BLURRED...

How the hell do you know what day it is, when there is NOTHING to differentiate between them?

Stew is home every day, there is no routine.  Some days I wake up and I have absolutely no idea what day it is.

And does it even matter right now?  

Not really.  

Yes, Stew does 'go' to work ... but he's home too.  So weird.

Today is Sunday.  Easter Sunday.  Are the supermarkets even open?  I dunno, but I think so?
I want to go and get a few things we are running out of... and some Losec for my heartburn/reflux.

If I do go out and find the supermarket is open, I'm taking a fold up stool to sit on!  I hear the queues are INSANELY LONG, in some places it's taking 2 hours to get in the shop!!!

IN fact, I doubt I will stay in a queue that long, nothing is worth waiting that long for.  Well... except loo paper!  lol

ABOVE:  Steve, Bex and the kids got out yesterday.  They have a really large park near their house, so can go and kick a ball around.  Steve is getting his fitness back slowly, and has regained his lost weight too.

NO PAIN... and 'things' are working like normal for the first time in years!  So good, thank god for medication that is working.

ABOVE: Two bags full of wool got dropped off at our front door yesterday afternoon!  

How lovely.  I think I know who gave it to me, and I will be walking up to her house after Lockdown with some baking to thank her.  I think her name is Jean, and she lives a few minutes up the road from me.
She told me a week ago she was going to find her wool and give it to me for the tree.  *smiles*

Now ... today?  Supermarket/chemist first up.
- Then more sewing.  
- Another addition on the tree.  
- Watch Stew finish cleaning the last windows, which happen to be in my studio.

He's done all the other ones!  What a man. 

Now I have to come up with something else for him to do.   Hmmmm....

ONWARD...

11.03 am:  And we had a lovely bag of feijoas dropped on our driveway this morning from our daughter Kelly.  Stood well away from her and had a yak.  They are doing good... getting a few local bike rides in to keep the kids exercised.

 ABOVE:  Today's tree addition.  Spent way too long out there yakking with neighbours and passers by.  But as I took me little step ladder, I got to sit and chat instead of stand.  *smiles*
I've got a bloody sore back today... combination of sitting sewing for ages yesterday, and our shitty bed.  

Seriously considering getting a new bed once this lock down is over.
  

ABOVE:  I smile every time I see how well this succulent is growing... it started as a tiny little cutting about 3 years ago.

ABOVE:  When you have no idea what a plant is... never even seen it before, it's lovely to see it's flowers coming out.  This one seems to be a creeping plant of some sort.  

I haven't been to the supermarket yet, but will go shortly.

Home from the supermarket and chemist.  NO QUEUES anywhere!
Straight into the supermarket, and ...

 ABOVE:  There was no shortage of ANYTHING... but flour was only available in 20 kg bags.  I also found baking powder and baking soda.  Awesome.
Everyone was kind and courteous today, no problems at all.

ABOVE:  I ummm... managed to rectify the 'NO CHOCOLATE' situation too.  *smiles*

After the supermarket, I drove down to The Base, as there's a huge Chemist Warehouse there.

Upon arriving, I was met with a road block at the carpark entry ... and was asked where I was going and had my number plate taken down.

Then at the Chemist I was met at the door and asked questions pertaining to my health, and had my temperature taken, before being allowed in the shop.

They had the Losec I needed, so I grabbed it and left.

The roads were deserted today, bar just a few cars.  Impressed.
There were HEAPS of people out walking and cycling though.  I've never seen so many people on the footpaths.

Time for lunch, and NO, it won't be chocolate! lol

ABOVE:  Trust Steve to make Easter Egg Hunting a lesson in reading!  Can you read clue number 4?
If you can't, it says:  "Egg number 4 is hard to track, it's hidden somewhere you clean your sack"  ... OMG  Steve!

So, we did some gardening this afternoon.  More on that tomorrow.

I made lamb burgers for dinner.  They were HUGE and the dogs got quite a bit of mine for their dinner.

I have been making more pom poms this evening.  Time to bugger off for the day.  Catch you tomorrow.

A UFO

Good Morning...  I'm gunna do some sewing today. Get in my 'Happy Place' and be productive.

Because there is probably no likelihood of doing any markets for a few months, I wasn't sure what I could work on in the Studio at the moment.

Then Stew suggested I work on something for ME/US.  Excellent idea.

I have dragged this UFO out of it's box:

ABOVE:  I really like this half finished quilt top.  I think I'll make it a single bed size quilt... or maybe a queen.  We will see I suppose.

While I'm doing that, I think Stew is going to wash windows?  He didn't do any yesterday, he was (in his own words) 'Just a Lazy F#*k'!

I don't think he will get away with it again today though. 

On that note....

ONWARD...

