TE KOWHAI FOR THE SECOND TIME

 

It is probably going to rain today, so our set up will be very minimal at market today.

IF this market is DEAD... and we suspect it will be, it will be our second AND LAST time there.

We are going today to give it one last shot, as we have already committed to it.

If it is going to rain, at least it won't be freezing cold!  Or foggy.  Fog really is horrid.  Yesterday we had to sit in fog for about 4 hours!  I'd rather we had a good, honest frost any day compared to a fog.

We don't have to be at Te Kowhai until 7 am, so yipeee..... not such an early start today.

Catch ya later...

ONWARD...

.

 

TAMAHERE MARKET IN JUNE

 

It is about 2 degrees outside.

And it is 5.36 am.

I am not a happy girl. 

We are up, and getting ready to head off to Tamahere.

I have 4 layers on me top half, and three on my bottom half.  I'm also taking a hot pod that I can heat up and put on my knees, and a sheepskin that I can sit on.  Hopefully ALL THAT will help keep me warm?

I know I will stay warm while we are setting up, as I'll be moving around heaps.  It's once we are finished and are just sitting there that the freeze creeps in.  

And to think, we will be doing it all again tomorrow.  F.

I am praying that we don't have another NSD!  That would be the pits.  Sadly, it is a sign of the economy bottoming out.  I just hope it starts to pick up again soon, cos it's a lot of work for very little returns right now.

OK, I better go.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

ABOVE: COLD does not quite adequately describe it. Damp too. But, at least its no longer dark as well. 

We have finished setting up in our NEW PERMANENT SPOT. Time for a hot chocolate. 

Well... its 9.45 and its still foggy and freezing.    BUT its NOT A NO SALE DAY!! WHOOP 🫠🤪

ABOVE: I dare not take off my SCRIBBLER jacket, too many people covet it! It certainly attracts comments from heaps of people.  

Our sales so far today have been excellent... so pleased its going well.

2.20 pm.  Home safely, and now snuggled up with my electric throw, and planning on not moving again for quite some time.

The market was steady all day, good sales and nice people out and about.

It really was a bloody miserable, cold day though.

Tomorrow is looking to be WET, so we are not looking forward to that much.

Stew's gone to the supermarket for our weekly supply of Diet Coke.  Then I expect he will blob out in front of the telly all afternoon.  He's off to the pub this evening for a friend's birthday 'shout', and to watch the rugby.  NOT ME, I'm staying home in the warm.

9.16 pm, and I'm off to bed soon.  Stew should be home soon, the rugby must be over by now.  He's probably just finishing his last jug of beer.

Catch ya tomorrow.

CATS

 

Last night when I was up at the pub, I ended up having a yak with a young couple who have bought a couple of things off our stall in the past.

They want to order a custom runner, and a few other bits 'n' bobs.  So, I will be sewing again, sooner than I expected.  

I had thought I could take a break from sewing, as I do have plenty of stock to last through winter.

But nope, I shall be productive a bit longer.

I will be making them a Table Runner with a cat at either end, and some words in the middle.  It sounds like fun.

I just have to wait for their input on colours, type of cats etc.  

Taking an order is not something I would usually do, as it's added stress, but as we know them, I'm making an exception.

So this morning I shall check out cat ideas, and I need to see if I have any burgundy coloured fabric.  Not too sure on that.

Apart from that, we don't have anything planned for today.  It might just be a stay at home day.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

Right, first off... it's BLOODY FREEZING.  I can't get warm unless I'm under me heated blankie!  And that's with the heat pump on full blast! 

AND... Mc 2ie is fixed and ready for pick up, so we shall go out a bit later to get him.  WHOO HOOO.

Next... I've sorted out shit for tomorrow's market, and I've also got a small pile of older runners to be 'give aways'.  

AND.... I've found 30+ metres of plain black fabric, which I use heaps of, in Pukekohe's Spotlight.  So I'm teeing up getting it all.  It's  called stock piling! lol   Though, 30 metres won't actually last me that long, maybe 6 - 9 months.

I'm on a roll today....

Mc 2ie has been picked up. Neil (shop owner) gave me some free sewing machine needles. Such a nice man.

