BIT OF THIS AND THAT TODAY

 

First off for today?

I'm sleeping in.  Once I have this post up, I'm rolling over and going back to sleep!

When I do finally get up, hopefully in a couple of hours, I shall be chopping this lot up...

ABOVE: These two lovely pieces of corned beef, that I took out of the crock pot at 10 pm last night.  They have cooled off in the fridge overnight.  This morning I shall slice them up and freeze them.  There's enough there for at least 6-8 meals for Stew and I.  Which is great, as OMG Corned Beef is not cheap!  But, with only the two of us, it works out at about $10 per meal.  You can't be upset by that.

Later on today I will be taking Mc Dreamy to the repair shop.  *sigh*  So annoyed I have to do that again.  

And that's it for now.  Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

FREE POWER DAY

 

Today is a 'FREE POWER DAY' for us.

I had completely forgotten about free power days, and Brylee reminded me the other day.  So I immediately scheduled a free power day.

In October, on the Anniversary (10 plus years), of joining our power company (MERCURY) we also get 3 more FREE POWER DAYS on top of that.  How the hell did I forget about that?

So anyway... moving on.  I am going to bake heaps today, and then freeze it all.  Mostly savoury scones and Ginger loaves.  I might do some Cinnamon Scrolls (using scone dough) as well.  For a change.   I am also going to have some corned beef in the crock pot.  That should cover the baking spree. 😊

I will also be doing a couple of hot washes in the washing machine, and drying it all in the clothes dryer.  Along with keeping the heat pump on  ALL DAY LONG.  

So now I need to get up out of bed and get more washing on... then start making scones etc.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

10.35 am.  And so far I have done four trays of savoury scones, and in the oven right now are three Ginger Loaves.  There is a crock pot of Beef and Tomato Stew cooking. 

ABOVE: Some will be staying here in my freezer, and some will go over to Lacy's for STORAGE.  I don't have a big freezer anymore.

Once the ginger loaves come out of the oven, in about an hour, I am going to make some Cinnamon and Apple scrolls.

And then I might be done baking.

I put a load of washing in the dryer last night at 12.02 am... so that was free.  I have also done a load of hot washing this morning, and it is now in the dryer as well.

Hmmm.... what else can I do I wonder?

11.50 am:  Cinnamon/Apple and Pineapple scrolls are in the oven.  Should be ready to take out shortly.

Did I tell you ... we had a bumper frost AND a bloody fog this morning.  It has only just cleared here, but there are patches of frost still in the shadows.  

I am now pretty knackered!  It's not often I'm baking for four hours!  And trying to clean up as I go.  Lots of work.

ABOVE: And there they are... now cooling off.  I might just have a scroll for my lunch. Everything smells amazing.

And just like that, I'm down three of those sweet scrolls.  I noticed two of my neighbours (ladies) sitting out in the sun together, so I took them a scroll each.  Then I had one as well.   And George, who lives behind us, is asleep in his car as it's the only way he can get warm... so once he wakes up I'll give him one too.  I don't know why he doesn't turn his heat pump on?  Probably like me, doesn't like using power.  😖😂

I am thinking of having a nap.  Cos this house is now so HOT I'm falling asleep in me chair!

2 pm:  WHOOP WHOOP, Lacy was in the vicinity and picked up all my baking, and is taking back to her freezer.  Now I really can relax.

I ended up giving scrolls to four neighbours.  The two men have already scoffed theirs and returned the little trays.  One even wrote me a 'love note' to say thank you.  HIS words, not mine. 😂😊

4.55 pm.  I didn't get to sleep.  I was rudely interrupted by the phone.  It was the linen shop, telling me our second duvet cover had arrived.

So I jumped in my car and went to Chartwell Square to pick it up.  It was 'rush hour traffic'... diabolical.  I think there might have been an accident on Resolution Drive as there was a HUGE line of cars trying to get down there.

Anyway, I got to Chartwell Square, picked up the duvet cover, and two pillowcases, that I'm going to turn into bedside drawer runners I think.

