2017 - 2024

 

I have two days 'off' walking.

So I'm going to make the most of it, and sew and finish as many Braid Runners as possible.

I have been feeling a bit despondent lately about my stalled weight loss.  I've been pretty much the same, up and down 5 kilos, for about a year.

Then one of our FBG ladies posted a 'throwback' photo from 2017, when our group first started.

And I was like... OK.

ABOVE:  On the left is a photo taken in August 2017.  On the right, one taken yesterday.

I'm winning.  Slowly but surely, I am winning.

At a turtle's pace, but still moving forward (or rather, downwards!).  

I think I'll keep at it.  😊  But maybe I do need to change something.  Like drop my portions again, stop having so many meals out and so on.  I will talk to Stew about it over the coming days and see what we can come up with together.  It really is a never ending cycle eh?  

It (my weight), shouldn't bother me that much, but IT DOES.  I know how much happier I will be if I could only lose those last 10 kilos!!!!

Both girls go to the groomers this morning.  Coco's 'very bad mummy groom' has grown out enough for them to not be too shocked at her face 'n' head!  I will tell them I did it in a moment of madness.  lol

In fact, I did it because A) the groomers charge like wounded bulls and B) I couldn't get an appointment for months!  I was bloody lucky to get them in today, because they had a cancellation, otherwise they wouldn't have got an appointment till the end of October!

Right, enough yakkity yak, I better get a move on.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  Today's forecast.  FOG.  Goodness knows when it will lift.

I've been out and dropped off the girls for grooming, and am now home in me sewing room.

Heat pump is ON.

ABOVE:  Stolen off Facebook.  Rather funny.

ABOVE: 11.15 am, two hours later, and they are looking beautiful again.  I am always amazed at how different they look straight after a groom.

I am 100% happy with this groomer, she is much better than the bloke I tried last time.  He may have been cheaper, but he wasn't as good.

AND I have made an appointment for two months from now.... as I used to do.  It sure beats trying to book them in when they actually need a groom.

Now... back to the sewing.

Wow... I didn't realise I'd not updated in a few hours.

Well... Happy to say I got 4 more Braid Runners finished today.

Stew arrived home and we had steak, haloumi cheese and wedges for our dinner.  That was rather nice.

We've been watching telly since then.  Bedtime in a couple of hours.

So... catch ya tomorrow.

REPEAT....

 

Guess what?

Today is gunna be exactly the same as yesterday!

I'm leaving in the dark, and going on an FBG walk.

Then I'll come home and sew more runners.

I shall wear my lovely new purple sweatshirt, and of course, hat, gloves, and BRACES to keep me tights up!  

Thank god I got the braces, I am sick to death of me tights/pants rolling down to me hips, then threatening to fall down to me knees.

So, I suppose I shall go and get dressed, and get outta here.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

ABOVE: Its 8.50 am and I'm sitting on the side of the road in Cambridge,  waiting for the fish cart to arrive and open. I would like to get some of their salmon dip. 

Today's walk and hot drink after is done and dusted. A slightly longer walk today.

Not quite as cold as yesterday,  but still pretty cold!

Once I've got me salmon dip, I'll be hot footing it home to get on with some work.

ABOVE: The official walk photo.  I look cold!  I was cold, but rather happy it wasn't a frost, just heavy dew and fog.

ABOVE: The Fish Van was a bit late arriving on site this morning, but he was kind and served me before he was even set up.  I got the last two little pots of salmon dip too.  Lucky.

Right, update done, I can now get on with me sewing.  The heat pump will have warmed up me sewing room by now too, cos OMG it's cold inside my home.

12 ish, and a vehicle arrived ... I don't recognise it at all.

So, I stop sewing and look out the window and it's  .... GRIFFIN!

How wonderful to see him.  We chatted and caught up for a while, then I said to him, how about we visit Lacy?  He had not seen her little home.

So, off we went to Lacy's.  While there, I got Stew to come over as well.  So we had a little family time together, which was so lovely.

ABOVE:  Family is EVERYTHING.

2 pm:  Griffin was in Hamilton for a dental appointment, and has gone back home to  Tauranga now.  I'm back home, about to have some lunch, before getting back in the sewing room.
That was such a lovely surprise visit.  Made my day in fact.