ROBYN:  A UFO in 'Patchwork' terms stands for:
Un Finished Project.

Other terms used are Work In Progress (WIP), and Project Half Done (PHD).   Those are the only three I know of, there may be more.

I've added the latest additions on the tree:

ABOVE: Two small additions today.
  
It's a gorgeous day out there, but I'm a bit cold so have on long tights and a lightweight winter jumper.
No doubt by lunchtime I will be changing into summer clothes again.

So changeable right now.  True Autumn weather.

Stew and Brylee are off for a walk shortly... I can't go... I'd get too hot.

If you are not allowed to go outside your local neighbourhood area for exercise, WHY THE FUCK are people jumping on their bikes and going for huge bike rides???  Makes me so mad.

ABOVE:  I got sick of joining little squares together, so took a break from them and did this.  A bird table topper... I used to make them as coasters, but as coasters don't actually sell that well... I will make it into a table runner.

***  HEARTBURN/REFLUX *** 

OMG it's the pits at the moment.
I will have to try and get some Losec from the chemist tomorrow.

In fact, it's probably time I visited the Doctor here in Hamilton.  I'm overdue for a diabetes blood test, and my medications are all running down.  Yeah, think I will try and get an appointment on Tuesday.  I've not been to the 'new' medical centre here yet.  I hope they are good.

Time to sign off for the day... I'm ready to just sit and blob out.

NO CHOCOLATE!

Well... it's Easter and we have absolutely NO CHOCOLATE in the house!

How the hell did that happen?

Simple.  We didn't feel like standing in a huge, long queue at the supermarket, just for easter eggs!

Like, it's not ESSENTIAL.  We don't have any little kids to give them to right now either.  *sadly*

It's crazy how people flood to the supermarket just because it's going to be CLOSED for ONE WHOLE DAY.  I just don't get it.

And don't get me started on 'holiday makers' trying to head off to their beach house/bach or where ever for Easter either!

ABOVE:  Apparently there have been 'a few' people who have been dumb enough to try and travel to the beach... only to be turned around at check points.

And those who did manage to get there without being turned around, ha ha! They will probably get caught trying to go home again on Monday, only to be told they now have to stay there.

Wonder how inconvenient that will be for them?

This lockdown is to stop the spread of this bloody virus... and save lives.  It's working here so far.

Why put others at risk by travelling?  It's so frustrating when almost everyone in our country is doing the right thing, yet there's some twats who think the rules don't apply to them. 

I was saying to Stew last night, it's like we are living in a weird Alien movie... where there's this threat 'out there'... we can't see it, hear it or smell it... but IT'S THERE.  And it's affecting the entire world. 

THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!  It's unnerving.  Almost unreal.

Certainly something to look back on one day and say "I lived through that time".  

It is certainly the biggest single world event that I have lived through, an event that has touched the lives of everyone I know.

On a lighter note, I watched some YouTube tutorials last night and decided to try this one:

 ABOVE:  It's in a foreign language, but it is such a good tutorial it didn't matter that I couldn't understand a word of it!  Check out the number of views!  Over 6 million. WOW.

ABOVE:  And yep, I did it!  It's a bit harder to see the pattern using multi coloured wool... but I did it!

In fact, it's a super easy stitch, one that would look lovely as a blanket I reckon.  NOT that I'm ever going to crochet a blanket again ... been there, done that.  In me 20's.  Made a whole heap for me kids.  Goodness knows where they all are now.

Today I think Stew is going to continue washing the windows.  I'm going to get some washing on and yeah, just potter around the house like I have been doing for WEEKS.... but feels like MONTHS!

I'm gunna drag Miss Lazy Bones (Brylee) out of bed too... she can vacum the house for me.

ONWARD... 

12.15 pm:  Another super slow start to the day.
So far have only got one big load of washing out on the line, and stitched today's addition on the tree.


ABOVE:  And that is the last of the gorgeous blue wool.  Shame that.  I do still have a good amount of wool though, so I shall keep going.

Stew and Brylee went out for a walk... crazy buggers.  It's stinking hot today !  Time to rattle Brylee's dags and get her on the end of a vacum cleaner.

I got in the Studio this afternoon.  I'd been feeling a bit down in the dumps today, but as soon as I sat down in front of my sewing machine my mood lifted.

Stew did a little job for me:

ABOVE:  I asked him to put a gate up between the Studio and the garage, so the dogs can't get in my studio.
This way, I can have the sliding door leading outside open, without worrying about the dogs getting out.

ABOVE:  It looks nice there.  I didn't want to put up ANY gates in the house at all... but this one is OK.
The girls can roam around in the house freely, which I love.  

