HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY TO COCO

 

ABOVE:  Our beautiful Coco is 16 today!   She is still doing extremely well for her age, and no one who meets her believes she's that age.

I'm going to give her some special treats today.

ABOVE: I watched this on Facebook the other day, weird things pop up all the time.  This one made me smile.

It's SO TRUE!  😂😉

ABOVE:  Yesterday afternoon I was looking at Stew on his lazy boy chair in the lounge, and thought, NOPE.  His knee was still bent, and it's supposed to be kept flat/straight.   So, I kicked  him out of the lounge.

ABOVE:  I set up the sofa bed, and made him sit on that.  He has a big screen tv in there, with SKY SPORT... he's set.  He might find it more difficult getting up and down from the lower seat, but he must keep his knee in the correct position.   We ain't doing anything 'wrong' in relation to his recovery if I can help it.

ONWARD...

FBG SWEATSHIRTS

 

On Wednesday afternoon I ordered two plain purple sweatshirts online.  (blanktees.co.nz)

The arrived less than 24 hours later!  Amazing service.

I am going to wear them on FBG walks when it's bloody cold.

And now... I am making them 'mine'.

ABOVE:  Once the first one is finished, I shall show you.  I'm hoping it looks OK.

ABOVE:  Last night, once it was cool, I planted the two new little ground cover plants we got for by the letterbox.  I also put a paver there, one that's not heavily 'decorated'... I think it looks nice there.

Stew's surgeon is visiting him around 11 am this morning. Depending on how that goes, Stew could be coming home today.  I am going up at around 10 am, so I'm there for when the surgeon arrives. All indications from yesterday suggest he will be coming home today.

ONWARD...

12.30 pm.

And he has been discharged.

ABOVE: Getting in and out of the car was difficult, luckily he won't need to do that again for about a week.

ABOVE: Me being the dutiful wife... lunch is served, with decorative greenery and a flower.

I've told him not to expect that again.  😂😅

ABOVE: now he's safely ensconced in his chair with a cuppa tea and food, I'm popping out to the supermarket for the fresh fruit etc.

He has his phone handy in case he needs help... but I think he will be just fine.  He has Coco.

2.40 pm:  And PHEW!  I'm knackered.  I did a rather big grocery shop, picked up Stew's prescription, came home and unloaded it all, then grabbed some lunch for myself.

I think we have enough food in the house to last us a month, at least!

7.25 pm, and we've had a quiet afternoon, as expected.  I looked after 'the man', made sure he had everything he needed, then had a nap.  I needed it.

My head is pounding... should really take a chill pill.

That's us for the day, we shall be off to bed at a decent time tonight.

Hoping Stew gets some sleep, and me too.

We are going to try sleeping in the same bed for now.  If it doesn't work out, for whatever reason, I'll move into the spare bedroom for a while.

Let's just wait and see how we go tonight.

Catch ya tomorrow.

THE SCHOOL RUN

 

This morning I am doing the 'school run' with the boys.

Bex is in Invercargill and Steve has a hospital appointment.  He's taking Lily with him, so I just need to get the boys to school.  Easy as.

After that, I will go up and visit Stew in the hospital.

I will ring the hospital soon to find out what his night was like. Hopefully it was OK.

ABOVE:  I forgot this photo from last night.  It's the nurse showing us the little device that is connected to inside his leg.  They will be using it to infuse pain killers directly into his knee... literally flooding the area with drugs to keep the pain levels down.  Shame ya can't go home with that.

At some point he will have to contend with pain again until his knee is all healed and working again.  But he will have pills to take, thankfully.

ONWARD...

ABOVE: Stews breakfast, Eggs Benedict.  How nice. He's had an excellent night... he's sparking on all fours in fact. 

ABOVE: And there it is in all its GORY. It's going to be fun watching it progress from that to ?  Time will tell.

ABOVE: First time up on crutches... the physiotherapist is really impressed with how well he's doing. Bearing in mind all the pain killers he's got on board right now, it's no wonder hes not in too much pain. He's been warned tomorrow will be a different story. His pain will actually get worse  before its slowly gets better again.

