LET'S SEE HOW MUCH I CAN DO

Today, it's full on sewing all day.

I will get the large Wonky House Runner finished this morning, then move on to trying to get 3 small Tree Runners done too.

I've got 3 full days of sewing to try and get as much done as possible.  I know I need to build up my stock again... can't believe I've sold so much in the past few months!

And of course, I really should have tried to make more in the past month, but oh well... shit happens.

ABOVE:  A cool photo taken last night, during our FBG walk, of St Andrews Church here in Cambridge.  So pretty at night.

And that's all I have for now!  It's going to be a long, quiet day no doubt.

ONWARD...

11.25 am:   Finally finished the W.H.Runner:

ABOVE:  I have sent a photo of it off to the lady who ordered it.  Now I wait to see if she likes it!  Nervous.  

On with Small Tree Runners now... less stress involved with those thank goodness.

1.30 pm:   I've got a bit of a production line going on:

ABOVE:  My kitchen benches come in SO HANDY *smiles*.
I've got 8 small tree runners on the go.  There's no guarantee I will get them all done before Sunday, but I'm gunna give it a go!

So... I have heard from the lady who commissioned the Large W.H.Runner.  She loves it!  What a relief.  She's going to pick it up at the Market on Sunday.

This afternoon I got all 8 Small Tree Runners pinned up, and I've done the stitching on 3 of them already!  So yes, a very productive day.
And tomorrow will be the same. 

By the time I'd finished laying out and pinning all those runners, my back was literally KILLING ME.... so I piked out of cooking dinner.

We are having chinese takeaways.  And NO, I don't feel bad about that at all!  *smiles*

I'm freezing now, so it will be nice to curl up with a blankie and have dinner in front of the TV.  Then I might do some more sewing.  Or not, we will see.

Catch ya tomorrow.

RUNNING OUT OF TIME

I'm getting stressed out!
I'm running out of time to get at least three small Tree Table Runners done by Sunday!

I have to get the Large Wonky House Wall Hanging done first.

So, once I get back from work late morning, I will be pulling out all the stops to get the House Runner done as much as possible today.

My job today will be cleaning windows/window frames and not much else.  'P' has been away on holiday and is due back today sometime, so I don't expect the house to be needing much else done like vacuming and washing floors etc.
So, windows all morning!  

I'm looking forward to seeing that cute little horse again too!  The cat?  Not so much.  Last time I was there it followed me around all morning crying.

It's lonely with P away of course, but it did my head in.  And I'm really NOT a cat person... though every once in a decade I do think about getting another one.

Our last cat was just lovely, but sadly she got run over on the road at least 20 years ago now.  It put us off getting another one.

My friend Sue T just got a little kitten... made me consider it for... a millisecond.  Then I grimaced and dismissed the idea again.

OK, I'm just waffling now, so I will bugger off and start my day.  Get work done and then I can sew.

ONWARD...

SHIT!  I just walked past the Wonky House Wall Hanging, laid out on the lay out table, and realised I had forgotten something.

CHIMNEYS!  There's NONE on any house.  Frig I will have to add them when I get home, before starting to sew.

ABOVE: busy... busy. No time to yak.
What are YOU doing?

4.35 pm:  And I've been sewing for HOURS.  Got this much done:

ABOVE: This runner is 150 cm X 65 cm ... so a BIG ONE.
I'm still thinking about if I will put something on the 'ground' ... like pavers or paths?
Not sure.

But one thing's for sure, it's 75 % done.  Such a relief.  I should be able to finish it tonight!

8.20 pm:  Just home from an FBG walk.. Brylee and Griffin came too.  It was a long walk tonight, around 6.2 kms.

And we walked past our own home:

ABOVE: So... perfect chance for a walk photo with good lighting!  lol

And now, it's time to grab something for dinner, (left overs I think), then relax for a while.

LOVE ♥ MONDAYS

Yes!   Gotta love Mondays.

Sorry everyone who hates them as they mean 'back to work'.

But for me it means I have the house to myself and I can get it all nice and clean again!

I do most of my housework on a Monday.

Today I'm going to get back to my sewing too.. I've started work on the extra large Wonky House Wall Hanging.  I've got certain colours I need to adhere to, or rather, NOT use.  So it's a bit more tricky than normal. 

But, I'm still enjoying it.

ABOVE:  Last night's walk photo... I'm hoping to do at least two, if not three more walks this week.  I'm falling behind!

Right, I'm off to get my day started.

ONWARD...

