CRABBY

So.  Today I am just feeling ...blah.

I'm tired.  Frustrated. Sick to death with Stew's job situation.  6 months of uncertainty, and still it drags on.  It feels like there is a guillotine hanging over us... about to drop.

Then there's crap with certain kid(s).  So over all the drama and drama queens.  I wish our lives could just FLOW easily.... be enjoyable instead of fraught with boulders.

We don't have any scissors like Chuck.

I have every intention of staying in bed for as long as I can stand it today.  Then I might get up and sew.
Maybe. 

ONWARD...

Just in.... gorgeous photos of Miss Polly, the mad dog from our last litter:

ABOVE:  Robyn assures me Polly is STILL a right nutter of a dog.  That means she fits in with her humans just fine.  lol

My house is silent.  Everyone is out except me and the dogs.
So I'm just sitting here contemplating my next move.  I've got a huge pile of washing to fold and put away, so that's me next job I suppose.

Interesting.  I'm in a crabby mood, and no one wants to talk to me on here.

Sigh.  At least I'm not like... happy happy joy joy and lying through me teeth.

Teddy is going to get a pre-groom brush over from Lacy tonight.  I'm taking both dogs over and they will be having a sleep over with Lacy.  That way there is no rush for her to get him all tidy tonight. 
And I'm sure she will enjoy having the dogs for company... lol... well maybe.

Dante came home from Playcenter covered in green dye, so he's in the bath early.
Can't have green dye all over things in the house that's for sure.

I'm thinking about making a felt something or other... just as a break from sewing.
So... what have YOU been doing today?  It has got to be more bloody interesting compared to me and my day.  I'm over myself right now.

I took both dogs over to Lacy's this evening.  She put up the baby's playpen and put the dogs in it.  With heaps of blankets and cushions!
I came home and not long afterwards, Lacy rang.  

Get this.  She wanted to know if she needed to keep a light on for the dogs overnight, and did they need any music playing too?

WTF?  THEY ARE DOGS!  Bex text'd her and told her she needed to give them a bottle and rock them to sleep, and Steve suggested gentle whale music!  *lol*

End of Day:  well it started off crabby, and it looks like it's going to end crabby too.  Nothin's changed.  In a right funk.
Steve is cooking Chocolate Caramel Slice.  It's my current 'favourite' sweet.  
nite nite

KNOTS...

Today Lacy is going to be visiting me... after lunch I hope.

I have asked her to come over and comb out all the knots on Coco.
Because we have had some wet weather lately, Coco's developed knots all over her.  I simply cannot get them out myself because the bending over her is mega painful on my back.

AND Lacy is much more assertive with Coco, whereas with me Coco fights non stop.

I feel really bad because she really is a mess.  I've not taken good care of her in the past two weeks.  The dogs have been confined due to Coco being in 'season' and I kinda forgot to do their weekly mini groom. 

Teddy is fine, he does not knot up like Coco, all I ever have to do with him is his ears and tail.
Coco?  Gets knots really, really bad.  Her coat is totally different to Teddy's.

I've booked Coco in for a professional groom on Friday, so she should be all good after that.

Teddy can get his groom next week.  

Now for a change of topic.  DINNER last night.
Bex cooked Spaghetti Bolognese.  
When she put my dinner in front of me... well all I can say is it's not very often that I'm rendered speechless!

ABOVE:  Blue/green spaghetti!  Apparently she added food colouring to it.  I was struck dumb when I first saw it, I must admit.  Then I ate it and it was perfectly fine of course.  Just a weird colour.
Bex had thought to make it red, but I really think if you are going to colour spaghetti, that colour works better!  It's quite pretty eh?

ABOVE:  Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth ... and pigs can fly.  She's in HOT WATER... and finally about to be brought down a notch or two.  Wish I was there to see it.

Now, today?  After yesterday's marathon effort in the housework department, I think I'm going to .... SEW.  Yep, I am indeed.

ONWARD...

Yikes, haven't been back in to say how me day is going.
Well... Bex and I went to Spotlight and got a few supplies, then we came home, had lunch and I ummm... took an unexpected cat nap on the couch!

