Morning ladies :) We met family in Tauranga yesterday, packed a picnic lunch and had a shared lunch by the beach. Was a very calm, warm day and great to catch up.

My new drivers licence arrived yesterday, pretty quick as I only renewed it last week. The new licence has two pics of you on it so when your pic is taken, make sure it's a good one lol.

The Furry One has something cornered outside under MrK's stack of timber. I suspect it's a rat (ugggg) so will reset the traps.

Coffees finished, will go and burn some rubbish before it rains. Yoga this evening :D :D and crafting later this afternoon.

Happy crafting :)

kiwimade64 - 2020-06-16 07:44:00

Morning everyone

I saw your pictures Kiwimade, it was very calm... Like the calm before the storm, well Earthquake , they had a 5.1 this morning.

Im still to do my licence, lol so we are only a day apart in age.. I will probably do it next week tho.. Although its been funny Legally driving Illegally for a while lol
Then the only thing left on my list is to have the dryer fixed.

Had a nice long visit with Izzy's Mum yesterday, we haven't had a good catch up for ages.
Ill do the floors when I get off here and thats all I need to do.

I finished my picture, Im pleased with it cos although you can see the colours of the giraffes from a distances they look like silhouette's. Ill take a photo later.. And Ill pack the lefts overs down and set up the next one.

Its funny cos Im in a couple of Diamond painting groups on FB and alot of people dont like the packing down and up of kits... Much like yarny people who dont like ribbing, or sewing things up or sewing in ends lol.. Me well I like doing the prep to the kits etc lol

Have a fab day everyone

popeye333 - 2020-06-16 09:14:00

Good Morning Ladies, I now finished deheading my flowers heads for the winter. Just had my lawns cut and paths cleared up.
Heard the couple I am knitting the baby rug for arrived 4 days ago 3 weeks early. A baby girl.So I'll finish it tonight.

Picked some oranges off our trees last night. I noticed the crop is not as heavy this year.
Punkin Soup is maded and had some for tea last night,added a spoon of sour cream to it. Now have some meals that I can pull out and pop into the mico weave to heat up.

Pleased to hear you enjoyed your day at The Mount with family. It can be a lovely place on a fine sunny day. I miss the place,time I visited some places in my own backyard.

Have a piece of pickled pork in the slow cooker today for Dinner tonight.
Time to move as I need to pop out to the shops and come back and get on with the rug.

I have looked at the pictures Popeye in a couple bookstores, I will keep to my colouring in. I relax more when colouring in my pictures.
During writing this I have had a couple of phone calls so now it after 12 noon,so I better Wish you all a Happy Afternoon.

Edited by sunflowers28 at 12:24 pm, Tue 16 Jun

sunflowers28 - 2020-06-16 12:21:00

morning ladies :) Suns out so I plan on making the most of it. I weeded yesterday and will/should finish today.

The Furry One caught another rabbit yesterday and ate the lot. I can't watch him eat rabbits. So he had a bulging tummy all day, am surprised he could fit through the doggy door. No dinner last night for him and no breakkie this morning. He should be hungry by tonight though. Our vet told us it's good for him to eat the lot so we let him.

I haven't embroidered for days now, just been too busy with either family or garden.

Time to put the washing machine on, crafting later today I hope.

Happy crafting :)

kiwimade64 - 2020-06-17 08:09:00

Morning Everyone

Yum Sunflowers, fresh oranges are soo yummy.

Well done to the furry one, was the rabbit the one hiding near the timber Kiwimade?

Last night I felt soo Very angry about the new Covid cases.. All preventable.. I ended up having to take half a sleeping pill cos I just couldnt unwind.
When you choose to live in a different country from your family, not getting there in time is the risk you take, but in Covid times that risk is higher.. I am glad that no more compassionate cases will be considered.
I know we expected it, but it really hit me more than any other time during the whole mess.

I did a full painting yesterday. It was just a partial. some shells on a sea type theme. Ill do photos at some stage today. I only have 2 left of the 8 I ordered a while back. One is a beach scene through a couple of big old doors and the other is a crazy coloured cheeky Chimpanzee.. I will need to order a few more soon tho.
Im hoping to do a bit of sewing and get the aprons finished... And then I will choose some wool for the baby blanket.. I saw a pattern of one a lady did on FB last week that looks like I could figure out so might give that a try.

Have a fab day everyone

Edited by popeye333 at 9:42 am, Wed 17 Jun

popeye333 - 2020-06-17 09:41:00

Good Morning Ladies, The sun out and I have done 5 loads of firewood this morning. Did 4 loads last night. Two and half cords of wood is alot to move.I need to get as much away or behind the gate as we have some light fingers in our street.
Had news that a friend had a baby girl 4 days ago, 3 weeks early. They didnot want to know the sex of baby,so hard to know what colour to knit. Just about finished the blanket. Was given a bag of baby knits to finish off from a friend who lost her Mum at the start of the lockdown. Very hard on again for the family.
Had to smile about the Furry One eating rabbits Our cats would catch water rats and bring them home to the back door. Not sure if our working dogs went for rabbits. I know we had rabbits as a guy up the road would come and shot them sometimes.

Time to move and wheel some more wood. I need to ring up about my new firebox,they are waiting for me to give them the ok.
My next knitting piece is a wrap or shawl.

Have a great day ladies,

sunflowers28 - 2020-06-17 10:44:00

Morning everyone

That's a lot of wood Sunflowers.. I was telling a friend last night I miss having a fire, and my coal ranges. But I wouldn't want to pay for wood. lol we lived in Kaiangaroa ( south of Rotorua) for a while and wood was free so long as you went and got it.