ABOVE: We are now at our favourite place for lunch... and its so nice and warm here. Doesn't  Stew look lovely. Love him to bits. 

ABOVE:  We both had the Pork Belly Bao Buns for lunch.  They really are to die for.

After lunch we went to the Base to get some cash for tomorrow's float.  While sitting there, our house alarm kept notifying me of a 'noise'... and when I looked inside the house via the cameras, I couldn't see a damn thing!  Just noise...

ABOVE: Those are about HALF the notifications I got about a noise inside the house!  As I sat and listened, it sounded like someone was banging and smashing and making a shit load of noise!

So I rang our village management, and they sent someone down to go inside and see what the noise was.

They didn't see A BLOODY THING!

So, we came home and ...

IT.  WAS.  COCO. 

She had gone out the laundry door, which has a  dog door, and somehow managed to flip the 'lock' switch, and she was locked out of the main part of the house.

So she proceeded to try and break the door down to get back in.

Hence the noise.

What a little shit.  She was still INSIDE the bloody house, just confined to the studio and laundry.

Next time we go out, we will make sure the laundry door is open, so she can't do that again.

I'm thankful for our security cameras.  They work.  VERY WELL.  😂😖

I have already tested Mc 2ie, to make sure the problem is resolved, and I'm so happy, it is.

ABOVE:  While at Sewing Machine World, I saw and bought this thingee.  I've been meaning to get one for a very long time.  It's to help hold the ruler steady while cutting fabrics.  I can't wait to try it out.

It's now late.  Time to go to bed, we have another early start in the morning.

PHYSIO THEN MORNING TEA

 

First up for the day, Stew is off to another physio session.  It will be interesting to see if she thinks he's making progress, or not.  I think it's  a NOT.

But, I'm no professional.

While he's out, I will get the washing either hung out, or thrown in the dryer.  It's looking pretty blah outside, so probably the dryer.

Once Stew is home, we are going to attend the Thursday Coffee & Chat morning tea.  Stew has never attended one before, so it will be nice for him to meet a few more people here.

I think he expects to be sitting amongst a bunch of befuddled oldies!  😂😅  He might be surprised at the range of ages, as most who attend the morning teas are not that much older than us.  YES, some are quite a bit older, but they DO still have their marbles.  🔵🔴🌕

After morning tea, we don't really have any other plans.  Maybe it will be the time to sort out the other 'future proofing' plans we want to make.  Funeral Trusts etc.

ONWARD...

12.10 pm.  The physio said Stew's knee is doing fine, pain is to be expected for a while longer yet.  He's got a few new exercises to add to his list.

We attended Morning Tea, and I think Stew enjoyed it.  There was a good number of ladies there today, and we engaged in conversations with most of them.

I've now got lunch in the oven, we are having home made tacos.  I have several containers of spaghetti  bolognaise  mince in the freezer, so pulled one out, added Taco Seasoning and BOOM.  Nacho mince.

Lunch was too rich... I couldn't eat much of mine.  I think I used too much cheese.  Lesson for next time.

After lunch we went to The Base, Stew picked up his prescription, then I got a hair trim.

ABOVE:  I had about 3 inches cut off.  It was down to me bum... just a bit too long.  Now the ends are straight again.

Now we are home again, and it's going to be a quiet hour or so, before I drop Stew off at the pub.  I might join him for a little while, before visiting the kids. edit:  Stew walked to the pub.  I have stayed home this evening, I'm just not feeling like going out.  I MIGHT go and pick the man up ... we will see.

I ended up spending 20 minutes with Stew and the gang up at the pub.  It was stinking hot in there, I ended up having to take off my jacket!  Unheard of, me being hot in winter.  😂🔥

We are now home, and I'm going to stay up and watch Coronation Street, then head off to bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.

SMALL ROAD TRIP

Leaning towards what we did yesterday, today we are travelling down to Tokoroa to tend to my families graves.

Both headstones/bases need to be cleaned, and have fresh stuff put around.  I'm hoping to pick up some nice pots/plants to sit on the bases.  

My Dad's headstone is to be removed soon, to have my Mum's and Sister's details added.  This will then be 'unveiled' in August.

