TODAY IS 'D' DAY!

THREE MONTHS ARE UP!
Time for me to have my diabetes blood test.

And in a couple of days I will know how much I have managed to lower my HbA1c number.

But for TODAY, it is my 'reward' day.

I am going to literally have whatever I feel like!

Seriously, I'm going to have a little of just about everything I've denied myself for the past 3 months.

Why?  Cos 1 day in three months is not going to do any damage to my NEXT blood test in another 3 months is it!

I went shopping last night, and got a 'few' things:

ABOVE:  It's all in that bag, and there's a little pot of ice cream in the freezer.  *smiles*

I fully expect the kids to help me out with some of it... but OMG I am looking forward to some self indulgence.

I've clearly not lost my sweet tooth ... wait till you see what's in the bag!

But for now... I am getting ready to go and have that VERY IMPORTANT blood test!  I expect to have the results on Wednesday.

So, apart from pigging out all day.... I am going to be making a few more Owl Mobiles in the next few days.  I'm down to only 3 left.
And that's all for now.
Catch ya later... with a reveal of 'what's in the bag'.  lol

ONWARD...

10.10 am:  Just back from town.
OMG today's blood test was THE WORST I've had in many years!
The nurse thinks she hit a nerve, cos it hurt like F#*K the entire time she was drawing blood.  I felt like I was going to pass out, it hurt that much!

I even felt rather 'wobbly' for a few minutes afterwards, so had to stay sitting down for a while.  Nasty needles.

Once recovered, I went to my favourite coffee shop and got more 'evilness' for my day off.

And here's the line up of evilness:

ABOVE:  Now please don't freak out!  I will NOT be eating all that on my own, or even trying to finish it all!!!!
Griffin has gone to work (holiday job) with a container full of this stuff, and Brylee is going to be having some too.

I'm going to start with the club sandwich, cos that's what I have missed the most.  Then the banana.  After that, who knows!  lol

FELICITY/CHRISTY:  Thanks for the concern... I am going to be careful don't worry!  I will be checking my blood sugar readings during the day, and if I feel sick I will obviously stop eating that crap!

I DON'T LIKE TOFFEE POPS or JELLY BEANS ANYMORE ...

12.15 pm:  And I've just checked my bloods.  Level has gone up to 10.3, which is the highest it's been in 3 months of course.

And... I'm done with the sugar shit.  I haven't even had the ice cream/chocolate sauce, meringues or custard slice!  

While I don't feel SICK, I certainly feel like I've eaten too much!

What did I eat?  One club sandwich.  6 jelly beans.  3 chocolate fruit clusters and one Toffee Pop biscuit.  And I'm done!

I will probably have the other half of the club sandwich for afternoon tea.  I feel a bit sad.   I thought I would really enjoy all that evilness.

But I didn't. *sniff*

I stopped eating that crap at lunchtime, and I STILL feel revolting.  Not happy at all.  Clearly sugar makes me sick.  

Brylee and I went into Hamilton to Spotlight for some supplies.  I felt incredibly ill while there, was not fun.

Lesson learnt. DON'T EAT FOODS WITH  SUGAR AS THEIR MAIN INGREDIENT!  

Happy to say I am back to 'normal' blood sugar levels this evening.  And I feel much better too.  Phew, never doing that again.

I got some sewing done this evening, and have quite a bit lined up to do tomorrow.

Time to bugger off for the night, catch ya tomorrow.

ELF RUNNER NUMBER 2... AND MARKET DAY

Earlier on this week the weather forecast for today was DREADFUL!  Torrential rain and gales.

But last night's forecast was for rain this afternoon, not this morning!  So I might be lucky and not have to contend with wind and rain.  But it will still be bloody freezing for sure.

I'm going to be wearing three pairs of tights, and two long sleeved merino tops, then a thick jacket ... and me hat and mittens, scarf... you name it.  I will be wearing it!  lol

I hope that keeps me warm enough.

It will be great once the winter months are over and people come out to the market in greater numbers, this shitty cold weather keeps them indoors.  I don't blame them really.  

I started another Elf Table Runner late Friday night, and got it finished last night:

ABOVE:  I really love this one!  But of course I do!  It's blue.
I have used some 'sparkly' fabric with this one, so it's rather special.  

