NOT GOING

 This week we had planned on going on a few day trips, as Stew is home on holiday.

He's got so much holiday time accrued, he had to take several weeks off, scattered over the next few months.

So.  We WERE going to go somewhere today and tomorrow.  But seriously, there is nowhere we want to go right now that we've not been to before.

So we are not going away.

Maybe in April we will try to go away for a week long break... thinking of the South Island now.

So what to do?

ABOVE: Simple.  Get our back lawn done and dusted.  It is totally DEAD now.

We will turn it over today, and get new soil for it tomorrow all going well.

ABOVE:  New hydrangea cuttings.   Oh I hope they grow!  They are ones that produce BIG old fashioned blue ones.  Big round flowers, not the flat tops so many people favour now days.

The little one I brought back from New Plymouth is growing well, so all going well it will be in the garden in a couple of years, along with those ones above.

ABOVE:  Stew would totally agree with this!  😂😅😋

Right, let's start the day.

12 noon:  And we have been out to Mitre 10 to buy a new metal rake, and ended up also buying a new line trimmer/blower.

We seem to go through them about every 2-3 years!

ABOVE:  Now Stew is turning over the back yard in earnest.

And I've chipped a bit more of the asphalt away.

I'm very relieved we didn't go away, as we are now expecting an unexpected visitor.

Very excited to see him again.

ABOVE:  And there he is.  My Brother In Law, Richard.

He's been living and working overseas (Primarily Indonesia and Western Australia) for years.

He's home for an extended period of time now, as he's secured a job in Pukekohe.

His family (wife and two teenagers) are still in Indonesia, but will visit regularly.

I'm thrilled to bits, it means I get to see him more often now.

Last time I saw him was October 2020 while I was in Australia.

He has now left to visit other family, and we have knocked off for the day.  It has become rather hot outside now.

Stew got all the back yard turned over, so tomorrow we will work on raking and getting top soil on it all going well.

8.30 pm:  And that's today done and dusted.

We got some of the yard work done, and will continue with it tomorrow.

The really hard work (turning over the lawn) is done at least.

It's been a hot day, like summer having a last laugh really.  I want winter to be here now.

Catch ya tomorrow.

SCARED SHITLESS

 DENTIST ... today.

DREADING IT.

That is all.

ABOVE:  Garden Place this morning.  Deserted.

ABOVE:  Waiting to go into the Dentists.  Last time I was there he said I had one BIG cavity and one small one.  He also said I needed to get the tooth that had a failed root canal done on it 3 years ago pulled out.

I didn't get it done.

I freaked out at the very thought, so cancelled the Oral Surgeon appointment.

Today.  Well the dentist decided I still needed that tooth pulled out, as he's QUITE SURE it is that tooth that is causing me pain, and the constant HEADACHES.

AND he's not even sure I have a big cavity beside the 'root canal' tooth!  He can't see it properly.

That's why he wants the tooth pulled out as well.  *sigh*

He didn't want to touch me today, he  has referred me to the Hospital, so I can be (hopefully), put the sleep and get the tooth pulled and the filling (s) done all in one foul hit.

That's because of my irrational, but very real to me, fear.

I had horrible diarrhoea this morning, and felt like throwing up, coupled with chest pains. All down to anxiety of course. 

So now we wait to see if the Hospital accepts me for treatment,  or not.

ABOVE: What is it with Praying Mantis's and me?

Over the weekend I had one fly onto me while I was sitting in me lounge chair.  Today?  Inside Stew's Car, looking at me like 'What's up?'.

ABOVE: We had a wander around the shops, and saw a new piece of Britto!  Bought it.

Seems they are finally getting more from overseas.  I might have ordered a couple more.

5.25 pm:   WE have had the most lovely lazy afternoon.  Watching tv, watering the gardens etc.

I was wrung out from stressing over the dental appointment, so had a little nap too.  

Now... contemplating dinner.  Pork stir fry.

And... dinner was OK.  Lacy got lucky as I'd cooked a bit much for just Stew and I.  

That will probably happen every so often.

At least she doesn't have to travel far for left overs.  😂

Time to go to bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.

PARANA PARK

 First up for the day, a couple of photos from yesterday, cos I can...

ABOVE:  The girls getting spoilt rotten by Steve.

ABOVE:  Bex got a commission to crochet a cow and calf.  And the calf had to be able to 'go back into the cow'.

Yeah.  I'm not a fan of this one at all.  But it was worth showing, cos Bex did do a good job of it.

Today we are going for a walk in Parana Park.  It's here in Hamilton, and has special memories for Stew.

His Dad used to be in charge of Hamilton City Parks and Reserves. 

ABOVE: Stew and his family actually lived in Parana Park for a few years when Stew was a kid. It was a City Council House, shown by the arrow.

So... we have visited it a few times over the years, but not lately.  

Stew said he wanted to go there again, so that's what we are doing today.  I think Steve, Bex and the boys are joining us there too.

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

Here we go.... photo dump!

ABOVE: This is my photo of the day.

Left, Brylee and Griffin on the little rock bridge in Parana Park, taken exactly 8 days before I started blogging in 2006.

And today, Dante and Archer, on the exact same bridge 15.6 years later.

The bridge has had some new concreting and smoothing out over the years, but it's still the same bridge.

THIS is what I love about my blog.

The memories it is creating for my family.

ABOVE: That is the house Stew lived in as a kid.

It's well guarded within the park by a rather ferocious acting dog.

ABOVE:  The children's playground has evolved over the years.  It's just lovely now.

ABOVE: This tree is rather famous I think.  I bet there's been over a million children climb on it over the years.

