CUTE KIDS

 

How about a few happy snaps from yesterday to start our day?

First up...

ABOVE: Lily's newest accomplishment.

NOT only that!  She is up on all fours, rocking and trying SO VERY HARD to crawl.  Last night she ALMOST did it!  So, that won't be long, then God help everyone, she's gunna be into everything of course.  😏😊

ABOVE:  Granddad was letting her chew on a snake lolly. She loved it.

She also loved meatloaf, potato and ice cream.  😂 Lily loves almost all food.

ABOVE:  Marley photo bombing again.

ABOVE: Not only is she about to crawl, she's also trying to stand up.  Our teeny, tiny babe is growing too fast. 

ABOVE: See the girls in the background?

Steve was in the kitchen, which means they might get a tid bit.  Well, there is no might about it, they always get spoilt by Steve.

ABOVE:  Me and our darling Archer.  He's such a honey.

He doesn't really enjoy having his photo taken, but will for me.

ABOVE: Dessert last night was 'You choose which one ya want'.  We don't go overboard for a sunday night dinner obviously.  😋😊

ABOVE:  Having a cuddle with Gary after dinner.

ABOVE:  Lacy, Keera and Gary.  The other two guinea pigs got to stay in their mansion.  

Now, back to today.

I'm going out to buy a new phone case, one that I can keep my most often used cards in.  And I  shall be posting the first Round House Runner to YOU Sandra.

Then I will come home and continue working on the next RHR (s).  

ONWARD...

SPITTING TACKS!!!!  

Thieves and robbers.  

I sent that green runner to my friend KJ down in Wellington, and she never got it.  It WAS delivered according to NZ Post.  So some nasty arse bastard has taken it from her letterbox.  There is nothing we can do.

So I shall be making her a new one and getting it couriered to her, and it will require HER signature, to be handed over to her, on her doorstep.  Grrrrr.  There's some real pricks out there I tell ya.

I've heard of scum bags following Postal vans, waiting to steal the parcels once they are delivered!   I don't think it has ever happened to one of my parcels before.

Lesson learnt.

Sandra, I hope you get yours in a few days!  It is being couriered.

It is now lunchtime.  I've done all me jobs.  Time to have some lunch.  OH and Lacy and Keera are coming over to visit... nice, I love company.

Well, the girls came, stayed for a while, then left.

And I got into the sewing room and did 5 hours of stitching.

RHR # 2 is not finished yet.

Then at around 5.15pm Lacy and Keera arrived again, this time on their bikes.  Both looked a bit hot.

They left just before Stew arrived home from work.

We are now thinking what to have for dinner.

I had left over meatloaf for lunch and it's repeated on me all afternoon.  NOT NICE, heartburn to the max.

I've taken some Losec, so hopefully that kicks in soon.

I ended up having some crackers/cheese and hummus for my dinner.  Stew had meatloaf sandwiches!  Lazy dinner.

Now... watching the telly till bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.

#6 OPEN HOME

 

*sigh*... another Open Home this afternoon.

I hate them so much.  There is so much anticipation and hope.  Hope that someone walks through the door and goes "YEP".

Even though we do have a 'Registered Interest' in the house, we still would like to sell NOW, as opposed to however long it's gunna take for that person to get their finances sorted out.

So this morning will be spent getting the house 'just right'.  And that won't take us long, so we will probably go out somewhere just to kill time.

ABOVE:  Bloody cute!

ABOVE:  Lacy and Keera spent yesterday at the beach.  The crazy tarts even got in the water!  Brrrr... way too cold!  

Right, off to start the day, catch ya later.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  RHR #2 is ready for getting all the stitching done around the small details.

Late last night I went back into the sewing room, after thinking I wouldn't...

ABOVE:  #2 ready for stitching, and two more, at the beginning stage.

Those two, #'s 3 & 4 will be much smaller size wise... as in not long runners at all.  Unless I build them up with blue borders?   I ran outta white!  *snort*  Some thought needs to go into them.

12.30pm.   We went out for a couple of hours, I got more white fabric for runners, then we took my phone to a tech place to have a new battery put in it.

It  was constantly running down, way, way too fast.  I had to charge it up to 3 times a day!

So last night I finally got a  warning message, saying my battery needed to be replaced.

$110 later, and it's done.

I imagine my 'battery anxiety', worried my phone would die at the wrong time, is a bit like 'battery anxiety' with an electric car.

