LET'S GET SOME EXERICSE

I'm utterly shattered from sewing for days on end... I need to get some exercise.

So, there's an FBG walk on at 9.30 am this morning, and I'm doing it.
I might even drag Brylee along too.  She expressed an interest in joining us last night, so let's see if I can get her outta bed.

I forgot to show you Griffin's freakin' shoes eh?

Well...

 ABOVE:  See!  Just outright HOLES.  So, he got some new ones yesterday.
He got the exact same shoes cos... well he likes them. And he reckons they last about a year....so let's see if that happens.  *smiles*

ABOVE:  These are the 9 placemats I got finished last night.  I love the cows.  There's about 9 cow ones altogether.

If my fluid retention settles during the day, I MIGHT get the next 7 done by tonight.  But we will see.  

And that's all for now... catch ya after me walk.

ONWARD...

OH!  Can you please give me suggestions on what I can watch on Netflix please?
I am loving The Crown.  I enjoy all sorts of things!  eg:  Broadchurch.  Murder/Mysteries. Comedy, particularly British comedy. Chick flicks...  and heaps more stuff.

Actually about the only things I don't like are action/shoot 'em up bang bangs and sports!

10.25 am:  And I didn't go on the walk.  If you could of seen my face and legs this morning you'd know why.
Instead, I took a Furosemide pill and am waiting for the non-stop piddling to take place!
Summer is coming, so is fluid retention obviously.

I have booked myself into a 7 pm walk tonight instead.  NOT going to stop walking.  Just not.

So... I'm going to do some sewing, but not as much as yesterday or prior days.  Just want to finish the last 7 placemats.  That's not gunna take too long, it's only the top stitching needing doing.

Then I'm going to put me feet UP.

FRIGGIN HELL... I had to go grocery shopping.... I'm sitting outside the supermarket, about to go in. Hope I don't end up all hot and crabby.

BUT I PROBABLY WILL.

I am getting a nice list of things to watch over Netflux! Thanks so much for your suggestions.

So, Brylee had a girlfriend over today.  They have been watching Netflix while I've been out.

And it's taken me ALL DAY to realise that Danielle is actually the daughter of one of my cousins!  So, she's freakin' family.  

A bit funny.  But then, I've got a lot of cousins!

ABOVE: Brylee and Danielle hanging out together.

They helped me put the groceries away, which was nice.  And now, I've actually got me feet up.  

Well I had an awesome walk this evening... it was a long one at 5.64 km... throw in a steep hill and then a long slow incline and it was a tough one too.  But, it's better to do it and feel good about yourself, than pike out!

I'm signing off for the day now, time to chill out and relax till bedtime.

BATTING AND SHOES

This morning I'm going into Hamilton with the kids.

First stop will be Spotlight for more batting, so I can continue with the placemats.

Then we will be going to The Base.  Griffin, bless his heart, has to get some more shoes.

Because he skateboards everywhere around town... to school... and so on... he RUINS the soles of his shoes in quick smart time!  Seriously, he makes huge holes in the bottoms of his shoes. AND then his socks get massive holes in them too!  

Over the next year he hopes to get his license, and a run around car (same with Brylee), then his shoes won't wear out so fast!  I must get a photo of his shoes, to show you... later.

Yesterday, because I wanted to watch the TV in my sewing room MORE than I usually do, now that I can use NETFLIX in there,  I needed to re-arrange my room a bit.

I sit at the sewing machine AND the long table A LOT, so wanted to be able to see the TV from both places.  Which meant moving stuff around.

It took a bit of working out, but I did it:

 ABOVE:  Works!  And surprisingly, I seem to have way more room in there now!
Weird, cos there's just as much in there as before I moved it around.

ABOVE: This is the other side of the room, really messy!  But, it is what it is... a work room.

I'd kill for a bigger room to work in, but there isn't one.  I've thought of taking over the lounge, but it's just too nice a room to use for a sewing room!

And we do use it as a lounge and/or spare bedroom fairly often.

So, me sewing room has to do!  *smiles*

OH!  One thing I do need to suss out, just remembered.

Now that I'm facing the window in the sewing room, I'm affected by the light coming in the window.  It's pretty darn bright.  I am going to investigate getting an anti-glare blind for the window, that way I cut out the glare, but can still see outside.  I will do that later on... on me computer.  Let me fingers do the 'walking' and all that. lol

And well... that's about all I have for now, so catch ya later.

