2ND CLASS

This morning I'm off to my 2nd patchwork class in Hamilton.
Looking forward to it heaps.

The ladies in this patchwork class go to lunch after the class, and they invited me last week, so I might just join them this week.  We can play ladies!  lol

While I'm out and about, I think Lacy is going to be in town too... sorting out stuff of her own.

I am going to return the 2nd dog muzzle after class.  I'm sure I can knock something up that will work to keep her from biting people and other dogs.  I hope.

So, that's all I have for now!  Catch ya later...

ONWARD...

3.38 pm:  Class was nice this morning, I got quite a few blades sewn up.
No one was going to lunch today!  So I came home and prepared our dinner (Beef, bacon and tomato stew), then had some left overs for my lunch.

Now I'm happily watching Midsummer Murders on the TV!   Nice way to relax in the afternoon... though I should be doing something like housework!

Yeah.. NAH.

9.58 pm:  Well clearly it's been a very quiet afternoon!  Lacy has been out all day, and isn't home yet.
Hopefully she doesn't make any noise when she gets in... cos we are light sleepers.

PATCHWORK CLASS TODAY

Well... today I'm going to take some of the Dresden Plate blades I've cut out, and stitch their tops at class today.

I say 'class', but really it's just a hall where ladies meet and sew/yak and sometimes have demonstrations by other people.

I'm not sure I'm enjoying this 'class'.  But I will persever, if only because it's a way of intergrating myself into the community.

What else do I have on today?  NOTHING!
When I get home I will have lunch, then probably do some more cutting out of DP blades.  It's going to take days and days to cut out all I need!

I forgot to mention yesterday... the lady who served us in Acquisitions in the mall, and sold us the two new Britto Figurines, is an avid sewer like me.

She LOVED my Cute Bag (which I was using that day), so I gave her the link to find the pattern on my blog.  She was so thrilled!  It made my day.

Now I just need to make the best of this day... and try to enjoy the company at the class.  It's hard 'breaking' into a long standing, existing group though. 

ONWARD...

2.14 pm:   And Hi!   Class today WAS much nicer than other days.  As you say, I just have to give it time.  I can't leave now anyway...

ABOVE:  I am now an 'official' member of the Cambridge Patchworkers.  *smiles*

After class I came home, picked up Tallulah and Lacy and we went into Hamilton to find the 'right' muzzle for Tallulah.

 ABOVE:  The poor girl... we will have to re-name her Hannibal!   The muzzle training has started as of today, so hopefully by the time next term's Dog Obedience training starts, she will be used to it. 

ABOVE:  Right now though, she has decided to pack a sad and go to sleep, with it on!  At least she's not fighting to get it off.

I've got WW's tonight, again, not expecting anything good.  Just NOT in the right groove.  But I shall keep trying, cos I ain't gunna give up again.

Well the muzzle lasted half an hour, then she pulled it off.  So, it's going back to the shop.  Darn.  I may have to try and make something that fits her super short snout myself.

8.52 pm:  WW tonight, I lost a stellar .100 grams!  Suppose it's better than another gain.

Enjoyed a lovely dinner of macaroni cheese with onion and polonies.  

THE DOMAIN

One of the ladies I go to Patchwork with here in Cambridge told me about an adult exercise circuit in the Domain, and yesterday we found it.

ABOVE:  It's actually a really good circuit too!

 ABOVE:  Marty, Jacqui, Joel and Griffin had fun on some of the equipment, that's for sure.  *smiles*

 ABOVE: Also in the Domain is bowls, petanque, tennis courts, and I can't  remember what else!
It's a lovely park for sure.

 ABOVE:  I love taking photos of interesting trees.  There's something about how the branches twist and turn that I find lovely.

 ABOVE:  How's this for an interesting home?   It's opposite the Domain.  I really like it.  It sure has street appeal.  Makes my home look very staid and humble.

Too bad.  I love our home!  It's perfect for us.

 ABOVE:  We watched this hawk searching for his dinner.

ABOVE: Isn't it cool!  I'm quite proud of this photo!

NOW... today.


