Yes I have to be careful about what I click on. Sometimes family send me things that are the devil to get rid of grrrrrr. Sounds like you all had fun at Archery. I laughed at your comment. Did all my preserving and now have to find places to store it all. The kitchen whizz saves a lot of cutting lol. Going to see Mum next weekend for her birthday so have to do three scarves and beanies for two of my great nieces and a great nephew. Besides Mum I am now the only one who knits or crochets. Will sort out that wool this arvo. Have cleaning to do. Kids Hoover needs repair and they are procrastinating, so we are sharing mine. No grand kids until tonight then I have three for a few hours. Happy Valentines to me ha ha.

makerealbany - 2014-02-14 08:13:00

No lie in this morning with I. having to work. My plans for today include feeding the family as usual, hopefully finishing my book before they arrive and deadheading roses and dahlias. I am knitting dolls clothes at present, using up some of the unfinished balls of wool that are mounting up. I am finding my new job has lots of variety if nothing else..... this week included having to deal with a bumble bee nest in the playground and organising fumigation against bora, another computer technician was called in to sort out Broadband for the other office, we farewelled a young worker going on parental leave, plus all the staff and admin stuff on an everyday basis. The days fly buy. I am concerned that summer seems to be coming to an end too soon though, the big trees down the centre of our road at home are already turning to autumn shades! I can't say it's been an overly warm summer. The beans are starting to slow down in the vege garden but the carrots and tomatoes are doing well. I lost the one and only pumpkin, not sure what went wrong this year.

grizzly4 - 2014-02-15 06:33:00

Feeling very tired now. Out on the quad all morning and now I'm stiff and sore. LOL. I know, I should act my age but it's such a stress release. I'm getting the hang of crossing parts of the river now but struggle with steep declines. Oh well, maybe next week.............

grizzly4 - 2014-02-16 16:58:00

You go on that quad bike grizzly ha ha, I can just imagine the fun you are having. One of my sisters whose only daughter is leaving to live in Aussie was feeling quite depressed. My Bil has picked up the three children from school and Kindy as he is retired. My sister is still working as she is only 60. Anyway my sis and Bil bought a quad bike to fill in their weekends as they always had the grandchildren. They love it and ride it along the beach,etc. They will really miss their grandchildren and the kids will miss them too. Sigh. I had a busy day yesterday took three of my grandchildren out to feed the ducks and play in the park. Got home my great grandson arrived so we had more fun. The boys with. Their helmets on ride their three wheelers down one of our banks. The little devils have worked out that the further they go up the hill the further they go down the hill into the paddock. The adults take the drinks and snacks and sit down the bottom of the paddock to cheer them on. Last night I had C3 and K4. When they were picked up at 10 I started in the garden. Still digging out agapanthus so I have more room for my Lillie's. Cutting a huge grass plant back so I can dig that out. Found a wasps nest and destroyed that. Pulled out the gladioli bulbs to store. Repotted peace Lillie's that are inside. Repotted three palms into bigger pots. I stagger them into larger pots until they are really sturdy. Will plant them in the ground in winter. Crocheted myself some more cotton face washers last night when the boys went to sleep. They keep disappearing ha ha. I like just doing small things when I have large projects that I am doing. Sometimes I just need a break lol.

makerealbany - 2014-02-16 21:47:00

Spent 5 hours gardening again today. Canna Lillie's needed cutting to the ground. I need to thin them out as they have multiplied ferociously. Darn agapanthus have come up between the bulbs so I cut them back ready to poison. Found a Camelia tree in the middle of it all. Looks healthy. Palms needed fronds cut. My Sil weed eated the grass verge up the front of the property which was great as he is off tomorrow for a month. Because our property is large we have the equivalent of two normal front verges. It slopes down from the road in a couple of places so you cannot mow it all. Got a load of water in today. Bet it rains soon ha ha.

