A FINISH TODAY, AND A START

I plan on finishing the 2nd Dresden Plate project today....

ABOVE: Amanda wanted to put her name on it... but she was too slow!  It's going to a friend on the North Shore (Auckland) who saw it in it's unfinished state and loved it.  So, hopefully I will get it made into a quilted tablecloth for her today.

Then I plan on starting my own DRESDEN PLATE Quilt.... in my beautiful blue fabrics!  I can hardly wait.

ABOVE: in case you haven't seen me blue fabrics... there they are.  They make me drool.... lol!

Apart from doing some sewing, I expect it to be a boring day... just around home... housework, yard work.... bla bla bla.
I hope you out 'there' have a fun day...

ONWARD...

OK... am I the ONLY one blogging today??? 

It's almost 3pm and I still have not started any sewing! Been doing housework, went out to look for a table thingee to use in the lounge to put my laptop on...no luck there.

Home now and it's stinking hot again today, which is making me shitty as hell.  I am so over being hot all the time.  It's doing my head in and I'm starting to get crabby at Stew and the kids.... I just want this heat to STOP.

ABOVE:  Steve sent me these photos of Emily... awwwwww.

Yes, Emily does have dimples!  She also still has blue eyes...hopefully she will keep them. Amanda has hazel eyes and Andrew's?  I'm not sure  but they ain't blue.
We think she's very advanced for her age, smiling and coo'ing like she does!  lol, but we are kinda biased eh?

End of Day:  and I finally got sewing after dinner... and now it's 11pm and I just finished the 'tablecloth' for my friend ... maybe we will pop over and give it to her tomorrow.
DIET: so-so
nite nite.

TODAY IS ALL MINE

For the first time in about 6 weeks I'm home alone all day... well until the kids get home from school anyway!

I like that idea.
I can relax and just blob out if I want!
But I really want to catch up on some blog reading.... there's about 500+ updates that I have missed !!!

So that it top of my 'to do' list.  I will read and comment on blogs from 9 till 11... and any after that will be 'marked as read'! 
I hope I get to at least one of YOUR'S today!
***smiles***

After that I will do some sewing.

Until then... here's a few photos of Emily I took yesterday:

ABOVE:  she tries to talk to us now... and she coo's... and smiles so much!  So ADVANCED for 6 weeks old!!!  I thinks she's brilliant!  Such a wee honey...

At 8.30 the kids left for school... and I went down to my room to make the bed and have a shower.....

 ABOVE:  Once I got to my bedroom I decided my warddrobe needed a tidy up before I had my shower... so I kinda got stuck into that ....

ABOVE: now I have a tidy wardrobe!  And I stripped all the linens off my bed and they are waiting to go into the washing machine...

I also hung out the first load of washing, put another on... tidied the linen cupboard as I passed it... got two big bags of clothes in my car ready to deliver to the Hospice Shop...and NOW... after over two hours of doing THAT... I'm ready for my shower!  *sigh*

AND after that I'm going to SIT DOWN AND BLOG.  Finally.

Well I did finally sit down and read a 'few' blogs... like for 4 hours!  I'm knackered now... sitting can be tiring too.... no wonder my MOTHER was so tired when she left.  She did NOTHING while she was at my house except sit and yak.
Meanwhile I was left to cater to all her visitors.  Kinda rankles.

I'm chuffed with my wardrobe!  It was a mammoth task decluttering it!  But it's done now and I'm really happy with it.

In between reading, I've been hanging out washing, getting it in again, throwing it all through the dryer to air and put away.  I've done heaps today!  I'm feeling all virtuous!  Does anyone else get a really satisfied feeling doing housework or am I just nuts on me own?
lol

I just asked Griffin to bring me the phone... 5 feet from me he tossed it at me... and it landed on me bust.... I looked up at him and frowned and HE said "Well, at least it had a soft landing!"  BOYS.

End of Day: made a lovely dinner tonight, lamb steaks and veges.  Got all  hot and bothered though... set off several hot flushes... grrrr.
DIET: not too bad.
nite nite.

PROGRESS ON DRESDEN PLATE THINGEE

Remember that small 'practise' Dresden Plate block I made the other day?  Well last night I finished sewing buttons on the centre ....

