NOT REALLY GREY

 

The runner I made yesterday was SUPPOSED to be GREY.

ABOVE: But as you can see, it is more black and white than grey.  Yes, there are grey fabrics there, but with the black accents, it just looks black 'n' white.  It is still a nice runner, and will appeal to someone.

I will finish it off this morning all going well.

If it's not raining this afternoon, we will be taking Coco down to the Community Centre to a 'pet meet & greet'.  There's been a couple already, and they have gone down very well.  Coco will love meeting all the other little dogs in the village I'm sure.  

If I get a chance, I also want to go out and buy an office chair, swivel on wheels, to use in the craft room.  It will make working down there easier.  Right now I'm using a standard dining chair, it's a pain in the butt.  Stew also wants to go to Rebel Sport for a few odds 'n' ends.  

So actually, we might do the shopping first, then I will sew bla bla bla.

ONWARD...

1.45 pm.  All on our agenda is done.  We went shopping and got everything, except a new office chair for the craft room.  I'll have to look again on Monday, when more office furniture type shops are open.

The Warehouse had heaps, but nothing 'quite right'... and so many on the floor to try were broken, so you couldn't even tell if they went up and down etc.  Most annoying.

Once home, I went into Crabby Quarters and finished that runner:

ABOVE:  It's a nice long runner, perfect for a big table.  

*sigh*, Stew is watching a shoot 'em up, bang bang movie, so I might wander back into Crabby Quarters and sort out my next project.  Not sure what that will be yet...

4 pm.  The pet meet 'n' greet didn't happen as it was raining, and still is.  Just a wet miserable afternoon.   I didn't get back into Crabby Quarters, I decided to watch CASTAWAY again on Netflix.  I've watched it dozens of times, lol.  But I love it, so who's counting?

NEW DOSE TONIGHT

 

Today I'm thinking about my next WEGOVY injection.  Stew will give it to me this evening, and today I go 'up' a dose.  From .25 mgs to .50 mgs.

This is the dosing schedule:

ABOVE: For some reason I thought there was only 4 dosages, but nope, there's 5.  I sure in hell hope it starts making a difference soon!  

Fingers crossed it doesn't cause any side effects, so far I've had ZERO.

I'm going down to the craft room this morning to join the other 2-3 ladies who usually are there on a Friday.  I will probably get the binding on the last two big green Braid Runners while down there.  We will see.  

After that, I plan on making a GREY Braid Runner.  I've certainly not got one of those, and it will make a nice change.  

ONWARD...

2.30 pm.  I spent about 4 hours down in the craft room with Margaret and Loretta, we enjoyed each other's company, and got lots done.

ABOVE: Thanks Dogstar for saying I should be in my finished runner photos!  I didn't even think of it until you suggested it.  I got the step stool and BOOM.  That worked.  No more runners lying on the floor or having Stew hold them up.

So those are the two big Green Kiwiana Braid Runners I got finished today.

I also got the top of a grey/black one done, and I might even get it finished by the end of the day.

Lacy came around at my request, and has given Coco a bath, and is now washing my car.  There's so much pollen in the air right now, my car is covered in it!  

Thank goodness for Lacy eh?  She does those jobs I find a pain in the proverbial.

After Lacy had done her jobs, we wandered down to the Craft Room to pick up my iron, it was too hot to bring home earlier.

On our way back, we stopped in at the 'Recycled Clothing' room, where residents can donate clothes they no longer want.  Then other residents are welcome to help themselves to anything they can use.  Lacy was given permission to help herself too, by the organiser of said clothing room.

Lacy was like, hell no, there will be nothing there I will want, old people clothes!

Funny.  She left with two new t-shirts, two dressier shirts and an almost brand new black Dickey Jacket.  Label even!  And not 'old person fuddy duddy' at all!  She was rather surprised I think.

She has now left, and I'm taking time out till I feel like sewing again.

7.20 pm, and I've just finished putting the border on that GREY runner.  And tomorrow I will do the quilting and binding.  There is no way I'm up for doing it tonight.

Stew is reading up on how to do the WEGOVY jabby jab, it's a bigger pen.  I hope the needle isn't bigger too!!!

Huge relief, it was the same needle ... very fine.  I didn't feel a thing.  OMG I hope this larger dose works.  

Did I tell you?  NO... I GAINED .400 grams this week.  WTF?  I have NOT been overeating.  

Moving on, looking forward to a quiet evening.

Catch ya tomorrow. 

COFFE & CHAT?

 

It's another day where I could attend Coffee & Chat down in the Community Centre.  And I'm of two minds if I even want to attend any more.

It's been a good way to meet more people here in the village, but *sigh*... I am not exactly enjoying it any more.  It's the same 10-ish people, the same conversations (mostly), and I don't even enjoy being around a couple of those people.  😖😒

So, totally not sure I'm going or not yet.  Maybe I'll go down, see who's there then decide if I'll stay or not.