makerealbany - 2014-02-17 21:05:00

Boy you have been busy! I love the sound of your garden projects. Looks like mine will be waiting till winter, what with I. working Saturdays and out on the bikes half of Sunday. I have 2 self sown cabbage trees that have to go and a fir tree that was planted by the letter box. We have the centre of it all tied up as it started to collapse in the snow 2 years ago. I think we may lose the retaining wall once we pull out the fir tree (the front lawn is higher than the footpath) so that will need to fixed then. I hate it when I one job completed creates more work. I'm working on another double breasted baby coat in a lovely milk chocolate colour but had late meeting last night and another tonight so not getting much done. I have to fit in the grocery shopping this morning before I go to work. Long day ahead with a grumpy neighbour complaining about the big sycamore tree at work and demanding we have it removed. She says the roots are cracking her pavers and threatening the floor of her garage. I've had one specialist in before Christmas who said their roots go straight own deep so wouldn't be going all the way across our property to hers. The seedlings etc she's getting would be more from the 3 City Council Sycamores in front of her house than our one tree apparently. I'm having another consultant take a look this afternoon before the Management meeting. We also have a bumble bee nest in the wall of the railway carriage in our playground! Contacted the Beekeepers Sociey who have enabled us to manage it for the next few weeks until they leave of their own accord. Truly don't want to destroy them, but have to look out for the children on site as well. Who would have thought these would be the issues I would be dealing with?!

grizzly4 - 2014-02-18 06:51:00

Yes you are right there grizzly. It's amazing what one has to deal with when you are in charge ha ha. At lest you are not ripping your hair out yeeeet lol. I must say I do not miss that part but I do miss the mental challenge. I am so busy supporting my girls and doing the usual chores I am staying away from voluntary work this year. Spent 2 hours carting all the stuff I cut yesterday down to the paddock. We have a hill we are filling on the steep side. I was drenched with perspiration by the time I had finished. I wore my overalls as I get itchy with the sap on my skin. Lucky as I had a gross big spider on my arm. Ugh. Had a cold shower and then transfered some Lillie's into the garden from pots. I like to start plants in pots until they look strong. I got a huge bucket of bulbs out of the garden to take down the bottom and put on a bank. That can wait for another day. It was so hot today even when I picked k4 up from preschool and drove to the beach. No breeze until I came home at 9. I am up at 6 again so will not do any knitting tonight. Sil flew out to Aussie today he has to fly a new helicopter back to PNG. 15 fuel stops and 4 or 5 days later he should arrive. Hope he will be ok told him not to take any risks. Sigh.

makerealbany - 2014-02-18 21:59:00

I'll say it was hot yesterday! 33 degrees here and no air conditioning in my office! I'm glad I wasn't the first to arrive home to a house being closed up all day in that heat. Phew, I bet the girls spent the day outside under the bushes, at least I hope they did. I am so sick of these mosquito bites! I bought insect repellent yesterday to wear to bed. LOL. And yes I'm still spraying the bedroom before we go to bed. The things we do!!!!. I didn't get much knitting done last night either, I kept nodding off, but at least I'm half way up the second front since starting the coat on Sunday night. The Women's group is making Felt Valentine's Hearts this morning, quite a pretty pattern but not to taxing for them this early in the year. Next week it's the Ellerslie Flower Show. I can't wait.

grizzly4 - 2014-02-19 06:28:00

Can't believe the Ellerslie Flower Show is on again. Where has the time gone. Went to the gym, dropped M6 at school on the way, filled the car with gas, came home cleaned it and then hung out 3 loads washing. I whipped out my daughter corn plants in her garden. They were bugging me lol. I then tidied up her house as she had important meetings today. She is now working for herself and as had so many offers. She can pick and choose her contracts and hours etc. I wondered how long she would stay home before she got bored mentally ha ha. It's so much easier with J3 at preschool 9 to 3'30 4 days a week and K4 is at the same preschool but his day off is different. I am now going to do my ironing and then plant some seeds. Meant to get that done early but got distracted ha.