Lacy and Keera should be here soon, then Coco will be getting a mini groom from Lacy.
Fingers crossed Lacy can get the knots out!

I'm really tired today!   

Bex and I are wondering how Brylee is going? Today she reaps the 'benefits' of being a nasty little madam.

I have not put details on here as it's a public blog and well... some people who read this don't need to know.  'Nuf said.

ABOVE:  It has begun.  Fingers crossed she can sort Coco out.  And would you look at that darn dog!  Lying there quietly, not fighting or growling.  Little tart.

Lacy did an excellent job of de-knotting Coco. It took hours!
I was going to take Coco to be groomed at Animates on Friday, but she is STILL in season!  Day 16 and she's still got it.  So, Teddy will get groomed on Friday, and Coco can get done next week.  She should be well and truly finished by then!

End of Day: another day where I actually DID NOT get any sewing done.  Oh well... maybe tomorrow.
nite nite

A FINISHED PROJECT, AND WHAT ELSE?

Well, our weekend was lovely ... I got lots of photos of both grandkids, one's of Miss Keera are on my 'Friends' Facebook page and PEPSI.

ABOVE:  Master Dante at his cutest.  He's in love with that cushion, seems to think it's HIS and his alone.

 ABOVE:  Here he is taking back HIS cushion from Keera.  

 ABOVE:  He's fairly possessive of his Mum too... even when it's his Dad swiping a kiss!

ABOVE:  He still has a fascination for my lens cap!  

 ABOVE:  I have a fairly large collection of baskets, these are a few of them.

So.  I still can't resist buying another one...

ABOVE:  I got this one from the Hospice shop LAST week!
I wonder if I shall find any treasure today?  I do my regular shift this afternoon.

But for now... I think there's bound to be some housework with my name on it.

ONWARD...

Monday.  Housework.  And I'm home alone and I look around.  Entire house needs vacuming. Floors need washing. Dusting. Polishing. Bathroom. Cobwebs. Windowsills. Finger/hand marks on the walls. 

And sometimes I just think... am I the unpaid Housekeeper or what?

Right, bitching over, I suppose I better make a start.

*** Oh and I won't be going to Hospice today either.  I completely forgot Brylee has an Orthodontic Appointment today and she is bringing a friend home after school.

I've been cleaning for over two hours, and I still can't see any difference!  I've been cleaning pictures on the walls, just in the stairwell/lounge and Family Room, and I've just managed to get the kitchen/family room floor washed.
Two HUGE loads of washing are out.

And the house looks like it's been tipped upside down right now!   When I decide to clean thoroughly, it always becomes a massive mess before it looks good again.

I so wish I could afford a housekeeper!  My back IS KILLING ME.

Well... I'm DONE.  4 hours of solid cleaning and I've sat down and that's it.  Me back needs a rest.  I might do more this afternoon... after lunch and Home and Away.  *smiles*

Griffin and Dante are playing outside with rubber, bouncy balls.  Dante cried cos he hit his face on the gate, so Bex goes out to investigate.

She asked Griffin what he was doing, and Griffin said... "I'm playing with Dante's balls". 
Now, that did NOT sound right!

(Griffin was over the fence retrieving two of Dante's bouncy balls of course!)

Bex had to laugh and say "Please stop playing with Dante's balls!"

Anyone listening would be forgiven for wondering just what the hell sort of family we were.

Playing with Baby's balls indeed.  *lol*

Brylee visited the Orthodontist this afternoon.  She's ready for braces.
Now we have to wait and see if we can commit to her getting them.  Stew's job is still up in the air.
So for now... no braces.

PEPSI UPDATED.

End of Day:  Well, it's been a very rewarding day ... I love getting my house all ship shape and tidy.  I've been rather slap dash over housework lately, but I'm feeling great after my efforts today.

The tail end of the day?  Not that fantastic, totally gobsmacked with Brylee right now.  Not massively upset really, just dumbfounded that she can be so.... UP HERSELF, and has not learnt any lessons from her past.
nite nite

DAYLIGHT SAVING... AND A GATE TODAY???