I'm definitely going to the supermarket sometime today.  I want to get a few things that I can do in the air fryer... I'm dying to try it out.

I am going to ask Google what sorts of food I can cook in it before I go to the supermarket.  Bearing in mind I am on a friggin 'diet' again... so have to keep that in mind as well.

Question:  Are potato chips 'healthy' done in an air fryer?  Or am I clutching at straws?

ONWARD...

2.02 pm.

I went to C & C, it was OK. I left there after about 45 minutes  and did a grocery shop. Bought a selection of things to try in the air fryer. But not ready made chips. I'm going to make my own.

Had lunch. Now I'm sewing.

I just tried something in the air fryer.

I VERY thinly sliced some potato and onion, combined them with a beaten egg and some garlic and herb salt, added a couple of tablespoons of parmesan cheese, and spread it out thinly on some baking paper.  Chucked it in the air fryer for 12 minutes on 200 C.  Pulled it out half way to flip it over (and removed the paper) ... and BOOM!

ABOVE: That worked, and I can use that for the base of a roll up, like you would a wrap. I also think it could be used like a 'mock' pizza base too.  My god that air fryer is so fast and easy to use.  I'm already in love with it.

7.45 pm.  Stew and I went for a 30 minute walk when he arrived home from work... it took us to the pub. lol

After spending half an hour with Stew and the gang, I walked home.  Then jumped in the car and went over to visit the kids.

7 pm saw me back at the pub for another half an hour, before we both came home.

I've just cooked Stew some food in the air fryer for his dinner, it took 10 minutes!  

Never again will I have to wait for the oven to heat up, then 20-25 minutes for the food to cook.

As per usual, it is now time to snuggle down and watch the telly till bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.

WALKING...

 

For the first time in a long time, I'm going over to Cambridge for an FBG walk.

I miss the girls/guys over there, and I really don't want to lose touch with all of them.

The morning tea afterwards is a great way to catch up too... though from now on there won't be any 'treats' during morning tea, I'll just  have a hot chocolate drink.

After my little trip over to Cambridge, I'll come home and do some sewing.  I've not done any since Monday. 

ABOVE:  Update on Stew's toe... the nail has come off, and it is healing well.  We are so relieved he didn't get an infection.

I better go, got a bit of housework to do before I go over to Cambridge.
Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

11.50 am, and I did it.  I was tempted not to, being an inherently lazy tart, but I did go over to Cambridge for a walk.

ABOVE: There were 13 of us on today's walk, and the walk took just over an hour.  No idea what the distance was, my walking app glitched out again.  But I think it was around 5.5 kms.

I had a lovely hot chocolate afterwards at the chosen coffee shop of the day, then came home.

I'm now cooking some chicken pieces for my lunch.  Then I'm going out again.

I have finally decided to buy an air fryer.  Thought about it before, then decided to use the air fryer feature of our Samsung Oven.  But it doesn't really work like an air fryer ... and you are still warming up a much bigger oven... which costs more.

So, I'm going out after lunch to buy what Steve and Bex have, which is a bench top oven/air fryer.  It uses bugger all power apparently.  Might just be perfect for us.

I hardly ever use our big oven now days, only when we have visitors for lunch like last Sunday, when I want to cook more than just enough for Stew and I.

ABOVE: Today's 'official' walk photo, doctored of course to protect privacy.

ABOVE:  It's in the house.  Steve did the window shopping, and found it on sale in a shop at The Base.  I think I saved a couple of hundred dollars, if not more.

Who ever pays full price now days?  There's always a sale on somewhere.

ABOVE:  I moved the toaster and jug to the other side of the stove elements and put the new oven/air fryer where they were.  Works.  I still have plenty of room to the right of the sink for preparation work.  It's a very small kitchen, but you can make it work with some thought.

7 pm, and it's starting to cool down after a mild winter day.  I'm cold, so time to get my heated throw on and settle down for the evening.

Catch ya tomorrow.

AND NOW THERE'S THREE

 

Went to bed in a funk.  Still in a funk.

Might have to go shopping to cheer myself up.  

But first...

ABOVE:  I took a door off it's hinges.  That was slightly more difficult that I expected, but I got it done.  It needs trimming so it isn't so hard to open and close.  And me being me, couldn't wait for anyone to do it.  ONLY, sanding it didn't work.  Oh well, I tried.

ABOVE:  I now have three little strawberries.  Still not sure how to sell them... ornaments?  Smelly things to  hang in the wardrobe?  Who kows.  They are pretty.  I'll make more next Monday in Craft Group.

Right, time to start the day... I've got a little list of things we need from the supermarket.  So will do that first, then who knows?

