LINEN CUPBOARD NIGHTMARE

 

In our last home we had 3 linen cupboards, and even more room when I used a wardrobe as well.

When we moved, I gave away a mass of linen, and only kept what we needed, plus a few spares.

But the linen cupboard here is just too small to even hold our minimum.  Some is in the attic in black sacks!

Today I am going to buy some of those vacuum pack bags... so I can suck the life out of some things, so they take up less room.  I'm hoping my stick vacuum does the job, if not... I'll have to borrow Lacy's vacuum.

This is the first home we've had that has not had much storage.  Don't downsize unless you are prepared for having to squeeze ya shit into smaller spaces!  I wasn't as prepared as I thought I was.

At least I've stopped crying now!  😂😅

After I've done that, I will make a start on quilting and binding the 11 runner tops I've just finished making. 

ABOVE: For weeks I've been stressing out about where I could lay out a big roll of batting in this house?

I thought I'd end up having to take it over to Steve 'n' Bex's to use their huge patio.

But no !  It fits (just) in my lounge.  So I cut out all 11 pieces I need for the 11 runners last night.  Now I shall cut out the backing fabric, then quilt... bla bla bla.

A few photos from last night:

ABOVE:  Lily loves having her photo taken!

ABOVE: And Archer does not mind at all.  He's blossomed over the past year, it's so wonderful to see.

ABOVE: Dante was like, NOPE, don't want me photo taken, rolling around on the floor with his shirt over his head.

ABOVE: And then he relented, and posed as only he can, with his baby sister.  She's so tiny next to him!

ABOVE: And not to be left out is our Marley.  She's giving me the side eye, cos she doesn't like having her photo taken either.  😂😅😖
ONWARD... 

11.05 am, and I've been out, bought vacuum bags, picked up the vacuum from Lacy, gassed up my car and now I'm home.

ABOVE:  I'm now going to do this job tomorrow, with Stew's help. He will LOVE that.  😂😅 

So now, it's back to sewing.  Something I can do on me own.

ABOVE:  Well, I only got this one totally finished today.  It didn't have the red border fabric originally, but I decided to add it, to give it a bit more oomph, and size.  I think it looks awesome.  Bright, but awesome.  Somebody is gunna love it.

I started the next one, but only got half the quilting done before Stew arrived home.  I don't like to sew once he gets home, as that is 'our' time together.

So, a nice evening stretches ahead, and a long weekend to look forward to.

We don't have any plans to go away, bearing in mind his knee is still slowing him down too much.

So, we will have some small outings, nothing too far from home.

Catch ya tomorrow.

USUAL THURSDAY AROUND HERE

 

I shall start today with some boring old housework, followed by starting my next runner.

ABOVE:  I have laid out the fabric for this one already.  I'm feeling quite excited to be doing something really different this time.  I even found a nice fabric for the centre piece too.

I'm thinking of adding something (in applique') to the centre piece as well.  but that will happen later on.

I will be taking a break from the sewing at 10 am, and heading down to the Community Centre for Coffee and Chat.

I wonder if the man who was going to take 'The Headmistress' to task at the meeting yesterday turns up.  If he does it will be interesting to see if he says anything about 'it' or not.

I know he owes me and a few others an explanation, after insisting we all attend that meeting to 'support him'.  

ONWARD...

9.10 am.  Housework - Done.

Quick morning walk - Done.

ABOVE: It was looking promising...

ABOVE:  There is a river there... somewhere!

ABOVE:  But the fog was sooooo thick, I couldn't even see the river!  I did a quick walk, until I didn't feel safe, and turned around and came home again.  It was just too secluded, dark and foggy.

Better to be safe than sorry.

I am now heading over to Spotlight for more plain black fabric for the backings of all those runners.  

ABOVE:  Black fabric acquired, and on sale as per usual. Spotlight is now like Briscoes, there is ALWAYS a sale on.  

And then off to the supermarket for FOUR things.

And a MIRACLE HAPPENED.  

I only bought those FOUR THINGS!!!!

Next, off to Coffee and Chat.  Which was nice, not as many there today as it is cold and miserable outside.