Then on my way out of the mall, I stopped in at Woolworths and bought these:

ABOVE: Two nice pieces of Corned Beef, that are now in the crock pot.  They should be done before midnight.  lol

It is a WW night, so I might just go.  I am still not weighing in, as over winter I have gained HEAPS of weight.  Never ending fucking story.  I'm fat.  I'm always going to be fat.  I pity whoever has to carry my damn coffin!  But then again, I'm going to be cremated... OMG!  I will be LIGHT.  😂😅😂

7.55 pm, and I'm home from WW's.  It was nice to see all the usual faces again.  It was bloody cold in that hall though and I couldn't wait to get home again.

Home and we had some beef and tomoato stew for our dinner.  It was really yum.

Now... time to finally relax for the day.  My god I got a lot done today.

I hope I can sleep in tomorrow.

BINDING ALL DAY

 

First up for today?

Ring a bloke that Steve recommended, to come and see what's wrong with our heat pump.  I'm hoping it's a simple fix, and we don't have to get a new one.  I have no idea how old our heat pump is, it might be ancient? 😖😕

ABOVE: Once that is done, I will load this lot into the trolley, then off I shall go to Craft Group.  Where it is WARM.  And I will enjoy the company of a couple of other ladies.  Until 1 pm, when the rest of the group will turn up for a couple of hours as well.

I wonder how many of those runners I will actually get 100% finished today?

After Craft Group, I want to go to the supermarket for a few supplies.  I plan on doing some baking tomorrow, so need a few bits 'n' bobs.

ONWARD...  

1.05 pm. I've been working in the Craft Room since 10 am. There's been three other ladies here with me, so nice company. 

So far I've managed to bind six of the runners, which I'm freaking pleased about,  but I'm gunna have to stop soon as my back and shoulders are killing me.

Mc Dreamy, who now lives in the Craft Room decided to start making horrible noises this morning.  I swore.  Then walked home and got Mc 2ie and took him down to use.

Tomorrow, or maybe Wednesday, I shall take Mc Dreamy back to the repair shop.  AGAIN.

2.20 pm and I'm done.  I left Craft Group early as it was getting very noisy!  Lots of ladies.   And too hot.  

The irony of leaving home to work down there, as it was too cold at home.  And then it was too hot in the craft room.  I always take a t-shirt to change into once I'm there.  I've even taken my shoes and socks off!

Anyway, I got seven runners finished then called it quits.

I rang the electrician first thing this morning about our heat pump, and he's coming this afternoon.  Another reason for leaving craft early, as I don't know exactly when he's coming, just 'sometime' this afternoon.

I am hoping like hell the heat pump can just be fixed.  I've not looked at the cost of replacing it, but it's bound to be thousands of dollars. Though of course, you have to weigh up what it will cost to fix vs. a new one, and the age of the existing one.  I suppose I will find out this afternoon.

Tomorrow I will be baking savoury scones, maybe cinnamon scrolls, and yes, Ginger loaves.

8 pm.  The electrician arrived just after 5 pm, and after a long conversation it was determined there was nothing wrong with my heat pump!  It was just exceptionally cold (-2.8 degrees C) this morning, and the heat pump outside unit was FROZEN, and clearly had to defrost itself before it could even think about warming up our house.

So on the electricians advice I have to A.  Keep it on 24/7 at a moderate temperature (around 20-22 degrees) and B. Turn our DVS down, as it's pumping too much cold air from outside into the house.

With any luck that will keep the house bearable.

I clearly should have listened to EVERYONE who told me to keep the bloody thing on all the time.

Seems it won't cost THAT MUCH to do that, as opposed to turning it on and off when it's just freezing.

Lesson finally learnt.

I have just been out to the supermarket to get the supplies I need for tomorrow. It was already really cold outside, it's going to be another freezing night, and a bumper frost in the morning.

And that is all for today.  Catch you tomorrow.

CLOTHING SWAP

 

There is a lady here in the village who is very gung ho with organising activities, events etc.

I don't think she's been living here that long, maybe a couple of years. edit:  She's only been here 9 months.   But anyway, she's right into getting super involved in most aspects of the village.

Today for the first time, she's running an event which involves taking any GOOD QUALITY, and in GOOD CONDITON clothes you want to swap down to the Community Centre, where you can then take anything in exchange.

So that's what I will be doing after lunch.  I've found three dresses in near perfect condition that I will take down and see what's there that I might like.