Oh Coffee & Chat in the Community Centre I suppose.  

ONWARD...

10.50 am. So I went down to Coffee & Chat, saw who was there and decided.. yeh nah and left again. Just wasn't in the mood for boorish, up himself man. 

ABOVE: I'm now on the bus to the shops instead.

ABOVE: People watching at the mall. Yeah.

Well, I got sick of watching people.  I only saw ONE BOGAN!  And then on my way home, on the bus, I had the 'pleasurable' company of a mentally disabled person, who was raving most of the time.  Luckily he had two 'minders' with him, so it wasn't too scary.

ABOVE:  I bought two new eyebrow pencils.  Then spent like FIFTEEN BLOODY MINUTES trying to get the cellotape and seals off them!!!

One was a pencil, and one was a liquid.  I've tried the liquid, it looks OK I think.

I keep thinking I'll get my eyebrows tattooed, but I'm just too scared the tattooist will do a shit job and I'll have to live with it forever.

ABOVE:  Our darling Coco when I got home.  She always finds the sunny spots.  

It's now 2.30, and I'm watching a movie on Netflix.  

ABOVE:  Might have overdone it a bit?  😂😅

7.10 pm and I've just arrived home from WW meeting.  It's nice to still go, but not weigh in.  I don't need that stress!  I will eventually weigh in again, but not until it doesn't stress me out every time!  

In reality, I go so I'm still engaging with people outside the village now.

You can get very entrenched in 'Village Life' and forget to do things 'outside'.  Lots of people here do that I've heard.

Stew just got back from his walk... I will join him on his next one, which will be Thursday night, before heading to the pub.

Right, that's me for the day, catch ya tomorrow.

BRAID RUNNERS, THEN A STRAWBERRY

 

Another Monday rolls around, so it's another Craft Group Day for me.

I shall wander down to the Community Centre around 10 and get to work.

I've got two large Green Braid Runners to do the quilting on.   Once I've done them, it will be lunchtime, so I'll stop for lunch.  I expect Liz and Margaret to be this morning, so I will have company.

When the other ladies arrive at 1 pm, I'll stop sewing on my machine, and do some hand work.

That way, I am sitting at the communal table, and can yak to the ladies.

I don't usually do that until 'afternoon tea time' at 2.15 ish.

ABOVE: During my tidy up, re-arrange yesterday, I found this little project.  So I will make some more little Strawberries while sitting at the table yakking. I'm going to call them Christmas Decorations, unless someone can think of something better?

ONWARD...

3.05 pm.  And I'm just home from Craft Group.  I got one runner fully quilted, and one half quilted, before I stopped to sit and yak.  I also made two more strawberries.   

It was a nice small group at craft today, so not too much noise and chatter.  Sometimes it can get very noisy!

I've just sat down and had some left over salad for a late lunch, followed by some grapes.  That's my food for the day. 

I've now got my feet up, heated throw on and about to watch something like a true crime doco on YouTube for a while.

10.45 pm.  Usual afternoon/evening.  Nothing new around here.

In a total funk again, wishing I could turn back the clock and change a few things... impossible of course. 

It upsets me thinking you have no control over some things, things that are really important to you.  In the past, now and in the future.  

Just stewing really.  I'll get over it.

Catch ya tomorrow.

HELLO

Another slow day ahead.

The only thing on our agenda is a little family lunch.

Lots of finger foods, scones etc.

I will make a start on getting it all ready mid morning.  Until then, I think I'll go into Crabby Quarters and get my sewing trolley set up for Craft Group tomorrow.

ONWARD...
 

10.45, and I've just done a little job in Crabby Quarters that was bugging me since the other day.

I went to Spotlight and bought a bunch of plain coloured Fat Quarters, because I needed PLAIN colours for fish fins etc.  And I had NONE.

And then yesterday I remembered I had a whole bunch of fat quarters in their containers, in the bloody linen cupboard.  OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND.

So, I sent 90 minutes in Crabby Quarters, YET AGAIN re-arranging bloody shelves etc, so I could get the fat quarters BACK in Crabby Quarters.

ABOVE:  And they are back where they belong.  I now have the batting in the linen cupboard, which gave me more room to switch a bit more around. 

ABOVE: AND LOOK AT THAT!  I have three EMPTY fabric cubbies!  OMG, I have room for more fabric! 

It is almost 11 am, and I shall make a start on preparing lunch now.  It's been a busy morning already...

ABOVE: Marley up with the big girls.

ABOVE:  Lily loves playing with cars, so I bought her this car carrier and cars.   

ABOVE: She really enjoyed playing with it.

