SPIT IN THE CUP

 Steve, walking around his work place with a cup in hand.

He asks everyone to spit in the cup.

They are like "What the hell for?"

Steve's response :  " Well I've got a Colonoscopy on Monday, and I'm damned if I'm using their lube!"

😂😏 Yep, that's Steve for ya.

Last night we went to a restaurant we have been to before, quite a few times in fact.

HELLO INDIA in Cambridge.

And we were not disappointed.

We had an amazing dinner, I always have their Butter Chicken, and last night Stew had Chicken Tika Masala.  We also had some Garlic and Cheese Naan breads. 

Stew had a beer and I had two 200ml bottles of bubbly to myself.

I left slightly inebriated.  And FULL as a bull.

That restaurant is amazing.  You can't leave there unhappy, ever.

On the scale of 1 - 10, I give it a 10+.  I couldn't fault A SINGLE THING.

ABOVE:  Well... except Stew!  I asked him to smile.  Yeah.  Got a nice one at the end of the night.

Back to today.  We have no plans.

Sleep in.  Lazy day probably.  Not sure if I will do any sewing or not.  I probably should do some housework.

I THINK if the weather is ok, Stew might do some water blasting of paths.

9.51 am:  We stayed in bed until 9.15!  So nice.

It's blowing and raining, freezing in fact.  So no water blasting this morning.  Maybe it will clear up after lunch, who knows.

I'm sitting in the sewing room, trying to get motivated to do something.  It's cold, so I might just warm the room up with the heat pump.

2.35 pm:   It cleared up, so Stew went outside to do the water blasting.  Now it's raining again and the poor bugger is still out there, working to get it finished.  I feel bad, inside and dry.

I've been working on my runner backgrounds.

ABOVE:  I have put in more detail on these next four runners.  Lots more.  HOURS more, and I've not even got to adding the actual fat bottomed peeps yet!

But I am sure it will be worth it.  

Steve has not been allowed to eat anything since 10 am this morning.

Now he has to drink 2 litres of foul tasting fluid...

ABOVE:  It looks like he isn't enjoying himself at all!  Poor bugger, he's going to be up half the night sitting on the loo.

ABOVE:  Stew did an amazing job tidying up the back paths.  They were covered in black mould!

Gross, and not nice or healthy for the dogs.

The water blaster does such an great job, not only getting rid of the mould, but the weeds too.

It's now 6.31 pm, and dinner is getting cooked by Stew.  His 'turn' tonight.  He's not had to cook in quite a long time, so I'm not feeling guilty.

I think he's doing mashed potatoes, pork schnitzel and ?  Dunno.

It's getting bloody cold so I've got me blankie on and am about to get my HotPods too.

Catch ya tomorrow.

SOOOOO COLD!!!!

so cold

sooooooo cold....

FAT BOTTOMED BLOKES?

 KJ mentioned having a giggle about visualising a Fat Bottomed Blokes runner.

Could be interesting to stick a bloke in amongst the girls!

We have a bloke or two in our Fat Bottomed Girls (& Guys) walking group.  Neither of them have a  fat bottom though.  Stew's bum is nice and 'neat' ... can't even use him as a model!

I'm starting a new runner today, so let's see what eventuates! 😂😉😏

This week has gone SO FAST!  I'm actually shocked that it's already Saturday again.

Probably because I've been so busy in the sewing room.  

My brain hasn't been able to switch off after yesterday's upset. Just angry now.

IF you have lived a spotless life, only then can you throw stones.

And OMG I know of SEVERAL people who really shouldn't throw stones!  EVER.

I know all about the skeletons in your closets. 

12.30 pm:  Stayed in bed until 10 today!

Then up, and I did a big clean up of my sewing room.  Now I can start with a fresh, clean space.

I drew a couple of new FBG templates too.  There MIGHT be a bloke in there.

This afternoon I plan on starting a new runner... using different background fabric.  A little bit excited!  Gawd I'm so sad.

Right now we are having a very nice lunch provided by family.

Franks on buns.  Yummy.

ABOVE:  Well... I don't seem to have accomplished much in the sewing room today.

But I do have the backing fabrics sorted for four more runners.   That's something right?

Tomorrow I will make a start on cutting out the FGB girls.  And maybe a guy.

My thumb, while still sore, is not quite as bad as the past few days. Maybe it just needed a break from sewing?  I put a topical pain ointment on it last night and it didn't change a thing.

Stew cleaned out our 'surplus' medical supplies box last night.  We filled half a bin with expired medications!  Some were 6 years old!  WHOOPS.

