MOSAICS AGAIN TODAY

 

Today I'm off to Cambridge to work on my little projects at Mosaics.  I am enjoying it, it's different from sewing.  And I get to hang out with a few very nice ladies.  And Yak.  Gotta love the yakking.  😂😉

On my way over there, I'm dropping Coco off at Lacy's.  Lacy is going to give Coco a bath for me, as I don't want the 'wet dog stink'  in my bathroom after it took me 4 hours to get it spotless!  And it's too cold to bath her outside.

So, Lacy can do it in her wet room/bathroom for me.

I'll pick Coco up on my way home from Cambridge at lunchtime.

I have sold or given away SO MUCH STUFF, in preparation for our move to a much smaller home. While visiting Lacy yesterday something strange happened.

ABOVE:  I spied this gorgeous blue platter... said it was gorgeous and ... Lacy gave it to me.

I don't often get given stuff, it's usually the other way around.   

ABOVE: See how gorgeous it is!  I will definitely find a spot for it in our new home.

ABOVE:  Talking about our new home... I drove out to the Village yesterday as well.  Look what I spied in my new garden.  Such a pretty iris.  I think it will be interesting to see what pops up in the garden over time.

ABOVE:  It is now 12.37 pm, and I'm just in from Cambridge.  The day started with another really heavy fog... so I layered up with me thermals to keep warm.

Of course, by lunchtime (like now), I had to take them all off cos it's warmed up considerably.

ABOVE:  My Lizard On Shist is coming along nicely.  I added grout today, and next week one of the ladies will cure it for me.  I won't be back there now for a few weeks... due to moving etc.

ABOVE:  I got quite a few more bits 'n' bobs on this rock today as well.   It's looking lovely and bright.  A happy rock.

It is now lunchtime, so as per usual, I'll take a break and be back.... later.

Thanks for saying how lovely the Lizard looks, but remember, I didn't actually make him.  I'm just repairing him.

I had thought of leaving him in this garden when we move, but decided I liked him too much to leave him.

Our new garden is much smaller, more compact and I have no idea where everything will go!  Or if it will even fit.

Considering how much I've already given away ... I may still need to rehome more stuff!!!

That kinda hurts, but it is what it is.

Stew arrived home and I've just dropped him down at the pub.  I chose to come home again, instead of visiting the kids this evening.  I'm tired.  Bex is tired (baby woke too early today).  So  I now have about 3 hours to kill till I pick Stew up from the pub.

What to do?   Might just sit here and watch TV.

So I am watching tv, the NEWS in fact.  But I also just emptied 3 more kitchen cupboards and cleaned them.  More ticks.

9.38 pm:  I ended up spending half an hour with Stew at the pub.  Then home to chill out till bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.

HUMP DAY

 

I checked my lists... and there is like, NOTHING I need to do today.

Which means I have nothing to do.  

No plans whatsoever.  Totally bored.

I should be thankful I suppose.  But really, I just want to be busy, so time flies faster.

Oh I know what I can do!  I'll wash all the windows outside.  The insides are fine, but the outsides sure need another clean.

There, solved me problem.  

That should take me an hour or two...  catch ya later. 

Two jobs done already, and it's only 10.20 am.

ABOVE: When I started cleaning the windows, it was super foggy, really damp, almost like drizzle!

But by the time I'd finished it had cleared, and we have a gorgeous day out there.

After finishing the windows, I came inside and did the next job.  Talking to the Insurance Company again.  I'd changed all our policies last week, to reflect smaller home, less contents etc.

I also cancelled our trailer insurance, effective next week.

But as Stew pointed out, WHAT IF some bastard steals it the day after it's no longer insured?  So I reinstated the insurance on the trailer, just to be safe.

I'll cancel it after we sell it. 

I am now considering going out and about... 

Sorry Christine, forgot to reply.

Score the top of the meat, going through the fat.  Put some oil on the top and sides to stop it drying out, sprinkle with salt.  Into a low oven for about 3 hours, then turn the heat up a bit to crisp up the top.  Serve with apple sauce and veges.  Super YUM.

ABOVE:  Flowers delivered to me door just now. ??

From Stew...   'Thinking of You'.

I get it.

It would have been my Mum's 88th Birthday today.  I have tried to keep myself busy.  But that kind gesture from Stew made me cry.   

ABOVE: And then I laughed, cos the closest thing I had to a vase to put them in was... the bottom of the blender!!!   Works for me.  

Thank you Darling.

See you later.  