I am NEVER getting an electric car.  For so many reasons.  Too many to even list.

We are now doing all the last minute things around the house, I got a new floor cleaner, that I hope makes the wood laminate flooring look better than it already does.  I'd like it to shine, but there just isn't any floor polish on the market that I can find.  Weird.

KATE:  I will keep two of those 'Round House Runners' smaller, so you have options.

I might even make a few more smaller ones, I've had people ask after smaller runners before.  Can't hurt to have a few other options.

6 pm:  Our Open Home went very well, we had more people through today than any other day.

We are now all enjoying our dinner of meatloaf and cheesy mashed potatoes.  Steve is having Steak, Eggs and Haloumi cheese.

The kids LOVED my meatloaf!  Finally, something they all loved.

I have lots of photos and a little video of Lily... but I will 'save' them for tomorrow's post.  There's quite enough on here for today.

7.33 pm:  And everyone has gone home, the dishes are done and the house is ship shape again.

Time to put our feet up and just relax till bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.

CARAVAN SHOW

 

Today Stew and I are going to visit the Caravan Show out at Mystery Creek again.  We went last year and enjoyed it, so why not go again.

Before that, Stew will do his regular weekend shopping.  I'm getting him to buy some sausage meat, as we have family coming for dinner tomorrow night, and I'm going to make a lovely big meatloaf.

If I get a chance, I will make a start on another 'Round House' runner as well today.  I am so happy with how the first one came out, I'm keen to make a couple more.  They are a lot of work, but so worth it.

Right, time to get started on the day, put some washing on, straighten out the house etc, before we head off to the Caravan Show.

8.48 am: Stew has done his shopping, and I've already made a start on the next 'Round House' Runner.   

Now we can head off to the Caravan Show...

ONWARD...

ABOVE: Well there's plenty of food stalls here. Time for morning tea.   It is also very BUSY, lots of people wandering around looking at all the caravans, motorhomes and various  wares for sale. Nice day for it too, sunshine aplenty. But we still have a very nippy, crisp wind.

3.09 pm:  Well we didn't spend that much time at the show this time around.

It was interesting to see the many, many caravans/motorhomes on display.  I was amazed you could spend over $450,000 on a motorhome!!!

Bloody hell, who would?

We came home after about two hours.  Then I lay down for an hour to try and shift the headache.

Didn't really work.

So I came into the sewing room.

And...

ABOVE:  I am already doing some of the stitching on the second Round House Runner.

Go me.

I will be stopping in about an hour or so, as I want to prepare tomorrow night's meat loaf.

ABOVE: Dinner at The Foundation tonight.  Couldn't eat it all.  

Home now, and Stew is eagerly awaiting the start of the rugby.

All Blacks vs. Australia, here in Wellington.

Me?  I'm just gunna chill out and keep warm.

No more sewing for the day.

CATCH YA TOMORROW.

WHAT WAS I THINKING?

 

When I decided to do the 'Round Houses' runner yesterday, I don't know what I was thinking!

Seriously.

I got to this point:

ABOVE:  I got to this point and then thought... OH MY GOD. There is SO MUCH detail to add now!

So much stitching, adding little bits all over the place.  *sigh*

Something tells me I will only be doing ONE of these.  EVER.

I will be working on this all day.  I seriously doubt it will get finished today.  But I will try to do as much as possible.

Our Estate Agent rang me yesterday afternoon, just to update me on the person who has the 'Registered Interest' on our home.  She said he is very keen to purchase, as soon as his funds are cleared into our country.  So while I'm still not getting excited, I'm very hopeful.  It could take WEEKS for that to happen. 

So that is me for now.  I'll pop back later with a progress photo or two.  Till then, catch ya later.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  DOGSTARS:  it is that big.  Yes, I made it big so it wouldn't be so finnicky to stitch.

VICKIE:  Too late, I have fused them to the backing fabric already.

ABOVE:  FIVE HOURS of hard work... and I'm probably half way through this runner.

Lots of cutting out little bits of fabric and sticking it down, before stitching around it. 

BUT, I am really loving how it's looking.

I dreamed about it last night, and how I'd compose the entire runner... not just the main 'body' of work - being the round of houses.

I think I've cracked it.  

I can't wait to show you all.  

As it's now 1.10 pm, I'm stopping for a while.  My back is telling me to take a break.  And my belly is rumbling too...  😊😋

ABOVE:  And there  it is.  I'm super happy with it.

