TWENTY YEARS AS A BLOGGER!

  

GOOD MORNING!

TODAY

I

HAVE

BEEN

A

BLOGGER

FOR

TWENTY YEARS !

Twenty years of blogging every single day, except a couple of times when I was in hospital and couldn't do it myself, so Stew or Steve did it for me.

I am super proud of myself for hanging in there for so, so long.  BTW:  That is 7,317 blog posts!

Back story:   I started my blog not long after I had lost 61 kilos going to Weight Watchers in Palmerston North.

I had gained 15 kilos and wanted to try and lose them ... I didn't.

Since then I have gone up and down numerous times.

Right NOW I am 25 kilos up from my lightest ever adult weight.  So...  I was up 15 kilos back in 2006, then add another 10 kilos as of today.  If I can lose those 10 kilos, I'd be perfectly happy!

I thought I was FAT after gaining 15 kilos!  I wasn't really.  

ABOVE:  Me at my heaviest, back in 2002 ish.

ABOVE: And me after I had lost 61 kilos, going to Weight Watchers.

I am in the same sweatshirt that I was wearing in the 'heaviest ever' photo.

Now looking at that photo, I realise I was not at a 'maintainable' weight, FOR ME.

ABOVE: And  yes... here I am in that exact same sweatshirt, 23 years later (and older), and 25 kilos heavier.  As I said, I really, really want to lose another 10 kilos.  THEN I will be content.  Can they PLEASE go off my boobs?????

AND that sweatshirt is at least 35 years old, and I'm keeping it!

ABOVE: Stew back in 2002 ish.

ABOVE: And after he lost about 12 kilos in 2003.

ABOVE: Stew now, another 5-6 kilos lighter.  I think he looks even more HUNKY NOW!  I might be biased though. 😂😅😍

ABOVE: This photo was taken around 2004, and ... I still have that dress!  One day I will wear it again.

Now, back to today.  

I have some flyers to deliver around the village, to advertise the Craft Groups mini market at the end of the month.

Then I will be coming home to continue with the placemats.

Here's a few questions for YOU.  How long have you been reading my blog?  How did you find it?  What keeps you reading it? Have we met in 'real' life?

  

ONWARD...

YAAAA... I DON'T HAVE TO DO IT

 

Today I need to cut out batting for placemats.  And it's a really hard job for me, as it involves laying the batting out on the floor and cutting it out.  That job just kills my back, and I end up totally knackered.

So last night I decided to ask Lacy if she could come over and do it for me?

AND she said 'YES'.  I'm so relieved I don't have to do it.  Thank You Lacy, you are such a good daughter.  Love you to bits.

I am going to sew all day long today, to try and get the placemat orders done, and a few more for market.

Because they seem to be popular here in the village, we are hoping they are just as popular at markets.

Once I've finished a few of the 'new' ones, I will show you, cos they are rather cute.

*** A little heads up... tomorrow's post is going to be a bit special ... to me anyway. ***

ONWARD...

10.15 am, and Lacy is on her way.  Awesome.

I've been in Crabby Quarters for about 2 hours, making more placemat tops.

ABOVE: These are what I'm working on today, plus a few from yesterday as well.  I hope to get at least 12 finished by the end of the day.

Bottom Right: Yeah, I'm not feeling it  But of the 4 of them I've made, 3 are already sold, so that's good.  I much prefer the simpler blue borders.

ABOVE: And now... she only needs to draw out and cut out about 50 rectangles!

ABOVE:  Another one which is rather cute.

Some of these I've only had enough fabric to make 4-6 the same, but it's great to use up smaller pieces of fabric from my stash.  My placemats are being sold individually, so no one has to buy a 'set'.  Which is working well with the ladies here in the village.

3.30 pm, and Lacy has left after getting 59? placemat batting pieces cut out for me, AND she did my housework as well.  How lucky can I get.

I kept making placemat 'tops' until the batting was ready, then started doing the next steps.  Quilting, adding the backing fabric and top stitching.

My goal today was to get at least 12 placemats finished...

ABOVE: And I have done it.  That was a bit of a concerted effort, my eyes are all blurry now.  

I've cleaned the machine and changed the needle, so it's all ready for the next run.  I might do a few more in an hour or so, but for now I need a break.