Knowing the people living here, I am doubtful I will find anything to my taste, but ya never know.

Before that, Stew wants to go for a bloody walk.  And it's freezing.  I am thankful the man is wanting to go for a walk!  Maybe that knee is finally starting to feel better? So .... I think we will just walk around the streets here for now.  I had thought of along the river bank, but it's likely to be muddy and slippery after all the rain we have had lately.

ONWARD...

11.15 am, and we have been for a walk around the neighbourhood.  It was cold, but not freezing by the time we left.

ABOVE: This little stream is dammed up to form a little lake (behind me)... this is the overflow/outlet. 

I like the bush.

ABOVE: It must be a very shallow 'lake'.  And in summer I've heard it's swarming with mosquitoes and stinky duck shit.  No thanks.  

ABOVE: Something I've wanted to do for ages, so I did it today.  I was tempted to do more, but thought I better not.  So many people here get their tits in a knot over NOTHING.

ABOVE: Was I silly to sign my name I wonder?  lol

We had lunch at Robert Harris Coffee Shop in Chartwell Square.  It is the LAST time we are going there.

I got my Chicken Filo and salad and had totally finished it and Stew still had not got his meal!  He finally got it about 10 minutes after I had finished mine.  

We also got a piece of cake each...

ABOVE: I was appalled that they would serve it looking like that!  Like WTF?

Presentation is very important when it comes to food.  I don't care that it is 'only' a cafe, they should take more pride in their presentation.

ABOVE: That was Stew's Lemon Drizzle cake... another bloody disaster.  And he didn't eat much of it as it was so dry.

Robert Harris gets a 4/10.  

Rather disappointed in our lunch.

Home now, and sitting listening to a 'who done it' on YouTube while keeping warm.  The clothing swap is in an hour, so I shall wander down there later.

4.22 pm.  Well the clothing swap went very well, quite a few ladies there.  I only found one thing to take, a little denim jacket for someone... possibly Emily.

I scored a tablecloth too... it was on the table for afternoon tea and I commented how lovely it was.  So it became mine, as it's owner didn't even like it.

I'll show it to you another day, it needs a wash now.

Now that I'm home, I am again all rugged up keeping warm.  Our heat pump is on the blink, I don't think it has been going properly ever since we moved in here.

I shall be ringing a technician tomorrow to come and suss it out.  It might be a case of fix, or get a new one.

Steve called in and reckons he can dismantle the sofa bed and get it out of the front room ... maybe  next weekend.

No rush, our new chair won't be here for a couple of months.

6.35 pm.  I have spent a good hour or more in Crabby Quarters, cutting out fabric for binding.  I am going to Craft Group tomorrow morning, and will work on binding as many of those smaller braid runners while there.

It's all ready to go in the morning.  

And that is me for the day... catch ya tomorrow.

NEW CHAIR?

 

Today I am not getting out of bed until at least 9 am.  I'm determined to have a long lie in.

I think Stew will as well, as there is no rugby game on early, or taped that he wants to watch.

Awesome.

Once we are up, we are going out to look at a lounge chair for the front room.  I'm no longer calling it a bedroom.  It's a room for watching TV in, and using the exercycle.

That is, it will be once we get the sofa bed out of there.  Which will hopefully happen soon enough.

The irony of getting another La-Z-Boy chair?  We had like, 5 of them in our last home!!!  And we got rid of all of them.

So anyway, we will get a new one, and KEEP IT.

If we get visitors that want to sleep over, we can always borrow Steve 'n' Bex's air bed, or buy our own at some point.  

As I said to Stew the other night, we are now doing what suits US, and not worrying about other people.  

After we have been out and about looking at chairs, we shall no doubt have lunch somewhere, before coming home.  I might do another couple of runners (the quilting) later on today as well.

ONWARD...

9.23 am, and I'm lying in bed at 8.58 am, and my phone goes.  It's my friend Karen in Wellington, telling me it's almost time to get up!  LOL

I was lying there clock watching, saying, not yet, not yet...  So thanks Karen.  I hope you are now up off the floor and making a start to your day.

Stew has gone to do the weekend shopping.  I am going to do Wordle, then some housework.

Then once Stew gets home we will go out and about.