ABOVE:  progress.... and today I am going to buy a zip for the back of the cushion cover... YEP it's going to be a cushion.  AND I'm giving it to my Aunt Laura to take back to Canada.  Also I am giving her a bundle of my cards... so she can give them to her family and friends in Canada... a little bit of New Zealand!

Today I take Griffin to his Speld lesson... so I will have a good 'break' in the middle of the day to do nothing.  Yaaaa... just what I feel like right now.

When I get home I shall probably work on the cushion and hopefully finish it.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  look who came to visit while I was out this morning.  She's doing so very well too.. her next Ultrasound scan is on Monday, so we will know a bit more about how her hips are doing by then.  Fingers crossed they are doing well too.

It's a lovely day today... raining and windy... so nice and cool.  BLISS....!

Amanda has gone home again, taking our darling Emily with her... AND Steve.  They will be back on Monday.  Griffin took Steve leaving very badly.  He cried and wailed for about an hour.  It almost drove me nuts.  But he's over it now... I hope.   God help us when Steve finally leaves for his own place again!

I took about 215 photos of Emily while she was here today!  I shall TRY to cull them down and show you a few tomorrow.   Sorry if you are getting sick of seeing our wee Emily... I just can't help myself... she's so bloody adorable!

End of Day:  felt quite blah tonight.  Not sure why.  Maybe just tired.  Off to bed...
DIET: good.
nite nite

GOOD BYE MOTHER AND SUICIDE

Stew is taking my Mother to the airport at 5.30 am this morning... and I can do what I want again without her breathing down me neck! 
I liked seeing her again, and she was really nice (on the most part)... but it's going to be nice to be able to sit down and just relax again!  Oh, and blog!!!

ABOVE: the jar we had our three new fish in... two died on the first night... and the third one was doing REALLY WELL on his own... until yesterday morning when we checked on him...

 ABOVE:  would you BELIEVE he had jumped out of his new home and committed suicide?  We were not impressed.  We wonder if we should just give up on having fish... every one we have ever owned has died on us.   *sniff*

ABOVE: how cute is that?  Both dogs asleep on Steve.  Let's all say "awwwww" now!

ABOVE:  My mother and three of her sisters, the 5th sister was out of town so I couldn't get a photo of all of them.  Never mind... it was neat to even get 4 of them all together.  Left to right:  Ethel (No.5), Mum(No.1), Laura(No.3, she's the one from Canada), and Jean (No.2).  My mother also has 5 brothers!   All the girls were born first, then the 5 boys!  My grandmother was rather clever!

Right, off to Hospice today, then I have to pop over to Sylvia Park for me 'hot flush' pills, then home to bloody well BLOG to  me heart's content.

AWESOME.... ONWARD...

WOMBAT:  the pet shop said my bottle would be FINE as long as I had the oxygen shell in it... which I did.  I am giving up on fish.  We manage to kill them all... except the ones who kill themselves!  I have a complex now...

It was super busy at the Hospice Shop today... my feet are aching.  Add that to all the running around I've done with MOTHER ... and I'm knackered.  At least now the weather has finally turned and it's getting cool again!  THANK GOD.

End of Day:  blurgh.  feeling like crap.  Just tired.  Off to bed early tonight I hope.
DIET: so-so
nite nite.

NOW YOU CAN MAKE THEM TOO

ABOVE: you need a jelly mold that has three components... mine is a Tupperware one and it's just fabulous for this.

 ABOVE: put the bottom piece on to the mold bit....

ABOVE:  cut the crusts off about two loaves of bread, butter them and (with the buttered side facing upwards) line the bottom of the jelly mould, overlapping the bread.

ABOVE:  put the first layer of filling in, in this case it was egg/cheese mixed together...

ABOVE: then put the second layer of bread on, again with the buttered sides upwards.

ABOVE: then put the second layer of filling in (ham here, but you can use any meat or fish)...
and then another layer of buttered bread...

ABOVE: then put a third layer of filling in... (mine was lettuce, cheese and some mayonnaise...

 ABOVE: it is going to get a bit full, but don't worry ... you can just squish it all down as you go....

  ABOVE:  finally put the last layer of bread on, this time with the buttered side FACING DOWN.
Trim any excess bread from around the edges with a knife... put the seal on while pressing down firmly.  Place in the fridge for at least 2 hours to allow it to 'set' a bit.

 ABOVE:  take the seal off and turn it upside down on a plate.... then pull the 'bottom bit' off too...

