BACK TO IT

 Gosh the weeks certainly seem to be flying by fast.

Last week seemed to be fairly eventful here.  So let's hope this week isn't.

All I have on my agenda for today is getting the washing done, and sewing.

So, how about a couple of extra photos from yesterday?

ABOVE: Everyone except me, at the Bowling Alley.  It was such fun, we are certainly going again.

Steve had shaved again, but left his moustache ... he looked like a bloody porn star!  Ikkk.  Bex refused to kiss him again until he shaved it off. 😂😅😆

ABOVE: This is a beautiful garden area that leads from the main shopping street (in Hamilton) down to a series of steps and ramps that overlook the river.  

It's been set up with seating so people can spend time outside and enjoy the gardens and views.

ABOVE: I  was very impressed with how lovely it all was. 

And... that's me for now.  Catch ya later.

 

It's a bit later.   And I have lots on my mind today.  I woke up at 4.30 this morning, and lay and listened to the wind blowing, and my mind whirring around and around.  I don't think I got back to sleep until about 7.30.  I feel like I have a fuzzy brain now.

It's so much cooler now.  I'm starting to think of winter clothes, and what I actually have to wear!

Not much in fact.  I might have to go out and get some warmer stuff soon.

11.45 am: And I actually got cold... so I fished out some long tights and a warmer top to wear.  Now I just need to get some socks on and I'm set.

Today for lunch I'm having a baked potato with some red onion and baked beans.  Comfort food.

ABOVE:  I had just settled down to watch a movie when this one turned up for a cuppa tea. 

So we yakked and spent some time together.

Was nice.

Now she's gone, and I'm thinking about watching said movie, it's just some random one on the TV.  

Well that was one of the worst movies I've ever watched.  It was about a guy who's twin kidnapped him and took over his life.  Of course, the wife suspected something pretty quick... yadda yadda yadda.   Corny.  

Dinner tonight is Beef meatballs and bacon pieces, cooked with onion and a sweet 'n' sour sauce then dumped over rice.  Stew said it's lovely.  I'm having mine later, cos I had a late lunch.

And that's all folks... catch ya tomorrow.

FAMILY FUN DAY

Today?

First and foremost, Stew and I shall be SLEEPING IN!

Second day in a row we actually can just lie in bed and not have to get up for anyone or anything.

FINGERS AND TOES crossed that nothing happens to interfere with that plan.  😌😋😊

We have the entire morning to ourselves.  Which means we shall probably do NOTHING.  

After lunch we are meeting up with Steve, Bex and the boys, and going out to play Ten Pin Bowling!

It's bloody years since we did anything like that.  I think it will be fun.  Hopefully I'm not the twat that throws a ball up into the ceiling!  

Then after THAT, we are coming home and Steve is going to cook dinner for all of us!

I do believe we are having his 'famous' Lasagne.

I'm drooling thinking about it already.

ABOVE:  I FINALLY got around to giving Emily and Liam belated birthday gifts!  Gosh I'm the worst grandmother.

I gave them some cash and a rock.  Yes, a painted rock.

You have no idea just how much they LOVED their rocks!

I was quite surprised.

I think Liam probably slept with his.  lol

They got named.  Rocky and Rockette.

And that's all I have for now.  I'm gunna lie here and just enjoy staying in bed a bit longer.

12 noon.  It's been an excellent morning.  Stew cleaned the pool and did a back wash... which cleans the filtering system.

I pottered around with my jig saw... I'm determined to get more done on it.

It's been confounding me, it's quite a complicated one.  And BIG, 1,500 pieces.   I stayed up until 2 am last night, trying to make some decent progress on it.  That worked.  It's finally starting to come together. 

We are about to have some lunch, then Steve and Bex are picking us up.  I'm looking forward to playing Ten Pin Bowling!

3.15 pm:  And we are home from Ten Pin Bowling.

It was lots of fun, even the little boys enjoyed it.

ABOVE: Lots of lovely smiles.

ABOVE: Clearly, Ten Pin Bowling is NOT my forte.  I only connected with pins FOUR times!

