FAMILY DAY

Today we have the Hamilton clan coming for lunch. 
And Lacy and Keera will be here too hopefully.

So, we should have around 12 visitors for lunch.

We are going to have a few cooked chooks, ham and salad stuff on buns.  Nice and easy.

How about a few photos from last night?

 ABOVE:  Wee Liam was packing a shitty cos he wasn't allowed in the bathroom while his Dad was getting ready to go out.  He came right as soon as they left!  So typical.

 ABOVE: Miss Emily... being the little Diva she is.

ABOVE:  Guess who Amanda was dressed up as?

Right... I am going into Hamilton soon for a quick look in Spotlight for BIG NUMBERS.  I would rather buy them than try to jig saw them from plywood if I can.

ONWARD...

3.48 pm:  Everyone has lunched, and left.
It turned out to be a nice family time after a bit of a bump at the beginning.

Photos... 

And... I got photos of everyone... except Huston!  No idea how that happened, but seeing as I wasn't taking all the photos.... *sigh*.  

Next time.

All is quiet in the house now... left overs for dinner.  *smiles*

10.31 pm:  And it's the end of the day, and all is quiet.  I'm about to go to bed.  Tired.

UP IN THE AIR

Well... I was expecting the previous owners to come today and remove the trees and camelias... but I've not heard from them.
So our plans are up in the air.   I suppose we could go out as they don't need to get in the house!

But we will wait and see.  

 Yesterday afternoon I spent a good hour and a half doing a right shitty job, anyone who is a sewer will relate:

ABOVE:  Getting all the cotton threads out of the castors of my chair!  It really is a shitty job.

But it's done now, till next year when they will look like that again.

So, what to do today?  I might just make my '28' to hang on the front fence.  I want a nice BIG number out the front, cos the number on our letterbox is tiny.  I found some reflective tape to use too... so it can be seen in the dark.

Our solar lights were duds... so I need something to show where our driveway is in the dark!

Though I must admit, I am getting used to knowing where our driveway is now.  *smiles*

But I still want me number hanging out the front.  On a pole.  Similar, but not as flash, as this:

ABOVE:  Quite nice, but I will be doing ours a bit different than that.  It's still in the planning stage really.  I keep changing my mind on how to do it.  Grrrr.

Right, enough dithering... time to get moving.  Get some washing on, bla bla bla.

ONWARD...

3.56 pm:  Well... we went into Hamilton and got a few things from Bunnings (the Hamilton Store is nice), bought Brylee a new school bag (don't they just ruin them so fast!), had lunch then came home... but not before stopping into Mitre 10 for a post and bolts to hang me street number from.

 ABOVE:  This is the doo-dacky that will be on the post, and it will have the numbers hanging off it.

It sounds like the previous owners will be here next weekend to take the trees and camelias.

Lacy was supposed to be here with Keera for the night, but because we were out, she took her back to Tauranga for the night.  So we don't get to hang out with our Miss Muppet.

Like I was anyway.  I'm off into Hamilton early this evening to babysit for Amanda and Andrew.
As I now have a thumping headache, I hope the kids ain't too noisy!

I better take a panadol or two I think.

12.12 am:  Home and ready for bed.  I only ended up looking after Emily and Liam, as Huston and Joel went to Russell's for the night.

HOW CUTE

SO... last night I had a little job for Stew.

I wanted a bit of wood cut and put on the bottom of the tea trolley.

So I could use it for the dogs.  

???

Yeah, for the dogs.  

 ABOVE:  See?

ABOVE:  And they like it!  Now they have their own place overnight.  No more keeping anyone awake by wriggling, or jumping on and off the beds.

And no more Tallulah eating my rug!  YEAH!

I'm really happy with it, nice and tidy.

My plan for today is to visit a local plant nursery, to see if they have any decently priced fruit trees.

The previous owners of this home might be coming this weekend to remove the fig trees, and I want to have our own fruit trees to put in the holes, once the figs are gone.

I will also check out Mitre 10, they have a plant area too.  Not that I can remember seeing fruit trees last time I was there.  Wasn't looking for them, so no idea.

I know that Wairere Nursery out at Gordonton do have fruit trees, but from memory they were rather expensive.