ONWARD...

WELL!!!!  Guess what I did?

I fell back to sleep and didn't wake up till 10 am!!!!!!   That doesn't happen very often I can tell you.
Both the kids were gobsmacked.  I'd told them we were going into town at 9.30, AT THE LATEST.  

Ha ha ha.  So, we are just getting ourselves sorted out now, and will be leaving in the next few minutes I suppose.  But first, gotta get me face on.

ABOVE:  might as well show you some of the placemats I just finished too.  I think the little calves are ADORABLE!

1.25 pm:  And we are back from Hamilton. A very successful trip I must say.
Griffin got his new shoes.
Brylee got her new phone.

And I got my batting and more backing fabric.  The fabric was on sale at Spotlight, so I saved 40% on that.   They didn't have the batting I wanted (how UNUSUAL, NOT!), so I went to David's Emporium in town and they had it for the same price as Spotlight's 'on sale' price.  So I am happy as Larry too.

Time to take a break for lunch, then I will be sewing again... and watching The Crown on Netflix!  Sheesh I love Netflix!  Why, oh why, didn't we get it earlier???

TRACY:  HA HA HA! The kids didn't 'let' me sleep in, those little buggers were still in bed themselves!  They don't get outta bed until they are either busting for a pee or starving!

10.34 pm:  And I'm wondering, how many Series/Episodes are there in The Crown?  Cos I've been watching it all day long, and am really enjoying it. 

AND... I've been sewing all afternoon and evening too... I've done 9 placemats entirely and have 7 more to do the top stitching on, then they are done too.
Then there's two EXTRA big placemats to do and I think I will be done for now.

All that sitting is playing havoc with my legs and feet... they are so swollen!

Tomorrow I will have to take a break from sitting on me bum sewing all day and night.

I'm bloody tired... off to bed soon.

MONDAYS....

I love Mondays.  Usually.

But for the next ... I don't know how long... they ain't gunna be the same anymore.

Cos the big kids are home.  Both have exams in the next few weeks, so SHOULD be home studying.  But they won't be doing that 24/7.

I wonder if I can get them doing some odd jobs around here?

Like ... there isn't THAT much that needs doing of course, cos I do tend to keep on top of it, but cobwebs and dust never sleep.  

Dusting is probably the one job I don't get to much in fact.

So, maybe I will give them both a bottle of polish and make them dust a few things.

Won't kill them.

I'm dedicating this entire week to sewing placemats and maybe a couple more table runners.

And walking.

Talking of walking, I've got one on this morning!  9.30 in fact.  So that's top of me list for today.

When I get home from that, I will kick the kids out of their beds and make them help out around here.

Perhaps I shall make a list of things that need doing around here?  Yeah, that's a good idea.

catch ya later...

ONWARD...

This mornings walk was lovely... and we followed it with a hot chocolate/coffee for morning tea.

ABOVE:  The things people keep on their doorsteps! Lol

ABOVE:  I'm still fat.  Should have stood in the back... would have looked a bit smaller.  *sigh*
Some days I just feel blah, ikkk and just FAT.  Today is one of those days.

The photo just confirmed it.

Since arriving home, I have had to get Griffin out of bed.  Brylee was actually already up!
The dogs were locked in the garage, I forgot to let them out before I left on my walk.

So they both shat in there... OMG the smell!!!
I asked Griffin to get it outside so I could wash the floor.
He literally tipped it right outside the back door!
On the pavers even.

I was not impressed, making him pick it up was like ... asking him to wallow in it. Such a grumpy boy.  Now he's just finished the vacuming.... and he has to starve cos I just washed the kitchen floor and he can't get in there and raid the cupboards.

So, most of today's jobs are now done and I can get on with some sewing.  Yaaaa.

10.55 pm:  WHOOPS!  Seems I got carried away in the sewing room ... right?
YEP.

I've had a fine old time in there today.  First off, I plugged the Comcast thingee into the TV in me sewing room, and I've been watching 'The Crown', a TV series, all afternoon and evening on NETFLIX!

It's been WONDERFUL being able to watch tv in there, and not just the few DVD movies I've got!

As for the sewing, OMG I've gotten so much done!

ABOVE:  I now have TWENTY FIVE placemats finished!!!
And I have about 15 more on the go too. 
But I have to get more batting to do them.
Tomorrow.

