ANOTHER WIN

 

A WIN IS A WIN... no matter how small.

Backstory:  When the driveway contractor left, he laid down grass seed along the edge of the new driveway extension.  

And within a few days, it was all gone!  Eaten by the damn birds.

So on the weekend Stew and I bought 'Bird Repellent' birdseed, thinking the birds would leave it alone.

NOPE.

Those little bastards started eating it yesterday.

So, I came up with this:

ABOVE: I covered the strip up with baking trays and plastic boxes/box lids.   I'm sure they won't get me grass seed now!

IT'S A WIN EH?  😂😅😆

Moving on... here is the bag I got finished last night:

ABOVE:  I think it's really lovely.  I am sure it won't last long on our stall.  Well.  Ya just never know actually... sometimes things hang around for ages without any good reason.

Today I am going make a start on another bag, this time it won't be 'animal' based!  I know right?

I am going to do a black 'n' white one... it might appeal to younger people?  It will make a change if nothing else.

ONWARD...

12.30pm:  busy morning!

As it was quite cloudy first thing, I decided it was the right time to sort out the Keter Sheds.

ABOVE:  I do believe this might be the first time Stew has been the 'Supervisor' when it comes to jobs!

I got all three sheds sorted out, and have a bit more room for other things now.

I have three piles ... one for the dump, one for the Village Bring and Swap at the end of the month and one for Steve.

After that, I went for a little walk with Stew, he is slowly extending the distance he walks.  He is doing everything he's supposed to be doing, so in two weeks he will be able to go back to work.

ABOVE:  In the morning his leg has much less swelling.  By the end of the day it is a bit more swollen, but NOTHING like it was two weeks ago.

I am now back in C.Qs, about to start another bag.  The Black 'n' White one is gunna have some yellow added now.

And before I forget, the Cow Tote Bag is sold... it's off to it's new owner this afternoon.  

ABOVE: Stew, off on his second walk of the day.  This time he added a bit of a hill.  Going up was OK, but coming down?  Not so good.  I've told him no more hills, for a bit longer.

ABOVE: Today's Tote Bag.  I think it's stunning!  So glad I decided to add the yellow accents... both the black and yellow have bees on them.  And the lining fabric was a remnant piece I picked up somewhere or other.  I think it looks amazing inside that bag.

I think this is another bag that won't last long on my stall.

I'm going to Weight Watchers tonight.  It will be the first time in about a month I think?

I couldn't go for various reasons over the past month.  Forgot.  Had a heavy cold.  Got fatter.  Head in Sand sorta shit.  

So, I'll go tonight and accept a decent gain... and move on.  It's what I do.  I am still going to enjoy life, while always trying to stay relatively healthy.

At the end of the day, it only matters to ME.  Stew loves me, no matter what I weigh, so I'm safe there.  😊

And if it bothers anyone else, suck eggs other people.

Well!!!

I gained .800 grams! Nowhere near as bad as I expected.  I'm very relieved. 

ABOVE: Stew has taken me out to dinner. He said I had worked hard today and deserved a nice dinner. Awwww  thanks Darling. 

Let's see what damage I can do to his wallet 🤣😅.

ABOVE:  In a rare event, we both had the same dinner out. Lasso of Hog.  It was delicious!  Best meal compared to a lot we've had lately.

After dinner, we popped into Steve 'n' Bexs and dropped off a couple of things that came out of the sheds.

Home now, and feeling utterly done.  

I had to get all the rubbish out at the 'gate' for pick up in the morning.  There's dishes to do, but they can wait until tomorrow morning.  I'm just too tired to do them.

Catch ya tomorrow.

NEW WEEK AHEAD

 

And another week rolls around... but it doesn't feel like a Monday.

My days are all buggered up, having Stew home day in day out mucks up the routine for sure.

I was putting off a job until next weekend, then Stew reminded me we could do it any day this week, cos he's home.  Derrr.

That job is to go through the three Keter outdoor sheds and get rid of anything we've not used since we moved here.  I am sure there will be a few things leaving the property, either to an Op shop, or the tip.

I'm not sure if that will happen today, or another day this week, we will see how it goes.

ABOVE: I have to sort out this lot first, my sewing room got a bit messed up yesterday.

