HOW CUTE ARE THEY?

ABOVE:   my cute as dogs yesterday after their baths.. and cos I know so many of you 'foreigners' like to hear me voice... a wee video for ya.

Today it's back to Patchwork class, where I am hoping like hell the Tutor has brought along her 'CUTE Bag'... cos the one I am making has confusing instructions and we can't make head nor tail of them!  I have been 'working' on the bag for weeks but just can't understand how it all goes together.  It should be simple, it ain't a complicated bag really!

It's a really neat bag and I want to make a few of them... so fingers crossed today we make some progress.

ABOVE:  I finally got the last Placemat Block done... now I have to add the wadding, backings and quilt/bind them all.  Not that much then eh?  lol
ONWARD....

Patchwork class:  I stayed an extra hour today.. as I was determined to get that friggin bag done... or at least know what I was doing to finish it TODAY.  And I am going to finish it today!  I had to stop on the way home to buy some dowel... now off to finish it.. well.. as soon as I've had me 'brunch'... it's almost 1pm and I'm starving....

 ABOVE:  it's DONE!   I'm calling it a  'CUTE Bag' because:

ABOVE:  When you open it.. it sits like this!  I TOTALLY love this bag... and now... I'm gunna make some more!  I'm sure it will be a really nice Christmas Present for a few people!  LOL.

HEY!  Stop giving me credit for this wonderful bag!  It's been 'around' for decades I'm told... I just happened to see one and wanted to make one (or 10).... it's an oldie but a goodie for sure!

End of Day:  SHIT!  It's like, midnight!  I got carried away making a 2nd CUTE bag!  Better go to bed me thinks.  nite nite.

CANKLES... ARE SO PRETTY... NOT!

My ankles are gone... I've deveolped cankles.... from all the fluid retention that is going on at the moment.  I think it's cos I'm sitting on me butt too much!

I really must organise myself better and get dedicated to MOVING more... and getting some decent exercise going again.

My fitness is at an all time low...and I hate myself for allowing this to happen again.  Too much crap food, no exercise... and no real motivation... until now... If I don't do the hard yakka AGAIN I am looking at being back where I was 5 years ago.... fat, unfit and MISERABLE.

So... while I am all talk... and usually bugger all 'do'... maybe I needed to get this bad before I could find the motivation to do something?

Here's hoping I can pull my finger out.

Today:  well it's housework big-time day.... and enjoying having the house to myself for the day.
AND both dogs need attention, they both have knots... grrrrrrr.... they should stop chewing each other's ears!   That just causes knots.

I'm going to ... GOING TO!... get on the exercycle AND cross trainer today too...

ONWARD....

So far today:  done the washing.. rotating stuff through the dryer to air it all.. did 10 minutes on the exercycle.... then jumped off and did some tidying of the garage (cos it was IN ME FACE) while sitting on the darn exercycle!  Did some vacuming.... and now... heading off to get on the 'murder machine'.... the cross trainer.  F*#K I hate that one!....

ABOVE:  5 parcels ready to go!  Two Giveaway prizes, Two Swap Group Gifts and a 'Pink' parcel heading to Georgia, USA. 

I did get on the cross trainer.. I almost gave up after the first minute!  But I did manage 5 minutes!  Not very good eh?  Tomorrow I will try and do 6 minutes....

ABOVE:  I THOUGHT Griffin had more freakin socks!  Found three pairs chucked in the back of the shoe cupboard... the little shit!

I took those socks to the laundry, and ended up spending  3/4's  of an hour in there tidying the cupboard and getting stuff in the machine to soak....

Lunch time... hmmmm... what to have?....

ABOVE: my last 'big' job for the day was to comb out the dog's knots and bath them... I'm happy to say it's now done.  Time to relax till dinner preparation time.  yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

End of Day:  and a lovely quiet evening was spent with me feet up in my lounge chair... super tired..off to bed.  nite nite.

ANOTHER BLOCK DONE AND DUSTED... YA BORED YET???

ABOVE:  the block I made last night.  AND I have finally figured out how to avoid chopping the points off!  It's all in the measuring and sewing a 'scant' 1/4".... I have adjusted my needle position and now... I am doing it 'right'!!!  FREAKING ABOUT TIME. Pffffft.  Why when I go to a Patchwork Class has NO ONE shown me exactly how to do this???  It's not like I haven't bitched about it often enough. 