Daylight saving ended last night, so while it would have felt nice to get a sleep in, having Miss Muppet here means.... no sleep in for me.
But, tomorrow... now that's another matter!
I might just stay in bed till the kids have gone to school.

I am totally loving the fact that they can now make their own lunches, get themselves ready and get off to school... without me having to be up!  I don't know why I didn't do that with my first 'lot' of kids!

Oh well.  Hindsight's a wonderful thing.

Now, as for today.  I'm hoping that the guys will sort out my gate.  I'm not going to push them... cos I think they know just how much I want it done.
Like YESTERDAY... or LAST WEEK... or LAST MONTH.  Ya get the drift eh?

I think I have become a very patient person in the last few years.  Well... somewhat patient.
If it goes beyond a joke I tend to spit the dummy.
But that doesn't happen too often now.

Last night, once Keera was asleep, I finally did a little sewing.
I got all the stitching done on the TV Cabinet cloth.

 ABOVE:  Now I just have to add the binding around the edges.  That shouldn't take too long.

Steve had a happy moment yesterday.  He got to buy his first item of 'tools' of the trade.  He got himself a drill set.  

ABOVE:  Checking out the new drill set.  Maybe he will get to 'christen' it today on my gate?
Wouldn't that be nice.

*smiles*

Right, I better get off and see what's the haps around here.  Feed Keera, bla bla bla.

ONWARD...

BECKYANNE:  "Spit the dummy" means lose one's temper.  
I am sure there are heaps more ways of saying that, like:

Pack a wobbly, crack a shit, go nuts/mental, get crabby, get hot and bothered and so on.

What do YOU say when you get all annoyed? 

I DID get a sleep in today!   Stew got up to Keera.  Though, it's now 9.30 am and he just remembered she needs breakfast!  lol

The guys have gone to Bunnings.  I'm getting excited.  Maybe a gate will be built today.  *squeals*

Stuff going on around here...

 ABOVE:  dumm dee dooo.... 

ABOVE: last night in the spa with Keera.  *sigh*  Why, when ya look in the mirror you never actually SEE how big you really are?   
So, I got crabby this morning and ate cake.  For breakfast.
I've got none left now, and I hope I can resist buying any more.
(that round patch is me blood pressure patch.  It looks like I've got a nicotine patch on eh? )

ABOVE: We have a gate, and at some point I will add, and take the side posts up to the ceiling and make an arch above the stairs as well.
I've now got me thinking cap on, trying to come up with a 'nautical' themed arch!

End of Day:  a lovely day again. Miss Muppet was a delight to have... and Dante didn't get too overly possessive of his family... but he sure did over his favourite lounge cushion!
lol.
nite nite

OUCH...AND WOW, THAT IS AN IDEA!

WHOOPS!!!  I slept in... and so did Miss Muppet, which was lovely.

So... after blogging for hours yesterday, I went downstairs with the plan to sew till dinner time.

That didn't happen.

Cos, I looked at my sewing chair and decided to try and get all the threads and stuff off the castors... my wheels were hardly spinning anymore due to the build up of crap on them.

So... I hauled the chair up onto my bed, plonked myself down and started snipping.  Within about 2 minutes I let out a screech cos I managed to 'snip' me own bloody finger!

A couple of plasters later, I continued on my mission.

As the pile grew, I started thinking....

ABOVE:  as you can see, my wheels were badly glogged up. 

Once I had all the thread and whatnot out of me wheels, I decided to wash it, dry it and use it for 'interest' in my next felt project!
I reckon it's going to look fantastic!

That stuff was filthy I might add.  It took several bowls full of soapy water to get it all clean.

I know I shouldn't even be thinking of adding another project to me list, when I have quite a bit on the go and to actually FINISH, but I can't help myself.

We have Miss Muppet this weekend.  So I'm thinking we will have some early wake ups, as Daylight Saving ends tonight.  Yaaaa.
An extra hour in bed, unless you have a toddler.  Bex and I are going to be getting UP an hour earlier with Dante and Keera.

Oh well, it shouldn't take them long to adjust... hopefully.