For now, it's really late, my back is aching and I'm stopping for the day.

Sorry I've been so quiet all day, but well... I got busy.  *smiles*
And I like being busy.

Fireworks tonight, Coco went ape shit again, so she sat on Stew's lap trying to hide from the noise and flashing lights.  Poor girl, she's such a scaredy cat/dog.

And well... that's it from me for today.  Catch ya tomorrow.

TAKING THE DAY OFF

It's Sunday and we are taking the day off.

And heading over to Tauranga to spend the day with our friends Jacqui and Martyn.

I want to give them the Red and Gold Tree Table Runner I made for them, there's no point it sitting in my sewing room any longer!

BRYLEE'S TOES:  Update on them is, they are coming along very well.

ABOVE:  The one on the left (which is her right toe), is still fairly sore, but nowhere near as much.  It really only hurts when she takes the plasters off and soaks it in saline solution.  Last night it was stuck to the plaster and it hurt getting it off.

Silly girl didn't think to soak it first to help the plaster come off!  Next time she will I'm sure.  *smiles*

So, in all I'm happy with how they look.  Not infected, which is the main thing of course.

Sewing progress:  I got HEAPS done this week!  7 Table runners.  And yesterday I got these done too:

ABOVE:  These placemats are half done already.
No one ask for the French Bulldog!  He's already sold.

 ABOVE:  Six cat placemats FINISHED!  (There's two of each there).

ABOVE: And there's two of these EXTRA large coffee table/kitchen bench/dresser? placemats too.  

So as you can see, I've been busy!  And that's why we are taking a break today.
My back is killing me and the only way to stop sewing is to leave the house.  lol

I cooked some corned beef in the crock pot yesterday, and we are going to take it, along with some other cold meats, breads, tomatoes, cheese slices etc, with us to Tauranga, so lunch is sorted.  Should be lovely.

And that's a 'wrap' for now.

Off to start the day.

ONWARD...

2 pm: and we've had a lovely lunch with our friends. 
It's blowing a gale over here! And fairly cold too. Everyone has gone for a walk but not me ... I'm not in a walking mood.

So I'm watching tv with Joel...their 14 yr old son.
Where is everyone? Taking a break? Ha ha ha.

5 pm:  And we are home, just in time for Brylee to grab a bite to eat before heading off to work.

I put the makings of Spag Bol in the crock pot, to cook while we were out.  I'd not done Spag Bol in the crock pot before, and it's worked by the look of it.  Neat.

I took NO PHOTOS TODAY!   I said I was taking a break eh?  Well... looks like I really did!

Jacqui twisted my arm and made me try an herbal tea, sweetened with Stevia.
AND the tart took photos to PROVE I drank it:

ABOVE: Nice cup.  The drink?  So-so.... it tasted like flavoured water really, and let's get real... I DON'T DRINK WATER! lol

So... probably won't be buying any for myself.  Good try though Jacqui.  *smiles*

I'm probably not going to be doing much this evening as well.... really just want to blob out and do nothing.

And do nothing  I have!  I watched a movie on Netflix!  Awesome.  And now I'm probably watching another.  *smiles*
Catch ya tomorrow.

YES, I AM A BLONDE

One of my friends here gave me a keyring for my birthday.
She does jewellery stamping... and she stamped a fairly 'common' saying on it for me.

ABOVE:  Now of course, I saw it and thought, oh that's weird!
It should say 'FUCK FUCKITY FUCK'... but instead it says 'FUCK FUCK FUCKITY'!!!

I really thought it was 'wrong'!  Until someone pointed out it was 'right', I was just reading it wrong.  Derrrr!

I certainly felt like a dick.

But now when I look at it all I see is FUCK FUCK FUCKITY!  LOL

Today we are going into Hamilton to get a box thingee so we can watch Netflix on our TV.  Our TV isn't a 'smart' TV apparently... so we need to get something to plug into it so we can do Netflix.

I only want Netflix so we can watch the odd movie on the weekends.  There is hardly ever anything worth watching on the TV or SKY in the weekends.

After we have been into town, I will be getting back to the sewing.  I only have three runners left to bind, then I can make some more placemats!  Yaaaa... I will have plenty of stock for the next two months markets now.

ONWARD...

12.30 pm:  Our trip into Hamilton went well.. we got the Comcast thingee Steve our son recommended.  Griffin can set it up for us later on today.

