GENERAL STUFF

Today is going to be a fairly average day.

I shall take Keera to Daycare, then come home and do some much needed housework.

I also want to sort out my stuff for tonight's pottery class.

I've managed to gather a few things pertaining to Pottery lately, so need to sort it all out and get it all in one place/container so it's tidy.

I don't ever plan on getting back into pottery on a scale I used to do, but I do think now that I've found my love for it again I will be doing more.  There are several places around where I can get my pots fired, so I don't need to spend big bucks to do it.

Now when we move to Hamilton I shall need to make sure I've got space for a mini studio!

Sheesh, our new house will need to be BIG!   We need rooms for bedrooms, a gym, a sewing room and now a MINI pottery studio !

It's going to be interesting trying to accommodate all that I think.

I talked to our Estate Agent yesterday and suggested, instead of doing NOTHING over Christmas and New Year in relation to selling, we have 'Viewings By Appointment', that way if someone wants to view our house they still can.

And we will be having two more Open Homes before Christmas, not one.  So, that's sorted.

I might check my Christmas lists today too, make sure I've got all the presents I need for all the grandkids.  13 now... it's getting expensive!

At least I have FINALLY decided not to give gifts to the BIG kids anymore.  It would be just too much I believe.  For those coming here for Christmas Day I'm going to suggest every adult brings one 'JOKE' present and we have a 'Lucky Dip' for the adults .... it will be fun I think.  

Next up in the family is Dante's 3rd Birthday on the 16th.  I don't know what Steve and Bex have planned, but I'm sure I will find out.

Right, I've blithered on enough, here's a couple of cute photos of Tallulah and her pups from last night:

 ABOVE: This is Tallulah 'ON ALERT' because Coco was in the room!

ABOVE:  Now she's more relaxed.  It's hard to believe all those puppies fitted inside her now!  They have all gained weight since birth, so that's a relief too.

Right, better get moving, stuff to do...

ONWARD...

Busy... busy!  I've organised the pottery stuff :

ABOVE:  Now it's in 3 boxes and a caddy.  I bet Stew's thinking it won't stay that 'small'!

While I was at the pottery shop yesterday I bought a pottery rolling pin, for rolling clay into slabs...

ABOVE: It's just a little bigger than a normal one!  And weighs a ton!  ha ha.   

I listed the puppies for sale on TRADEME about 5 minutes ago and I've ALREADY had a text from someone interested in one of the boys!!!  Bloody hell!

12.35 pm:  OMGosh!  I've got a lady who lives in our area coming around THIS AFTERNOON to look at the puppies, with a view to buying 1... OR even 2!  Talk about fast!

2.12 PM:  and.... I've just had a second lady come around and buy VIVA on the spot!  She's paid her deposit and will visit the puppy once a week until she can go home!  WOW.  AND she wants to call her puppy ... VIVA!  How cool is that?

I've still got the other lady calling in this afternoon too.  Sheesh, I hope she didn't want Viva!

2.45 PM:  Just sold Bentley to a 3rd person!
And there's a 4th person emailing me about buying MINI.  WOW

3.01 pm:  Just sold Jeep and Mini to the lady who was calling in this afternoon.  She's at a funeral right now, negotiating when she can call in to see them today!  MADNESS!

ABOVE:  4 sold in less than 5 hours!  Bloody hell!

Did I say 4? Make that 5!  Dodge just got sold too.  Now I only have Holden left. Phew, what a day.

I've got chicken in the oven, rice going on at 6 pm and then I'm off to my Pottery Class.   It's been a hectic day I must say.  But I actually prefer hectic days to lazy, do bugger all days.

End of Day:  well I got two more of my little pottery houses glazed in class tonight.  Fingers crossed they come out just as nice as the first one.  I used my glazes on the two tonight, so I do expect some variation from the 1st one.
nite nite

RUNNING LATE

Sorry!
I've not got time to do a proper post this morning.
I slept in.  Tallulah kept me up half the night.
She was running around the house at 3am hiding under beds.

