MAGNETIC SIGN

So... last night I had some fun thinking about, then choosing a design for a car sign.
A magnetic sign, one that just sticks on me car.

Because I am running my little business OVER the table, I wanted to put some signage on my car.  

At the end of the financial year I can then claim for running costs, along with my cleaning supplies etc.

So, I chose a template, added my words and this is what I have ordered for my car:

ABOVE:  I love it, Stew loves it too.  I can't wait for it to arrive.  I've ordered two of course, one for each side of my car.
I couldn't believe how cheap they were too. I got them from Vistaprint if anyone's interested in getting some too.
They do all sorts of sizes too, not just car ones.

Today I have a house to clean, then home for lunch.

After lunch I am having an hour long break, then I have an FBG walk.  It's another half walk for me, I'm doing catch ups.  
Truth be known I am really enjoying the half walks right now... I don't get quite so tired doing only around 2.5 - 3 kms each time.

My toe is finally no longer hurting much at all, and my back is certainly getting better too.

Fingers crossed I don't do myself a mischief again. *smiles*

And that's all I've got for now, so catch ya later.

ONWARD...

12.45 pm:  Home, had lunch, now chilling out till I go on the FBG walk.
I love doing my job, I get a real kick out of leaving a home sparkling clean and tidy!

Something that pretty much never happens here cos of friggin teenagers and dogs.

I bet in ten years I will have nothing to do around here cos there's only me and Stew!  Bet I bitch about that too.  *smiles*

I now have a 'work' break till Monday afternoon, when I start the 'Orientation'  stage of working at  the rest home.  OMG I am still so nervous!

Not about the cleaning aspect, that's a doodle.  But the laundry, the big machines, getting all the clothes to the right people... THAT scares me silly!  

I hope I'm worrying about NOTHING... but I won't know that till I'm there and actually doing it.

And now that I've updated here, I really can relax for a while.  

5.43 pm:  This afternoon I went on an FBG walk.  First time ever after I finished, I felt like I wanted to leave the group.
The walks are supposed to be enjoyable, but today I had an argument with the walk leader over part of the walk.  

We came up to a shared DRIVEWAY, it was NOT on our map or in the instructions, but she insisted we had to go down it.   I pointed out the 'facts', but no.  She made everyone walk down a driveway!

Me being me, didn't.  I stayed on the street and waited for them.   It just soured the whole walk after that.

I got in my car at the end of the walk and felt like crying.  Instead I went and visited my friend Sue T.  We had a good chat, shared some cupcakes and then I went and picked up Stew's prescription and came home.

I've just put dinner on, which is Teryiaki chicken on rice, with garlic bread on the side.  

P.S. I've decided to stay in the FBG's, but simply NOT go on any walks lead by 'M'.  That way I don't end up getting upset/cross/or want to throttle her!

ABOVE:  Today's walk photo. 'M' took the photo, so isn't in it (by the way).

So I know the walk 'incident' wasn't a biggie, but there's a few other issues going on with FBG stuff that's getting me down too.  So ... that's why today just upset me a bit.  I will get over it, don't worry.

I've spent the evening doing bugger all!  Watching TV mostly.  I want to sew, but Coronation Street is on tonight, can't miss that!

Signing off for the day now.  Catch ya tomorrow.

ANOTHER APPOINTMENT, THEN SEWING

Well... I have another appointment at the rest home in Cambridge first thing this morning.
It's to go over rosters and work out times for 'Orientation' and so on.

Once that is done, I will be starting work there.
Can't wait.  Best thing?  It's nice and warm inside that building, cos shit it's getting cold now.

I have NOTHING else on today, no walk, no work... just a big fat nothing.  I should do my sewing, but maybe I'll be a lazy tart and just put me feet up for a while?

Let's see how I feel once I get home from the rest home.

For now... I'm off to get ready to go out.
Probably put a load of washing on, make the bed ... you know... all the usual stuff one does in the morning.

Here's a funny to start the day:

ABOVE:  I kid you not... he's got verbal diarrhea! Sometimes when he's telling me a story, recounting something that happened during the day I literally sit there waiting, rolling my eyes, waiting some more .. for him to get to the bloody point!  lol

Poor man... I don't think he's ever going to change.  He's damn lucky I love him, cos sometimes I just want to throttle him!  *smiles*

ONWARD...

