NEW WEEK AHEAD

 

And another week rolls around... but it doesn't feel like a Monday.

My days are all buggered up, having Stew home day in day out mucks up the routine for sure.

I was putting off a job until next weekend, then Stew reminded me we could do it any day this week, cos he's home.  Derrr.

That job is to go through the three Keter outdoor sheds and get rid of anything we've not used since we moved here.  I am sure there will be a few things leaving the property, either to an Op shop, or the tip.

I'm not sure if that will happen today, or another day this week, we will see how it goes.

ABOVE: I have to sort out this lot first, my sewing room got a bit messed up yesterday.

I found some more old stock that is going in my 'GIVE IT AWAY' pile.

At every market from now on, I am just giving away old stock to whoever enters my stall.  I've been doing that for a couple of months now, and it's such fun seeing people's reactions when I hand them something for free.  It's nice.

ABOVE:  The two new 'succulent planters'... I will take another photo of each in about 6 months. Then we can see how much the plants have grown.  Could be interesting.  Or not.  

ABOVE: Last night's sunset, it really was lovely. That photo doesn't do it justice.  

ABOVE:  He did it!  

A.  He 'made' dinner.  

B.  He used Uber Eats for the first time ever.

Well done Darling.

And that's it for now, I'm heading off to C.Q. to get that sorted out.  

ONWARD...

12.10 pm.

I had to go out and buy a new Rotary Cutter.  All FOUR that I have had blunt blades.

I could have bought new blades for them, but I decided I wanted a different style of cutter.

I'll show ya later.

I've been a busy beaver this morning, going from one job to another.

I've started a new Tote Bag:

ABOVE:  I'm going down to Craft Group shortly and will work on it down there.  

FACT:  I'm terrible at parking cars.  Just ask Stew, he will verify that.

Come to think of it, I'm REALLY bad at backing too... only I could have backed out of three garages (our own) and run into the door!  Yeah.

Don't ask.  ONE wasn't my fault, I swear.

And let's not go there with the letterbox at our Cambridge property!!!

Anyway, back to parking.

ABOVE: This was Today's Terrible Parking effort.

I swear I try, I really do!

At least there wasn't anyone else on either side eh?

Right, I'm off to Craft Group now.

I've fed Stew, so he's all good.

3.05 pm, and Craft Group was lovely.  Lots of lovely ladies to chat to.  I got that Cow Tote Bag 75% done, I just have to make the straps and attach them and the lining.  Might do that tomorrow.

Dare I say it?  It's VERY QUIET ON HERE today.  Where is everyone?  I hope you are all gainfully employed, being productive, or at least enjoying yourself.  

It is now 6.40 pm, and I'm pretty much done for the day.  I've won another battle ... more on that tomorrow.  lol  It's not as good as the driveway, but still a win.

Catch ya tomorrow.

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.

12.35 pm, and our visitors came, we had a lovely catch up, lots of yakking, and now they have gone home again.

We've had some lunch, and soon we shall head out to get some bird retardant grass seed, then visit Steve, Bex and the kids.

The birds around here ate all the grass seed that was put down along the edge of the new driveway pavers... little bastards!

So hopefully if we get bird retardant seed, we will get it to grow.

I got heaps done around here this morning, I even did some gardening.  Our vege pods have now got succulent cuttings in them.  I've decided not to grow any more veges.  When you finally have them ready to eat, they are super cheap in the supermarket, making it like.. why did I bother growing it/watering it every day, bla bla bla?  Just buy it!

ABOVE:  We had a lovely visit with the kids this afternoon.  That photo was taken just before all three kids started jumping on Steve ... it was a free for all!  lol

After we left them we came home and just chilled out for a few hours.

That takes us to now, and we are watching mindless TV until bedtime.

I've planted some new succulents that we bought when we got the grass seed.  Which I've put on the lawn now.  Hopefully the birds leave it alone.

It's been a good day, I got lots done, which always makes me happy.

Catch ya tomorrow.

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.