11.30 am:  And I've done 2.5 hours of solid housework.  I still have some washing to hang out, but I won't count that.

Now?  Time to do some sewing.  Well.. cutting out wonky houses first I suppose.

ABOVE:  Dinner tonight will be roast chickens, potato and salad.  

Brylee asked if her boyfriend, Jordan, could come over this afternoon before work. Of course I said 'Yes'.

And then I waited.  And Waited.  Cos I KNEW what the next question would be.

And sure enough, at around 3.30 pm she asked.

Could Jordan stay for dinner, cos he was starting work at 8 pm?

*sigh*... I said YES, but told her she would have to help with getting dinner ready.  

Little tart wasn't so happy about that.  Why do kids these days think everything will be dished up to them for nothing?  

So... I'm flustered.  About to put the chickens in the oven, and the tray isn't in the middle of the oven, so I grab it with my left hand... and FUCK!

It's like 220 degrees C eh?

 ABOVE: YEP, burnt me fingers.  So didn't need to do that, I'm too busy to be sore anywhere else!

ABOVE: And all I have managed to do with my runner is get it all laid out. If I'm lucky it will be ready to stitch after dinner.  GUESS what colour was a NO NO, except for 'maybe a tiny bit'?

GREEN... was the NO NO colour. 

And I've not started the sewing tonight, I'm conserving my energy for work tomorrow.  I hope to sew tomorrow afternoon now.

Signing off... catch ya tomorrow.

AUCKLAND BOUND AGAIN

Well we have decided to head up to Auckland today.

Just Stew and I.

Both the kids are at work all day,  so this is getting to get more frequent!  Just the man and me!

We plan on having lunch with Steve, Bex and family, as it's Archer's 4th Birthday today.

It was a last minute decision to go up really.  My cousin left her phone charger here, so we are taking that up for her, and seeing the kids too.

AND that means no housework or mowing lawns etc!  Not at home, can't do it!  Awesome.

So... hopefully we have a nice, carefree day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARCHER

ONWARD...

ABOVE: on our way to Auckland in thick fog. Third day in a row we've had fog for over half the day. Cold, damp shit.

11 am... Waikato side of the Bombay hills, thick fog and 11 degrees C.
Top of Bombay hills.. no fog.
Auckland side of Bombay hill... 5 minutes later and it's now 20 degrees C!  Crazy.

7.20 pm:  And we have been home for over 2 hours.  As soon as we got home I went out on an FBG walk!  I missed the first half, but managed to do the 2nd half, so I was happy about that.

I've just managed to sit down to do a blog update.  

Here's a few photos I took today of the birthday boy and family:

 ABOVE:  The birthday boy and Granddad.

 ABOVE: There IS a Granddad under there somewhere!

 ABOVE:  Because all the children were in 'Onesies', the father decided to get in his too.  

ABOVE:  It is SCARY how alike these two are!  And I'm not talking about looks.
God help us, Dante is a full on kid, just like his Dad.  *sigh*

Wouldn't have them any other way though.

Time to sign off for the day, I'm cooling down from my walk now and starting to get cold.  Time to hunt out me electric throw I reckon.

ODDS 'N' SODS

Morning!
I'm 'on the ball' today, unlike yesterday, when my post went up rather late!

I'd typed out my post, then somehow or other forgot to hit 'Publish'!
Thanks to Kelly, I got told it was not up, and hit 'Publish' quick smart.

So today?
Stew and I (and probably Griffin too), are going into Hamilton to do some shopping.
Just a few odds 'n' sods to get.

I want some wireless headphones for my computer.  I'm utterly sick to death of having the speakers fall on the floor cos I moved the computer desk too far. And it's also a fag having a cord tethering me to the computer too.

I don't even know if I can get some that work with a computer yet?

What else?  A couple of birthday presents for upcoming birthdays.

Stew wants to get boring shit like shower sealer and CRC.  Meh. 

Once we are home I do believe I can finally get back to my sewing.  I've started the lay out of the extra large Wonky House Runner.  It's actually being made as a Wall Hanging, so I will need to add tabs at the top and a piece of dowel too.  I'm so looking forward to getting stuck into it!

I will now leave you with this, I saw it on Facebook yesterday?  (Thanks Sandra C *smiles*):

ABOVE: Thank god, it's cold enough now to kill off all the wasps!

OK... I'm outta here.  Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

1.45 pm: home from Hamilton.  We got everything we wanted, so I'm happy.