I found some more old stock that is going in my 'GIVE IT AWAY' pile.

At every market from now on, I am just giving away old stock to whoever enters my stall.  I've been doing that for a couple of months now, and it's such fun seeing people's reactions when I hand them something for free.  It's nice.

ABOVE:  The two new 'succulent planters'... I will take another photo of each in about 6 months. Then we can see how much the plants have grown.  Could be interesting.  Or not.  

ABOVE: Last night's sunset, it really was lovely. That photo doesn't do it justice.  

ABOVE:  He did it!  

A.  He 'made' dinner.  

B.  He used Uber Eats for the first time ever.

Well done Darling.

And that's it for now, I'm heading off to C.Q. to get that sorted out.  

ONWARD...

12.10 pm.

I had to go out and buy a new Rotary Cutter.  All FOUR that I have had blunt blades.

I could have bought new blades for them, but I decided I wanted a different style of cutter.

I'll show ya later.

I've been a busy beaver this morning, going from one job to another.

I've started a new Tote Bag:

ABOVE:  I'm going down to Craft Group shortly and will work on it down there.  

FACT:  I'm terrible at parking cars.  Just ask Stew, he will verify that.

Come to think of it, I'm REALLY bad at backing too... only I could have backed out of three garages (our own) and run into the door!  Yeah.

Don't ask.  ONE wasn't my fault, I swear.

And let's not go there with the letterbox at our Cambridge property!!!

Anyway, back to parking.

ABOVE: This was Today's Terrible Parking effort.

I swear I try, I really do!

At least there wasn't anyone else on either side eh?

Right, I'm off to Craft Group now.

I've fed Stew, so he's all good.

3.05 pm, and Craft Group was lovely.  Lots of lovely ladies to chat to.  I got that Cow Tote Bag 75% done, I just have to make the straps and attach them and the lining.  Might do that tomorrow.

Dare I say it?  It's VERY QUIET ON HERE today.  Where is everyone?  I hope you are all gainfully employed, being productive, or at least enjoying yourself.  

It is now 6.40 pm, and I'm pretty much done for the day.  I've won another battle ... more on that tomorrow.  lol  It's not as good as the driveway, but still a win.

Catch ya tomorrow.

CATCHING UP WITH THE HOUSEWORK

 

This morning I shall be doing some housework, washing and vacuming, and a few other little jobs that got neglected this past week or so.

We have visitors coming for morning tea, so it would be nice to know the house is nice and tidy.

I bought some cake and slices yesterday, so at least I'm not making scones today.

Last night (6 pm-ish) we got some really heavy rain...first rain in a little while.

It was just lovely.  AND we got this:

ABOVE:  A really awesome rainbow.  More often than not, you don't get the entire rainbow showing, so we stopped on the side of the road to grab a photo.  A bit later on it became a double rainbow, but I didn't get a photo of that.

Right, that's me for now... I best get on with the housework.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

Housework is done.

Man is doing well.  Getting self sufficient again, thank god.  Can make his own breakfast now! lol  Probably not up to making dinner yet... but give him time.  😉😊

I just spent a bit of time sorting out some more fabrics for bags.

I had made six bags to take to market, and sold three yesterday.  So I'll be making more over the next week or two.

ABOVE: The beauty of having a substantial stash of fabric?  You don't have any trouble finding what ya want!  I have 17 potential bags sitting right there.  Let's see which ones get made.

12.35 pm, and our visitors came, we had a lovely catch up, lots of yakking, and now they have gone home again.

We've had some lunch, and soon we shall head out to get some bird retardant grass seed, then visit Steve, Bex and the kids.

The birds around here ate all the grass seed that was put down along the edge of the new driveway pavers... little bastards!

So hopefully if we get bird retardant seed, we will get it to grow.

I got heaps done around here this morning, I even did some gardening.  Our vege pods have now got succulent cuttings in them.  I've decided not to grow any more veges.  When you finally have them ready to eat, they are super cheap in the supermarket, making it like.. why did I bother growing it/watering it every day, bla bla bla?  Just buy it!

ABOVE:  We had a lovely visit with the kids this afternoon.  That photo was taken just before all three kids started jumping on Steve ... it was a free for all!  lol

After we left them we came home and just chilled out for a few hours.

