BRING IT ON

 I really don't know HOW I've managed to make such a large list of things I need/want!

I fully expect to be out until at least lunchtime getting it all.

I'm going to:

- Spotlight

- Stevens (kitchen ware)

- The Chemist Warehouse

- Curtain Studio

- Animates

- The Tupperware Shop

And lastly, the supermarket.

So, lots of places, and all while wearing me mask, keeping socially distanced and signing in everywhere.

It's worth it to be FREE to shop again!  Free to go out and about without massive restrictions.

Meanwhile, Stew will be back at work, and when I get home it will be all quiet.  I bet the dogs are going to be lonely ... no sitting in the lounge with Stew all day.

Gosh, it will be dreadful if Covid rears it's ugly head outside of Auckland again!

I better do plenty of shopping, just in case.  😆😊

ABOVE:  Brylee asked me yesterday if I could touch my thumb to my wrist. I'm like, who can't?

(and I bet YOU are trying to right now!)

Oh and... her damn shoulder dislocated again last night when she reached up to close her curtains.  She's pretty upset about it, and so frustrated that the specialist won't perform the surgery to 'fix' it. (YET)  

I suggested she ring him today and let him know about this latest dislocation.  Let's see what happens.  Probably nothing.

ABOVE:  advice for the day/week/month.  😅😂😊

8 am:  And it is absolutely pissing down out there!  Looks like a huge storm going overhead.

And I'm gunna be out in it.  Oh ya.

ABOVE: blogging in the car... waiting for the rain to ease so I can get out without getting drenched!

SPOTLIGHT... OMG spent a fortune. BUT  for once they had the batting I need, so I bought ALL THEY FREAKIN' HAD! 

Rain has easeded a bit, might make a run for it...

RUN.... omg too funny.  I never run!

It's now 2.15 pm, and I'm finally home.  With a McDonalds burger for, yet again, a late lunch.

ABOVE: The batting... it was a right pain in the arse getting it into the car in the pouring rain.

ABOVE:  The rest of my shopping.  I will have fun unpacking it all.  

Bex and the boys arrived just after I arrived home, so we are now having fun looking through my shopping bags.

ABOVE:  Unpacked!  And Wow, so much stuff.  And almost all of it was on my list!

8.52 pm:  Busy afternoon ... once Bex and the boys left I got two loads of washing washed, dried and put away.

Then I had a power nap... Just 30 minutes but it helped after 5 hours shopping!

Then I cooked our dinner, which was chicken over rice.

Stew was impressed with all the stuff I bought today.

I put it all way after he'd seen it all.

Now I'm just watching TV and thinking about what I shall get up to tomorrow.  😊

Catch ya ... tomorrow.

WORKING... ON A LIST

 One more day until life gets back to 'normal'.

Stew can go back to work.

Kids can go back to school.

We can see family again, and have them visit.

I can go... SHOPPING.

I really didn't think I'd need much, it's not like we have been in 'lockdown' for that long, this time around right?

But... I have an idea my Spotlight list will be fairly long.  Since I started sewing again, there's been many occasions when I've gone "Damn, I'm out of that".

So, I shall meander around the house checking on what I want to get, and make that list.

As Stew said to me, when you are not 'ALLOWED' to go somewhere, or do something, that's all you want to do.  So true.

Gosh I feel damn sorry for MOST people up in Auckland, who are still in Level 4.  Who knows how long it will go on for them?

ABOVE:  I had a wander around the yard yesterday.  SPRING has sprung.  Though those purple flowers (top right) never stopped flowering all year I think!  

There's so much going on in the garden right now.  This time last year I was preparing to leave for Australia.

While I was away I missed so many shrubs and flowers coming into bloom.  This year I will get to see them all.

Last winter I planted 5 Peony bulbs, but they didn't grow very much at all, and they certainly had no flowers.  

So last summer I dug them up and put them in pots.  And waited.

Now? 

ABOVE:  Forgive me for showing off random shoots!  But I'm just so happy they seem to be growing this year!  4 out of 5... and there is still time for the 5th to grow.

I love peony's... and those bulbs were damned expensive!  So fingers crossed I can show them blooming in a couple of months.

ABOVE: This shrub is AMAZING...  it looked like this when I went away last year. While away it became just a seething mass of flowers. Brylee sent me a photo.  I can't wait to see it for myself in another month.