4.46 pm:  And I'm done in the sewing room for the day.  I'm tired today.  I got two runners finished.  I've got the next two days to do more, cos I don't have a walk scheduled till Friday now.

I'm cold, so might put the heat pump on, and just relax till Stew gets home.

9.07 pm:  Fed, watered, tucked into bed... lol.  The dogs I mean.  And it won't be long before the same can be said for me.  I'm knackered for some reason.

I am going to thoroughly enjoy sleeping in tomorrow!  Until at least 8 for sure.

Catch ya tomorrow.

6 AM START

 

It's 6 am, and I'm out of bed!  Meh.

The five new Challenge Walks for August have been released.  And I am going to start today with a 7 am walk.

I am determined to get all the FBG Urban Challenge walks completed this year.  I've not completed the Challenge for several years, and want to make this my 'swan song' so to speak.

I fully intend continuing to do FBG walks next year, and for years to come, but I will not be doing 2-3 a week ever again, or completing the Urban Challenge.

Next year I want to attend walks once a week, if that.  I will certainly keep up with the Social aspects of the group as well.  I don't want to lose touch with all the girls/guys I've made friends with, that's for sure.

ABOVE:  I finished cutting out all 24 batting and backing fabric pieces I needed yesterday.  So now all 24 are ready for quilting, then binding.

Once I get home from Cambridge, I will be straight into doing as much as I can today.

I'm thinking of now finishing one, before moving on to the next one.  Instead of doing all the quilting first, then binding them.

That way I will have some new, finished ones to take to the Tamahere Market in two weeks.

ABOVE:  Lily can now sit unaided.  She says "  Bub bub, Dad dad, Mum mum, and Ha ha ha".  And she can growl when annoyed too.

She giggles and laughs, it's so cute!  She rolls both ways, wriggles around in circles and backwards, and is just starting to get up on her hands and knees and rocking!

She LOVES her Jolly Jumper, sometimes jumping so much she is puffing!

She had two teeth, and the drool!  OMG the drool!  She is constantly wet through, even with a bib on.

She is a delightful addition for everyone in our family.

And now ... time to get ready to leave for Cambridge.

I'll be back later.

ONWARD...

I left home in the pitch darkness, with a light frost on the ground.

Arrived in Cambridge, then a fog drifted up from the river.  So, dark, frosty with a fog.  Brrrrrr!

Then we started walking, and I was warm with me long sleeved, polar necked thermal on, plus a thick jacket, plus thick gloves, hat and scarf.

Then me bloody tights kept rolling off me fat arse belly, so I vowed to go and buy some braces!

By the time the walk was over, I was warm.  The sun was up, the fog had dispersed and the frost was also on it's way out.

We went for a hot drink.  I had a hot chocolate and a date scone.  Very nice way to start the day, after a damn cold walk.

ABOVE:  A nice view over lower Cambridge.  Behind me was an even better view!

And older bloke was out on his freeing cold, concrete driveway yakking to a mate, and he had on a long shirt.  Nothing else.  No trousers.  No socks. No shoes.  I HOPE he had undies on!  I told him it was tempting to take a photo of him, but I thought, best not!  He agreed.  lol

ABOVE:  It was just 8 of us this morning.  But a nice group to walk with, not the usual people I walk with at 9 30 am.

ABOVE:  I found the perfect braces to wear at Farmers.  I have them around the 'wrong' way, so I don't have two straps running up and over me boobs, that would be annoying as fuck!

This way works perfectly.

ABOVE:  I then had a quick browse in H & M, and found this lovely purple sweatshirt to wear on me FBG walks.

It is weird how the best sweatshirts for size and colour/patterns, are in the men's section!

ABOVE: I really like this one.  And it's super warm.  Perfect for frosty morning walks.

It is now 10.20 am, and I'm going into the sewing room to start sewing again.

1.07 pm:  And I have totally finished ONE braid runner.

Lacy called in to visit, which was very nice.

Then I had left overs for my lunch.

And now I'm going to do one more runner, then take a break.

ABOVE: The 'Official Walk Photo'... with the doctored faces of course.  I look like a bloody chipmunk, 😂😅😉.

Well... I sewed till dinnertime.  I ended up getting three Braid Runners totally finished.  I was happy with that.

Now we are just watching the tv till bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.

ANOTHER DOG ONE

 

Yesterday I showed you a couple of laid out dog Braid Runners.