I think she's trying to get away from the pups!
When they don't settle she gets so stressed out.

So do I.

So... I'll come back later on with a proper start up for the day.

ONWARD...

 ABOVE:  Bex has been busy!
And I am told Kelly is busy making me some too.  Yaaaa!  My tree will be gorgeous.

ABOVE:  Puppies yesterday.  I just love seeing them all in a pile, and they put themselves like that too.  It's a warmth and comfort thing.

I will be sleeping in my own bed tonight!
Tallulah will just have to work it out herself if a puppy gets behind her or away from her.

I can't keep up with sleepless nights.  It's been 5 nights already and I'm all done in.

After I take Keera to daycare I'm racing over to Botany to get a couple more glaze requirements for my pottery houses, then I'll be coming home to make up my glazes.

That should take up the morning.  Then I shall have a midday nap like a 'real' Grandma! lol  *smiles* 

ABOVE: The kitchen set up to make glazes. 

10.32 am:  And the morning is going like clockwork.  Thank goodness. I've made up two glazes so far, with 3-4 to go.

Tallulah and the pups were just fine while I was out, no mishaps.

I'm feeling great!  It really helps that Keera LOVES Daycare!  I can get on with 'normal' stuff while she's there.

1.42 pm: And I had to pop out again cos I forgot one ingredient for a glaze.  All good.  I now have 6 glazes made up ready for Thursday night, so I'm very happy.

Time for some lunch. 

And clearly I've not been back here all afternoon!
I picked up Miss Muppet from Daycare at 4 pm and found she'd had an awesome day.  She is just so happy there, its lovely to see.

After picking her up I popped into my Aunt and Uncles home, which is just a minutes drive from the Daycare centre.  We are going to dinner with them at the end of the week.

It's now post-dinner and everyone is winding down.  I'm hoping Tallulah goes well overnight with her puppies.  I simply can't keep sleeping on the couch!  It's not that comfortable after 4 nights!

End of Day:  a really good day, I'm happy with how much I got done.  
nite nite

DECOS AND DOGS

So... Bex is busy making me Christmas decorations....

 ABOVE: a friend on Facebook showed me these cute trees a while ago, and Bex is going to have a go at making me one (or two)...

 ABOVE: Bex found this candy cane ... only I think it needs to be smaller, which she can do I'm sure.

 ABOVE: Bex made these three last night!  I love them of course, blue, bling!

 ABOVE: Tallulah and her pups last night.  
I'm not 100% happy with Tallulah, I think she's not feeling well...so I'm going to try and get her into the Vet's today.  I think she still has some afterbirth inside and that could be causing her some problems.  I hope I'm wrong.

ABOVE:  two wide eyed kids... dying to get their hands on a puppy!  I let them stroke one for just a second.  They were in awe.  So cute.

ABOVE:  Little Archer... can sit up unaided now, crawls 'commando style' and is chewing on an apple.  7 months old and doing so well!  Oh and much to Bex's disgust, he can say 'Da Da Da'.  Hee hee, how typical.  They almost never say Mum first.

Right, I'm just waiting to ring the Vets once they open, then I will know my plans for the day after that.

ONWARD...

9.52 am:  And  the day is going well.
Keera is at Daycare and we have just gotten home from the Vet's.
Fiona checked Tallulah out and declared her OK, such a relief.
She doesn't have a temperature or anything nasty brewing by the look of it.

I'm such a worry wort!

It was very stressful on Tallulah going out, so we are now going to have a quiet morning together.

Coco is hiding behind my back on the couch, as every time Tallulah sees her she gets crabby at her.  Poor Coco!

3.31 pm:  yaaa... it's been an awesome morning and afternoon.  Tallulah and the puppies are very settled, and I've had a good rest too.
Feeling much better now.

I need to go out to pick up Keera and some Puppy food for Tallulah (she needs it while feeding pups) now.  

I forgot End Of Day!

INTRODUCING...

The puppies, IN BIRTH ORDER:

 They look adorable, but just wait until they get fluffy!  Oh my ... !