That takes us to now, and we are watching mindless TV until bedtime.

I've planted some new succulents that we bought when we got the grass seed.  Which I've put on the lawn now.  Hopefully the birds leave it alone.

It's been a good day, I got lots done, which always makes me happy.

Catch ya tomorrow.

TAMAHERE IN MARCH

 

Well the day I've been sort of dreading is here!

Lacy and I will be doing the market together.  Stew will be staying home.

I'm still feeling very nervous about her and I getting everything set up in time.  I've never done it without Stew before... well, not with the gazebo anyway.

I am probably worrying about nothing!  I just have to pace myself, and be methodical. 

At least the weather forecast is excellent!  One less thing to worry about.  

ABOVE:  I got the second runner top done last night.... as you can see, it really is totally different to the first one.  I still have to quilt it and put the binding on.  That will be tomorrow no doubt.

Right, time to get going... wish us luck!  I will pop back on here after we are set up.  

ONWARD... 

ABOVE: 8 am. 

WE DID IT! And I didn't get me tits in a knot.

We just got on with it.

No trouble at all. I'm so pleased,  all my worries for nothing.

It did take an hour longer than 'usual', but so what. 

Now we can sit and relax, and hopefully make some money. And yak. Let's not forget the yakking. 🤣😅😇

2.15 pm, and I'm finally home, feet up doing an update on the market.

First and foremost, we had a FANTASTIC day.  Lacy loved it.  She is keen to do the next one with me now.

We saw lots of lovely people, I saw friends from Cambridge, FGB's, WW ladies and also some from our Village too.

Lots of happy faces.

ABOVE: That young man fell in love with the Scrappy Dolls, he wanted one for himself.  So he chose one and was happy as, walking around the market hugging it.

AND YES, he was a perfectly 'normal' young man... all his faculties intact.  He just loved the dolls, he said they were FUNKY.

He made my day.

While it was a slow day for some people sales wise, it was a GOOD day for Lacy and I.  We made plenty of good sales.

It only took us 35 minutes to pack down and get ready to leave the venue.  I was about to get into the car and glanced back at our site.

ABOVE:  To see one very forlorn step stool just sitting there all on it's own!  I did have to laugh.

Then Lacy saw it...

ABOVE: She saved it from a certain... ?  Life of loneliness. 😂😅😆  Yeah I know, it doesn't take much to tickle my fancy, or weird sense of humour.  

Now that this update is done, I shall go and finish unpacking the car.

Stew and I are off to dinner this evening at our favourite Indian Restaurant.  I've starved all day, looking forward to me dinner.

I had an hour's nap this afternoon, it was wonderful.  I needed it.

ABOVE:  Dinner this evening was a Vegetable Samosa each, followed by Butter Lamb for me, and Chicken Tika Masala (Medium) for Stew.  Because I had the Samosa, I couldn't eat much of the Butter Lamb.

ABOVE: As a consequence, I shall be having Butter Lamb for my lunch tomorrow.  Yummy.

Before we went to dinner, we did a small grocery grab.  Fresh Fruit and Diet Coke primarily.  After dinner, I got to put it all away, and now I'm DONE for the day.

I shall be sitting on me arse and doing nothing else till I go to bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.

I AM FULL OF SHIT

 

Yesterday I said I would not be making any more runners until after tomorrow's market eh?

Yeah.

I'm full of shit.

I started FIVE more last night!

ABOVE:  I am going to make them all look slightly different, but same/same really.  They are very popular, hence making more.

And, I love them, like the five similar blue Braid Runners I finished the other day.

*DANG... looking at them now I can see they need less of the aqua and more green.  I'll sort them out later.*

This morning I am going to drag Stew down to the gym to get on the recumbent bike.  He has been told by the physiotherapist to get on one now, so I will do my wifey/nursey duty and make him do it.  While he's on the bike, I'll probably jump on the treadmill, or something else in the gym.

Lacy is coming over this afternoon, and staying the night.  That way, she can help me load the car for tomorrow's market, and she's here tomorrow morning, ready to go to market with me.

ABOVE:  I just love her.

She has some wayward tufts of hair sprouting, so sometime today I'm going to clip them off.  She's gunna hate me for a little while.  Oh well... sad.

