Little K has been picked up for the day and night. I mowed part of the lawns and then it rained. Darn. I am washing the preserving jars I have stashed for this season and I will be putting them in big plastic containers instead of boxes. Darn spiders got in the boxes which were in my shed.Putting them through the dishwasher ho ho love those things. Want to bake a sourdough loaf this arvo, clean up a section of the garden, throw a casserole in the oven, then sit and relax and crochet. Better get the chores done. ho ho

makerealbany - 2012-11-03 13:21:00

Nearly I forgot I had to work in the shop this morning. Had to work on my own for the first time since we've re-opened so I. took my car for a warrant then came back and stayed with me. It's raining here too.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-03 14:39:00

Working in the shop on a saturday. You are a tiger for punishment grizzly lol Couldn't bake the bread as it needed more time so will do that this arvo. Got my last batch of marmalade cooking. I am over doing marmalade now. Ho ho. It is fine here so I will do another lawn. I like to keep it short up the top near the kids swing and down below the house near the kids tramp. If I have the energy I will do the grass verge on the road but that is hard as it drops away down the bank. Yuk. I am so afraid of slipping down there and damaging my feet again. Found a big container for the kids radishes so K and I can do those tomorrow. I have planted melons on a hilly patch in a flower garden. Need to find a good spot for the spaghetti melon I am experimenting with. My SIL is talking about getting a digger in again so I have to be careful where I put things down below lol.

makerealbany - 2012-11-04 09:27:00

A digger anywhere near your garden is a scary prospect! I freak when I. starts up the hedge trimmer.LOL. He does love his toys, his latest is a water blaster!!!!! Got the trellis I needed yesterday to finish off the garden we created last summer. It just needs a bit of a windbreak in one corner. Most of the plants that died off over winter are back and in full flower and where I thought I had gaps, dahlias are up this weekend. We did a bit more Christmas shopping for stocking fillers while we were out, too. Haven't had a day out shopping for ages. Had to come home to do the shop accoun ts for meeting tonight, though.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-05 06:51:00

Suzy got the job! So pleased for her but I will miss you on our Monday mornings! I'm pleased at least one Saturday a month may work for us.
I'm really tired this morning after a 12 hour day yesterday before I could blob at home for a rest. I am knitting with an Australian Merino at present that has an almost cotton feel to it. Not sure I like it much and other items in the shop knitted in this yarn have faded faster than the Shepherd items. I wonder why that is? Beware ladies: it's called Fabulous Fibres. I knew price was too good to be true. Trouble is it's hard to find Shepherd baby wool down here at present especially in white.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-06 07:19:00

Congrats Suzy

makerealbany - 2012-11-06 21:29:00

Left at 6 this morning, drove to Rotorua arrives 9.30 had a cuppa, drove Mum and Sis to town. Picked up Mum's meds. Had lunch in Town then drove back to Auckland. After 5 Pitstops lol we arrived home at 4.30. I am exhausted but Mum is a box of birds ha ha.

makerealbany - 2012-11-06 21:34:00

Boy, put my day to shame! Most of the day was spent listening to people complaining about something in their life. It is a very wearying way to spend a day and hard to stay positive by the end of it.
Having a "Leftover" craft day at the women's group today to use up the extra resources that have collected up over the year. Lots of good stuff there.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-07 07:25:00

bummer miss the craft group :( yes i got the job as Grizzly said, i am now assistant manager. It meens more hours so have to stop my Mondays at the Patch with Grizzly and also womans group on a Wednesday. Been getting up early to take my little dog for a walk in the plantation before work as she now has to be left longer with me doing longer hours. She sleeps a lot and as long as she gets her treat before i leave she is happy lol. Will be able to work on a Saturday at the patch though if they need me or Friday, so thats good. Gonna miss my mondays with Grizzly though, she has been a big part of my life for years, but times they are a changing ....

