QUILT EXHIBITION

There is a Quilt Exhibition/market on today through to Sunday.
I'm going today, so I can browse to me heart's content and not bore the family silly.

I don't expect to be buying anything... but ya never know.

It's over in Albany, so I shall be leaving fairly early this morning, so I can spend some time there.

The last time I went to this Exhibition, it was purely to track down the Husqvarna man and give him a piece of my mind re Lemony!  This time I am going to enjoy it.

What else for the day?  Not much.  I'm going to keep looking for a new home for Teddy.  I seriously doubt we could ever do the Vet thing!
Steve is pretty upset about it all... blames himself for us wanting to re-home Teddy, as it's his child that caused us to do this.  If it wasn't Dante though, it could/would have been another child.  So I hope he gets over it fast.

Right, I'm off to get ready to hit the road...
Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

WHERE to start?
I had an email first thing this morning from a fellow blogger and quilter (Marlene), and she suggested we meet for a coffee at the show, as she was going too.  So, I was looking forward to that.  I had never met her in person before.

I arrived at the show at around 10.20 am, made good time on the motorway.
Marlene arrived around the same time apparently.

I had started to browse the stalls when I noticed a lady sitting down texting, she looked vaguely familiar, and I thought she MIGHT be Marlene.
Next thing she finished texting and stands up and heads towards the cafe.  I got a text immediately ... and thought... "Ahh haaa, I bet that IS Marlene", so I walk up behind her and tap her on the back.

It was Marlene!  I hadn't even read her text!  LOL
So, we go up to the cafe where Marlene had a coffee and I had me diet coke. 

Then we spent the next 2.5 hours wandering around looking at all the quilts and checking out what was for sale.

I got the few things I really wanted (thread, snips and yellow batik fabric for my Mariner's Star), and Marlene got a few things too.

 ABOVE:  My purchases, not very exciting, but I am happy.

I hadn't taken my good camera, as I thought there was no way we would be allowed to take photos!  
Seems we were allowed, so I had to make do with my phone camera!  Gutted.

 ABOVE:  very funny, and why I went today instead of dragging Stew and the kids to the show with me on the weekend.

 ABOVE:  Marlene taking a photo of a quilt she liked.  We have fairly different tastes in style/colour, but we agreed on some mutually.  *smiles*

ABOVE: I thought these were gorgeous, so very pretty.  I love brights of course!

 ABOVE:  One of the big winners in the show.  First prize of 'Open' section.  Done by a mother/daughter duo.  The Mum does the quilt tops and her daughter does the quilting.  And what AMAZING quilting!  She does it all 'free handed'... no computer used at all, she just dreams it up!!!  

The mother takes applique classes in Gordonton, just outside Hamilton and I'm going to look at attending some of her weekend classes next year.

ABOVE:  Some more of the quilts that caught my eye.  The large section is an up-close look at a part of the quilt on the top right.

ABOVE:  I couldn't resist taking this one!  It won a Merit in the Challenge it was entered in.  There were lots of different interpretations of 'The Space Between' ... and the only 'space between' I could see in this quilt was between her thighs!!!
I said that to Marlene and she was gobsmacked I think.  hee hee.

So, that's it for now!  I've had an excellent day, it's so much nicer going around a show with company I must say.

THANK YOU MARLENE for your lovely company today, I really appreciated it.

ABOVE: ME in PINK!  Marlene was 100% sure I would be dressed in blue, so was very surprised to see me in PINK!  ha ha!  I really like this new shirt too, I think I look nice in pink.  And YES, that is a small smile!

End of Day: Yep, a lovely day, one that made me smile more than I have for the past few days I must say.  Hopefully the weekend is nice too.
nite nite

**FIREWORKS**

So, because we do everything first in the world... last night it was Guy Fawkes night.
And I found the right setting on me camera to get some good photos, so you poor buggers get to see them!

Without further ado...

 ABOVE:  Bex and Dante watched from inside the house, better safe than sorry.

The following 5 photos I took were of fireworks in the sky quite a long way away from our house, but they came up brilliantly!...

ABOVE: I was amazed at how well they showed up, the blurring of the flares ... awesome!

ABOVE:  a few of our simpler fireworks... still lovely.

 ABOVE:  fun with sparklers.  
And my favourite photo of the night:

ABOVE:  a HEART made with Steve working two sparklers together.  I don't think he was even trying to do that.  

So... I'm rapt my camera took such neat photos.

Today?  Off to Spotlight, supermarket, post office etc with Bex.  I've got a few things to get and so does she.

Then home to finally do the stitching lines on my Mariner's Star freezer paper pattern.  I really should have done it already, but I got carried away with housework all week!

ONWARD...