It seems to have a few flowers on it almost all year round.

So, that's it for now.  Boring plants.  List making.

Maybe some work in the sewing room later on.

Catch ya later.

MEH.  It's a shitty, wet, miserable day.  Kinda matches my mood.  I have done housework all morning, and cut up those 'horrendous' net curtains that no one liked... and pinned them up in the dining room.

I shall get small curtain 'rods' to hang them from tomorrow all going well.  They will stay LIKE THAT, not drawn across the windows btw.

ABOVE:  Don't you DARE tell me they look bloody horrendous there.  I shall ignore the fuck outta you.

😂😡😠😋

I've sent a semi-crabby email to the painting company.  I really, really want to know just WHEN I can expect them to come and get my job done.

It's holding up EVERYTHING else.  Grrrrrr.

I am NOT a patient person, so having to wait this long... is PAINFUL.

I've wanted this done since we moved in here ffs.

9.30 pm:   Well, I've just been fluffing around the house this afternoon.  Did the washing I'd usually do tomorrow... but that's about all.

Really weird day actually.

Stew is prepared for work at the office tomorrow, and I've got me shopping list all done.

So... that's about it from me today.  Catch ya tomorrow.

WILL WE OR WON'T WE???

 Today, probably late this afternoon we will find out if the majority of New Zealand will go down to Level 2.

Which means shops will open again.

I totally want that to happen!

There's lots of threads etc that I am running out of, now that I'm back sewing again.

I am hopeful, but optimistic too.  There might be a drop in our level, but maybe it's more like Level 2.5?  Less restrictions, but more caution.

As for Auckland, they are bound to stay at Level 4, due to the Covid numbers still being significant.  YES, they are coming down slowly ... but not enough yet for them to drop down to Level 3 I reckon.  I might be wrong... time will tell.

This morning I am picking Lacy up (she's in our bubble) and taking her to the Dr's for her first Covid vaccination.

She's shitting herself.  

Well actually, she's OPPOSED and STRONGLY against the vaccination... like we were to begin with.  But... she's doing it for us.

After that's accomplished, I'll probably take her home then come back here to start a new Runner.

Brylee has another appointment with the Specialist this morning, at the same time Lacy has her vaccination in fact.

With any luck she will get some concrete answers about her dislocating shoulder.  She's hoping to get the surgery, so it never happens again.

Stew is still working from home, it's so nice to have company during the day.  I will miss him once he's back at work.

Slowly going nuts with frustration.

Even if our painter could come tomorrow (with us out of the house) he probably can't do our walls because there is NO pigmented sealer in the Waikato.

It's all 'trapped' in friggin' Auckland, which is still at Level 4.  Nothing is leaving Auckland for anywhere else... hence shortages of all building supplies, painting supplies and so on.

Steve (son) works at a Construction Company, and they are struggling to do any work at all due to shortages of virtually all materials.

F*#kin' Covid.... F#*K OFF.

Lacy did well... she's now had her first vaccination, so has Brylee.

I've talked Griffin into having it too.

AND Steve & Bex.  I wonder who else I need to nag?  😂😊  MIKE & JOYCE???

I've been on the phone lots today!  Steve.  Griffin.  Lacy.  Brylee.  Ron.  

Nice to be home now... and doing some odd jobs around the house.

ABOVE:  Lacy back home with her menagerie of animals.

Brylee:  is not getting surgery YET.  The specialist wants her back at work, driving, living her life as usual.  He's taking a wait and see approach, as he wants to avoid surgery if at all possible.

Brylee is not happy, but she can't force him to do it can she?  *sigh*

Ron is doing well... he's in New South Wales, and in lockdown, and has been for quite a while.  With the numbers being really high over there, there's no sign of a letting up of their lockdown any time soon.  He's managing OK though.  He's a bit of a  hermit anyway, so staying home does not bother him.

Sadly, we won't be able to go over and visit him for quite some time yet.

Back to this side of the ditch...OMG I can't wait to see if we shall be dropping down to Level 2!

ABOVE:  I went outside, and was surprised at how many flowers we have.  I must plant more for next spring.  So pretty and uplifting.

I've got a headache and just want to have a nap!  But I'm starving... so better get some lunch.  It is 1.20 pm... bit late for lunch, but normal for me.

