TAKING A BREAK... AGAIN

 

I knew this... for months I've known it.

The TRULICITY I take twice a week for diabetes management/weight loss 'help', is what is causing the CHRONIC constipation I'm suffering.

Bearing in mind the Trulicity did NOTHING towards helping me lose weight, I am gunna have to start taking something else for my diabetes control.

I stopped taking Trulicity last week, so hopefully in the next couple of weeks, 'things' will be back to normal 💩💩💩.

There is no way I could keep going the way things were, it was TERRIBLE.

TMI?  My blog... so grin and bear it.

Stew's back at work today, so I have the house to myself again.  I'm gunna go for a walk first thing, before heading into Crabby Quarters to sew.

ONWARD...

12.10 pm, and I've  had a lovely morning.

First a quick walk around the streets.

Then into Crabby Quarters, where I started a bag.

On to morning tea with the regulars down in the village  community centre.

Back home, grabbed an early lunch of salad and sausage.

Bex and Lily arrived for a visit, which was very nice.

And now?

I'm about to head back into Crabby Quarters.

COLLEEN:  I don't know if I have already talked about THE CHOCOLATE?

I can't eat it anymore.  With the Trulicity causing massive problems 💩💩💩, eating chocolate ALSO CAUSES THE SAME RESULT.

I should have known better.  The Whitakers Banana Caramel Chocolate caused the opposite effect for just a little while, then it bunged me up.

So, I have about 20 blocks of that chocolate to slowly give away!  Stew will eat a bit of it, but not 20 blocks.

Why do I have 20 Blocks?  Cos Whitakers said it was a 'Limited Edition', so I grabbed heaps of it.

NOW they have advised it is going to become a normal, available all the time flavour. So typical.

TRACY:  I have already tried Kiwi Crush, and almost every other 'remedy' known to man!

The only thing that did work was Lactulose, but it made my stomach ache.

ABOVE:  3.45 pm, and I just finished this bag.  I used some of the fabric I got from my friend Denise yesterday.  The dog fabric is a  heavier weight than I usually use, but it works for bags.

HIT REPEAT?

 

Today is a Public Holiday ( 'Mondayised' ANZAC Day), so Stew is home.

Until his knee is 100% we are still unable to go out and about much.  I can't wait until he's up to bigger walks, more outings and so on.

The Village Craft Group is on today, holiday or not.  I will no doubt attend, and do some sewing, but not coasters.  Doing them makes way too much mess, and I can't be arsed having to take all that down there, then clean up the mess afterwards.

I might start doing something with those little dog squares I found in me stash.

ABOVE:  The coasters I got done yesterday... I really like this combo, and the touch of blue... magic.  You have to see them 'in person' to really appreciate how lovely they are.  That actually applies to just about everything I make.

ABOVE:  These are the little dog squares I might work on today.  I might get one or two runners out of them.  Let's wait and see.

ONWARD...

3.10 pm.  You ain't missed me eh?

Today has gone like this:

Jobs around the house.

Shower and wash hair/put face on.

Spend far too long on the loo crying.

Go out to a fellow marketeers to get some fabric from her.

Make lunch, Ham/Bacon and Onion Toasted Sandwich.

Attend Craft Group.  Make 6 cat coasters.

Walk home, give away 2 cat coasters to neighbours.

ABOVE: The four coasters that made it home.

They are super quick and easy to make, no joining up of lots of little pieces of fabric involved.

I'll probably make more tomorrow.  Not now, right now I'm done.

It was stinkin' hot in the craft room, I was wearing a really thick sweatshirt and nearly melted.  Too hot.  I could have walked home and changed, but just couldn't be arsed.

Happy to be home now.  Feet up.  

We went out for a little while this evening.

Stew parked the car.

ABOVE: Thank God I'm not the only atrocious parker in this family!!!

In his defence though, it was a very tight carpark, with little turning room.

But still... lol!

I'm done for the day ... catch ya tomorrow.

p.s.   Crying in the loo was due to chronic constipation.  Please don't worry, everything is fine otherwise.

WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY

 

Well, this is happening a bit too often!

We really don't have any plans for the day, or even tomorrow, which is a public holiday.

Usually there would be some jobs to be done outside, but living here?  Nope.  It's almost all done for us.  And turning the gardens into pots 'n' rocks made it even more easy care.

There is a buoy to be hung up, so we will go and get the hardware to do that, but pfffft, that's it.

ABOVE:  I got 21 coasters made yesterday, and I love them all.  They are just so cute, bright and cheerful.

I had originally started making them as 'give ways', but have decided to have them for sale as well.  Ya never know, I give one as a gift, and the recipient might want to buy one too?  We will see how it goes.

If we can't think of anything to do, I will continue making coasters.  And Stew can watch sport on the telly.  

ONWARD...

