WALK, THEN PLACEMATS AGAIN...

 

My plan for today:

ABOVE:  Stitch up about 2 dozen placemats.  I cut them all out yesterday.

ABOVE:  I do have about 10 more to cut out completely, so I'll probably get them done today as well.

I know I'm low on backing fabrics for these placemats, so a quick trip to Spotlight will happen at some point too.

At our last Tamahere market, and the Village market, I had several people ask me if I had any horse placemats?  I said nope.

And I didn't think I had any fabric with horses on either... but yesterday during my hunt for placemat fabric, I found a few horses.  Yaaa.

Next thing I fully expect?  Some twat asking me if I have any with Crocodiles/Lizards/Lemurs and so on.  😂😅😆  You can never cover all the bases.

So, that's my day planned out.

But... first up, I'm off for a walk.  Trying to get a new habit established.  Walk every day, even if it's only a 30 minute walk, that is better than nothing.  AND that walk always includes 'THE HILL'.  I can do that hill now without gasping for breath at the top.  That's neat. 

Oh that reminds me, I need some new shorts for walking in over summer.  I prefer cycle shorts, so might pop into K Mart or The Warehouse while I'm going to Spotlight today.  

ONWARD...

9 am:  And the walk is done.  Today I did the river/two bridges walk.

ABOVE:  The river is so still today.

ABOVE: Such a lovely garden.

ABOVE:  The river is so low... does not bode well for summer.  It is probably going to be hot and dry.

ABOVE:  My walk stats... happy with that.

Now... back to work I go.

2 pm:...

ABOVE:  50 placemats cut out yesterday.  50 placemats stitched up today.  I had no idea I had that many on the go.

Tomorrow I will make a start on quilting them all... but there is NO WAY IN HELL I will get them all quilted tomorrow!

Lacy has said she will come over tomorrow and cut out the batting for me... cos that is one job I really don't want to do.  

I am taking a break for a little while, before going to Spotlight, K Mart and The Warehouse. 

 4 pm, and I'm just in from shopping.  

ABOVE: 4 pairs of cycle type shorts for summer, at a great price from The Warehouse.

ABOVE: Also at The Warehouse, the chocolates for Christmas.  Thank Goodness I no longer have to buy so many.  

As it's a family tradition, I will probably be buying them forever.  😊

ABOVE:  I got the backing fabric I needed, and some more puppy/kitten fabrics for placemats.  Now I just need to sell 30+ placemats to cover the cost!  Oh well... it keeps me happy making them and going to markets at the end of the day.

I am going to WW this evening to catch up with my friends there.   Our regular coach, Andrea, is back from her holiday as well, so it will be nice to see her too.  I am still not weighing in at WW, I'm just not ready for the stress that gives me.

MONDAY, BACK TO SEWING

 

I am sure you all know what I will be doing today, and for the next couple of weeks.

Sewing.  Getting my stock back up to speed for the next markets, which start again in three weeks time.  

And when they do start, with the Tamahere Market in November, we will have a market every weekend for 5 weeks!   It's going to be a bit busy then.  

So, best to make the most of the next three weeks, and get plenty made, just in case we sell heaps over that time.

Top of the list of things to make is Placemats!  I sold about 18 on Saturday, which really surprised me.  When I consider how many people came to our little village market, the turn over was damn great!

I want to show you what a loss of 9.1 kilos in three months looks like:

AT THE START OF WEGOVY

THREE MONTHS AND

9.1 KILOS LOST

I really must stop bitching about how slow it seems to be going.

Slow and steady means it SHOULD stay off!  And you can clearly see the difference.  Though I would love to see some more come off from above the waist.  Hopefully the next ten kilos sees that happen.

TEN MORE, that's all I want... and if that takes another three months, then so be it.

Before I pack up my sewing trolley to go and spend the day in the craft room, I am taking myself off for a walk.  Exercise hasn't been that good of late, and I feel like if I do a bit more, like a walk EVERY SINGLE DAY, I will be helping myself get fitter, and facilitate the weight loss as well.

Right... I best get up and get moving.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

I HIT THAT 'MAGIC NUMBER' THIS MORNING.  