Stew is cooking dinner tonight, we are having sausages, garlic minute steak,  mashed potatoes with cheese, mixed veges, cabbage and gravy.   I wanted baked beans with my meat and potato, but Stew said NO.  The shit.

Oh well... I will have Baked Beans tomorrow and toot all day.

I just watched a movie called 'LION'.  It was lovely, made me cry at the end.  Now... Coronation Street, then bed.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Ok... first up for today, I have my knitting efforts from yesterday:

ABOVE: Any idea what they are?  I know, I'm a bit mean.
I will show you later, once they are on the tree.  *smiles*

Once that is done, I  have another job to do.
Brylee and I are going to move all of Lacy's 'stuff' out of my studio.

ABOVE: All her stuff is piled in my studio.  I simply can't work in there while it's like this, it's doing my head in.
So, it's all going in the garage until she comes back from Whangarei, and then MOVES OUT.  lol

She can use the garage as her 'room' till she finds somewhere else to live.

Doing this means that if Griffin wants to move home after the lock down, we will have the room for him too.

Once I've got my Studio all tidied up I'm going to work on some of my UFO's.  I don't have that many, but it will give me something to do while we are still stuck at home constantly.

ONWARD...

11.15 am:  Bit of a slow start this morning, but once I got started...


ABOVE:  This got done.

Now I just have to tidy up my Studio and the spare bedroom.

Oh and YES VICKIE!  Bunting it is.  *smiles*  I will have to wait for Stew to take his lunch break so he can help me put it up on the tree.

MEL:  That's a gorgeous idea, but obviously we can't do that in this Covid-19 lockdown.  Shame though.

2.25 pm:  And the tree additions are up...

 ABOVE: Two additions today, the little blue/white strip, and THE BUNTING!

ABOVE:  Stew's included cos he hung them up for me.  He's enjoying the tree too I might add.  *smiles*

It's super blustery today, and we've had the odd shower too.  Much, much cooler today I must say.  Not sure I like it!

Yep, there I go, bitching about the cold.  LOL

This afternoon Stew needed to go into work for important documents, so I went along for the drive.
We drove directly into his building's underground carpark, went up the lift to his office and then home again.
It was neat to get out of the house, even just for a little while.
  
I was surprised how many cars were on the roads today.  It was quite busy!
Our infection numbers are coming down dramatically, but if the traffic out there this afternoon is anything to go by... it might not last.

I spent the rest of the afternoon knitting and crocheting, making a couple more additions for the tree. 

Stew got us dinner tonight.  Home made hot dogs and wedges.  
We are not eating that well right now I must say.  Eating too much and too often.

Boredom obviously... and being cooped up inside to much.  
I just don't feel like doing much *sigh*.

Time to sign off for the day.  

Stew is off 'work' for the next 4 days, EASTER of course.  Another 'Staycation' for everyone.

The police are setting up road blocks to catch people who are trying to sneak off to their beach homes for the holiday. 
I hope not too many do try it, it's not worth it really.

POM POMS TODAY

First up for the day is for us to hang a new addition on the tree.
I was told my tree was on a local Facebook page last night, so I popped over to take a look.
Yep, there was my tree:

 ABOVE:  I checked out the comments last night, and said thanks to everyone for their lovely words.

We certainly chose a really lovely neighbourhood to move into!  When we decided to move from Cambridge to Hamilton, the one area we wanted to be in THE MOST was North Hamilton.  And...We are exactly where we wanted to be.

 ABOVE:  The pom poms for today.  I have to stand up on the freakin' ladder again!   Stew has NO BLOODY IDEA how to sew the piece on the tree!  
I asked him to help tie a knot around a pom pom last night... OMG it was like watching a two year old try to tie it's own shoelaces.  Hopeless.

Lucky for me he is very handy at other things. *smiles*   Love you Darling.

ABOVE:  I captured this sunset a couple of nights ago and forgot to share it.  Isn't it just gorgeous!  The only blight on my view is the tv aerials *sigh*.  Ya can't have everything though ... on a whole we are loving our new home.

It is supposed to rain this afternoon... fingers crossed it actually DOES!  I will hold off watering everything... in case the forecast is actually correct.

Right, I better get outta bed and hang those pom poms, so those who walk/cycle/drive by today get to see a new addition.


ONWARD...


ABOVE: Up bright and early to get that new addition on.  LOTS of walker and runners first thing in the morning!

 VELCRO:  Well I did think that was an excellent idea, but most of the time I knit/crochet the additions on guesswork, not precise lengths.  So velcro might not work in that case scenario.

I felt quite 'safe' up on the ladder today as Stew was holding on to it, and me bum when NECESSARY.  Somehow I don't think it was necessary at all... but oh well.  He's a bloke.

I finished all the painting this morning too... just in time really, as it is looking like rain might be coming later on?