Well, I got one finished late yesterday:

ABOVE:  I must say, I am very happy with how it came out.

Today I will make the 2nd one, using white fabrics instead of brown/cream.  I'm hoping it looks as good as this one.

ABOVE:  A big, fat bumble bee in the garden.  I was actually very surprised at how big he was.

Surely there's not been much nectar to feed on over winter?  Oh well, I was happy to see him looking so healthy.

ABOVE: The very first Azalea flower of the season.  In two months that shrub will be totally covered in flowers.  It's amazing to see.

ONWARD...

I didn't get an early start today.  I lay in bed for two hours listening to Stew snore.

I dared not get up in case I woke him up.  He clearly needed to sleep in well.

So, I finally got to leave bed at 8.45 am!

And I went straight into the sewing room and got #24 done:

ABOVE:  I wasn't sure I'd like it as much as the one from last night, with the dogs and brown/cream tones.  But I do like it, very much.

So now....

ABOVE: This starts.   Cutting out all the batting, and backing fabrics.  THEN quilting all 24 braid runner tops.

NOW I NEED CAKE.  stat

ABOVE: Famy came around... so we are all ensconced in the family room watching a movie.

What a neat way to spend a Sunday afternoon. 

6.20 pm, and the family have gone home.  Once they left, I headed back into the sewing room, where I got ALL the batting and backing fabric cut out for all 24 Braid Runners.

What a big job that was.

Now.  I'm watching Stew cook our dinner.

First time he's cooked in at least two weeks.

We will have our dinner, then watch more of the Olympic Games on the telly till bedtime.

Catch ya tomorrow.

ANOTHER SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT BRAID RUNNER

 

Riiiiiiiight.

The plan for today?

Stew goes to the supermarket for our weekly Diet Coke supplies.

Then we both go to Spotlight to find (hopefully) more 'doggy' fabric.

Then we both tackle some yard work again, this time we are cleaning up around the back sheds.

THEN... LUNCH TIME.  Probably just stay home for that.

IF we find some doggy fabric, I will then make the last two Braid Runner tops in my latest 'run' of two dozen.

Then I can start work on quilting and binding them all.

OMG, that's gunna be a mission and a half.

There ya go, that's me for the day.

What are you doing?  Going anywhere fun?  Going shopping?  I love shopping!

But ya knew that right?  lol

OH yeah!   I did indeed finish the 'next' Braid Runner top late yesterday, after taking a couple of hours break before dinner.  #22!

ABOVE: We have owls on this one.  It's a bright, cheerful runner.

I hope someone loves it.

ONWARD...

Well I've spent about an hour going through all my fabrics to see if I had anything else suitable for Braid Runners.

I only found ONE other fabric really.

So I mucked around with some possible combinations, and came up with this:

ABOVE: What do you think????  Two different combinations using that dog fabric.  The fabric at the very top would be the 'center piece'.

3.10 pm:  We have been working in the garden again this afternoon.

ABOVE:  Stew pretty much hacked down the pittosporum in the corner, and topped the lime tree.   OMG the lime tree is VICIOUS!  Such sharp thorns on it.  It would make an excellent hedge!

Now the pool will get more sun over summer, making it swimmable for longer.

ABOVE: Stew in action.  It was quite a job cutting down that tree.  He did well.

We are hoping to have the trailer fully loaded and ready to head off to the dump before it closes for the day.  We have an hour to get there.

ABOVE:  All ready to go.... and we got there in time.  We were very surprised to arrive to no queues at all!  Usually on the weekend there's queues down the road and around the corner.

Not this afternoon.

We got it all out quick smart and were out of there in less than 15 minutes.

Once home, I carried on sewing, and Stew tidied up the driveway, which was a bit of a mess.

Now?  It's nearly dinnertime, and I haven't even given it a thought.  Something simple tonight for sure.

Dinner tonight was pork 'n' apple schnitzel and potato wedges.  Yum.

Now we are watching some movie where the world is ending...  oh ya.  

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

HOW DID IT BECOME AUGUST SO FAST???

 

Yesterday I was like... How the hell is it August already???   It is scary how fast the months roll by now.  Is it an age thing?  

It's gunna be Christmas before we know it, and for once I've done NO present shopping yet.  Usually I have done half of it by now.

I better pull finger!

ABOVE:  A couple of nice photos I took last night of the kids.  