I'm off now to get ready for dinner.  We are going to another place tonight that we know will give us a GREAT dinner.

OMG... such an AMAZING DINNER.  Will do a review tomorrow.

For now, I'm in a food coma, not to mention I downed TWO bottles of wine all on my own. 🍷🍷🍷hic... up.

TUDO BEM REVIEW

 

Last night we went to a fairly new restaurant here in Hamilton, called Tudo Bem.  It is a Brazillian Churrascaria style eatery.

The idea is you sit down and have servers come to your table with meats on skewers and you can have some, or not.  You also are given accompaniments and sauces to have with the meat.

So first up we were served these:

ABOVE:  A very small cheesy bun.  Shame you only got one.

ABOVE:  Accompaniments:  small bowl of rice, black beans (ikk), flavoured 'flour', tomato salsa, pesto and kale (tasteless shit).

Then slowly but surely three people came around to the tables with skewers of meat.  All servings were tiny, laughable even.  Most of the meat was delicious though.

After about an hour of that they finally offered us some coleslaw... it was clearly pre-made from a supermarket.  I kept waiting for the potato salad.

It finally turned up an hour and three quarters later, as we were leaving.  We didn't have any.

We asked for some of the pineapple that was on the menu.

ABOVE: THAT just pissed me off!  One of those tiny strips was from the damn core and I couldn't even eat it.  I really thought they were taking the piss serving such a tiny piece of pineapple!

As the time wore on it became obvious there was bugger all coming out any more, so we left.

On a whole, an experience.  One we will not be repeating. 

ON a scale of 1 - 10, 1 being abysmal and 10 being outstanding, I give Tudo Bem a 4.

Sad really as we were really looking forward to trying that restaurant.

OH and it wasn't $50 per person, it was $54.50 per person.  We left feeling ripped off.

Now, back to today.

I am not sewing!

My plan is to go out to Grandmother's Garden in Gordonton to look for some fabric suitable as backgrounds for runners.  

I know I already have a lot of fabric, but sometimes ya just don't have quite what you are looking for. 

Lastly for now, I'm finally meeting up with an old friend, who lives near us, but we haven't seen each other in like, shit, 20 years?  Feels like it's been that long any way.  So that should be neat.

10.30 am:  just back from Gordonton.  Found what I wanted, and got a couple of ideas to expand on my FBG Runners details.

Stealing ideas!

My right thumb is KILLING ME.

It hurts and aches all the time.  Since a couple of days ago.
I have NO IDEA why.   I did not hurt it.  I don't remember stabbing it with a pin.

Yet it is causing so much pain.  It feels like I hit it HARD with a hammer!

Anyone have any ideas?

1.55 pm:  My visit with Jill went so well.  We yakked for 2 hours before her next client arrived (she's a hairdresser operating from home).

I really needed a kind ear actually.

I got blindsided by Lacy this morning by something she said.  

It made me cry on the side of the road.

Nothing BAD.  Just hurtful.

When I think about how much sewing I've done lately, arthritis is the most likely cause of my thumb pain.  I will get some pain killing cream and see how that goes.

Thanks for all the comments about it.  Love ya's.

HEADACHE.  Need panadol STAT.

Stew just reminded me that I haven't done a nite nite update.

Derrr. I'm already in bed!

Just tired more than usual.

Catch ya tomorrow. 

GUESS WHAT?

 I'm sewing AGAIN today!

Yep.  Sorry to be so boring, but I'm just doing what I love.

I probably need to tend to me plants at some point today too.

I saw a post on Facebook about succulent care, and I think I need to look closely at a few of mine and give them some love.

I bought a sizable succulent a few weeks ago. It looked fine, but when I touched it.... it just FELL TO BITS!  I did not OVER WATER it either.  Just a tiny drop every Monday morning, like all the rest.  Yet it just died.  

Bex said she bought the same one and it too died on her.  I think Mitre 10 drowns them and by the time we get them home they are already dying.  Most annoying.

Of course, no point taking it back cos they will just insist we killed it.  

Yesterday's FBG Runner is the last one where I stitch the hair with dozens of stitch lines.  It took me an hour just to do one head of hair.  Today's runner is going to have fabric hair with just a little stitching around the edges.  I hope it looks OK.

I will show you what I'm on about after I do the next head of 'hair'.

And if they don't look good, I'm gunna put hats on all of them! lol

And that's it from me, all is going good here. No dramas.  No news to speak of.  Steve is doing OK, no change yet with his new medication.