I have decided in future we will have a Winner's and Loser's trophy, so at least I get something!

AT LEAST I got a strike for my first ball.

Steve is now making his pasta (from scratch) for dinner.  Damned if I'd make home made pasta.

8.50 pm:  Well Steve outdid himself and cooked an amazing Lasagna tonight.  Everyone loved it.

They have now gone home and Stew and I are winding down for the day.

I'm really tired, I sure won't be staying up until 2 am ever again, doing a freakin' jig saw puzzle.

THREE NOW

 Last night I found out that my Mum's sister, Jean, had passed away.

So, in the space of five months, three siblings have died.  Three out of ten.  In only five months!

I think that's it folks.  Three in a row.  

ABOVE:  This photo was taken in May, 2017 at Mum's 80th Birthday.  Hard to believe three of them have now died.

So, not a great way to start a new day.  Particularly when I wanted it to be another good day.  I don't know what our plans are for the day, but I think it should involve something fun.

Cos I'm damned if I'm going to get into another funk!

12.55 pm:  Stew and I did housework this morning, and  just pottered around the yard and so on.

Then Bex and the boys arrived, so we had lunch together.

ABOVE:  Coco getting spoiled rotted.  

We are not going out and having 'fun' after all.  Amanda's two youngest are getting dropped off later, so yeah.

Maybe we can do something together tomorrow.

4.20 pm:  Stew has been outside tending to gardens, moving a few things around to give us room for two feijoa trees.  And he encounters a paper wasp nest.

He got stung on the hand.

So inside he goes and grabs a can of fly spray.  Sprays the nest and as many wasps as he can.

Then runs outta spray.

All good.   Until I find another nest!

So I tottle off to the supermarket to get more spray.  $116 later.... spray, cleaners, meat, bread and so on.  

Seriously!  All I needed was fly spray!

And there ya go.  Exit stage right, one rather large wasp nest.

Exit stage left, me to clean wasp killer off me.

11.56 pm:  Sorry!  I've had  a busy evening.  Well, not that busy.

We had Emily and Liam here for dinner, then Amanda picked them up and took them home.

After that I got to work on my puzzle, and just got carried away!

Time to sign off, and stop making peeps worry about me!  Sorry Felicity.

TWO?

 Hmmm... let me see.

Can we go for two in a row?

Two good days would be awesome.

Yesterday was such a neat day, I felt happy most of the day.

I'd love to do that again.

Sewing my latest runner is going to be my mission today.

How about a sneak peek?

ABOVE:  It's kinda obvious what they are eh? 😄😉😊

I was working in the sewing room last night, and looking around at the SPACE I suddenly have again!

That room is huge!  Cutting it in half with the 'shop' made it seem so cramped and small.

I feel so happy in there now.

So... I will get up before 8 again, and start the day.  Positive vibes.

ABOVE:  Stitching around feet can only described as a pain in the butt.

And there's more shitty, fiddly bits yet to do.  But, I'm in me happy place.  No stress.

And NO, we have not been affected by this morning's earthquake at all.  Lynda, I just read that there is a Tsunami warning out still!  Wow, I missed that since reading the news much earlier this morning.  Be safe people near the east coast.

Well good news all round.  No Tsunami's, just some abnormal wave activity, but nothing serious.  The alert has been dropped, but with a warning to stay out of the water and off the beaches 'just in case'.  For the next few hours.

And we have no new Community Cases of Covid 19 today, making that 5 days in a row.  Such good news, I hope it lasts.

I have now left the sewing room, I am done for the day.  I'm not going to sew all day and stuff up my back any more.

So, I'm about to have some lunch (1.40 pm) and then do some of my current jig saw.

Lacy has been in, grabbed some Passionfruit Slice, and left again!  lol  Nice to see ya.

Nice afternoon, watching a crime series on TV, doing some of me puzzle and yakking with Ron.

Then Stew arrived home from work and promptly went to the pub.  I took him, and will no doubt have to pick him up again.