SAD. After wearing my gorgeous birthday dress only 3 times, and not even for that long, the fabric started to go all weird. Like pilling and threads all coming out!!! I noticed it last night when we got home from dinner.


I was gutted.

And decided to return it to Farmers, where I got it from.

I wasn't sure if they would take it back? Or just say 'Hard Luck'.
But they took one look at it and gave me my money back.  

But I'm still really sad, cos I utterly LOVED that dress.

I'm now going to go on the hunt for a new dress.  Next week.

We went to the supermarket on our way home and Stew spied these:

ABOVE:  I have heard good and so-so reviews about them, but we decided to get them and try them out.

ABOVE:  You coat the inside with oil, I used a spray on oil.  Then pop them in boiling water for various time lengths, depending on how hard you want the yolks.  I did ours for about 12 minutes.
Then you pop them out.

PERFECT result!!!! And no bloody frustrating egg shells to peel off... which is FANTASTIC!

For once, a 'gadget' that works!  LOVE IT.

We have now had our lunch, and I'm going to get back to me sewing.

9 pm:  And I have finished all 7 Table Runners!  Thrilled about that.  They take a lot of work, but so worth it.

Since finishing them, I've started making placemats.  It took me a while to decide what ones to make, there's quite a choice of fabric to choose from.

I've made a few already, and have quite a few more to stitch.

That's me done for the day.  Catch ya tomorrow.

PRIZE GIVING AND BLOGS

Last night at Prize Giving, Griffin had NO IDEA what he was getting a prize for!

And he was as chuffed as us when his name was called out for:

First in Year 12 Automotive Engineering!
He has only been doing that subject for one year!

ABOVE:  He got a certificate, a $25 gift voucher from a shop here in town, a cheque from the school for $50, and a badge!  

Wow, wish we got prizes like that when I was at school.

We are very, very proud of him.

Oh and guess what?  I thought our 'school days' were over at the end of this month right?

WRONG.

Griffin has decided to go back to school next year!  OMG another year of school shit.  But, good on Griffin for wanting to do the final year, and get as many qualifications as he can.  Proud of him for making a sound decision for his future.

Yesterday afternoon, instead of sewing like I should, I decided to read a few blogs.
Something I don't do often enough.

And of the 200+ or more blogs I used to follow and read/comment on... only a dozen or so are still active!

This took me over 3 hours to ascertain too.

That's 3 hours I'll never get back.

It's so sad that so many bloggers have stopped.  Any blog that was inactive for over 2 years got deleted from my list,  by the way!

Rather sad that some have also gone 'Private' and not extended invites to read.

But for whatever reason, it is what it is.

I will continue to read and comment on those that I can ... WHEN I CAN.

Sorry if I missed you yesterday, if you are still an active blogger that I used to read/comment on, sing out!  Only too happy to pop over and say 'Hi'.  *smiles*

Today I am going to sew a little bit, and get some housework done, before tarting myself up for Stew's end of year Christmas Function.
Bit early if ya ask me, but oh well... it's a night out.
And another chance to wear me lovely birthday dress!

Gotta wear it as often as possible, I don't get a reason to dress up much!

Invite me to dinner!  I want to dress up more!  lol

Fat chance really.  The only time we go out to dinner is ... once in a blue moon!  That's a bit sad actually.  We are always saying we should go out more, but never do.

Stay at home, stuck in the muds, that's us.

Right, that's enough yabber, off to start the day.

ONWARD...

A blogger friend : (http://monika-quiltingjourney.blogspot.com/  ...  gave me a link to a different way of putting the binding on quilts/runners etc last night.
And well... I just had to try it there and then didn't I?

So I was up till one o'clock last night doing just that.

And I'm happy to say it worked so well... I doubt I will ever do any other sort of binding now! Cos A. It looks fabulous.  And B. Ya don't have to hand stitch the binding down!

It's all done by machine.

ABOVE: This is a corner section... you get a 'fake piping' effect, (that's the red fabric), while still having the green binding around the edge too.

I just love it!!!

 ABOVE:  So this is the finished Table Runner with the binding all done... and no hand stitching!  I think the faux piping looks fab!

My 'stitch in the ditch' needs working on, as does my matching the corners, but it's not bad for a first attempt.  

This method means I will have the runners finished way, way faster than I thought!  I'm one happy Chick right now.  *smiles*

1 pm: And I've just finished another runner using the above binding method... and.... well I'm having massive issues getting the join right at the end.  NOT happy with it at all.