suzy59nz - 2012-11-07 21:49:00

Had a good day with Mum. The three little ones kept racing over to talk to their great grandma although they all call her Nana M . She had several walks around the garden using her walking sticks which really fascinated the kids. They bounced on the tramp and yelled and waved at her. She is slightly deaf so the noise levels did not worry her. Thank heavens. Two of them are back to preschool tomorrow so it will be a quiter day for her. Miss M keeps going and hugging her.She always does when she sees Mum. Mum is delighted with her because she was the first one of the great grandchildren who shows no fear of her. Little J and K are the same. lol

makerealbany - 2012-11-07 21:53:00

Sounds lovely for all of you to have your Mum staying with you for a visit. Suzy's Mum must be due for her annual visit from Britain in the next few weeks, too. I wish my Mum and Dad were closer.
Women's Group was really good with 12 women there and 12 different projects completed! I am rapt with creative these ladies can be!

grizzly4 - 2012-11-08 07:02:00

Yes times are changing suzy. I only mind J on a Thursday until 2 now. Not doing it today finished at 11 because Mum is here. lol. I still mind little K for two or 3 nights and the days of course depending on when his Mum is working. He is 3 so in 2 years time he will be at school. Yippee ha ha. Mum is crocheting outside watching the sea. She loves the views. We have just finished lunch and I am going outside to work in the garden as soon as I have made Mum another cup of tea. I bought 2 large packets of Dilmar and believe you me I need them ha ha.

makerealbany - 2012-11-08 13:23:00

Damn, I must be stressed, I have another cold sore. I hate them. I wish all the committee members at the shop were all on the same page!!!!!! I am so tired of coming up with solutions but no decisions being made to follow through. Someone joked at Mondays meeting that no one would be nominated against me for the Treasurers position. At this point what makes her think that is a good thing and I am going to lose it completely if I'm asked one more time if I have found another way around the problem. My anwer from now on will be "No, have you?"

grizzly4 - 2012-11-09 07:17:00

Sorry for venting, I'll go have a cry now.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-09 07:18:00

I frightened you all off! Got through the day yesterday by burying myself in work for 7 hours straight without moving my desk much. I. Didn't help matters much by coming home to tell me he might have to go away overnight for work soon. Don't know how I'm going to manage that when it happens. I've listed some pretty bead sets as a fundraiser for the shop if anyone is interested, sorry you have to go into each auction to see the photos but the gallery prices just eats up money.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-10 07:06:00

I am also trying to find a young lobster plant for my parents, can't find any in plant nurserys here in Christchurch or Blenheim. Can any one help.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-10 07:11:00

http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/90/240997190_full.jp
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to see what a lobster plant looks like and it's real name is heliconia rostrata.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-10 07:20:00

Hi grizzly know what you mean about committees. Hope you start to feel better soon. You didn't frighten me off babe. I have been so busy with Mum being here and all the normal chores including babysitting. I still have a hacking cough but my daughter has just picked Mum up and taken her up to Orewa for the night so I can have a rest. Ho ho.I am also minding little Moodle Teddy for the weekend for my son as they are away. I have a list of things I must do before Mum gets back as well lol.

makerealbany - 2012-11-10 15:59:00

Thats a cool plant grizzly.

makerealbany - 2012-11-10 16:00:00

I like the plant as well and it was MUm's favourite. I put out feelers on the Gardening message board as well but no luck as yet.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-11 09:41:00

Nearly forgot! My son and DIL bought me a chocolate fondue set for my birthday. Wow, I may be in heaven.... LOL

grizzly4 - 2012-11-11 09:42:00

Let us know when you use it mmmmmm My daughter took Mum to a market at Massey University today. She loves markets. Meanders around with her walker and always buys things. lol. I am taking her home tomorrow she is missing her thermal bath. She said she has never eaten so much. ha ha. I must admit I am always cooking her something. No good for my waistline either ho ho. We have all enjoyed having her with us. She is quite a character.

makerealbany - 2012-11-11 22:12:00

I'm glad you had a great visit. Weather is definitely not great here today. My first wet birthday in decades! And I'm still going to work. LOL.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-12 07:16:00