6.38 pm:  Stew arrived home and we sat and pondered 'dinner'.  Usually we just have snacks, but tonight we decided to have a pizza.  So he's gone out to get some.  I felt cheated, as we had planned on having pizza for lunch on the weekend, but ended up having a burger instead.

ABOVE:  Dominoes Thin and Crispy Crust Pizza... perfect!   We really enjoy them, cos you don't get too much dough.

Now that dinner is done (sorry Coco, none for you), we will blob out till bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.

BABYSITTING LILY

 

GOOD MORNING

Today my first 'job' is to head over to Steve and Bex's, as I am baby sitting Miss Lily while Bex attends an appointment.

After that, I will come home and get on with some jobs around the house.  

Now that I've decided not to make any more scrappy dolls, I think it's time to REALLY pack up the sewing room!  Like REALLY, REALLY put it all into boxes, tape them closed and put them in the garage.

Then I can vacuum, dust, clean windows, window sills etc and close the door.

That job will probably take me a good couple of hours.  So... 

Let's get a move on.  

12.25 pm:  I have had a very productive morning.

First up of course, was looking after the delightful Miss Lily.

15 minutes before Bex had to leave, Lily took a nose dive between the couch and chair, and dinged her forehead on the windowsill.

I was, of course, worried because she was so upset.  But her 'ding' was a big 'out', not an inny, so we could relax a bit.

She came right pretty quickly as well.

So off Bex went, and I was left with these two:

ABOVE: Marley sat at my feet almost the entire time.

ABOVE:  Lily sat and watched tv, and ate snacks ... she was perfectly happy.  I 'bleeped' out her ding, ya don't need to be seeing that. 

After leaving Bex and Lily, I went into town and bought a new dog door, which will be fitted the day after we move.  ANOTHER BIG TICK.

Then out to the Base, where I did my banking.  So thankful I wasn't in a queue for too long today.

It is now lunchtime.  After lunch I shall get on with packing up what's left in the sewing room.

ABOVE:  While there wasn't a lot left to pack up in here, it still took me two hours. 

ABOVE: While I am sad to be leaving behind my amazing sewing room, I will make my new 'space' in the garage just as awesome.   Said with some healthy scepticism.  😕😖  It's not like I ain't done my sewing in a garage before eh?

I'm tired now, so will take a break. My leg is holding up well today, still a bit sore when I walk, but on a scale of 1 - 10, it's around a 3.  Progress is slow but steady.

5 pm and the sun is low... it's getting dark already.  I just did a very quick supermarket run.  I only wanted some rice snacks.  Have enough to last quite a few days now.  NOTE TO SELF:  Don't damn well use the self check out!  Because I'd bought from the Bulk Bins, the staff member 'manning' the self check outs had to come over and scan and approve every single item himself. Quite pointless me even trying to do it myself and avoid the queues.  😠😞

Bitching over... moving on.  I'm looking forward to a quiet evening.  It is only Tuesday and I already feel like it should be Friday.

Hanging out for me bed... but have to friggin watch Coronation Street first.  I wanted so much to give up Coronation Street, but damn well can't.  It's ingrained in me.

Catch ya tomorrow. 

A SEWING MONDAY

 

Stew is at work this week, then come Friday, he's off for two entire weeks.

Awesome.  He gets to help me do the final packing, then unpacking once we have moved.

I am looking forward to having him home to help me. 4 sleeps till then.

Back to today though, and my plans are to make 2 more 'Itty Bitty' scrappy dolls.  

I'm having quite a bit of fun doing the scrappy dolls.  Making the faces is the best part.  Giving them character is so enjoyable.

I also need to ring and organise the Plumber, Gasfitter and Electrician for the first 'JOB' at the new house.  Which is to remove the gas heater and hot water cylinder, and replace the hot water cylinder with an electric one. Then I can get the gas connection decommissioned. 

Damned if I'm going to pay exorbitant connection fees for gas like we are here. Our last Gas bill was $83, of which our gas usage was $34.  Just does not make sense to keep using gas.

I just want to pay ONE bill... electricity.  Full stop.  End of story. 

ABOVE: Two of the buttons I bought yesterday, which I really like.  Let's see how they look on a scrappy eh?

CLEARLY A GIRAFFE!  😂😅

ABOVE:  12.01 pm,  MEH.  I made an Itty Bitty Scrappy doll this morning... and hated it.  It went straight in the bin, after I removed the buttons.

I've just had lunch, and am pondering if I can be bothered even making another one right now. 

I look around and wish there was more I could pack up!  But no.  Everything left out has to stay in use till next week.  

So maybe I'll rest my leg, then go back in the sewing room later.  