*sigh*... over it now. 
ONWARD...

So, it's Sunday, Stew's day to sleep in.  I don't know what our plans are.... so will wait and see what the day brings.   It's supposed to rain.  Oh JOY.

I had a great idea for something to do today in a dream last night.  I can't remember what it was ... NOW.   Stew is still sleeping..... nearly 10am...

ABOVE:  As it's a totally crap day out there, I'm sewing... Stew is watching sport and doing a couple of little odd jobs inside... really nothing to go "ya hoo!" over.  That block above is called "Chris's Star", and it was a right b*$#h to sew!   I don't think it's perfect, but good enough.

Off to make another easier one!...

I've been staring at the last block.. something isn't quite right about it... and then it hit me!  I've put the bottom row on upside down!  Derrr... so a wee bit of 'reverse sewing' needs to be done.
Off to get the groceries right now, so will fix it later..

ABOVE:  fixed it.   Grocery shopping was as per usual.. annoying as. 

Having a silly bugger dinner... sausages, hash brown and baked beans!   

End of Day:  a totally boring sunday!  Kids have been horrid today, trapped inside due to the weather.  So glad tomorrow is school again.  nite nite.

AHHHHH, SATURDAY....BLISS

ABOVE:  I was a busy girl last night... I whipped up these two blocks for my Placemat set.   The bottom one was a right arse to get right.. as you can see I chopped the tits of the ends of some of those triangles... AGAIN.... grrrrrr.  
The top one was more difficult than I thought it would be too... but at least with that one I didn't chop any points off.

In case you haven't read last night's update, the winner (s) of my Giveaway were 1st:  Sparklingmerlot who gets her choice of the two Casserole Carriers and some cards, and the runner up (so to speak) is Virginia, who will get the other Casserole Carrier. 

ABOVE: I got a parcel.. isn't it pretty!   From Coffee Slut in the USA... She sent it for my birthday ... which is next Thursday.  I ain't opening it until then... oooo exciting! Thanks ya Tart.  XOXOXOX

*sigh* ... we have to do bloody grocery shopping today... oh JOY.  That's about it for now...

ONWARD...

Off to St Lukes mall today... for a change.  And they have a neat crystal shop there.. and I want to find a few crystals to make necklaces .... maybe! 

ABOVE:  Retail therapy:  A gorgeous decanter ... which I think will end up with jelly beans in it!  A lovely ringbinder for my block patterns, two for the price of one DVD's and a cute wee turtle.. not gunna mention who likes turtles!  lol

ABOVE: St Lukes mall... shop called Sun Crystals... I only got a few as they are real Swarovski Crystals well they better be... I will go into Spotlight next week and get more bits and pieces and give making a necklace a go!

We had lunch at St Lukes and are now home.... it's a really brilliant day today...very warm!

End of Day:  and I feel a bit naughty!  I haven't updated today much at all... got busy sewing/napping/blobbing out in front of the TV.  An now watching one of my all-time favourite movies on a DVD... "Fried Green Tomatoes"... it's a real chick flick!   Seen it..OOOOh... about 10 times!  lol
nite nite

REMEMBER TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY!

HEY!  If you forgot yesterday.... you have about 6 more hours to enter my latest GIVEAWAY!  Then it will close and I shall be doing the draw this evening. Enter on yesterday's post~!!

ABOVE:  I had to change the position of the handles on my Carry bag... they needed to be closer together so the cutting board didn't warp in the middle.  Live and learn... but it gave me the chance to add clips too.. which will be handy to clip on my rotary cutter , car keys.... bla bla bla!  I'm very happy with this bag! 

TODAY:  well I'm not sure!  I used to go to the Hospice Shop today... but now...today's all mine again.  Have been thinking about trying to make some summer clothes for the kids and me... so might go looking for a pattern or two.
ONWARD...  Oh and I'm thinking of going to the hairdressers and getting lots of layers put in me hair... to lighten it up ready for summer... and give it a lift.  We will see....

I did get me hair cut.... and I would show you ... but blogger is having a hissy fit with it's photo uploads at the mo... so you will have to wait!  edit: finally got it on!

Didn't get any patterns today, decided to come home and have a quiet day.

GIVEAWAY post is closed.. I will now publish all the comments, and tonight once Stew is home I will do the draw.  Good luck to everyone who entered.

