CATCHING UP WITH THE HOUSEWORK

 

This morning I shall be doing some housework, washing and vacuming, and a few other little jobs that got neglected this past week or so.

We have visitors coming for morning tea, so it would be nice to know the house is nice and tidy.

I bought some cake and slices yesterday, so at least I'm not making scones today.

Last night (6 pm-ish) we got some really heavy rain...first rain in a little while.

It was just lovely.  AND we got this:

ABOVE:  A really awesome rainbow.  More often than not, you don't get the entire rainbow showing, so we stopped on the side of the road to grab a photo.  A bit later on it became a double rainbow, but I didn't get a photo of that.

Right, that's me for now... I best get on with the housework.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

Housework is done.

Man is doing well.  Getting self sufficient again, thank god.  Can make his own breakfast now! lol  Probably not up to making dinner yet... but give him time.  😉😊

I just spent a bit of time sorting out some more fabrics for bags.

I had made six bags to take to market, and sold three yesterday.  So I'll be making more over the next week or two.

ABOVE: The beauty of having a substantial stash of fabric?  You don't have any trouble finding what ya want!  I have 17 potential bags sitting right there.  Let's see which ones get made.

TAMAHERE IN MARCH

 

Well the day I've been sort of dreading is here!

Lacy and I will be doing the market together.  Stew will be staying home.

I'm still feeling very nervous about her and I getting everything set up in time.  I've never done it without Stew before... well, not with the gazebo anyway.

I am probably worrying about nothing!  I just have to pace myself, and be methodical. 

At least the weather forecast is excellent!  One less thing to worry about.  

ABOVE:  I got the second runner top done last night.... as you can see, it really is totally different to the first one.  I still have to quilt it and put the binding on.  That will be tomorrow no doubt.

Right, time to get going... wish us luck!  I will pop back on here after we are set up.  

ONWARD... 

ABOVE: 8 am. 

WE DID IT! And I didn't get me tits in a knot.

We just got on with it.

No trouble at all. I'm so pleased,  all my worries for nothing.

It did take an hour longer than 'usual', but so what. 

Now we can sit and relax, and hopefully make some money. And yak. Let's not forget the yakking. 🤣😅😇

2.15 pm, and I'm finally home, feet up doing an update on the market.

First and foremost, we had a FANTASTIC day.  Lacy loved it.  She is keen to do the next one with me now.

We saw lots of lovely people, I saw friends from Cambridge, FGB's, WW ladies and also some from our Village too.

Lots of happy faces.

ABOVE: That young man fell in love with the Scrappy Dolls, he wanted one for himself.  So he chose one and was happy as, walking around the market hugging it.

AND YES, he was a perfectly 'normal' young man... all his faculties intact.  He just loved the dolls, he said they were FUNKY.

He made my day.

While it was a slow day for some people sales wise, it was a GOOD day for Lacy and I.  We made plenty of good sales.

It only took us 35 minutes to pack down and get ready to leave the venue.  I was about to get into the car and glanced back at our site.

ABOVE:  To see one very forlorn step stool just sitting there all on it's own!  I did have to laugh.

Then Lacy saw it...

ABOVE: She saved it from a certain... ?  Life of loneliness. 😂😅😆  Yeah I know, it doesn't take much to tickle my fancy, or weird sense of humour.  

Now that this update is done, I shall go and finish unpacking the car.

Stew and I are off to dinner this evening at our favourite Indian Restaurant.  I've starved all day, looking forward to me dinner.

I had an hour's nap this afternoon, it was wonderful.  I needed it.

ABOVE:  Dinner this evening was a Vegetable Samosa each, followed by Butter Lamb for me, and Chicken Tika Masala (Medium) for Stew.  Because I had the Samosa, I couldn't eat much of the Butter Lamb.

ABOVE: As a consequence, I shall be having Butter Lamb for my lunch tomorrow.  Yummy.

Before we went to dinner, we did a small grocery grab.  Fresh Fruit and Diet Coke primarily.  After dinner, I got to put it all away, and now I'm DONE for the day.