Happy Birthday grizzly. I hope you had a great day. Just got home from doing the run to Rotorua to take Mum home. Shattered and the cottage is so quite with Mum and little T gone.

makerealbany - 2012-11-12 22:06:00

I did have a great day, thank you. It's such a busy week this week, too. Taking theWomen's Group to the A&P Show tomorrow morning so a really early start. I have Thursday off to do the stall at Barrington all day so have to catch up on everything on my desk when I get back from the Show then help pack up the shop for the stall after work. It's a long weekend down here this weekend so everythings crossed for lovely weather to play in the garden.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-13 20:22:00

Well I did all the washing, made 1 run to the Preschool, cleaned up and baked a loaf of bread. That is the sum total of my chores today. I just felt so beggered after the long drive. Off to the docs tomorrow as this cough seems to be changing yet again and my chest is sore from all the coughing. Darn it.

makerealbany - 2012-11-13 22:40:00

Hi smartgirl. How are you and yours my friend?

makerealbany - 2012-11-13 22:40:00

A wonderful day at the A&P Show with a great bunch of women. Lots of laughs and the weather stayed lovely. I made the best of an afternoon in the office before loading up my car for the stall tomorrow. Now I can look forward to an evening on the couch knitting, unfortunately I. has to go back to work for a couple of hours.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-14 18:30:00

I went to Grandparnts day at Mainly Music and then got a haircut before going to the Docs. Got antibiotic and came home and slept all afternoon. Little K is fast asleep and I am off to bed as well. just feeling lousy.

makerealbany - 2012-11-14 20:51:00

You poor thing, makerealbany. I hope the sleep did the trick and you feel better today. I wasn't well last night either and was terrified I wouldn't be able to do the stall today. I have a car full of shop stock and no back up staff. Thank goodness it seems to have passed.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-15 06:56:00

Still got this hacking cough mainly at night and early morning but clear in the head whooppee. I hope the stall goes ok for you today grizzly. I just received some lovely soaps for my pressies. They are really amazing. I have more bread cooking so the place smells nice. Weather is yuk and I need it to rain consistently for the tanks. lol. My neighbour is giving me a lot of eggs as her chooks are laying madly. So I have more baking to do and put in the freezer .

makerealbany - 2012-11-15 13:05:00

Gosh, was so tired I slept for 12 hours. Haven't done that for ages. Luck it's a holiday here today.LOL.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-16 11:47:00

i went back to sleep for the afternoon woke at 5. I was feeling exhausted after coughing all night. It is so darn draining. Anyway I have pulled a casserole dinner out of the freezer, heated that and eaten it and now I am crocheting a rug and watching the Voice. You obviously needed to sleep too grizzly. Aging is a bitch at times lol

makerealbany - 2012-11-16 20:36:00

I was making M a dress this afternoon and she bowls over and caught me. Lol. Lucky I did not have the lining so I told her I had to buy lining before I could finish it. Not to be undone M fishes through my materials and found a pretty piece I had forgotten about. It has embroidery on it and is a lovely pink. So I got out the shirring elastic and made her a summer dress. I must admit I was on a timeline ha ha. "Is it finished yet Nana". Anyway finished it and off she went home again. Back 10 mins later for glue. She is making her Birthday party invitations. She is having it before Christmas because everyone goes away and 5 is special. Lol. Now she wants ribbons ho ho. I might go over and peruse the work she has been doing.

Edited by makerealbany at 4:40 pm, Sat 17 Nov

makerealbany - 2012-11-17 16:39:00

No secrets at your place when they drop in like thast. LOL. Yesterday was draining, to say the least. Family was over as usual. Daughter has just had surgery to remove 4 impacted wisdom teeth so feeling mightily sorry for herself, although she was able to go shopping but not necessarily keep an eye on her son. DIL is stressed about her upcoming exams - fair enough but we are all supporting her as well as getting on with our own stuff and once again had the energy for shopping but not to be very sociable to her son. Honestly, they truly need a wake up call...... wait till they are my age and looking after grandchildren, cooking them all meals, saying al lthe right encouraging things etc. Sheesh!

