USUAL DAY AROUND HERE

 

It's going to be a fairly normal Saturday around here.

Stew will go to the supermarket for his usual weekly shop.

I'll stay home and do some housework.

I also want to tidy up the laundry area, part of my big de-clutter.

All the bedrooms are done.  The back sheds are 75% done.  The garage is 75% done.  So it's coming along really well.

ABOVE:  And this is why I have lists!

I have lists for EVERYTHING.  Do you?

It isn't just an age thing... I've always made lists.

Bex let me know last night the David's Emporium is having a big sale on Cotton fabrics, so I might just have to go there sometime today!

And that's me for now.  I'll be back later.

ONWARD...

Lately I've been spending some time sitting in a lounge chair in the sunroom, soaking up the warmth from the sunshine, and the dogs love sitting on my lap.

And it came to me that I'm way more comfortable in the 'old' lounge chairs, as opposed to the new, leather ones we use in the family room.  We sit on them most of the time.

So, last night I switched them around, and put the two leather ones in the lounge, and brought the two older, fabric lounge chairs from there into the family room.

Then I thought, hmmm, I need to cover them as Stew is a messy bugger!  

I had NOTHING in the house suitable to completely cover them, so I looked online.

And like, NO WAY am I spending $240 for two covers, (ON SALE EVEN!),  to cover two chairs.

So we looked around.

ABOVE: First stop was Briscoes, who were having their USUAL 50% off sale.  When are they NOT having a friggin sale?

And luck would have it, we found the perfect throws immediately.

ABOVE:  And of course, at 50% off, we paid $70  for two 'covers' for our chairs.

ABOVE:  And they match perfectly with the other salmon/pinkish colours in the room.

I'm rather chuffed with them.

And of course, I'm now way more comfortable in the chair I spend the most time in.

After Briscoes, we bought a LOTTO ticket for this evening's draw.  It's a 'GOT TO BE WON' Jackpot of $50 MILLION.  Gotta be in to win right?

ABOVE:  Then we stopped at the supermarket, cos Stew wanted some Tomato Relish to go on his crackers.  And I wanted more crackers as well.

I LOST .400 grams this week, so I'm not that impressed with my efforts.  I need to stop indulging in sticky buns (twice this week!), and eat a bit less.  I have been 'hovering' up and down a kilo for a month now.  Not good enough.

So when you plateau like that, you need to CHANGE SOMETHING.   So I'm going to do crackers and relish for lunch, and move my main meal back to dinner time.  Let's see how that works for the next month. 

ABOVE:  I finally got around to moving that shell painting to the right a bit, and how good do those two leather chairs look there!  

It's now 2 pm.  Stew and I had crackers, cheese and relish's for our lunch, yummy.

He's now outside, water blasting down the dog's side of the house, where it gets a bit manky after a while.

And I'm fluffing around inside the house.  I can always find something to fluff around with! lol

7.23 pm:  Well, Stew did a really good job of the water blasting, then he cleaned our cars, before coming in and calling it a day.

I cooked Sweet & Spicy Beef Ribs for dinner, they were AMAZING.  So, so tasty.

Stew is now watching rugby (no surprises there) and I'm watching Real Crime stories on You Tube.

Waiting for the LOTTO draw.  We have just as much chance of winning as anyone else... fingers crossed!

And on that note, I'm outta here.  Catch ya tomorrow.

FRIENDSHIPS

 

I read something on Facebook yesterday that touched a nerve.

I don't make friends easily, and over the years I've felt guilty for letting old friendships die.

Or, I've felt like 'they' have let me go.

Then I read this, and it made me feel a lot better:

Let's talk about the drift in friendship.

There wasn't a falling out.

Nothing terrible happened.

You're not mad, and you're fairly certain they aren't either, but there is a space between you. You've lost touch, you've grown apart, you've moved on.

Sometimes you feel guilty about it, and sometimes you wonder what exactly happened, but mostly you just hope they're doing good and that they know how much you will always care about them.

That's the drift.

There's nothing wrong with you for losing touch, there's nothing bad or disloyal about growing apart. It's a natural part of life. Your paths were side by side, and at some point the reached a fork in the road. They stayed in their lane, and you stayed in yours.

There's no hard feelings, no wishing of anything, but well, it's just life.