OH and I forgot to mention it earlier... I got rudely woken up at 4.53 am by an ALARM for an earthquake that was happening an hour away from us.  And then Brylee messaged me as well, asking if I had felt it?  NOPE. I was SOUND ASLEEP eh?  And it wasn't felt that badly here in Hamilton.

It sounds like it was a decent quake, but thankfully, has done very little damage at all.

11 am and we have found THE CHAIR.  We went to La-z-boy and saw a couple that were OK, but $3,900 PLUS for a single chair. WTF? 

 Then we looked in Harvey Norman and found one that is perfectly fine for HALF the price AND we get $150 store gift cards as well. SOLD.  It SHOULD be here in September,  depending on shipping... THANKS DONALD TRUMP.

PHOTO PENDING......

ABOVE: the chair. The salesman originally said it would arrive in 2-3 weeks. Then a bit later on he had to revise that to 'sometime' in September.  So I biffed him on the shoulder... and several other salesmen thought that was hysterical.  One even took a photo of me re-enacting 'the biff' ... it was rather funny.

We are now heading home with some food for lunch. We don't feel like eating out, its cold and dreary. Home is comfy.

7 pm, I have spent the afternoon up until now quilting more of the small braid runners.  All twelve are now ready for the final step, binding.

I have to make more binding, so will possibly do that tomorrow.

And now, it is time to kick back and relax, watch the telly and keep warm.  Catch ya tomorrow.

WELL I TRIED

 

ABOVE:  Last night I did try to find some fabric that I could make into duvet covers.  This was the only one that I was certain I had enough of to do it with, but as you can see, it's just too busy.  

And I wasn't going to do a patchwork type one either... it would have still been too busy.

I also wanted to keep using my existing linen/pillow accessories.

ABOVE:  I made up HALF the bed, with one new duvet and cover to show you how it will look once I have both duvets on the bed.  I think the white/floral duvet cover is just darling.

And of course, it goes with what I already have.

Winning.

Today?

I am definitely getting into Crabby Quarters and working on those 12 runners.  Quilting, then binding.  It will take me a few days.

ABOVE:  It's a bit funny eh?  

ONWARD...

1.35 pm.

I decided to come down to the craft room and do my sewing here today. I knew there would be a couple of other ladies here, so thought the company would be nice.

ABOVE : I've quilted and trimmed five runners so far. I'll probably do a couple more before heading home. It's nice and warm down here, but I do miss watching Netflix movies while I'm sewing.

4.30 pm, I came home after quilting 7 runners, so a good effort for the day.  It's bloody cold in my house, so I'm sitting with my heated throw on, watching a Netflix doco.  True crime, which I really enjoy.

Stew and I are going out for dinner, to The Lookout again.  

Right now though, I really should get up and close the curtains and put away my sewing stuff.

8 pm.  Just in from having dinner at The Lookout.  It was freakin' busy, busy, busy.  And live music, which was a bit too loud.  We probably won't go there on a Friday night again.

But the meal was fantastic.

ABOVE: We shared a pizza, though Stew always eats way more than I do.

Then for a change, we ordered a dessert each.

ABOVE: We both had the Apple Crumble with a side of ice cream.  It was delicious.  

I'm now feeling decidedly jaded, and will be having an early night.

Catch ya tomorrow.

COFFEE AND CHAT/QUILTING/HOUSEKEEPER

 

Righty ho, today is gunna go something like this:

Start pressing and pinning this lot...

ABOVE: That's twelve braid runners that need pressing/pinning then quilting.  I hope to get maybe half? of them done today.  Might be pushing it, but I can only try.

I will be taking a break at morning tea time, when I will wander down to the Community Centre to join the peeps for 'Coffee & Chat'.  I didn't go to the Coffee & Chat on Tuesday, I simply could not be bothered.  

I'm starting to feel like just giving it up.  While the company on a whole is lovely, I just feel like I would rather be at home sewing. 😕

I am expecting Lacy sometime today as well... she's got a few jobs to do around here.  Mostly the vacuuming and some dusting/polishing.  It's so nice to have her help, even though she calls me a bitch!  (so I've heard)  😂😖😟

She better arrive and grovel. 

ONWARD...

12.25 pm, and I'm home again.