He MIGHT be home late tomorrow. 

ABOVE: Morning tea in Braemar... and even I was given a hot chocolate, and a hot custard tart! That tart was bloody delicious 😋. 

I left the hospital after an hour or so, and went shopping.  Nothing fun, just some dog food and a night light for the bathroom.

I didn't find a night light I liked, so thought about it and decided to use one of our Scentsy wax burners.  It lets out quite a bit of light, so I'll see how that goes tonight.

 

Stew has been finding the light coming into our bedroom first thing in the morning wakes him up too early.. hence I want to now close the curtains, instead of keeping them open.

BEFORE anyone comments:

*** It is so private around here, having the curtains open overnight was just fine, and let air in through the open windows too. ***

It is now 12.10 pm, and I'm going to have a nap.  I'm so damn tired!  I will visit Stew after me nap.

4.45 pm.  And the nap didn't happen.  I simply could not fall asleep, so I just lay down for an hour or so.

Then one of the maintenance men arrived to instal a new smoke alarm.  Then I went up and visited Stew again.

He is still doing really, really well.

His surgeon has said he will most likely discharge him around midday tomorrow.

That would be awesome, provided he's still doing as well as he is right now of course.

Now I'm home again, and will probably do bugger all for the rest of the day.  I've got last night's Coronation Street to watch, then I MIGHT go into C.Q. and work on my latest little project.

The four Braid Runners 'on the go' have gone on the back burner for a few days, until I get this other little project done.

Weird how I've felt like a wet dish rag all day, and now, at 6.30 pm I'm feeling like doing all sorts of jobs!

I've just sorted out the linen cupboard, scooped dog poop (eeewwww), got a huge load of washing off the line, and am about to tackle a couple of other little jobs.  Go me.

8 pm and all those other little jobs are done and I feel good for having done them.

Time to sign off for the day.

Catch ya tomorrow.

SURGERY DAY FOR STEW

The day is finally here.

Stew goes to hospital today to have his left knee replacement.  He has to 'report' to the hospital at 4 pm this afternoon, and his surgery will be at around 6 pm, all going well.  It's much later in the day than we expected.

I will be staying at the hospital with him until I know he's out of surgery and recovering well.

No way will I leave there until I know he's OK.

The other thing happening today... Bex is flying down to Invercargill for her eldest brother's wedding.  She is going on her own.  Steve will be working from home while she is away.  Bex has never left Lily before, certainly not for several days.  It will be a long few days for Steve I'm sure. lol

I will try to help out where I can, but I doubt he will need me much, if at all.  He's very domesticated.  😂😅😆

And of course, my focus will be on Stew and his recovery.  

Because we don't have to get to the hospital until late this afternoon, I suppose we will just have a quiet day here... not tempt fate by going out and about.

I will work on those Braid Runners I think.

ONWARD...

So already there's a slight change to the plan. The hospital now wants Stew there at 3 pm.  All good 👍. 

Already ticked all the boxes for pre-admission.  And I've been out and picked up my latest prescription, new letterbox numbers, grocery run done, washing all up to date, Stew's bag is packed, all ready to go.

ABOVE: From this angle, you can see the marked difference from one knee to the other.

ABOVE: These other two angles, the difference isn't so marked.  His leg is not very swollen today.

I will take new photos once his surgery is done, and he's home again.

2 hours till we have to leave for the hospital.

Just had lunch.  Stew couldn't have any lunch, so had a good, solid breakfast instead.

ABOVE: And here we are.  He has an enormous room!  The nurse is here running through all the questions... nothing is left to chance.

ABOVE: That's the surgeon, running through his questions.  Nice bloke.

ABOVE: Making sure they fix the correct one 😂😊.

ABOVE: 4.15 pm. And off he goes... much earlier than anticipated.

And now we wait...

6.50 pm and Stew was wheeled back into his room. 