I've had a quiet afternoon so far.  Done NOTHING.   Feeling tired for some reason.  Kids just got home so I suppose I should do sommit.... like think about dinner.  Which I ain't cooking, it's takeaway night!  Yaaaaa.

ABOVE:  here we have it.. the DRAW!
And for those who can't view it, the winner was
SPARKLINGMERLOT from Australia... AND... just cos I could, I did a 2nd Draw!  And the winner of the 2nd DRAW was VIRGINIA from the USA!

I hope you both like your Casserole Carriers when you get them! 

End of Day:  a great day here.. I got another block done for my Placemats... even though I chopped the tits off a few triangles!  Grrrrrr... I must be doing something wrong.  oh well... off to have a tipple or two!  nite nite.

4 YEARS BLOGGING... LET'S HAVE A GIVEAWAY!

TODAY MARKS MY 4TH YEAR BLOGGING!  I can't believe I've been literally 'yakking' on the 'net for that long!  So, to  mark the occasion, I'm doing another giveaway.
To be in to win a Casserole holder and 5 cards of mine, all you have to do is LEAVE A COMMENT, and tell me :

- How much water (approx)  do I drink in a day
- What's me favourite colour
- two things I LOVE to do!


It's that simple!  If you 'know me at all' you will know the answers.

I will draw the winner on Friday night,  "Kiwi Time"!   Heee heee hee!

ABOVE:  The winner can choose one of the two Casserole Holders Stew is holding.   I will add 5 cards as well.

ABOVE:  And here's Stew modelling my cutting mat Bag/cover!   He has his uses eh?  lol

Right:  on with today.  Got some housework to do first thing, then it will be time to take Griffin to his Speld Lesson.  I will probably go to Pukekohe while he's there, to kill time.. and maybe shop... maybe...

ONWARD...

OH!  BTW... I won't be publishing any comments today .. can't have you getting the answers from someone else can I???  ****    Obviously I haven't mentioned my water consumption much on me blog?  So... the answer to that question is on me sidebar (SOMEWHERE)... you'll just have to look for it!

I'm gunna make this easier AND BETTER!  If you answer 1 question right, you get one chance in the draw.  2 right = two chances, 3 right = three chances!   There ... now I feel better about it.  Everyone will get at least one right eh?

Anyone else been watching the Chilean Miners rescue as it unfolds ?  I have, it's awesome how they have managed to rescue them from such a depth!  Last time I looked at the live feed they had 24 safely up.
Off now to get the boy ....

ABOVE:  Well.... I found this really nice baby wear shop in Pukekohe this morning... how could I resist? 

Home now and it's neat reading the comments... so many of you know me SO WELL!  LOL

Shame I can't publish them yet...

End of Day:  so, lots of comments/answers coming in... keep it up!  You gotta be in to win.
I'm off to put me feet up for a while, my legs/feet are swollen heaps today.  nite nite.

CARRY BAG PROGRESS, AND HOSPICE TODAY

ABOVE:  Really pretty Eh?  This is how far I got on the carry bag/cover for my cutting board last night... It's going to be a really lovely cover for it... and it's a great way to use up small scraps of fabric too!

Today:  back to the Hospice shop again... wonder if I'll find any treasures today?

When I get home from there I will continue working on that carry bag/cover. 

ABOVE: until I get back... I'll leave you with this picture of Teddy and Coco, sleeping together ... awwww they are so cute.

ABOVE:   the BIG news of the day is:  Amanda and Andrew are having A BABY GIRL!!!  I am thrilled to bits!  She is due late February...congrats A & A.

Today at Hospice I did my job very well.. I helped up the grand total of money made!  I found some real treasures... and will show you all later after I've had me lunch.... 

Right, today's treasures:

ABOVE: Jam jars!  Cos I want to make jam one day!

ABOVE: this cute picture.. well HELL... it had a lighthouse AND a boat AND a seagull!  I had to buy it!

 ABOVE:  THREE .. I mean THREE SHADOW BOX pictures, with REAL  sand in them!   And they look just like some fabric I have with beach huts!  How bloody awesome are they???  (Hmmm... just have to decide if I want to keep them, or give them away as gifts???)  It's gunna be hard to decide.

ABOVE:  and lastly, a really nice shirt for me Mum, a cute top for Brylee and more baby booties.... and now that we know what No#7 grandbaby is I shall have to start hunting for PINK ones!