makerealbany - 2014-02-19 13:38:00

The days are flying by, or so it feels. But there's no time to sit back and decide whether a job was done well enough. Every time I start something it's interrupted umpteen dozen times by something else. Every now and then it will hit me that I actually finished something but, of course, there will be 3 or 4 unfinished things still on the go on my desk. We used to give the boss heaps about the state of her desk but now I realise why it was so cluttered (although I file as I go, which was not a skill she ever mastered LOL). I only have one sleeve left on the wee coat despite constantly nodding off during the evenings. I think the heat is making everyone twice as tired this week but it seems awful to complain about it after a chilly summer.

grizzly4 - 2014-02-20 06:29:00

Touch wood but the advertising things that have been bugging my computer seem to have disappeared.

grizzly4 - 2014-02-20 06:30:00

Hope they stay away. I got rid of mine too. Going down to Rotorua tomorrow night. It's Mums birthday on Sat, so we will stay there and I'll bring her back on Sunday. Just packing the car with clothing, etc for my sisters daughters kids.

makerealbany - 2014-02-20 11:28:00

The beauty of having a large family! Recycling clothes, brilliant. I remember when my kids were small I loved being given stuff from friends and family and then I would pass them on.
Good grief I. left for work at 6am and now he's back and not working tomorrow either. No wonder it takes so long to repair Christchurch when the companies controlling the work don't get the paperwork done for the contractors to do the work!

grizzly4 - 2014-02-21 06:49:00

Phew, glad that weeks over, bigger one ahead though with staff away. Sigh. I've juggled relief as best I can so we'll see how it works out. I'm looking forward to a bit of gardening, knitting etc for next 2 days. Too tired to even think of going out on bikes buts really windy here today anyway. I even picked up my cross stitch the last couple of mornings before work after a 14 month break. Yay for new glasses

grizzly4 - 2014-02-22 09:35:00

I am really suffering from Mosquito bites this weekend! Despite being permanently on antihistamine tablets daily for allergies, using antihistamine cream as soon as they appear, having my legs and feet covered in insect repellent day and night. I have tried the 'Itchy and Scratchy' gel and Paw Paw ointment for relief BUT NOTHING IS WORKING!!!!!!!!!!! I am going nuts. For the last 2 evenings I have sat with my feet on the ice pads for my chilli bin. LOL. I spray the bed and bedroom and my armchair before I use them, too. Sigh. I am knitting the cutest finger puppets at the moment, must remember to photograph them for you.

grizzly4 - 2014-02-23 09:55:00

I've been watching the videos on facebook that have been put up because of the 3 year anniversary of the 'quakes. The ones taken of places pre Feb 22 and then now are quite moving. And it's not helping to repair or move on when the work is being held up by red tape and lake of organisation. We went to look at a trailer on Friday night just on the boundary of the redzone where our son lost his house. We had to drive through street after street of overgrown derelict properties. It was awful, and worse still, every now and then someone would still be living in one of the houses. They are the people I feel for the most now. 3 years they have been fighting and struggling with no one close to them anymore.

grizzly4 - 2014-02-24 06:39:00

Yes it must be dreadful for those people still living like that. We need to count our blessings. Every now and then a reminder of how some people have to live makes me more aware if how lucky We are. Mum is here and very happy lol. Today I just relaxed with Mum and J3 after our hectic but fun weekend. I am cooking us Quiche for tea. We have eaten far too much rich food over the weekend. Two of my new Lillie's I got a couple of months ago from a trader down south. Have flowered. Absolutely stunning. Mum is doing her Taniko and I am tiding up.

makerealbany - 2014-02-24 18:16:00

You sound very relaxed, makerealbany. LOL. And I forgot to photograph the finger puppets to show you. I only did 2 - a pig and an alien. All the little bits did my head in but will make another couple for the shop next week.......maybe. I finally got around to knitting DIL's white beanie that she asked me for as well.