I'm hoping to get two more feijoa trees, and maybe an orange, or mandarin.

So, apart from that, I'm just going to muck around the house... do a few jobs.  I'm not quite ready to start sewing yet.  I really want to have EVERYTHING done and settled in this new home and yard before I resume sewing.

I want to feel like it's OK to sit and sew, with no jobs hanging over my head.  Does that make sense?  *smiles*

We have been here 7 weeks today!  It doesn't feel like that long.  And in a couple of days it will be August.  Bloody hell.  Time flies, it really does.

ONWARD... 

10.29 am:  And I've had to shelve the garden centre for now.
The weather is atroucious!  Wild windy rain, coming from one direction one second, then switching to another direction the next!
It's horrible.  Worst weather so far since we moved here.

So, I'm pottering around the house doing odd jobs.
I'm putting a bit of net at the front door... will show you later.   

ABOVE:  From where I sit in the family room, I can see the front door... and that little window to the right of the door.

And I find it very disconcerting when someone comes to the door, and they can see me in the family room, before I come to the door.

I know that sounds weird, but it's just how I feel.  I don't like it!  So I did something about it.

ABOVE:  Now there is thick net there.  It still lets in the light, but people can't peer inside while waiting at the door. 
I feel much better about it now.

It's lunchtime now, so I will bugger off and find something to eat.

 Yeah... didn't do that after all.  There was a break in the weather, so I went outside and tied the new wrought iron seat to the fence.

The wind kept blowing it over, plus two of the deck chairs.  

Then I decided to bring in the Hobbit House... I was concerned the instructions would be getting wet, as the three boxes were sopping wet.

ABOVE:  unpacked and inside.  AND GUESS WHAT?

There are no bloody instructions!  How are we supposed to know how it goes together without freakin' instructions? 

I've emailed the supplier asking just that.

11.20 pm:  Hobbit Playhouse instructions are in the post... SCORE.
Dinner tonight was called 'get ya own'... lots of left overs on toast basically.
Waste not, want not eh?
Time for bed.

NOTHING ON TODAY

So today... I have NOTHING ON!

I'm going to enjoy just pottering around the house... doing odd jobs.

My car's interior is an utter tip, so I think I'll give that a clean today.  It's rather nice to be doing normal things again, as opposed to unpacking/sorting/re-arranging and so on.

ABOVE:  The girls curled up on my blankie last night.  It only lasted a moment, then I shoo'ed them off.  It's not their blankie after all!

Poor Tallulah was shorn quite short, so she's feeling the cold.  Ain't they lucky they are inside dogs.

Ac...tually, I might go into Hamilton.  There's a couple of little things I'd like to get from Dave's Emporium... if I can find the shop!  It's moved from where it was 15 years ago.  Funny that.  And I might just look for a couple of new music CD's and DVD's.

Yeah... we all know how much I love shopping... so I shall shop first.  And clean later.  Excellent idea.

ONWARD...

2.10 pm:  and I'm home from Hamilton.
I didn't get what I really wanted today, so will have another look on the weekend no doubt.

I ran into my Son-in-Law, Andrew, at the Base.
He's in the process of changing his job location, and also what he sells.

He used to be at Flight Centre, but now he's across the road, still with the same company ... but selling:

ABOVE:  Cruises.  I hope it goes well.

While there, I had lunch with him and Amanda.  She was coming in to have lunch with Andrew, so I just joined them.

ABOVE:  After lunch I had a quick nosey at the new office, then came home. 

Almost time to clean me car.  Oh yaaa.  *smiles*

9.44 pm:  Rest of the day was spent doing a few jobs, cooking dinner (spag bol) and then watching some mindless TV.

Stew is cutting a bit of wood for me... another little job.  I'll show you tomorrow.

GROCERIES, AND GROOM

Today I'm taking Tallulah into Hamilton for a groom.  While she's there I shall be getting the groceries.

Before then, I will try to get a semi-decent photo of my hair.

It's not easy!

I installed Youcam on my computer, in the hope I can get a good photo.  Otherwise I will have to use my camera and the timer feature.  I suck at taking 'selfies'.

