RAIN = NO MARKET TODAY

 

We had intended going to the Cambridge Trash 'n' Treasure market today.

But, it's supposed to rain all day, with thunderstorms thrown in for luck.  So that's a firm 'HELL NO'.

That market's stall holders predominantly don't have gazebos, so there will not be that many stall holders there, and as a consequence, not many shoppers either. 

So we decided last night it was a no go for us.  Bex is also not going today.

And that means I get an extra day to work on Fish Runners.  I hope to finish Sandra's today, then move on to making at least one more for the Tamahere Market next weekend. 

I am going to laugh and laugh if I get them done, and they don't sell for months!  That's just how it goes sometimes.

I am really enjoying making them ... they are such fun.  And adding in a few more 'new' fish has added some interest for me.

I shall probably do another 'Finley' on the next runner ... god help me!  He is a huge amount of work. But, he's lovely.

Not sure what Stew will get up to today... probably watch sport on the telly.

It's a bit weird not going out to lunch like we usually do, and I think Stew's missing it.  On the plus side,  I can help him spend the money we are saving somehow!  lol

I had a gain on the scales this morning, which I totally expected after a little 'blow out' yesterday.  My shake, then pizza... far too much.

So I shall be tightening my belt for the rest of the week, and keep to the plan.  Shakes, salads and fruit.  Let's see how it goes.  Weigh in Day is Friday.

I am still attending Weight Watchers, but ONLY because I enjoy the company and leaders input.  Everyone needs support when on a weight loss mission.  No matter how much you want to lose, support and encouragement is vital.

O N W A R D . . .

10.20 am.  Can you believe... I lay in bed until 10 am!!!!    It was wonderful.

I finally got on the scales, and as expected, a small gain of .400 grams.  Not as bad as I expected really, as I know I can gain heaps in a day!

We are going back to the supermarket this morning to get fresh salad stuff.  We had three bags of pre-made salads in the fridge, but they had already gone past 'best by' date.  That sucks.  I have decided not to buy them again as it's just so wasteful when you don't eat them 'in time'.  At least with fresh salad things, you know it will last longer.

I also want to find a container/jug/measuring SOMETHING that shows the milligrams.  I've not got anything that shows that.

Stew just saw a notification on Facebook that the Cambridge Trash n Treasure market was cancelled today.  Hmmm.... glad we didn't go and then find it cancelled!  

ABOVE:  A quick trip to New World on Te Rapa Straight, and we got everything we need for the next few days salads.  AND...

ABOVE: We found the perfect jug with liquid measurements on it.  I'm sure I've had one before, goodness knows what happened to it.  Too many moves over the years... given so much stuff away, no way could I rememeber.

lol, now that we've bought a new one, I bet we find the old one... which was a glass jug.

We had a lovely lettuce salad with an Angel Bay Beef rissole each for lunch.  I must check out how many calories etc they contain...  result: 286 calories per patty.  I'm happy enough with that.  

ABOVE:  And there we go, another finish.  This one is for Sandra in Palmerston North.

ABOVE: This guy is 'Googly'.

ABOVE: And this little cutie is 'Kelpie'.  Cos he lives in the kelp.  😂😊

SECOND FISH DONE AND NAMED

 

After dinner last night, I went back into Crabby Quarters with the intention of tidying it up, and putting away everything from the sewing trolley.

Well I did all that, then I decided to stitch around the second fish on the current Fish Runner.

ABOVE:  I am naming this guy 'HAPPY'.  I had JUST finished stitching him when I got a message from my girlfriend Sandra in Palmerston North.  And yeah, this runner is already sold!  😂😊💙💗💜  It makes me laugh when a runner is sold even before it's finished.

I will be working on the runner a bit later on today.  But first, I'm going to Chartwell Square with Stew this morning.

We are going to have a wander around before coming home for lunch.  No more (for now) lunches out and about.  😕  But, that's OK, I am holding firm on my resolve to lose some weight before summer.