Shake off the guilt, let go of the shame, release the questions.

Let's normalize the drift. Let's normalize cheering on the friends we've lost touch with from a distance. Let's normalize being completely for someone with out being in their life anymore.

That friendship, it mattered, so much, and losing touch doesn't detract from that one tiny bit.

Some friendships are for seasons, and some are for the long haul. Both are precious. Celebrate the friendships you have now, and be open to the ones coming, life is full of surprises, and your path is exactly where you belong.

NICE EH?

Now, back to today.

I have a walk planned over in Cambridge at 9.30 am. So I don't have to get outta bed at 6 am, awesome.

After my walk I'm not sure what I will get up to. Time. Will. Tell.

ABOVE: When I picked up the headboard yesterday, I got to see some gorgeous golden retriever puppies in the house next door. They were adorable.

ONWARD...

12.17 pm. Home from Cambridge. It's rather cold inside me house.... now that I'm cooling down from being out and about.

Another lovely walk around Cambridge streets with the FBG's this morning, followed by a hot chocolate and a bun at Suburban Cafe.

That place has the most AMAZING cakes/slices etc!!!

ABOVE: Another walk of over 6 kms, but ya hardly notice it when you are yakking. It wasn't too cold this morning either, no frost, wind, rain... in fact a really lovely winters day.

Now... what to do? First up, some washing I think. Then maybe whizz around with the stick vacuum, the floors need it.

ABOVE: yeah, this is the life. Lying in the sunroom, soaking up some winter sun, dogs keeping me warm.

ABOVE: Yes, indeed, that is me boob Marley.

Stop sniffing it!

ABOVE: And YES, you do have to share my lap with your sister, so stop giving Coco the stink eye!

Such a nice day. I have been relaxing for the past hour or so. Totally looking forward to a nice dinner at the Indian Restaurant we tried at Horsham Downs a few weeks ago. I'm conflicted on what to get. Should I try their Non-Vegetarian Platter, or just go for the Butter Lamb again, which was delicious? Decisions...

End of the day, and we had a wonderful dinner. We shared a platter, then I had the Butter Lamb and Stew had a hot lamb dish. Couldn't eat it all.

Home now and watching a movie on the telly.

Catch ya tomorrow.

WHICH LOOKS BETTER?

 

FIRST AND FOREMOST:  Happy Wedding Anniversary to us.  We have been married 37 years today.

💚💙💖I still love ya Darling!💗💝💜 

I'm thinking dinner out somewhere nice is called for.

Well, it's going to be another day pottering around the house.

Another day with no walk planned over in Cambridge, unless I go to the 6.45 am one, and I'm not keen on getting up that early again!

There is a good one on Friday, so I'll probably go to that one.  It's 6.4 kms, so hopefully my blisters are a bit better by then.  

Ones on top of me big toe (right foot), and one is on the side of my big toe (left foot).  Most annoying.

In the meantime, here's a question for you:

ABOVE:  I made a floral pillow case for this bed yesterday.  I thought it matched the throw nicely.

Then... I got thinking...

ABOVE:  What if I made an end of bed throw in the same floral blocks?  I'm also thinking of covering the black flower centres with a softer colour.

I've not sew them up yet... waiting for your opinions.

Is it too much?  Bearing in mind it will be slightly narrower than the blocks shown right now.

Let me know your thoughts.

For the time being, I have plenty of other stuff to keep me occupied.  

ONWARD...

 

9.15 am:  and I'm listening!  I will do some 'tweaking' in that bedroom before I settle on the final look.  I want it to be a calm, pretty room for when we have Keera here for a sleep over, or later on, Lily.  

ABOVE:  And there ya go.  I kept the striped throw... cos it was just too busy with the flowers!  Now all it needs is a simple white headboard, which Steve is going to make for me.

Stuff paying through the nose for one from a shop.  They are even an exorbitant price on Trade Me!

Hmmm... I wonder if there's any on Facebook Market Place?   Off to look...

Well that was easy, and fast.  It looks like I've found a headboard here in Hamilton.  I'm just waiting to sort out pick up details.  So, that's saved Steve a job.  And it was super cheap.  

