HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE, AND IT'S MOSAIC DAY

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE, Dad and I love and miss you so much.  Hopefully we get to see you, Joyce and Beau again soon. 

Christmas and New Year are just around the corner!  Bound to see ya all then eh?

I'm off to Cambridge this morning to the Mosaic group.

This time I have my own little supply of mosaic shit.  I have two concrete pavers (ready mades), and some little mosaic tiles, glass domes etc.

I am purchasing some glue today from the group Admin, so I can get right into it.

NOT in a big way remember!!!  I'm just dabbling.

I  have NO IDEA what sort of pattern/design I am going to put on top of me first paver by the way!  NONE AT ALL.  My mind just keeps going blank when I try to think about it!

Don't expect anything riveting ...  or finished in a hurry.  I'm gunna D...R...A...G  it out as long as I can!  😂😊😅

Catch ya later.

ABOVE:  Lily 'Graduated' from her infant playgroup yesterday.  Now Bex gets to take her to Playcentre.... what fun.  I took all my kids to Playcentre, but with Steve, Mike, Brylee and Griffin,  I also took them to Kindergarten.  By the time they were 3 and a half,  I just wanted to 'DROP AND RUN'!  lol

I'm so glad those days are well and truly behind me!  If I had to sit and listen to one more woman's birth story, or how her kid is 'so advanced', doing this, that and the other thing, I'd probably throttle her.  

...

ABOVE:  So I bought this tile cutter.  It was super cheap.... and I hope I don't have to buy much else... or this could become an expensive NOT GUNNA DO MUCH of this, hobby!

ABOVE:  The start of me first ever Mosaic project.

ABOVE: On my way home from Cambridge I stopped in at Bower Bird, as she had the last of the teal coloured fabric I wanted.  

ABOVE:  I might have bought a couple more fabrics as well... cos how could I not?

It was there.  I was there.  And it was pretty.

Enough said.

ABOVE:  When I arrived home, Lacy turned up.  And pretty quickly raided my pantry!

ABOVE: She loves the hot drink mixes, so I let her grab a few to take home with her. 

ABOVE: A 'selfie'... cos she's just had her hair done and looks rather lovely.

And now we are going to have some lunch... hot sausage rolls fresh out of me oven.

MORE BAKING

 

Well, this morning I'm trying a new Oatmeal and Raisin Recipe. Because we love them, and because freezing the dough means it's just so easy to whip some out of the freezer, and baking them for visitors.

I will still bake some just before Open Homes too.  I also have Scentsy wax burners on during Open Homes.... so the house will smell lovely.

After the baking, I'm going to start working on two Blue Braid Runners.  

Cos, what else am I gunna do with my time?

12.25 pm:  And I've  had a busy morning.  Baking went well... made the same sort of cookies, using a slightly different recipe.  They came out much nicer, more tasty, better colour.

I've frozen a double batch in the freezer, for future cooking.

ABOVE: Then I whipped up this coffee table sized runner.  I've got two more in the pipeline.

I'll probably work on them this afternoon.

But for now, you know how it goes.  LUNCH lol.

ABOVE: Lunch is over, and so is making coffee table size Braid Runner #2 of the day.

And that is my 131st Braid Runner!

Think I'll make one more...  today.  😂😃😉

ABOVE:  Wow, three in one day!  That's not bad going if I say so myself.  It sure helps that they are shorter, so take a bit less time.

I now have 4 dedicated 'coffee table' sized Braid Runners.

9.28 pm:  Well Stew just pointed out that I'd not updater for a while.  Pfffff.   Like who else updates their blog several times a day anyway?

Probably only me is who.

So, his nibs arrived home just as I had sat down after sewing all day.

I'm sure he thinks I live in me armchair!

Anyway, we've been watching TV, having dinner and just chillin' out.

I'm staying up to watch Coronation Street, before heading off to bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.

MORE TWEAKING

 

Late yesterday afternoon, I decided to 'tweak' the house a little bit, after reading all the suggestions.

First up, I took the big glass jar off the dining table, and the tablecloth.

ABOVE:  While I LOVE my glass jar, I must admit the table looks GREAT without it there.   The jar dominated that entire space.  Why hadn't I seen that before?

That area feels so much lighter and more spacious now.  So weird.