AWESOME NEWS!  We will be dropping to Level 2 at 11.59 pm tomorrow night!

Back to a semblance of NORMAL for us.

SHOPPING!

Road trips.

Weekends away... must book something for Stew and I for 17th, 18th and 19th of September!

Gosh I am so happy.  Spotlight on Wednesday... HERE I COME!  I sooooooo need more threads.

I was going to cook Chicken pieces cooked in a sweet and sticky sauce over flavoured rice for dinner.

I cooked a Lemon Meringue Pie for dessert.

Stew took one look at the Lemon Meringue Pie and declared he wanted JUST the Pie for dinner!

ABOVE:  It was really YUM.   I always add way more lemon juice and zest to the recipe.  Makes it much tarter.  We love it.

I should feel guilty, but I don't!  😂😅😆

It's now 11.44 pm.  Time for bed.  Catch ya tomorrow.

ALMOST A YEAR AGO

 I decided late yesterday to tidy up my sewing room before starting a new project.

That involved first and foremost cleaning the sewing machine.

McDreamy has been working perfectly, but the automatic 'empty bobbin' message had stopped working, which meant it was dirty under the footplate.

So, out came the vacuum cleaner and a tiny brush, and off we went, sucking all that shit outta there.

Now I'm sure me empty bobbin message will work again.

After that I vacuumed the floor.

Next was tidying up all the fabric.

There was one job I had been putting off for almost an entire year!

September the 30th, 2020.  I was in Australia with Mum.  And she decided THAT was the day we were going to sort out all her fabrics!

I say WE... but in reality, she lay there and got me to hold up each and every single piece of fabric she had, and 'we' discussed what I would do with it!

Yep.  Every single piece.   I ended up throwing ideas out there left, right and center just to please her.  I might add she had her own ideas too 😂😃😊.

I had no option.  She was insistent on knowing what I was going to make it into.  And once it was all sorted, she told me to take it all home with me.

So I did.

ABOVE: When I finally arrived home, I washed all the fabrics and put them in a tub to sort out 'later'.

Yesterday was LATER.  Yep, it took me nearly a year to get to it.  I must admit I had been putting it off.

ABOVE:  But I did it.   I folded it all up and put it away in my fabric cupboard, to be sewn up one day, as I told her I would.

What made it extra hard for me was that I can remember being with Mum when she bought a lot of those fabrics, and her delight in them.  She was like me in loving gorgeous fabrics.

Not that she did much sewing... but she had good intentions.

I must admit I shed a couple of tears, but they are healing tears.  Mum's one year anniversary is next month.  I am going to make it a NICE DAY for my family.

Not sure what yet, but we will mark the day in honor of Mum.

Today... well I really think Stew and I need to stretch our legs and get out for a walk.  The dogs will LOVE that... I'd like to check out an area we  have not walked before.  There's so many neat areas around here (our local area).

OH ... I just remembered.  HAPPY FATHERS DAY DARLING.  Your gift is coming... in November we hope. 😊

VICKIE:  Ahhh I wish.  But no.  No more grandbabies for us by the look of it.  Barring a miracle.

Stew and I went for a walk mid-morning, before the sun came out properly and roasted me.

ABOVE:  Because Stew is suffering from a very sore lower back right now, we adjusted our aspirations, and only did a short walk.

It was still lovely to get out and about though.  We really enjoy looking at all the lovely homes in our neighbourhood.  So thankful we live here.

Now... it's almost lunch time and I shall make us a sandwich then go into me sewing room.

I plan on making 2 more Gnome Runners, then probably 2-3 Wonky House Runners.

That shall keep me busy for a few weeks for sure.

ABOVE:  Bex's car had a flat battery, so they jump started it and took it for a run.

Then popped in to say 'Hi'.

They kept by their vehicle and we kept by the front door.... social distancing of course.

Though that really makes me laugh, when you go to the supermarket people are sure in hell not keeping 2 meters apart!

In fact, I've had people bump into me!  So the family visiting and keeping a distance is just fine by me.

OMG my house smells amazing!  We have mutton chops cooking in the oven... in thick mint sauce.  The smell is making my mouth water.

8.05 pm:  Well our dinner was fantastic.  Mutton chops and lamb shanks.  With veges and thickened mint sauce from the baking dish.