End of Day:  and I have finished the cutting board bag/cover.   It looks neat.  I'm very happy with it.... cos it will not only be great to carry my cutting board to patchwork class, but it can also be for all the other 'flat' things too.  I need to get some snap type fastners for the top but in essence it's finished.  I will show you  tomorrow.  AND don't forget, tomorrow is my 4th year Blogoversary and I'm having a GIVEAWAY!  nite nite.

PATCHWORK AGAIN....

OMG!  Can you see my followers number now?  It's well over the 200... I'm wrapt.  THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Next thing:  My latest GIVEAWAY will be on THURSDAY.... it being my 4th Blogoversary an'  all!  I'm still thinking what I shall ask you to do to enter... probably leave a comment with something like a question to be answered!

TODAY:  I'm heading back to patchwork class... but first I have to pop over to Spotlight and buy a big cutting mat AGAIN.  I left my original large and bloody expensive cutting mat in the sun.  BAD THING TO DO... it warped and buckled and no matter what I do I can't get the bloody thing flat again.  Grrrrr... what a waste of $100!  So, that's top of the list today.

After patchwork.. home for lunch and then???  Dunno!  Wait and see I suppose.

ONWARD...

Home again!   And hell... only TWO comments today!!!!  I'm feeling very alone right now... lol!
*smiles*
I'm flat out re-arranging my sewing room.... I had the sewing machine facing the window... but it's too darn sunshiny bright to work there!  My eyes keep watering... so it's so far taken me 2 hours to try and come up with a different layout for the room, bearing in mind it's for my sewing and my card making.  
Back to it...

ABOVE:  see what I mean by 'wrecked'?  Totally fucked... I mean useless.

ABOVE: the super-dooper even bigger, flat as a pancake NEW ONE!  Whooop! 

ABOVE:  a teeny tiny video of the room, now re-arranged.  I am going to make a cover for the new cutting mat and keep it off that table in the sun when not in use!  I'm not wrecking another one!

Off to start making a cover/carry bag for the new cutting mat....

End of Day:  and I've made good progress on the carry bag.  Worked on it until bedtime, which is NOW.  nite nite.

I NEED THREE MORE FOLLOWERS!!!

Do you read my blog?
Do you 'Follow' my blog?

Cos I NEED three more Followers to hit 200.. and it would be really neat to get there before my 4th Year Blogaversary on Thursday!  SO COME ON... three of you out there... follow me!
PRETTY PLEASE....

Jumping for JOY... the kids go back to school today.  And I am not going to patchwork class either... going to switch that to Tuesdays.
Today will be all about catching up with the housework and getting my house all nice and tidy again... without kids.

Weird how having a clean and tidy house makes me feel good.  For some people this does not matter I know... but to me it is so important. 
I am proud of the fact that even when I had 6 kids at home and  worked from 9-3, I still had a clean/tidy home.  It DID help that I made the kids do a fair bit of the housework too!  But hey, it was their mess!

So... I'm off to vacum,  wash floors, tidy up... bla bla bla.

ONWARD....

woo hoo.. now I only need two more, thanks Gayle!.. and now only 1 more!  Thanks Karen in Wellington! AND  Zanna (Anne) THANK YOU ...
*~DOING A HAPPY DANCE~*  I have 200  'Followers*  whoop whoop!
Now anyone out there who wants to follow too.. go for it!   It's better to have a few more... cos SOMETIMES you lose a follower too!  I tell ya, when THAT happens you feel gutted!   lol

I'm off to wash me floors now... feeling wrapt.... and maybe need to do another GIVEAWAY on Thursday???   Who would like to win... ummmm.... a Casserole Carrier on Thursday???  AND  5 cards!

OH THANK YOU to the 6 (so far) who have become followers today!  I am walking around with a huge smile on me dial now... and I needed that!  Been quite 'down' last few days... being ill and so on....

AND THANK YOU TO THE 197 other people who were already following me! 
YOU CAN ALL enter my GIVEAWAY on Thursday!

ABOVE:  I started another block for the placemats while waiting for the floors to dry... AND I didn't chop off the points on this one!!!!  Quite happy about that I am...

OOOO look at that!  I've got 204 followers now!  AWESOME... hey if you became a follower today let me know!  The follower thingee on my sidebar doesn't show the new ones at the top necessarily! 

*** PEPSI UPDATED *** PEPSI UPDATED *** PEPSI UPDATED *** PEPSI UPDATED ***

ABOVE:  woo hooo!   Another block done and ready to have it's padding and backing put on... this one is neat!