I fully expect this job to take the majority of the day.  I am just wanting it done asap.  I feel the weight of having to keep the graves tidy, as there really is no one else lining up to do it. 

THAT is why when we 'go', I don't want anyone having to tend our graves.  In 100 years, no one will even remember us so yeah, traditional graves are not for us.

Kinda a weird subject to be yakking about eh?  But I think it's something everyone (adults at least), should give some thought to.  That and your Will, Executors, Power of Attorneys, memorandum of wishes, and so on.  You can't really control what happens after you die, but you can certainly do a few things, like what we did yesterday.

So there ya go.  We will be heading off mid morning, once it's warmed up a bit.

ONWARD...

.

ABOVE: On the road at 10 am, heading into foggy South Waikato. Ikkk. 

1.30 pm.  We are home again.  It didn't take us too long to get the graves nice and tidy again.  I had already taken some of the stuff away last Friday, on my way home from Palmerston North.  Dead flowers, and things that needed cleaning, like my painted rocks.

ABOVE: Tokoroa was freezing, and it drizzled on and off.  Many, many years ago, the only statue on the main street was the Bushman, holding his chainsaw.  Now there's quite a few more.  I liked it better with just the bushman.

ABOVE:  My Dad's headstone will be having additional wording added soon.

As you can see (Vickie), his headstone/base badly needed cleaning, moss removed etc.

Sadly, I seem to be the only family member who does it.  In saying that, we haven't done it in at least a couple of years, and it showed.

ABOVE:  My two brother's headstone/base got cleaned as well of course.  

I thought about painting both the bases, but I am sure the paint would chip away over time, and that would look ikkk.  So I've shelved that idea.

ABOVE:  The position of both headstones, opposite each other.   Once my sister's ashes are interred with my Dad, and 'bits and bobs' of my Mum, my entire immediate family will be together.

AND NO, I will not be joining them there.  Stew and I want to be laid to rest in Hamilton, where we have spent the majority of our married life.

It felt so good to have that job done, it's been hanging over my head for a while now.

9.15 pm, and we have had a very lazy afternoon/evening again!  It's rather nice being lazy.

Time to sign off for the day, catch ya tomorrow.

WORKING ON IT

 

We shall be heading out to Chartwell Square this morning, as Stew has an appointment at Spec Savers.  Just a bi-annual check up.

While there, I presume we will have a wander around the shops... as ya do.

There's another thing on our agenda, and hopefully we can tee that up today as well.

It's something a bit 'out there', so until it's sorted out, I might just keep it to myself.

LOL, I told Mike and Joyce if they could guess what 'it' was I'd give them $1,000.  They couldn't guess.  😂😅

My new sewing machine is running a bit ragged, so I'm going to get some new needles, to see if that helps.  If not, I have a sinking feeling Mc 2ie is going to Auckland for a 'check up'.  Let's not go there right now, I'm keeping my fingers crossed it's just a temporary glitch.

ONWARD...

12.40 pm.  We have had a successful morning.  First up, Stew does not need new glasses.

He bought a book on how to handle stressful situations, recommended by our friend yesterday.  It will probably take him 2 years to read it!

We then went here:

ABOVE: The Hamilton Cemetery.  

After having to deal with changing my Dad's headstone to include my Mum and sister lately, and worrying about how the plot/headstone will look in years to come, when I can no longer look after it, prompted our visit out to the cemetery today.

We have chosen our final resting place, and paid for it.  It's one less thing out kids have to deal with when we die, and we know NO ONE will have to 'tend' to our headstone.

ABOVE: We have chosen to be cremated, and buried together in a beautiful garden setting. We even got to choose a special plot number, one that means something to us.  

I am very happy this is done.  Now the next thing we are going to get done this week is to set up Pre Paid Funeral Trusts for each of us.  Yet another thing our kids don't have to worry about.

We can do that online, as Stew (obviously) knows what to do.  LOL.  He's only worked in that industry for 28 years.

After all that, we had lunch at Taco Bell in Hamilton East.  It was a disappointing experience, as they got our order wrong in every way possible.  I doubt we will go there again.