Lily was intrigued by the 'selfies' I was taking... seeing herself on the phone.  

ABOVE:  I hadn't planned on starting another runner late yesterday afternoon, but well... as you can see, I couldn't help myself.  So, today I am going to finish that one, and do a couple more.

I'm feeling quite keen to move on to the next phase now.  Quilting and binding them all.

ONWARD...

ABOVE: The view outside my window today.  Beautiful.   Happy dogs.

ABOVE:  # 20 I think.  I am now going to make another braid runner top, BUT.... it's not going to be like ANY I've made before!

Wait for it...

ABOVE: There it is.  A dog Braid Runner.  I think it's rather cute.

Might make another 'different' one after my lunch.

It is now 1.15 pm, certainly time to take a break.

3.30 pm:  lunch is done, and I've started the next runner.  But my back is actually killing me, so I will need to stop for a while I think.

Perhaps I will finish this next one later on this evening?  Dunno.

Stew arrived home, and we decided to go to our local Indian Restaurant for dinner.

We ran into a dear friend of ours (B), which was neat.  Had a quick catch up with her before our dinner arrived.

ABOVE:  I thoroughly enjoyed my Butter Lamb, and two bottles of Lindauer Brut.  Teeny, tiny bottles... and I was ever so slightly pissed.

Seems I 'butt dialled' Brylee while sitting in the car on our way home!

LOL... I didn't know till she rang Stew and I answered it (he was driving), so a funny conversation was had with her.

Nice to hear from you Stick-it.

Now... time to sign off and just relax for a couple of hours till bedtime.

SOCIAL WALK TODAY

 

Hi there!

I feel like I've been in a right funk the past few days, and I don't even know why... apart from being OUT OF CONTROL with my diet.

I'm happy to say I'm feeling much better now.

Thank goodness I can snap out of it on my own now.  There was a time when I had to rely on medication to get me through the days.

I have suffered (on and off), from 'Situational Depression' for many, many years.

ALWAYS caused by not being able to cope during super stressful times.  Like the deaths of my brothers, my Dad and my Mum,  court cases, family strife and so on.  

The last time I was on anti-depressants, I can blame a family member 100%.  But, I rose above the shit 'it' threw, and I know that one day, KARMA will get 'it'.  

I live for the day.

I know airing one's dirty laundry is not nice, but hey!  Just letting ya know that this family is just like most, we have fucking shit going on sometimes.

Thankfully, all is calm now, because we have purged ourselves of anyone who causes us stress and harm.  It is such a good feeling.

So, as I said earlier, feeling good again.

I'm off to Cambridge first thing this morning for an FBG Social Walk.  As long as it's not rained off.

Fingers crossed it is on, cos I really want to stretch me legs.

ABOVE: These are the two runners I made yesterday afternoon.  The one on the left does not photo well... let me assure you it IS lovely in person.

When I get back from Cambridge (If the walk is on), I am going to get back into the sewing room and get a couple more done.

ABOVE:  I have 6 to go until I have the two dozen I wanted to get made.

THEN I move on to quilting and binding them all.

You can send me cake when I get to that point, I will need it to keep my spirits up!  😂😉😊

ONWARD...

12.10 pm:  And the walk was called off.

I went and did a big grocery shop instead.

AND I renewed my drivers license.

At Spotlight yesterday they used my license as proof of identity, and that's when I found out my license had expired last year!

Whoop.

So first thing I did this morning was slap a bit more 'face' on than normal, so I'd take a semi-decent photo for me new license.  lol

ABOVE:  The new license face photo should look like that.    Photo was taken with NO FILTER, so it's 100% ME, wrinkles and all.  I don't think I look too bad for almost 66!

After that, I went in to Stew's office to sign some legal papers for a friend.  All done now.... they will be winging their way back to her today or tomorrow.

I'm home now, and have unpacked all the groceries.  What a mission that is.

Now I'm in the sewing room, staring out at the rain.  Probably try and get two braid runner tops done today.

ABOVE:  One done.  Not sure I will start another one today.  My back is a bit sore, so I might just blob out for the rest of the afternoon, till Stew gets home.

8 pm:  We have been out this evening.  Stew to the pub, and me to visit the kids, until I joined Stew for an hour at the pub.

Home now, and it's wind down time.

I shall watch Coronation Street, then off to bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.