So, it's almost time to get going... wish me luck!  And warmth... even if I'm so over dressed I can hardly move!  lol

ONWARD...

Yaaaaa a successful day at the market!  AND it didn't rain.  AND I wasn't freezing thanks to many layers of clothes, tights, socks, gloves, mittens, wooly hat and scarf!!!

And I had a really good time seeing lots of friends, one of our  neighbours,  and our friends Martyn and Jacqui came over from Tauranga too.  

Now it's quiet again, visitors have just left, all my market stuff is away and I'm KNACKERED!

But happy.

And it's 3 pm and I might just have some lunch!

Well, it's been a very quiet afternoon and evening for me.  Tired.  But not cold.  I got some thermal type socks at the market and they are wonderful.
Off to bed shortly...  looking forward to a good night's sleep after not sleeping much last night.

BUSY MORNING.... NEW PROJECT... POOR DENIM

First up for today, I am attending a meeting at Lake Te Kotu here in Cambridge, for a photo shot with the FBG's.
Then once that is done, we are going on an FBG walk, followed by a late morning tea with the girls.

Then home to see what the family is up to.

I finished my 'new' project last night, and I'm thrilled to bits with it:

ABOVE:  It's an Elf Table Runner... today I am going to make another one in different colours.  It was such fun to make!

It is the first time I've put binding on a curved edge, and the first time I've bound a corner that wasn't a 90 degree angle too.  So a couple of firsts thrown in there for fun.  They were not as difficult and I thought they might be too.

Here is Denim after she can home from the vet's yesterday afternoon....  



ABOVE:  Awww poor Denim, she's really not a happy girl!  Luckily she did settle down after a few hours.

Right, I better go and get some things sorted out for the day... catch ya later.

ONWARD...

First up... OMG it's freezing again.
The photo shoot didn't take too much time... which meant we had to stand around and wait half and hour for the other walkers to arrive before we could get walking.

I got chilled to the bone waiting, then hot and bothered on the walk... and now?  Freezing cold at home again.  *sigh*

Once I've warmed up I'm going to some more sewing.  I started another Elf Table Runner late last night, different colours this time.

Stew and Griffin have gone into Hamilton to see if they can source some roof rails for Stew's car, so we can use our existing roof rack on his car.  We would rather have rails than the bolt on attachments you can get, which ain't the look we are wanting for the car.

Well Stew didn't get his roof rails as the 'spare parts' man left at lunchtime and won't be back till Monday.  So their "Open till 4pm on Saturday" is bullshit.  Grrrr.

While he was out I carried on sewing, and now... I'm at the hand stitching end of it.  Should have this one done and dusted in a couple of hours.

Off to bed early tonight... got the Market in the morning.  Fingers crossed for a good day, and no rain!

YAAAA IT'S FRIDAY

Well... it's been a long week!

All the excitement of getting new cars, Denim's operation and the resulting stress levels... and a couple of FBG walks thrown in for good measure, phew... busy!

I'm really looking forward to the weekend, it's going to be crazy busy too!

But for today?

I need to go into town and get cash for my Market on Sunday (the float), and then much later on Denim has her dressing changed at the Vets.

I am hoping like hell the vet says it's healing well... cos if it's NOT, she will possibly have to undergo another operation, and have more of her tail removed!

I really don't want her to go through another operation.  And end up with an even shorter tail, or worst case scenario, no tail at all.

And then there's the added time involved in her recovery.  I'd hate her to be dragged back to the beginning again.

So... let's keep positive and hope she's recovering really well.

I have quite a bit of housework to get through today, mostly washing.  It would be neat to get some stuff hanging outside!  I've not hung anything outside in what feels like weeks.

And it would be nice to get back into the sewing room and work on the new project.  I'd love to get it finished in time for my Sunday Market.

So, I better get outta bed and make a start on the day.

Hey guess what?  IN THREE DAYS I GET MY NEXT Hba1c Blood test!  It has been THREE MONTHS since my last one, which revealed a shocking result.  Now, after following an almost ZERO CARB AND SUGAR diet, I am dying to find out the results of my hard efforts!

Monday I will get the blood test done, and I should have the lab results by Wednesday!!!!!  Getting excited/anxious/nervous.... the number has to have gone down considerably ... surely?

