FRIDAY PREP

 

Well, today I need to finish that Fish Runner, as we have market tomorrow.

I'm also going to go through the runner bags, and add the latest runners.  And double check everything we will need and so on.  The weather is looking very IFFY. Dammit.

I've got a few photos of Miss Lily ...

ABOVE: Lily at gymnastics, just having a blast.

ABOVE: And enjoying the lamb that came to Playcentre the other day.   I think she was trying to lift it up!  So cute.

ABOVE: And here she is playing with Lacy somewhere?  Not sure where .  She is an 'on the go' toddler for sure.  Seriously, she is never still.

Last night Dante, Archer and her were running around the house non stop!  I got exhausted just watching them.

Right, time get get a move on... that runner won't finish itself.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  10.30 and there's another one done.

I am going to make one more for now ... and then see how they go.  It's been really neat using different fish, change is as good as a cure.

I'm now going to wander down to the craft room and see if anyone is there?  Sometimes Loretta is there, so I might keep her company for a while if she's there.

It's Friday!  Weigh Day, now that I'm only weighing once a week.  And this week I lost .900 grams.  BUT... over the past two weeks I have lost 3.6 kilos, so I'm happy enough with that.

I am hoping for a 1 kg loss most weeks, sometimes it might be less, sometimes it might be more.  But I really want A LOSS every week.

Weighing daily did not work for me due to the daily fluctuations... and how they made me feel.  So stuff that!  lol

6.10 pm, and this afternoon I spent a bit of time making a tentative start on the next Fish Runner.

Then I had a nana nap!  Bliss.

Stew is now home, and we just finished loading the car in readiness for tomorrow's market.

The weather is looking iffy tomorrow, so who knows how it will go.  But we will never miss a Tamahere market if we can help it, so we are going. 

Time to sign off for the day, nothing else is likely to happen today.

Catch ya tomorrow.

COFFEE & CHAT

 

We have been here for almost 15 months, and I can now say I feel really integrated into this community.

This week I've been involved with something or other here in our village every day.

And today is no exception.

I'm off to Coffee & Chat this morning, and then I will be taking a few clothes I no longer want down to the 'Recycling Room'. That is where you can drop off unwanted items, and go through what's there, and take whatever you want.

It's a great new facility, recently set up by one of our residents.  Anything not taken after a certain period of time will be given to a charity shop.

After that I will come home and continue working on the fish runner.  I would like to think I'll get it finished today.

ONWARD...

12.15 pm.  Morning tea was interesting.  It is amazing how many of us girls have struggled with our weight!  The conversation turned to that issue because a couple of ladies noticed I wasn't eating any of the biscuits, and I explained how I was on a diet.

So some interesting conversations were had.  Now they are all going to be watching me!  Wonderful, let's add to the pressure for this to work!  Though, it will work, cos my motivation has not been this good in years.

I just had a lettuce salad, with a beef rissole and some cheese.  It was so yum.  Any food is yum right now of course.

I'm trying to do day on/day off with the Optifast and salads.  Seems to be working so far.

I'm taking a bit of time out now, before heading into Crabby Quarters to sew.

ABOVE: Today's salad:  Lettuce, carrot, 1 chopped up rissole, 3 small slices of salami, cheese, and cooked red onion. And a little bit of Lite & Free Honey Mustard Dressing.

ABOVE: The improved fish from yesterday... with luscious lips and eyelashes.  It gives it more character.

I have just finished all the stitching on this runner, and tomorrow I will add the backing fabric and binding.  Then it will be ready for market.

I am taking another break, as I don't want to aggravate my shoulders too much.  My left shoulder is still the worst, but it's settled down a bit.  Not all better, but slightly improved.  I can at least put my bra on without swearing now.  😂😅😖

Hindsight is a bitch, and I am sure we all have moments where we wish we could turn back the clock, and say or do something differently.

I know as I age, those moments come more often for some reason.  Or I am remembering things from ages ago, and going 'Damn!!! Why did I let that happen, do that, say that and so on?"  With age comes wisdom.  And regrets.

I have a deep regret that I didn't stand up to some people and say NO.  This is a recent thing, and it will eat away at me for a while I suspect. 

Just my mind wandering this afternoon.  It happens. *sigh*

8.14 pm, and it's been another lovely day.

I took Stew to the pub, and spent about half an hour with him, our son Steve and our friends, before going over to spend an hour with Bex and the kids.  

Then back to the pub, where I spent a lovely hour having conversations and laughs with the regulars and our friend.