We are going into town (Hamilton) to do a few jobs.  Kids need some stationary.  I want to exchange the muzzle I got for Tallulah for one that fits her.

Can't think what else yet.... 

ONWARD...

2.20 pm:  Well.. we got up, did a little housework then headed into town.

You know how we got a couple of new Britto figurines the other day eh?  Well that's because a new shipment just arrived in the country.

There were a couple of other ones we really liked, so.. ummm...

ABOVE:  We got them!  Now we are going to try and track down a Road Runner, to go with Wiley Coyote!  Hopefully there's one somewhere?

While out, we got Griffin some new shoes...

ABOVE:  Friggin size 15!  And on SALE, down from $300 to $180.  Still bloody expensive.  That boy better stop growing now!  It's really hard finding shoes that big.

After that we got some school stationary, and  had lunch at the Base then came home.
It's a stunningly gorgeous day out there!   And all I feel like doing is having a nap.  Might even do just that.  *smiles* 

Well... a nice day turned to custard fairly fast.
 Better sign off for the day before I say more.

FREE WEEKEND

Can you believe it?  There are no plans for the weekend!

Apart from NORMAL stuff around our home and section.

The start of many years of happy weekends here in Cambridge.

I know Stew wants to mow the lawns, and paint the Hobbit House... yeah.  I didn't get to it after all, this past week!

Procrastination.  Must be where some of the kids get it from.  ME.  *smiles*

I don't know where the week went really... it's flown by.

I shall be getting the end of week washing done today, before the weather goes to shit again.

Stew picked up something we had ordered months ago last night.

Our first 'Cambridge' Britto!  As in, the first we have bought since we got here...

 ABOVE:  We ordered them months ago!  They are gorgeous, Stew and I love them.

1.17 pm:  And we have done heaps this morning.
Stew has painted the Hobbit House, and mown the lawns.

I've got heaps of washing done and hung outside.  And lots of other little jobs around the house.  

ABOVE:  Head down, bum up!

We had visitors this afternoon.  Marty, Jacqui and their two kids.  It was neat to catch up... then we got dragged out to go for a walk.

So we walked around the local lake, very pretty it was too.  Followed the walk up with a Gelato ice cream.  YUM.

Said bye to our visitors just before dinner time.

Stew and I got all the washing in and are now watching the news on the TV.  Dinner tonight will be left overs from lunch, and anything else from the fridge.

Here's a few photos from today's walk, I will post a few more tomorrow...

 ABOVE:  Jacqui decided to have a run.  That's her in the red jacket.  She ran about 50 metres, and that was her run over!  lol

 ABOVE:  It's a lovely little lake, and there's several ways to walk around it.  Around the base or above on a footpath level with the road.  The lake is down in a natural gully.

ABOVE:  Walking around the little lake, named Te Ko Utu.  It's within the Domain, a stone's throw from the main shopping centre of town.

As it's the middle of winter, it wasn't as pretty as it could be.  I can't wait to see it in summer.

The trees will look much better with leaves.  *smiles*

Winding down for the evening now.  

SHISH... I'M SLEEPING IN!

*** FORWARD POST***, which means I wrote this last night.

I fully intend on staying in bed this morning till at least 9 am!

Yesterday was weird, I was SO TIRED all day, even though I had chosen to drive to Auckland and shop... I couldn't shake the tiredness at all.

At one point Lacy opened the car's windows to keep me awake!  And it was FREEZING.

There was a massive fog all the way till we got to the top of the Bombay hills.  Brrrrr.

So, I'm going to sleep in, and after that, I will decided what to do today.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

WELL!  I slept in till 9.45 am!
Awesome.

***Earlier content edited... deleted in fact.  I will be deleting comments too.  Wasn't necessary on my part to bitch.

On the good side... I got my blood tests done today... only been 5 weeks since I was supposed to have them done.  The lady at the lab here was LOVELY.  She used a baby needle and I hardly felt it.  So relieved.


2.24 pm:  back from Hamilton.  Lacy has to get physiotherapy for her shoulder/neck... hopefully she gets back on some sort of benefit by next week, so she can get herself where she needs to be.  