ONWARD...

CLARIFICATION:  A 'normal' Hba1c level is 50 or below.
I used to be between 60-70.
My last Hba1c number was 90.

Yes, I am sure my number will have gone down, it must have because my month of daily testing showed perfectly 'normal' daily levels.

But I am still nervous.  I really, really want the number to be lower than 60!  I am probably dreaming.  My Doctor said I can't expect it to drop too much in only 3 months.
But I WANT A MIRACLE.  

Something is changing.
I went down town to get cash for Sunday.
And I popped into the op shops (as ya do).

One had several really nice larger size tops/jackets/tunics so I tried them on.  And they all fitted!  Mostly XXL.  And all of them were only $10 each.  But they were ALL BLACK.

NORMALLY I would have bought them... COS THEY FITTED, and I always wear black (it's SLIMMING RIGHT?).
But my head said NO... just because they FIT does not mean I have to buy them!  So I left them in the shop!  

What is wrong with me???  Something is changing.  Hmmmm.  Weird.

6 pm:  And some of you are probably waiting to hear how Denim went at the Vets!  Sorry, when we got home I got sidetracked with sewing, then getting dinner made.

SOooo... her wound is healing nicely!   No need for a second operation so far.  She now has her bandage off and a much bigger cone on, so she can't reach her tail at all.  She's not a happy camper!  

All going well, as long as her tail doesn't get infected in the next week, all is looking good for stitches out next friday and then ONWARD with an all better Denim.

I did something today in the sewing room that I have never done before... will show you the finished new project tomorrow.  I'm feeling really happy with it.

It just needs it's binding hand stitched on tonight and it's done!
Yaaaa... I can take it to market on Sunday like I had hoped to.

Yaaa it's done and everyone here thinks it's gorgeous!  Can't wait to show you tomorrow.

But now... it's Coronation Street soon.

I SAVED THE DAY!

Last night, 5.45 pm, and Stew rings me from work.
He can't get his new car to start!  All the lights and dashboard comes on when he pushes the button, but the car won't start!

I'm like, what the hell!  

So, Stew had rung the AA to come out, and he was told they would be at least 90 minutes.  So... he's stuck at work till then at least.

Now, the new cars we got are both keyless starts.  You just have to push the Start/Stop button and the car goes.

ONLY... there is a 'trick' to it, and I remembered it as I was talking to Stew while he was waiting on the AA.

I said to him: "Did you have your foot on the brake when you pushed the button? ... cos you have to do that or the car won't start".

Well, he said: "Ahhh, NO", and goes back to his car and tries that.  

AND boom!  The car goes.   I got a big "Thank You Darling, it works!"

GLAD I REMEMBERED THAT, and figured out that's what he had forgotten to do.  *smiles*

I saved the day.  Yaaaaa.

Obviously we are going to have teething issues with our new cars.  Just glad that one was an easy fix.

I started my next project last night, first off I had to make a pattern, which took me an hour or so. 
Here's a SNEEK PEEK:

ABOVE:  Yeah, I'm not giving too much away this time.  *smiles*  It is a Christmas Runner though.

Today I am going to do some grocery shopping in Hamilton.  This will be interesting.  Let's see how much I can fit in my little car!  
I have never looked forward to grocery shopping before.  Dumm dee doo....

ONWARD...

1.14 pm:  And another successful morning.  I got a few essentials from Spotlight (cotton/felt), then on to the groceries.
AND it all fitted in my cute blue car, not a problem at all.
I could have fitted in more even.

I've now put all the groceries away, put Denim outside in the sun for a while, and am having my lunch.  Coleslaw and some pre-cooked prawns.  Rather yummy.

In a little while I shall get into the sewing room and work on that new project.
But for now... lunch and Home and Away. *smiles*

OH, I filled up my car with petrol this morning.  $92!  That's more a reflection on the cost of bloody petrol here than my car's capacity.
Now I wait and see how long that lasts!

So I looked at the new project and well... something wasn't right with it.  So I have to unpick it all and start again.  That doesn't happen too often, but the colours were all wrong.  

I have an FBG walk on at 6pm, followed by dinner with a few of the girls.  We are just going to KFC, which is good as I can have the chicken.  