Home now, and all snuggled up, ready to kill the next 2-3 hours in front of the telly.

Catch ya tomorrow.

IT'S DONE

 

I am so happy today.

After several months of hassles and expense (for me), something is finally DONE.

My Dad's headstone was taken from the Tokoroa cemetery a few weeks ago, and had additional inscriptions added, to include my Mum and Sister.

My sister's ashes will be interred with my Dad's next week, and the unveiling of the new headstone will also happen next week. 

I interred some special keepsakes of my Mum a few years ago, so that some of 'her' is there with my Dad as well.

The stonemasons sent me a photo of the new headstone, after it was returned to the cemetery yesterday.  I am very happy with it, it looks FANTASTIC!  It will be nice to see it in person next week. 

It's been a process I hope to never have to do again.  *My name, birth and death dates can be put there as a separate little plaque, when the time comes.  I'm aiming for another 20 years yet!  With any luck.  (Bearing in mind Stew and I will be buried in Hamilton.)

Today.... I will work on Fish Runner #3 (in this run).  I would LOVE to get it finished before the Tamahere Market this coming Saturday.

ONWARD...

11.50 am.  What a lovely morning I have had.  I got up, did the housework then wandered down to the Community Centre for the monthly Residents Morning Tea.  And I sat there and yakked, and didn't eat any of the lovely food on offer.  It wasn't even hard to do.  My resolve is holding so well... I'm really impressed with myself.  😂😅

After morning tea I went out and filled up my car, it was flashing EMPTY.  Then bought some more grapes from the supermarket, they had gone down in price, which was good.  Last week we paid about $19 for a bag full.  Today they were only $9.  I eat grapes when I am craving something sweet.

Which is quite often it would appear.  lol

I'm going to have left over chicken for my lunch, then head into Crabby Quarters to do some work.

It is now 3.45 pm, and I've been sewing for a few hours.  I've had to stop as I'm kinda chilled to the bone.  It's not warm in Crabby Quarters!

I have managed to stitch around three fish...

ABOVE: Those two, and another 'Finley', who I've shown before, so won't bother showing him again.

I have a little seahorse to do next, then it's on to bubbles and weed etc.  I do believe this runner will get finished tomorrow.  Certainly not today.

I am taking a well earned 'get warm again' break!  

Ha!  I just noticed the bottom fish hasn't got it's mouth on yet.  Whoops.  I'll add that tomorrow.

8.10 pm, and another nice day done and dusted.

Not much else is happening around here tonight.

I'll stay up to watch Coronation Street, then off to bed I will go.

Catch ya tomorrow.

FROST DAMAGE

At craft group yesterday, quite a few ladies were saying they had considerable damage done to plants in their gardens due to the very heavy frost we got last week.

Hmmm.  I hadn't even thought of that, so I went outside and checked my gardens:

ABOVE: This plant is completely dead.

ABOVE:  And most of the succulents got burnt, some very badly.  A couple of the smaller one are probably dead.  And almost ALL of my hydrangea cuttings have been killed as well.  That upset me.  I'd spent ages gathering them and looking after them. 😡😖  Now I'll have to start from scratch again.

I never in a million years thought of 'frost protection' for anything.  Live and learn.

Moving on.  Today I am heading down to the craft room again to work on a community project.  There will be several of us ladies (I mean tarts really), all working on the same things.  It's a 'once a year event'.

I'm not sure how long I will be down there, probably till early afternoon.

Reading through the comments from yesterday's post, I have decided to only weigh myself every 3 days (or so).  Daily is just too much of a mind f*#k.  I don't want to be obsessed with a number every freakin' day!

And I will talk to my Doctor next week about how quickly we can possibly increase the WEGOVY dosage.  I'm not a patient person, but if he says I need to follow the freakin' guide lines, then 😣 I suppose I will.

ABOVE:  I stayed up quite late last night working on the next fish runner.  Got two fish ready for stitching.  I'll probably get back to them tomorrow.

ONWARD...

1.30 pm, and we've been working since 9 this morning.  Making reusable sanitary products and bags to put them in for girls in 3rd world countries.

ABOVE: I don't know how much longer we will be.... maybe a couple more hours.

I popped home at lunchtime and put some chicken and veges in the crock pot for dinner tonight.

I'm really looking forward to that.

It is now 3.45 pm, and I've just got home.  I'm knackered and my butt is killing me!  The chair I was using was NOT comfortable for that long a period of time.  1-2 hours .. yep fine.  NOT 6 hours.  Glad that is over for the next year.