I'm now going to have a little relax before doing something 'normal' about the house.  Like getting dinner sorted out, maybe getting some washing on... bla bla bla.

Grumpiness rubs off.  Feeling like crap now.  Wish I'd not said anything.  Going to delete earlier bits from today. 

Stew just got home... with something we have been waiting for.   Months of waiting in fact!
Will show you tomorrow what it is. 

For now... it's Friday night and Coronation Street will be on later!  Excellent.  Might even have a couple of tipples.  I feel like a tipple.

DAY TRIPPING

Today I am going on a little shopping trip.
To The Ribbon Rose in Auckland.

I would like to get my hands on enough of a certain fabric I got there a couple of weeks ago, so I can use it for the sashings of my next Dresden Plate Quilt.

I have not seen it anywhere else, so off to Auckland I go.  I hope they have enough of it!

Obviously while there I will try and visit Bex and the little boys.

I think Lacy will be coming with me, if she gets out of bed in time.

All going well I will be leaving just after the kids leave for school, and getting back just before they get home from school.

Ummm... I have a confession to make!  While out yesterday afternoon, I had to walk past the Salvation Army Thrift Shop.  And in the front window lay three gorgeous platters.  I went in and bought them on the spot!

I mean... can you blame me?.....

 ABOVE:  FISH!  CRAYFISH!  Splashy platters. Just love them.  They are virtually brand new! The barcode stickers are still on the back, hardly damaged even.  I got them for about an 8th of the original price.  SCORE. 

ABOVE:  AND.... while there I spied this sad little piano stool.  So I got that too... I will give it a tidy up, new fabric on the top and find a place for it somewhere!  

So, some impulse shopping has slipped in.  WHOOPS!  I will try harder to give up impulse shopping. YES, really try hard.  *lol*

I better go.... 

ONWARD...

Shopping is going very well. I got the fabric I wanted from Ribbon Rose, then I went over to Cushla's in Devonport and got a couple more metres of fabric to match what I already have for the quilt.

Now grabbing some lunch foe me then going to Bex's to visit. Lacy is there already.

5.18 pm:  What a neat day!  I got the fabric I really, really wanted for the sashings on my new Dresden Plate Quilt-to-be, AND 8 more contrasting fabrics for the Dresden Plates.

We didn't stay too long at Bex's as I was rather tired.  But it was lovely to see and play with the boys for a while.

 ABOVE:  I took along this card with a sample of all the fabrics I already have.  No way was I going to buy something I already had!  It worked perfectly.

 ABOVE: Today's haul.  5 from The Ribbon Rose in Mt Wellington, 2 from Cushla's in Devonport, and 2 from The Grandmother's Garden in Gordonton.  

ABOVE:  Oh and this one from The Ribbon Rose too!  What an awesome batik.  I can see it as a 'Cute Bag'.

NOW... I better get on with dinner.  We are having lamb patties wrapped in bacon and baked in the oven, accompanied by veges.
Should be nice.

Bloody tired as tonight.  So looking forward to bed.

BUSY BUSY DAY

First up for today, I have the electrician coming back to fix one of the light switches.  They replaced it but it's still not working.  I'm sure I won't get charged for it.  Thankfully.

Next: We are attending a funeral this afternoon.  Kelly's partner's Dad died from a heart attack.  Not looking forward to going, I find funerals very hard, having lost both my brothers and Dad in tragic circumstances.  But, sometimes ya just have to do these things.

And there's a couple of other things happening today, which I am not going to discuss here at all.  One is a timing sensitive thing, the other is troubling, but hopefully will turn out OK.

You know what that means.

So, it is going to be a busy day.  Some stress, but nothing I'm not sorta used to.  *sigh*
DAYS. OF. OUR. LIVES.  Yep yep yep.

ONWARD...

4.01 pm:  Well I did say I'd be busy today eh?
*smiles*
 The electrician arrived 2 hours late. Slight Grrrr.

Then Stew got home and we grabbed a quick sandwich each before going to the funeral.
It wasn't as hard as I though it would be.  I usually get all choked up at funerals, but this time I didn't.  Quite a relief really as we will be going to another one in the foreseeable future sadly.