It is a number I've not seen in over 18 years.  I don't know how I feel.... I think relieved would sum it up best I reckon.   It isn't my end goal, but it was a big motivator... to break out of the 90's.   I have hesitated to ever mention actual 'numbers' before, as I felt ashamed of myself.

But it is what it is, and I can only improve from here eh?

I have been for my walk, before it got too hot.  Now I am about to head down to the craft room for some sewing.

2.12 pm, still at craft group.  I've spent HOURS cutting out placemats. I will start sewing them up tomorrow.  We will be having afternoon tea soon, then I'll head home. 

6.40 pm.

After I arrived home I made my lunch.  Today I had corned beef (frozen from the freezer), a mashed potato and some veges.

Then I kinda crashed out and lay in my bed to get warm.

That's where Stew found me when he got home from work.  Whoops.  Bit of a lazy afternoon.

Now, Stew has gone for his walk and I have unpacked my sewing trolley and have everything ready for tomorrow's sewing.

I anticipate getting most of what I cut out stitched together tomorrow.  I'll probably have to go to Spotlight for backing fabrics, I sure go through a lot of it.

And although it's still early, I am signing off for the day.  I'm going to have an equally lazy evening now.

Catch ya tomorrow.

PHOTOS FROM YESTERDAY

 

First up for the day, a few photos from yesterday that I forgot to post:

ABOVE: It was lovely to see the boys away from their devices.  Poor buggers were bored shitless.

ABOVE: When Bex and the kids arrived, Lily made a bee line for a stall selling dolls and nabbed herself a little baby doll in a knitted bed.

She loved it so much.

ABOVE: And because there is NO WAY she is shy or retiring... she proceeded to go around and show EVERYONE her baby.

She kept saying "My baby, Mummy bought it for me".  

She kept running around non stop... so many people commented on her boundless energy.

AND how adorable are her little pig tails!

ABOVE: Stew got the pleasure of drawing the raffles at the end of the day.  We didn't win anything, which is just as well, because I would have ended up winning my own runners back.  I donated two for the raffles.

And that's a wrap on yesterday's activities.

Today I would like to get some compost and vege plants for the empty pots.  

The hydrangeas that were in the pots are doing very well in the gardens... I am keeping an eye on them and watering them so they don't droop.

Apart from doing that, we have no plans.  Just a quiet day all going well.

ONWARD...

3.15 pm.

It's been a busy day.  We went out and about.  Bought some vege plants and compost for the gardens.

Came home and I made a chicken stir fry for our lunch.

Then into the garden to put compost in pots and plant the new vege plants.

ABOVE:  Lettuces in this pot, which got moved into the sun.

We ended up moving quite a few pots around into better positions.

ABOVE:  we only got two tomato plants, as we don't use too many.   My two passionfruit vines are doing well in the middle of this garden.

ABOVE:  In this big blue pot we put a cucumber, and it can grow all over that corner garden.

There were a few pots that were low on soil, so we topped them all up with the remaining compost.  I'm sure they will do well for getting fresh soil.

Stew is going to wander up to the pub in a little while to catch up with his mates.  I will stay home this time. 

9.10 pm.  Stew only stayed at the pub an hour or so, then he came home.  We have enjoyed a very quiet evening in front of the telly etc.

Time so sign off for the day, catch ya tomorrow.

ALANDALE 'MARKET' IN OCTOBER

 

Well here we go for the second time ever, attending the village mini market.

Thank goodness we don't have to get up super early!  It's now 7 am, and we shall head down to the Community Centre in half an hour and set out all the runners etc.

ABOVE: Those were the two smaller braid runners I got done yesterday.  I plan on making a lot more of the smaller braid runners, as they are selling well right now.

It seems people are going for cheaper options right now... and I totally get that.  So, I shall cater to demand.

I better get off here and get myself ready to leave.  There's several bonus's to this market... it's inside, it won't be freezing cold, no wind or rain to contend with, and if I forget anything, I'm a two minute walk from home.  😊

ONWARD...

10.37 am... and this little market is going VERY WELL!