Today we are planning on going to a junk yard up the road to look around for something that might make a good gate for the top of our stairs.  Steve suggested it.  Fingers crossed we find something.  
If not we will stop in at Steve's old workplace and look around there too... maybe an old bed headboard will suit?  
Could be fun just looking!

ONWARD...

We are still looking.  We have found something that will look great at the top of the stairs.  We are off to have lunch at Sylvia Park. .. then home to get the washing out. I will show Steve our gate idea tomorrow. 

Well we got home and I saw a pool gate for sale on Trade Me that would be perfect too.  So I'm watching the auction and if it doesn't go to high I will put a bid in.

BUGGER.  I didn't win the auction.  It went way over what I wanted to pay.  My only consolation was I made the other bidder pay WAY MORE than they expected probably.  Still a bit like, damn... I really wanted it too.

Right, back to the drawing board.

Keera and I just had a really lovely spa together.  I'm sure she is now all warm and ready of her bed.  

End of Day:  another lovely day.  It's been a bit frustrating trying to come up with a gate for the stairs that I like.
But, it will get sorted out I'm sure.
nite nite

THIS KID IS TROUBLE!

Dante has started to climb.
Now while that can be really cute... it can also be quite dangerous.

We all know that a toddler has no concept of danger, heights etc eh.

That is why so many toddlers have accidents of course.

Dante's new 'feat'?

Climbing ONTO the kitchen bench!



ABOVE: He climbed up the back of the couch, onto the kitchen bench.
You just HAVE to watch the video, it's hilarious.  He was in fine form talking to all of us.

Clearly we shall have to keep an eagle eye on the little bugger!

Bex, Dante and Brylee are going to Playcentre this morning, so I shall have the house to myself. 
I'm going to sew.  Of course!

ONWARD...

Well ... Bex feels like shit, so they are not going to Playcentre after all.
And I have decided to devote today to blog reading... well I will read/comment till I've had enough!

We had some heavy rain last night which was lovely, even thunder and lightening.  Today?  Back to clear skies and sunshine.  Lovely.

I need a break!  I've been reading and commenting on blogs for....5 hours!   I stopped for half an hour for lunch and did some vacuming too.

NOW.  I'm done.  I think I will get up, stretch me legs then do a little sewing before I have to stop and make dinner.

PLEASE... if I did NOT visit your blog let me know.  I have tried to catch up with every blog I follow on FEEDLY... but I know there are some that didn't get updated onto my Feedly list... in fact are NOT on Feedly at all, or are private blogs.
So, let me know please, because I would hate to think I'm upsetting anyone by not visiting their blog.  (blogs I usually follow, not just any random new one!)

Best laid plans and all that... I went downstairs to sew, and ended up doing something totally random.
And it turned out to produce something quite unexpected!
I will show you tomorrow.

End of Day:  well it's been a quiet evening.  I've spent about 2 hours going through all the blogs I have on me list, and deleting all inactive or deleted blogs.  It is sad when I realise how many bloggers have stopped blogging.
Many of them went over to Facebook and never looked back!   I 'do' Facebook so I can still keep up to date with my favourite bloggers/now Facebookers.
Right, bedtime.  I've spent way too much time in front of this computer.
nite nite

THE SAGA OF THE SKIRT

On my way home from the grocery shop yesterday afternoon, I 'happened' to be travelling along the same road Brylee was, on her way home from school.

And guess what?

The silly little girl had her skirt rolled up ... AGAIN!

So, I pulled over beside her and told her to pull her top up... which she did.  Eureka!  Rolled up skirt.  So I told her to get in the car, and we continued on our way home.

As a consequence, she had to go to bed after dinner again.  But that was AFTER I had told her what I would do if she did it again :

I told her if she really, really wanted to show off her legs by rolling up her skirt, I would help her.

I told her I could take her skirt OFF her, and her PE shorts too... then everyone would be able to see her legs.... oh, and her knickers.

The look on her face was PRICELES, as she flounced out of the room!  Bex was struggling to stop laughing her head off!  

So... wonder if she will be silly enough to do it again?

Now, here's the coffee table mat I made last night:

ABOVE:  I won't be doing that stitch around the edge of anything again, it was almost impossible to keep it straight.  