ABOVE:  There's Stew ... reading up on how to administer my injection last night.  I'm sure he will get familiar with it soon.  It is certainly different to the Trulicity injection.

I was a bit stressed out in anticipation of the injection, but seriously, I didn't feel A THING!  It's such a relief, because I want this to work so much.

I haven't really noticed any changes to how I feel about food/hunger yet.  What is working is sheer bloody minded will power at the moment!  

ABOVE: Yep, this is me to a 'T'.  I will never give up on trying to be healthier, it may be a bit hit and miss/on and off.... but I always come back to it.  I am just hoping THIS TIME I really can stay on track and not gain any more weight.

I ONLY need to lose 15 kilos... surely I can do that? 

ONWARD... 

12.30 .

ABOVE: Chartwell Square this morning, dead as a dodo.

ABOVE:  I treated myself to a small hot chocolate.  It was delicious.

ABOVE:  I added half a pear to my Optifast, and whizzed it up in the Nutribullet.  It's SO MUCH NICER!  I will be doing that from now on.

I use Scentsy Wax Melt things to make the house smell lovely.  A long time ago I ran out of the Scentsy Wax Melts, so bought an alternative from Acquisitions at The Base.

ABOVE: That's what I bought.  And instantly regretted it.  The smell is TOO STRONG, and not to my taste at all.

So, basically been using something I don't like for months.  Derrr.

Bex gave me some of the true Scentsy wax melts the other day (thanks Bex 💜💙💗), but I still wanted to get more.

I finally contacted my friend Nicky, who sells Scentsy, and we visited her today.

ABOVE: That lot should see us right for a while, plus I've ordered more.  Poor Stew's wallet is now empty!  lol

ABOVE: Turned on, and awaiting the smell to drift through the house.  I can't wait.  It's sometimes the simple things that make you happy.  This makes me happy.

And my heated throw.  I'm super duper happy to be under it right now.

We went to the supermarket after visiting Nicky, and now I'm just a bit cold.  NOT as cold as other people of course, sorry other people. 😂😖

5.30 pm, and I have another pizza base in the oven.  Trying a different recipe this time, it's basically the same recipe as the low carb Sandwich Thins I made the other day.

It is already smelling great.

Well that pizza base was too thick, but we still enjoyed it.  Next time I will spread it out heaps more.

WE are now going to hunker down and enjoy the evening in front of the telly, keeping warm.

Though, it's nowhere near as cold today.  We didn't have a frost, and certainly not expecting one tomorrow.

Catch ya tomorrow.

FIND IT A HOME

 

Well, another lovely frosty start to the day.

I'm heading down to the craft room today, to work on the next fishy runner.  I spent some time yesterday looking at pictures of fish, cos I want to use some new ones.

ABOVE: When I find a picture I like, I copy it out in a bigger size on card.  That way I can then trace it onto Steam a Seam and then fabric.

So last night, before going to the pub, I copied out the next two 'new' fish I will be using today.

I'm excited to see how they come out.

I have now been on this new 'diet' for a full week, and my loss???

Well... I have to get outta bed first right?  Let's wait and see...

Something else I need to do this morning is find a home for the Nutribullet.  It can't sit on the bench indefinitely, as the bench simply isn't big enough for more stuff to stay on it.  I think I can rearrange the pantry a bit, so it can go in there all going well.

I want to use it today, to mix up my Optifast shake, and I'm going to add half a pear to the shake to make it more palatable.  I hope that makes it nicer to have.

ONWARD...

9.10 am, and we have a white out... the temperature was -4.6 degrees C. That's COLD.

ABOVE:  I haven't seen frost like this since I was a kid!  It's bitterly cold.

ABOVE: Frosty windscreens?  Nah, how about the entire car!  It's covered in frost from top to bottom.

The water in my fountain outside is frozen over.  I have put a warm container of water inside for Coco, her outside water container is frozen.

I've just finished packing my sewing trolley, so will head down to the craft room now and get that heater on!

OH shit!  Almost forgot my weigh in.  I lost 2.7 kilos this week.  I'm really happy with that. 