Now I'm home and making some lunch, then I can get into Crabby Quarters and get some work done.
Sorry, I forgot to say, NO ... Big Mouth did not turn up.  Funny that.

ABOVE: Today's runner top is done.  I was going to embellish it with a maple leaf in the middle, but now that it's done, I can see it doesn't need it at all.  It's already really beautiful.  

I am now going to take a break until Stew gets home, then I'll take him to the pub and visit the kids.  Just the usual Thursday evening.

11 pm:  Well as I thought, it was a normal Thursday evening.

I got to spend some time with the kids, which is always enjoyable.

Picked Stew up from the pub then came home.  Watched a bit of telly then... off to bed.

YET. ANOTHER. RUNNER.

 

There I was thinking Stew loved ginger cake/loaf, and I put heaps of crystalised ginger chunks in, and on top, of what I baked yesterday.  ONLY to discover he doesn't like crystalised bloody ginger!

WTF?  He likes ginger cake/loaf, just not the chunky ginger.  I'm the opposite, of course I am.  😖😕  So now I get to eat the top half of the loaf, and he gets the bottom! lol

Today I am starting another really GREEN Kiwiana Runner, like the one I got done yesterday.

I think after that one I'll make 1 or 2 brown hued runners, then move on to quilting and binding them all.

That's going to take a bit of time, cos there's going to be about 12 to do.

Oh well, just as well I like being busy eh?

There is the monthly Residents Meeting in the village this afternoon.  I don't usually bother going anymore as they are usually a bit boring.  But I'm going today as I know shit is going to hit the fan!  At Coffee & Chat yesterday one of the men there said he was going to take 'The Headmistress' to task about 'something', and we all should be there to see what's going on.

Hmmmm.

'The Headmistress', as he calls her, is the Chairperson of the Residents Committee, and also the lady who 'runs' our Craft Group.  She used to be a teacher, and you can tell.  Hence the nick name this man has given her.

So... the meeting might be a bit more interesting today.  It's not on until mid afternoon, so I'll be sure and let ya know how that goes... later.

ONWARD...

11.35 am.

I've not started sewing yet.  Instead, I went out to Tamahere (Bower Bird Fabric shop), Matangi (Tis The Season Fabric Shop) and lastly, back here in Hamilton, Backstreet Bargains.

ABOVE:  I got all but one piece of those fabrics from the first two shops, and the last one piece from Backstreet Bargains.

I WISH I had remembered that Backstreet Bargains Kiwiana fabrics are the cheapest anywhere!  I bought some up in Auckland the other day for $36 a metre, at Backstreet Bargains it is $24.50.   Grrrr. 

So anyway, I'm pretty well stocked up again with Blues and Greens.  I doubt I'll need to get any more for the remainder of the year.

Shit it's been an expensive year for my sewing!  New machine and lots of fabric.

I told Stew the other day I'm stocking up NOW, cos one day we won't be able to afford it.  Forward planning and all that.

I've just had an early lunch and will take a little while to relax, then head into Crabby Quarters until 2 pm.

2pm..  the meeting has just started....

AND... I and several other people who specifically attended the meeting today left feeling quite disgruntled.  He who was going to cause a fuss and 'blow The Headmistress up',  DIDN'T. He totally backed down and gave an apology for 'misunderstanding' instead.  WTF?
I was so looking forward to a good, heated discussion.

I have to say it, that particular man is obnoxious, a total bore, and a few other adjectives not so nice, all rolled into one.  Worse, he's a very close neighbour. NOT the one who caused a stink over our shed either.  Seems there's a few arseholes who live quite close to us, sadly.

But thankfully, on a whole, most people in this village are lovely.  

I'm now warming up under my heated throw, cos I got really cold down in the village Community Centre.  When you walk into the Centre from outside, it feels really warm, but once you sit down for a length of time, it's NOT warm.

Remind me not to attend any more of those meetings, they really are damn boring. 

ABOVE: Runner of the day, and I am almost ready to turn around and start quilting and binding them all!

ONE more to make though, a brown hued one.  Tomorrow.

Stew went down to the gym, as he's been doing several nights in a row now.  I joined him after finishing that runner.

Now we are going to be boring old farts, and watch the telly, have something to eat then head off to bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.