Now... I'm actually feeling really exhausted for no reason... so am going to bed early.

SATURDAY AND NOWHERE TO GO

 OK... truth be known I have bugger all to yabber on about.

It's a weekend that we might have gone away for a 2-3 day break, but thanks to the latest Covid outbreak, we are stuck at home.

I'm already over it.  Last year it didn't feel so boring and restrictive.  This time around, it's just a fag.

There is so much I want to get done before summer gets here, but none of it can happen until we get to Level 2 or 1.

Painting and carpet, to name just a few things on the 'to do' list.  I can't believe  how bloody long it is taking to get the damn painting company here.  I contacted them MONTHS ago FFS.  They have to do their job before anything else can be done.  Grrrrrr.

I got a lovely wee gift in the mail yesterday:

ABOVE:  A very sweet card and a gorgeous heart pendant!

Thank You so much Michelle C, you really are a lovely friend.  It is so nice knowing you often think of me.  You have a heart of gold.  💙💛💚💜

Right, I'm gunna roll over can catch some more Zzzzz's now.  Or read the news.  One or other.

Catch ya later.

12.25 pm:  We have literally done NOTHING this morning!

Up.  Showered, washed and dried hair. That's it!

No motivation to a damn thing.

And I'm freezing, even though it looks to be a lovely day out there.  Might have a nap after lunch, it's exhausting doing nothing.

No nap.  I went into my sewing room and did some 'housework'.

That has taken me a good couple of hours.

I even remembered to put the pork belly in the oven!  

I function so much better in the afternoons.  It's like:  I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON at all.  😣😛😉

ABOVE:  "oink".  Dinner this evening shall be Pork Belly, Baked Carrot dish, mashed potatoes, peas, mixed veges and Brown Onion gravy on top.

Well... our dinner was amazing.  We are both stuffed now.  Time to sign off and go to bed.  

ANOTHER FINISH

 Well..... I did it again.

Another runner done and dusted.  That makes 5 made in the past 12 days.  I'm really happy with that.

I got the gnome one finished last night:

ABOVE:  Stew really loves this one.  It's bright and cheerful.  In the photo it looks a bit 'bare', but in person it's just lovely.  Chole's Nan, if you want it let me know.

I'm not sure if I will start another one today or not.  I might need a break.  My lower back is killing me.

So maybe a lazy, watch a movie type of day?

I'll see how I feel a bit later.

FONTS:  Well after experimenting with a few... I think I will stick with my usual one.  It's easiest to read.

Can't have you all squinting can I?  😂😅😆

12.28 pm:  Well... I've had a lazy sort of morning.

I slept in (OK, lay in bed) till 10 am!  Then I went down the road and posted a parcel.

Came home and shortened a dress's hem.  I feel like quite a few of my dresses are just a bit long.

ABOVE:  I took about 4 inches off this one.  Now I have about 3 more I'm gunna shorten a bit.  Maybe not quite as short as this one though.

This one is probably an inch or two too short.

ABOVE: Spring really is coming!   This is one of my most favourite trees ... and it's getting leaves.  

ABOVE:  It's a fling open the windows sorta day.

Glorious.

ABOVE:  Bex has these little boys out walking down by the river.

ABOVE:  A beautiful photo Bex!

6.15 pm:  I finished watching Clickbait this afternoon.  OMG I loved it!  Such a good watch.

Totally recommend it to anyone who likes a 'who done it'.

I forgot to cook the pork belly AGAIN!  I'm a bit  useless.  So... KFC here we come.

Correction, Stew is going to get in a humongous queue and get it.  

I'm gunna find another good one to watch tonight.  Anyone know of a good 'who done it' on Netflix?

CHLOE'S NAN:  I will hold it for you until I can get it weighed and a price to post it... which won't be until we are in Level 2.

And it's another day done and dusted.

Busting for a piddle, so better move!

Anyone else wait until they are literally about to pee their pants before going?  I do it all the time.  😂😅😆

CLICK AND COLLECT

 During Levels 3 & 4 you can go to a store and do 'Click & Collect'.

Last time we were in hard lockdowns, I never did click and collect.

Yesterday was a first time for me... 

ABOVE:  Mitre 10 gives you a 30 minute 'window' when you can pick up your items.

Mine was 2 - 2.30 pm.

So I joined a huge queue...