ABOVE: 12.23 pm... It has taken three hours to cut out and press down the three big fish. On my own here in the craft room today, sadly. I thought I'd have some company.  But the plus side is I can play my music and its really warm in here 😊.

I am now taking a short break before starting the stitching.

2.30 pm, and I'm home.  I spent a total of 5 hours working in the craft room on my own.  Listening to my music, then my freakin' phone died!

So I've come home to charge it, and take a break.

ABOVE: The Community Centre's cafe area is getting an extension and upgrade.  It's be 'on the cards' for about 15 years!  The roof leaks, it should have been done years ago.

But at least now, with the new manager, it is finally going ahead.

ABOVE: This is the only fish I got finished today.  I am very proud of him.  He took one and a half hours to stitch.  I put a lot of effort into getting the details done.  He's probably the most detailed fish I've ever done.  Now I have to come up with a name for him. Ideas???
Well, hardly anyone bothered to give me ideas for a name for that fish... so I'll just go with the first one!

HE'S FINLEY.   I name all the fish I used on my runners btw.

My batteries died completely this afternoon, so I've been just sitting scrolling the net, and keeping warm.

I made a 'protein pizza' this afternoon for our dinner.

Using Cottage Cheese, Eggs and seasoning for the base.  It worked really well.  I used the Nutribullet to whizz the cottage cheese and eggs, and that was neat!   Noisy, but neat.

We have now had our dinner, we both loved the pizza.  I put tomato pizza sauce, Salami, various cheeses and pineapple on the pizza base.  So YUM!  There would have been some red onion too, but I overcooked it and it went straight in the bin. Shit happens.

Now?

Time to just relax for the evening... though I am tempted to go into Crabby Quarters and put away everything I used today.  I don't like leaving it a mess.

We'll see.

Catch ya tomorrow.

WEIGH IN

 

When I visited my Doctor last week, his instructions to me were... WEIGH YOURSELF EVERY DAY.  Not something I usually do.

He said that way I would be able to see fluctuations, and make adjustments at necessary.

So when I saw a big gain yesterday morning, I KNEW I'd probably had too much to eat the day before.  It's not an exact science of course, and daily/weekly fluctuations can and do happen.  But for me, it was a bit gutting.

Yesterday I was very careful with what I ate, and I made sure I was drinking enough.

For the next few days, I will only be having Optifast and salads, and cut back on the fruit.

Leo (my Doctor) wants to see me again in one month, and will adjust the dosage of the WEGOVY if it's called for.  

As for today, I will be getting on the scales once I get out of bed, and I hope I don't see another gain!  That would totally piss me off.

So watch for the update!

I am going into Crabby Quarters to continue working on the next Fishy Runner today.  Then a bit later on I might attend the Coffee & Chat down in the Community Centre.  

So I got the power notification last night with how much power we had used last week. I was a bit shocked as it had almost doubled. My immediate reaction was to turn the heat pump OFF. But this morning  Stew said no, its ok. It's only for 3 months or so that we really need it. So when I got up this morning I turned it back on. It's minus 2 degrees right now and the house is FREEZING. I'm  staying in bed until it warms up!

Right, it is now 1 pm, and it's been a busy day.

I got up and weighed in.

DOWN .200 grams.  I'll take that.  Heading down again.

After that, I went to Coffee & Chat, and had a lovely hour or so catching up with friends.

Then home to catch up with Lacy, who was doing my housework.

THEN I got a call from an Uncle and Aunty from Tauranga, who were about to call in for a visit.

So that was lovely.

They are staying in Ngaruawahia, and had biked over.

ABOVE: Richard and Muriel are in their mid and late 70's, and cycle all over the country/world!

Inspirational people.

So now I'm having some salad for lunch, then I will get into Crabby Quarters and do some work.

3.20 pm.  And then I laughed and laughed, and went shopping.

I wanted to find some wax melts for the room Scentsy things.

So I went into Briscoes.

ABOVE:  And that's how I ended up with a Nutribullet thing.  I don't know how that happened!