ABOVE: cut into nice segments, using the mold lines as a guide....

ABOVE: and there you have them, perfect little club sandwiches! 
You can jazz these up by placing bits of parsley or chives on the outside of the bread as you build up the layers....or use white bread and wholemeal bread....

I love using this method of making club sandwiches.  You can prepare it and then if you are taking it on a picnic or whatever you can just chuck the whole thing in the car without worrying about the sandwiches falling apart.... you just need a knife and plate when you want to cut them up and eat them! 

You can also use the jelly mold to make amazing desserts using sponge/cake and fruit layered ... devine!  You are only limited by your imagination.

TODAY:  Steve, Mum and I are all going up to the school at 11am for an IEP for Griffin.  THAT should be interesting.  They have lost the funding (I think?) to offer Griffin any 'extra' help within the school this year.  So I am keen to see what help they can offer him now.

Apart from that we don't have any firm plans... which is good cos I want to make a start on my blue quilt soon!   I can hardly wait to see how it's going to look!

ONWARD....

SADLY we lost our third goldfish overnight... BUT NOT HOW YOU WOULD THINK!  I will tell you all about it tomorrow!!!

HI!  back home after a long day out with Mum... the IEP went so well I was gobsmacked!  Griffin has a Teacher Aide in his classroom 3 days a week to help him with his writing/spelling... not all day of course, but still anything is better than nothing!

After attending the meeting, Mum and I had lunch then went to Spotlight and bought some fabric for my Blue Quilt (Yet to be started)... and then came home.  

The weather has finally taken a turn towards winter... it's raining with a very cool wind.  Mum is FREEZING!  She is going home to Australia tomorrow, she can't wait.  She hates being cold.

End of Day: and it's been another long busy day here.  I made an amazingly yummy beef/mushroom/tomatoe stew in the slow cooker for dinner... OMG it was nice!
DIET: all good there today
nite nite.

CLUB SANDWICH ANYONE?

Today I have invited 3 of my Mum's sisters and their husbands for lunch, I am making scones and club sandwiches....

ABOVE: have you seen club sandwiches made in the Tupperware Jelly Mould Ring?  Well if ya haven't... I will show you later on how they come out!

So... apart from entertaining my mother and her family... I'm keeping busy doing housework, kids, sewing... all the usual stuff... EXCEPT blogging!  I miss reading what's going on with my fellow bloggers!  But, until my Mother leaves on Wednesday I'm forced to blog on the 'sly'....So hang in there cos I will be back soon to normal transmissions!  lol

ONWARD...

Steve just weighed himself... in the 6 weeks he's been living back home he's put ON 8 kilos!  And sadly he didn't get them from me...

Had a really busy morning making club sandwiches, getting the house all nice and tidy... just relaxing for an hour now until our visitors arrive for lunch.

Shissssh...don't tell anyone... but I'm sitting in me bathroom blogging, reading emails, etc.... so me Mum can't see me!  She's gas-bagging with her 3 sisters in the family room while the three husbands (my Uncles) yak in the lounge!

Lunch was a great sucess, everyone loved the club sandwiches and hot scones, jam and cream. 

ONWARD..... must go again or they will wonder what the hell is 'wrong' with me... needing to stay in the bathroom so long!  hee hee

TRACY:  lol, you would be RIGHT!  At least no one is rude enough to actually come into my bathroom!

Club Sandwich instructions tomorrow.

End of Day:  YES, I know it's early but I'm hot, cross and feeling really tired.  I've been cooking, feeding and entertaining all day and I've had enough.  Getting dinner for the family nearly made me scream... I'm that hot and crabby.
DIET:  can't eat much when you are the bloody cook for everyone eh?
nite nite.

YEE GADS, ANOTHER BUSY DAY COMING UP...

Today we are taking MOTHER over to visit her partner's daughter on the North Shore.... then doing a big grocery shop... been feeding the masses lately and need more food!

I went through 5 kilos of flour in the last two weeks!  And 3 kilos of cheese, 2 pounds of butter, two jars of jam and 3 litres of cream... and that was only on scones!!!  lol... everyone seems to like my scones.

ABOVE:  I made another 'practise' Dresden Plate Block late last night, only half the size of the first one... it's really pretty.  Not sure what I'll do with it yet... maybe a cushion for Brylee's bed?  HEY, does anyone else think it needs 'something' in the middle of that 'flower'?  I'm thinking it looks kinda nakid... ideas please!