So I'm trying something else.

It won't be as pretty as the above, but still quicker than hand stitching.  When I have the time, I will get some 'professional' advice on how to get the joins looking perfect.  But not right now, I've got too much to get done before the next market!

Brylee just had her last day at school till her exams.  Griffin has only one exam this year, so he's off till that.  Which means he will now eat us out of house and home!  All day access to the pantry... *sigh*

Well.... I tried another way of putting the binding on:

ABOVE:  How funny!  MARIA JUST left me a comment suggesting this method!  And I'd just finished doing it... only I did a double row of top stitiching on the front of the runner... cos it looks better.

So now I've finished 3 runners, and have 4 to go.  Probably won't get them finished today as we are going out tonight.

But there's always tomorrow! lol

9,15 pm:  Home from the 'Christmas' Staff do.  Which ended up being a bit more like a date night for Stew and I!   The staff had chosen a Mexican restaurant for our dinner. 

And of course, I can't/don't eat ANYTHING hot or spicy!  
So ... upon looking at the menu, and talking to the waiter, we ascertained that there was NOTHING on the menu I could eat!

So Stew and I left and found a chinese restaurant nearby, and we had a nice dinner, just the two of us!

We did rejoin the others after our meal, then came home.

It is freezing again tonight... I really shouldn't have worn my dress and short sleeved cardi!  I was pretty cold.

Quiet time now... catch ya tomorrow.

3RD OPTION IS A NO GO

Just when I thought Option 3 was the best so far for the pool position... I took Stew outside to check it out last night (around 6 pm) and...

YEAH NAH.

 ABOVE:  When I pegged it out yesterday morning... the sun was all over that area and it looked like a good option.

But as the sun came around in the afternoon it lost all it's sun and was in shade from about 4.30 onwards!  

Not such a good idea after all.

ABOVE: So now I'm probably going back to Option number 1, as even number 2 is in the shade by the afternoon, but this area is not.

So glad we've had time to suss out the best place to put the pool!

Now... today?  More. Sewing.

And another FBG walk tonight, so pretty much a repeat of yesterday!

ABOVE:  Grrrrr... the last two BIG blisters just healed.  And I've got another one in almost the same place.  At least this one doesn't hurt as much, and isn't as deep.

ONWARD...

2.15  pm: and I have finished the stitching of the 7 'on the go' tree table runners!

ABOVE:  Now 'all' I have to do it make the binding and sew it on, then hand stitch it at the back.  ALL... .... ha ha ha!  That's going to take me days and days.

I have 10 days till the next market, so I should get them done.  Don't know if I will find the time to make any placemats though... and dammit, I need more of them too.  *sigh*

But, there's only so much I can do in a day.

I am utterly knackered.  I keep waking up with a hot flush EVERY SINGLE HOUR over night... so I never feel like I've had a sleep at all.

This morning I stayed in bed till 10.30!  Didn't sleep though, just lay there thinking about all I should be doing.  I might as well have got up and done it!

Such a waste of time.  Probably won't do that again any time soon.

ABOVE: I pegged out the FINAL (and first option) pool position too.
Now we just have to wait for the pool to arrive.
Hopefully by the end of the month it will be up and running!

I can't wait.  All I ever wanted when Stew said we were moving back to the Waikato was a pool!  It gets SO DAMN HOT here over summers.
I literally melt.  I can't tolerate the heat and humidity that you get here.  Having a splash pool is going to make my life that much more tolerable over summer.

The kids are equally excited.  Stew?  Nah, not so much. But I hope he does use it.

I'm taking a break for an hour, for lunch.

And it's now 5.15 pm and I've not done any sewing!  Did other shit.  Will mention that tomorrow.  For now, I have to finish getting dinner ready.

NO WALK TONIGHT either.  Forgot it was Griffin's Senior School Prizegiving.  He's getting an Award for 'something', no idea what!
So we have to go to it.  Oh yaaa, three hours on shitty school pews watching everyone from kingdom come get awards... and Griffin.
My idea of hell.  

SHOOT. ME. NOW.  Maybe I'll take a bottle of wine in me bag and sip it... at least I will be giggling.  lol!

Prize Giving went well.. only 1.75 hours!!!  I will tell you more about it tomorrow, for now I just want to warm up again.  It's bitterly freezing tonight!