The dinner is smelling nice, I am so looking forward to it I tell ya.  I've only had fruit so far today.

I'm a bit cold now, so will turn the heat pump on and snuggle down with my heated throw on ... till I am warm again.

6.35 pm.  I'm all warmed up, my heated throw is a godsend.  Dinner?

DELICIOUS.  Stew and I both really enjoyed it.  First hot meal for me in a long time! There's enough left for my lunch tomorrow.

It's been a busy day, not just in the Craft Room.  Other stuff going on in the background too. 

Catch ya tomorrow.

HURRY UP!

 

I'm feeling a bit frustrated.

I know I shouldn't be, but I am.

On Friday I will be taking my 3rd dose of WEGOVY.

I am on the lowest dose, and I really can't tell I'm on ANYTHING at all.

The weight I've lost so far is, I KNOW, totally down to me.

ABOVE:  From what I've read on WEGOVEY, it won't take full 'effect' until I'm on the 2.4 mg dose!

WTF?  My Dr said come back in 4 weeks to be given the next prescription for 0.5 mg.  Grrrr.

I'm going to see if this can't be hurried up a bit, when I next see him?

I'm not the most patient person, and taking a medication that cost a fucking fortune SHOULD be taking effect a damn sight faster than in 17 weeks time.

Right, little bitch and moan over.

Moving on.

It's Craft Group today.  I shall be going down mid morning, and will be working on the next Fish Runner.  

So, once I'm up I will load up my trolley and get a move on.

Catch ya later.

ONWARD...

ANON:  I  have NOT lost the 'food hunger signals' at all!  I'm waiting for that to happen, it would be fantastic if it did.

I am constantly hungry right now, and my stomach is growling something rotten.  I wake up STARVING every day.  So clearly, I am not on a dose high enough to do that yet.

Hence me wanting it to hurry up!

I lost the .400 grams I gained, and am now sitting at a 3.05 loss so far, this time around.  All down to ME.

I am not so sure about this daily weighing though, it can play with your mind I think.   

What do you think?  Continue weighing daily, or go back to once a week?

9.30 and I'm about ready to leave for the craft room.

I've made myself a lettuce salad and some almond bread for my lunch.

I saw a video the other day where a lady cooked her almond bread in the microwave.  Hmmm, sounded better than putting the electric oven on to just make one small thing.  So I tried it.

1 egg, 3/4 cup of cottage cheese, 1/2 cup of almond flour and 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder.  Whizzed it up with just the hand beater, then into a microwave dish for 2 and a half minutes.  It came out perfect!  So quick.  So easy.  So Yum!

ABOVE: A thin spread of margarine, and wrapped up ready for lunch.  BOOM!

So glad I tried that, microwave is how I will be doing that from now on.

3.20 pm, just in from Craft Group.  I worked on the next runner till my shoulders started hurting, then I just sat there and, well... yakked.  It was nice.  I did enjoy myself, and am rather happy to be part of this community now.

Now that I'm home, I'm going to be a lazy tart for a while.  My urge to do anything else is ZILCH.

WELL... I didn't resist that urge.  I've done bugger all for the rest of the day.  I might have fluffed around in Crabby Quarters for a little while, wandered around the gardens, made a Optifast/fruit smoothie for my dinner, and watched TV.

Now?  Gunna sign off.

Catch ya tomorrow.

RAIN = NO MARKET TODAY

 

We had intended going to the Cambridge Trash 'n' Treasure market today.

But, it's supposed to rain all day, with thunderstorms thrown in for luck.  So that's a firm 'HELL NO'.

That market's stall holders predominantly don't have gazebos, so there will not be that many stall holders there, and as a consequence, not many shoppers either. 

So we decided last night it was a no go for us.  Bex is also not going today.

And that means I get an extra day to work on Fish Runners.  I hope to finish Sandra's today, then move on to making at least one more for the Tamahere Market next weekend. 

I am going to laugh and laugh if I get them done, and they don't sell for months!  That's just how it goes sometimes.

I am really enjoying making them ... they are such fun.  And adding in a few more 'new' fish has added some interest for me.

I shall probably do another 'Finley' on the next runner ... god help me!  He is a huge amount of work. But, he's lovely.

Not sure what Stew will get up to today... probably watch sport on the telly.