Well my plan to change up the way I do the hair isn't working out.  I've ended up doing one the same way, but hope to change the next one.

Constantly working on improvements.

It's pissing down outside.  Constant rain.

I think I'm over it now.  😓😕😒

It's almost lunch time, so once I've done the next head of hair I will take a break.

Meantime... what are you doing?  Certainly not reading this drivel it would appear.

My sewing all day every day isn't very interesting is it?  Sorry/Not Sorry. 😂😉

ABOVE:  It worked.  I'm perfectly happy with the new way of doing the hair!  Thank God.  It took a quarter of the time and doesn't mess up the background fabric with wrinkles now. 

ABOVE:  2nd large FBG Runner done.  I'm seeing double, my eyes need a rest!

OFF to do just that.
 

8.15 pm:  When Stew arrived home from work I'd sorted out dinner.

We went out to Tudo Bem.  A Churrasco Restaurant here in Hamilton.

I'm gunna give it a review tomorrow.  For now, I just want to get warm again.

It's bloody cold out there!.

Catch ya tomorrow.

MORE OF THE SAME

Sorry folks, but it's going to be more of the same today.

Once I have done the minimal housekeeping I need to do, I plan on sewing all day.

I had thought of going to an FBG walk in Cambridge, but knowing my luck it will get cancelled due to rain.

RAIN.  OMG I feel like it hasn't stopped for weeks now.  We certainly are having a WET winter!  Probably means a damn dry and hot summer coming.

I can't win.  Though I still prefer winter to summer any day.

ABOVE:  My lips are sealed, because I choose to keep knowledge to myself from now on.

  

That was just a wee vent.  Ya need them sometimes.

And yes, this mornings walk was cancelled.  So glad I didn't get up too early!

I've already been sewing for almost 3 hours.

I took a break and went to Spotlight for more thread, and the dogs went for a play date with Bex.

They will get picked up at lunchtime, when I go over there for lunch.  Forcing myself to have food at a more decent time of the day, instead of mid afternoon, then missing out on dinner.

ABOVE:  DONE.  And I believe sold too.

I'm now knackered.

Dinner is in the oven.  Roast Chicken and veges.

Should be good.

ABOVE:  The girls had a lovely visit with Bex.  But they did choose to come home with me.  Nice girls.

8.40 pm:  Well dinner was OK, but meh.  Think tomorrow we are having pizza.  😋😊

We are now just chilling out and relaxing till bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.

NOT COSY'S

 Late last night I changed my mind about what to sew next.

I've probably got enough Bowl Cosy's for now, so I'm going to make a couple of Fat Bottomed Girl Runners.

I've only made one before, and it got snapped up straight away:

ABOVE: I made this one in August last year, and it ended up going to Sharon in Taupo.  

I reckon a couple for my market might go down well.

So yeah, that's my job today.  Work on two of them.

Since going public again on here, I've had NO troll comments!  It's amazing. And maybe that's all I needed to get rid of them?  Go offline for a month?  Long may it last.

ABOVE:  I've spent 5 long hours to get to the point where I've got about an hour left to go before I can start stitching.

ABOVE: The thing that takes the most time is probably choosing the fabrics to use.  And this time I changed how I would position the Fat Ladies too.

This is a freakin' lot of work ... and now I just have to stop and have something to eat.

I'm starving!

8 pm:  I had a good afternoon sewing.  I'm nowhere near finished on either of them, so will continue working on them tomorrow.

Stew got home to a lovely Chicken salad I prepared for him.

I had toasted sandwiches for lunch and have now got heartburn!

Annoying.  No dinner for me.

Catch ya tomorrow.

TOO LATE FOR FISH

 Well by the time I read about your suggestions to put fish on my variegated green fabric, it was too late.

I'd already done Wonky houses.

ABOVE:  I cut the fabric down into two larger pieces, and two smaller pieces.  I got three runners finished yesterday.  I now just have one more of the larger runners to finish off today.

Steve and Bex decided to try Taco Bell last night, and invited us along.

Who are we to say no to Taco Bell?  LOL  😂😉😋

ABOVE:  I'm not sure if that little video works or not.  I usually share them from my phone to YouTube, then embed them onto the blog. This time is was all different, most confusing.

ABOVE: They enjoyed their food.  One thing Steve got was, according to Bex, VERY HOT.  Glad I didn't try it.

ABOVE:  It took me FOUR VISITS to Taco Bell to realise that the pretty mural on the wall was FRIGGIN BELLS!  What a twat.

Right.   I'm off to start my day.