Stew will be picking Tallulah up after her groom and bringing her home all going well.  I suppose that will depend on when she is ready, and when I've finished the grocery shopping.

So, that's my day's plan.
What's yours?

ONWARD...

10.54 am:  Just had the electricians here doing their final checks, and issue the 'Code of Compliance' form.  All done and dusted now.

I've been fluffing around the house, getting a few odd jobs done before I go into Hamilton later with Tallulah.

OH... I got some hair photos :

 ABOVE: So it still looks quite blonde, but it's not 'Barbie Blonde' anymore, and there is actually HEAPS of the darker colour in there.  

So... what do we all think???

P.S.:  I DO have wrinkles!  When you use Youcam it takes a 'soft' photo, so it's more flattering!  Hence my use of Youcam!  *smiles*

If I used my Canon, it would be a totally different 'me' you see... wrinkles and all.

5.58 pm:  Well... Tallulah is shorn... cos she looked like a sheep when she went in!
I got the groceries while she was being groomed.
Then we came home and it took me about 45 minutes to get all the groceries away!

I was quite tired after that.  So, we are having a takeaway dinner from Noodle Canteen.  They  have really nice meals there.

Thanks for the lovely comments, they are much appreciated.  

You all DO REALISE I'm only semi-good FROM THE NECK UP eh?  lol

Right, enough of that.  Time to get off to bed.

DECISION TIME

I thought I would show you the small, subtle changes Marty made to my family room:

 ABOVE:  'DINE' is now on the kitchen wall, and I moved a few other bits n bobs on the walls too.
The big glass jar really does look fab on that marble top unit!  Thanks Marty.

ABOVE:  The giraffe picture has been moved a few times now!

This afternoon I have my first hair appointment here in Cambridge.
And I'm aiming on making a big change.  Darker.  

Can't be looking like WHITE TRASH I suppose... as if!

But seriously, I do want to go a bit darker on top... the re-growth is doing my head in.  I've said it before... and I don't want to say it again... and again.

Before that though, I've got quite a bit of housework to get through.  The house needs a thorough vacum, and the window sills need washing.

As for the windows themselves!  OMG they are awful.  Whoever was paid to clean this house before we moved in should be SHOT.
They did an utter ratshit job.

I'm hoping to clean the windows in at least two rooms per day, till they are all done.

The outside of the windows will have to wait till the weekend.

So that's me for today... housework, then hair.

ONWARD...

I went out to get some calico to make a new design wall in my sewing room.

ABOVE: I got the calico... and as they were having a sale on many fabrics, I couldn't resist getting these batiks!

After that I came home to warm up before my hair appointment.
I hope the salon is warm!

AT THE HAIR SALON. IT'S NOT GOING WELL. SHE'S A DITHERER.... PUT BLONDE FOILS IN.... NOW REALISES I WANTED MORE DARK THAN BLOND. SO NOW SHE'S DOING DARKER BITS... NOT FEELING CONFIDENT AT ALL. MAYBE I CHOSE THE WRONG SALON.  

Worried now....

5.33 pm: Ever had a hairdresser ask YOU what she should do with your hair?
Like... how would I know?  She's the 'expert'!

Luckily, she decided to put a darker shade through the rest of my hair, after putting blonde foils through it!  And it came out EXACTLY how I wanted it to!

Can't tell you how relieved I am... it's now much darker, not too many blonde highlights.  It's still a bit damp, so I will get it dry and straighten it, and get a decent photo tomorrow morning to show you.

Right now I have to get dinner on and so on.  No time to fuss with me hair.

Nice evening... watched TV.  Bloody tired though, didn't sleep well at all last night. Hoping to get a decent night's sleep tonight.

ALL DONE.... I THINK!

This weekend all the last 'jobs' were done!  I think there are just 'normal' jobs for us to do from now on. 
It has taken 6 weeks, but it's ALL DONE.

 ABOVE:  The new attic ladder.  We have put up in the attic all the stuff from the hallways, and there is plenty of room for more up there, if we ever need it.

 ABOVE:  Archer checking out the dog door into the garage.  He didn't try to crawl through though.

ABOVE:  Steve making the last things.  Two gates for the house.  One for the lounge entrance...