ABOVE: I'm hoping to try using a hot water bottle next Sunday when I'm at market!  Hopefully I will keep at least one part of me warm.

I will be using the colander with my painting... I will show you HOW I use it at some point.

MUM:  here's a couple of lovely photos of the visiting family:

ABOVE:  It was really lovely to spend some time with my cousin Dulcie and her youngest son Leetham.
They have now gone back to Auckland.

After they left, it was time to sort out the linen in the house.
It was ALL OVER THE PLACE.

So now, we have what we use all the time for visitors under Brylee's bed:

ABOVE: Thank goodness for this bed!  It holds so much under it.

All the rest has gone into vacum and garden bags and is now in the attic.  We simply don't have enough storage/linen cupboards in this house for everything!

It's now 4 pm.  Today is going too fast.
*sigh*

Ever wondered how good a vacum bag is? ...


ABOVE:  We got ALL our surplus linen/blankets and duvets into two bags.

Well... it's been a very quiet evening.  Did nothing much, too tired and sore.  My back is being a right pain.  Off to bed soon... another busy day tomorrow.

WHITE SPECKLED FABRIC

Well... rather typically, I have to go into Hamilton to a piece of fabric!
I'm making a Wonky House Runner, and extra large one.  It's an 'order' and of course, I don't have the one fabric the lady asked for!

So, first thing today I'm heading into Hamilton on the hunt for it.  Fingers crossed I do find some.

I may even have to go out to Gordonton... which will be nice I suppose.  I don't go out there much.

I forgot to post my walk photo from last night, so here it is:

ABOVE:  Griffin took the photo, next time I will take one with him in it too.  It was a lovely evening for walking, very crisp!
We had our first frost yesterday morning!  Winter is coming... Yaaaa!

When I get home from Hamilton I need to do some serious housework!  We have visitors arriving today.
My cousin Dulcie and one of her sons are staying here for a couple of days. Leetham is a rower... so there must be something on at lake karapiro.

12.14 pm:  It's too quiet on here!  I got home about an hour ago.
It's been a super foggy morning, it was still foggy in parts of Hamilton at 10.45!

ABOVE: See?  Seriously, who would choose to live in the Waikato?  Obviously, we had no choice.

I got some groceries for dinner at the supermarket.

I also found the fabric I needed:

ABOVE:  Now I can get on with the order for a super large Wonky House Runner.

OMG I'm feeling so cranky right now.
No specific reason either.  I'm just over it.

My back is still hurting, as is me f*#king toe.

Now I have to make up beds for the visitors.

Hopefully Brylee does a decent job of cleaning the bathroom so I don't have to do that too.

1.25pm:  So Coco chewed her rump.  Ended up in a collar.  Which gave her super knotty ears.  I asked Lacy to come out and groom the dogs before they go to the 'proper' groomer next week.

ABOVE:  She ain't a happy girl!  Still has a big scab on her rump too, so she will have to go back in the collar. Dammit.  Marley had muzzle knots too... gross.

I plan on bathing them all this weekend, they have been digging in the mud, dirty tarts.

I've come to the conclusion being in pain constantly is probably why I'm grumpy.  
Well that, and looking around my house and realising it's a friggin mess.

The floors need washing and vacuming.  *sigh*

Doubt I will get any sewing done today.

So... Brylee spent probably 5 minutes 'cleaning' the bathroom.

Now she's at work.  Fuck I hope part of her job ISN'T cleaning bathrooms!  I've just spent 40 minutes cleaning her 'clean' bathroom!

Literally doing everything except the shower.  EVERYTHING.  And I know I'm fussy, but really?  She must have wiped the sink with a dry cloth and called it a day.  

BUT... I knew I would end up doing it again.
Because she NEVER EVER does A PROPER JOB OF IT.  NEVER.

I've now washed the kitchen floor and done some vacuming, and OMG my back is done in.

I still need to sort out the beds for tonight, but someone said they could do it themselves?  GOOD IDEA.  I shall just show them where everything is.

Taking a break till my back stops hurting so much... then I will finish the vacuming.  Only got the family room to go.

9.15 pm:  And the evening has gone well.  Our visitors ended up making their own beds, which was just fine.
Dinner was sausages, a lovely salad and potato wedges.

Spent a good couple of hours yakking with my cousin Dulcie, so nice to have family visit.

Time to sign off for the day.  

I GAVE IT A SKIRT!

It's another work day for me today.
Not that I actually 'work' for long!

But, housework is quite taxing, so I'm glad I only do a few hours. 