We are going to have some Almond Flat Bread for dinner, with ham and a salad, so I might make that now.

7.25 pm.  Gosh I got HEAPS done today!  A dozen placemats finished, another 15 half done, two loads of washing, dinner done and a brisk evening walk with Stew to cap off the day.

And I am KNACKERED, and have just had my dinner and I'm doing NOTHING ELSE, except walk to bed later on.  

Catch ya tomorrow.  

A special day.

NERVOUS, AND A LITTLE TEAR

 

Yesterday I finally did something that has been on my mind for a little while now.

Cleaning out my closet is what started it.

I found a denim jacket that I had bought WAY BACK in 1997, when Stew and I visited my brother Vern, in Singapore.

It was a fantastic trip, and we got to spend three full weeks with Vern, who lived and worked over there.

ABOVE:  Back to the jacket, which I bought at the Hard Rock Cafe in Singapore.  I loved it, but it has NEVER fitted me.  So it has never been worn.  The sleeves were/are just TOO BIG... and it doesn't even fit Stew.

So I got this idea to cut out the LOGO from the back of the jacket, and sew it onto the back of a denim jacket I bought last year in Australia, while visiting my sister Lorraine.

ABOVE: My 'Aussy' jacket, which was blank on the back.

ABOVE:  I felt really nervous cutting into this jacket, it holds such special memories of the only time we visited Vern in Singapore, and it was only about 18 months before he died.  I shed a few tears, then did it.

ABOVE:  Positioning the Logo on the 'new' jacket'.

ABOVE: It took me all of two seconds to decide to use red thread ... and I think it looks awesome.

ABOVE:  I chucked a dress on, to show how I will most likely wear the jacket the most.  

What do you think of it?  Did I do good?

Now I have a very special jacket, because it has memories of my brother Vern, AND my sister Lorraine.  I will never get rid of it.

I am going to use as much of the left over fabric from the Singapore jacket as I can, making myself a bag.  I can use the pockets and so on, on a bag.... it could be fun.

But not today.  Today down in the craft room I shall be getting more placemats done.  I've not finished any of the red/bright circles ones yet.

Market on Saturday, so I better pull finger!

ONWARD...

4.10 pm, and SORRY!

I have been really busy down in the craft room today, then I went to Spotlight for desperately needed backing fabric for placemats.

Like last Monday, I again sold placemats before they were even made today!  5 sold today, so tomorrow I will be making them.

ABOVE:  I have so many placemats on the go right now, I'm not sure if I'm coming or going!

But right now, I'm starving, so shall have something to eat.  

8.30 pm, and after my VERY late lunch, I had a lie down on the couch for an hour or so.  Then I went back into Crabby Quarters and did some cutting out for tomorrow's sewing effort.

It is going to be another full day of sewing tomorrow... so a bit boring for you guys.

It is what it is.

Now ... it's sign off time.  Not much else going on here, we're just doing our usual evening stuff.

Catch ya tomorrow.

NOT TOO MANY.

 

Yesterday was SUCH a good day!  We got so many jobs done, I'm thrilled to bits.  Stew was on fine form, and did not mutter, or huff and puff AT ALL!  I think he was just so relieved he didn't end up having to assemble the new cabinet.  😂😊😉  (Thank You Steve!)

ABOVE: Instead of using wire for the passionfruit vines to grow on, Stew decided some trellis would work better.  So there it is and it looks great.  I hope the vines grow.

ABOVE: The new cupboard in our bedroom.  I'm really happy that now I can actually SEE and  REACH all my winter tops.  And before any one says I have too many... remember this.

1.  Some are for next winter, when I'm a bit smaller, so smaller sizes.

2.  Some are going to the op shop once I outgrow them.

3. Some are heavy weight, and some are lightweight, as you need choices depending on the weather.

4.  Some are for 'just around the house/village', and some are for wearing 'out', and are a bit more 'dressy'.

5. And some I just love and will never part with!

GEORGIA :  Thanks for the suggestion of turning the cupboard around, sadly it can't be done as it would jut out into the room too much.  Good idea had the short wall been longer.

Today is supposed to be a bit wet, so a quiet day at home is on the cards.  Bex is doing the Cambridge Trash 'n' Treasure market, I hope she doesn't get rained out.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  9.30 am, and we decided to visit Bex at the Cambridge market.  It hasn't rained, but is quite overcast and cool.