I'm now home, and will probably cook myself some dinner and watch TV.

I'm signing off now.  Catch you tomorrow. 

NEW DAY....

RIGHT.

Today I am determined to have a better day!

I am going to make a passionfruit slice (Thanks for the recipe Tania) and then I am going to sew.

I did NOTHING yesterday afternoon except yak with family and sit on me bum!

I am going to do everything I can to be more positive.

Nothing is gunna change unless I try harder.

So, I'm gunna get out of bed BEFORE 8, turn the   music ON and get moving.

Let's be doing this.

9.50 am:  I woke up this morning with a very clear vision of what I wanted to accomplish today.

And I'm happy to say, it's in progress.

ABOVE: This gorgeous daughter arrived and we did some work.  She got to do most of the heavy shit.  Now I just have a few hours ahead of me doing the fine tuning.

I will divulge all... later.

AND no, I've not made the passionfruit slice yet.  That will now happen either this afternoon or evening.

But... it will happen!  😋😆😃

So, I'm working in my sewing room, and this happens:

ABOVE: It absolutely bucketed down!  I felt like dancing in it, it was so wonderful to see.  It is going to cool things down a bit, and of course, water the gardens for me. 

Next thing, while it's still bucketing down, Bex arrived.  She got pretty wet getting inside from her car.

ABOVE:  Next thing I know, she's helping me too!

Thanks girls.

Love you lots.

So.  What have I been doing?

I've closed my shop.  It wasn't getting enough people in to keep it open really.  And I didn't want to be tied to it for hours and hours for nothing.

I will concentrate on building up my stock, and do summer markets only.

ABOVE:  I now have room to swing quite a few cats.  And I like it.

After it was finished, Bex and I went to the supermarket to buy the biscuits for the Passionfruit Slice.

After lunch I will make it.

Ky Girl:  here is your answer:

ABOVE:  You buy very plain biscuits (top left), crush them like you would if you were making a cheesecake base or similar, then add the butter, coconut and condensed milk.  Mix it all together, press into a lined slice tray, put in the fridge to set.  Make the icing with butter, passionfruit pulp and icing sugar.  Pour on top of the base and return to the fridge to set.  It is THAT simple!

The actual recipe is in the comment section on yesterday's post.

ABOVE:  Mine is made and setting in the fridge.  It took less than 10 minutes to make.

3.45 pm:  And OMG!

We have just had the most violent thunderstorm I have ever witnessed!

I took a video, it is downloading.

....

......

ABOVE:  My sunroom ceiling sprang several leaks!  All the windows suddenly fogged up from the extreme change in temperature outside.

ABOVE:  Ice stones, not hail stones!

And it's now 4.10 pm and it has all stopped.  It's eerily silent.  Except for the dripping.

And the bloody sun is even trying to come out!

Today has been THE BEST day I've had in over a week!  I've been busy all day.  The thunderstorm was exhilarating!  I have dinner planned.  I've cleaned things that I've not cleaned in ages (the kitchen sink for one... it just got a sound scrubbing), and I just feel good today.

Clearly keeping busy is the key to getting on top of my mood.  

And having the girls visit was really nice too.

Stew is on his way home from Rotorua, I hope he doesn't encounter any vile weather!

Stew got home safely and we had dinner, watched some TV and so on.

Usual sort of evening.  Catch ya tomorrow.

GETTING OUT

 Today I'm going to town.

I plan on meeting up with Stew and doing some business, then going to lunch.

After that, I shall come home and continue working on the latest Table Runner.

I feel bad that I didn't do much on it yesterday, but I was having a very so-so day, and just didn't have any energy.

I hope today is better in that regards.

Last night at Cards, one of the ladies brought along some Passion Fruit to give away, and I scored it.

So, what can I bake using passion fruit ladies?

I would love a nice slice recipe, anyone got one that is tried and true?

Right, I better get a move on.  Not that I have to be outta here early, but the hair....  well the hair needs a wash/dry/tart up.

And that can take a while!  Not to mention the face.  😊

2.50 pm:  Yes, I know, I've not updated all day!