It's 3pm... kids are due home any minute.  I havn't missed them.  And it's gone really cold!  We just had a small splatter of hail... brrrrrrr.

JO and JILL.. you were already followers... but thanks for trying to follow me TWICE!  ha ha ha.

ABOVE: this block is called 'Card Trick'... and it was bloody tricky... in that I soooo could not follow the instructions.... so I just put it together using the picture as the guide.  That worked!  I really like this one!  It's funky.

HI!  I have spent the last hour or so printing out block patterns... cos I needed a few more to chose from for the placemats.  MY GOD there's a  shitload of patterns 'out there'!

THANK YOU SO MUCH for taking my 'Follower' List to over 200!  hee hee... it's so awesome.  Living in such a little country compared to some means it's hard to 'aquire' a  huge following... but I'm doing OK! 

Now as for how you can win a Casserole Carrier and cards... wait till Thursday!  I might have to think of something 'different'?

End of Day:  and I've spent the evening reading blogs.... packing up my sewing shit stuff ready for patchwork class tomorrow.  Off to bed now... tired!  nite nite.

TWO FEET.. TWO DOGS = BLISS

ABOVE:  Seen this before?  I have weird dogs... they BOTH love licking me feet!  Well  OK, anyone's feet will do... it is so funny!  The SECOND I take off my shoes they both dash over for a lick.   I like it too!  I am WEIRD too...

ONE MORE SLEEP.... and it's back to our school day routine.  Yaaaaa.   Though I am going to try and change my Patchwork Class day to a Tuesday.   I want my Mondays back for doing the BIG 'after the weekend' clean.  

Today's plans.... well I don't think we have any!  Stew is still in bed... so maybe once he's up we will decide what to do.

It's a special day today.  10/10/10.  Apparently lots of people are getting married today due to the date.  Brylee missed out on being 10 on this date by only 8 days! 

ONWARD....

So... not a lot happening around here... Stew is finally doing a few outside jobs that have been needing done for ages.. and we are  hoping to take the dogs for a walk after lunch.  If the weather holds.
I'm cold today.... we have a fairly cool wind blowing (same as yesterday)... so I have on me Ugg boots!  Not exactly glamourous ... but warm.

HAPPY 53rd  BIRTHDAY to my sister, Hope you have had a nice day.

Here... we have had an incredibly quiet afternoon.   Havn't heard from anyone.  How 'normal'.  Obviously no one wants anything.

My birthday is in 11 days, bet only 1 of my kids bothers to remember.  Feeling so very ho hum today.  Why bother having a large family when you feel like you have none?  Thank God Stew is still around.  Oh and B & G... they are too young to leave!

End of Day:  time to call a halt to today... so looking forward to tomorrow.  nite nite.

DURO TUSS...WELL ...OK THEN

Well....I've been told by Kate to go buy some Duro Tuss... with the green top.  So I will.

Making Stew move one of the plum trees today, he is not exactly thrilled to bits with me!  But if I have the two plum trees growing right next to each other I will save room and guarantee pollination....so he is going to do it for me. NOT that he wants to dig up a tree he just planted.  Oooops.... so sorry about that Darling!

After that... maybe we will go to the mall... it's supposed to rain today ... so not expecting a nice day in the sun.

HA!  After me asking him to move ONE tree, he's decided overnight that he now needs to move a few more!  Seems the plum trees will shadow the citrus trees, so he might move them too!  Whoops, what did I start!

I'm still in bed by the way... got the laptop on me knee, diet coke on the side table... what more could a girl want?  A catheter!  I'm busting for a piddle... don't wanna get outta bed.... *sigh*... suppose I better though.

ABOVE: so, I'm lying in bed this morning and Stew rolls over and hands me $10.  "What is that for?" I ask.  He says "SEX".... ha!  Like hell... That won't get you ANYTHING!   Apparently it's money he got from KJ down in Wellington for a card I sent her.  He's an idiot.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  It's raining... well Stewy won't get too hot moving that tree eh?  He's out there in it.  How sad.
Once he's finished I reckon we will go out for lunch...

Well, we did indeed go out for lunch.  We went to Albany, where they have a mean as Kebab place... and I also got some cough medicine.  I was going to get the Duro Tuss, but Stew saw another one that I've used before that was REALLY GOOD... so we got it instead.  Gee's Linctus... oldy but a goodie.  Fingers crossed it works.
We went to Mission Bay after lunch and got an ice cream from the Movenpik ice cream shop... delicious!  