grizzly4 - 2012-11-18 10:03:00

Too true grizzly. Little J is fascinated with the Monarchs and is forever sussing out the places where the Chrysalis are. At last count we currently have 15 and about 20 caterpillows hanging in place ready to start. We have 4 stripped plants which are about a metre and a half tall. So we are watching the last two plants. Sometimes grandparents have to say No. I do now. We need time out too lol. My girls and DILs only have their partners there half the time so your lot are darn lucky and should realize it. If they can go shopping they can look after their children. Need a wake up call alright.

makerealbany - 2012-11-18 16:03:00

It was nice spending some time in the garden yesterday.One of the flower beds was crammed full of miniature canna lillies which are a lovely burgundy colour. Apparently they were a favourite of the couple who built the house. Trouble is you can't weed because everything is caught up together including another plant with a lovely burgundy star flower which I have never seen before but has an enormous tree trunk for a root and sell sows all over the place. We dug everthing up with the plan to replace some of the lily bulbs but makling it easier to maintain.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-19 06:58:00

I love Canna Lillis and the minatures are lovely. I mowed the lawns today. Felt as if I had run a marathon after though. Still coughing. Did some gardening after that. Came inside late just in time to hear the breadaker beeping. Did the bread the lazy way today . Had tea and have just had a shower after putting a colour in my hair. Got a good movie to watch and more crocheting on my rug. Bliss and all alone. lol.

makerealbany - 2012-11-19 20:52:00

Sounds like it was a great day. Blissful in fact. I worked with another new person in the shop yesterday then tried really hard during the afternoon to focus on clearing my desk at work but with little success as everyone needed me to sort something else out for them. Had already cooked a Shepherds Pie on Sunday for last night's tea so at least that was easy then worked on a pink prem layette for the shop. I did a white one last week after finding 4 balls of baby white 4ply on TM. I have had to switch to Cleckheaton though as no white Shepherd to be had in NZ currently apparently. The buyers of the major wool outlets need their heads read cutting down on baby wool during the summer!! I understand 8ply etc but baby wool! I didn't realise babies were seasonal now!!!!

grizzly4 - 2012-11-20 07:45:00

Ha ha maybe babies are seasinal grizzly. The kids babysitter had a tummy bug today and says she wont be in tomorrow so Nana had to look after them today and will do tomorrow as well. Little J had a temp and was so clingy. Nana could not do a thing without him. I was relunctant to take him outsie to play but managed 30 mins in the shade with waterplay. I had to scrub out his water table it was really dirty. Not impressed with that. He was though ha ha. He held the hose while M and I cleaned. M was good and once he was asleep we baked some cookies. He slept for 20 mins. I was tired by teatime. After tea I had to dash down the supermarket as I needed a few things and had not been for awhile. It was really quiet there. Lovely ha ha.

makerealbany - 2012-11-20 22:27:00

GRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!! The trip I booked for the women's group for today has not beenorganised at the venue!!!!! I rang yesterday as agreed to confirm numbers and they said they don't do group morning teas anymore. I made this booking in September, you think they could have rung! Now I have to go in extra early to find somewhere else to go that can fit in a group of 16 at the last minute. I am so mad.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-21 07:06:00

Deep breath. Actually I am so disappointed as this place is called Swan Lake and it is lake of real swans around an oriental pagoda. I was so looking forward to showing it the group.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-21 07:08:00

OMG What a shame grizzly. How disappointing for you. Hope you find somewhere else to take them. Some businesss are so slack these days. A was off at 7.30 so here we are again lol. M is much better but little J had a rough night. So did his Mummy poor thing. J is into robots so I have a robot movie on at the moment while I scoot around and do the chores. M already has decided to cook Pavolova and muffins. MMMMMM maybe Pav but we will experiment with the muffins. She is a great little cook for a nearly 5 year old. Little J picks up his clothes and puts them in the laundry basket and at 2 he is tidier than his teenage cousins lol.