Now what to do?  Lunch, followed by some crochet I think.

Stew is super busy at work... he's on the phone constantly today!  I'm so glad he went back to work instead of continuing our 'holiday'.  

SO looking forward to having that holiday... even though it probably won't be for months now.

8.15 pm:  I have been knitting all afternoon!  And watching Netflix on me computer.  Murder Mystery movies.  Love it.

I used left over chicken and bacon from last night and made a potato top pie for our dinner.
It was really YUM.

Now... It's wind down time... we had have constant drizzle and rain since mid morning, it's been wonderful.  
I hope it lasts till tomorrow as predicted.

Catch ya tomorrow.

THE FRONT FENCE

Guess what?
I had this bright idea while I was out the front painting the Studio wall a couple of days ago.


ABOVE:  So, what is Stewie doing?

You will have to wait until I'm outta bed ... and can take a photo in decent light.

Until then... I need to get on with some housework ... washing on, bed made bla bla bla.

I will be doing the 2nd coat of paint on the long, front studio wall today too.  I'll be glad when it's finished.  I'm over it already!  But it does look wonderful, so well worth the hard work.

I don't have an addition for the tree today... so I better work on something today, to add tomorrow.

Steve DID go out for a little walk with Bex and the kids yesterday!  He said it felt wonderful... he is feeling so much better.  Such a relief.
It's fantastic he keeps in touch. We have heard from Lacy a few times too, she's OK up in Whangarei.  

And that's all I have for now.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

1 pm:  And I've been outside painting for about 4 hours!
I baked another Lumberjack cake before that too.

Now, as for the front fence... well, this is what we did:

 ABOVE:  We did indeed drill holes in the fence!

And I painted the insides of them to match the studio walls.   There is another step to go... but I've not done it yet. So no photo of the street side yet...

ABOVE:  Except that one.

ABOVE:  The other painting I've done today is all the edges and fiddly bits on the studio walls not done yesterday, and the gate.

I've now stopped painting for the day, and have come inside for lunch. 

ABOVE:  so the wooden rounds from the fence got the blue bubble effect... and then I screwed them onto the fence.
I think they look like kinda cute there.
Stew will have to help me attach them properly, most of them are not screwed in tightly enough.
Not sure what I've done wrong... hopefully he can fix it.

And fix it he did!  He just found the correct head for the drill... which was NOT in the drill kit (of course).  I was using one that was just a bit too small.
So my bubbles are all drilled in properly now, and I'm thrilled to bits with the fence.

I'm now done for the day, off to get dinner finished and on the plate.
We are having a chicken/bacon bake, with mashed potatoes and veges.

ROLLING ON

Today I am going to roll the paint on the front wall of the studio.

It will probably take me a couple of hours.

Once that is done, I will take a break from painting for a few days.  My arms and back need a break.

ABOVE:  So ELEGANT.

I might look a bit like that... later.  Probably have knickers on though.  *snort*

Stew is back to work (in the lounge) today, just another day at the office for him.

I will have lunch with him at 1 pm.

Last night I sat up until after midnight making things for the next tree addition, I had certainly never made them before!
And I had to use a kitchen fork.  
And ideas?

...
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.........
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ABOVE:  I made flowers!  Using a fork.  It was very interesting.  And easy. But not that fast.
They are cute though, and add yet another dimension to the tree.

This addition will go on in a couple of hours, once I'm outta bed, dressed and have some face on.

I've been neglecting the face.  Not pretty.  Must do better.  *smiles*

STEVE update:  so far so good.  His pain is diminishing slowly, and he will be on a much lower dose of steroids by the middle of the week.  

Then he will not be classed as 'immunosuppressed' anymore, and that means he will be able to go off his property for a walk with the kids.  He's so looking forward to that.
He's been totally housebound or in hospital for quite some time now.

Yesterday I forgot to mention that Stew did an amazing job of getting a mass of windows washed, inside and out!  There's still more to do, but OMG he's made a huge dent in the number.  So relieved cos they were really awful.
They look WONDERFUL now.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  Flower addition is on, me face is on, earrings on too.  Feel like I should be going out somewhere....  but no.

Off to change into painting shirt and get on with the job at hand.

Oh and... I got messaged this morning by a Whatsapp chat from a neighbour down the road, telling me there was a weird cloud above my house!  Why thanks Richard, I needed to know that!  lol  It was a jetstream.


ABOVE:  Couldn't be bothered with photos this time.
And where is everyone?  Not at work... well not 90% of ya anyway. It's been very quiet on here today.  

I'm taking a break... probably won't be doing much this afternoon.

And as predicted ... I did do bugger all this afternoon.  I had a nap.  I 'helped' Stew with a project when he finished work.
I cooked dinner and now... watching TV till bedtime.
So lazy!