All went well... and he looks GREAT. 

ABOVE: Looking at my man! Ready for his dinner no less. 

He's in no pain, he's got pain killers on board to keep him comfortable for the next few days.

I will hang out here with him for a while, then leave him to sleep it off.

9.10 pm and I'm home.  Everything is going so well... he had a good dinner, his blood pressure WAS a bit high, but has come down now.  His Blood Sugar level is stable and his pain is under control.

AND...

ABOVE:  Just a couple of hours after surgery and he's up on his feet and walking to the bathroom!!!  Just as well 'things' are working in that department too... or it would have meant a catheter.  And I'm sure he didn't want that.  😂😅😂

I'm so relieved he's got that operation behind him, and can now move on to recovery.

I am EXHAUSTED.  Most likely from nerves and stress... and all that sitting around in the hospital waiting.  I will be off to bed very soon.

Catch ya tomorrow.

So glad today is over.

NITE NITE

PRE-OP PREP DAY

 

Tomorrow is Stew's knee replacement surgery.

So today, following the surgeon's orders, he has to shower in the morning and evening, and use sterile wipes all over his body.  He also has to put iodine on cotton buds and shove them up his nose.  Ikkkk.

I have to change all the bed linen, so there's no chance of 'germs'.  Like really?

And of course, avoid any chance of sustaining an injury (like 16 stabs in the chest).  Lucky man avoided that last night.

4 pm this afternoon, Coco is getting groomed.  Must not forget that.  I often use my blog as a diary, to remind myself of things.  It's very handy.

I suspect we will stay in bed for longer than normal today... cos we can.  Once up, I shall get on with my sewing.

And Stew can potter around, get himself all squeaky clean and sniff iodine.  😂😅😂

ONWARD...

Well, according to Stew, the iodine wasn't that bad.  Good to know, in case I ever feel the need to stick that shit up me nose.  

I got two of the braid runners quilted this morning, plus all of our bed linen washed and out on the line.

After that, we went to the Base for lunch, then Chartwell Square.  I was looking for a purple sweatshirt to wear on the FBG walks, now that it's cooler.

NO LUCK what so ever anywhere.  And we looked at The Base, KMart and all the clothing shops in Chartwell.  I have one that is the right purple, but has something else on the front of it.  I might just cover it with something I can make, like a fat bottomed girl.

It's now 1.10 pm, and I'm knackered!  I did not sleep well at all last night, my left hip?  is killing me.  Walking again has kicked that particular pain in.  I'm hoping it settles down soon.

Time to either have a nana nap, or get back into CQ. (Crabby Quarters)

2.45 pm, and I did neither of those options.

The maintenance crew came around to move our letterbox, because the landscape man is coming on either Monday or Tuesday to put in our driveway extension!  WHOOP WHOOP!!!

ABOVE:  L and K dug out the letterbox, and replaced the pavers for now.  They can't leave a 'trip hazard' apparently.

ABOVE: The new letterbox position.  Perfect.

ABOVE:  And there they all are, expect D, who was mowing lawns somewhere else.  They are such a lovely bunch of people, and I appreciate all that they do around here.

My car is now up by our house, and will stay there until the driveway extension is done, then it will be on the new driveway.  OMG I'm so thrilled about this happening.  

ABOVE:  How gorgeous does Coco look!  You would NEVER know she is almost 16 years old.

In four days she will celebrate her birthday.

ABOVE:  It always makes me laugh how the groomers put 'hair ties' on her.  Most come off almost immediately, these ones are hanging in there. 

7.25 pm, and I have just finished quilting all four of those Braid Runners.  I made a radical change to how I do them, and it made such a difference!

So much easier.  Instead of quilting them in vertical lines, I did horizontal lines.  That way I didn't end up with a long horizontal line to quilt on each 'edge'.  When I did it that way, it often puckered and wasn't as neat as I would like.

Doing it with horizontal lines meant there was no long edge to quilt... and no puckering.