12.20 pm.  Stew did his weekend shop this morning, and I did a big clean up of Crabby Quarters.

In time to start a new colour way of coasters.

ABOVE:  Funny how I dream about my sewing projects.  I decided overnight to do Black 'n' White, with a pop of colour.

So there they are.  I've only made those three so far... do you like them?  I think they will appeal to some people.

We are heading out to Mitre 10 now, might grab lunch while out as well.  

2pm, and we are already home from our little trip out and about.

Stew got the hardware for hanging the buoy, and then we went to The Lookout for lunch.

Glen had mentioned a dish he got there the other day, so we decided to try it.

ABOVE: Pork Belly Bao Buns.  TO DIE FOR.  They are an Entree/Starter, and just enough to share between Stew and I.

We often get a couple of starters to share, instead of a 'main' meal now days.  That way, we get to have a variety of things.  It works for us.

And those Bao buns were not very big at all, so just a nice amount for lunch.

It is a very dull, cold day, and I got cold while out.  So now I'm sitting in me lounge chair, covered with my electric throw, warming up again.

My feet are freezing... probably not as freezing as other people's, sorry other people.  😂

ABOVE: The second buoy is up and looks so lovely there.

This afternoon Stew took himself off for a walk, he did 20 minutes, on his own.  Cos I had a nap.

Rather lazy of me, but I was/am just a bi tired.

And I'm getting a lot of damn cramps all over ... no idea why now?   I got one in my forearm while we were out at lunch!  And just now, a really MEAN one behind my thigh... they hurt like mad.  I've just taken some magnesium, hopefully that helps.

8.25 pm.  I've just finished a few more coasters.  I will show you what I got done tomorrow.

It certainly isn't as many as other days.  I wasn't so gung ho today.

We've settled down for a quiet evening now.  Coco is snoring her head off on Stew's lap... noisy tart does that all night long.

Catch ya tomorrow.

A CHANGE OF COLOUR

 

Today is ANZAC Day here in New Zealand.  Google it if you want to know what it's all about.

All the shops are closed until 1 pm.

NOT that I want to go shopping, but you can bet ya bottom dollar people will flood the shops after 1 pm.

I'm going to stay home and make a few coasters in a totally different colour way.  Probably pinks/purples/floral, I'll see how that goes.

I found some Dog squares cut out, so I might even do something with them.  They are too nice to be coasters though... hmmmm.  They might even become a runner.

Stew is at a loose end, he can't do the weekend shop, and there's no rugby on!  What a bloody shame.  He might go for a little walk.  I should accompany him, but NAH.  I can't be arsed.  (I might change my mind a bit later though, let's wait and see)

ABOVE:  Last night, it was all about Granddad.  I hardly got a look in with Lily.  

ABOVE: Steve took about 18 photos, just to try and get a half decent one of us all.  Lily and Dante kept pulling silly faces.  Archer finally joined in as well!

ABOVE: This one was about the BEST out of all of them.

ABOVE: This is a nice one of those three, I'm sure Dante does not know how to smile on cue without grimacing. 

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

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  11.55 am.  This mornings effort.

And now we are going to Tirau for a late lunch and a wander around the shops.

As I said, I don't need to do any shopping, but it's a way to get a bit of exercise (for Stew) and who knows, we might see something we rather like and buy it?  It happens.  😃😅😉

3.50 pm.  Travelling to Tirau?  TRAFFIC for miles!  But, once there we found a park and had a nice lunch.

NONE of their shops were open, so no browsing there.

Came home and went to Briscoes at The Base, where we bought...

ABOVE:  Yet another new iron!  Yep, dropped the last one on the floor, which is CONCRETE... bye bye iron.  Luckily, Briscoes ALWAYS has a sale on, and today's was 40% off everything in the store.

ABOVE: We also bought this for the kitchen... it was FREE considering the discount on the iron.  SCORE.

Now I'm going to take 5 before trying out the new iron on a few more coasters.

Stew is going up to the pub to watch the rugby with his mates... he'll be home around 7.

So nice he can spend time with his mates, and I don't have to listen to freakin' rugby. 

8.20 pm.  Stew wandered home after the first game of rugby... he had a lovely time at the pub with his mates.  He's now ensconced in front of OUR telly watching a second rugby game!

I sewed some more coasters while he was out, but have stopped now that he's home.

I'll do a jig saw and listen to music with my headphones on, I can't stand listening to most sports.

Catch ya tomorrow.

COASTER AS GIVE AWAYS

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE

Dad and I hope you have a lovely day

off from work today.

See you this evening for dinner and cake.

Today I plan on making a few more coasters.  They are rather fun to make, and quick too.

ABOVE: These are the coasters I got done yesterday afternoon.  I think they only took me about an hour and a half.  