ABOVE:  It fits on the coffee table perfectly.  At least I got that right.  

Now... I got two new photos of little Paisley yesterday from her Mum, Denise.  They live on a farm, and Miss Paisley gets to run around like a mad thing.  Apparently she ♥ LOVES ♥ running in the water race, and this is how she looks after she's had enough:

ABOVE:  Just a 'little' dirty!  Denise won't let her back inside the house until she's dried off and had a brush to get the dirt off!
I sure in hell don't blame her.   What a little ratbag!   *smiles*

OK... time to get myself sorted out ... and go and finally pick up me medication.

ONWARD...

While driving along the road yesterday I did indeed have a chance to look at all the other girls walking home from school.
The majority of them had skirts the same length as Brylee... on the knee.
So I do not believe Brylee is getting teased for the length of her skirt.

I had, prior to yesterday, thought of shortening it for her, not too much, but a little.  But now?
Ain't gunna happen for  a while. 

It's now a 'principal' thing.  I said don't roll it up, and she did, so I can't turn around and shorten it for her right now can I?

Maybe in a week or so.

So, Brylee and I went out to the mall to pick up me meds, then we had a wander around.  On our way home we stopped and bought some lunch too.  
I had a mother-daughter discussion with her about the skirt thing.
And I told her that if she stopped rolling it up, I would consider shortening it in a week or so.  But she had to NOT roll it up in the meantime, as it was making me mad.

So... all good on THAT front now.  

Now we await the arrival of Stewy, he's going with Brylee to school for the Parent/Teacher interviews.  Brylee has today and tomorrow off school, because of the P/T Interviews.

Right now she is pushing Dante around and around in his little car.  He loves it.

Well... the P/T interview went OK.  No surprises.  All is going OK... a few little issues to work on, but on a whole she's doing as expected.

Once home I got stuck into making a cloth for the TV cabinet, in the 'nautical' theme still.

ABOVE:  That gorgeous stitch around the nautical fabric is probably my most favourite stitch ever.  It took an hour and a half to do it too!
I have quite a bit more to do before this cloth is finished, maybe by tomorrow it will be.

Right now, Stew, Brylee, Griffin and I are off to Carl's Junior for dinner.  Steve and Bex are staying home.  

End of Day:  well it's been a lovely day/evening.  We are thoroughly enjoying a new programme on TV called 'The Art of The Architect', which is where we get to see some amazing New Zealand homes being built from scratch to the finish.  
nite nite 

TODAY????

It is one of those rare days when I really don't have much to yabber on about!

I'm going down to the local mall this morning to pick up a repeat prescription of my blood pressure patches.

Did I mention I don't take pills?  I have a patch that sticks onto me arm/back ... and it gets changed every week.

So far it seems to be working fine.  I get a bit dizzy sometimes, but apparently that's 'normal'.

Steve is going to make a proper gate for the top of the stairs.  So I'm going to spend a little time today coming up with design ideas... probably be pathetic examples ... but maybe I will hit on something I like?

I think it will be made of wood, but I want something that is suitable for inside the house.  I don't want a thumping big wooded monstrosity that is more suited to outside!

Any ideas people?  Gimme a hand here!

I'm thinking of maybe some sort of design cut out with a jigsaw?  Or painted in some way?
Perhaps with a 'nautical' theme?

I had a quick look on Pinterest last night and saw these, which is giving me a few ideas:

The bottom one is probably never gunna happen, but it is nice... ideas, ideas....

ONWARD...

2 hours (so far) just tidying up cupboards and china....  and me back is already killing me.


Today I have moved ALL of the kitchen appliances/gadgets into a hallway cupboard, and put all the platters and serving dishes in the big free standing, marble topped unit in the Family Room.  Then I re-arranged my entire computer area again, this time adding the wooden cupboard that used to be at the top of the stairs into my computer area too.

This is so we can have a gate at the top of the stairs that is not hindered by the wooded unit.

ABOVE:  I only added about 1/2 a meter to my 'area', but it looks so much bigger now!
And it's way more tidy than before, now that I have all the cupboard room to put stuff in.
A morning's work, well spent.