makerealbany - 2012-11-21 08:31:00

It's interesting to note when attitude kicks in, isn't it? B4 has had 'attitude' since the day he was born LOl but as he's got older and is one to one with me he will do anything to help. L5 is good generally as well but he has clicked to the fact that everyone thinks he is so cute and milks it well and truly these days. The adults around him have made a rod for their own backs. Luckily he knows I know what he's up to. B7 has always been helpful up to the last 6 months when the macho male thing seems to have kicked in unfortunately, he'd better out grow this phase fast.
Yes I found a cafe in Sumner that would take us at short notice, thank goodness and the bus stayed with us which was even better as I am a bit nervous in that badly damaged area in case we get a shake. Knowing I could get them all straight on the bus if necessary made all the difference and the ones up the back of the bus had a great roller coaster ride along the causeway because the road is so bad.LOL.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-22 07:20:00

Glad you got it sorted for the group grizzly. Yes the nanny was here today so I was busy in the garden all day. M went to preschool but had lots of atitude this afternoon. I could hear her having a paddy with M while I was working outside her window. When she spotted me it was 'Nana this and Nana that tee hee. I distracted her by reminding her about her orientation day at school tomorrow. Then I escaped back into the garden ha ha. Got a day out tomorrow and looking forward to getting out. Going stircrazy ha ha.

makerealbany - 2012-11-22 21:07:00

Roll on weekend! TRying to make up hours at work for all the time I have been doing shop stuff over the past few weeks. Weather looks to be ok so might get to play in the garden or even get to take the boys pine cone collecting for son's brazier - it rained the last time I mentioned it. Ooops! Not sure if he is too keen on his new toy now as it burned a circle in his lawn last time we used it. LOL.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-23 07:40:00

Went to Spotlight with my $40 off voucher or so I thought. Spent $140 on materials and then discovered I had left the voucher at home but the assistant used my card and a spare voucher. She was really nice and I have seen her there a lot. Got the material for a special dress for M plus stuff for little B and miss was there with me and she wanted to have a dress the same as her little cousin. lol. Spent some of my True rewards and got 4 sets of smellies for the grandsons as well as an electirc quickpump. I am so sick of using foot pumps for the inflatable pools and beds. Then i got an electric weedeater from Flybuys. I still have Farmers rewards to use so I am in a roll lol. Went to Bed Bath and Beyond to return 4 Duvets. I had bought one for myself and the others for Birthday Pressies over Christmas. I washed mine and th dye ran. Lucky I kept one for myself. Imagine giving pressies like that grrrr. They refunded no probelm. After the grocery shopping with my daughter I came home unloaded and dropped on my bed. 4 hours later and I am awake ha ha. Just have to finish this rug tonight it is getting boring. ha ha

makerealbany - 2012-11-24 19:17:00

An electric weedeater was the first thing we ever got years ago with fly buys. It's still going strong. We've had really good quality stuff through Fly Buys. Family all here yesterday as usual, I. and our son went out spending, daughter and DIL feeling sorry for themselves so I ennnjoyed B7 and L5's company. LOL. We atched old family videos from when my kids were my grandsons age almost. Had a great laugh then played Yahtzee before having lasagne and cocolate cake for tea. Today I. and I wre out on the bike christmas shopping. Have to stick to the budget whe it all has to fit into leather saddle bags. Lovely day for a ride.

grizzly4 - 2012-11-25 15:35:00

Wow it was a fantastic summer day today. My daughters and I took the children to the Stanmore Bay School Gala. Kids had a great time. I got my voucher in the mail before we left so picked up my little weedeater. Used it tonight. My SIL has a huge weedeater and it would kill me to use that lol. A cooked us a roast dinner while I pottered around in the garden. Got some patterns to cut out tonight but I scrubbed a garden wall with bleach (no gloves idiot) and my hands are stinging so will soak them first. Sometimes I need to give myself a kick.

makerealbany - 2012-11-25 20:28:00

Spent the morning weedeating. Then I scrubbed another wall with bleach. Had a rest and baked a cake and then went back into the garden. Now it is time to relax and do some sewing. Another lovely day here.

makerealbany - 2012-11-26 19:05:00