It's a bit weird not going out to lunch like we usually do, and I think Stew's missing it.  On the plus side,  I can help him spend the money we are saving somehow!  lol

I had a gain on the scales this morning, which I totally expected after a little 'blow out' yesterday.  My shake, then pizza... far too much.

So I shall be tightening my belt for the rest of the week, and keep to the plan.  Shakes, salads and fruit.  Let's see how it goes.  Weigh in Day is Friday.

I am still attending Weight Watchers, but ONLY because I enjoy the company and leaders input.  Everyone needs support when on a weight loss mission.  No matter how much you want to lose, support and encouragement is vital.

O N W A R D . . .

10.20 am.  Can you believe... I lay in bed until 10 am!!!!    It was wonderful.

I finally got on the scales, and as expected, a small gain of .400 grams.  Not as bad as I expected really, as I know I can gain heaps in a day!

We are going back to the supermarket this morning to get fresh salad stuff.  We had three bags of pre-made salads in the fridge, but they had already gone past 'best by' date.  That sucks.  I have decided not to buy them again as it's just so wasteful when you don't eat them 'in time'.  At least with fresh salad things, you know it will last longer.

I also want to find a container/jug/measuring SOMETHING that shows the milligrams.  I've not got anything that shows that.

Stew just saw a notification on Facebook that the Cambridge Trash n Treasure market was cancelled today.  Hmmm.... glad we didn't go and then find it cancelled!  

ABOVE:  A quick trip to New World on Te Rapa Straight, and we got everything we need for the next few days salads.  AND...

ABOVE: We found the perfect jug with liquid measurements on it.  I'm sure I've had one before, goodness knows what happened to it.  Too many moves over the years... given so much stuff away, no way could I rememeber.

lol, now that we've bought a new one, I bet we find the old one... which was a glass jug.

We had a lovely lettuce salad with an Angel Bay Beef rissole each for lunch.  I must check out how many calories etc they contain...  result: 286 calories per patty.  I'm happy enough with that.  

ABOVE:  And there we go, another finish.  This one is for Sandra in Palmerston North.

ABOVE: This guy is 'Googly'.

ABOVE: And this little cutie is 'Kelpie'.  Cos he lives in the kelp.  😂😊

7.45 pm, and it's time to sign off for the night.

I've done some 'prep' for tomorrow's session in the Craft Room.

I'm going to work on another Fish Runner of course.

And that's me for the day, catch ya tomorrow.

SECOND FISH DONE AND NAMED

 

After dinner last night, I went back into Crabby Quarters with the intention of tidying it up, and putting away everything from the sewing trolley.

Well I did all that, then I decided to stitch around the second fish on the current Fish Runner.

ABOVE:  I am naming this guy 'HAPPY'.  I had JUST finished stitching him when I got a message from my girlfriend Sandra in Palmerston North.  And yeah, this runner is already sold!  😂😊💙💗💜  It makes me laugh when a runner is sold even before it's finished.

I will be working on the runner a bit later on today.  But first, I'm going to Chartwell Square with Stew this morning.

We are going to have a wander around before coming home for lunch.  No more (for now) lunches out and about.  😕  But, that's OK, I am holding firm on my resolve to lose some weight before summer.

ABOVE:  There's Stew ... reading up on how to administer my injection last night.  I'm sure he will get familiar with it soon.  It is certainly different to the Trulicity injection.

I was a bit stressed out in anticipation of the injection, but seriously, I didn't feel A THING!  It's such a relief, because I want this to work so much.

I haven't really noticed any changes to how I feel about food/hunger yet.  What is working is sheer bloody minded will power at the moment!  

ABOVE: Yep, this is me to a 'T'.  I will never give up on trying to be healthier, it may be a bit hit and miss/on and off.... but I always come back to it.  I am just hoping THIS TIME I really can stay on track and not gain any more weight.

I ONLY need to lose 15 kilos... surely I can do that? 

ONWARD... 

12.30 .

ABOVE: Chartwell Square this morning, dead as a dodo.

ABOVE:  I treated myself to a small hot chocolate.  It was delicious.

ABOVE:  I added half a pear to my Optifast, and whizzed it up in the Nutribullet.  It's SO MUCH NICER!  I will be doing that from now on.

I use Scentsy Wax Melt things to make the house smell lovely.  A long time ago I ran out of the Scentsy Wax Melts, so bought an alternative from Acquisitions at The Base.

ABOVE: That's what I bought.  And instantly regretted it.  The smell is TOO STRONG, and not to my taste at all.

So, basically been using something I don't like for months.  Derrr.