Next stop was The Warehouse, and they didn't have wax melts.  So I ended up with toy cars and a car carrier for Lily to play with.  I don't know how that happened either!

My final stop was the supermarket, where I wanted some more Cottage Cheese and Almond Flour.  Came out of there with just a couple of other things, PHEW!

I am going to use the Nutribullet thing to blend up the almond flour bread mix, and other shit.

8.30 pm.  Just in from the pub.  We had some hysterical conversations at the pub tonight, mostly revolving around.... shit!  Too funny.

I also had a lovely visit with the kids.

So thankful I decided to turn the heat pump back on, after it was off all of last night!  It is going to be (already is) another freezing night.   Expected temperature tomorrow is -4 degrees C.  

Catch ya tomorrow.

PROTEIN SANDWICH THINS

 

I don't know about you, but I spend a good hour, if not more, scrolling on Facebook and Instagram a day.  Just looking at what other people are doing.

And the other day I saw this guy making some 'Protein Sandwich Thins', and I thought, hmmm... I might give that a try.

I got the necessary ingredients, cos like, who  has Almond Flour in their pantry?  Not me.

ABOVE:  There's only 4 ingredients, and you just combine it all together... well you beat the eggs and cottage cheese together first, then add the dry ingredients.  The recipe calls for some sort of seasoning, so I just added some garlic salt.

ABOVE: I wasn't sure how 'big' to make them, so just winged it.  (Clearly I didn't read the recipe for that bit.)

ABOVE: And yeah, maybe a bit big?   Anyway, each one has about 14 grams of protein and 3 grams of fibre, and bugger all carbs.  So, a good alternative to a slice of bread, a wrap or a scone.

Stew and I tried them last night and really liked them. 

The guy who I got the recipe off has an Instagram page, with lots more diet and health tips.  

johannescullberg.coach

And now... on to today's agenda.  Which will be sewing.  Lacy is coming over later on in the morning to do some housework.

ONWARD...

9.30 am:  We were supposed to have a heavy frost this morning, but no!  Nice surprise.  I'm now heading down to the Community Centre to get some fresh fruit and veges, some bloke brings it in from his farm.  Nice one.

ABOVE:  Well we may not have had a frost, but it's still OMG COLD outside!  The fruit and vege truck was not exactly well stocked, I managed to get the only pears she had, and a small bunch of bananas.  I thought the prices were pretty steep too, so won't do that again.

Shame really, because it's a nice service for the very elderly people here, who just want a few things and don't want to go to the supermarket. 

So now that I'm home again, I'm heading into Crabby Quarters.  Lacy isn't here yet, probably snuggled up in bed still... I wish I was. 

ABOVE:  Now I remember why I've not done these runners in a while! Stitching around bubbles etc is a pain in the arse. So much more work than a Braid Runner!  I might get this one finished today, if I'm lucky.

The bloody housekeeper ain't turned up, and a voice message late in the morning didn't exactly tickle me pink.  So maybe she will turn up tomorrow?  Grrrr.   Coco was so looking forward to her bath too. 

I'm feeling a bit bummed out.  I gained .500 grams when I weighed in this morning, and I know why.  The wrap and fruit I had yesterday was too much.  I better not do that again!  That was a big gain for one damn day.

2.50 pm, and I just finished that fish runner.  On the last row of stitching I managed to jamb a pin into the side of my index finger... blood spurted immediately.  AND thank you God, I managed to keep it off the runner!

Blood on the runner would have been a disaster I tell ya.

Phew, crisis averted.  And the runner?

ABOVE:  'Rangitoto Island' is done.

I will be making at least 1-3 more before summer.

I made a start on the next Fishy Runner late this afternoon, but stopped when Stew arrived home from work.

We have spent the evening watching TV and just keeping comfy and warm.  

Coronation Street is coming up in half an hour, so I shall sign off for the day, watch that then head off to bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.

EASY DIET DIARY NZ

 

While yakking with the ladies yesterday down at Craft Group, the conversation turned around to diets.  I said I was doing WEGOVY and Optifast.  One of the ladies had lost 16 kilos just counting calories... and I asked her how she kept track of what she was eating?