Dinner this evening is being postponed until tomorrow night now.  I completely forgot it is THURSDAY, and it's Stew's night at the pub with his mates.  Silly me.  We will enjoy dinner tomorrow night just the same.

Looks like I will be picking up the 'new' headboard late this afternoon.  Awesome.  I can probably paint it tomorrow, as it will need a new coat of paint. WHOOP!

Just home and guess what?  I don't need to paint that headboard after all.

ABOVE:  Look at that!  It suits there PERFECTLY.

One less job.

Now... I'm just waiting for Stew to arrive home, then I can take him to the pub.

8.15 pm:  And we are home again.  Stew enjoyed a couple of hours at the pub, and I got to hang  out with the kids.  

So a lovely evening for both of us.  Time to sign off for the day now.  Catch ya tomorrow.

BLISTERS

 First up for today:  I didn't get around to tending the pool yesterday, so I shall do that first thing.  I also plan on tidying up under the pool deck, it's a bloody mess.

After that...

A walk on the treadmill, cos I can't go over to Cambridge for an FBG walk today.

There's only one walk on today, and it clashes with something else I have planned for this afternoon.

I am having a late lunch with Stew, something we don't do that often during the working week.

I'm looking forward to it. 

Can you believe it?  I am probably 70% done with the decluttering inside the house!  It's taken over a month already, and many loads of stuff taken out of this house.  To the Op Shops, to family, and to the dump.  It is such a damn fantastic feeling, knowing we are not harbouring so much crap we don't need.

I'm actually going to take it easy today (after the pool is done).  I got some blisters on me toes from yesterdays walk!  I was wearing really old sneakers.  My current, new sneakers were caked in mud, so I was letting them dry out.  Lesson learnt, don't wear the old ones!  Hopefully the blisters heal quickly, me toes are a bit sore.

ONWARD...

ABOVE:  I just made a pretty pillow case for this bed.  It matches the throw nicely.  I am going to make a headboard for that bed sometime soon as well.  I might even ask Steve to knock one up, it doesn't have to be complicated. 

I don't know about you, but I don't like beds without headboards.

I went to the mall, it was dead at 9 am, kinda to be expected I suppose.  I didn't stay there long, I only went in to get one piece of  linen.

Now I'm going to do some washing, then head out to spend an hour with Stew.

My time spent with Stew this afternoon was lovely.  We ran into a bloke who we chatted with for a while, very informative guy.  He helped us with some forward planning for our future. Never too early to be making plans for one's future eh? 

Once Stew dropped me back home, I sat down and just did NOTHING for a couple of hours.

Now... it's almost dinner time.  Stew is having some more of the corned beef for his dinner.

9.24 pm:  A nice quiet evening here.  Watched some TV. Browsed the 'net.  Not much else going on.  Catch ya tomorrow.

WALKIES

 

Because Stew and I were so busy yesterday, I didn't get my planned walk in.

So... I'm doing one today.  Over in Cambridge with me FBG friends.  At 7 am.

Which means getting up at 6 am, something I'm not exactly thrilled about, but if I'm going to walk with company, I have to get up early.

Sadly, there's not many FBG walks listed right now.  I expect more in a week or two, once new Challenge Walks are loaded.

After my walk (and a coffee stop?), I shall come back to Hamilton and drop off my car load of stuff to the Op Shop.  

Then I shall head to the Pool Shop.  I need more chemicals for the pool.  I now put maintenance chemicals in it once a month, and run the pump once a month as well.  That keeps it reasonably clear till summer.

I also need some poly filler, I'm tidying up a wall in one of the bedrooms and repainting the wall.  

Once home, I'll tend the pool, then I have plenty to keep me busy inside the house for now.

I didn't mention it after our market on Saturday, but just remembered.  I sold one of my Blue Kiwiana Runners to a young man.  He walked past, stopped, came in and looked at quite a few runners, then left again.

All good.  

But then he came back about an hour later, walked straight in and said "I will have that one please", pointing at the Blue Kiwiana Runner on the wall.

I asked him if it was a gift?  Nope, he just loved it and wanted it for his coffee table.

I was so happy for him, he seemed so chuffed to be buying it.  That sale made my day.

It's moments like that, that make the early starts worth it.

ONWARD...

ABOVE: This morning's walk was just under 5 kms.  A nice distance, and I didn't even mind the hill!