A LOAF, A HOUSEKEEPER, ANOTHER RUNNER

 

Today I plan on making a ginger loaf/cake.  I had a piece at craft group last week and it was delicious!  So, Stew is keen for me to have a go at making one.

I bought all the necessary ingredients over the last couple of days, so I'm ready to go.

I've got Lacy coming over today I think? Not 100% on that one, she might be coming tomorrow.

ABOVE:  The centre fabric is what I tried to buy more of yesterday.  Apparently it is a Nutex fabric, created 8 years ago.  No longer made, which is so typical.  I find a fabric I love and can only get the very last of it.  😕😔

I managed to get 1.3 metres of it, so possibly enough to use it in 3-4 runners.

I'm looking forward to making it today.

There is a 'Coffee & Chat' meeting down in the Community Centre this morning, so if I get the loaf made in time, I'll wander down there for an hour or so.                                            

I enjoy the coffee and chats.

ONWARD...

9.05 am and the loaf has been in the oven for WAY longer than the recipe said!  It was supposed to be done after 45 minutes, but so far it's been in for 75 minutes, and it's still not cooked in the middle.  Maybe my oven is not as HOT as I think?

I'm keeping a track of how many times I 'up' the time, for next time I cook it.

ABOVE: Finally, after 80 minutes, it was done.  It split in the middle because I had to ram a knife in it to keep checking if it was done or not!  Next time I won't have to do that.

Once it's cooled I'll take it out of the cake pan and ... taste it!  lol

I put chunks of crystalised ginger over the top of it, which wasn't in the recipe, but as L had done it, I did too.

It's a cold, foggy, miserable day... the sun is trying it's best of win.  Maybe in another hour or two it will have burnt through?  But right now, it's COLD.  Probably not as cold as other places, sorry other places.

Morning tea and chat was nice, always some interesting topics discussed.

Lacy did a wonderful job of the housework, and cleaned the exterior of my car as well.

I have another ginger loaf in the oven.  I have changed a couple of things.

1.  Upped the temperature to 180 instead of 170.

2. Put the crystalised ginger throughout the entire mixture, not just on the top.

3. Put the mixture in a cake tin, instead of a loaf tin.  So it's thinner, should cook quicker.

4. Put a tiny bit of Baking Powder in the mix, as it was VERY dense.  

Let's see what happens with that shall we?

Lacy does not like ginger, but she tasted the loaf.  HATED IT.  Weird girl.

ABOVE:   5.30 pm.  I finally got today's runner top finished.  I love it, there's no aqua in this one.  It really is totally green.

And look at that, I FINALLY found the best way to take a freakin' good photo of runners!  On the back of a door.  Why the hell didn't I think of that like... YEARS AGO?

I just need to paint said door white, so it's a 'clean' background.  Maybe I shall do that very soon.

In fact, I want to paint all the interior doors white, so perhaps that will be my winter project.

I am attending WW this evening, just for the meeting side of it, and of course, to say hi to those who I've come to know a bit.  

7.15 pm, and I'm just in from the WW meeting. It was a nice meeting.

And now it's time to wind down for the day, and just blob out.

Catch ya tomorrow.

IS HE FIXED, OR NOT???

 

This morning I am driving over to the lake, having a walk, then going into Frankton to pick up Mc DREAMY!  

FOR.  THE.  FIFTH.  TIME.  He has been backwards and forth from Sewing Machine World's repairman since December 18th last year.

MAYBE, just maybe, this time he is fixed?

I am NOT holding my breath to be honest.  If one technician can't find and fix the problem in 5 months, how can a new repairman do it in a week?  I'm so sceptical. 

Let's hold our breath and see... I can't pick him up until 10am when the shop opens.  I won't be leaving the shop before making the lady test it in front of me, FOR SURE!

If all goes well, I will take Mc Dreamy to the Village Craft Room and use him there. 

Late yesterday I finished the first of two (for now) Red/Black/White Braid runner tops.

ABOVE: And there it is.  It needs to be quilted and have binding added, but not yet.  I'm working on having about a dozen ready for those steps, and do them over a few days.

ONWARD...

ABOVE: He's back! He works!

And I'm at craft group, so I'll do a fuller update once I'm home later.