I popped into the craft room to chat to a couple of the ladies that were working there.  I enjoyed that.

Then on to Coffee & Chat, where I had a very nice hour or more!  She who can dominate the conversation was not there, so we all got a word in.  That was good.  I will go again, cos as you said Vickie, we moved here for the 'socialisation' among other reasons.

When I arrived home Lacy was here doing the housework.  And YES, she did grovel!  She had called me a bitch IN JEST to her boyfriend, who told me.  Without being there at the time of said utterance, I wasn't to know she was joking right?

So we are all good, and I know she didn't mean it 'literally'.

Moving on, I've just had my lunch, and really, really don't feel like sewing today.  So I might not!

I've had an idea.  Instead of having one large duvet/cover on our bed, I'm going to switch to two singles.

That will make it so much easier to change the duvet cover(s), cos right now I really struggle to change our King size cover.

AND it means we won't be fighting over the duvet... though in all fairness, it's ME who ends up with most of it!

So, in a little while I will pop out to the Base and do some linen shopping.  I gave away all our single duvets and covers during our last couple of moves.  Derrr.  So typical.

THREE.   HOURS.   LATER.... I visited several different places that sell linen.  And finally found the new single duvets at Bed Bath and Beyond.  I went for NZ Wool inners, after initially thinking I'd be buying Feather and Down inners.

ABOVE: What drew me to these was inside each box is TWO duvet inners.  Each is of differing weight, and they can be clipped together for a winter weight duvet, or have the heavier one taken off and use the lighter one for summer.  I thought that was ingenious!  

Next was finding new duvet covers.  Ha ha, try finding 'grown up' ones in single size.  Most I saw were leaning towards children's tastes.

Eventually I ended up at Bed Bath N Table in Chartwell Square, where I found what I liked the most.  They only had one Single in the shop, so I've ordered a second one.  It should be here early next week.

I have not put the new linen on the bed yet... maybe later.

Photo won't be until I have both duvets and covers on.

Before you say it, I did think of making new duvet covers myself, but I don't have any (or enough) of a single fabric that a. I want on my bed, and b. I just can't be arsed doing it!

I have enough on my work desk already waiting for me.

8.05 pm, and we are just home from the pub.  Stew spent 3 hours there, and I spent some time with the kids before joining him.  It was nice catching up with the people there.  I'd not been for a little while.

Now, I shall kill time until Coronation Street starts.  

Catch ya tomorrow.

WHOOPS, FORGOT THE BEFORE PHOTO.

 

Well, I forgot to take the friggin 'before' photo of Coco yesterday, before her groom.  You all know her I presume, so just imagine her all fluffy and scruffy.

ABOVE: And there she is looking utterly adorable, and happy to be on my heated throw.  She got short shift pretty quickly, as I use my lap to put the keyboard on, when I'm working on the computer.

Today I am going to make 2 - 3 more runner tops, but these next ones will have some blue incorporated into them.  Just to mix it up a bit.

THEN I will stop making more, and get going on quilting them all.

ONWARD...

2.25 pm:  And here I am.  Having made three more braid runner tops, then...

ABOVE:  Lying then out on the floor with batting, and cutting them all out.  The next step is to cut out the backing fabric, then pressing and pinning them all, in readiness for quilting.

But something tells me I won't get that all done today, as I'm already done in.

I did stop for a quick lunch, so haven't been 'on the go' quite all day.

I am definitely stopping for now though.  I just need to sit still for a little while.

OF COURSE I DIDN'T SIT STILL!   I went back into Crabby Quarters and got the backing fabric cut out for all twelve runners.

So tomorrow I can make a start on ironing them all, and pinning and quilting them.

That is definitely going to take me some time.

I did eventually stop, just before Stew arrived home from work.  Then I've had an absolutely lazy evening watching the telly bla  bla bla.

Catch ya tomorrow.

MID WINTER GROOM

 

On a roll ... having got four runner tops finished yesterday, my aim for today is another four.

I know it can be done.

I have put off getting Coco groomed for 3 weeks longer than the 'usual' time frame, being it's bloody cold.  But today she is getting groomed again.  I feel a bit sorry for her, but it really does need doing.  She smells.  Even when we bath her, she starts to smell in just a day or two.  I think it's an age thing with her, because she never used to get smelly so quick.