grizzly4 - 2014-02-25 06:40:00

Yes I am quite relaxed lol. Taking Mum out today when it warms up. She wants to go to Spotlight. Wants some more white wool for her Taniko. I have not made a thing but planting all the time. So much work to do in the garden. Must admit getting withdrawal symptoms ha ha. Never mind Mum only comes up now and then. Too long a trip for her in the car. She is talking about flying up the next time lol. She just told me she wants Sushi for lunch and we just finished breakfast ho ho. She is such a tiny little thing don't know where she puts it. I am hopeless at making those little puppets. Too fiddley ha ha

makerealbany - 2014-02-25 09:43:00

I agree about the fiddley-ness of finger puppets that's why only 2 were finished for the shop. I don't think I could spend a whole week of knitting on them. LOL. Raining and really windy down here at present. It has 3 hours to clear up before we are on the bus to the Flower Show. Every year the weather is like this the day we want to go. Only once did it clear up later in the morning. Such bad timing, I feel for the people that have created all the displays as we even had big hail stones on Sunday evening.

grizzly4 - 2014-02-26 06:31:00

Ellerslie was great this year, much more to see as they have included more from 'community' rather than just the professionals in the horticultural industry. Some of our community gardens had displays and there was a block of displays from local schools. Brilliant idea and wonderful gardens and surely that brings more people through the gates with friends and family of the kids involved. One of the schools was Samoan and their spokesperson couldn't have been older than 8. She was amazing, her culture and their garden was so real for her that you couldn't not listen to what she was saying. That wee girl will go far, I think. It was a morning well spent and a nice break for me as well.
I don't know where my head was when I bought the wool from Knitworld sale a few weeks ago.50g balls were actually 100gs so I have a lot of a colour called 'donkey' LOL, 2 balls of the same brand but in different colours also turned out to be different plys and one wool, one acrylic. Making life challenging coming to knit at present. LOL.

grizzly4 - 2014-02-27 06:34:00

I started by getting up at 5 yesterday and ran until 10 last night. Today was a bit better but even a workout didn't give me any more energy lol. Just hoping it will rain. Everything is so dry and even though I drink galleons of water I am always thirsty between Mum and I we could drink the tank dry ha ha. Mum is still weaving and getting through it too. I have just sat for a min or two but then I have stuff to finish before I go to bed. Got K4 for the night. He had a lovely time with his great Nanna. Talking away about Lexus cars of all things before he went to bed at 7 ha ha.

makerealbany - 2014-02-27 20:40:00

Oh my goodness I have mosquito bites on my hand and one has a huge blister! Another is by my finger nail on my middle finger and the swelling is putting so much pressure under my nail. I cannot believe what I've gone through this year with these bites! The inside of that hand feels like it's full of pins and needles. I have a long day at work ahead so I hope it stays busy to keep my mind off the pain and itching. Luckily there is a gel pad in the freezer at work if I need it. LOL.

grizzly4 - 2014-02-28 06:56:00

You have had a hell of a time with the Mossies grizzly. I cannot spray the cottage because Mum cannot tolerate fly spray of any kind. I hate Mossies buzzing around. Have to do some shortening for Mum tomorrow. The pys I bought her for her birthday are too long lol. I also have to machine stitch the top of her Taniko so changing cotton again. I got some lovely tulip bulbs in the mail today so cold storing for 3 weeks before I plant. I am working on a quilt tonight as K4 is at home for the night ho ho. My daughter has lots of work to get through before she goes on leave in 8 days. I am counting a ha. Keeping Mum here until next Frday night. She is enjoying herself.

makerealbany - 2014-02-28 19:53:00

Good on you! I'll bet your Mum loves having family around. I won't see my parents till Queens Birthday weekend, I guess. I can't keep leaving someone else on call for the security company at work every long weekend so said I will stay home at Easter. Besides I think my sister is staying with them while she attends a conference around that time. That will wear them out enough. I am knitting little teddy jerseys. LOL.

grizzly4 - 2014-03-01 08:47:00

Off out on the bikes this morning after an easy day yesterday in the shop and coffee out in the afternoon with daughter. Looks like her marriage is on the rocks. Been together 12 years, married 2. Been at this point a couple of times before so who knows if they pull it together yet again.