ABOVE:  I just scraped in during my time slot.  

It is rather a neat way of shopping I must say.  No walking into the store to find what you want, they bring it out to you.  I liked that.

Maybe not the long wait though.

I doubt I will need to do it again.  We might only be in Level 3 until next week all going well.

Then the shops will open again and everyone can go mad after being cooped up at home.

I wonder if my parcel of fabrics will arrive today?

Be neat if they did.  I'm dying to see what she chose for me!

I will be working on the next 3 blue gnomes today.  I've not even cut them out yet!  So... that's me plan.

Housework, then sewing.

I'm fairly consistent in what I'm doing lately eh?  😉😊

1 pm:  Awesome news!   Our Covid numbers came down a good amount today.

Fingers crossed that continues.

More awesome news... me parcel of fabric arrived...

ABOVE:  LOOK AT THEM!  So awesome.  I'm not going to run outta grey/silver Christmas fabric in a hurry now.

ABOVE:   THE boys doing their school work. PHOTO SENT TO ME BY bEX.

And oh shit... now we have trouble!

I just discovered more fonts that I can use!

How much fun am I gunna have now!

Ha ha ha... this is gunna be AWESOME!

But for now.... i'M HEADING BACK TO ME SEWING ROOM.

Karen :  tis the season, Whitianga.  wwwtistheseason.co.nz

The shop owner's name is Robyn, and she is just lovely.

6.20 pm:  Ha ha ha!  I had pork belly out for dinner.

Got sewing... forgot to put it in the oven.

We are having Fish 'n' chips for dinner now.

No different from 'normal' really.  We ring and place our order, and pick it up after about 10 minutes.  The only change is Stew has to pick it up from the shop's front door, not inside the shop. 

Well dinner was really yum.  So nice to not cook and have the kitchen look like a bomb site!

NOT that I clean it up.  Stew always does the dishes.

I'm a bit lucky eh?

And on that note, I'm outta here.  It's 11 pm and I'm tired.

Catch ya tomorrow.

LEVEL 3

 And yaaa... we are now at Level 3.

And nothing changes!

We can get drive through takeaways, and get some takeaways delivered.

Some people can go back to work under strict conditions.

Steve is going back to work in his office, so we will not be expanding our bubble to include him and his little family.

That will have to wait until Level 2.

Which is fine.

We can still see them from a distance, because we live in the same local area.  As I've said before, they live only a few minutes away from us.

Stew will be working from home until we enter Level 2, so I get the pleasure of his company for a bit longer.  It's nice having lunch together and seeing him whenever I like.

ABOVE:  That made me laugh.

Lots of things make me laugh lately.  I  have far too much time to scroll through facebook and social media!  

BUT.  IT'S.  FUN! 

I started watching Clickbait on Netflix yesterday afternoon.  OMG very interesting.   I'm up to Episode 3... might watch more of that later.

And I will definitely get back to my sewing today too.

ABOVE: Yep... another season rolls over.

Daylight saving starts at the end of this month.  I'm NOT ready for hotter days, thank you very much!

I like winter.  I don't like all the rain, but the cooler temps, yep, love it.

Oh well... time marches on and I better get moving.  

10.42 am:   And I'm already sewing.  Such fun.

ABOVE:  Back to doing hair.  It's a laborious process I must say.

ABOVE:  I had a bloke visit today.  We wore masks and kept our 2 meter distance from each other.  

He's measuring up our driveway for a reseal.

We have cracks and loose stones... so another job will be ticked off the list in a month or two.

ABOVE:  Diligent guard dogs.  They bark and growl at EVERYTHING that moves or makes a noise.  

Cats. Dogs. People. Cars. Birds.  SNAILS.  Leaves. *sigh*  DILIGENT. 

ABOVE:  One down, five to go.  

But for now... it's lunchtime.

I'm off to make toasted sandwichs for Stew and I.

Lunch - Tick

Down time - Tick

Then back to the sewing.

ABOVE:  Now three gnomes are done.

Tomorrow I might do the other three.

We will see.  My butt hurts from sitting so much!

Time to take half an hour 'off' before I have to cook dinner.  😏

Dinner this evening was Pork Sausages, Coleslaw, boiled eggs, cheese, beetroot and Chinese flavoured rice.

And now... it's finally time to just RELAX.