I know literally ALL our kids have.

ABOVE:  We spent a very pleasant time in the park.

And now we are home, and Stew is about to clean the pool cover, so I shall go out and help him.

And.... another one goes down!

Amanda now has Covid.  So she will be working from home for the next week.

I wonder who will be next?

Quiet afternoon here.  Stew got a few jobs done outside, and he got the pool cover on.

I meantime, went to Spotlight for some backing fabric.  Shocked at how low they are on patchwork fabric, but as I don't usually buy my patchwork fabric there, it's OK.

Dinner this evening is left overs from the fridge.

And.... just did a quick trip over to Amanda's with a couple of boxes full of groceries.  That should keep them afloat with goodies till they can leave home again.

ABOVE:  Bye fam, hang in there and I hope the kids remain Covid free.

Joel was home too, and I got a quick cuddle.

Right, that's our day done and dusted.

Catch ya tomorrow.

FRIGGIN LAWN

MORNING  😊

First thing today, before anything else, we are heading into town to get a new printer. I am totally over my printer not working, then working, then not.... does my head in!

 Then, home to do... jobs.

 How many weekends have Stew and I been working on our back yard now?

It feels like forever.

If we work hard this weekend, maybe we will make some big inroads, and actually see the end in sight?

I bloody hope so.  I know Stew is sick to death of it hanging over his head.

So, obviously we will be working in the yard today.

I will get the washing done as per usual, along with any other jobs inside that need doing.

AND we will be cleaning the pool cover, and putting it on the pool.  No one is swimming any more, so time to cover it up till next summer.

And that is all for now.

Catch ya later.

10.30 am:  And a new printer was not purchased after all.  At least not right now.

I want to check exactly when we bought our current printer, I'm sure it wasn't that long ago.  Maybe it's still covered by a warranty?  Though just my luck it is JUST out of warranty right?

Stew has gone down to the supermarket to get the usual weekend supplies.  Which always means DIET COKE in bulk.  lol

I'm about to drag out the pool cover, spread it on the driveway and hose it down, in readiness for going on the pool.

WOW!  I rang Harvey Norman's, where we bought the printer... and SHOCK!  It's still under warranty.  So once Stew's home we will take it in to be looked at.

I'm super impressed.  Most things only have a one year warranty.

12.45 pm:  Excellent morning!  The printer is now in to be either fixed, or replaced.  I wouldn't normally bother trying to get a printer fixed, as they are so cheap.  But the printer I bought was NOT cheap, so well worth taking it back.

After that Stew and I had lunch at The Foundation before coming home.

TO PUT OUR FEET UP! Yep.  Stew reminded me that he has all of next week off work... so there is no rush to do anything.

Nice.

When we arrived home, I said to Stew there is a load of washing ready to be hung out.   He went to do it, and BOOM!  Lacy had already hung it out for us.  Such a lovely surprise.  Thanks Lacy.  

Steve just rang.  

He's cooking our dinner this evening.  How did we get so lucky with him AND Lacy eh?  Those two are always doing stuff for us.

YES Lacy has been a problem 'child' for years, but she always makes up for it somehow.

ABOVE:  Just did me nails... such fun.  I hope they last longer than a week.

5.25 pm:  And the smells coming out of my kitchen right now!  Drooling.

ABOVE:  Steve and Bex are cooking a Shrimp and Bacon Fettuccini.  And we are having pre-dinner wine.  

ABOVE: Don't mind if I do.   I just love our bubble glasses.

ABOVE:  And THAT was delicious!  After that we all had a Magnum Ice Cream for dessert.

Completely full now! 

It's been a super lovely day.

THAT WAS SO YUM

Last night Stew and I had some of Bex's Feijoa cake for dessert.

It was so yum!  But NOT too sweet.  We didn't feel like we were having something 'bad' for us at all.

ABOVE:  There's enough left for us to have another piece or two over the next couple of days.

ABOVE:  I saw this on Facebook the other day.  I can see me using that idea to design a Cat Table Runner.

Gosh, I've got so many projects either on the go, or in my head!

I can't wait till my motivation and energy come back fully.

I have enough projects to keep me occupied for the next 10 years I reckon.  😊😏

As for today?   I'm going to vacum the house.  I washed all the floors yesterday and that felt awesome.  Getting on top of the housework makes me happy.

And that's all for now.

Catch ya later.

ABOVE:  Just remembered this!  It's so funny.  And true.

We now have a final timeline for the new driveway. 

Preparation 1st and 2nd of April, and concrete down on Monday the 4th.  How exciting!

I've also got a dental appointment on the 4th, which means I will be fairly distracted while at the dentists.  This is a good thing!

It's been a quiet morning here.  I'm not in a hurry to do the vacuming! lol

If anything, I might leave it for Stew to do tomorrow... my back will thank me for it.

I am absolutely LOVING the cooler temperatures, and the steady patches of rain.  No more having to water the garden to keep things alive.

ABOVE:  I decided to sew.... 

ABOVE:  I even did some 'Free Motion' sewing!  It's a skill I  have not mastered yet.  But every now and then I give it a go.

ABOVE:  I am now going to sit down, get comfy and stitch these buttons on.

All of these 'nautical' runners will have something different on them.  That's what makes it fun for me, cos I hate mindless repetition. 

Though I hate sewing buttons on... 💩😝.

Feijoa cake recipe in comments.  Thanks Bex.  You can add a bit more feijoa if you like your cakes a bit more moist.

Stew and I had Pork Meatballs, noodles, red onions and mushrooms for dinner.

Now.  Just watching telly for the remainder of the evening.  Then off to bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.