ABOVE:  I tried putting the jar in this corner, but it was far too cluttered there.  

While there, I took all the chair head rest / arm rest covers off.  Again, it makes quite a difference to how the rooms feel not having them there.  Less BUSY.

ABOVE: The jar ended up down in the sunroom... where it fits in beautifully.

ABOVE: The last 'tweak' of the day was putting the two extra bar stools by that bench.  Shows that area can be used for sitting as well.  And I took the plants off the counter top.  

I realise this does not make the house look any more 'lived in', but meh.  There's only so much I can do and still stay true to how we live in our home.  I ain't making a mess!

ABOVE: The pantry looks lived in!  lol  😂😅😉

App for paying for purchases with ya phone?  Who recommends what app?  I have a Samsung Galaxy phone.

I did not finish those blasted Braid Runners yesterday!  I simply ran out of energy.

So that's top of me list today.

I am also going to bake some Oat and Raisin cookies today.  I want to see if they make the house smell delicious!  It's a recipe that you can make the dough, then freeze it for future use.  So could be damn handy for Open Homes, not having to actually make the dough on the day.  Bright idea eh?

...

ABOVE:  9.56 am:  Well my first batch of cookies are done.  I only put 9 on the tray, in case they spread out too much.  They didn't.  I ate one.  It was OK, but not super yum.

I'm going to try a different recipe next, one that uses molasses.  That might give them more flavour.

This lot was about to go in the oven when I realised I'd forgotten to add the rolled oats!  Whoops.  It wasn't a hard fix, I just had to put them all back in the bowl and mix the oats in, then re-roll them out etc.

ABOVE:  I have three trays full in the freezer, for future use.

I am going to buy those half baked bread rolls next as well, to see how they 'smell' coming out of the oven.   I will do anything to make the place more inviting!  lol

I am now in the sewing room, working on those two Braid Runners.

ABOVE: And they are DONE.

Now I've stopped and had some lunch.

What I get up to now I have no idea.

I got up to ... nothing!  I spent the afternoon browsing the internet, checking out recipes and patterns, just a nice, relaxing afternoon.

Stew is now home.  We shall have our usual evening... watching the telly and bugger all else.

I feel like life is on 'hold' right now.  I can't wait to move and have stuff to do!  Sorting out a new home, rearranging shit, fluffing around and so on.

But for now... nothing needs doing around here at all.  Just ticking along.

Catch ya tomorrow.

MONDAY AGAIN

 

And here we are, the start of another week.

Stew's off to work soon, and I'm still in bed.

But not for long.

I'm getting up shortly, cos I have a few jobs to do.

Someone suggested I leave a few things lying around in the house during Open Homes, to make it look 'lived in'?

Like... I am at a loss to think what to leave lying around, without it looking untidy!  I don't do 'untidy' at all.

Even when we had multitudes of kids at home, my home was always tidy!  I hate a mess.

But... I'm going to give it some thought, on how I can make it look more 'lived in'.  

Any ideas/suggestions?

ABOVE: It was wonderful to see the kids playing outside yesterday.  Usually those boys have their faces glued to a screen, either a big one or a small one.

ABOVE: Lily just LOVES her Jolly Jumper, add a ball pit?  You have sheer, unadulterated JOY. She's so special, such a happy, happy baby girl.

Today, once up, I shall do the housework,  before heading into the sewing room to finish the next two Red/Green Braid Runners.  They need quilting, then binding put on.

That will probably take me all morning.

9.48 am.

I was about to step into the shower and... Bex walks in the front door!

Whoops.  Whip me nightie back on, and go out to be sociable.

She'd stopped in to pick up their sunscreen.  They are all very fair skinned, and need sunscreen.

So we spent a bit of time chatting.

I told her about wanting to make the house look more 'lived in'.

The SINGLE thing she could suggest was this:

ABOVE:  We took the plates and glasses off the dining table, and reverted it back to how I always have it, just a couple of little plants on it.  Well, plus me big glass jar.  That was one of the very few things I did to 'stage' the house.  Besides declutter.

The only other thing I can think of doing to make it more lived in,  is this:

ABOVE:  Maybe?  I leave the the kitchen bins where they are?  Usually we put them in the garage.

As for the rest of the house... Bex and I can't think of what else I can do.   It is and always will be a super tidy house.