I will endeavour to get the 'before' and 'after' photos, as I usually do.  

The washing didn't get done on the weekend, so that's top of my 'to do' list once I'm out of bed.  Which will be around 7.30 - 8 o'clock.  No rush.

ONWARD...

And yeah, I was late putting today's post up.  Sorry about that.

And here we are, and my plans have changed slightly.  I decided to have a go at taking some of the sofa bed apart, just the fabric, to see if it could be disassembled to get it out of the house?

I got about 2 dozen staples out, then ...

ABOVE:  I called Lacy.  She came straight away and carried on the good work.  It may not work, but it's worth a try right?  Steve can look at the internal build and will know if he can take it apart to get it out.

While Lacy does that, I can get on with my sewing.

ABOVE:  It's now 1.45 pm, and I've managed to make three more small braid runner tops.

So I've got a few lined up to quilt and bind now.

I am going to make a few more though.  Cos I want to build up my stock of this size runner.

ABOVE: Between us, Lacy and I managed to expose one end of the sofa bed, so now Steve can see if he can sort it out.  And not just chop it up with a saw!

ABOVE: Our dinner is smelling delicious.  Beef roll ups and veges.  I am not very good at cooking beef, so I hope it comes out OK.

That dinner was really lovely, I did cauliflower cheese to go with it.  Super yummy.

Coco's groom took two hours!  The groomer is training up her teenage daughter, hence it taking so long.  I don't mind at all, and I always pay the daughter a tenner on top of the groom price, cos she deserves it.

It's quite a technical, hard job to do I'm sure.

I just finished sewing for the day, I am totally knackered.  I got FIVE runner tops done today!  I think that's a record.

Tomorrow I am going to make 2-3 more, then stop to quilt them all.

For now though, It's nearly 7 pm and it's time to sign off for the day.   Catch ya tomorrow.

CRAFT DAY ROLLS AROUND AGAIN

 

Well, another Monday rolls around, and I am heading down to the Craft room mid-morning.

ABOVE: As I mentioned yesterday, I have spent hours cutting out strips, and have plenty to make a couple of dozen runners.  I've laid out 7 to start with.  I will work on making the tops first, before quilting and binding them.  It's what works best for me.

ABOVE:  My latest bruise... it looks worse now.  And it is still very sore.  Thankfully, I've not damaged myself since then.  Maybe my 'clux' phase is over?  😄😅

ABOVE:  I've had to come to appreciate friggin Camellias, they are growing all over our village!  I reckon the original gardener must have loved them, because seriously, there's so many of them.  

Sadly though, they don't last long, and leave a huge mess on the lawns.  

That was boring as F eh? lol

I might as well bugger off and get myself and my trolley ready for Craft Group.

ONWARD...

Well its been an interesting morning.

I came down to the Community Centre at around 9 am, intending to buy something from the cafe before heading into the craft room.

Then I spied a golden retriever in the big lounge room, so followed  it in for a cuddle. And he belonged to the exercise instructor who was about to start a class. I don't know how it happened,  but I ended up getting persuaded to stay for the class.

It was  OK.  

I finally got to the Craft room an hour later. 

ABOVE: With all the YAKKING since I got here I've only managed to finish one runner top in 3 hours!!!

When I come down to craft group, I ALWAYS forget something and end up having to walk home to get what I forgot. Today I had to go home TWICE,  so when I got back I sat down and wrote a check list. Hopefully I never forget anything again.

It is BUZZING  here today. There's 13 of us, all yakking. It's actually noisy! 

7.05 pm.  I arrived home from Craft Group feeling blah.  But decided to get back into Crabby Quarters and carry on sewing.

And I sewed another two runner tops, to add to the two I got done at Craft Group.  So four for the day, that's not bad.  😊

Bearing in mind they still need to be quilted and bound.  But that will wait until I've got a few more made.

That exercise class I took this morning may have been totally geared towards much older, infirm people, but it still did something to my body!

My arms and legs are certainly telling me I did something today.  

Maybe I should join a few more of the classes being run here?  

We will see, I'll check out what's on and try a few I think.

Right, I'm out of here, catch ya tomorrow.