I shall be sitting on me arse and doing nothing else till I go to bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.

I AM FULL OF SHIT

 

Yesterday I said I would not be making any more runners until after tomorrow's market eh?

Yeah.

I'm full of shit.

I started FIVE more last night!

ABOVE:  I am going to make them all look slightly different, but same/same really.  They are very popular, hence making more.

And, I love them, like the five similar blue Braid Runners I finished the other day.

*DANG... looking at them now I can see they need less of the aqua and more green.  I'll sort them out later.*

This morning I am going to drag Stew down to the gym to get on the recumbent bike.  He has been told by the physiotherapist to get on one now, so I will do my wifey/nursey duty and make him do it.  While he's on the bike, I'll probably jump on the treadmill, or something else in the gym.

Lacy is coming over this afternoon, and staying the night.  That way, she can help me load the car for tomorrow's market, and she's here tomorrow morning, ready to go to market with me.

ABOVE:  I just love her.

She has some wayward tufts of hair sprouting, so sometime today I'm going to clip them off.  She's gunna hate me for a little while.  Oh well... sad.

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

ONWARD...

I am working on one of the new runners, that I cut out last night.

And OMG.... it's going to be STUNNING.  

I can't wait to finish it and show you.  Maybe you won't think it's stunning... but OMG I do.

And here it is:

ABOVE:  What do you think of it?  I have made a 'subtle' change to the ends... making the last strip longer/wider so you can actually see more of it (the green fabric strip).  Usually it gets cut off when squaring up the runner.  I'm really thrilled with how it turned out.

I'll be doing that from now on.

Funny how I've now made two fundamental changes to how I do the Braid Runners this past few weeks.  

I've made dozens and dozens of Braid Runners, and only now do I tweak the pattern!  😂😖

ABOVE: Stew ventured out for a little walk today, he did well.  He 'only' walked about 100 meters, but still better than the few steps he's been doing around the house.

Later on this afternoon we shall go down to the gym so he can get on the bike.

ABOVE:  He got on the bike for only a few minutes, and couldn't do a full rotation, just half way, kinda like 'rocking' the pedals.  It's a start.

In a week or two I fully expect he will be able to do the full rotation, and for longer.

Lacy arrived and helped me load the car, and she's gone home again.  She assures me she'll be back before 6 tomorrow morning.  

ABOVE:  Coco got her trim, so she's tidier around the face now.  She didn't enjoy it, but with Lacy holding her for me, we got it done fairly quickly.

And that's me for the day, I'm knackered.  I fully intend going to bed early.

Catch ya tomorrow.

GOING OUT TODAY

 

Today I am determined we go out somewhere.  I'm sick of being at home, just working and looking after the man.

And I'm NOT cooking today.  So, once I've had time to think about it a bit more, I'll tell ya where we are going.  Obviously, not too far and for too long, bearing in mind his nibs is still recovering.

It is two weeks today since his surgery.  He's getting around with just one crutch in the house now, and sometimes he forgets he needs it.

ABOVE: This is me after sewing all day yesterday!  I've been known to forget I'm covered in threads, and go out to the shops looking like that.  Sometimes I even have a few pins on me chest as well!  

Yeah, might not do that today. 😂😅😆

The Braid Runner I started yesterday is going to be finished late this afternoon.  I'm taking a break this morning, then we are going out and about.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

11.55 am, and I got that new Braid Runner finished!

Hadn't planned on sewing this morning, but oh well... at least it's not waiting for me this afternoon.

I can just relax later.

ABOVE: And there it is.  It is TOTALLY not me.  But as Stew said, someone will love it.  I am going to be surprised if it goes any time soon.  

I'm going to rattle Stew's dags, and get him  out of this house for lunch somewhere nice...

ABOVE: Well, we ended up at The Lookout on Church Road, Pukete.  We had been here once before.  It has a nice ambience about it.

ABOVE:  It is on a rise overlooking a large section of north Hamilton, and Mt Pirongia.  Mostly though, you just see the industrial area.