Well... 'business' took a while in town.  Then I decided I didn't want to stay in town for lunch, and came home.

Then Lacy arrived for a visit and chat.

Then once she left I decided to lie down for a nana nap...

And I'd love to say that worked.  But no.  One's brain would not switch off, so I just lay there for an hour thinking of all the things I could be doing.

But didn't want to.

Then Stew rang, cos I'm sure he was concerned that I'd not updated all day... and wanted to check up on me.  Thanks Darling.  I'm fine.

Just ... you know, a bit flat.  

But, I will bounce back eventually.  This is a temporary glitch.

And then... Amanda called in for an hour or so.  And it was nice to listen to someone else's woes for a while!

She too is going through a tough time.  But at least she had some good news today.

Once she left, I sat and thought about 'stuff'... and after another communication this afternoon... I think one issue might just get resolved eventually.

That might be a load off my mind, for now at least.

Tonight Stew and I are having Lamb Rissoles, Mashed potatoes and veges for dinner.  With gravy.

Should be yum.  Sorry Lacy, there won't be any leftovers!

11.15 pm: And yes, dinner was lovely.  I had out just enough for the two of us.  I'm loving cooking for just Stew and me.

Nicely tired now, so off to bed.  Looking forward to a better day tomorrow.  

CHECK UP

 This morning Steve gets to see the Gastro team at the hospital.

He's been experiencing a mild flare up over the past couple of weeks, so I'm damn relieved his appointment has been bumped up to today.

I won't rest easy until I hear how it goes!

So Steve... ring me when ya get out.

I'm feeling keen to start another table runner today.  I really want to get heaps done so my stock up really UP.  That way when I'm ready to start markets again I don't have to stress out about not having enough stock.

Seeing Bex at the market on Saturday made me wish I was there too.  But nope, not yet. 

I have too much going on to be adding that to me schedule as well.

Stew fixed the old clothes airer last night, but it needs something more to keep it together.  I've got clothes drying on it right now... in the sunroom.  We are supposed to get rain for the next few days.  We will see about that.

Rain was forecast for yesterday and I swear we got all of 5 drops.

Now, just out of interest and to share, who watches heaps of baking videos on Facebook and You Tube?  I often watch them, thinking:  "Oh, I'd love to try that".

Well, watch this:

ABOVE:  Disappointing eh?  I have tried one or two things from those videos, and yeah, no joy at all.  And there I was thinking it was me doing it wrong.

Pffffft.

Right, that's me for now.  I'll catch ya later.

11.24 am:  And Steve has reported in.  He's going to be monitored a bit closer for the time being.  He's had blood tests and has to have another colonoscopy in the next couple of months.  But hopefully this latest flare up settles down without him having to go back on steroids, or any thing else.

So, I'm kinda relieved he's at least been seen and they are aware of his on going condition.

I'm in the sewing room...

ABOVE:  A sneak peek... though now that I can see it from a different perspective, I might be taking that green fabric out.  It's jarring on me eyes.

3.10 pm:  And I've actually not worked on that runner any more today.  I just ran outta steam.

So I've been watching videos instead.

Then I get this sent to me:

ABOVE:  These two ran into each other just now while Amanda was picking up her kids from school.  Awww, so neat to see them together.

5.15 pm: It's card night in Cambridge.  I must go... as I have the Winner's Trophy.  I don't actually feel like going anywhere, lately all I really want to do is stay home.

When you don't sleep well at night, it really F*#ks up your entire day.

I haven't slept well in MONTHS.

So... I have put on me face, and am ready to leave in an hour.  Stew's dinner is also sorted out, he just has to shove it in the oven to warm up.

It's a Chicken Pasta Bake.

9.30 pm:  Home from Cambridge.  Quite a subdued group tonight.  I think we are all just tired... for various reasons. So, not gunna be doing much now, just chill with Stew till bedtime.