Tonight's walk was great... it wasn't as cold tonight.  We covered 5.5 kms in just over an hour, then dinner at KFC.  I just had some popcorn chicken and a little potato and gravy.  I didn't think that small quantity of potato would muck up my diet.

Home now and slowly warming up, and looking forward to Coronation Street in an hour or so.

QUIET DAY AT HOME

Today I plan on staying home and keeping an eye on Denim.  She will need to be escorted outside for bathroom as she can't get in and out of the dog doors in her cone.

Also, she needs to be kept quiet and calm.  She is bound to be in some pain, so I have to give her pain killers and anitbiotics twice a day, starting today.

I hope she's feeling much better in a few days time.

Here is a little video of Brylee scratching Denim's ears yesterday:


ABOVE:  Can't make up my mind if she was loving it or not!

I thought I would continue making a few things in the sewing room today.  Just not sure what!
I've got plenty of 'stock' for my market stall right now.  But I do want to be sewing something.  So... I will head in there a bit later and sort something out.

ONWARD...

9.25 am:  Bloody freezing!  All three dogs are curled up on the floor in front of the heat pump!  No one's moving.  Don't blame them.
I should be doing some housework, but stuff that, it's too cold to venture far from the family room right now.

I got mail:

ABOVE:  Feather decals.  I'm going to arrange them in a horizontal line on a white board for the spare bedroom.  Should look nice once done.

Every year since we moved here, I've taken a photo of our back hedge... to watch it growing kinda.  Probably not much of interest to you, but it is to me.  So, as I post all sorts of shit on here, you have to bear with me!

ABOVE:  So as you can see, the hedge is very slow growing!  But, it is getting there.  I reckon in another two years it will finally be higher than the neighbour's windows and we will have privacy at last in the back yard.  

Denim seems to be fine.  She's not trying to bother her tail today, which means it's not hurting her I suppose.  The only annoying thing about this situation is her being in a cone.  She can't get outside on her own, so has had a few 'accidents' on the carpet.  

I just put her outside for the 2nd time today... hopefully she 'goes' while out there.  At least the frost has finally gone and it's a beautiful winter's day.  Still freezing though!

All I've done this morning is a few odd jobs around the house!  No sewing.  Too cold to sit still for long really.  Gotta keep moving.

12.15 pm:  I just ventured outside to check on my succulents:

 ABOVE:  Most of them seem to have acclimatised, and have survived the frosts, except the one bottom right.  It's got really soft, fleshy leaves.  It's died.  Oh well, to only lose one is pretty good.

ABOVE: Denim is lying in the sunshine.  At least she's outside for a little while.

4.35 pm: And I've had a bloke in me kitchen for the past hour or so.
A plumber.
He put a new Insinkerator in, and a new tap.
I went down to Mitre 10 this afternoon to get a new tap as our's was leaking from being RUSTY!   It's only a 5 year old tap!

So anyway, I was standing in Mitre 10 trying to make up my mind WHAT tap to buy and the plumber rang and said he was on his way around, so that was good in a way, cos I had to make up my mind faster.

Once I'd boiled it down to 4, it got easier.  OMG why are there so many to choose from?  Seriously, there must have been over 40 to choose from.

ANYWAY... I digress.

Here's the new tap:

ABOVE:  This was the old tap, it had a rusty section ON THE TOP of the spout!  Crazy place to rust out.  Cheap and nasty tap obviously.

 ABOVE:  The whizz bang new tap!  I love it.   You can change how the water comes out, either in a stream, or like a shower.  It's gorgeous... AND... 

ABOVE:  Griffin demonstrating the pull out nozzle... which will come in handy to clean stuff that is a bit big like oven trays... AND...

ABOVE:  Handy for squirting teenagers!  (her jacket bore the brunt of it)  Hee hee... got Brylee good.  She had no idea the tap could do that.  *smiles*
The plumber was highly amused, I'd warned him I was going to do that ... so he stood back outta the way.  Clever man.

Now I can't surprise Stewy, cos he will have read this.  *sigh*

It's the end of the day.  I'm really happy with my day.  Denim is doing GREAT, such a relief.  I started another project tonight, will show you tomorrow.  Being in the sewing room makes me so happy.
Time to sign off for the day.  