Today I have an appointment at WINZ to sort out things with Keera. 
Steve and Bex are coming over to watch the puppies for me while I'm out.

That's all I have for now... 

ONWARD...

***SORTED*** For all you friggin 'know it alls' we have now sorted out everything with WINZ.  SO now you can back off, pull ya head in and leave us alone.  Thank You so much.

I got home in time to have a quick cuddle with Archer before they went home.  Keera is now having her nap and I'm grabbing some lunch before catching 40 winks myself.

Sleep deprivation!!!  OMG it's the pits.

I wasn't going to stay up and keep watch on Tallulah tonight, but she's still squishing puppies, losing them and getting stressed out when one or more moves away from her, so I will be having another sleepless night tonight.  *sigh*

The things I do!

So... Coco got a wee bit too near the whelping pen... and Tallulah flew out and attacked her!  Like... there was a full blown dog fight in my lounge!
Horrible.  But, Coco didn't get hurt, and Tallulah laid down the law.  FIRMLY.   DON'T. COME. NEAR. MY. BABIES.  End of.  

WOW.

I just go this picture sent to me by Bex:

ABOVE:  it's a Snowflake tree decoration.  Bex knows that all our Christmas decorations are in storage in Hamilton, so she's making me some.  I love the snowflake.  Bling!

Is anyone else having trouble with Blogger today?  Just a heads up, if I keep having trouble viewing my own blog... or posting... and then I can't update at all... it's not my fault OK?
For some reason I keep getting an ERROR notification when I try to VIEW my blog.  So far I can still edit a post, thankfully ... how long that lasts I don't know.

ANNE R:  They are gunna be really PRETTY dogs!  I could easily hold one for you.  *smiles*

Well I think the blogger issue is over.  I can now read my blog again. Hopefully if anyone else was having problelms they can again too.

End of Day: It's been another busy day, and glad its over.  I'm so tired I can hardly think straight.  
nite nite

WELL??? IT'S DELIVERY DAY!!!

After a very restless night, at 6 am Tallulah is in active labour, starting to push.

How inconvenient!

But... puppies are coming TODAY!

Here's some photos I took of Tallulah last night:

ABOVE:  Can ya believe the size of that belly!  Poor girl, I know how it feels... even though I only had ONE at a time!  

Now... back to the delivery room....

ONWARD...

 AND...  'Jeep' (boy)arrived at 6.37 am, then 6.50 am  Mini  (girl)arrived...  8.15 am 'Dodge' (boy) arrived, ....

I must say she dragging it out!   It doesn't help that I'm already exhausted and feeling really SICK!  No sleep often makes me ill.

I'm doing a few jobs in between arrivals...

AND...  'Bentley' (boy) arrived at 9.53 am,  'Holden' (boy) arrived at 10.23 am..... and we await the lucky last...  is  'Viva' (girl) at 11.25 am.

And we are done.

After a bit  of a rocky start, where Tallulah refused to have ANYTHING to do with the first two puppies, she started showing an interest and doing the 'mother' thing with the last 4.

Now she's looking after ALL of them.  I'm so relieved.

Stew is doing a wonderful job of getting the house ready for the Open Home!  I'm exhausted from bending over the whelping pen/puppies and mother for over 6 hours.

But it's all going good.  I've got a 'bed' made up in the back of my car for the dogs/puppies and we only have to vacate the premises for 35-45 minutes.  It will be OK.

WE are awesome like that! lol  (someone has to say it!)

I will post photos AFTER the Open Home.

3.18 pm:  So, I'm sitting in me car with just Tallulah and the puppies... and Tallulah is STILL PUSHING?????

I'm thinking HELL, she's got a retained placenta, I'm gunna have to take her straight to the Emergency Vets.

Then, just as I'm ready to go home after the Open Home she pushes it out.  GROSS.  

But hugely relieved as she should be OK now.

Get inside and the Estate Agent tells us today was a 'NO SHOW'.

Fuck!!!.... after all that stress and work!

So now we are probably going to have one more Open Home then take a 3-4 week break for Christmas. 

We actually NEED a break.