ABOVE: My lunch today was a Salmon and Prawn Salad.  It was delicious!  Those crispy twirl thingees added a nice texture to the meal.  It was also way tastier than I anticipated.

ABOVE: Stew had a Lamb thing, it was like an open kebab.  He said it was very nice, as were his Kumera Chips (ikkk from me).  I had a couple of slices of Ciabatta bread instead of chips, for a change.

We are killing the next hour until Stew's second Physio appointment.  She (the physiotherapist), will be removing the dressing off Stew's knee today.  

We bought some Bio Oil for his scar recovery as well.  'O' next door has had both his knees done and highly recommends Bio Oil for scar healing.  You can hardly see any scars on his knees!  Let's see how that goes.  

6.55 pm.

The visit with the physio went well.  She's very happy with Stew's progress.  We don't have to go back for two weeks.  He can start using the recumbent bike down in the gym now... just once a day to start with.

She did not take the dressing off his knee, it has to stay there for another week or so.

After coming home, we killed another hour then went to the pub.  Stew hadn't been there for three weeks, so it was nice for him to catch up with his mates.  I stayed with him for a change as well.  We came home fairly early as I didn't want him over doing it.

We had been out three times today.  I hope he's knackered, and sleeps well tonight. 

And that's a rap on our day.

Catch ya tomorrow.

RUNNER FINISHES AND NOT MUCH ELSE

 

We don't have much on today.

Stew has to attend a couple of video 'meetings', one first thing this morning, and one this afternoon.

So we have to stay around home during those periods of time so he can be on his laptop.

I plan on finishing the last two Braid Runners this morning, then work on getting all the market stuff ready for Saturday.

I also STILL have to make those extra straps for the gazebo.  I'm a terrible procrastinator!  I put things off till the last minute too often.  Probably because I know they won't take long, and it's boring shit. 😂😖

So yeah, I'll do all that then I'll clean up the sewing area, ready for me next run.  Which will be GREEN Kiwiana Braid Runners.  And maybe another 1-2 Blue Wave Runners. But that can wait for now.  I've got to finish what's on the go first.

Lunch today is marinated chicken strips, with 'something' tossed through it, over rice I think.  I'll just wing it when it comes to cooking it.  Cos cooking is not my forte'. 

ONWARD...

12.50 pm.

ABOVE:  I got the last two Braid Runners finished.

ABOVE:  Coco would not move when I laid out the runners... little tart just lay there without a care in the world.  😆

I got all the market gear ready, and even made the extra straps we needed.

Then I made lunch.

ABOVE:  Lunch.  It was nice.

I'm NOT cooking tomorrow.  I'm done cooking for a few days.

So at 3 pm I went nuts!  And pieced together another Braid Runner.  

A sneek peek, as it's not finished yet...

ABOVE:  It is still a Kiwiana Braid Runner... but just wait till you see it finished.  It is quite different from my 'norm'.

10.10 pm, watching Coronation Street then off to bed.

It's been a good, productive day.  But tiring.

Stew and I are both feeling bone tired, we are not sleeping very well at all.

Hopefully we get a better sleep tonight.

Catch ya tomorrow.

MOSAICS, JABBY JAB FOR STEW, SEWING, THEN A SHINDIG.

 

I  have a very clear agenda for today.

First up, I'm going to spend about an hour and a half at Mosaics here in the village.

After that I'll make our lunch, which is going to be pork chops and veges.

Next, Stew has an appointment at the Doctors for the start of his Shingles Vaccinations.  He has two jabs, three months apart.  You qualify for them for free in your 65th year.  I had mine already.

Then I am getting into C.Qs to start quilting those four Braid Runners.

Oh and AFTER ALL THAT, we have an 'event' on, here in the Village, this evening. It's the annual St Patricks Day Shindig.  Music, laughter and food.  Should be good.  It was last year, when we were invited to attend, even though we had not moved here yet.

So there ya go... our day mapped out nice and early in the day.