The market had a decent number of visitors, a few less stall holders.  Bex was all set up when we arrived:

ABOVE:  Unfortunately the lady right next to Bex was also selling crocheted toys... though she uses chunkier wool.  Bex's are more dainty, which I prefer.  Hopefully she still does OK.

We had a wander around, and I saw a framed photo and was like... STEW, buy it!

ABOVE:  My darling bought it.  It is the Cambridge Anglican Church, where we have a couple of GOOD markets a year.  In fact, the next one is this month, on Labour Day.  Sharon, I think we are seeing you and your sister that day?

It is now 11 am, and we are home again.  Thinking about just relaxing today and doing bugger all.  My shoulders are really sore, probably down to sewing so much last week.  I think I better give them a rest.

There's a couple of little jobs for Stew, but nothing too onerous. 

8.20 pm.  Those little jobs got done.  I hung the new picture on our 'we have lived here' wall.

Dinner was BBQ spare ribs and veges.

I sussed out what to take to the craft room tomorrow, then just sat and watched TV, did an online jig saw on the laptop etc.

Now... we are both knackered.  We have enjoyed our weekend, but are ready for bed.  It's still a bit too early for me, so I'll hang out for a couple more hours.  I might even go and get my sewing trolley ready for tomorrow.

Catch ya then.

SATURDAY JOBS

 

With my .800 gram loss over the past week, my total loss, since starting WEGOVY,  is :  7.5 kilos.

That is over 10 weeks.  I'm happy enough with that, though of course, I'd have liked more.

ABOVE:  I thought I'd show you the WEGOVY 'pen' injection.  You use the same pen for 4 weeks, but use a new needle each week. 

Every time you go up to a higher dose, you also get a new pen, which is pre-loaded with the medication.  Stew has gotten really good at administering my injection now.

And I still have not felt a thing, which is really neat.  Sadly, I do get stressed out, even knowing it's not going to hurt... and I end up having a big, nasty hot flush.  

I wish the damn hot flushes would stop, but I do believe I'm going to have them for the rest of my life, having already 'suffered' from them for 22 years.

Right... today.

We will do the weekend grocery shop.

Stew has to pick up his dry cleaning, and drop off the next lot. (business pants)

Then we will attend the Playcentre Garage Sale.

After that, home to assemble the bedroom 'drawers'... which ain't drawers at all.   I will show you what we got ... later.

Finally for the morning, we shall go to Mitre 10 and get some wire, for the passionfruit vines to grow on.

And that's it. 

This afternoon I will probably sort out my wardrobe and drawers, and then we MIGHT head down to the Community Centre to, (god help me), watch the rugby on the big screen.   It is a chance for Stew to spend some time with fellow villagers, something he doesn't get to do very often.

ONWARD...

9.50 am, and Stew ended up going to the supermarket on his own.  I wasn't ready to go, and had to get the washing on bla bla bla.

ABOVE: Steve and the kids called in, and he saw the new thing waiting to be assembled.  So, of course, he just got on with it!

So, Stew and I nabbed the Ginger Spitfire (formerly known as Lily), and took off to the Playcentre.

ABOVE:  It is many, many years since we pushed a littlie in a pushchair!

ABOVE:  Wow, I'm feeling quite happy with my backside 'view'!  Not to bad. Certainly not as bad as I thought it was.

ABOVE: After visiting Bex and buying a few things at the Playcentre, we walked home again.  Miss Lily walked all the way, she did not want to be in the pushchair, and kept saying "Me walk".  It was so cute.

ABOVE: Teenagers are SO HANDY!  

He didn't even mind.

ABOVE:  well.. she's just so adorable.

And getting so big.  *sniff*

ABOVE: All the kids on our bed, watching their Dad assemble the cabinet.

ABOVE:  Dante helping Steve... Dante aspires to be a builder when he's grown up, just like his Dad.

ABOVE: The things we bought at the garage sale.  Old jeans for Loretta to turn into bags, which she does really well.

Plus a few other bits 'n' bobs we really didn't need... but the money is to support our local Playcentre, so a good thing.