IYKYK...  just know I am damn happy.  And will never dread doing the quilting again.  😉😊

And that's a rap on today.. it's gone very smoothly... got lots done.  Coco looks gorgeous and Stew has one more sleep till his surgery.

Catch ya tomorrow.

ANOTHER WALK

 

Another early rise for me today.

I'm off to Cambridge again for my 2nd FBG walk.

The Expressway between Tamahere and Cambridge is getting resealed over the next 8-9 months, so there is going to be DELAYS.  I have no idea just how long those delays may be, so I am leaving MUCH earlier than usual, to make sure I get to the walk on time.

I'm hoping it's not too bad, but seriously, it's the main road... it could get bad.

I suppose I'll just have to wait and see.

When I get home again, I will be working on those Braid Runners.  I've now got four to finish.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  I should not have worried about the traffic!  I got to the walk starting point 1 hour and 20 minutes EARLY.  The road works are on the other side of the expressway right now... probably won't affect my arrival time for a few months yet?

Anyway, it meant I got outta bed way too early, and now I'm tired and crabby.

And cold!  It was really cold this morning, and in fact it still is.  It is a beautiful clear day, but OMG such a cold wind.

My hands are like blocks of ice.

It was a lovely walk though, and we went to a coffee shop afterwards and had a hot drink.

Once back in Hamilton I did a bit of shopping, stopped in at the Drs for a repeat prescription then came home.  I've just had lunch, and am about to head off into Crabby Quarters to do some sewing.

4.05 pm, and I've been fluffing around the house, not really getting much done.

I went to Spotlight and spent a big drop of money on threads.  There was a sale (funny that), so now seemed a good time to get more of what I was getting low on.  Blues, Greens and Black thread.

SELF CHECKOUTS:  I generally don't use them, but at Spotlight today I decided I would, as they only had one lady working at the checkouts.

I was behind this woman who was using the self checkout, and I was like, watching her... and my god!  They must lose money hand over fist with self checkouts!

She scanned MOST of what was in her basket, but she left four packets of buttons in the bottom of the basket, then grabbed a bag and shoved everything in it, including the buttons.  I just stood there and thought, yeah nah, I ain't saying nothing.  She didn't look like someone I wanted to deal with!  

I do wonder if they have cameras?  Surely you can't just get away with that????

She did though.  

Now that I'm home again, I'm feeling drained.  It turned out hot this afternoon, and there I was in a lightweight jumper, sneakers and socks.  Tis the sort of weather where ya don't know what to wear from one hour to the next.

Stew will be home in a couple of hours, and then the countdown begins in earnest.  He says he's not nervous.  I sure in hell would be. 

ABOVE:  forgot the walk stats.  

I've been working late this afternoon on the four Braid Runners.  Tomorrow I will be quilting them, and if time allows, binding them as well.

Then I think I may make a few more of those Wonky House Bags.  They were fun.

Stew nearly got stabbed 16 times in the chest tonight!

He was VERY late home, and forgot to text me to let me know he would be late.

Stupid man knows I start to panic if he's not home withing 5-10 minutes of NORMAL.  I start to worry he's been in an accident... and I expect the cops to turn up at me door.

I think that's because both my brothers and my Dad died in accidents.  It's just how I think, have done for decades now.

So when he finally text half an hour after I was expecting him home, I was just RELIEVED.  Not mad.  Cos IF I'd been mad, he would have been in trouble!  lol

11.21 pm.... whoops I didn't realise it was that late.  I better get off to bed.

It's been a good day.  Loved my walk with friends.  Got some work done in the sewing room.  Didn't throttle Stew.

Catch ya tomorrow.

THE WEEK OF STEW'S SURGERY

 

Stew is off to work this morning, for his second to last day at work for a while.

He has taken Wednesday, the day prior to his surgery, off.  He has to do two intensive 'cleans' of his body in readiness for the surgery on Thursday.  His surgeon is FANATICAL when it comes to preventing infections of any kind.