And now I can stop and spend some time with Lacy and Keera, who are visiting.

ABOVE: There it is again, with the girls holding it so you can get an idea of it's size.

ABOVE:  I'm sure the girls only come for food!  Talk about dive into me fridge and pantry head first.   I made Keera a ham 'n' cheese wrap, which she is loving.

WELL, that was QUICK!   That runner is already SOLD!  Thanks Sandra, and you are very lucky cos there were two others asking after it as well.

Clearly I will need to make more.

And I think I will be making one for myself too, cos I really do love it.

I'm knackered!  That runner was a lot of work.  My eyes hurt.  My back hurts.  Definitely time to stop for the day.

Stew and I are going to our favourite Indian Restaurant for dinner this evening.   I'm gunna have wine.  And Butter Lamb.   I can't wait!

ABOVE: They are very busy in the restaurant this evening, so I'm already on to my second bottle of bubbly. Niiiiiiiiice. 🤣😊😅

8.38 pm:  Dinner was amazing, we can always expect a good meal at that place.

After dinner, we came home and blobbed out till bedtime.

Which for me is very soon, cos I'm really tired.

Catch ya tomorrow.

SOMETHING POSITIVE

 

I don't know if it is worth mentioning, but we have a 'Registered Interest' on our home.

A buyer has viewed the house twice, and wants it.  But has to sort out finance from overseas first, before making a formal offer.

So, while it may come to nothing, it's SOMETHING positive.

Meanwhile, we continue to have Open Homes, and private viewings, and see what else may happen in the meantime.

Back to today... I have another FBG walk on this morning.  Third one for the week.

Then I take a break until next TUESDAY, when I will be doing the FINAL Urban Challenge walk for 2024.  After that, I will only be doing the occasional Social Walk. 

ABOVE:  Scrolling through Facebook last night, and I saw this.  I immediately thought it would look neat at either end of a runner!

So... scrap making more Braid Runners for now, I'm gunna make one using this idea. 
  

ONWARD!

11.50 am, just home from Cambridge.

Where I had a very enjoyable walk with the girls/guys.  Followed by a hot chocolate at Suburban Cafe, one of the groups favourite haunts.

Now?  I'm going to have some lunch, then head off into the sewing room to make a start on that new runner.

ABOVE: The walk stats, lots of in's and out's today.

But B, our leader pretty much kept us on track.

ABOVE: So I've pulled out some blues.  Next step.... cut out houses.

Actually, take that back.  I am gunna have to buy some white backing fabric from Spotlight first.  I have no pieces that are big enough.    So I'll do that in a mo'.

5.12 pm:  I went to the shop, got the necessary and came home.

Started working on that new 'Round Houses' runner.

Stew arrived home, so I took him to the pub.

Then I came home and am going to lie on the couch until he wants a lift home again.

I'm feeling decidedly jaded.

ABOVE: Before I forget... today's walk photo.  

Now... time to take a Panadol and put me feet up.  Had a headache for several days now.  I know why.  Don't worry about me, I am doing something about it.

8.02 pm:  Just picked up the man from the pub.  Dropped our mate R back to his home as well.

I've got a Steak 'n' Cheese pie in the oven for Stew's dinner.  I bought it from a place in Cambridge this morning, it came HIGHLY recommended by quite a few of the FBG girls.  Let's see what he thinks of it.  Derrr, I forgot to ask him what he thought of the pie!  He's now in bed.

9.54 pm:  Watching Coronation Street, in my happy place.  Feet up, hot pods and blankie on me lap... time to sign off for the day.

Catch ya tomorrow.

NEXT WALK FOR THE WEEK

 

All is looking good for another FBG Challenge walk this morning.

So, I'm off to Cambridge at around 8.30 am.

After today, I'll only have two more walks left to finish the Challenge.  Yaaaa.

I bought myself a lovely sweatshirt from H & M a few weeks ago.

ABOVE:  Sadly, it just doesn't fit me properly any more.  It's too big ... so Stew has it now.  He's scored a couple of lovely sweatshirts from me this winter.  *sigh*

I've lost about 3 kilos in the past month, so the Trulicity is kinda working.  I just hope it's making my Hba1c go down too.

It's a constant battle for me, as the Trulicity is not blocking the hunger pangs like it did in the beginning.  I know next time I see the Doctor I will need to ask him to up the prescription, so the hunger blocking affect lasts longer.  Right now it only works for about 2-3 days after the injection.