SPEY DAY FOR DENIM

Well... today Denim goes to the Vet to have her tail fixed, and then MAYBE her spey operation.

Something tells me she won't be having the Spey operation.  She's either having a 'Phantom pregnancy' so can't have it until that's over, or she's actually pregnant.

And I don't want 'Shih Tzu' SURPRISE PUPPIES either!   But, we will just have to wait and see what the Vet says once she's done an ultrasound on Denim.

I am getting her down to the Vet's at 8 am, so should know what's going on with her by around 9 am.  I will literally be sitting holding my phone waiting for the call!

Once decisions have been made, they will go ahead and do what is necessary.  

I doubt I'm going to get much done this morning, my mind is going to be totally on our Denim.  *sad face*

ONWARD...

9 am... not heard from the Vet yet.  Hope everything is OK.  Maybe they are doing her tail and nothing else, so will just ring me when she's done?  Dunno. I keep watching the clock...

9.20 am:  just heard from the Vet.  Denim is NOT pregnant, so she's having a phantom pregnancy. Which means she can't be speyed today.  That will have to happen in another month or two.  

She is having her tail amputated though, which is heartbreaking, but necessary.
There is a very bad injury to her tail, the vet said obviously she's caught it in something in the last week or so to cause such an injury.

So, we will get her back later on today, and keep her nice and warm inside till she's recovered.  Poor wee girl.

I'm going to head into the sewing room now and finish off that smaller Tree Table Runner in time for my market on Sunday.  

2.50 pm  And I got worried, I've not heard from the Vet all day... so I just rang and they assured me she's FINE, and can be picked up after 3.30.  So I will be outside the clinic at... 3.30!

While I've been waiting, I have managed to finish this:

ABOVE:  Smaller Christmas Tree Table Runner.  I think it's rather lovely.  Notice I got a couple of 'Kiwi' trees in it too?  This one is for sale if anyone is interested. ($50 plus $7.50 P & P)

I have half an hour to kill before getting Denim... dumm dee doo...

Denim is home.  NOT a happy girl.  Moaning and trying to get to her tail... or what's left of it!
I'm very surprised, they didn't take off as much as I thought they were going to.  She will still have a fluffy tail!  Just not as long.  We have to go back on Friday to change her bandage, and in the meantime she's on painkillers and antibiotics.  So... a shit load of money later, at least she's on the mend.

Happy to say Denim has settled down heaps.  She's asleep in a crate in front of us in the family room.  She will be sleeping in it for the next few nights so Coco and Marley don't disturb her or her wound.

Looking forward to a quiet evening.  It's getting bloody cold... we are expecting a good frost tomorrow of -2 degrees C.   Brrrrrr.  

20 YEARS

On Friday just gone, Stew 'Celebrated' working 20 years for the company he works for.

Did he get a special morning tea?  A pat on the back? Anything???

NOPE.  NOTHING.  NOT A BLOODY THING!
How disgusting is that?

I feel so sad for him.  Talk about undervalued, under appreciated. Under fucking everything. 

I am so angry about it.  He doesn't deserve that sort of treatment.

He has said he doesn't WANT anything now, it's too late to right the wrong.  I don't feel the same, he DESERVES some sort of recognition for the 20 damn years he's put into giving that company his all.  

Moving on...

Monday.  Hoping there is a walk on with the FGB's sometime SOON.  I've not had a walk for a few days now.
Probably just as well actually!

I've got blisters!  

ABOVE:  There really is nothing attractive about feet is there?  I might have to invest in some sort of cushioning insoles, so this doesn't keep happening!  

Hmmm, that might just mean a trip out in the car.  Oh yaaa!  *smiles*  We have a Smith's Sports Shoe shop here, might just go down and see what they have that might help.  

ONWARD...

Well I've been out and about a couple of times already today.
The little blue car is a dream to drive and park... I am not missing my big car at all.

I have to go out again in 45 minutes, Denim needs to see the Vet. She has a sore tail and I want to have her checked out before her operation tomorrow.  I am hoping her pregnancy symptoms are just a phantom pregnancy!  
OMG I can't bear the thought of her being pregnant!  