ABOVE:  Sitting in the dark, waiting for everyone to arrive.  It was bloody cold as, so I actually wore a jacket this morning!

Not quite a frost, but very close.  

ABOVE:  I see the moon, do you?

It's only a tiny crescent today.

ABOVE: Finally, the sun came up.  It didn't really help keeping us warm.

After the walk we had a lovely coffee/hot chocolate at Cafe 9 (a very regular hang out for us FBG'ers), then I came back into Hamilton and did my shopping and a big drop off to the Op shop.

Now... I'm about to flip these over:

ABOVE: Two pieces of corned beef, which have been cooking since 6 am this morning.  We shall have corned beef and veges for dinner tonight, then cold on sandwiches for the next few days.

Super yummy. 

I've gotta go to the shop now for some milk.  Ya can't have corned beef without cheese sauce!

3.30 pm:  My lunch was delicious!

Stew will be having the same for his dinner.

After lunch I spent some time sorting out the garage a bit more.  Slowly getting more room in there, it's already looking heaps bigger.

ABOVE: Fresh in from our walk this morning... the 'official' walk photo(s).  As you can see, it was an almost frost on the ground.  

I'm now taking a little break from housework.  Might put me feet up for an hour.

7.46 pm:  And I got HEAPS done this afternoon!  Rather chuffed with myself.

Stew arrived home and really enjoyed his dinner.

He's just finished doing the dishes, and will be sitting down and relaxing soon.

He just jabbed me in the belly with my Trulicity injection, I didn't feel a thing.  Sometimes I do, but most of the time I don't.  Thank goodness.

And I think it's time to sign off for the day.  Another quiet day on here.

MAYBE TODAY

 

As it's a public holiday today, Stew is home.  So we are going to continue working around the house and yard.

With any luck we will get to the dump today, as our trailer is getting very full!

We are expecting a man to call in and pick up our large mobile, marble top kitchen bench sometime today.  I sold it on TradeMe a week or so ago, and it's going to Wellington. Once he's been and gone, we will be free to go to the dump whenever we are ready.

This morning I am going to photograph and list on Trade Me the items I want to sell.  That should take me a little while.  I have/am donating HEAPS of stuff to Op Shops, but there's a few things that I feel better selling, because they are worth quite a bit of money. 

And that is me for now, I'll catch ya later.

ONWARD...

Another busy morning here.

I finally finished sorting out all the photos that came out of the attic.  I've kept maybe 10%, the rest are being destroyed.

The marble top unit finally left our premises, it's off to Featherston.  I'm slowly getting more room in our garage!

Now... we are off to the dump. 

AND IT'S DONE.  We went to the dump at midday, when it was less likely to be busy, and yes!  No queues at all.  Straight in and out.  $106 lighter in pocket, but it was worth it to get rid of so much clutter.  I will probably find another trailer full over the next few months. 

We are home now, and I'm making us some ham/cheese and pineapple toasted sandwiches for a very late lunch (1.25 pm).

After our late lunch, I pottered around the house doing some odd jobs.  Stew mowed the lawns.

We didn't have 'dinner', as lunch was quite late, and we were not very hungry.  Though in saying that, Stew has been picking on and off all afternoon/evening.  

I couldn't bear the thought of food after such a late lunch!

I've been getting a few things ready to list on Trade Me... most will be on tomorrow sometime.

Yaaa, hopefully I get rid of them, more clutter gone.

Now, it's 7.45 pm, and I'm signing off for the day.

Catch ya tomorrow.

TO THE DUMP WE GO

 

It has been a long week, full of decluttering, sewing and BUGGER ALL WALKS!

My resolve this coming week is to walk on Mon/Wed and Friday, at a bare minimum.  Even if it's on my own, or on our treadmill.

I.  WILL.  WALK.

As for today?  Stew and I are going to work on filling our trailer with rubbish and stuff not worth passing on to anyone.   A lot of old timber, old pots and so on.  Clearing our back sheds is our primary goal today.

There's about 3-4 large suitcases down in one of the sheds as well.  I'm going to choose ONE to keep, and donate the rest.  I'm sure we will find plenty more down there that we can toss or donate.  