DOGSTARS:  Wow! Thank you so much for the botanical lesson.  I, and probably every other reader on here DID NOT KNOW that there IS a Fir/Conifer tree that loses it's needles in winter!

Tamarack (Larix laricina), also known as American larch, is a very unique member of the pine family — one that loses its needles in fall. ... Tamarack has a narrow trunk that is covered with thin, gray bark on younger trees and red-brown, scaly bark on older trees.

9.36 am:  And I'm just home from my meeting at 'work'.  lol
Guess what?   I start next MONDAY!!!  Three days of orientation, then straight into the deep end on Thursday and Friday.   Eeeeeek.

I hope I don't blow the bloody clothes dryer up!  Or take Mr Brown's clothes to Mrs Smith!  lol
I'm sure I will get the hang of it over time. 

Is it normal to feel a bit nervous???  *smiles*

I'm going into Hamilton now... I've got a $40 off voucher at Spotlight!  I really SHOULD use it before it expires eh?

Catch ya a bit later.

It's later.  2.15 pm to be exact.

And I've been to Hamilton... a most successful trip too I must say.

 ABOVE:  First stop was Spotlight, where, with the 'normal' savings in store, and my $40 voucher....   instead of my stuff costing $167, it cost me  $63.  I SAVED $104!!!   Score.

ABOVE:  Boom!

ABOVE:  I just finished working out my roster/private work... and NOTHING clashes!

NOW... in answer to everyone's questions about how much I'm going to be working... this is my 'roster' of both my private jobs and my new job...

ABOVE:  It's  a two week roster... which just repeats.

So in Week one, with both private and the rest home, I do 16 hours work, with no weekend work.  

In Week two, with Private and Rest HOme I do 20.5 hours work, and work Saturday and Sunday, with a break in between the two separate shifts to come home for lunch.

I think it looks really good... I get plenty of time 'off' to do me own thing, sew and so on.

8.30 pm:  time to sign off for the day.  I'm trying to decide if I'm gunna sit and watch TV, or do some sewing.  *sigh*
Either way, I will be on me butt! lol

OLD MOO'S BIRTHDAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LOVELY MUM

82 TODAY 

BUT SURE IN HELL DOESN'T LOOK IT!

The women in our family have been blessed with pretty good genes if ya ask me.

Have an awesome day Mum, and enjoy dinner out with your friends and Ron. 

Today  I've got work this morning, then in the afternoon I will continue working on this:

ABOVE:  (a work in progress) ...This one has three 'naked' trees.  Not dead trees, just naked trees.  I'm not trying to be 'Botanically' correct here, I'm just trying to make pretty runners.  Half those trees are not 'realistically coloured' FIR/CONIFER trees either... by the way.

And now... I better get up and load the car with my cleaning 'kit'.... get the bed made, tidy up around the house etc etc.

ONWARD...

I mentioned I  had some news... well this is it.
I just had it confirmed, I now have another job!

On top of my own private cleaning jobs, I am now going to be working here:

ABOVE: It's a smallish rest home and hospital.  I'm going to be doing cleaning and laundry work.  The pay is a pittance, but hey!  It's more $'s in the kitty for the extras in life, and I get to work with other people, which I love.

Sorry if you thought my news was a new baby on the way.  Sadly no one wants to do that *sad face*.  Stuck on 13 grandchildren.

And OMG it's cold this morning!  Rather glad I have to go do some work, it will warm me up.

2.30 pm:  So today I was at 'P's home cleaning.  I gave P's name as a reference for the new job yesterday.  She got a phone call from the Rest Home and was asked a few questions about me this morning.

P said she gave me a glowing reference, then proceeded to tell me all about the phone call.  I was like, super relieved she said so many nice things about me!

THEN she said she was asked if there were any 'Negatives' about me?

And she said well... yes!  'P' told the lady I 'scared her' sometimes!!!!!   But in a nice way, I was a positive influence on her, and made her get more organised herself!  But I scared her!  I find that hilarious, sort of.  *smiles*

It was a bigger job today, I got stuck into P's two bedroom 'unit'.  Pissed off a hundred spiders!  Happy to be home now, having a break before I head out at 5 to do a half walk with the FBG's.   I've got about 4 half walks to get done.
And of course, try and keep up with the new ones that are getting released every week.

BUSY BUSY..... which is neat.  I don't like being too idle.  Like that's gunna happen now that I've got another job! 