Home now, and soon I will head into Crabby Quarters and suss out my machine, give the bobbin race a clean etc.  Let's see if that helps?

If not, I'll be taking him down to the shop for 'fixing'.
3.42 pm, and Mc 2ie has gone off to be repaired.  Sounds like I did the damage when I broke a needle last week.  😖😕😒 Dammit.

Thank goodness I now have Mc Dreamy as my back up machine!

ABOVE:  I parallel parked my car!!!  OK, OK... badly.  One wheel is on top of the curbing, and one is on an angle... but it's in the gap and that's all I cared about.  lol  I can't usually do that sort of parking at all, but today I decided to give it a go.

I arrived home in time to see Bex, Archer and Lily.  They'd popped in to pick up the airbed I borrowed from them.  It was nice to see them.

Rhonda, that's amazing.  I really didn't think anyone would have any idea what we were doing.  

It's now 7.20 pm, and we are going to enjoy a quiet evening.  We have another thing on tomorrow... looking forward to a little road trip.

Catch ya tomorrow.

BIT OF THIS, BIT OF THAT

We have a friend arriving to visit us sometime today, but we don't know exactly when yet.  We anticipate she'll be here for either morning tea or lunch.

So, it's a hang around till she arrives sorta day.

Stew is going to pop into town first thing, to drop his work shoes off for redoing the rubber on the soles.

While he does that, I am going to make a start on going through ALL OUR RUNNERS, to re-arrange what goes in what bag.  We are taking far too many to market, and I want to pare it down to what actually fits on the walls and two racks.  Then I want a bag of 'spares', but only a few, not 3 dozen!  It's just not necessary to take that many.

I anticipate that job taking me an hour or two, so I'll be gainfully 'employed' for the morning.

And that is all I have to yabber on about for now.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

2.40 pm!  Yep, clearly I've been a bit busy today.

It took me over two and a half hours to sort through all our runners, and get them in the appropriate bags.  I have a separate bag for the gazebo Walls, Rack 1 and Rack 2.  It's just me being super organised of course.  

Once that was done, I wandered down to our Craft Room to let them know I'd not be in today.

I got back home just as our visitor was arriving, perfect timing.  We took Sharon to lunch at The Lookout and she was super impressed.

Sharon used to work with Stew in Rotorua, quite a few years ago now.  It was lovely to catch up with her.

After she left, we went to the supermarket for diet coke.  Our Pak n Save hasn't had any diet coke for a few weeks now.

Now we are home again, and it's time to take a break.  It's been go go all day so far.  I want to sit and relax for a bit. 

6.51 pm.  Ashamed to say I've been 'relaxing' all afternoon!  Just didn't feel like doing a bloody thing.  I think Stew felt the same.

So, a quiet evening stretches ahead, catch ya tomorrow.

SHOOT ME NOW

 

5.39 am.  

And it is FREEZING.  And I feel so groggy, getting up this early really doesn't suit me at all.

Luckily we don't do this too often.  I can't imagine people who do this EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND!

F that.

So anyway, we choose to do this so I really shouldn't bitch about it.

We are going to have a good day weather wise, once the fog clears.  No rain like last time we were at the Cambridge Market.

And today we will have Bex with her stall right next to us all going well.

So, let's get on with it.  I'll be back once we are all set up.

ONWARD...

.

ABOVE: We are literally CRAWLING on the expressway because of incredibly thick FOG. It's scary. I hope Bex is OK.

Well... Bex was OK, she got to market before us even. We are now all set up, the fog has lifted and the sun is trying to fight through the overcast sky. 

ABOVE: And there we all are. Waiting for the shoppers.  If they have any sense, they are still in bed!

8.05 am, and a bloke walked by. And he glanced in and said "WOW". I love it when that happens. He stopped and we chatted for a moment.  Nice eh.
It is now 11.30 and we have NOT made a sale yet!!!!   It is cold and miserable.  The fog keeps coming down, making it even worse.  I'm thinking its going to be a NSD day = a NO SALE DAY. At least Bex has had some sales.

11.43 am, and NOW ITS DRIZZLING.  GRRRRR.