Well it is much later!   

First up, I got to Sewing Machine World and spent an hour there, getting Mc Dreamy and a few fabrics.  NOT a lot of fabric, but it took forever cos Neil can TALK, and talk and talk!

I told him if he didn't hurry up he was buying me lunch, cos I'd still be there at lunchtime. lol

So he hurried up, but it still took him an hour to cut up about 8 pieces of fabric for me.

After that I went to Craft Group, and made this runner top:

ABOVE: It is very similar to yesterday's one, but not identical.  I used Mc Dreamy, and he went like, well... a dream.  😂😊

Funny story.

The group of us ladies at Craft Group were discussing how we are often asked by various people to 'hem this, alter that, make this for charity' and so on.

I said I always just say NO, cos I'm too busy doing my own thing, or I simply do not support that charity.  Or I don't like that person!

So that was the discussion going on when next thing, a lady from the village walks into our room and starts asking 'any sewers' if we could sew up these dresses for Samoan children???

There was only three of us 'sewers' in the room.  I turn around and catch the eye of one of our ladies and she almost bursts into laughter.  My look must have said it all.

I SUDDENLY HAD SELECTIVE HEARING LOSS... and although the lady asking for us to make the dresses went on and on about it, I just kept on sewing my runner and ignored her.

Once she left, there were quite a few laughs.

After craft group, I decided one of the fabric I had bought in the morning was just adorable, and I thought, I'll go back to Sewing Machine World right now and buy more.

It was DELICIOUS walking back into the shop just to see Neil's face drop!  He thought I was back to say Mc Dreamy wasn't going!!!!

I let him sweat for a minute, then put him out of his misery.  He called me a bad word... in jest of course.

It was a wasted trip, cos seems I had bought the last of the fabric I wanted more of, and there's none left anywhere.  Damn.

I'm now home, and about to unload the car.  I used it to get around today, I had too much to do, carry and so on.

And now, it's 8.45 pm.  We are watching the telly.. and will be off to bed fairly soon.  We are both tired... too many nights with interrupted sleep.  Thanks to the knee pain still.

Catch ya tomorrow.

A LAZY SUNDAY

 

First and foremost for today... we are having a lie in.  Probably not a 'sleep in', as we both tend to wake up at the usual time, no matter what day it is.  Which is a bit of a bugger.

But never mind.  Moving on.

Photos of yesterday's purchases:

ABOVE:  More greens and Kiwiana fabrics.

ABOVE: Then I went slightly nuts, and bought that lot ... to make a few Brown and Gold hued Braid Runners.  I don't know if I have anything suitable for the centre of a runner in those shades. I shall have a hunt in the 'stash' later on, I might get lucky.

ABOVE: Then I spied that Red Tui fabric, so got those two fabrics to make a couple of Red/Black 'n' White Braid Runners.  

Going outside my comfort zone again.  But worth having a bit more variety on the stall I reckon.

ABOVE: We got this funky plant pot at the garden centre.  I'm not sure where it's going yet.

ABOVE: Lastly, this freakin' cute flower/bud holder.  In the shop they had a single flower in each vial... it looked so cute.  All I had to put in them last night was lavender... which were a bit short.  You could buy these in groups of 9/12/16/32 and so on.  There was also a large round one... I was tempted, but as I'm happy with what's on our dining table, I left the large round one there.

I think I have been ever so good not buying much 'clutter' for the inside of the house since we moved, so yesterday felt a bit naughty.  But it's also nice to have a little splurge now and then.

Stew is doing the weekend grocery shop once he's up.  Then later on we are going out for lunch.  

Other than that, we really have no plans for the rest of the day.

I'm hanging out for TOMORROW, when I can go and get Mc Dreamy and bring him home again. 

ONWARD...

11.22 am  and all the housework is done.

I've cut out strips for two red/black/white runners. 

Stews done his shopping. Pak n Save had NO DIET COKE! That's a first, so we are now at Rototuna having lunch, before going to New World for Diet Coke.

We can't live without our DC.

Another very average lunch, at Robert Harris in Rototuna.  At least their hot chocolate was HOT.