So, I changed my mind and didn't go out afterall.   Bex did though.
It's COLD today, I'm sitting at my computer wrapped in a blanket, with socks and slippers on!
The sun is shining so maybe I'm just being a sookie la la?

I asked Griffin to hang some washing out for me yesterday afternoon:

ABOVE:  Now, either Griffin has completely forgotten the lessons I've given him on how to peg out the washing, or he's one lazy little bugger!   I'm leaning towards the latter.

ABOVE:  My sleeping baby, who hasn't pooped on the floor today...  YET.  *sigh*

Been reading blogs.  Man it doesn't' take so long now that I've culled so many off my reading list I must say.  

Now... time to do a couple of jobs in the house, cos housework never ends.  Yep... we all know this. 

TEDDY:  anyone want a dog that does not like babies/toddlers?  He's just bitten Dante on the hand, broke the skin even.   I have always said if Teddy bit a kid he had to go.
So.  Who wants him?
If he's not re-homed I will be taking him to the vet for a one way trip.  I WILL NOT keep a dog that bites any kid.  FULL STOP. END OF STORY.

BELLA: Teddy was lying on the couch, Dante stood in front of him with his hand on the couch NEAR Teddy and Teddy just up and bit him!  So, Dante did not provoke or hurt the dog at all.  

So... it looks like Teddy is leaving us.  One way or another.

Update on Teddy:  looked like we had a new home for him, but it's fallen through I think.  Teddy doesn't like cats either, so a home without small kids or cats is what we need!

End of Day:  Well, it could have gone better I must say.  Just feeling sad and flat now, and not just about Teddy.
nite nite

BABYSITTING

This morning I am babysitting Dante while Bex goes for her next midwife appointment.
Hopefully Dante doesn't crack a wobbly and cry himself silly while she's gone.

He's going through a very clingy stage right now.  I might have to get my thinking cap on with ways to distract him.  I'm sure it won't be hard for this 'seasoned' Grandma to entertain him.  *smiles*

ABOVE: kids and dogs playing yesterday.  I've had to 'fence' off the lounge.  Tallulah just WILL NOT stop pooping in there!

ABOVE:  His most favourite toy right now. This Nerf gun.  He's only got one bullet, so we are constantly finding it and re-loading it for him.  It is a suction bullet, so he fires it onto the ceilings, walls, tv's and us.  

So, once Bex is back from her appointment, I will be doing the washing.  There is a veritable mountain of it to be folded and put away.  That's one job I loathe.

ONWARD...

Well... an excellent morning so far.
Bex snuck out without Dante noticing.
When he finally did notice she wasn't here, I told him she had gone out in the car and would be back later, and he said "Oh, OK" and was perfectly happy playing... and following me around the house while I did some jobs.

I tried to fold the washing...

ABOVE:  I was doing really well too... until he decided he wanted to play in the sheets.  *sigh*
I've still not done them.  

Bex is now home, and Dante is off to bed.
She just booked her 20 week scan... early December!  OOOOhhh, we will get to see what baby is then all going well.  Excited.

I'm now going out to drop off a Cancel Insurance form to the Storage facility.  We don't need to pay separate insurance there cos we are covered with our Home Contents cover.  Excellent.

Form in.  Lunch done.  Mini nap done.
Next job done ... by Bex.

ABOVE:  The outdoor furniture squab box is now the toy box!  Much tidier in the family room now.  

Very quiet out there today?  What's the haps?  No one reading today?  Too boring?  *sigh*... life here is quiet for a change and I'm thankful.
All is going well.  The kid has settled down after our talk, and there is no looming drama.  Thank god.

I'm hoping Lacy and Keera will be visiting us in the next few weeks, I miss Miss Muppet heaps!

I forgot to mention, it's Guy Fawkes night!  Steve got a few for us to see, I'm only going to show one photo tonight:

ABOVE:  I found the 'correct' setting on my camera for fireworks!  I'm thrilled to bits with how some of my photos have come out!

End of Day:  a slow day, didn't get much done, but everything that was on my list on Monday morning is done, so that's good.
Tomorrow I can leave housework for a while.
Yaaa.
nite nite

CAN YOU GET EXCITED ABOUT FLUFFING AROUND?

'Fluffing around' in New Zealand means pottering around, going from place to place, job to job in the home etc.

NOT what it might mean anywhere else.  I used that term years ago on my blog and someone told me it had a TOTALLY different meaning in some other countries!  I was ... to say the least, surprised anyone would think I was actually 'fluffing around' in MY HOUSE!  lol

So, anyway, that's what I'm doing today.  I want to get on top of one more area in the house that's needing some sorting.  Then I might just have a good look at those Knitting magazines I got from the Hospice Shop yesterday.