Bex gave me some of the true Scentsy wax melts the other day (thanks Bex 💜💙💗), but I still wanted to get more.

I finally contacted my friend Nicky, who sells Scentsy, and we visited her today.

ABOVE: That lot should see us right for a while, plus I've ordered more.  Poor Stew's wallet is now empty!  lol

ABOVE: Turned on, and awaiting the smell to drift through the house.  I can't wait.  It's sometimes the simple things that make you happy.  This makes me happy.

And my heated throw.  I'm super duper happy to be under it right now.

We went to the supermarket after visiting Nicky, and now I'm just a bit cold.  NOT as cold as other people of course, sorry other people. 😂😖

5.30 pm, and I have another pizza base in the oven.  Trying a different recipe this time, it's basically the same recipe as the low carb Sandwich Thins I made the other day.

It is already smelling great.

Well that pizza base was too thick, but we still enjoyed it.  Next time I will spread it out heaps more.

WE are now going to hunker down and enjoy the evening in front of the telly, keeping warm.

Though, it's nowhere near as cold today.  We didn't have a frost, and certainly not expecting one tomorrow.

Catch ya tomorrow.

FIND IT A HOME

 

Well, another lovely frosty start to the day.

I'm heading down to the craft room today, to work on the next fishy runner.  I spent some time yesterday looking at pictures of fish, cos I want to use some new ones.

ABOVE: When I find a picture I like, I copy it out in a bigger size on card.  That way I can then trace it onto Steam a Seam and then fabric.

So last night, before going to the pub, I copied out the next two 'new' fish I will be using today.

I'm excited to see how they come out.

I have now been on this new 'diet' for a full week, and my loss???

Well... I have to get outta bed first right?  Let's wait and see...

Something else I need to do this morning is find a home for the Nutribullet.  It can't sit on the bench indefinitely, as the bench simply isn't big enough for more stuff to stay on it.  I think I can rearrange the pantry a bit, so it can go in there all going well.

I want to use it today, to mix up my Optifast shake, and I'm going to add half a pear to the shake to make it more palatable.  I hope that makes it nicer to have.

ONWARD...

9.10 am, and we have a white out... the temperature was -4.6 degrees C. That's COLD.

ABOVE:  I haven't seen frost like this since I was a kid!  It's bitterly cold.

ABOVE: Frosty windscreens?  Nah, how about the entire car!  It's covered in frost from top to bottom.

The water in my fountain outside is frozen over.  I have put a warm container of water inside for Coco, her outside water container is frozen.

I've just finished packing my sewing trolley, so will head down to the craft room now and get that heater on!

OH shit!  Almost forgot my weigh in.  I lost 2.7 kilos this week.  I'm really happy with that. 

ABOVE: 12.23 pm... It has taken three hours to cut out and press down the three big fish. On my own here in the craft room today, sadly. I thought I'd have some company.  But the plus side is I can play my music and its really warm in here 😊.

I am now taking a short break before starting the stitching.

2.30 pm, and I'm home.  I spent a total of 5 hours working in the craft room on my own.  Listening to my music, then my freakin' phone died!

So I've come home to charge it, and take a break.

ABOVE: The Community Centre's cafe area is getting an extension and upgrade.  It's be 'on the cards' for about 15 years!  The roof leaks, it should have been done years ago.

But at least now, with the new manager, it is finally going ahead.

ABOVE: This is the only fish I got finished today.  I am very proud of him.  He took one and a half hours to stitch.  I put a lot of effort into getting the details done.  He's probably the most detailed fish I've ever done.  Now I have to come up with a name for him. Ideas???
Well, hardly anyone bothered to give me ideas for a name for that fish... so I'll just go with the first one!

HE'S FINLEY.   I name all the fish I used on my runners btw.

My batteries died completely this afternoon, so I've been just sitting scrolling the net, and keeping warm.

I made a 'protein pizza' this afternoon for our dinner.

Using Cottage Cheese, Eggs and seasoning for the base.  It worked really well.  I used the Nutribullet to whizz the cottage cheese and eggs, and that was neat!   Noisy, but neat.

We have now had our dinner, we both loved the pizza.  I put tomato pizza sauce, Salami, various cheeses and pineapple on the pizza base.  So YUM!  There would have been some red onion too, but I overcooked it and it went straight in the bin. Shit happens.

Now?

Time to just relax for the evening... though I am tempted to go into Crabby Quarters and put away everything I used today.  I don't like leaving it a mess.

We'll see.

Catch ya tomorrow.