After the funeral, Stew went back to work and I went into town to get a few things.
Home just in time to open the house for Griffin, home from school.

I head out again in an hour to pick Brylee up from school, she's at Drama rehearsal.

Had good news from across the ditch today.  All is well.  Pepsi readers will know what that means.  Now I can relax.  Felt like I was holding my breath all day!

Stew has gone out for KFC... cos I just feel exhausted.  Was a bit stressed out last night/today.

Things can now get back to normal.  What am I saying?  WTF is normal around here?  OK... some days are normal... even boring!
Have 6 kids + 2 ... ahh nah, I don't recommend it.

This evening has been uneventful... which is perfectly normal.  Thank goodness.  Looking forward to tomorrow.  Day trip ahead.

FATTY BOOM BAH

First up for today... I'm a Fatty Boom Bah.  I gained 2 kilos in the past two weeks.
*sigh*
Too much comfort eating.

Getting cross or upset and boom!  I dive head first into the pantry.  I really have to get on top of that shit.

They say Diabetes is the 'silent killer'... and I don't want to be one of the unlucky ones who faces massive health issues in the next 10 years.

So, I'm going to knuckle down and REALLY try to cut out the crap.  And Stew!  STOP. BRINGING. HOME. CHOCOLATE. BISCUITS!!!

WE don't need them. 

Still on a health topic.  Lacy.  Has come home damaged.  Some bastard attacked her with a crow bar!
WTF?  She doesn't remember too much, sounds like she got knocked out.  I will be taking her to our Dr for a check up, just as soon as she gets herself enrolled at our medical clinic.  

She was seen at the hospital in Tauranga by the look of it, she had a hospital band on her wrist last night.

Today?  Meh.  Not sure.  It will depend on how Lacy is, if she needs to go to the Dr now, or later on in the week.

I'm tempted to just get on with painting the Hobbit House, and worry about the parts I can't reach later on.  Like, when Stew can do them.

Hopefully it's fine, but cloudy today.  Yesterday was really HOT in the sun!

ONWARD...

Fuck, fuckity fuck!  Just remembered I have Patchwork Class in Hamilton at 10 this morning!
Here I was making all sorts of plans to get Lacy sorted.... it will all have to wait till this afternoon now.

I'm frantically running around getting my shit together for class.

I'll be back after class to yak some more.

1.11 pm:  Home from Hamilton Patchwork Class.
I LOVED IT.  Dare I say it? It was a much more friendly group of ladies.  And having it in the 'shop' meant I could buy more fabric for the new Dresden Plate Quilt.

ABOVE:  The class area, to the left is the shop area.  Donna has the most gorgeous bright/pretty fabrics.  Totally love so much in this shop.

While there, seriously, my bloody phone never stopped ringing, or receiving texts!
I even got a call from Victim Support!  For Lacy.
That was fun. NOT.

So anyway, now I'm home, I shall have lunch then go into my sewing room and cut more blades for the quilt.
Tomorrow, I work on a UFO.
Kinda decided to do alternate days of the new quilt, then UFO's.  
Works for me.

Cooking dinner, Lacy is in Hamilton visiting Keera.  It's quiet.  Peaceful even.  lol


***edited content... some things can't be put on here right now. 

LACY: Better things must happen for her eventually.
If she works hard on herself and her situation.  We can only do so much.  Like fatten her up!  *smiles*

LOVELY MONDAY!

You know I love Monday's eh?  It's the day I seem to get the most done.  Today will be no exception.

 ABOVE:  Stew got the pig weather vane up yesterday.  I do believe EVERYTHING is done now.  *smiles*

ABOVE:  The hallway.  Yep, Archer found the dog's pellets.  Had to happen.  I totally forgot to put them up.  I hope he didn't eat any!  (ikkky)

Today I have a list of things to do.
I ran out of pins yesterday!  I can't believe I did that!
Could be because I used a lot doing this:

ABOVE: MY DESIGN WALL is done, and has about 50% of my UFO's on it.
It's so neat being able to see what has to be finished.