ABOVE:  The gate into the lounge.  Now the dogs can't get in there and run across the top of the couch all the time.  The other gate is down the hallway, to stop dogs and small kids from getting into the bedrooms.
Tallulah can't eat my rug now either.  Bloody awesome.

 ABOVE:  The boys in my trolley.  Dante loved it, Archer wasn't too sure when it started moving.

 ABOVE:  Archer wanted it on...

ABOVE: So Bex put it on him.  He looked... adorable.

Now for today.

The kids are back at school... freakin' yaaaa!
I have to pick Brylee up at 11 am and take her to see the Orthopeadic Surgeon in Hamilton, so he can assess her shoulder.

She will probably need some physiotherapy... and hopefully nothing else.

While we are in Hamilton, I will take the time to get her some more girly items of clothes... she's a growing girl after all.  

So, that's today sorted. 

ONWARD... 

Drs appointment went well. No further treatment needed.

Now at shop watching Brylee try on bras. Fun fun fun.

Just got a phone call from a freight company....as I sit here.... our Hobbit House is being delivered. 

COOL!

Murphy's Law...

ABOVE:  The Hobbit House, in three boxes... dropped right in front of the garage.  So I can't get me car in.
I could have tried to move them... but nah... they are a bit heavy.

I had a nana nap when I got home from Hamilton.  I was feeling dreadful.
Upset stomach.  No idea why.

Many, many visits to the bathroom.  Ikkkk.  Not the best when you are out and about shopping.

But, I am feeling quite a bit better now, thank goodness.  

No Weight Watcher's tonight.  I am just not up for it.
I still have to get dinner sorted for us... and do something with the washing I washed this morning.

Most of it is going in the drier I'm afraid.  Ain't we expecting more rain?

A funny sorta day... feel like I got nothing done.  But then again, girly time with our Brylee was nice.  

ATTIC LADDER....

Well... today, finally, we might just get the attic ladder installed.

That's if our builder can drag his sorry butt outta bed!  He and Bex stayed out fairly late last night... though I don't blame them.

It was the first time they had gone out on a 'date' night in forever.

Stew and I know how that feels.  We still don't go out, just the two of us, hardly ever.

But, we are perfectly happy to stay at home.

While Steve is doing the attic ladder, I hope Stew will get the post in the ground for our pig weather vane to go on.

Once that is done, he can move the new big pot into it's place in the garden.   And assemble the other thing we bought yesterday.

Once it's done,  I will be able to show you what 'IT' is.  *smiles*

JACQUI:  I know you just LOVE  to see what I have bought lately... so, hang in there.  You will see soon.  lol

I am going down to Mitre 10 to get some wood to make a couple of gates for inside the house, to keep the dogs out of the lounge and bedrooms.  So, I will be busy too.

Bex can just look after the kids and behave! lol

I'm going to make scones with jam and cream for lunch... YUM!

So, that's the plan for today.

 ABOVE:  Granddad getting Archer off to bed last night. 

 ABOVE:  The fairy lights taken with no flash on the camera.  It shows them up better.  I really love how it looks.

ABOVE:  Steve bought this onesie for Bex, but he wears it!

ABOVE:  I think it suits him.  

ONWARD...

BUSY BUSY.

First up, Bex's brother Chris came over to visit, he and his fiance Anna.

Lots of yakking and laughing.

ABOVE:  so thankful for such a large driveway!

 ABOVE:  The other thing we purchased yesterday.  A cute little wrought iron seat.  I will have to make a squab for it.

ABOVE:  like it Jacqui?

 ABOVE:  Finally getting the big pot out of the car...

 ABOVE:  Stew had put a big paver down in the garden to sit it on...

ABOVE:  in place.... it looks amazing!  Now that corner garden does not look empty.

 ABOVE:  Chris helping Steve with cutting the hole for the attic ladder.

We have all stopped for lunch... which is hot scones, jam and cream.

And after lunch, more jobs were done, finished, and we are so thankful, yet again, to Steve and Bex for all their help.

I cooked beef pie for dinner, which everyone loved.  Steve, Bex and the boys have now left for home.

We have settled down for a quiet evening.  It's been a busy weekend!