Bex has already found a cute pattern for Owls in one of them... a crochet pattern, so she can make one:

ABOVE:  knowing Bex, she will whip one of these in an hour!  She's getting really fast with her creations now.  

OK, I'm outta here, got stuff to do... so I can relax later on in the day.  

ONWARD...

Fluffing... is going well.

I've been down to the supermarket and picked up 3 good sized pieces of Pork Belly for dinner, and castor sugar.

I have two Lemon Syrup loaves in the oven:

ABOVE:  Just started cooking.  There could be a 'problem' with them... cos I didn't read the recipe and I ummm.... didn't melt the butter before adding it to the eggs and sugar.  OOPS... lets see how they come out before we bin them or not!

ABOVE:  Dante yesterday in his 'big bed' for the first time EVER.  And he loved it.  And he woke up and walked out to the lounge all on his own, happy as a sandboy, very pleased with himself he was.  His Mummy on the other hand was kinda teary eyed, her 'baby' is growing up.

And now, he's in there again, sound asleep like an angel.

And she's happy cos she's got another little itty bitty baby on the way to cluck over.  Derrr.  (and she's standing over me bloody shoulder dictating this!)

Yaa!   I didn't ruin the loaves!  They came out PERFECT.  Bex and I taste tested them.  

Pork Belly is in the oven... time to do a few more jobs.

Dinner was really lovely, you simply can't beat pork belly and veges, apple sauce and brown onion gravy.  Yum Yum.

After dinner I got a couple more household jobs done, so there is less to do tomorrow.

End of Day:  I'm absolutely knackered!  I don't know why I get these fits of 'must clean/tidy' from.  They do my back in!
nite nite

HOW ABOUT A RELAXING MORNING

Yep, that sounds like a brilliant idea to me.
My car is loaded up with quite a lot of stuff for the Hospice Shop, and I plan on buying back NONE OF IT!

There is also a fair bit to go over to storage, but that can wait for another day.

First up for the day will be finishing all the washing, I've got about 2 loads of linen/quilts left to wash and hang out.
I also need to tidy up the linen cupboard so it will all fit in now!

That's about all I want to do before heading off to the Hospice Shop after lunch.

ABOVE: My big clean up and move around spurred Steve and Bex to do the same.  Which was good as soon Dante will be moving from their room into what used to be Brylee's room...

ABOVE:  this is going to be Dante's bedroom... AND also my 'dressing room', where all my clothes are kept.

ABOVE:  Brylee finally gets a bigger bed!  And a bigger room too.  I think she likes it!

Griffin is back in the bedroom he had originally, now I don't have to walk past his room every time I go to the bathroom or laundry!  He simply cannot keep his room tidy for longer than a day!
It's a boy thing I reckon.

Right, I shall get a move on, hang out the next load of washing and do the few jobs on me list before sitting down and doing NOTHING for a while.

ONWARD...  

So, at 6.30 am I decided it was about to rain on all my fresh washing, so I raced outside and hauled it all in... and now it's all rotating through the drier to air off.
Overnight it had blown a gale and most of me washing was 80% dry!  Cool.

Now I only have about 3 loads of linen and general washing to do, and that can all be put on racks under the 'morning patio' roof.  

We have a grown up dog who doesn't like 'going' outside when it's wet.  99% sure it's Teddy, just wish I could catch him in the act... cos I would rub his bloody nose in it!  Grrrr.

Miss Tallulah can't get outside through the dog door yet, so I have to forgive her when she has an accident. 

So much for a relaxing morning.  I spent a good deal of time cutting out wood panels to make door guards.

Wet dogs on beds is a no-no, and now they can't get in any bedroom at all.  And I can confine them to the laundry too, without having to close the door.

ABOVE: Gotta love me jigsaw!  Such a handy power tool.  

NOW I'm going to relax... maybe.

Of course I didn't relax!  I carried on fluffing around the house, doing odd jobs, tidying up, rotating linen through the dryer... then I went to Hospice.

We had a good afternoon too... and I scored some lovely things:

ABOVE:  I couldn't resist this Lemon Melamine tray!  I'ts now got lemons on it.

 ABOVE:  A huge pile of Knitting magazines, with some crochet patterns too.  I am going to enjoy looking through them for some things to knit!

ABOVE:  A funky fish to add to my fishy/nautical collection on the lounge wall.  

Bex has chicken and roast veges in the oven, my mouth is watering just smell it.
Stew bought home Shrimps too... cos I have a hankering for shrimps!  And I ain't even the pregnant one!
Poor Bex can't have any either.  Bummer... more for me!

End of Day:  well dinner was lovely, even better when ya don't have to cook it yourself.
A quiet evening was had by all, except we did let off a few fireworks... Dante thought that was pretty neat.
I needed a quiet evening I must say, it's been a busy few days.
Spring cleaning... almost over I hope.
nite nite

BETTER BE HAVING A SLEEP IN

Here's hoping I'm still in bed.
Cos I got up early to feed the dogs yesterday, it's Stew's turn today.

