and we are ready.

ABOVE:   The weather is iffy right now.

I went for a walk to check out the other stalls. There's heaps more here today.

When I got back to ours, this greeted me:

ABOVE: Yeah. Apparently Lily will love it. 🤣😅🤣

ABOVE: YEP...still cold enough for the hat and jacket. 

11.50 am, and  l think Stew is going to get his way. We will not be doing this market again. It's NOT our market ...  people come to this one to buy (mostly) second hand junk.   Our stuff is more suited to CRAFT markets.

Hanging out to go home.... 

ABOVE: She did it again! Now Lilys also getting a cow. 😅🤣😅

ABOVE: It would appear Lily thinks dinosaurs are to be sat on.  Cute.

We have had a quiet afternoon, I think I might have nodded off in my chair at one point too.

We are going out for dinner.  I might have something evil.  Or not.  I'm not exactly hungry, so maybe something small?

Dinner was ok, but not fantastic.  I had a burger, which I shared with Stew.  The chips were over cooked and REALLY over salted.  So safe to say we won't be going there again.  Back to The Outlook or The Foundation, which are both pretty good.

It's time to sign off for the day, we are both bloody tired.  Catch ya tomorrow.