It was so weird having Miss Lily crawling all around the house this morning!  One minute she was with us in the family room, next thing she's about to go into the garage!  So damn cute.

I am now going to the mall.   I want to get a second pair of summer footwear, I've only got one pair of jandals right now, and shit they hurt my feet yesterday.

It is now 12.55 pm, and I have just arrived home from the shops.

I went to Farmers at the Base for some more 3/4 lightweight tights... went to pay and BUGGER!

My bank card was in Stew's wallet.  So I had to drive into town to collect it.

That was annoying, so when I got back to the mall I went into the bank to order a 2nd card.

When we go out on the weekends, I usually just give Stew my card, so I don't have to lug around my packpack/handbag.

So, after ordering the new card, I continued on with my shopping.

I went to Postie for a couple of cheap, cotton nighties.  

Then on to the shoe shops.  There's quite a few at The Base.

I ended up getting some Skechers, cos they were the most comfortable, and lightweight.

ABOVE: The shopping.

I also stopped in at the supermarket, cos I've decided to bake cookies just before an Open Home.  Thanks for the suggestion.  We used to always bake fresh bread for an Open Home, but I don't want to do that now.  

ABOVE:  I bought heaps more Gnocchi, cos we love it.   These packets are only a couple of bucks, whereas if you buy it 'freshly' made in the refrigerated section of the supermarket, it's like $8+.   No brainer buying it like this, cos it keeps in the pantry, and only takes 2 minutes in boiling water to cook.

ABOVE:  Ignore me ugly feet! No one has pretty feet.   These are the summer jandals I've been wearing.  Two days of wearing them, and BOOM!  Already got a damn popped blister.

AND I keep tripping up in them, had a couple of almost falling flat on my face moments today.

I don't think I am going to keep them.

Now, back to Open Home Suggestions.

Some I might take on.

Marie:  I agree, it is our home, and it is how we live.

Yes Lynda, I will take the big glass jar off the table.  It hinders conversation as it is a bit big.

I will find somewhere else to have it.

ANON: I will not be ADDING anything else to the house... I've spent months decluttering it!

Christmas is coming, so I might put JUST A FEW Christmassy things out in a week or two.  But I think that will be all I 'add'.

And now, it is 1.15 pm, and I'm starving.  So I'll have some lunch then FINALLY get into the sewing room.  Those runners ain't gunna finish themselves, right?

5.05 pm:  I've spent the rest of the afternoon tweaking shit.   Still not got into the sewing room, and it's looking likely I won't.  I've got all week to finish them, so no biggie.

Well, I feel like it's been a good day.  I did some small adjustments around the house, but nothing too drastic.  I don't think it will make any difference in the long run.  We just have to wait for the right person/people to come through our door, who love our home.

End of story.

Off to bed soon, so catch ya tomorrow.

STILL PRE-EMPTING OUR MOVE

 

And another Sunday rolls around, and with it, another Open Home.

Weird thing is, I'm not even bothered by them any more.  I have this attitude that it will happen when it's supposed to happen.

No point getting my tits in a knot.

ABOVE: We've had these drawers for about 30 years... and they were still in perfect condition. I took everything out of them, and I sold them yesterday afternoon, as I only need one set of drawers for my clothes.  So this set was redundant.

It sold in 5 minutes!  I think I sell things too cheaply, cos everything I've listed on Facebook Marketplace has sold in minutes.  Derrr.

I'm doing everything I can to downsize our possessions prior to moving. 

Another big TICK now they are gone too.

Once we have a contract on our home, I will be selling the single and trundle beds, and probably either our King Size bed, or the Queen Size bed in the spare bedroom.

When we move, we will only have two or three bedrooms.

1 for us, and one or two spare.  

In one of the spare bedrooms I plan on having my sewing room set up (on a smaller scale), and a sofa bed.

Most of my fabrics etc will be stored in the internal garage on shelving.  Along with everything else!  

Lots of planning has already gone into this move, ticking all the boxes etc.

Now we just have to sell, and then find our new home.

It is a little frustrating living in a kind of 'limbo', but oh well, it is what it is.  

We are still going to enjoy our time here, and I am looking forward to jumping in the pool soon.

Eating home grown tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuces etc. 

1 pm.  One hour till Open Home.