What are you doing today?  Entertain me.

ONWARD...

I went down to mosaics at 9 am.  At 9.30 one lady joined me, then another lady arrived for about 20 minutes, then they both left for morning tea.

ABOVE: So, I was basically there on me own for most of the time.  Not ideal, as going was more about company than the actual craft.

I spent my time scraping off the grout that was put on last time I was there.  It wasn't looking right to me at all.  The mosaic 'expert' had helped me put it on 'her way', taking the grout right out past the edges of the birds etc, and it just looked awful to me.   So, lots of scraping to get most of it off.

I'm feeling a bit happier with it now.  Not 100%, but happier.

It is now 10.35 and I'm going to clean myself up and work on another runner.  I got one finished this morning before I went to mosaics.

ABOVE:  Today's lunch was pork chops, mashed potato with cheese and onion added, and a lettuce salad.

Coco and I shared my chop, and I had WAY LESS than what I served Stew.  Even he couldn't eat all his, he now has a pork chop to eat tomorrow.

I got another braid runner finished before lunch, so I only have two left to go.

Then I can sort out my market stock, and get ready for Saturday's market.

I'm starting to feel flat... been on the go all day.

Next thing... take Stew to his Dr's appointment, then off to a $2 shop to find something GREEN for this evening.  I had thought of making something, but just can't be arsed.

7 pm.  I had maybe a 15 minute nap this afternoon, just enough to recharge me batteries.

Then Stew and I went down to the Community Centre for the Irish Shindig.

It was lovely.  Nice company, good music, lots of smiling people.

Supper was hot ham on a bun, the ham was amazing.  I didn't have a bun, just the ham.

ABOVE:  I found these green lei at the $2 shop, and while mine started around my neck, it was scratchy, so it ended up on me head.  It looked fine there.

Stew got 'Os' hat plonked on his head at one point:  

ABOVE: Stew seemed to cope well enough sitting there for almost three hours.  He's home now with his knee elevated.  He has dropped half of the painkillers now, and the anti-inflammatories end tomorrow.  So as I've said all along, he's doing really, really well.

And that is a rap on a fairly busy day.

Catch ya tomorrow.

SHOPPING, THEN CRAFT GROUP

 

*sigh*, since Stew's been home from work on 'sick leave', I think I've been to the supermarket twice as often as I usually go.

We are going again today!  He has a list.

Mostly the stuff he usually gets on the weekend.

I think he's going to have a go at walking around the supermarket himself too.  

ABOVE:  He's graduated to only using one crutch around the house now.  AND he's doing a few more things for himself.

Last night he got his own 'dinner', fruit, yoghurt and left over cream from lunch.  Nice.  I'll have him cooking us a three course meal before ya know it.  (JJ)

ABOVE:  I forgot this photo of Miss Lily from yesterday!  She slings her handbag over her arm and declares she's off to 'work'.  So damn cute.

ABOVE:  I got all three Braid Runners pieced together yesterday.  I will start quilting them after I get home from Craft Group.

I shall piece together another Braid Runner while at Craft Group, that's about all I like to do on BABY Brother. 

So, that's today's plans.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

Well, I finally failed in the 'good, caring wife' duties.

I had a terrible night's sleep, and slept in after waking a gazillion times overnight. 

When I finally got up, I realised Stew had made his own breakfast, opened the curtains and all that first thing in the morning shit.

OMG I am so bad!  I didn't even last two weeks being the dutiful wife.

MUST.  DO.  BETTER.

We shall be going out soon to do that shopping, and Stew needs to get a follow up x-ray of his knee as well.  So, we shall do that.

3.30 pm, and it has been a busy day again.  We did a small grocery shop, Stew was only on his feet for probably 20 minutes.  Then he had his x-ray and I took him home again.

Then we had lunch, a Chicken/Pasta salad with coleslaw on the side.  It was OK.  

Then I left him to it and went to Craft Group, where I sewed up this Braid Runner:

ABOVE:  YES, it is very busy.