So ... pins.  And more staples for my staple gun... cos I used most of the staples that came with the gun yesterday.

I'm taking Tallulah with me... so I can get a muzzle for her, one that fits.  I bought one yesterday, but it was totally useless for her short snout.

Because I will have Tallulah with me, I won't be lingering in town for long.  She will go mental if I leave her in the car for long.

Once I'm home, I will be painting the Hobbit Playhouse with a stain that will seal the wood and keep it from rotting.  
That will probably take me a while.

ONWARD...

Hobbit House paint job on hold.  I can't reach the roof without a ladder, and I'm not too crash hot on a ladder.  *smiles*
I might do the places I can reach tomorrow.

Today I did something else.

ABOVE:  Can you see what I did???

Well there's some eagle eyed chicks out there... YES, I painted white lines on the driveway so I can see where the edge is when I'm backing out at night, or backing IN at night is more likely.  *smiles*

I'm sure the neighbours think I'm nuts.  Number sign AND white driveway lines.  Oh well... wonder what else I can do to stand out?  lol

"Trim the bushes"!!!  LOL   Nope, but I am going to shave me legs!  I've got Weight Watchers tonight, and maybe shaving the legs will take off a kilo??? I can live in hope.  *smiles*

After WW's, I've got Patchwork group.  Tonight it's at a member's home.  I am going to take some knitting!  Anything goes at the night meetings.

ABOVE:  A better view.

9.47 pm:  And I've had a lovely evening.  Weight Watchers was neat, getting to know some of the ladies, and really enjoying going.

Patchwork:  another nice group, lots of us just doing hand work or yakking.  Tonight, I was in the 'just yakking' group!  

Before I left for the Patchwork meeting, Lacy arrived home with her arm in a sling.  Some bugger attacked her with a crow bar!  

POOR COCO

Coco is a bit bothered.

The MENACE is in the house!

That would be Archer.  He loves the dogs so much, but they don't really love him back.

Coco is much more tolerant though, and will try and escape if she can from Archer's loves.

ABOVE:  Is this a 'save me' face?  Probably.  

 ABOVE:  He just wants to hug her!  Oh, and pull her hair, kiss her on the face, poke her eyes, and just BE with her.  

ABOVE:  Coco tries to get away from him, and at one point he held on too much and Coco just cried!  Stew did his best to allow Archer to hug Coco, but protect Coco at the same time.

Archer tried it with Tallulah too, but he got nipped on the hand!  Archer was gobsmacked, and just stood there frozen in shock!  Holding his little hand out ... then he toddled over to Bex and wanted a 'kiss better'.

There was NO damage thankfully.  We do try to keep him away from Tallulah, though she is pretty good at avoiding him 99% of the time.

She doesn't snarl at him or growl at him, and in fact seems to like the little kids, just not when they grab her or pull her hair.  Fair enough really.

Now, today.... the guys are going to assemble the Hobbit Playhouse.
While they do that, Bex, Archer and I are going into Hamilton.
Bex wants to check out David's Emporium, then we are going shopping for some things for a Special Event later on this year.

So, that's all for now... catch ya later.

ONWARD...

Well everything is going like clockwork today.
Bex and I went into town, but sadly didn't find what we were looking for.  So, we will look at other options.
I got a soft muzzle for Tallulah, but it didn't fit, so I will take her into Hamilton and try and find one that does.

I heard from a dog trainer last night, and a muzzle is what she recommends (for now), until we can get her to stop biting/attacking/being nasty.

We got home to this:

 ABOVE:  Steve working on the Hobbit House...

ABOVE:  wood on my sewing room wall, so now I can attach the batting and calico.  Then I will finally have the design wall I so wanted.

I'm so happy!  THANKS a million Steve ♥.

More random photos:...

ABOVE:  The house is finished.  Steve will put a covered deck onto it... well it has the deck now, but we want to cover it eventually. It will give the kids even more room to play back there.

Dante thinks it's his new home, and he wants to live there.  So cute. 

It has been a really lovely day.  One of those days where everything goes right.
Looking forward to more days like that.