She said she was using an App called 'Easy Diet Diary NZ'.

So obviously, tracking is quite important when dieting, even when you are using Optifast.  I also have salads and fruit during the day, so thought... hmmmm.  I might look at that App.

And after taking a while to figure it out, this was my diet diary for yesterday:

ABOVE: It was easy to do, and gives you enough information on what you are getting in the way of Proteins, Carbs etc each day, and the calories consumed.  That's all I need/want.

The Weight Watchers App is beyond me, it's too bloody involved and complicated.  I looked at it a couple of times and was like, HELL NO.

I like simple. 

Before anyone says I'm not eating enough, this is only going to be for a month, then I will add in more foods.  This is a KICK START, pure and simple.  You cannot sustain such a low calorie diet like that for long.  Unless you are anorexic, and well, clearly I'm not.

Oh and I am doing Optifast day on/day off, not every day.  On the off days I am having a 'normal meal, but keeping it very small, with very little carbs.

So now, off that subject... I'm expecting Bex and Lily sometime today, which will be lovely.

I'm going into Crabby Quarters later on and will keep working on that Fish Runner... it was such fun working on it yesterday.

ONWARD...
I have a confession to make.  I feel a little bad about something we did last night.

We locked Coco in the garage.

It was NECESSARY.

She has gone toilet inside the house three days in a row.

She goes 'zoomies' from about 12 midnight till around 3 am most nights.  That involves running up and down the hallway, into our room, rolling around and sniffing and snorting under our noses, and going in and out, and in and out, AND IN AND OUT of the dog doors... and we hear it all.

Monday night she went in and out the laundry dog door at least a dozen times, if not more!

So, not a lot of sleep going on.  Certainly not for me.  Stew can sometimes sleep through it. 

This is not unusual for her at night, but lately she's just gone into 'overdrive mode'... and it had to stop.

Yesterday I felt like a damn zombie all day, just so, so tired.

So, her bed went into the garage last night.  And then she proceeded to go in and out of the garage dog door a gazillion times... just over and over again.  She was just being a right tart.  So I got up and locked that door as well, hoping like hell she wouldn't go potty in Crabby Quarters.

Luckily she didn't.

This morning I spent a moment rearranging a small area in Crabby Quarters so her bed would be in a good place, and out of my way.

ABOVE: And there is her new spot.  There's a thick foam pad, then a blanket under her bed, so she should be warm enough.  Bearing in mind she slept in the garage in our last few homes.  She will be fine, she has her hot pod in her bed overnight as well.  

When she got up this morning, she seemed perfectly happy too.  Maybe she slept better without having the temptation of running around and causing mayhem? 😂😅😉

It's now 9.20 am and I'm about to unpack my sewing trolley, and maybe continue working on the fish runner.

After Bex has been, I'm going over to Palmers in Frankton.  I've heard they have an AMAZING gift department, and I'm on the hunt for a certain 'thing', for a Christmas Gift for someone. 

Bex and Lily arrived mid morning, and *sigh*, Bex already guessed what I was looking for at Palmers.  What a tart!

ABOVE: Little Miss happily lining up all the animals.  She is such a happy wee kid.

Most of the time.

She ain't got red hair for nothing.  😂😅

ABOVE: Frankton Palmers store is very lovely, lots of interesting gifts and plants.  I was not tempted to buy anything today, and what I was looking for wasn't there either.

ABOVE:  On my way home I stopped in at an Op Shop and wow!   I found blue glass at an incredibly low cost.  I couldn't help myself, obviously.

I do already have a large vase exactly like the one on the left, but who says you can't have two???   I love them.

I just had a wrap for my lunch today.  Salad/beef rissole/cheese and some hummus.  OMG it was delicious.

6.30 pm and I've just stopped working in Crabby Quarters.  It sure takes longer doing applique work, what with tracing out the pattern pieces, cutting then sticking them down to the backing fabric, then stitching around each and every little piece.  But in saying that, it is still fun.  I've finished the second fish, and will work on the third one tomorrow.  Then tittivating will start.  Bubbles.  Maybe a tiny fish or two.