It's later.  6.03 pm in fact.  It's been a  busy afternoon for me.  I did more sorting out in the garage.  I vacuumed the entire house.  Did dishes.  And a few other little jobs.

I am NOT going to make any more scrappy dolls.  I'm done for now.  Sewing will happen again once we have moved and got ourselves settled in.

Stew just arrived home and got on the exercycle, while watching the news on the telly. 

We are heading into a nice, quiet evening at home, relaxing (blobbing out) in front of the telly.

Catch ya tomorrow.

MOTHERS DAY

 

It's the 5th Mothers Day without my Mum. 

4.7 years of reaching for the phone to tell her something, ask her something, just speak to her.

And then I remember.  She's not going to answer, ever again.

It does not get any easier.  But I am learning to accept it.  Learning to just remember the good times, the fun times.  And accept loss is a part of living, we all lose family over time.  

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MUM, wherever your soul rests now.

Mum's birthday usually coincided with Mother's Day, either the same weekend/day, or close.  So a double whammy loss.

Personally, I don't 'do' Mothers Day.  I firmly believe you should show you care for you Mother every day of the year, not just on one HEAVILY COMMERCIALISED DAY of the year.  Mothers Day is for the RETAILERS.  

Stew and I will probably go out to lunch somewhere nice, as we usually do on the weekend.  That's all I want, thanks.

ABOVE: This was taken about 7 years ago, but it's one of my all time favourite photos of Mum and Mike. 

I did some sewing late yesterday, and made my first 'Itty Bitty':

ABOVE:  It was super easy and quick to make I must say, and not too much nutting out either.  The next one will be faster now I've made one.

I might even make another one today.  

ABOVE: LOOKING FOR....

And got. Will show you once we are home.

Tried to have lunch at Iguana in town ... fully booked. Same at Fergus. So we are now at Burger Fuel. Not unhappy about that, as they do the best burgers in town.

ABOVE:  By the time we got our 'lunch', it was pretty much early afternoon.  So I'm calling it "Breakfast/Lunch and Dinner'.  Our burgers were amazing.  You just cannot beat Burger Fuel.

ABOVE: We went to David's Emporium for buttons (for eyes), and also got some really cheap felt as well.

ABOVE: And finally, I bought some new sneakers.  NOT for walks with the FBG's, rather  for out and about in town etc.   It was quite a mission finding them I must say.  I had almost given up in fact, when we found these at the Skecher's Shop at The Base.  Skechers sneakers really suit my feet.

It is now 2.08 pm, and seriously, I'm gunna have a nap!  Such a big meal has wiped me out.

4.02 pm: So much for the 'nap'.  I spied something for sale on Marketplace, and thought, wow, that would be awesome to put my fabrics on in the new garage.

ABOVE:  EXTRA tall, but not too deep.  It will hold so much without taking up masses of space.  All the shelving is adjustable as well. I'm thrilled with it, and it was at a very good price.  SCORE.

8.28 pm, time to sign off for the day.  Catch ya tomorrow.

SATURDAY

 

We had a good sleep in this morning, which we both needed.  All the stress keeps catching up with us.  

We have a whole weekend ahead with NOTHING much on the agenda.

I do want to drag the dog kennel, which our dogs NEVER used, up to the front of the house.  I will take photos, and get it on Market Place for sale.

There's a couple of large tarpaulins in the back shed that need to be hauled out, folded up and put in the trailer.  I plan on putting all the smaller outdoor pots in the trailer soon as well. 

There's also a few outdoor tools, wheelbarrow etc that are being given to Steve.  Lacy is getting the lawnmower, which she is thrilled about, though she has to wait until next weekend for it.

So, there are a few little jobs to get on with today.

We are both feeling VERY TIRED of late... so this weekend will be fairly cruisy.  Just pottering around doing small jobs.

DOGSTARS: You are a dag!  Which means a funny person, not something hanging off the arse of a sheep!  Though that is a dag 💩 too.  😄😂😅

We stayed in bed till about 7.45 am, then it was up and on with jobs.

Stew's at the supermarket, I've packed another box and looking for something to put in another.

The washing is on, there's a load in the dryer and now I might vacuum... or wait for Stew to do it.  cos it kills me back.

ABOVE:  Well it looks like the new owners of this home have scored a dog kennel.  Because we can't get it through either side gate!

Clearly the fence went up after the kennel was put in the back yard.  *sigh*

Stew is probably inwardly cursing me right now, cos it was an effort trying to get it out.

And his cuppa tea was getting cold.  Whoops!  Bad timing.  MY BAD.