Right, it's time I got up and got the house all ship shape, before I head over to Cambridge.

ONWARD...

12.25 pm:  And it's an utterly gorgeous day!  A cool wind, but otherwise gorgeous.

The walk today was around a very swish area of Cambridge.   All the homes were SUBSTANTIAL in size, with very large sections as well.

ABOVE:  I don't know what was 'wrong' with this lawn, but it was letting the neighbourhood down!  lol

ABOVE:  Morning tea at Ophelia Cafe, where they make the drinks very pretty.  My hot chocolate had a rabbit on the froth, while 'Bs' coffee had FBG and a pig!  Very funny.

Now that I'm home I'm having some lunch, then not sure what I will get up to.

I think Lacy is coming over?  We will see.

ABOVE:  Walk stats.  A nice distance today, at a steady pace. 

I think I've convinced myself to get going and just make heaps more runners!

When we sell and move, it will take me a while to set up a sewing 'room' again, so I won't be able to make more during that period.

And what if we sell heaps over the next few months?

My stock will go down, can't have that!

So this afternoon I am going to get out the fabrics I need, and get going on a Braid Runner 'run' again.

We have NO green ones left, so that is top of the list.

Well a slow afternoon.   No show with Lacy.  Don't know what happened there.

I got into the sewing room, then lost motivation.

I will do better tomorrow.

It's winding down time, Stew will be home in the next half an hour or so, so I might just blob out until he gets home.

Righty ho, a lovely relaxing evening here.  I'm now watching Coronation Street.... it's getting very interesting.  Another 'evil bloke' is about to get his comeuppance. 

And that's a wrap on the day.

Catch ya tomorrow.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER RUNNER

 

GOOD MORNING... today my plan is to finish the next colourful wave runner and do some ironing.

Not a very riveting line up for the day I know.

There is nothing else I can do around the house in readiness for either Open Homes or moving.

All the de-cluttering is done and I've packed up everything we don't use all the time.  

So it's just a waiting game now until we sell.  Once that happens, I will be busy again, packing up everything I can do myself.

I keep hoping we sell soon, then I also think it would be terrible timing, coming up to our busiest market times.  Derrr.  But, it will be what it will be.

I just struggle with the waiting, the not knowing when it will all happen etc. Anyone who has gone through selling their home will know exactly how it feels.  STRESSFUL.

VICKIE:  Sorry I didn't reply to your comment from a few days ago.

In answer:  Yes I did take down all the racks/rods in my 'dressing room' and turn it back into a bedroom.  It did not require much wall repairs at all.

And after my big de-clutter etc, I did not need to do anything else... except the Estate Agent said I should take down all the net curtains.  Which I did, and it certainly brought more light into the house.

But I don't like no net, you lose any privacy you had.

So, apart from that, the Agent said our home was PERFECT! 

This is the 7th home we have sold, so I'm pretty good at staging now.  I really enjoy that aspect of the process.

Right, that's me for now.   I'll catch ya later.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  And there's another one done and dusted.

It is slightly longer than the last one.  

Now that's done, I am going inside to have some lunch (it's 12 noon almost).

LAURA M:  all details about where we are moving, when we are purchasing etc are remaining private.  We do not wish all and sundry to know our private business.  Stalking is a real thing, and has happened before.

I am currently watching MONSTERS, about the Menendez brothers.  I don't know that I'm enjoying it.  There is so much 'padding', and so much speculation on what really happened.  You seem to only get 'the boys' side... so far.  Maybe it will pan out ok, I dunno. 

 I just ate half a packet of Turkish Delight chocolates.  Cos I'm stressed out.  I've got shit rumbling around in me head, and it's bothering me.

And I've got a massive headache now.  Grrrrr.

I just finished watching MONSTERS... seems they got what they deserved.  Twisted liars.

And now?  Meh.  Still nursing the headache.   Still feeling the feels.

8.42 pm:  When Stew arrived home from work I made him a wrap for his dinner, and heated it up in the toasted sandwich maker.  It was what I had for my lunch, and was very nice.

Since then we have just been watching TV and keeping nice and warm.

Though, it isn't nearly as cold as it was just a few weeks ago.

I just said to Stew that I need to get my bedside fan out again.

I had to put it away for Open Homes.  Now I'm getting hot flushes on the hour overnight, most annoying because they wake me up.

I think I am going to have bloody hot flushes till the day I die!  I'll probably go out saying 'FUCK I'M HOT!"  😂😅😉