Our friend 'G' is calling in sometime today with some mince from his freezer for us.  I told him how much we are paying in the supermarket for MINCE, and he was horrified.  So, as he has masses in his freezer, he's bringing us some.

Nice guy.  He gets his beef from a home kill butcher, so doesn't pay anywhere near as much as the supermarket is charging.  He's an ex-farmer, so has the connections.

And that's me for now... catch ya later.

ONWARD...

9.50 am, and I've just finished all the morning jobs.

ABOVE: And I have a small batch of cheese/onion and bacon scones in the oven.  I will be giving some to Glen by way of a 'Thank You' for the mince.  Oh, and he gets a block of chocolate too.  lol

I'm having to give away all the chocolate (THAT I LOVE), as chocolate simply does not agree with my gut.  NOT AT ALL.

It's so sad.

But obviously, better for me not to eat it.

I am heading into Crabby Quarters soon, I just need to keep an eye on those scones first.  If I get sewing I'll forget about them, and then they will burn and die.

2.50 pm and the scones came out lovely, I had one for lunch with some hummus on it.  It was delicious.

I've been sewing for a few hours now...

ABOVE: Using scraps is a messy business... I am looking forward to tidying up later on.  There's a pile of coasters ready for their backing fabric on the ironing board.

ABOVE: That is one of THREE full boxes of green scraps!  I have FOUR boxes full of blues and aqua.  And at least one box of every other colour as well.

I don't think I will ever use them all.

ABOVE: I got those coasters finished before lunch.  Some dog coasters and blues.

It will be so nice to just give them away and get them out of my house! 😂😊  And it's such a nice feeling giving away stuff, people are just so appreciative.  

Right, I actually stopped working cos I am busting for a piddle, so that better happen RIGHT NOW...   

4.50 pm, and I've finished sewing for the day.  I have to get ready to head over to Steve 'n' Bex's for birthday dinner.  I'm thinking we are having Chinese Takeaways or something along those lines, and of course, a birthday cake.

ABOVE:  I got 31 coasters made today, that's pretty good going if ya ask me.  I will probably spend another full day making more, then I can sit back and relax for a few days.

Well... maybe not.  I'm sure I will think of something I absolutely need to make.  😂😅😉

8.40 and we are home.  Full as a bull... dinner was lovely.  We did have Chinese Takeaways, followed by Chocolate cake AND Carrot Cake.

Really enjoyed spending a few hours with the kids... and now I'm totally knackered.

Early to bed for me.

Catch ya tomorrow.

ANOTHER MORNING TEA

 

The regular Thursday morning tea is on in the Village Lounge this morning, so I shall attend.

I really enjoy catching up with those that attend regularly.

After that, I'll come home and finish those last two Scrappy Dolls, then move on to making some 'Scrappy Coasters'.  I'm determined to start using up some of my scraps.

I have at least a dozen boxes FULL of scraps.  It's crazy how much I have in fact.  I clearly never throw anything out.

It's 'pub night' this evening, so I shall visit the kids before joining Stew.  We've not seen them in a couple of weeks.  Time to catch up.

ABOVE:  Time to fish this out of the linen cupboard... my electric throw.  OMG, it is so lovely.  I have used it for two nights already.  No bitching about being cold from me.  Sorry other people if you are cold.   

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  Just finished these last two (for now).

Loving them.  

Now I have to put me face on and go to morning tea.

12 noon.   Morning tea with the regulars was very nice.  We always manage to find something to yak about.  Sometimes it's just village gossip, which can be rather 'interesting'.  Nothing remains secret around here!

Home, and I've already had my lunch.  Lacy called in and helped me eat it as well.  

She came to pick up a few things.

ABOVE:  It is very cold today, and that silly bitch is in shorts!  She reckons she doesn't feel the cold on her legs.  Crazy tart.

She tried sneaking Coco out the door when she left... I wasn't having any of that.  Coco on the other hand would have gone willingly... traitorous little hussy.

And that is a HUGE tin of dog food in her pocket... Coco can't eat it, where as Lacy's cats can.

Right, back to myself again.  I'm having a little break before I start making coasters.  Will get to that later on this afternoon.

4.35 pm.   I've just come out of Crabby Quarters, after making a few coasters.  I'm quite happy with them.  I will show you tomorrow.  For now I need to get ready to take Stew to the Pub, then visit the kids.

11.25 pm, and I almost forgot to sign off for the day.

But here I am, about to head off to bed and yeah... we had a lovely evening at the pub, and me visiting the kids.

I really enjoy our Thursday nights.

Catch ya tomorrow.

GROCERY SHOPPING AND MORE DOLLS.

 

First up for the day is some grocery shopping.  It's actually been a little while since I did any, and we need a few basics.  I miss BREAD.  A nice hot toasted sandwich is what I'm craving right now.