5.40 pm:  Just home from a very fast walk... about 2.6 kms.  I got there bang on time to meet up with the girls who had done the 1st half of the walk.  The leader stuffed up a bit and said I didn't have to join them 'at that point', so off they went without me.  But I checked the map and sure enough, she was wrong.  So I ended up RUNNING to catch up with them!

YES!  I kinda ran!  So as I said, a 'fast walk' to begin with!  I feel quite tired, but it's all good.  

And now... I have to cook dinner then I'm hosting Card Night!
It's a simple dinner tonight, home made kebabs... meat and salad in a flat, thin naan type bread.  YUMMY.

ABOVE:  So happy to get the 2nd half of this walk done.  And in the 'daylight' too.  So many lately I've only managed to get to in the evening.

Dinner is ready.  And now I'm just waiting for the Card girls to arrive.

Cards is over, I did not win or lose. It was a lovely couple of hours... but I'm now done in.  It will be an early night for me.

SOUP BOWL CRAZY

First thing this morning I have an appointment, then once I get home from that.... I'm cutting out fabric for soup bowl cosy's.

ABOVE:  I laid out 24 colour combinations last night!  I'm not saying I will necessarily be sewing 24 cosy's, but I will try!

I'm down to 6, so I really do need to get more made.

Also on the 'to do' list is more Wonky House Runners (only got 2 made), and perhaps some Autumn Toned Tree Runners.

Actually, I might just do an Autumn Tree Runner first, cos I'm a bit excited about doing it.  *smiles*

ABOVE:  Griffin was Mr. Popular last night!  These two jumped on him the second he sat down!  Too cute.

Coco has been in a cone for a month, she made a mess of her rump.  I took it off her last night, so am praying she's not made a mess of herself overnight!   

I will go check on her in a minute to see.  Fingers crossed!

SHARON!!!!!  OMG just how many blog posts did you catch up on last night Chick????  Too funny, but lovely to see you back.  Don't stress about 'catching up'.. remember you have a holiday to get ready for!  Lucky tart.

Now... I'm getting up and starting my day.  Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

8.20 am:  Phew!  What a wet and windy night we had!  Sounds like lots of the country had it too, and it's not over yet.

I'm loving the wild weather of course, I love a good storm.

ABOVE:  I absolutely LOVE watching this tree change colours over autumn!  Such pretty foliage.
While I was taking these photos, a little visitor popped in to say 'Hi'.  Stew and I always feel like his Mum is visiting when we get a fantail pop in...

ABOVE:  She didn't stay long enough for me to get a really good photo... but isn't she gorgeous.

Right I better go... got stuff to be doing.

3 pm:  And today has been an up day for me!  I might have some news to impart in the next few days.
Time will tell.
In the meantime... I've laid out a large Autumn Tree Runner, but it needs tweeking (new idea).

I made a Placemat to try out the new idea first:

ABOVE:  My Autumn Tree Placemat.  

I had thought of varying the 'style' of trees, but that just didn't look good, so I stuck with my usual tree shape.  But ... there is a 'naked' tree!  What do ya think???

ABOVE:  Bit smokey in me house.  I'm burning cooking steak for dinner.

Steak... yeah nah.  Not good at cooking that stuff and I don't even like it.
Stew and Griffin seemed to enjoy it though... so can't have been too bad.

I'm done for the day... time to chill out.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY, AND MARKET

Mum, Ma, Marshall, Maudy, THE OLD MOO... have a really lovely Mother's Day.

I will give you a phone call this afternoon, once I'm home from Market.

And talking about me Mum... I got a parcel from her yesterday!  Most unexpected.  It's not me birthday!  But really lovely... you are right Mum, we all love to get mail/parcels.  *smiles*

ABOVE:  Mum sent me a lovely nautical scarf and top.  The top fits perfectly too.  I'm thrilled with them.  And yes, I just realised the scarf is upside down in the photo and I don't have time to take another.

Stew and I are up and getting ready to go to the Market.  The weather is looking very iffy, the forecast is for rain and wind.  I hope it's not going to be too bad or I will be packing up and coming home early.

If I can, I'll post an update during the morning of how it's going.

ONWARD...

ABOVE: nearly 10 am... made a few small sales. But its quiet.
Having a hot water bottle on my knees has made a HUGE difference to how cold I am!  In fact... I'm not cold at all.