The block I made before dinner last night was double the size of this one... Stew suggested I do a big one surrounded by smaller ones for our BLUE QUILT.... not a bad idea Mr H!

So... better get ready to hit the tarseal.... another day awaits.
ONWARD....

Well I've found a home for the Dresden block I made yesterday afternoon already!  Mum's partners daugter fell in love with the photo of it so I'm going to make it into a table runner/cloth for her.  Yaaa... it won't go in the 'for someone' box, and Amanda can't nick it either.  lol

Lunchtime here, then we are off to look at another house... then grocery shopping. 

End of Day:  very busy day!  The house we looked at was a 'do up' in our suburb... fairly cheap, but lots to do to tidy it up.  Might be interesting....
Went shopping, Mum and I between us managed to spend ....... $1,213.00 on groceries!!!  I have NEVER ever spent that much at the supermarket.  I nearly died of fright!  Luckily we shared the cost.
DIET: GREAT.
nite nite.

HOUSE FULL

It's lovely having visitors... but they can be tiring!

Andrew came up last night to join Amanda and his baby girl...

Mum is here

And today we are expecting one of Mum's sisters to visit, if not two... My Mum is the eldest of 10 kids... 5 girls then 5 boys!  One of her sisters lives in Canada and is over here on holiday, so my Mum is seeing her today.  That will be lovely...   I havn't seen this particular Aunty of mine in about 10 years, so the visit will be neat for all of us.

Then later on today Kelly and Rena, and maybe her partner Gordon are expected too.

Boy we will have a full house!

AND at some point this weekend we must do the grocery shopping too... or we won't have food to feed them all!

I've been looking for a pattern/idea to make a quilt using my lovely blue fabrics that I bought last year, and I finally think I've found one:

ABOVE:  this is the main component, it's called a 'Dresden Plate' and I think it's what I want to do with my fabric!   Have to work on ideas for a while yet...

My MOTHER can't stand computers, but:

It sure didn't stop her reading the news on my laptop, or....

Talking to my son Mike last night over Skype!  Modern technology is dragging her along whether she likes it or not!

ABOVE:  sadly we are having a funeral today for two of our newest family members.  Griffin is quite upset about them dying.  Me...  I'm cross!  Just bought them.  Going to talk to the Pet Shop about selling me 'defective' fish!  Edit:  the fish were put in a tank that had been 'prepared' for 3 days ...as per the Pet Shop Instructions.

ABOVE:  my MOTHER'S sister Laura, holding our wee Emily.  She loved kids...  I made a big batch of scones for lunch, they were all eaten and raved over... made me feel good.  

 ABOVE:  An hour before dinner I decided to try making a 'practise' Dresden Plate block... so there it is.  I used fabrics I had but didn't like...  And guess what?  I like it!  I'm going to put a border on it and use it (or give it to someone) as a small table cloth. 

Dinner time here and I'm NOT COOKING... I'm tired from running around after everyone... so Stew is off to buy Chinese... YUM.

End of Day:  such a busy day... really knackered now... did some more sewing after dinner...
DIET:  what diet?
nite nite.

MAYBE OUT AND ABOUT, MAYBE JUST HOME

Today's plans are up in the air.. it will depend on my MOTHER'S plans and how Amanda and Emily are.

If Amanda is really tired we will stay home and let her sleep while I look after the baby.

ABOVE:  all the treasure Blondie sent me from Taupo!  I'm a spoilt Tart eh?   *big smiles*  THANK YOU SO MUCH CHICK... you are a really lovely girl.  Oh and ya can't tell, but that blue bowl is to die for, I love it!

Righty ho...off to see what the day will bring...
ONWARD...

We are having a lovely day!  My MOTHER has been very chatty and nice again today..... no nasty put down comments... YET.
But then, I've hardly sat down all day!


We went to the mall and had lunch, did a wee bit of shopping... and now home waiting for the kids to come home from school.  Emily is being so good... and so smiley!  She is trying to talk to us too... it's so cute.  She melts me heart that wee one.

We have three new family members!  They are really small and almost cute... can ya guess what they are?

End of Day:  YES... it's goldfish.  Will show you tomorrow ....
DIET: good
nite nite.