The Lady In Red's husband is finally ready to put their house on the market, so we might still sell over summer to her ... IF they sell their home quickly.

I've just put Pork Belly in the oven, Stew's gone to pick up Keera, and Steve and Bex and boys are coming for dinner.  

It's all GO here I tell ya!

Photos soon I promise, I'm just a wee bit busy right now.

PUPPIES:

ABOVE:  There ya go!  6 little puppies.
4 boys, 2 girls.

End of Day:  well a VERY BUSY day today.  Hopefully I get some sleep tonight... and Tallulah and the puppies get through the night without mishap.
I'm going to sleep in the lounge keeping an eye on them ... 
nite nite

WILL IT HAPPEN TODAY?

Getting impatient now.  *sigh*
So want those puppies born today!
Tomorrow would be a right bugger, so COME ON TALLULAH!
Spit 'em out.

In the meantime, here's some adorable photos of Miss Muppet I took yesterday afternoon:

ABOVE:  our adorable Keera.  BEFORE I thought to comb her hair!

 ABOVE:  And after I did her hair.  I think she's gorgeous either way, tousled or tidy.
She LOVED posing by the way... little madam.

Well not a lot going on today.  I will get as much housework done as possible today so I have less to do tomorrow.
And of course, keep a close eye on Tallulah.

ONWARD...

11. 30 am: Tallulah is being a dirty rotten stopout!  She's not showing ANY sign of having her pups.  Grrrr.
I bet you she's gunna wait until tomorrow afternoon, 2 pm to be exact.  RIGHT on Open Home time.

Bloody dog.

And of course, I can't go anywhere today at all... JUST. IN. CASE. *sigh*
I think Stew and the kids will go out at some point, so they get an outing over the weekend at least.

I just yelled at Griffin for doing a lousy job of putting some linen away, and Keera listened then said:

"You got TOLD Griffin!"

SO. FUNNY.

They all just left for the mall... leaving me here on me Pat Malone.  Hopefully Stew remembers to bring me some lunch home.  I want a kebab.

5.00 pm:  SORRY...no puppies yet.
But she's MEGA CRANKY.  A little while ago Stew went to pat her and she growled at him!   At STEW!!!   Pissy bitch.  *lol*

End of Day:  well I'm off to bed... ON THE  COUCH.  Cos she's really restless and I need to keep an eye on her.  Though, she will probably just keep me up all night doing nothing!
nite nite

FIRST HOUSE FINISHED...

First up for the day, my first pottery house reveal.

When I glazed it last week I was worried sick it would be an utter disaster!  The tutor was using glazes that I was not familiar with at all, and he was not firing them like I was used to either.

So it was all new to me, and I was really worried my first house would go straight into the bin!

So imagine my delight when I got there last night to find it was a success!
Everyone thought it looks awesome, and so do I.  It's exactly how I wanted it to look:

 ABOVE:  Totally rustic looking, and what I was aiming for.  I'm in love with this little outhouse!  

ABOVE: A close up of some of the glaze detail.... looks like it's been in the garden forever already.

PUPPIES... so should come today!  If not I'm gunna be a bit bothered cos I really don't want it to drag out much longer.... remember we have an Open Home on Sunday afternoon!

I don't want to be moving them and Tallulah when they are only hours old!  *sigh*

Nature eh, ya can't do much about it.

Today Keera and I will just be hanging out here at home... again watching Tallulah like a hawk!

ONWARD...

All is quiet here...no sign of puppies yet.  Tallulah seems to be more calm and happy today, not distressed AT ALL.  Maybe she's gunna be overdue?

Keera is happily having her morning tea and I'm watching some stupid daytime TV!  Not something I usually do in the mornings I must say.  But, I just don't have much to do right now.

4.39 pm:  And.... nothing is happening.  Tallulah is hot and bothered, flopping around from place to place, but not showing any active 'in labour' signs.  *sigh*
Hopefully she doesn't decide 2 am is a good time!

It's stinkin' hot this afternoon.  Airless.  I've got two fans on in the lounge and it's not helping that much.