Oh yes, I was Runner Up tonight.  So I've got anther trophy.  Which means I have to attend the next card night. 😉😊

HADN'T KEPT COUNT

 Yesterday I was showing the little kids all the runners I've just made. They like to see what I've been doing, and try to nick something out of the shop! 

Anyway, I hadn't kept count, and to my surprise I realised I'd made 8 in the last couple of weeks.  

I'm really happy with that.  My goal this week is another 3-4.  Probably will be Gnomes.  

ABOVE:  Thanks K and S for buying a runner or two.  😊  

So that will be me today.  Housework first, I always do the bulk of it on a Monday.  Then sewing.

ABOVE:  I love taking photos of water/splashes.

Lacy did a good one yesterday.

ABOVE:  Most of our weekend visitors. And of course we had Griffin, Kayla and Amanda here too.  Love our family.

CHEESE SCONES:

In a big bowl add...

3 decent sized cups of self raising flour

4 teaspoons of baking powder

3-4 cups of grated Tasty Cheese 

- mix together with a knife.

- Then pour in some milk to mix.  Mix with a knife until it clumps together.  NOT STICKY.

- Tip out onto a floured bench or board.  

PAT IT DOWN TO SHAPE IT INTO A RECTANGLE... ABOUT 5 CM DEEP.   

DON'T knead it! Just tap tap, pat pat into shape.

- Cut with a knife into rectangles or squares. 

- Place Baking Paper on an oven tray, put scones on the tray, leave a gap between each one, and put in a pre-heated oven.  

- 200 Deg C for 15-20 minutes.

If you have a hot oven (I do), you need to check them after 15 minutes.

Once done, have hot with jam and cream.

I cannot make 'regular' scones to save myself!  They always come out like rocks.   My cheese scones always work for me.  

ABOVE: Tasty Cheddar cheese.  Dairy Whipped cream, though I usually use fresh cream that I whip up myself with some icing sugar added, and I just use a regular dinner knife to mix it.

When you use a good amount of grated cheese, you don't need any butter.

ABOVE:  How did I miss this cute one?  

I might visit the supermarket today.  We  have NO FLOUR left in the house.  I think that's a first.

Other than that little outing... I will be home based.

12.53 pm:  And I've had a busy morning.

First off I went to the supermarket for flour... and yeah, had to bring it home straight away cos I bought more than JUST flour... of course.

Then I backtracked and went to Briscoes and The Warehouse, as I wanted to find a new Clothes Airing Rack.

The one I have been using for displaying all my Table Runners was starting to come apart.

ABOVE:  That's me old one... it holds 14 large runners and about 6 small ones.

ABOVE:  I've been holding it together with cord.  But it keeps falling apart.

So, I looked in The Warehouse, and all they had were the little wire ones that were not suitable.

Then I looked in Briscoes.  And BLOODY HELL!

They had like 14 or so to choose from!

How the hell do you choose from 14?

EVENTUALLY I narrowed it down to three.

One I really, really liked, but it was $139.99.  That seemed way too expensive for a clothes airer.

The other two were around $80.   Hmmmm.... I was about to get the $80 one, even though it wasn't really what I wanted, when I saw 'THE SIGN'.

And the Sign said 'All Clothes Airers 50% off'.  

So I was thrilled to bits, and got the one I really wanted after all.

ABOVE:  There it is.  And best of all, it hold at least twice as much as the old one.  There's room on there for another 10 large runners!

So a very good morning.  And now, it's lunchtime.

1.30 pm:  And I can't think of a single thing I want for lunch.  😒  So it can wait.

Because the new Table Runner rack is longer than the last one, I had to do a little move around in the shop.

ABOVE:  It meant using a smaller table in the middle of the room for the Bowl Cosy's, so I could put the longer Table Runner rack in the bigger gap by the window.  

I like how you can see the runners better on this new rack.

Brylee visited me this afternoon, and arrived with a pie and chips for my lunch, at 3 pm! lol

I've done some jigsaw puzzling this afternoon.

And now... cooking dinner.

Which is Chicken pieces, Onion Rings and veges.

Right.   The day is done.  I'm signing off, catch ya tomorrow.