And the rain is holding off too.

1.42 pm:  And we are home from Market.  And it was an OK day.  The lady who commissioned the Large Wonky House Runner picked it up and was so thrilled with it, she paid MORE for it!

So lucky too, the rain held off too.  Still expecting it later on today though.

Now we are home, it's quiet time.  Lunch.  Ring Mum for Mother's Day.

I'm still waiting to hear from half of my kids, fully expect not to hear from all of them though.

Well, it's 9.50 pm and I've been wished a Happy Mother's Day from 6 outta 8 of my kids.  Not bad I suppose?

It's been a lovely day, followed by a really lovely dinner cooked by Stew.

And now, I'm signing off as I have an appointment in the morning, so need to get some sleep!  Was awake at 5 am this morning... so am quite tired.

KINDA CRUISING TODAY

Today I'm not doing too much... might even stay in bed for a while.

I've got two small Tree Runners to finish, which won't take me too much time at all.
Then ?

Not sure.  I could start something else for the Market I suppose.

But I'm wondering if I should just have a chill out day?

It's been a busy week... work, sewing, walking, bla bla bla.  I'm a bit tired.

Tomorrow is Mothers Day, and I will be working on my stall at the Market.

So, yeah, think I might just have a cruisy day.

Oh I just had a thought!
I could do some more acrylic painting this afternoon!  Now there's an idea.

The first three have about another 2 weeks to 'cure' before I can prepare them for varnishing.  That is quite a process too... you have to get all the silicone off the canvas before you can put the varnish on.  I am looking forward to seeing them varnished!
But for now, I will probably do 2-3 more today.

Exciting!

Right... I'm gunna roll over and sleep in some more!  Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

No Felicity!  I am not still in bed.  lol
I got outta bed at about 9.30 and immediately started sewing again.
And I'm happy to say that after 4 and a half hours I've finished what I wanted to get done for tomorrow.

ABOVE:  So this week I have made and finished the large Wonky House Runner and 8 small Tree Runners, AND I've finished off those 4 Wonky House Placemats too.  The two pink ones, if they don't sell tomorrow, will be donated to our Pink Ribbon Breakfast Fundraiser next Sunday.

I will tell you more about that another day.

Now though, I'm happy to say I'm done sewing and am moving on to some painting.

PAINTING.  *sigh*
Wasn't my day to paint.
I got one 'right'... or rather how I envisioned it.
One was a 'happy accident'.
And one was a bloody disaster!

I take my hat off to all those clever artists out there, who make it looks SO EASY on You Tube!!!

It's certainly NOT easy.   

And now it's nearly dinner time and I'm knackered.

Tomorrow it's Market Day.. so a bit hectic to get down there and set up, then REST on me bum and hope the punters are spending for Mother's Day!

I'm signing off now, I'm ready to just sit and watch some mindless TV and have dinner dished up to me by Stew.  He's cook tonight.

WORK THIS MORNING, THEN GUESS WHAT?

Work, then guess what?

You don't really need to guess do you?

I will be sewing!  Of course.

But first, I have a solid 3 hour job ahead of me... super big house again.  Though, it's a nice house to clean, just big.

These are the 4 Small Tree Runners I got finished yesterday:

ABOVE:  I did one differently than 'usual'.  With black binding.

What do you think of it?  Yes or No?  I will be doing 4 more today/tomorrow, so if anyone thinks I should do more with black binding, let me know!

Thank goodness it's Friday!  I don't have to cook so much tonight, just a silly bugger dinner of chicken steaks and hash browns I think.

And now... I'm off to make a start on my day.

ONWARD...

1.11 pm:  just home from cleaning.

I had a little mishap this morning.
Drove into the lady's driveway, swung around so I could back up to the garage and WHOOPS!
Drove straight into their basketball hoop pole, which was luckily on a tyre, so it moved.
But I did hurt me car a little bit:

ABOVE:  Scraped a bit of paint off, it doesn't look too bad cos it's wet... but so lucky there's no big dent!
I scared the living daylights out of myself and the lady in the house!

She came running out all concerned, but I told her at the end of the day it's JUST A BLOODY CAR!

Then I told her be thankful I didn't run into her house!  lol

Next time I go there, I'm gunna just park like 'normal' and not try to do any fancy swinging around!  Basketball poles DEFEND THEMSELVES!
Oh and yeah, I need to take some food for myself, I was starving half way through the job!
Not a good feeling being hungry, I avoid it like the plague.  *smiles*

I made a lemon meringue pie thing last night, had some.  Not having any more.  It upset my stomach something rotten... felt ill all night long.