ANON:  Yes I know my feet are looking awful!  Thank you for saying it 'so nicely'.   YA TROLL.  I've never had a pedicure, maybe one day I will, but not cos you told me to that's for sure.

WELL... it's all bad news at the Vets for Denim sadly.  I cried.

Her tail has been broken by the look of it!  I have NO IDEA how that could have happened, we are so very careful with doors and so on.  But, it is looking like tomorrow she will have a tail amputation! OMG that is unexpected.

She's on antibiotics now, just to keep her from getting an infection.  Her tail is NOT infected right now.  One good thing I suppose.

As for being neutered tomorrow.  Might not happen.

IF she is having a 'phantom pregnancy' as I suspect (and the Vet does too), then they can't do the spey until that is over.  IF she IS pregnant (and how the hell did that happen???), we have to decided tomorrow on either leaving her to have pups, or terminate and spey.

So tomorrow is going to be a big day for Denim and me.  I feel sick.  Mostly about her poor tail.

I cannot imagine how she got injured, she might even have got herself stuck between something and wrenched her tail?  *sigh* 

Too late now, they are going to try and save it tomorrow, but no promises.

At least for the rest of today she can stay out of that horrible Elizabethan Collar!  The Vet said no point having it on now. 

OMG!  While Denim had the nasty collar on, she was subdued and depressed, and just so sad. Not herself AT ALL.

NOW?  She's happy again.  Running around like a mad thing, tail wagging (but bothering her still)... but she's baaaaaack!  So nice to see her happy again.

Sadly, tomorrow it will be back on.

7.15 pm:  Just got home from an FBG walk, 5.3 kms in an hour.  Not a bad walk and my feet felt fine tonight.  Buzzing, it was just a lovely walk tonight.

Fed the family Spaghetti Bologneise for dinner, had it ready for them before I headed out for the walk.
Time to wind down for the rest of the evening now.

WHAT AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO?

The one thing I am REALLY looking forward to the most with my new car is filling it up with petrol!
I have no idea how much it will cost to fill it?
My Highlander took well over $100 to fill.  And it could chew through all that in about a week to a week and a half, depending on how much running around I did.

So, I'm going to run the Juke down to nearly empty, then fill it up and see just how far it will go on a tank of gas.  

Stew and I enjoyed putting all our 'stuff' into our new cars yesterday.  I trimmed down what was going into my little car for sure! It really doesn't have a lot of storage compared to the Highlander!  But enough for me.

It's got a really good sized storage area under the 'floor' in the boot which surprised me.  But a tiny glove box... so I had to cut down on what I lugged around in the car.  I mean, who needs 12 pens and 4 pencils in their car?  lol  

Stew's car has plenty of storage areas!  Particularly in the 'boot'!  We put the market trestles in it and they fit perfectly!  That's a relief... though I had measured it before we bought it.  But, ya just never know till you put them in the car do ya?

Pretty sure all my market stuff will fit in it.  And my next market is next Sunday!  Man that came around fast.

I've got a couple of Tree Table Runners to finish off, then I should be good to go.

Today?  Not sure yet.  Some housework is a definite.  Maybe a trip into Hamilton for a wander around the mall?  Let's wait and see.

ABOVE:  I had to laugh a little... Stew signed up and bought his new car, without even sitting in it!  I had looked it over and thought it was perfect before hand of course, but not him!  Last week was frantically busy for him, so he didn't get a chance to check it out till yesterday.

Thank goodness he loves it.

Catch ya later.

LOL I forgot 'ONWARD'!  Oh well... too late now.

I didn't get out of bed till 10 am!  Then we went into Hamilton in Stew's car for a ticky tour, and to just get out of the house.

I ended up buying something for MY car:

 ABOVE:  It's just a steering wheel cover!  But It's cute.  Stew looks a bit big for my car!

ABOVE:  Not quite the 'right' shade of red, but it will do.
The steering wheel was super slippery, so needed a cover.

Just got home and had some nice hot chicken soup for lunch.  And now it's raining, which was expected.  Just as well Stew mowed the lawns yesterday afternoon.

If I can be bothered, I will do some sewing later on, but for now, I'm warming up.

And it's the end of the day, and we have been utterly lazy!  Just a lazy Sunday, which was rather nice.