It's really good doing only a few hours a week, being my own boss.

So... my trolley.

I made it a..... SKIRT!  lol

See:

ABOVE:  Like a skirt with pockets.  I'm happy with it, and I'm sure it will work just fine for the purpose I made it for.

I utilised the holes in the shelves perfectly!

Now I don't have to make multiple trips up and down hallways taking my stuff from one area to another... I just wheel it along with me in one go.  Excellent.  Sorted.

Once I get home from work I am going to take a break before getting on with some sewing.  My next market is in 10 days, so I better pull my finger out!
I've not made much since the last market.  In fact, I know I need to make at least 3-4 small Tree Table Runners, I have NONE.  Yikes.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  Forgot to show you where the broom/mop and duster go.  They are held down with a wide piece of elastic.  

I'm just so happy with this set up!

12.45 pm:  I've been home an hour... had me lunch and am now just relaxing for a little while.

My laundry trolley worked PERFECTLY!  I was so happy with how easy it was to get everything in and out of the car/house, and up and down hallways.  So good having most of what I use at a good height too... way less bending down.

PETA:  Yes I supply most of the cleaning products.  Things that are darn expensive (like Polishing Oil) I get them to supply.    I have a separate vacum and mop/broom etc for cleaning other people's homes. 
I wash my cleaning cloths in boiling water before putting them through the washing machine now as well.

Well, it's nearly 5 pm.  I should get dinner made.
Griffin and I are going for an FBG walk this evening around 6.45.

My sore toe, the one I dropped a pile of logs on is still giving me grief:

ABOVE: Although the bruising is all but gone, it's still horribly swollen and sore.  Wish it would just hurry up and get over itself.

Tonight's walk is extra long, so I hope I can do it!

Annoyed.  I could only manage the first half of tonight's walk.  Griffin did the whole walk, which was 6.1 kms.  I will have to do the second half of it another day/night.
My toe is throbbing now, and my back doesn't feel much better.

Did I tell you I pulled a muscle getting the Exercycle in my car on Tuesday?  Yeah, I brought it home from Steve and Bex's the other day.  I have plans to use it while watching TV in the middle of the day. Not every day, but some days when I am not walking.

And there ends another day.  Catch ya tomorrow.

lol, can't win!

BACK TO THE ROUTINE

Morning!

It's back to 'normal' around here today.  Family are either at school or work.

And this morning I have work too.

I think I have something that will 'work' for keeping all the cleaning stuff together:

ABOVE:  It's my old sewing trolley!  I don't use it anymore as it's too heavy to lift into my car with the sewing machine in it... kinda defeated the purpose.

But it MIGHT work for the cleaning supplies?
I will use it today and find out.

If it doesn't work out, I will keep looking for something.

There is actually heaps on Trade Me to choose from!

ABOVE:  MUM look!  The bowl covers you sent me finally arrived!!!
Only took a WHOLE MONTH to get from your's to mine.
Tell your friend Christina they are just lovely, and I will certainly be making a few myself soon.

Right, I'm off to get myself sorted, ready for work in a couple of hours.

ONWARD...

12.54 pm:  And job done... off to Hamilton now to look for a laundry trolley.  The Sewing Trolley did not work for several reasons.  

I lost out on a good one on Trade Me this morning, the seller did the 'dirty' and pretty much withdrew the item before the auction ended.  He just refused to accept my bids!  No reason given, he obviously already had a buyer lined up!
I was really cross, but as I can't prove it, I lost out.  Pissed off.

But, now I will go and look for something here in Hamilton.

3 pm:  And I'm home again.  I went to a place that sold heaps of trolleys... out in the industrial area of Hamilton.

There were several that I literally drooled over... but at the end of the day I had to be practical, and go for one that actually fitted in me car!

And wasn't too big and cumbersome.  So I got one that I will have to 'doctor' a little to make it fit for purpose:

ABOVE: It's rather cute.  Lightweight and easy to push along.  I just need to add something down the end or sides to hold stuff...

LEAVE.  IT.  WITH.  ME!  I'll have it good to go soon enough. lol

Those light coloured round dots on the trolley's trays are non slip thingees.  So a box won't slide off.

I've been working on my 'adaptations' all afternoon, and now I'm done.  But will not show you till tomorrow... cos well... I can.  lol

I was supposed to be going out tonight for a friends' 40th Birthday celebrations, but my back is killing me and I'm just too tired now.

I'm looking forward to a quiet night with me feet up!