1.55 pm:  The day did not get any better, I actually started packing up half an hour BEFORE the end of market!  I don't think I've ever done that before.

It was just so cold and horrible, and a NSD to boot.  That's only the second time ever we've not sold a thing.  Bex did better, lucky girl.

The weather in Cambridge was completely overcast, and the fog kept coming down repeatedly.  By the time we arrived back in Hamilton it was sunny, but is it now clouding over as well. 

As you can imagine, I am now in me lounge chair with the heated throw on, and the heat pump on as well.  The house is very cold too.

I'm looking forward to dinner, not because I'm hungry, but because I'm just tired and want the comfort of eating something nice and HOT.

Right, it's now 8 pm.  We've had dinner, and are now just chillin' out.  I fully expect to be in bed in the next hour!  We are both knackered.

Catch ya tomorrow.

NINE DAYS OFF

 

Starting today, Stew has no work for a whole nine days.

He's go so many holidays owing, he has to take some days off.  So, he's got all of next week off.

We do have a couple of things planned for next week, things that we want to get squared away for the future, but more on that... next week I suppose.  Gotta keep something up me sleeve to yabber about next week right?  😂😏

Back to today.... not too sure really.

Saturday's usually mean going out and about, having a nice lunch somewhere and all that.

I think we will return that piece of Britto ... and NO, I won't be keeping it.  It's damned expensive, so having two the same would be a bit dumb.  We can choose a replacement piece together, which will be nice.  Hopefully the shop actually has a piece we don't already have! 

Seriously, it's getting harder and harder to find new pieces we don't have.

Though in saying that, there are quite a few pieces that simply DO NOT appeal.  Or are HUGE and mega expensive, and I simply refuse to buy them.

We have the Cambridge Trash 'n' Treasure market on tomorrow, so at some point later on we will pack the car, and make sure we have everything we need.  It is almost second nature now of course, but I still get a bit stressed about it, making sure we don't forget anything.

Right, time to get up and start the day, catch ya later.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  11 am saw us in town, exchanging one Britto piece... for two.  Whoops. FYI, they are just little pieces, fit in the palm of ya hand little. 

Then we wandered down to Iguana restaurant for lunch.

ABOVE:  This place hasn't changed that much in 40 years.  The food took a while to arrive, and was very average.  Not photo worthy.

ABOVE: Stew ordered some Koala cloths, which arrived today.  Time will tell if they are any good.  Interesting he bought cleaning cloths... I think he wants to try one on the shower glass.

We have very hard water here, so there's always a build up of hard water spots all over the glass.  

We tried Glassguard, which was quite expensive, to no avail.

Fingers crossed Koala cloths do the trick, cos they were not cheap either.

Has anyone else tried Koala cloths?  

7.15 pm.  When I  have more energy I'll give those Koala Cloths a go on various surfaces.  Right now though, I'm contemplating an early night, as we have to get up bloody stupid o'clock tomorrow.

AND it's going to be FREEZING.

NOT looking forward to that at all.

Catch ya tomorrow, where I will probably be a bit grumpy.

HOW SWEET IS MY DARLING?

 

When Stew arrived home from work last night, he handed me this:

ABOVE: He said it was a 'welcome home gift', and it was appropriate considering my week.

I opened it, saw the picture on the box and closed it again!

It's a piece of BRITTO, a little dog in a dish.  He thought seeing as I had spent a lot of time with little dogs I would like it.  Stew is clearly not up to speed with all our Britto, and what we have.  We already had it!

But never mind, we shall return it next week and get a different one.  

It's the thought that counts of course!  Thank You Darling.  I missed you too.

AND I did bring you a gift as well ... a bag of black jelly beans.   😂😅😆  Not quite as 'special' as Britto... but at least I did think of you right? 

ABOVE: Lily LOVED her huge Stitch toy!  It is bigger than her.  So cute.

The boys got spoilt as well...  $'s for them though, so they can buy what they want.

ABOVE: Bex has been making all sorts of things for her first market in over two and a half years.  Lily is modelling an ear warmer, she looks adorable in it.  

We are both doing the Cambridge Trash 'n' Treasure Market this coming Sunday.  She can set up beside us, that way she has us to help her if necessary.