Cos it's cold.  I might get a few tins of soup too.  Soup and toast for lunch sounds rather nice as well.

And YES, I could make me own freakin' soup if I felt like it. But I don't.  So there.

Late yesterday afternoon I got two more Scrappy Dolls made:

ABOVE: This one's face is very similar to one I made the other day.  It's sooooo cute.

ABOVE: And this one is a variation of one of the earlier ones as well.

I think I am now starting to re-hash the new faces, with some little 'tweaks'.  I'm very happy with the new faces.  I still love the original faces, but these ones are just so sweet.

Once I get home from the supermarket, I'm not sure what I'll get up to.  I do have 2 more dolls cut out ready for finishing, so I'll possibly do them.

Then I will make some coasters I think.

BLONDIE:  I could have sworn I'd shown my new Jacket?  Apparently not.

Here it is:

ABOVE:  It is a 'Scribbler' brand jacket.  Fleece lined, so fairly warm.  It has all the bells and whistles... deep, zippered pockets, inside and outside.  An adjustable hood. Reflectors on sleeves and back.  Ribbed, fitted wrist bands inside the outer layer.  Extra long at the back.  Fitted through the waist (Ha ha, like I have a waist), but it's there if I ever get me waist back.  Water and wind proof.

I LOVE IT.

This design only got released for sale at the end of March this year.  

Scribbler is available in a few select shops.   We got it online ... it's a NEW ZEALAND company, so we have had no problems with them at all. 

I have been warned by a few ladies here in the Village to never take it off and leave it anywhere, cos it might 'walk'....  lol.

ONWARD...

12.30 pm, and I've just finished putting the groceries away.

ABOVE:  I was a bit blown away with how much I bought!  I didn't have a list, just an idea of what we were running out of, and the need for some fresh food.

So... I kinda blew the budget 😖😏.

For a change, I wasn't shocked though.  EVERYTHING costs more now.  

Now it's all away, and I'm sitting down to eat a lovely Ham/Cheese and Pineapple toasted sandwich.

I will stay sat down for a while, then move into the sewing room I am sure.

6.50 pm.  I did some sorting out in the garage this afternoon. I put Scrappy Dolls in smaller bags for market.  I am not taking 20+ dolls to market, so chose some to take, and some to keep here as 'stock'.

I started the face of another doll, then had to unpick part of it as I just hated it.  Luckily it's not ruined the face by unpicking.  I did not finish a doll today, which is amazing.

I could have finished one, but Stew arrived home and I just wanted to stop and spend time with him.

We have just had our 'dinner', and are looking forward to a quiet evening.

Catch ya tomorrow.

PRODUCTION LINE

 

It's a slow start to the day for me.

I'm in no hurry to get moving...

ABOVE:  I have the next three Scrappy Dolls to finish, it's staring to feel like a production line.

There's four more ready to work on as well!  So, once they are done, I can move on to the next project.

Not sure what that will be, I know I have plenty of EVERYTHING, so I might even just make a few coaster as 'giveaways'.  It will help pare down some of the scraps if nothing else.

ABOVE: This one one of the jobs Stew attended to on the weekend.  This MASSIVE succulent was starting to tip over, it is so heavy on one side.

Now it's safe from certain destruction.  I love succulents, and this one must be many years old.  It would have been a shame for it to topple over.

There is a Village Morning Tea on today, so I shall wander down there later.  It will be a nice break from the sewing.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  It's 2 pm.  I've been a busy beaver.  I got the next three Scrappy Dolls finished.  So now there's 7 differing faces.

Who knows how many more I shall come up with?  Maybe a few, maybe no more?

I went down and had morning tea with a bunch of Villagers.  

My plans after than was to catch a bus into town, and go to David's Emporium for more buttons for Scrappy Doll's eyes.  They are way, way cheaper there than at Spotlight.

I mentioned at morning tea where I was going next, and one of the village residents offered to drop me off in town, as he was going in there as well.

So nice.  And off we went.  Once in town, I rang Stew and we had lunch together.

Then I walked to David's Emporium and got the buttons,  and a few other bits 'n' bobs.

ABOVE: After shopping, I walked down to Anzac Parade and caught the Orbiter bus outside the Police Station.  About 35 minutes later I was dropped off, and had a short walk home.

ABOVE: You get to see so much more on the bus.  I really enjoy it.

It is quite a cold day today, windy, cloudy, with odd spits of rain... I'm so glad I wore a decent jacket.  My very colourful  jacket in fact.  Gosh I get a lot of comments about that jacket!  Even in town, complete strangers comment on how lovely and colourful it is!

I am now really cold, so might just sit and warm up before doing much else.

5.10 pm and I just got two more Scrappy Dolls finished.  I will show them to you tomorrow.

For now.. I'm done for the day.

Stew will be home within the hour, so I might just sort out some sort of light dinner for us.