I was going to make Steak Pies for dinner using left over stew from last night, but it's just too bloody hot. 
It will be takeaways tonight for sure.

End of Day: WELL... no puppies today!
She is hanging in there for sure.  She's been very unsettled today, but then she's been like that for a couple of days already.  So, no idea when she's gunna whelp.
Maybe tomorrow.  Shit I hope it's tomorrow!
nite nite

PUPPY NAMES

Well... not that many of you made a guess!
I will tell you now though, someone HAS guessed what I am going to call the pups.

ANY IDEA WHO?  *smiles*

I'm NOT going to tell you! hee hee.  You will just have to wait until I start announcing the births.

As for the other guess, how many girls/boys... well that one clearly won't be known until they are born.

And that could be today... or tomorrow, or Saturday at the latest I hope!

Today's plans.... take Keera to Daycare, come home and watch Tallulah like a hawk!
That's about all, except for doing some housework I suppose.

Not very interesting I'm afraid.  

There is one dog in the house who doesn't mind the pre-schooler:

ABOVE: Keera calls Coco her 'Sweetie', which is adorable. 

Tallulah doesn't like Keera much, but then, she ain't liking anyone but 'us' right now!  

ONWARD...

No puppies yet.  Tallulah is eating grass... which means she feels really sick.  GOOD!  All good signs of impending labour.  
I've just taken Keera to Daycare and now I'm gunna have a nap!  I didn't sleep well last night, I kept waking up to check on Tallulah.  

I'll probably do the same tonight.  *sigh*  I sometimes think I take this puppy business too seriously!  

4.42 pm:  Today I picked Keera up at 3.30 pm.  She didn't want to come home!  I felt a bit gutted, but happy that she is so settled at Daycare.  Again the teachers said she had a wonderful day and was happy as.   She ate well today, and had her midday nap too.

So I'm really happy about that.

Tallulah is a bit calmer today.  Not so sick.  So I don't expect puppies today. Dammit.

I've got pottery class tonight, so have an 'all in one' beef casserole in the crock pot for Stew to serve up when he gets home.  Hopefully he's not too late tonight.

End of Day:  well pottery class was cool tonight!  I will show you my first finished house tomorrow!
nite nite

DAYCARE TODAY

Well... today Keera is attending our local daycare centre for the first time.
She's keen as mustard to go too.

I plan on her being there all day.  I COULD take her at 7 am and pick her up at 6 pm but I feel that is just too long!  Fine if I had to go to work, but I don't.  So, I will take her around 9 am and pick her up mid afternoon I think.

I hope she enjoys herself, I really do.

Lacy is going to come with us this morning to see the Centre, and we will both stay with Keera for a little while and settle her in.
Fingers crossed she doesn't get upset when we leave.

I'm not sure when Lacy is leaving, but sometime today.

I am going to get back to my sewing today, I haven't finished the little fabric box yet!

Tallulah is still in one piece... but it won't be long now!  She's  HUGE.  And cranky.  Like, MEGA CRANKY. lol
Poor girl.

She doesn't like Lacy, every time Lacy goes near her she growls at her.  And she's being really mean to Coco too, nipping her every chance she gets.  Hormonal bitch!  The sooner she spits those pups out the better.

ABOVE:  At least she still likes us!  Last night, snuggled into Dad's chin.  Awwww.

Right, I'm off to get ready to take Miss Muppet to Daycare.

ONWARD...

CHRISTY:  yes... we were VERY lucky to get Keera in immediately!  Two children had just moved up to the 'bigger kids' area, so they had a vacancy and we got her in.  

I've just been out for hopefully the last time before the pups arrived to get a sunhat and shorts for Keera for Daycare.
Lacy came with me.

Tallulah is not feeling well today, had a vomit and is clearly feeling off.  I'd say delivery isn't far away now... it's normal for a dog to feel like this a couple of days before delivery, so I'm not worried.  Just excited!