Home now, and as it's fine again Stew is going to mow the lawns while I have a nap.  Old 'ladies' need their naps eh?  Well... truth be known I'm hoping to avoid a coughing fit and losing me lunch!  Can't cough if I'm asleep right? Well, that's the idea.

End of Day:  and my section is looking delightful.. all weeded and mown... dinner is simmering in the pot (humble mince stew) and it's almost time for some more Gee's Linctus!  Man that stuff works.  Why the HELL didn't I go buy some sooner?  DOH.   I'm gunna have a wee tipple later on too... cos I'm sure that's the reason I got a good night's sleep last night.  BLISS.  nite nite.

FRIDAY... YAAAAA

Yaaa it's Friday. 
I am still coughing... AND I KNOW I SHOULD GO TO THE DOCTOR... yeah I know... but I keep thinking.. it's getting better.
AND what can the Doc do about a freaking cough anyway?

Last time I had a cough like this it lasted for weeks on end... and the Dr couldn't do jack-shit about it then... so why waste money going to see him when I KNOW he can't do anything?

*sniff*.... at least I don't have to suffer in silence eh?   Cos you are all out there having to listen to me bitch and moan.   nah nah na na!

TODAY?  Dunno.   Usual shit I suppose.  Housework, sewing, trying not to throttle the kids.... all totally normal stuff.

ONWARD....

It is a glorious day here today... so I am going to take the kids to the playground at school.  They can play for an hour or so and I shall think about how I'm going to make the placemats to match my new table runner!   Or sommit like that.  .....

ABOVE: back from the playground and had lunch.  Just chilling this afternoon... thinking of doing some block patterns for the placemats... all different.

As a parent, you never stop worrying about your kids... they are often on your mind.  But... do they think of you?  Sometimes I really wonder about that.... cos I virtually NEVER get a phone call from my kids... I have been quite sick these school holidays... and not ONE of them has rung to see how I am feeling.  NOT ONE.  I think that sucks.  I am feeling really let down. 

Thank God I have Stew!  And all you out in 'cyberspace' who do care.  THANK YOU.

And what brought that little rant on?  One of my kids ... who is shitty with me.  Why do they think I have NO FEELINGS???

ABOVE:  the first block (Broken Wheel Variation)...  I added black to the ends to make it long enough to be a placemat.  How come no matter how meticulously I follow the instructions I end up chopping off the ends of triangles at the sides?  It totally pisses me off.

End of Day:  and Stew (bless him) came home with Chinese takeaways... ooo it was so yum too.  NOT so yum when I coughed and vomited it all up again half an hour later.   Grrrr.. now I am thinking maybe, just maybe I should have gone to the Dr's!   But of course now we are heading into a weekend and I am not going on the weekend and paying through the nose for a prescription for some cough syrup.  Might go to the chemist and see what they have... though from memory most of that crap doesn't work either. 
So, quiet evening in... going to indulge in some plonk soon... nite nite.  Anyone got a lemon?  I have the plonk and honey!  lol

LOG CABIN... A FIRST

ABOVE:  my first ever attempt at the 'Log Cabin' block... I'm making 4 blocks then putting them together to form a cushion.  Not sure yet if I'll make them bigger blocks yet... just seeing how I go.

Today .... sewing.   Housework.  Counting down the days till school starts again.... though I must say I am enjoying the freedom from 'routines' you get in the holidays.   And B & G have been really good on a whole... which is great considering I've been feeling like crap the whole holidays!

The other thing I will be doing today?  Reading some blogs, I am behind by about 200 updates ... yikes it can get away from you if you let it!
ONWARD...

I finished making 4 log cabin blocks, sewed them together and am now making the cushion cover bit.
Also popped out and had lunch with my Aunt up the road.... which was a nice diversion.

Home now and going to finish that cushion...

ABOVE:  the finished cushion... and now that it's made I can see one glaring mistake!  The tan fabric strips!  They should not all be going it the same direction... ahhh live and learn!  It was my first afterall.  Oh and I had never put a frill on a cushion before either... what a fag they are!  But it's done and I'm happy enough with it.  On to the next 'project'...

P.S.  still coughing, but do feel a lot better thanks.