Stew is not allowed to have any skin scratches, or sores of any type before the surgery.  Luckily, Stew does not get any skin infections or sores as a norm.

So, all good there.  He just has to stay careful till Thursday.  No accidents allowed.

IF he does get a scratch or skin infection, the surgery will be postponed.  That's how careful his surgeon is!  

Today's plans for me?  Well I shall potter around here for the morning, getting housework done.  There's some washing I can do, bit of vacuuming and so on.  

Then after lunch I will go to Craft Group. I shall make another Braid Runner top.  When I get home, I'll go back to working on the other two braid runners waiting to be finished.

I have left BABY Brother down in the craft room, so there isn't too much I need to take down there this afternoon.  I have no intention of taking Mc2'ie down there, he's safer here.

So, that's me plan for the day.  Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

1.40 pm. I'm at craft group, very happy with what I've done so far today. 

I came down 3 hours before the start time and got another green braid runner pieced together.  Now I'm starting a blue one.

I got to spend those first three hours with 'L', who often comes down early. She's just lovely, we yak very happily together. 

ABOVE: I've not used that fabric for a braid runner before. I think its going to be lovely.

ABOVE: And there we have five hours of sewing, with a ten minute break for lunch.  I'm very happy with my efforts today.

I am now taking a break, before heading down to the Community Centre for 'HAPPY HOUR'... lol!

Ya sit and have a wee drink, and chat to everyone.

I will forgo the drink, I'll just take me diet coke.

I'm hoping once Stew's up to it, he can join in on a few of the social activities while he's home recovering.

6.37 pm, and I'm home from the social get together.  I enjoyed myself.  Listened to gossip... what fun!  Saw a grown man pack a wobbly... what fun!  lol

Home now and looking forward to a nice evening with Stew.

It has been a lovely day, sunshine and a good wind, got the washing dry in just a few hours.

Though, that wind has a cold bite in it!  Autumn is certainly trying to show it's face.

Sad. We didn't really get a summer this year.

FIRST FBG CHALLENGE WALK OF 2026

 

Sheesh... I have to get up early on a Sunday morning ... to attend the first FBG Challenge walk of the year.

I am going to try and complete the Challenge this year, which will mean going over to Cambridge 2-3 times a week for the next 8 months or so.

It's a personal commitment, and I hope to do it and reclaim my fitness.  And of course, maintain my friendships with the ladies and gents in Cambridge.

So, I'm up early, and heading off to Cambridge in about an hour.  

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

11.05 am, and what an awesome morning!

Perfect walking weather, not too hot.  And just lovely company.

ABOVE: There was a nice big group of us for the first walk of the year.

A few new faces as well.  Gawd, more names I have to try and remember.  

ABOVE: 'R's sneakers... how amazing are they?  

ABOVE:  It's not often you see three monarch butterflies at once. 

ABOVE: Three of our ladies brought along excess fruit and veges... so I grabbed some pears.  They look very yummy.

ABOVE: Today's walk stats, a slow walk ... but any walk is a good walk.

ABOVE: The 'funny faces' version of our group photo today.  

This afternoon Steve and Lily visited us.

Steve did a couple of jobs for us, and Lily?  Well Miss Lily just entertained us.

She is very cute. 

ABOVE:  Sharing her snacks with Granddad.

ABOVE: Helping her Dad measure up, and get the placement right.

ABOVE:  Measure twice, ONLY drill holes once.  Good motto.

ABOVE:  And there ya go.  The smallest room is completed.  We have a lovely new loo, and a good solid grab rail/paper holder.

All ready for next weekend, when Stew comes home from the hospital.

There's only FOUR more sleeps until Stew has his operation.  He says he's not nervous.  I am though.

But I know his surgeon is really on to it, and is making sure ever base is covered, pre and post surgery. So I just have to chill out eh?

11.05 pm, and I'm good and tired... so hopefully I managed to get to sleep quick tonight.  Sometimes it can take me an hour or more to get to sleep... most annoying.

Catch ya tomorrow.