ABOVE:  One of our residents saw this big runner and thought her sister would love it.  So she rang her sister, and the sister came over to our village.  And yep, she loved it and bought it, vowing to love it as much as I did.  Awwww.

4.55 pm.  The market went so well, we were totally surprised!  We sold across the board, but placemats were the biggest seller.

Once we had packed up and arrived home, I was in need of a nap.  So I lay down and that was it for two hours!

Up now, and we are going to Portofino (Italian Restaurant) for dinner in an hour.  I'm rather looking forward to that.

Back later...

7.15 pm and we are home again.

Dinner...

ABOVE: I had the Chicken and Bacon Penne bake.  It was a bit tasteless, and OMG so hot!  I ate about half of it, then Stew ate the rest.

ABOVE: Stew had some sort of seafood concoction... it looked like someone had spewed on the plate!  But he assures me it was delicious.

We didn't have any dessert as the choices were mostly ice cream based, and I was already cold.  NO  thanks.

I found a few more photos that I took today, but will share them tomorrow.

For now, it's time to simply relax and listen to bloody rugby.  Or not.

I think I'll put my earphones on and listen to something on YouTube or Netflix.

Catch ya tomorrow.

COMPLETELY STALLED

 

In the past 8 days my weight has gone up and down by about half a kilo, but never dropping to the 'magic number' I am so keen to reach.

It is totally pissing me off.  I don't know what to do.  I am scared to eat more because I know I'll just gain weight, yet I also know that by literally starving myself I am holding on to every single thing I eat.  Hence not losing weight ... so I just don't know what to do.

I wish I had kept my journals from when I was doing weight watchers 20 years ago... because back then I lost about a kilo a week consistently.  

Right, enough about that... I'll just have to keep on trying eh?  Jabby jab tonight... is this shit even working???

This morning I am going down to join Loretta and Margaret in the craft room.  I have a small braid runner to finish, and another one to start.

This afternoon the ladies, (and me), who are having a mini market in our village tomorrow, are meeting in the community centre to work out where everyone will be setting up.  I have to attend, even though I already know where we will be.

Then tonight Stew and I will go down there and set up the gazebo/racks/trestles etc, all ready for us to just breeze in there tomorrow morning and put out all the stock.

We can't put the stock out tonight, as although the venue is secure, and not accessible by the 'public', residents can let themselves in and 'help themselves', if they are so inclined.   I can't imagine anyone here doing such a thing, but having been warned by management, I will heed said warning.  

So there ya go, it is shaping up to be a busy day.

ONWARD...

8.20 am.  Just got on the scales.  This week I record a magnificent loss of....    TWO HUNDRED GRAMS.

All up (so far on WEGOVY) I have lost 9.1 kilos.  So averaging 3 kilos a month.  

On a grander scale.... so I feel better about myself... when I was in Australia 14 months ago I weighed XYZ, and  if I use that number, I have lost 15 kilos, partly on my own, and partly with WEGOVY.  So I AM heading in the right direction.  Just slowly.

Are we done with weight loss talk now?  YEAH.

Let's get on with the day.

12.35 pm and I'm having an excellent day.  It is totally going to plan.

I got one small braid runner finished and started on another, which should be finished before I go to bed tonight.

Loretta was lovely company in the craft room all morning.  

I have just had my lunch, and I made sure I had a good lunch.  A decent amount of food.  AND I am going to have something at dinner time as well.  NO MORE starving myself, clearly that does not work.

I am now full as a bull... and plan on taking some time out until mid afternoon, when I will unpack my sewing trolley and then go down for the 'mini market meeting'.

ABOVE:  Lacy and Lance arrived to pick up our brazier... yes I have given it to her.  It should last the distance.

As it weighs a tonne, we were uncertain if we could lift it into the van ... but Lance.  Yep, that bugger just up and picked it up on his own and put it in the van!

Handy man to have around.

After they left I went down to the community centre for the meeting.

ABOVE:  Everyone was given their 'space'...

ABOVE:  I am extremely lucky to be given a huge space all to myself.  I am sure I can fill it up.  😂😊😉

It's now close to 4 pm, and I still need to finish off the small braid runner.  I don't know if I will get the second one done in time for tomorrow now.  I am not going to push myself when I know the likelihood of selling much tomorrow is minimal. 