The boys were not left out, they got to raid Granddad's wallet.  😂😆

ABOVE: lunch today was:  Potato pom poms with brown gravy in the middle, Potato and Onion Gratins, Scallop bites, Chicken pieces, Chicken nuggets (for Lily mostly), sausage rolls, lettuce salad, scones, grapes and pink 'n' purple cakes.

It went down very well, with very little left overs!

ABOVE: Two dogs begging for scraps.  

Coco ate some raw carrot and cucumber!  Weird dog.

ABOVE: I had some 'spare' artificial flowers and decided to give them to Lily.  

ABOVE:  She loved them, of course.

ABOVE: They won't be Lily's for long, Bex has her eye on them.  lol

It's now 2 pm and everyone has left, and it's back to us having a lovely Sunday afternoon.

The weather is packing in, lots of wind, and rain coming.  So, no walking off lunch today.  Not that I over indulged, but I did have a little bit of everything, except the sausage rolls and chicken nuggets.

LOL, Lily found somewhere for 'her' flowers:

ABOVE: on top of her dolls house!

7.40 pm, and indeed we have had a very relaxing afternoon.

I just finished packing my trolley in readiness for tomorrow's craft group.  I'm working on two large Green Braid Runners.  And that's it for the day.

Catch ya tomorrow.

LAST FISH RUNNER FOR A WHILE

 

So nice, just lying here in bed... no hurry to get up.  Stew has been snoring his head off... and he doesn't need to get up and watch a rugby game today either.  That's tomorrow. lol

ABOVE: I have the last fish runner (for now) on my work bench.  I just need to put the binding on and it will be done.  That will only take me about half an hour or so.

After that, the day's plans are kinda like... dunno!

I will get Stew on the end of the vacuum for sure, then who knows.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD... 

Well now I feel guilty.  Stew got up and did the grocery shopping before 8!  And I lay in bed till after 9.

WE are both up now and cracking on with a few household jobs.  

Yesterday's weigh in?  Down .600 grams.  Not exactly stellar, but a loss is a loss I suppose.  I can't wait until this damn drug kicks in.  I don't' want to feel hungry all the time.

I was in such a funk last night I caved and we had a burger and chips for dinner.  Blew it completely.

ABOVE:  Stew literally dragged me out for a walk around the bridges just now.  40 minutes later and we are home and I'm hot as hell.  I wore a black wool blend jumper and long leggings.  What a twat.  Should have been in 3/4 summer weight leggings and a t-shirt, I got so hot in the sun.  

But... now I am heading into Crabby Quarters, and I shall freeze.  Swings and roundabouts.

ABOVE: And there we have the fourth Fish Runner.  Done with them for now.  I have two large Green Braid Runners to quilt and bind, so shall work on them next.

Lovely, lovely afternoon, capped off with some news. 

And WTF?  Like we fucking CARE one iota!!!  Not one shit do we give.  Good Riddance.

So we ended up doing a very quick run to the supermarket for a couple of things for lunch tomorrow.  Having the usual family over.

And now it's 7.30 pm and I'm done for the day.  I'm even ready for bed!  Far, far too early though.

So I'll watch some shit on the TV or computer till bedtime I suppose.

Catch ya tomorrow.

ABORTED PLANS

 

I had planned on going over to Cambridge today for an FBG walk... but I'm piking out.  It's just too damn cold! 

So, I will stay home and sew.  I might lug all my stuff down to the graft room?  Actually, I'll go down and see if anyone is there first, no point packing it all up, and getting down there to find I am the only one there.  Pointless.  I will only go down there if I'm gunna have company.

So... for now I might get a couple of things done around here.  It's too early to expect anyone to be in the craft room yet.

ABOVE:  I saw this on Facebook, and tweaked the wording a bit to suit 'me'... it's just a bit funny.

ONWARD...

12.05 pm.

I did indeed end up spending a bit of time in the craft room with the other three ladies who are often there 'out of Craft Group' times.  We had a lot of laughs, and the gossip was interesting too.

Gotta love the gossip, it's how you find out things that are going on here in the village. 😂

ABOVE: I got this Angler Fish cut out, stuck down and ready for stitching.  I'll start on that this afternoon.  

Right now though, I'm having my lunch, which is an Optifast shake whizzed up with some fruit.

2.15 pm, and I'm just back from the shops.  I went into town, then Spotlight for more thread.  I was getting low on the colours I use the most for the fish runners.

ABOVE:  I bet virtually no one gives a thought to how much thread costs, in relation to the price of something on my stall.   That lot cost over $160.

*shaking my  head*.  AND it was on sale.

I am now, finally, going to head into Crabby Quarters and do some stitching.

6.15 pm.  Four hours of sewing and the fish runner is 90% done.   I will finish it off tomorrow.

Now, Stew has arrived home from work, and we are settling down for an enjoyably quiet evening.

Catch you tomorrow.