And yes, it's not straight on the edges, but once I've trimmed it, quilted it and put binding on, it will be just fine.  😊  And again, the colours are not 'true' either.  

ABOVE:  A close up of the kiwi birds fabric, which I've not used before.  

Now that I'm home, I'm going to be a lazy arse for a while.  In a couple of hours I'll think about getting us some dinner.  Something light.

Right, I've now got four Braid Runners on the go, and ready for quilting etc.  I'll start on them tomorrow, I've run out of energy to even think about doing them now.  And they will take quite a few hours to do.

So, the evening stretches ahead.  I've just watered all the outdoor pots and lawns.  Tick Tick.

Time to sign off for the day.

Catch ya tomorrow.

JUST A LAZY SUNDAY

 

I had to stop and check my phone to see what day it was!  With Stew home every day, it's buggered up me timelines.

I simply have nothing to judge what day it is... cos they are all the same.

Shit, is that what it's like when ya both 'retire'?

I think Stew needs to go back to work for a bit longer... I'm not ready for this 😂.  

My plans for today are to sleep in, then get back into C.Q. and get another 2-3 Kiwiana Braid Runners made before next weekends market.

I'm a bit nervous about that one, as Stew won't be able to help me with the set up at all.  Lacy is going to be helping me, and possibly Bex too.

But, it is still going to be a bit stressful, cos I'm a worrier, and get me tits in a knot really easily. 😖

And that reminds me... I need to make a few more little straps for the gazebo.  I best do them first thing today, so I don't keep procrastinating about making them.

ONWARD...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY  to Bex .... hope to see ya later. 

11.30 am.  Did I say a LAZY Sunday was ahead?

😂😅😆

Yeah right.

What with looking after the man, making a second Kiwiana Runner top, and making a BIG batch of scones for lunch, I've been BUSY.

Steve, Bex and their kids are coming for lunch.

No one else could come... it was kinda short notice.

I'm taking a moment to sit still, then I will be getting said scones out of the oven.

We have 'plain' cheese scones, to be accompanied by jam and cream, and my new favourite, Cheese/Bacon and Onion scone scrolls.

Stew loves them.

Any left overs can go in the freezer for another day.  Excellent idea, cos I've made quite a few.  One is going to be enough for anyone!

They are huge.

ABOVE: Dante arrived wearing his knock off, cheap as 'crocs'.  He said they were too small for him now... so...

ABOVE: I nicked them off  him!  I will wear them in C.Q., and take them off when I leave the garage, that way I'm not traipsing threads and fluff all through the house any more.

Dante will get new, bigger ones as soon as his parents can be arsed taking him to the shops.

ABOVE:  DOGSTARS, I was heading off to have a nap when your comment came through!

So there are the scones!

ABOVE: Archer asked me how many scones he could have?  I said (tongue in cheek), he could have 5!

He said no, he'd only have 4.

In the end he had 1 huge savoury scroll and 2 scones!

I could only eat one savoury scroll.  They were very filling.

And went down very well with everyone.  Except Lily, she was only interested in the cream, and pieces of bacon out of the scrolls.  😋 

ABOVE:  A particularly nice photo of Steve today.

Coco, getting her belly rubs, which she demands from anyone who crosses our threshold.

ABOVE:  The closest I got to a photo of Bex today, on her birthday!  Whoops, not good enough, must do better next time.

And that's a rap on lunch.  NOW I'm off to have a nap.  

ABOVE:  I'm happy to say I did get an hour's nap.  So did Coco.

Isn't she so cute.

After my nap, I went down to my local petrol station, to fill up me car.

ABOVE:  Petrol is now over $3 a litre.  Who can we thank for THAT I wonder?

A ginger faced, maniacal, egotistical, despot who is hell bent on causing World War Three, that's who.

It just makes me so angry when I think about him.

And I try NOT to think about him too much, cos there is NOTHING I can do about it.

So, I've been sewing up a storm since about 4 pm, and I'm happy with my results for the day.

Now though, I'm done for the day.  

Catch ya tomorrow.