7 pm, and the gazebo, racks and trestles are all set up:

ABOVE:  All ready for the morning.

I am now cooking Stew's dinner, then I will go into Crabby Quarters to finish the second small braid runner, which I will be done in less than 20 minutes!  Boom, two in 24 hours.  Not bad.

I'm signing off for the day now... and we will be heading off to bed at a decent time tonight.  We don't have to get up dreadfully early tomorrow, obviously.  😊  But there won't be a sleep in.

Catch ya tomorrow.

PLACEMATS, C & C.

 

Right.  It is going to be a normal sorta day again today.

I've got Coffee & Chat first thing this morning.

Then I have 8 Placemats to finish, and then I might start a few more.

Lacy is coming over to do the housework.

And I also have to get a few things ready for the market that is being held here in the Village on Saturday.

That is all for now... catch ya later.

ONWARD...

12 noon.  Lacy did a great job with the housework while I was out at C & C.

C & C was a 2/10 today.  Just meh, so I wandered down to the craft room and yakked with Loretta and Margaret for a while.

They are lovely company, and I will join them tomorrow for a few hours.

Once home again, I sorted out work for tomorrow's visit to the craft room, then had lunch.

Which takes us to right now.

This is waiting for me:

ABOVE: The freakin' pantry.  It has been annoying me for ages, so today is the day to sort it out AGAIN.  I forget what I have in there so often, and end up doubling up on so many things.  And shit expires and I then have to throw it out.  Such a waste.  I'm less than enthusiastic, but it needs to be done.

6 pm, and for a change on a Thursday night, I'm still at home.  I'm just feeling jaded, and have a headache.  So I've chosen to stay home tonight.

Stew walked up to the pub and he can walk home as well.  The beauty of living close to his pub, finally working out.

I spent the afternoon sewing up those placemats to replenish my stock.

I also got the top of another small braid runner made, and I'll finish it off tomorrow in the craft room.

And that is me done for the day, I'm going to take a panadol or two and just chill for the remainder of the night.

Catch ya tomorrow.

FOUND MORE

 

Late yesterday I found more of the green Kiwi fabric in my stash, so I am really happy about that.

I can make at least 10-12 more placemats with it.  So that is what I will be doing today.

This afternoon is our village's AGM, and Stew is leaving work early so he can attend.  I went last year and found it dead boring... but I should go, just to show an interest I suppose. 

Last year I think I only went for the lovely afternoon tea!  Clearly I won't be having any of that today.  

When you are paying an arm, a leg and half ya left tit too for WEGOVY, the last thing you are gunna do is blow all that money by eating badly!

It really is EXPENSIVE.  I don't know what people in other countries pay for it, or it's equivalent Ozempic, but I bet it's not as expensive as here!

In a month I go up to the 2.4 mgs dose, and I dread to think what that will cost.  The 1.7 mg dose's price was a bit eye watering for sure.

If you are in another country, and are on WEGOVY or OZEMPIC, what does it cost you per month?  I'd love to know.

I think Lacy is calling in again this morning, after her hike up the Hakarimata Summit Track.  If she does, we will be returning the brazier I bought her.

And then she will be getting another one to replace it.  One that I know will actually NOT fall apart.

More about that later.

ONWARD...

ABOVE: The gardening team are out in force behind my house this morning.  They are doing the weeding, and are taking out an old lemon tree.   

I asked them what would they be putting in the lemon tree's spot?  They were not sure, so I suggested...

ABOVE: They take that hydrangea out of the pot and put it in the spot.  They liked that idea very much.  Stew will be thrilled he doesn't have to do it now.

Hydrangeas don't do well in pots, particularly over summer.  So best to move it now.

ABOVE: They are also going to put these two hydrangeas into the gardens behind our home.  Awesome, that gives me two pots to plant some veges for summer.

I've just been to Spotlight for some backing fabric for the placemats I'm working on.  

And Lacy is on her way over, so we shall be heading over to Mitre 10 shortly... I hope that goes well and they give me my money back!