grizzly4 - 2014-03-02 08:05:00

Hope things work out ok for your daughter grizzly. Sometimes being a parent sucks. Took Three grandchildren out with my daughter today. We went to a sports Picnic day at M6s school. Darn expensive but the kids all had a ball. Trampolining, Bungy Jumping, bouncy Castle mazes plus Practice with the Mystics and the Breakers. Came home shattered. Mum stayed home to do her Taniko as I had her out all day yesterday. Managed to potter in the garden for awhile after k4 went to sleep. Bulbs popping out already. Weeds too in my garden I weeded three weeks ago grrrr. Still no darn rain might have to buy more water lol.

makerealbany - 2014-03-02 20:21:00

Raining here! And really cold and windy. Not a very pleasant start to the week. What happened to the hot Autumn all the experts said we were getting? Had a good morning out at the river yesterday, went to a different spot and it was a bit harder with deeper shingle and more mud. I got my bike airborn with my knees round my ears at one point. LOL Lucky the others didn't notice as it happened when Ian's mate high sided off his bike into the mud ending up under his quad. Needless to say we were home a bit earlier than planned. LOL Spent the afternoon preparing meat for the cats and cooking meals for during the week, washing the bikes and the cars and having a nap. Froze a few more beans but I think they're just about finished. Need to get the potatoes up, was planned for this weekend but didn't happen and now the rain is supposed to settle in till Thursday. Sigh.

grizzly4 - 2014-03-03 06:24:00

Bought a new electric jug from The Warehouse on Friday night. but cannot get rid of the plastic taste from the water!!!!! Googled it and used bicarb of soda twice but nothing is working. I haven't had a decent cup of tea in days!

grizzly4 - 2014-03-03 06:26:00

My goodness the wind is really bad and it's so cold! I have brought out winter clothes including my boots to wear today. Rather extreme for the 4th of March, I think. I'm struggling with headaches and I'm not sure why. Not the migraine sort I used to get, thank goodness, but ones that go up the back of my neck to the top of my head. Not great. I thought they were from stress (work) but seem to be getting them randomly even if I've had what I thought was a lazy day. I. has given up on jug and boiled water for a cup of tea in a saucepan this morning! LOL. I did enjoy the tea though.

grizzly4 - 2014-03-04 06:24:00

Sorry was flat out from Dawn till dusk yesterday ha ha. Today was more relaxed. Taught Mum how to make paper flowers after I had made Cucumber and Apple Chutney. We have only had a bit if drizzle. It is getting a bit cooler but nothing like your weather. Was watching on the news. Dreadful. I laughed at the vision in my head of you on the quad bike grizzly. Mum thinks I am nuts laughing to myself. Yes that plastic taste sound gross. Nothing wrong with the old kettle either ha ha. I still have mine. Painted my fingernails green to remind me of my garden because until I take Ma home I haven't any time to work in it ha ha. My daughters just shook their heads, my granddaughter gave me a big grin when she saw them.

makerealbany - 2014-03-04 21:59:00

How cool and trendy you are! LOL. So much water everywhere!!!!! Not even going to try to get across town till lunch time I think. I've cancelled the Women's Group and I'm waiting to hear which schools have closed so I can let staff know if our programmes are closed, too. I may have been practising river crossings on the quad for good reason. LOL.

grizzly4 - 2014-03-05 08:31:00

Had a great day with Mum. My daughter and the children came over after school and Mum taught them all the 4 plait which we use for many cultural craft making activities. My 6 year old granddaughter learnt it first to her mothers disgust ha ha. She had made herself a bracelet before her mum got the knack ha ha. Mum sang and played her guitar so the little ones all sung solo items and danced for her. It was delightful. I spent a couple of hours training for other responsibilities I will have in the future. Mum is a good tutor . My test was nerve wracking but she says I am now ready to Karanga when I have to. I have to have regular sessions with her now because she is ready to pass knowledge to me. She told me I called like my Nana. Same tones. I am very pleased she was proud of me. I have been dreading it for years but one has to prepare as Mum says for when she goes to the veil. There is so much to consider when one is chosen to carry on. Ah well my path has begun. Cold and windy here but only a few showers. I am taking Mum home tomorrow so I am going to miss her cheery Morena daughter. I knew she would want to go when it got cold. She misses her thermal pool.