Who knows when I will get down to my sewing again!

AND my medication will have to wait until tomorrow now.  Bex and I are going to the mall together then.

I just went down to the local supermarket in Manurewa to get a few fresh veges for dinner.  I'm going to try and make a vegetable/bacon quiche.
Maybe I should look on Pinterest for a recipe?

I didn't find any recipe I liked the look of, or had the ingredients for, so I just used my Salmon Quiche recipe, doctored a bit.

Oh and I  did the recipe X's 5... cos I don't see the point in just making one!

ABOVE:  Vegetable and bacon quiche, ready for the oven.  I hope they taste as good as they look.

*** if you want the salmon quiche recipe, type in Salmon Quiche in the top left hand search area of my 'home' page.***

As I said, I substituted veges and bacon instead of the salmon.

ABOVE:  Bex made me take a photo of all the dishes I used while making the dinner.  I didn't even notice till I had to clean them all!

Yaaa... I finally got to do a bit of sewing this evening.  I made a small quilted 'mat' for one of the coffee tables.
I will show you tomorrow.

End of Day: well it's been a very productive day, and I am happy to be heading to bed shortly.
nite nite

WE HAVE A BOY!

 ABOVE:  after his first 'proper full haircut'... we no longer have a baby, we have a little boy!  We are all thinking he looks so different with his hair cut.
What do you think?

ABOVE:  playing outside with Teddy and Coco.

ABOVE: Isn't Teddy looking so GOOD now!  All fluffy, no sore spots, and happy with no cone on.
Coco is looking a bit scruffy because her coat is different to Teddy's, it's more shaggy as opposed to wooly.  They both need to go to the groomers soon. Maybe next week.

Today?  No firm plans, but I'm thinking of spending the morning with Lacy and Keera.  Perhaps we can meet up at a mall for a wander and lunch.

ONWARD...

OH HOW I LOVE BEING A MOTHER!!!

Today I decided to follow Brylee to school.  
WHY? 

Because once out of the house, she's been rolling her uniform skirt UP.  Now while this is probably what they all do... Brylee is still such a 'little girl' maturity wise,  I consider it inappropriate to be flashing her bean stalk legs.  And I told her she was NOT to do it.

So... I followed her down the road for quite a way, crawling along in me car.
She didn't notice me until she crossed the road about 1 km from home.

I cruised up to her, put me window down and said:

"Hey, you have rolled your skirt up haven't you?"

Her face was such a picture!  She said :  "Just a little bit."

My response to that?  "SNAPPED! ... You are going to bed straight after dinner now."

Then I drove down the road, turned around and on passing her again I yelled out the window:

"You are never going to know when I am following you... I might even follow you on your way home in the afternoon some day too."

OMG it was so funny, the look on her face!  

Moments like that make being a know-it-all Mother ... enjoyable.  lol 
I'm evil.  I know.  And I don't care.

BLOODY HELL!!!  I just spent a very long 30 minutes trying to access my hotmail account.  I couldn't even get a verification code from one of my other hotmail accounts, cos I was still logging in on my primary one.   What a pain in the arse ... I am really hot and bothered now.  Grrrrr.  

Heading off soon to meet up with Lacy and Keera.  

ABOVE:  this was how busy the mall was at 10.30 am today!  

ABOVE:  Lacy found something she would love to buy.  Not gunna happen Lacy!

We had a really lovely time wandering around the mall.  We both got Keera a few clothing items for winter, then we had lunch and came home.  

Well... I drove home, Lacy and Keera had to jump on a bus to get home.

I took 199 photos of Keera today!  I am going to sort a few out and put them on PEPSI soon.

Had a mad dash out just before, I forgot Griffin had a dental appointment!
So... I'm home now, dinner is in the oven, and I've put a lot of GORGEOUS PHOTOS OF KEERA on my PEPSI BLOG. 
If you are on the reading list, pop over and see how gorgeous she is.

End of Day:  another full day spent doing everything but sewing!  Or blog reading.  *sigh*
So much to do, so little time!
nite nite