We spent the morning doing jobs, then went to the mall to find some drawer organisers.

ABOVE:  I wanted something for the top two drawers, to keep  me knickers, socks and bras organised.

Sorted now. 

ABOVE: While in the Warehouse, we bought the 'Christmas Chocolates',  that I ALWAYS give to the family for Christmas. They were on sale, SCORE.
 

ABOVE:  A nice photo of us at lunch at Fergus's, then we popped into Steve 'n' Bex's for a quick visit.

All the kids were playing in paddle pools, it's such nice weather.

Though in saying that, it has now clouded over and will probably rain soon.

It won't matter re: The open home, as people will come out to look if they are interested, rain, hail or shine.

OK, I better go, we have to be out of here in 45 minutes, and there's a few last minute things to do.

3.12 pm.  And I don't think our buyer came through today.  We had a few groups through, but no one stayed quite long enough to seem that interested.  Our Estate Agent said one group was a 'possible', but we are not counting our chickens.

So, another week down.  NEXT! 😊😉  It will happen.

It has started to drizzle a bit.  So happy I got all the washing outside and dry yesterday.

Now we can just relax for the remainder of today.

6.39 pm:  And yes, we have had an utterly lazy afternoon.  Now I'm wondering if we need anything for dinner, having had a main meal at lunchtime.  I really can't be arsed doing much, that's for sure.

Time to sign off for the day, cos as per usual, ain't nothing happening here now.

Catch ya tomorrow.

CONCRETE

 

GOOD MORNING.

Today we are planning on having a fairly cruisy day.

Stew will go to the supermarket first thing.

While he's out, I'll do the few jobs that need doing around the house.

Once Stew is home, we are going out to buy some concrete.  The stuff you just need to add water to.

I want to have a go at making a couple of round pavers.  Once they are made, I can have a go at 'Mosaic'ing' them.  Is there such a word I wonder?

I really liked 'Cs' pavers, in her garden, which I visited last Tuesday.

I think I'll need to invest in 'just a few' bits 'n' bobs for the Mosaic thing.

I found some blue tiles we didn't use in the bathroom. They can be used in the Mosaic Group.  I also want to get a few coloured glass domes, and what not.

Let's see what I can find at David's Emporium and Spotlight later on today shall we?

I am not getting hugely invested in doing Mosaics by the way.  I shall just 'dabble', and enjoy being in the group.

ABOVE:  I tend not to comment on Politics, and not of another country.

BUT.... how can MILLIONS of presumably sane people vote for a CORRUPT MEGLOMANIAC?   Just gobsmacked.  And I shall now creep back into my corner.  And suck me thumb. 

...  1.13 pm, and we have been busy all morning.

Well, maybe not Stew.

He watched the rugby first.

I went out and got a few mosaic supplies from David's Emporium and Spotlight.

ABOVE:  I  had fun sorting the coloured tiles into little boxes.

ABOVE: And there is my humble mosaic supply box.  See, not too much!

ABOVE:  I made Stew and I our 'main meal' of the day.

Gnocchi with a cheese sauce/bacon/onion/frankfurter topping.  It was delicious.  And will do us for the rest of the day.

Once it's settled down, we will venture out to Mitre 10 and Bunnings to look for either ready made pavers, or some concrete to make a couple.

A COUPLE.  NOT a lot.

ABOVE:  # 127 finished.  #'s 128 and 129 will get finished either tomorrow morning, or Monday.

No rush.  Next market isn't until next Saturday, at Tamahere.

ABOVE: Ahhh Rhonda... thanks for thinking I am such a good cook I can make Gnocchi!

I can't.  I have never even tried.

I bought it from the supermarket.

And it's perfect.

Takes two minutes in a pot of boiling water and it's done.

ABOVE: Bunnings had pre-made roundish concrete pavers for a very decent price.  So I ain't making them either. 😂😅😉

We also found some lovely blue glass domes.

And...

ABOVE: Two large plastic pots (marked with an 'X' (in the photo).  We put two tomato plants in them.

ABOVE:  Stew watering said tomato plants.  I hope they do well there, they will get plenty of sun, but protection from the wind as well.

And now, I'm taking a break.

I did one more job this afternoon.   I'll tell ya what that was tomorrow.

We are now settled down for the evening, looking forward to just relaxing.  It's been a busy day overall.