Now, some lunch then back to the sewing.  I will try doing one of the tree runners with some black stitching around a tree or two, and black binding, let's see how it looks.

Two hours later... after being on the phone with FBG stuff for a while... I finally have the next small tree runner to show you:

ABOVE:  So, I did two trees with black stitching... and the black binding. I think it looks OK-ish, not too sure.  I will leave it at just two like that and see how they go for now.

I have put quite a chunky cushion behind my back while in the chair sewing, it's helping I think.  Though my back is nowhere near as sore today, even though I did 3 hours of housework this morning!   Must be getting better...

And now.... I will get back to it.  

9.40 pm:  such a long day!  But, I have got so much done... tomorrow I will finish the last two small Tree Runners, that will mean I did in fact get all 8 finished.  GO ME!

I might even get time to make something else for market... not sure what though.

Now, it's time to actually sit and do ... NOTHING.

ANOTHER BIG SEWING DAY AHEAD

Well... if you thought yesterday's blog was a bit quiet/boring... I've got more of the same today *smiles*

I will be sewing all day...

ABOVE:  I got the stitching done on three of the small tree runners yesterday afternoon, so will hopefully get the other 5 done today.  Then I 'just' need to put the backing and binding on and they will be done.

I am thinking I might get them all done by Sunday.
And then... what do ya bet I don't sell any!  lol

Murphy's Law and all that.  But at least I will have built up my stock again.

Because my back is giving me so much grief, I am going to be stopping every hour and doing a minimum of 10 minutes on the exercycle, to break up the day.  And give my back a break from bending over the sewing machine.

My friend Susan D told me last night that would really help my backache, so might as well try it.   I did, after all, bring the damn exercycle back from Auckland to use it eh?  AND that's how I hurt my back too... trying to put it in my car on my own.  What a twit.

ABOVE:  I put the exercycle here, instead of with all the other exercise equipment in the garage. This way, I might actually USE it... while watching TV.  

I had to shrink the dining table down by two seats, but that's fine.  If we need more room around the table, it only takes a few minutes to add the extension back in.  And the exercycle can be wheeled into the sewing room temporarily.

ABOVE:  I saw this on Facebook last night ... and OMG!  So apt.  I had to change bobbins TWENTY THREE TIMES yesterday and I was thinking:  'If only there was a way to have bigger bobbins'!!!

*sigh* by the time some clever bastard sorts that problem out, I'll probably be long gone.

So anyway... that's my day planned.  Sewing.  Cycling.  Sewing... etc, etc.
Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

It's midday, and I've not got to do any sewing yet!

The dogs had a grooming appointment at 11, so I went into town and did a couple of jobs first, then dropped them off.  Then I had lunch.

We've been de-cluttering as you know, so I took another load to the Hospice Shop this morning.  In that lot was our Puppy Heating Pad... and before I donated it... I tried it out on my back:

ABOVE:  And yeah! It's pretty amazing... perfect size, not too hot... so much better than a wheat bag that keeps cooling.
I've had it on my back while having lunch and yep, it didn't get donated after all.  *smiles*

NOW... I can finally get back to the sewing.

3.35 pm:  Just got the dogs from the groomers.  Can finally see properly what Coco's been doing to her rump.
Pretty sure it started out as a flea bite, but now she's just turned it into a hot spot.  She simply won't leave it alone.

I've done a flea treatment on them and still she gnaws herself.  Grrrrr.  I'm wondering if the flea treatment I used was too old to be effective anymore?  Does that stuff go 'off'?  I'd had it for quite a few years.

I have managed to get one Tree Runner completely finished, and should have the other three done by the end of the day too.

But right now, I have to make more binding... *groan*

7.30 pm:  And I got the binding done, then dinner cooked for everyone, then I had just enough time to jump in me car and head off for an FBG walk.
I only did the first half of Section 12C tonight, as my back is still very sore, but I'm happy I got out and did 3.4 kms tonight.

Just made a Lemon Meringue Pie! It's a recipe like none I've ever done before... from an FBG girlfriend from South Africa.  Let's see if mine comes out like her's!

Time to sign off for the day... catch ya tomorrow.