I have almost run out of Black Thread, so I'm going to Spotlight first thing this morning.

Bex wants to go there as well, so I'm picking her up on my way.

She's a happy girl, School starts again today. 😊😉😏  These holidays have been hard, with the kids stuck inside most of the time due to the atrocious weather we've been having.

Talking of weather, we are in for even MORE torrential rain this week.  There's warnings in place for many areas for wind and heavy rain.  WONDERFUL.

Not that it affects me much.  I'm happy inside, sewing my heart out right now.

I'm getting a real thrill with how much I've managed to make lately.

2.26 pm:  And as you can imagine, I've been busy all day.

Bex and I visited Spotlight and bought what we needed.

The after I dropped her back home, I've been sewing all day.

ABOVE:  I have now made 11 runners in the past 7 days!  Not bad going.

I  have also priced them, photographed them and put them on my Facebook page for sale.

https://www.facebook.com/Runners-MORE-by-Chris-Harvey-108972815168843/photos/?ref=page_internal

There's been some sales on my Facebook page, which is very surprising.  But nice.

I am taking a break now.  Tomorrow I might start making a few Bowl Cosy's.  I'm down to about 12-14 of them from memory.  I could have more. 😀😊😉

7 pm:  I heated up a chicken and bacon casserole from the freezer stash for dinner tonight.

Only I wasn't hungry at all as I'd had my lunch at 2.30!

Luckily Griffin came over, so he got to have my share for his dinner.

He's now gone home, and we are just relaxing till bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.

SAME, BUT DIFFERENT

 I mentioned last night that I'd prepared my next project.

It's going to be a runner in a 'theme' I've done heaps of times, but this time it's going to be different.

ABOVE:  I am using this variegated fabric that I bought in Tauranga a while ago.

Remember me saying it was awful and I was going to send it back?  Well clearly I didn't.  I decided to hold onto it, just in case I found the perfect use for it.

And maybe I have?

I think I'll wait until it's finished before showing you what it will be.

While I'm sewing, Stew is going to chill out and watch some sport or movies.  The girls will no doubt be on his lap all day, soaking up the loves.

ABOVE:  I totally thought I'd posted these photos!  But I can't see them on the blog anywhere.  So here they are.

This is what the boys did the other day to stop me from licking their necks when they give me a 'Hello Grandma' cuddle!  Little buggers.  Clever too.

And that's me for now.  I'm off to sew.

11 am:  and my 'different' plan didn't work out.  So it's back to normal.  Kinda annoyed cos I really thought it would look good having wonky houses in  vertical line going down the fabric.  But nope.

Never mind, I shall keep doing what works.

And as no one is around today I might just sign off now.  Then I can just keep working and not stop every so often to check or update.

Catch ya tomorrow.

WHEN DID YOU?

 

When did you last clean your fridge?

And I don't mean just going through and chucking out anything old or mouldy?

I do that often.

But what I don't do very often is take everything out, and clean the ACTUAL FRIDGE itself!

Like... ummm... I'm sure the last time the kitchen fridge got CLEANED was in 2020!  Yep.

A bit embarrassed to admit it, but shit happens.  Life gets in the way, and ya forget some stuff.

So today, guess what?

Yeah.  Stew and I will clean the fridge!  And I will feel a bit better about my woeful housekeeping fail.

ABOVE: Stew went to Storage Box yesterday to buy some tongs for work.  While there he got a few things he decided we needed.

(L to R) : Some more bag closer clips. A cheese slicer. Two Toothpaste tube thingees.  A thing to help open bottles and jars, it releases the air lock. And finally, two little whisks.

A quick way to spend $50 you had not intended spending.

Right, I'm now going to catch a few more Zzzz's ... it's the weekend and we don't have to do anything right now.

ABOVE:  11.30 am:  And it's done.  We cleaned that fridge to within an inch of it's life.  Then we went grocery shopping, to like, full the fridge!

It's almost lunch time, and I think we are going to.... TACO BELL again. lol  

And we did indeed visit Taco Bell again.  The initial "OMG this is amazing" has now worn off.

I think the ones I made the other night were almost as good, I just have to perfect the cheesy part and mine will be just as good.

This afternoon Stew and I were pretty lazy, and just kept warm watching TV and dozing.  Old farts.

Neither of us felt like dinner, so snacks a bit later are on the cards.

I went into the sewing room and finished the 4th Hanging Cat Runner.

And made plans for what I'm doing tomorrow.  I'm a bit excited, something the same, but different from the norm.

And that's me for the day.

Catch ya tomorrow.