Edited by makerealbany at 8:22 pm, Wed 5 Mar

makerealbany - 2014-03-05 20:22:00

How special it must feel to have that time with your Mum, learning what she needs to pass on. Are these responsibilities passed on to the eldest daughter or are you 'chosen'?
Rain has stopped here this morning and I really hope the water around the city has gone down overnight. It's a long trip across town negotiating cones and road works at present without flooding as well. My daughter took an hour to travel a distance that would have been 10 minutes usually, yesterday morning. I couldn't figure out a route that wasn't blocked at some stage so didn't leave home. One programme was closed but the other went ahead. If you saw the flood reports on the news last night, the older lady being rescued from her home is one of the founding members of the Purple Patch. I feel so sorry for her, she is very unwell and has only recently returned to her home after earthquake repairs. She loved how nice it looked and she had a beautiful garden. Scary to think that all the water came into her house while she was sleeping, completely unaware of it. (Shudder).

grizzly4 - 2014-03-06 06:42:00

Very weird, yesterday, driving through town and everything was dry!

grizzly4 - 2014-03-07 06:46:00

Gosh the poor woman. I would shudder too. Yes you are chosen but it is usually the eldest which I am lol. If the eldest is not interested in the responsibility for whatever reason or is unsuitable someone else will be chosen. My sisters are all pleased I have accepted because they think they are all off the hook but I have news for them ha ha. Everything I learn will be shared with them and my daughters when the time comes. They can all have the knowledge. The old ways are the reason a lot of precious Tikanga has been lost. Little steps I have to remind myself ha ha. Mum and I had a leisurely drive back home. It took me 6 and a half hours with all the stops. I spent an hour there and drove home again. Took me 3 and a half hours tee hee. I was shattered so slept in until 7 this morning.

makerealbany - 2014-03-07 22:34:00

That's a 3 hour difference! that means either an awful lot of shopping going down or a very FAST drive back. LOL. I think I have a quiet weekend ahead. Dinner out tonight fir SIL's birthday which won't be as pleasant as it should be with the tension between our daughter and her husband. Son and DIL have opted out, lucky things. However I think it means no family over so we might get those spuds dug up finally and I. keeps talking about 'our' project working on the trailer we bought this week for the bikes. At least he has to rebuild a few things before sanding and painting jobs are passed to me. I am working on a fairisle jersey but don't think it's going to be finished in time for the shop on Monday, the way I'm going. I keep falling asleep over the needles. LOL. I bought a pattern on TM this week for a square baby blanket that is done on a circular needle. Still pondering on that project. Definitely making marmalade this weekend. Infact should go and put the fruit on now, as it has to simmer for 2 hours.

grizzly4 - 2014-03-08 07:34:00

Had a great day at the Kumeu Show. I didn't see a lot of the things I wanted to because my daughter and her two went on all the rides ha ha, I minded the pushchair, bags,etc in whatever shady spot I could find. A even bought two Christmas presents. Really good prices for Fairy dresses and we checked the materials and sewing. M6 spotted that stall. She is a little homing pigeon when it comes to stuff she likes. Can spot things anywhere. Ha ha. I am going to bake some biscuits and then do some knitting.

makerealbany - 2014-03-08 19:15:00

Very productive yesterday. Ended up out in the truck with I. in the morning just after I posted my last message. LOL. He had to pick up a big roller and take to one of the flood areas. So much damage again. Came home, dug the spuds and kumara plus harvested rhubarb, carrots and beans and cooked or prepared for freezer. I. stripped all the broken or unwanted stuff from the trailer so we can plan how to build it for our purpose. Really trying to finish wee jersey but no hope now and evening was out having dinner so was ready for bed by the time we got home. Today we need to do a dump run, plant the new plants and find a couple of bags of horse poo for the garden. Fruit is cooked for marmalade, just need to add sugar, cook a bit more and put it on jars. Maybe another busy today ahead.