Hence, this is a 'forward' post.

I don't think Stew got that vine planted yesterday, so he will have to do that today.

And I really want to get the freezer paper stitched so I can make a real start on my Mariner's Star.

It's quite exciting really, a bit of a challenge... a totally new technique.  And I'm excited to see how the colours are going to look together.

I'm thinking they will be quite bright and vibrant.

How about a 'FLASH BACK'?  I've not done one before, so here goes:

ABOVE:  Taken in our Palmerston North home, just after we got Teddy (2008).  Yes, that puppy is Teddy!  He's lost most of his colour, as you can see.  The kids were 6 and 7 years old!

So... that's all I have for now.  Bit boring really.

ONWARD...

WOW.  I just emerged from my 'bedroom', after lying in bed watching TV and having Stew bring me down some morning tea!  It's ummm.... 11.17 am!  Hee hee.  That was one huge lie in I must say.

I've been dreaming up some massive moves around the house, bedroom wise.  I'm sure Stew is THIRLLED to bits to hear that.  Poor bugger, I'm constantly making him move the furniture around.  

Well, it's been a bit mad around here this afternoon.  We have moved three bedrooms and their contents, made piles of stuff to go into storage, donate to Hospice or put in the rubbish.

Brylee is a hoarder.
Griffin is a pig.

That is all there is to it!

Photos tomorrow.

For now, there's still heaps to sort through, tidy up and wash.

I have to wash all the linens off three beds, the continental quilts and various other things.  I doubt there will be any room left on the outside line once it's finished.
Fingers crossed it doesn't rain!  Knowing my luck, it will.

We were all so knackered after this afternoon's efforts, we got Pizzas for dinner.
Then just blobbed out for a while and watched the telly.
Started watching Happy Valley, a new mini series, it's shaping up to be very interesting.

I got 3 big linen washing loads done and hung out this evening too, with a 4th on right now.  
If I stay up for another hour I will get it out and get another load on, ready for hanging out first thing in the morning.

End of day:  after a really slow start, it turned into a good day.  I say good, but most in the house would  probably not agree with me!
nite nite

OUR TALLULAH IS 12 WEEKS OLD ALREADY!

Our little fluffy ball of fun is 12 weeks old, and she has grown so much in the 4 weeks we have had her!

ABOVE:  Isn't she adorable?  I've already given her 2 mini grooms, and she's done very well at holding still and being tolerant of the shaver!

ABOVE:  She's got plenty of character, but not too willful like some of our own little puppies!

ABOVE:  The bigger dogs can get on a couch to get away from her, but somehow I don't think that is going to last much longer!  She's growing so fast!  

Stew has to get some more compost ... he's planted one of the passion fruit vines, but ran out of compost for the 2nd one.
Apart from that, I'm not sure if he's got any plans for the weekend.
I can always sew or potter around the house...
So who knows what we will get up to today?

ONWARD...

Morning plans made.  We are getting more compost, then taking Dante's highchair over to storage.
Lunch will be in Howick... we've not been to Howick since Lacy left.  She had a lovely 3 bedroom house there, such a shame she left it.  
If the weather stays nice, we shall have a look around the local beach there too.

After that, Stew will plant the 2nd passion fruit vine and I will sew those lines on the freezer paper so I can try foundation piecing this afternoon.

ABOVE: The Howick Market this morning.  Quite busy.   We got:

ABOVE: Some lovely different fudges and a Lemon Syrup Loaf, which is amazing.  Very 'lemony' which we all love.  I'm going to have a go at making one myself, probably tomorrow.

ABOVE:  Stew and Griffin had a nice beef burger at a cafe' for lunch.  I had a sandwich and very small seafood roll  Brylee hadn't long ago had breakfast so she only had a muffin.

ABOVE: Mellon's Bay, which is just down the hill from the Howick shops.  So pretty there.

ABOVE:  I was surprised at how clear the water was!  Apparently it is perfectly safe for swimming.  There are a few places around Auckland that are not, particularly over summer when there are algae blooms.

We are very lucky to have so many really lovely beaches so close to home.

So, it's now mid afternoon and I'm feeling inclined to do bugger all .... maybe later I will get to the sewing?  No hurry anyway eh?
I've got no deadlines.  Gotta love that.

DEE:  There's heaps of tutorials on how to do it on You Tube!  I ♥ You Tube !

End of Day:  a neat day, if you can stand kids!  Mine are a pain in the butt sometimes... like now.  Grrrrr.  Griffin is worse than a girl with his moodiness sometimes!
nite nite