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

ONWARD...

I am working on one of the new runners, that I cut out last night.

And OMG.... it's going to be STUNNING.  

I can't wait to finish it and show you.  Maybe you won't think it's stunning... but OMG I do.

And here it is:

ABOVE:  What do you think of it?  I have made a 'subtle' change to the ends... making the last strip longer/wider so you can actually see more of it (the green fabric strip).  Usually it gets cut off when squaring up the runner.  I'm really thrilled with how it turned out.

I'll be doing that from now on.

Funny how I've now made two fundamental changes to how I do the Braid Runners this past few weeks.  

I've made dozens and dozens of Braid Runners, and only now do I tweak the pattern!  😂😖

ABOVE: Stew ventured out for a little walk today, he did well.  He 'only' walked about 100 meters, but still better than the few steps he's been doing around the house.

Later on this afternoon we shall go down to the gym so he can get on the bike.

ABOVE:  He got on the bike for only a few minutes, and couldn't do a full rotation, just half way, kinda like 'rocking' the pedals.  It's a start.

In a week or two I fully expect he will be able to do the full rotation, and for longer.

Lacy arrived and helped me load the car, and she's gone home again.  She assures me she'll be back before 6 tomorrow morning.  

ABOVE:  Coco got her trim, so she's tidier around the face now.  She didn't enjoy it, but with Lacy holding her for me, we got it done fairly quickly.

And that's me for the day, I'm knackered.  I fully intend going to bed early.

Catch ya tomorrow.

GOING OUT TODAY

 

Today I am determined we go out somewhere.  I'm sick of being at home, just working and looking after the man.

And I'm NOT cooking today.  So, once I've had time to think about it a bit more, I'll tell ya where we are going.  Obviously, not too far and for too long, bearing in mind his nibs is still recovering.

It is two weeks today since his surgery.  He's getting around with just one crutch in the house now, and sometimes he forgets he needs it.

ABOVE: This is me after sewing all day yesterday!  I've been known to forget I'm covered in threads, and go out to the shops looking like that.  Sometimes I even have a few pins on me chest as well!  

Yeah, might not do that today. 😂😅😆

The Braid Runner I started yesterday is going to be finished late this afternoon.  I'm taking a break this morning, then we are going out and about.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

11.55 am, and I got that new Braid Runner finished!

Hadn't planned on sewing this morning, but oh well... at least it's not waiting for me this afternoon.

I can just relax later.

ABOVE: And there it is.  It is TOTALLY not me.  But as Stew said, someone will love it.  I am going to be surprised if it goes any time soon.  

I'm going to rattle Stew's dags, and get him  out of this house for lunch somewhere nice...

ABOVE: Well, we ended up at The Lookout on Church Road, Pukete.  We had been here once before.  It has a nice ambience about it.

ABOVE:  It is on a rise overlooking a large section of north Hamilton, and Mt Pirongia.  Mostly though, you just see the industrial area.

ABOVE: My lunch today was a Salmon and Prawn Salad.  It was delicious!  Those crispy twirl thingees added a nice texture to the meal.  It was also way tastier than I anticipated.

ABOVE: Stew had a Lamb thing, it was like an open kebab.  He said it was very nice, as were his Kumera Chips (ikkk from me).  I had a couple of slices of Ciabatta bread instead of chips, for a change.

We are killing the next hour until Stew's second Physio appointment.  She (the physiotherapist), will be removing the dressing off Stew's knee today.  

We bought some Bio Oil for his scar recovery as well.  'O' next door has had both his knees done and highly recommends Bio Oil for scar healing.  You can hardly see any scars on his knees!  Let's see how that goes.  

6.55 pm.

The visit with the physio went well.  She's very happy with Stew's progress.  We don't have to go back for two weeks.  He can start using the recumbent bike down in the gym now... just once a day to start with.

She did not take the dressing off his knee, it has to stay there for another week or so.

After coming home, we killed another hour then went to the pub.  Stew hadn't been there for three weeks, so it was nice for him to catch up with his mates.  I stayed with him for a change as well.  We came home fairly early as I didn't want him over doing it.

We had been out three times today.  I hope he's knackered, and sleeps well tonight. 

And that's a rap on our day.

Catch ya tomorrow.