grizzly4 - 2014-03-09 10:33:00

Wow, we actually did all that except the horse poo bit but added trimming the trees along the drive. Back, front and most of one sleeve is done of the jersey. Not looking forward to work today. I have to facilitate a meeting between one of the programme supervisor's and one of her assistants. Looks like the honeymoon period is over, I though it was too good to be true.

grizzly4 - 2014-03-10 06:29:00

Lol good luck with that grizzly. I recall one such event. One of the employees yelled at me, then swore at me so I walked out for 10 mins to let her calm down or sweat a little lol. Got it solved in the end after two warnings for similar behaviour with staff we had to let her go. Sometimes it is not easy. Been to the gym after dropping M6 off, now minding J3 while my daughter is at the gym. We mended the trampoline, opened the shed, picked up branches on the overgrown lawn ready for mowing, fed the worms, hoovered the car and now he is watching Ice Age while I have a cuppa. Going to keep him in until his Mum comes as bouncing on the tramp has tuckered him out. Thank heavens ha ha

makerealbany - 2014-03-10 11:28:00

Meeting went nothing like your one, thank goodness. All sorted, I think. (I hope).The 90 day period is just about up so performance appraisals are pending anyway. Mine was up for this new job last week, can't believe I've been doing it for 3 months already!
Boy, the seasons are changing fast this year. The trees on our street started changing mid-Feb now the mornings are darker for longer. Certainly this summer was nothing to write home about.

grizzly4 - 2014-03-11 06:28:00

Thank goodness for that grizzly. Yes 3 months has sped by. I have E2 she is staying overnight. No problems with her. She is such a happy little girl. Was so excited to see her cousins. They treat her like a little doll. So cute to watch. My Dil had a Physio appointment. She has terrible sciatica and a bad . Told her to leave baby with me and to have a sleep in. My son is still working away grrrrr. It's great because I can take her measurements tomorrow. Knitting her a winter cardi. She has long arms and legs. Want to make some bigger dresses for her as my son always takes them to the Pacific in the winter. In fact they have two holidays there when it's cold here so need summer things. My daughters mediation is next week. She is a wreck. Thank heavens she is off work for 3 weeks now. I do worry about her but her brother and sister are going too as they are on her family trust and my son is the executor.

makerealbany - 2014-03-11 19:36:00

Thank goodness she doesn't have to go through that on her own. It seems to be dragging on forever for her.
The Women's Group is going to a Llama Park today, I'm looking forward to the outing away from the office. I hope the weather is nice today, we had rain pretty much all day yesterday and there was no rain mentioned in any forecast! I got the pip with a street cleaner last night about 10pm. They come once a week about that time (usually a Sunday night thought). We have an island of huge trees down the centre of our road so he does our gutters, cuts through the island to do the gutters on the far side then does another circuit up against the island. No problems, all done in about 15 minutes. But not last night - He must have gone round more than a dozen times, we couldn't hear the tv over the noise and because our front windows are enormous and have a pointed top the drapes don't go to the very top so the flashing lights were horrendous. My poor cats barely cope on a normal night, let alone all these repeat trips. I rang City Care in the end because we wanted to go to bed. They said they would check with the guys supervisor as it sounded very odd. I bet the guy's cursing the cranky old lady that rang up and complained. LOL. I was pretty amazed that someone even answered the phone at City Care!

grizzly4 - 2014-03-12 06:51:00

I'm amazed too lol. Maybe the guy was in a trance ha ha. Went to get my shopping down the road this afternoon. One of the Farmers stores in Queen Street closed down so at Albany they had heaps of their stock to get rid of. Great bargains. I had to pick M6 up after drama class at 4.30. I was in hysterics listening to the singing outside the Music hall. All the kids piled out afterwards. M has always been a drama queen so she is in the right class ha ha. She loves singing and acting. She has gained so much confidence since she started school. I took her out for tea as a treat because her Mum and Brother had to leave early to go to the airport. We came home at 6. She had a bath and showed me the cup she won today for effort. I'm so proud of her. She is always winning something at school. Starting a cardi for M6 to wear over her dancing gear tonight. She has outgrown hers again lol.