Right now though, Stew and I are about to head out for a walk around the streets.  He's finally up to walking, I couldn't be happier.  Someone to walk with.

Well that was a brisk walk!   It is FREEZING outside, and has been all day.  It has been the coldest day in New Zealand today.  It even snowed in Wellington... which hardly ever happens.

It was wonderful to walk in our front door and have a warm house greet us.

The walk was 2.8 kms long and we did it in just under 30 minutes.

Time to wind down, and sign off for the day.

Catch ya tomorrow.

THAT WAS FAST!

 

When Steve took the sofa bed away in a dozen bits, I really expected it to stay in bits in his garage for weeks, if not months.

He's a busy guy, and putting it back together would have been low on his priority list.

BUT NO!  Bex started sending me photos late yesterday afternoon...

ABOVE: They had already set to work putting it back together again! That involved A LOT OF WORK.  I had unstapled one entire end of the fabric and lining, so they had to sew it all back together, then assemble the framework again.  Then put the sofa bed components back into the frame.

So, not a small job.

ABOVE: Steve's apprentice was on the job the ENTIRE TIME I'm told.  She even had to remove her shirt like her Dadda.  It was a hot and sweaty job.  OMG she's so cute.

I am so happy we didn't totally ruin that sofa bed by chopping it up!  It cost quite a lot, and is a really good piece of furniture.

ABOVE: And there it is, all back together.  I think they will be getting rid of the dark brown leather sofa that we gave to them years ago.  It's no longer needed.  😊

Today I'm heading down to the Craft Room to do some sewing with my friends there.  I will be taking my Optifast shake and some salad with me, so I've got my lunch covered.  No more buying a scone or muffin from the cafe.  And I won't be indulging in the afternoon tea cake either.  This is me being bloody determined for this WEGOVY shit to work.

It is VERY expensive, so I am sure in hell not going to waste our money by blowing it.

ONWARD...

2 pm, and its been a busy day. First up was housework. Then I went to Spotlight for white felt and a different fabric for today's runner. I wasn't happy with the vibrant blue for the 'sea'.

ABOVE: I've just finished the backing and first fish.

Mc Dreamy has spat the dummy AGAIN, so now I have to decide on... get him fixed again or buy another, smaller, cheaper 2nd machine? 

Decision pending.

I'm at craft group,  a much smaller group today, so not so noisy.   Time to stop for afternoon tea. I'll have my diet coke, no shortbread for me.

Whelp... I don't have to buy another machine.  Bex is giving me back my little Baby Brother machine.

Now I feel like an 'Indian Giver'... which is what Lacy has accused me of a few times! lol

I've given her things over the years, then changed my mind when I've seen it in her home... and taken it back!  NOT too often, but a couple of times for sure.

So, Bex and Lily will return Baby tomorrow, and he will go back into the Craft Room for when I'm working down there.

Mc Dreamy is going to be 'retired'... I am not going to keep spending good money after bad, trying to keep him going.  He's done his dash.

It is now 3.25 pm, and I'm home from Craft Group.  I didn't do too much sewing today, as I'm not going to aggravate my shoulders/arm by sewing for hours at a time anymore.  I'm hoping once the weather warms up, my shoulders will come right.  They did last summer.  

Though in saying that, I think my fall in Akaroa didn't help my left shoulder at all!  It only became a really big problem, affecting my entire arm, after that fall.  Shit happens.  Moving on...

I'm now wrapped up in my heated throw and have the heat pump on.  It's a lovely afternoon, sunshine is streaming in the house.  It is bliss. 

8.30 pm, and I've been a totally lazy tart since I got home from Craft Group!  I have not even unloaded my trolley.  It can wait until tomorrow morning.

Stew arrived home and we both had our 'dinner'... lol.  Grapes and a pear for me.

And... that's me for the day.  Catch ya tomorrow.