12.44 pm:  We just had a lovely Kebab from Chartwell Square Food Court.  Sadly, he is not going to be there after October. He asked Stew for our email address, so he can let us know where he opens up again,  after October.  

As we don't have anything else to do today, I suppose it's Netfix/Sport on the telly.

I could sew ... but nah.  Don't feel like it right now.

5.42 pm: And I finally did a wee bit of sewing.  I will show you what it is... tomorrow.

7.43 pm:  It has been a lovely, cruisy day.  Just what we needed.

Now watching mindless TV, Stew is in 7th heaven watching Sport of course.

Catch ya tomorrow.

TWO WEEKS TO GO!

 

Slowly getting there!

Three months ... I never want to have a sale/move take that long to finalise again.

I have NOTHING to do until we are down to one week to go.  Boring.  I like to be BUSY.  

Today I'm going to do a wee bit of sewing.  DOGSTARS showed me a photo of some really small scrappy dolls, so I might have a go at making 2-3 for market.  I might as well... I've nothing else to do.

Stew reminded me of this fact last night when I was feeling low.  Thanks Darling, I am working on believing it.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  Me, every morning... before the hairbrush hits.  So glam.

Puffy eyes today, cos I actually SLEPT all night!

And I forgot to hit 'PUBLISH' ... thanks for reminding me Lacy.  

ABOVE:  I've had this one sitting in me photo file for a while now.  Perfect day for it.  I'll let it SLIDE I think.

Marie McN:  I know you hate these memes!  So I'm laughing as I hit publish.

Felicity:  She's a cow! lol  edit:  Fuck me days!!! It is a giraffe!!!!!  Apologies to those who were right and I was wrong.  Derrr.

My morning is over.  It went a bit like this:  Out to town to look at lights, cos the new house will need some nicer lighting eventually.  Then to the Base, where I bought some donuts, cos ... emotional eating.

Home.  Made up a few boxes.  Had meatloaf for lunch, followed by a donut.

And now I'm going to do a ring around, get the insurance changed (for once we move), tee up a plumber, gasfitter and electrician.  Just the usual shit you have to do when moving house.

ABOVE:  And YEP, I'm still loving the bling.  Totally will not suit our new tiny home though.  Dammit.

I just spent almost an hour on the phone to our Insurance Company.  Cancelling policies, changing policies, changing address details, bla bla bla.  

What a rigmarole.  But it's done now.  

Next, I didn't get to the Plumber, Gasfitter or Electrician, and it's too late now.

I'll do that on Monday.

It's pissing down outside, really ikkk.  So thankful we don't have a market tomorrow.

I have spent hours looking online at freakin' lights tonight.  I would love something with a bit of blue... of course!  The options are few and far between.  Luckily there will be no rush.

Well, it's been a really quiet day here, and we are both looking forward to bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.

And THAT is a Jelly Fish. 

LOL

A FIX IT JOB

 

            GOOD MORNING

Looks like another nice day ahead.

I'm off to Cambridge Mosaics.

I have a 'fix it' job to do.

Above:  Stew and I bought this piece of shist with an Iguana mosaic on it many, many years ago at a craft fair, when we lived in Palmerston North.  

It has travelled around with us for over 20 years, and has lost a few bits over those years.

Today I'm going to try and fill in the gaps at mosaic group.

ABOVE:  I don't think I'll try to match the missing bits to what's already there.  Whatever I do, I'm sure it will look just fine.

I might have to do it while it's in the boot of me car though, as it's really heavy.  Stew put it in the car for me last night.

That's about all I have planned for today.

Of course, being a Thursday, this evening Stew will be at the pub and I'll visit the kids ... and might join his nibs at the pub for hot chips later on in the evening.  

Off to start the day, catch ya later.

10.36... happily doing me thing.

ABOVE: We have cascading stars.

ABOVE:  By the time I left I'd filled in quite a few of the tiny spaces.  It's looking so cute. I also got the large shist lizard done, but it has to cure and be coated in a protective sealer before it can come home.  It can stay there until after we move.

I'm home now, and Lacy has called in for some meatloaf.  Busy yakking, she's on a buzz about getting new glasses.  

LOL, I fell asleep listening to a YouTube thingee!

Now I'm awake, feeling cranky as f**k.

Stew will be home soon, so I suppose I better get some face on if I'm going to the pub later.

Can't turn up looking like an old hag.

BLOG GLITCH FIXED.  All posts are back up.

Nice evening here, I joined Stew at the pub for half an hour, and enjoyed the hot chips.  😋

Home now, and watching Coronation Street.  Seems I'm still hooked on it.  😖

Signing off ... catch ya tomorrow.