makerealbany - 2014-03-12 21:03:00

My eldest grandson turns 9 tomorrow! He was the cutest baby and the stroppiest 7-8 year old but is lovely these days. Always has a hug for me when he arrives at the programme from school. He's had the same best mate since he started pretty much and they seem to be having a few issues lately, which is sad, but maybe their interests are changing or whatever but poor B. comes and visits in my office when he's a bit lonely. He is starting to detach from the younger kids, I noticed and try and 'hang' with the adults on Saturdays when we are all together. He and I love playing board and card games and have some hilarious conversations. We are at my son's for fish and chip tea tonight to celebrate as B. will be with his Dad this weekend.
I finished the jersey finally, what a mission! Found some neat looking variegated 4ply in my stash so trying it out on a beanie. LOL.

grizzly4 - 2014-03-13 06:44:00

I remember J10 acting just like B. Having 3 little sisters who can blame him ha ha. J enjoys a rare night alone with me. I enjoy it too. He loves games as well.
Gosh I hope that Cyclone down your way misses you grizzly. The flooding looked awful. I am knitting that cardi for M6. Using King Cole wool and pattern. I was searching or the wool last night and trying to put wool aside for my next project so I don't have to do the big search again. I can see all the wool on the shelves but it's the wool in the plastic bins that I have to delve in lol. My sewing machine is still not right. I have cleaned it, oiled it, changed the needle and the cotton but does it sew properly? No. I am fed up with it. I am going to see if someone can check it for me in the community before I take it into a serviceman . Very frustrating. Just baked a loaf of bread and the smell is yummy. Trying a different yeast but it worked ok. Going to plant some more bulbs before American Idol lol

makerealbany - 2014-03-13 18:49:00

Actually you mentioning being able to see your stash when it's stored on shelves is a great idea. I don't have shelving space but I do have a bedroom cupboard that I could hang a couple of those shoe storage thingys! Then each pocket could hold a project, couldn't it?
Rather stressful couple of days at work this week - had to go down to one one our programmes on Wednesday to provide support for the staff around the behaviour of 2 10 year old boys. I couldn't believe how rude they were being to staff! Spoke to both their Mum's who said they had had regular contact with the Supervisor this term re behaviour. I told them it was time to put them on a contract which meant they would have to be on board with picking them up if they needed to be sent home if they continued to refuse to do time out. Can you believe it? they are refusing to sign the contracts now and want to make a formal complaint!!!!! Some parents expect the world in service but won't put some back bone in when it counts because it's not convenient for them or it 'makes things difficult at home if they take our side'. Usually it only takes once for the child to realise we mean what we say and they get on with it but now it's becoming huge. It's going to make for a fun day today.....NOT!

grizzly4 - 2014-03-14 06:17:00

Yes each pocket could hold a project. Oh my sounds like you will be busy today. Well no contract no boys in group. Parents like that are such a pain. Those kids must get up to Merry hell at home. I have a darn cough this morning and woke up with a mouthful of blood. Ugh thinks it's my teeth. I may have a gum infection. Quiet day for me I hope. Yes actually it will be I'm doing the Avoidance dance today lol. Was knitting up bands and the the pattern was wrong grr. So undid it and will start again. No rain here yeeeet. Sil flies out again on Sunday !!!!!!!!!! Kept J3 home from preschool yesterday and they will most unlikely today so he can spend time with his Dad.

makerealbany - 2014-03-14 08:57:00

Just fixed my sewing machine. Didn't clean out the feed race. It was full of lint when I dismantled it. So pleased with myself but also mad that I didn't check that when I cleaned my machine. Happy days are here again !!!!!!!!!

makerealbany - 2014-03-14 09:53:00