ABOVE:  this afternoon I made a second cushion cover in the log cabin block.  I'm much happier with this one.

Dinner:  lamb chops and veges.. I cooked!  Must be feeling better eh?  Still havn't got around to blog reading... maybe tonight?

ANNE:  why do they call it a Log Cabin block... hell no idea!  Maybe cos the strips of fabric are assembled a bit like a log cabin?  Could be! 

End of Day:  and I'm coughing fit to kill tonight... fuck darn it all!  I didn't have dinner cos I didn't want to vomit again!  I'm hungry, I'm crabby and I am going to bed soon!  *sniff*.  nite nite.

MIGHT GO TRAIN TRIPPIN TODAY

As I am feeling much better today I thought I'd take the kids on the train.. maybe to Pukekohe?  Or Panmure....

Actually Pukekohe would be good... it's a good distance away but not too far.  And the kids have never been there.  Could make a 'day trip' out of it. 

Other than that... no news or idle gossip to share right now!

ONWARD....

So. we did indeed hop on the trains... for the entire day!  We caught the train at Manurewa and took off for Pukekohe....

ABOVE:  On the train to Puke... they had just had fits of giggles over the connecting door not being closed between our carriage and the next... daft kids!

ABOVE:  it was a really nice trip out there... saw lots of baby lambs and calves...

ABOVE:  And also a lot of market gardens and the like.... I even saw the most enormous glass house EVER!   Didn't think to photograph it!

ABOVE  While in Pukekohe I bought the bright green fabric.... and we had lunch at KFC.... hell that's expensive!

After lunch we ran walked briskly in the rain back to the train station, which is quite a walk from the town centre... I was totally KNACKERED!

Caught another train to Panmure, where we got off and went to Spotlight, where I got the lovely multi-coloured batik and the quilting gloves. 

Fed the kids an ice cream ... jumped on another train and came home!  What an excellent way to amuse kids for the day. 

Although it's only 3.30 I am sooo tired!  I am going to put me feet up for a mo and have a rest!  This cold had knocked me for six.  The coughing persists, but the vomiting has stopped thank goodness.

End of Day:  and I have the most lovely hubby ever.  He came home from work and found me asleep... so he cooked dinner.  Awwww how spoilt am I?  The pesky cough is STILL coming and going... but I am feeling better in myself, so that's good.   Last time I had a cough it lasted for weeks.  Yaaaaa. nite nite.

MY NEW BED

ABOVE:  well this one is in me dreams.... but in reality:

ABOVE:  THIS is where I spent last night!   *sniff*... I was NOT going to spend the night coughing/vomitting and keeping Stew awake.  So I did the NICE thing and slept on the couch.  I deliberately kept the 'bucket' out of the photo... can't be too graphic eh?   lol

Today if I am still coughing and vomiting I am going to the Doctor.   I am over it. 

These school holidays have been miserable!  My poor kids have been stuck at home almost the whole time because of me being ill....  I feel guilty.   At least the do know why we haven't been going out and about much... they witnessed all the vomitting yesterday... and were so nice to me! 

As soon as I'm able I am going to give them a real treat.

So.... no plans today, except maybe going to the Dr.   And the bank.   If I'm lucky.

ONWARD...

I'm sure I feel a LITTLE better this morning... not coughing quite so much?
So.. we went out and I did the banking, posted the giveaway cards to Jane P in Singapore, bought the kids a treat at the toy shop... and came home.

WE have to go out again this afternoon to deliver cards to the Manukau shop... another nice little order.  Yaaaa.... more money to put towards Griffin's Speld lessons. 

Lunch time is imminent... that should be when I find out just how well my cough is doing!  Fingers crossed I don't 'lose' it all again. IKKK.

Before getting lunch we had a visitor or two.  Lynn and her new man Craig called in.. it was lovely to see them... and see Lynn so happy again.  Awww, ain't love so cute?

Had lunch now... and am waiting to see how we go before heading back to the mall with the cards. 

Lunch stayed down.... yaaaa.   Had a wee nap which was nice.   Think maybe I should have gone to the Dr's... cos now my throat is hurting again.  Grrrrrrr.  Off to suck on a strepsil.... and then make dinner.

End of Day:  and I am sure I'm on the mend now.... lunch and dinner stayed down.. which is great cos I was starving!  Quiet evening.... watching the telly.  How 'boringly normal'.  Sure beats hanging over the sink spewing!  nite nite.