I am rather happy that Stew has taken on the de-cluttering bug as well as me.  It's not something I expected him to embrace!  But as he said, he doesn't really have a choice, I'm driven.  lol

ABOVE:  Our dinner last night!  It was a mixed meat platter Stew got from a BBQ joint in Rototuna.  It was very, very yum. 

THAT is why I need to walk this coming week! 😂😅😊

ONWARD...

12.42 pm: Stew and I worked hard all morning on clearing out his wardrobe, and mine a bit more... then a couple of other places.  After that, Lacy and Keera came for lunch.

I made pikelets, with chocolate drops.  They went down well I must say.

ABOVE:  Chocolate pikelets with cream and chocolate sauce for this girl.  She ate till she had no room left.  

The girls have left now, and we are just taking a little break before getting back to the de-cluttering.

1.45 pm : Our trip to the dump has been deferred till next weekend, it's taking too long to sort through the sheds etc.  And ... it's not something we have to rush over at all.

BTW:  I found my missing woollen gloves.  In one of my drawers, where they BELONGED.  Grrrr.  I had searched that drawer too?   Sneaky things, hiding right at the bottom where I least expected them to be.  *sigh*

Clearly, I had 'A BOY LOOK'.

I'm gunna have to stop now, I'm done in to be honest.  I think I'll have a Nana Nap, then in a couple of hours I can do a bit more.  

The nap didn't happen, I ended up lying on my bed making lists.  Derrr.

Would you believe we had FIVE large suitcases, 5 smaller suitcases, and about 8 duffel/sports/trolley type bags?

That is outrageous.  I am keeping TWO big suitcases, and two smaller suitcases. 

Bex took a couple of the smaller cases, and Lacy took one of the larger ones today.   Everything else is going to the Hospice Shop.

My car is packed to the gunnels, ready for a big drop off at the Op shop on Tuesday morning.

Stew did well out the back, he tidied up two of the sheds, just one to go now.  I have several items ready to list on TradeMe, which I will do tomorrow.

I informed Stew he was on 'dinner duty' tonight.  So he's making us Mock Whitebait Fritters.  I can hardly wait.  We have not had them in a very long time.

Dinner was amazing.  He did well.

Now... it's only 8.30 pm and I'm ready for bed!

So, even though I know I'll probably wake up at stupid o'clock (like 3 am), I'm going to bed.

Catch ya tomorrow.

GORDONTON MARKET

 

Alrighty... another market day.  We have not done this one before, so fingers crossed it is a good one.

If not... you will hear about it no doubt.

At least the weather is looking OK.  Cold, but not wet.  I've got all me winter wear on, plus the new gloves I bought yesterday.  I'm going to wear my lovely new merino/possum socks and me UGG boots.  So all going well, my feet SHOULD be warm.

ABOVE:  A few photos of me and the girls, taken yesterday afternoon.  I can't get over how tall Keera is getting!  The rate she's going, soon she will be taller than me.

ONWARD...

ABOVE: 8.30 am and we are all set up. The market 'officially' starts at 10 am, so we are now twiddling our thumbs. Its quite fresh, luckily not freezing.

ABOVE: Can't say I ain't done enough to keep warm! 🤣😅🤣

11.48 am: I'm happy to say it has warmed up  and this market is going very well. Lots of new faces, and lovely comments about my work. 

3.27 pm:  And we are home.  I've had a wonderful soak in the bath... I feel so relaxed now.

Stew is at the supermarket doing his weekend shop.

I am not moving until dinner time now.

As for the end result of today's market?

EXCELLENT!  A very good turn out, and we did very well with our sales.  

I had not expected that!  So yeah, very happy it wasn't a wasted effort.

OH I forgot to mention... it was lovely to see you Roz!  Roz is a blog reader from Christchurch, who is up in the Waikato for the weekend.  She knew about the Gordonton Market from reading the blog and came out to say 'Hi'.  Nice girl.

8.42 pm:  And Stew and I have had a lovely evening.  He watched rugby (ikkk), and I watched Queen Charlotte, the spin off from Bridgerton.  I put it off till last night, when I watched half of it, and finished it off tonight.

I might have cried a couple of times.

It was (in my opinion) better than Bridgerton!

Now, I'm going to bed.  I'm bloody tired.  It's been a long day.  Smiling at people is TIRING.