ABOVE: And there is the new bedroom 'drawers'... A cabinet that I can put all my winter sweatshirts, jumpers and coats in.  I am NOT getting rid of anything else if I can help it.  Unless is doesn't fit me, or is too old. 

Though, I do have something that is at least 35+ years old that I am keeping  ...  more about THAT, on WEDNESDAY.

It is now 12.16 pm, time to go out, get a few things we need (chicken wire etc) and then come home so I can sort out the clothes to go in that cabinet.

5.15 pm, and all the jobs are done.  My new cupboard is full of my winter tops and a few other things.  It looks great.  Stew moved a couple of large mirrors around in the house into better positions.  Just 'tweaking' things a bit.

I love tweaking.  lol

Soon we will head down to the Community Centre to join others watching the bloody rugby.  I am only going cos I know a couple of the ladies who will be there.  I am taking a couple of little bottles of bubbly to drink and Stew is also taking his own grog.  The village bar does not serve the beer he likes. 

9.05 pm and we are home.  The ladies I had expected to be there, were not.  So I sat with Stew and he watched the rugby and I scrolled on my phone, and watched little bits here and there of the rugby game.  The All Blacks won convincingly, which was good as they had lost their last three games in a row.

Stew was happy.

But we won't be going to the community centre to watch again, even with the 'big screen'.  It was uncomfortable sitting in upright dining chairs, and like, there were probably 12 adults there, and 4 kids.  And we were on our own at our table, so yeah.  Stew can watch the rugby in comfort at home next time.

And that wraps up our day, it has been a lovely day overall.

Catch ya tomorrow.

CRAFT ROOM... THEN PLAYCENTRE.

 

Yaaa Friday.  Looking forward to having Stew home for the weekend.

AND perhaps going fishing on Sunday?  Not sure yet.

Today though, I shall wander down to the craft room and join Loretta for a few hours.

ABOVE:  I picked up that spotty fabric off Bex last night.  She got it off a de-stash Facebook site.  I think the red fabric around the outside will look OK... for placemats.  I think I will work on them this morning.

After lunch I am taking all the mosaic supplies (from the Cambridge Mosaic group), down to our local Playcentre.  They are having a Garage Sale tomorrow, so maybe someone will buy it all?  Bex will be there today as she's helping organise the Garage Sale.  It is the Playcentre that Lily attends, so I'm happy to give them the mosaic supplies.

Oh and btw, I sent an email to the Village Manager, asking for a response to our proposal re:  The window.  I hope he replies TODAY.

Now.... I'm off to have a nice, productive day.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  I got 9 of these placemats 'tops' made in the craft room this morning, while yakking with Loretta.

AND the Village Manager came down and talked to me about the window.   Seems we are waiting on the council to give the go ahead, and if we need a building permit or not.  The Manager thinks we won't need a permit, as my neighbour didn't need one.  Fingers crossed, cos a permit is another few THOUSAND dollars!   AND more waiting.  And inspections bla bla bla.

At least the 'neighbours from hell' don't have a say in it!  That was what I thought would halt my window in it's tracks.

I am now heading off to the Playcentre to offload all the mosaic stuff.

4 pm, and well, that didn't take very long.  I gave all the stuff to Bex, and had a quick browse over what the ladies had managed to get out on the tables, in readiness for tomorrow's garage sale.

AND ummm...

ABOVE:  I grabbed these four coffee mugs.  At $1 each, they were a steal.  I am going to take them down to the craft room, for anyone who wants to drink out of a decent sized coffee mug.  Most of the cups down there are those old fashioned, china tea cups.  Small.  Dainty.  Not what I wanna have a hot drink out of for sure.

And how cute and happy do they look?  I like them.

Very quite on here today... I hope you are all having an awesome day.  DOGSTARS, I miss you!

8.16 pm.  Thank you so much for the comments this afternoon, I'm not feeling like ... ignored now!  lol  😂😅😊  Sorry the blog has been a bit MEH lately.  But, it's better to be MEH, than full of drama I feel.

We just had an evil meal cos I was craving carbs.

Chips, garlic bread and chicken wings.  OMG so yum!

Bearing in mind I only have ONE EVIL MEAL a week, I'm not even feeling guilty.

I lost .800 grams this week.  Must be doing something right.

I'm signing off for the day now, catch ya tomorrow.