4.15 pm:   Well... I picked Keera up at 3.45 pm and found her to be totally happy and settled already!  The teachers all said she had been perfectly happy all day, except when they tried to make her take a nap with all the other littlies, she didn't want to at all.
Maybe she will tomorrow?

When I got her home she said "I'm hungry", so I gave her a jam sandwich and she wanted another one... so I'm guessing she didn't eat much at Daycare either. Oh well, it's early days.

She's now on the couch fighting off falling asleep.  *sigh*

Tallulah has settled down this afternoon, no more vomiting thank goodness.

Lacy is safely back in Tauranga, and has found a place to live for HERSELF for now.  Flatting with an older woman.  This will suffice until she can get back into a state house with Keera.

ABOVE:  SHE. JUST. COULDN'T. STAY. AWAKE.

Ha ha!  I was just working on tomorrow's post (I often make a start on it the day before) and hit 'Publish') so if you see it pop up.... just know it's for tomorrow!  Derrr,  I don't often make that mistake.

OH!  I forgot to mention before... a good blogger friend called in during her lunch hour and dropped off newspapers for the puppies today!  THANK YOU so much Tracy!  You are a lovely Chick.  Thanks for the chat too, always nice to have a natter with a girlfriend *smiles*

End of Day: well I'm off to bed... on the couch in the lounge.
Cos.... I want to be near Tallulah, just in case she goes into labour overnight.
She's showing lots of signs of being almost ready.  I may be a day or two early, but better to be prepared.
nite nite

WATCH 'EM WRIGGLE

I took a short video of the puppies moving inside the belly yesterday:


ABOVE:  kinda weird, and exciting.  Makes it so real when you can see them moving.

This morning Coco goes to the Vet for her booster immunisation shot.

After that Keera and I are off to check out the local Daycare Centre, where Keera will be attending 3 full days a week, starting tomorrow all going well.

I'm relieved as it means Keera will get the stimulation and interaction she needs from other kids and teachers.  And I get some of 'my' time back without a pre-schooler constantly wanting my attention.

Keera is already so excited to be going!  She has been bugging me non stop since I told her she was going to Daycare.  

So happy she is such an adaptable wee girl.

ONWARD...

Coco is SO NAUGHTY!  When the vet went to give her the injection she let out a shreik so loud we all jumped out of our skins, even the vet!
So I had to literally hold her down so Fiona could give her the booster shot.

Poor Keera got such a fright she burst into tears!  Poor kid.

At least that's done with for another year now.  I dropped Coco back home with Tallullah and then Keera and I went to check out the local Daycare Centre.

ABOVE: The Daycare Centre which is just up the road from our home.  Keera is going to start there tomorrow for 3 days a week.
She is SO EXCITED to be going... which is excellent!  
This means I still get to do 'my thing' three days a week.
I wish I had known I could use such a facility years ago when Brylee and Griffin were pre-schoolers!

We are expecting Lacy for a visit today.  Hopefully she gets here safely and her car does not break down.  I've not told Keera she's coming, JUST IN CASE.

12.18 pm:  I got the time muddled up and put Keera to bed for her midday nap at 11 am!  WHOOPS.
She's gone to sleep though, so she will have an extra long afternoon once she wakes up.  That's ok though, she will enjoy playing with her Mum once she gets here I'm sure.

I just took the 8 Week photo:

ABOVE:  See?  She has grown huge in the past week!

3.11 pm:  Well Lacy duly arrived and Keera is now spending some time with her.  They have gone for a nice walk down to the dairy, Keera happily clutching her 'dollars' from Grandma for an ice cream.  She seemed rather pleased with herself!  lol

Lacy and I have had a good talk and the situation is more firmed up now.  She is going to work on a few necessary changes and get the housing situation sorted over time, then she can have Keera back.

So, it's status quo for the next few months.

I keep watching Tallulah.  No signs of labour yet, thank goodness.  Fingers crossed she starts on Friday afternoon!  NOT 2 am.

End of Day: all went to plan today, Coco is fully immunised, Lacy arrived safe n sound and is staying until tomorrow, Stew is safely home from Rotorua and now... it's bedtime.
nite nite