Now, back to the day ahead. I've got a load of washing to hang out.  A little bit of housework, not much.  Then I can get into Crabby Quarters and put away my latest haul of fabrics.  That will be fun. 

I might even get to finish one of the last 5 runners sitting on my work table?

ONWARD...

12 noon.

Housework - DONE

Small grocery shop - DONE

Washing - whoops, still waiting.

And I'm not going into Crabby Quarters until me jobs are all done, so maybe later on.

Right now, I've just had my lunch, a sausage and some noodles flavoured with sweet 'n' sour sauce.  Very nice on a cold, dreary winters day.

I just spoke with Chris and Sandra as well, and Chris is doing very well.  She sounded really chipper and happy, and she's got Sandra with her, making sure she's OK.  Such a relief all went well.

Now, just fingers crossed for good lab results.

2.55 pm, and I've finally got all the jobs done.

Now finally, I can relax.  If I get the energy a bit later, I'll go into Crabby Quarters to sort out the new fabric.

OR, I'll leave it as a special treat for tomorrow.  Yeah, that's what I'll do.  

I think right now I'll listen to a YouTube doco, while doing a jig saw.

8.34 pm, and we have had a quiet evening so far.

Stew is happily watching rugby, bless his heart.

I've watched three episodes of Coronation Street, so am all caught up now.

Time to sign off for the day, catch ya tomorrow.

HEADING HOME TODAY

 

You should have figured by now that I am heading home today.

Chris is having her procedure tomorrow in the Day Clinic, and Sandra will be staying with her.  So, I feel comfortable going home, knowing she's in safe hands.  The dogs will have their 'Mum' home by the end of the day, so they are fine as well.

I have really, really enjoyed these past few days with my girlfriends, it's been a long time since I did just that.

And of course, seeing the kids again was wonderful.  

And dogs, so many dogs!  Cee Cee, Chip, Beene, Beau and Lacy.  Coco is going to have a sniff-fest all over me when I get home.  😂😅

In the past month - 6 weeks?  I have visited ALL my favourite fabric shops and added to my stash, so that's bloody awesome as well.

ABOVE: This little bag of fabric was from yesterday's visit to Hidden Hollow, which is at Massey University.  

And I think that's a wrap on fabric shopping for quite a few months!

I am looking forward to the drive home, it's a good road all the way and I like driving.

If the weather is good, and it's supposed to be, I hope to stop a couple of times to gather some rocks!  lol

Me and rocks go hand in hand on trips.

ONWARD...

. 1.30 pm. Very quickly... I'm half way between Turangi and Taupo. Making good time.

I made a mistake in my post today.

Chris D is having her procedure TODAY. She should be home tonight though  and has Sandra to look after her.

I wanted to be home tonight as Stew is bloody exhausted. His knee is STILL causing him much pain. Grrrr.

So, home I am headed. I should get there just as he gets home from work.

4.15 pm and I am home safe.  5 and a half hours, with 5 short stops along the way.

ABOVE:  I got a small bag of river rocks on the Desert Road, from a stream flowing off Mt Ruapehu. 

I can't remember the number of times I've done that.  But, it's a few.  😂

ABOVE: Lake Taupo was stunning today.  I got a very little rock and a piece of driftwood here.

I am now knackered.

News on Chris D.  She's had her procedure.  It wasn't pleasant for her, and I think they would have done more if she wasn't in so much pain.  She now has to await results in a few weeks.

Sandra is staying with her this evening to make sure she's OK.

Please no guessing, it's her business.

Stew should be home any minute now, and once he's changed I will drop him off at the pub, come home and unpack.  I might, or might not get over to the kids home tonight.  It depends how I feel in an hour or so.

5.20 pm, and Stew is now at the pub.  I'm at  home relaxing.  I've actually got all my stuff unpacked and put away, and have a big load of washing on.

I will go over to the kids' house at about 6 pm.  I have a BIG soft toy for Miss Lily...

I ended up staying at the kids till it was time to pick Stew up and bring him home.  I am so tired, and COLD, all I want to do now is go to bed.  So I shall.

I'm going to sleep in tomorrow, BLISS.