I saw a dress in Chartwell Square yesterday that won't get out of my mind... which means I might just have to go buy it! lol

Also this morning, I re-arranged shit in the freezer, so the gardening team were given a big bag of savoury scones for their lunch.  They were very appreciative.

 
11.50 am, Lacy arrived.  We drove to Mitre 10 and took the OMG totally munted brazier in and they gave me my money back, no hesitation at all.  That brazier was only 6 days old and looked like it was 10 years old!  I was gobsmacked when I saw it.

Anyway, money back.  Lacy then dropped me off at Chartwell Square, where I tried on that dress.

Well 'tried on' would be a bit wrong, I couldn't even get it to go over my head!!!  It said it was a LARGE, but no way in hell was it a large.  I'm not THAT BIG... clearly very, very small sizings.  I was disappointed, but not overly, as it was an expensive dress that I didn't really need.

After that, I jumped on the bus and came home.  

Lunch time... and I might just have some fruit. The scales have gone on a strike... nothing is changing!   I feel like I have to literally STARVE to lose anything right now.

I think menopause and my age is going against me.

ABOVE:  When I got home I found the gardening team had transplanted my hydrangeas... nice one team. 😊

6.05 pm.  We are just home from the Village AGM, which was OK.  Boring part over, then on to the bubbles and nibbles.  And yakking.  I did have two glasses of bubbly wine, but NONE of the nibbles.  It wasn't even tempting, even though the food looked delicious!  Stew ate my share, let me assure you.

I'm sure Stew enjoyed the AGM and socialising afterwards too.

I got 8 Placemats 80% done this afternoon, so it's been a very good day.  Productive.  

I like productive days.

8 pm and we are done for the day.  I'm going to head off to bed fairly early tonight.  Probably in a couple of hours, if I can last that long!

Catch ya tomorrow.

TIGHTS

 

Yesterday morning I put on some black pants for market.  NOT tights for a change.

But within an hour or so I was feeling so uncomfortable!  The waist band was just a bit tight... and I had a really sore tummy.

So luckily for me, there was a stall holder selling .... tights.

And I got two pair for just $50.

Now for those readers who don't think I suit tights, and tell me so... 

THIS.  IS.  FOR.  YOU:

ABOVE:  Not my usual plain black ones!

ABOVE:   And OMG these ones are really 'out there' eh?  lol

And now, just to make your eyes bleed...

ABOVE:  Because... I can!  AND NO, I won't wear both of those together in public!  Just a bit too clashy clashy.

I wore the new black/colourful ones all day yesterday and loved them.

That was fun posting my new tights.  Comments welcome.

Today I am going to do very little, I still don't need to replenish my market stock... but perhaps I should make some more placemats.  We sold a few yesterday, and all of the Kiwi Bird ones.

ONWARD...

2.25 pm...  Sorry about the late update for the day.  I have been busy.  First up I went to Coffee & Chat, Lacy visited, I visited one of my village friends, then I went to Chartwell Square to do a small grocery shop.

I really only wanted a few things so I could make a taco for my lunch and Stew's dinner.  And Barley Sugars for having 'on hand' in case of a Blood Sugar Low incident like on the weekend.

And as per usual, instead of spending under $100 as I expected, I went all out and spent over $400!  I'm shaking my head, because that amount still did not fill up a SMALL trolley!

Anyway *sigh*... I got home, unpacked it all and then made my lunch.

ABOVE: I must admit it was the best taco I had made, and it tasted delicious.  I am 100% confident Stew will really like his this evening too.

'Taco' might not be what it was?  I dunno... but this is what I did to make it:

Cooked up some mince with some bacon, added Taco Seasoning.  Lay that in the middle of a wrap, then added grated cheese, Nacho Chips, shredded lettuce, more cheese, some mayo then lay a half piece of a wrap on top.  Then I folded the sides of the bottom wrap up and over the piece of wrap on the top, then placed it in a warm frying pan with just a little oil (folded side down first).  Slowly browned it up, flipped it over and did the other side.

Served it with some sour cream on the side.

You could add some sliced tomato etc, but you can't put too much in it or you could never get it folded over.

Stew just had his and loved it, as I knew he would.

We are now heading into a quiet evening.

Catch ya tomorrow.