Home, and I tried to have a little nap, but nope, not happening.  Stew went out to the cemetary to tidy up his parent's gravesite.  Now he's watching ... rugby.  What a surprise.

I'm thinking of going into Crabby Quarters to start one of those red/black/white runners.  But I'm not enthused right now.

Maybe a bit later.

It is now 6 pm, and I've done some sewing this afternoon.  I have got one new runner top done, and will show you tomorrow.  I'm quite happy with it.  Weird, it's not blue or green!

Now we are settling down for the evening, feet up, blankie on... till bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.

DAY TRIP TO AUCKLAND

  

Whoop whoop, we have a full day ahead of us.

We are going to Auckland for the day.

First up we shall be stopping in at Ribbon Rose, which is a huge fabric shop in Penrose.  I am specifically looking for more greens for runners.

Next stop will be visiting Stew's sister Khady.  We are going with her to the Parnell Market, where we will grab some food for our lunch.  I think lunch is going to be in a park?  Not sure, but out and about somewhere.

After that, Stew and I will be heading over to the North Shore to visit my Aunty Joyce.  She has nagged us for years to visit her!  Whoops, just never got around to it.  We see her at family get togethers usually.

So that's our plans for today.

Oh and before I forget it... today marks ONE YEAR in our new home.  That year has gone damn fast!

ONWARD...

9.42 am, traveling along the Southern Motorway, almost at Mt Wellington and we just saw a motorbike rider doing something utterly CRAZY. He was riding along without holding on to his bikes handlebars!!!   WTF?  I can't believe anyone would be so utterly STUPID. 

Nearly at Ribbon Rose,  its been ages since we have been there. I'm a bit excited.  😊

ABOVE: 11.10 am, and our visit to Ribbon Rose was awesome.  The lady who measured out our fabric was the owner of the shop, and she ended up giving us about 3 metres of fabric for FREE! 

She had recognised me from our last visit, she said she remembers me saying "Are you shitting me?", when I found out they were having a massive sale and I didn't know. Lol

We are now visiting Khady. No market visit after all, we got here too late for that. 

5.45 pm and we are finally on our way home. A fuller update once we are home. For now a few photos of the city...

7.20 pm, we are safely home.  I felt so sorry for Coco, I watched her on and off all day. She spent all her time wandering around the house, looking for us.  😕  She was so  happy when we got home.  She's now sitting on my lap, on top of my heated throw.  So cute.

Our day went pretty much exactly as planned... Ribbon Rose, then off to pick up Stew's sister Khady.  We had lunch at the cafe at Palmers Garden Centre in Remuera.  It was very average I must say.

ABOVE:  While at the garden centre, I was so tempted to buy one of those blue Orchids!  BUT, our home would have been too cold for it, and at $89, it would have died and been an utter waste of money.  So sad, cos just how beautiful are they!  I did buy a couple of things there though, and will show you tomorrow.

After lunch, we visited a cousin of Stew and Khady's just up the road from the cafe.

ABOVE: Their home overlooks Orakei Basin, such a lovely view!  That little 'lake' is actually a coastal inlet.  It's where people go to do water skiing etc (mostly).  We spent a very nice hour or so catching up with Ross and Libby, before then heading over to see my Aunty Joyce on the North Shore.

ABOVE: Joyce lives in a retirement village, way, way bigger than where we live!  Huge high rise buildings, probably a couple of thousand people live there, if not more.

She gave us a tour of the main facilities.  It was very nice, but not for us.

The above photo is taken in the main foyer, I loved those paintings.

ABOVE: We only saw one area that had gardens.  There was probably a few more dotted around, but it really just felt cold and impersonal.  Virtually NO trees.  

ABOVE:  Joyce standing in front of the vege planters, she has one.  There's only 6, she was lucky to get one.

Her apartment is very nice, more spacious than our little home and certainly more modern.  I could live in it, but not in that complex.

After visiting with Joyce and her 'boyfriend', we left for home.

The traffic was horrendous getting out of Auckland, then it eased up thankfully.

We got home just in time for Stew to watch the rugby! 

I cooked us a light dinner.

And now I am going to do WORDLE, then browse the 'net.

I will post a photo of my new fabric, and the other things I bought at the garden centre, tomorrow.

Catch ya then.