WAIT ... OR NOW?

 I have been pondering on WHEN to start decorating my tree again for weeks.

Yesterday I decided.

Let's end this super shitty year with a smile!

So, out I went with the very first section.

ABOVE:  While out there stitching that section on, several cars drove by and virtually every single person SMILED at us.  (Bex was out there with me).  It was so lovely to see the smiles again.  We even got a wave too.  

ABOVE:  Some of the tassels etc that I'd left on the tree over winter will be coming off soon, as they are fairly weathered.

Now... I have to make the 2nd section in the next few days.

I might start that today.

Stew is on holiday until the 11th of January.  We do not plan on going anywhere, just a few day trips like yesterday.

Today I'm going to make him work though.  There's a bit to do outside.  The grapevine needs to be covered in netting to stop the birds eating all the grapes for a start.

I'm sure I will find more for him to do. 

Right, off to start me day.  Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

When I got up this morning, the dogs were barking like crazy.  So I went out and see what was bothering them.  And to my horror BOTH dogs were out on the driveway, beside the footpath!

I looked down the side of the house, and yep, our side gate was wide open.  OMG.

That kinda means somebody deliberately opened our gate.

Which also means last week when I found the gate open, it might NOT have been the power meter reader.

Bloody hell.

I've asked Stew to put a padlock on that gate now.  That ain't happening again that's for sure.

12.00 midday:  And I have actually finished the 2nd Tree Section!

I thought it would take longer than that, but no.  I'm just fast I suppose.

I won't be showing you it until I'm ready to put it on the tree, which will possibly be in the next couple of days.

ABOVE:  So, I'm sitting in the sewing room ... sewing (as I do) and it's damn hot!  

Look at Coco.  That's where she sits and surveys the world while I'm working.

I can't open the door or she will run off!

Sooooo hot.

ABOVE: And then it hits me in the face!

There's a freakin' window right in front of me.

Like, how the  hell have I never noticed that before?

So, it get's shoved open and OH!  Instant relief, as there's a lovely breeze coming straight in.

ABOVE:  Steve sent me these photos today.  Him and his little family are out walking along the river side.  Nice one.  Stew and I should do that more often too.

ABOVE: LOOK at that tomato!  WOW.

ABOVE:  The side gate now has a padlock on it.

ABOVE:  Stew spent 4 hours out in the garden today.  He put wooden edging on the garden down the 'dogs side' of the house. He put new bark on some gardens.

He weeded. He got the grape vine ready for netting. He also did another job, which I'll show you another day.

Steve also did a job for me.

I asked him to make 'something' for my tree project.  It took him 3 hours.

Again, it's not quite finished, so I will show you another day.

The kids came around for a swim, it was raining!

ABOVE:  Because we have not had much sunshine today, no one stayed in too long!

We are now ordering fish 'n' chips for dinner.

9 pm:  Finally, everyone got fed, then those that don't live here went home.

I've got nothing else to do now except chill out and watch TV.  

So catch ya tomorrow.