Shopping today, MrP will come for a ride, but stay in the car since it is wet. I don't have a lot to get but I like the short trip out and Like to do my Christmas club while I'm there. Christmas grocery shopping will be epic for us this year lol

I started the Cheeky Monkey yesterday, doing the background first cos there is a lot of the light mauve background. He isnt a big picture but has 26 colours in this one lol

Have a fab day everyone

popeye333 - 2020-06-18 08:07:00

Morning everyone
And a chilly one it is. Need to put the dehumidifier on and plug the karcher in. The first time the ranch slider in the lounge has been fogged up.

First wedding anniversary for the grandies parents today. It sure wasnt this cold last year.

I finished the background on the monkey yesterday so now I get to play with pretty colours.
The nurse came and MrPs leg is looking heaps better.

Today I need to check out the pattern of the blanket, didnt get around to it yesterday. And chose some pretty colours, Soft pastels I think cos I have no idea what colour the mum to be likes cos Ive only ever seen her in her uniform lol And Im not doing black lol.

Sunflowers and our other East coast Ladies I hope all is ok with you after the big quake overnight.. 7.4 and only at 33 kms deep must have felt big

Im off to do my bloods soon.

So have a fab day all

popeye333 - 2020-06-19 08:41:00

Morning ladies, I arrived home safely on Wednesday evening in the dark, puss was pleased to be released from "prison" but she doesn't really seem to mind being in the cattery. If she does, she soon gets over it. This time because it was so quiet she had a room all to herself. The lady who owns the place sends me video of her playing with puss, she's a real cat lady. Lovely to know puss is well looked after.

I called in to see my son on the way home just for lunch, and to break the journey. I stopped over at his place on the way down and felt very guilty because he always insists I sleep in his bed and he sleeps on the settee, but he forgot to ask me to bring a duvet with me so he slept on the settee with just a sheet and must have been frozen.

His dog was pleased with the new dog bed I made for him. Just three old pillow cases sewn together, each with a pillow in, and a cover over the whole lot.

It was nice to be away but it's nice to be home again. I had fogged up windows this morning, and before I'd got half way round with the Karcher the battery died, and I couldn't find the charger. Panic. I finished the windows with a chamois leather but I have since found the charger, so it's plugged in.

Right, better get myself organised. I plan to go to the Friday session of stitch and bitch and catch up with friends and the local news.

Have a super day everyone.

kuaka - 2020-06-19 10:08:00

morning ladies (just lol). Great you got home safely, kuaka and enjoyed your time away. Was lovely to catch up with you on your way down.

I've been weeding this morning, only had one fenceline to do so all done now. Some begonia plants I had pieces of from another gardener's garden are flowering so am very happy with that. Spring bulbs are up and some roses are still flowering.

We've had rain and are expecting more, it's very welcome.

I've been stitching the rose for the cushion I'm sewing and want to get it finished so I can finish the cushion. Now I have the new lenses in my glasses I can see what I'm doing which makes a huge difference.

Our nieghbour's pup came for a visit yesterday and the Furry One enjoyed her company. I think he was relieved when she went home though lol. We are very lucky all the dogs in our road get along well with one another.

Time for some lunch I think. MrK made some beef, tomato and chilli soup and it's soooooo good. Just enough chilli to give a bit of a kick and give you that 'warm' feeling.

Happy crafting :)

Edited by kiwimade64 at 12:00 pm, Sat 20 Jun

kiwimade64 - 2020-06-20 11:59:00

Afternoon everyone,
We had fog for a while , but its beautiful now.

Been busy doing the job I hate the most lol... Cleaning the canary cage out. No matter how careful I am I usually end up with the mess.. It wasn't tooo bad this morning tho. Had to trim his claws too but thankfully he doesnt own a hooked beak to bite me with lol.
Have tidied the sewing room, framed the Meerkat painting finally and put it in MrP's room. And vacced the spare rooms, hall , bathroom and loo and MrPs room.. we have an inspection on Wednesday and even tho I know we will pass I just like to make a good impression.

Dived into the freezer literally this morning for the last teay of steak from our Christmas Club shopping. I figure if Im going to be cleaning the backsplash etc more carefully I might as well make the mess now lol..
Still have the beef roast which we will have during winter.. Soo cold that it took a while for my index finger to thaw out lol.

MrP had chicken stoup for lunch with the last of the bread I made the other day.

Now Ill have a catch up on here and FB and then I can paint. Lots of pretty colours to work on... Im enjoying it.

Have a lovely day.

popeye333 - 2020-06-20 12:46:00

morning ladies :) Well done on the freezer cleanout, popeye. That's MrK's job here :P

It's overcast here but more rain coming by the looks of it. Not that cold though.

Might have a cruisey day today, garden is all weeded and housework done. I want to 'redo' a garden so the new garden doesn't look quite so new and everything flows, if that makes sense. It can wait until next week.

It's our son's birthday today so we will phone him later. Can't believe how time flies.

Coffee's finished, will put washing on and do the usual morning chores and then decide how to spend the rest of the day.

Happy crafting :)

Edited by kiwimade64 at 8:27 am, Sun 21 Jun

kiwimade64 - 2020-06-21 08:26:00

Morning everyone
Very grey and gloomy here too.. Meant to be this way for a few days apparently.
Yep time does fly, its 46 years since our father died today.. Life changing day that was, to start with it was the first time we had ever gone home from school in a car, cos we didnt have one lol. Didnt have a car till 1978.

Bread is cooked and smells devine, its going to be a long time till lunchtime .
Im going to do the bathrooms today then I can just do a quick wipe over on Tuesday, not that there will be any dust with the rain.

Ive done about half of the monkey, hes so cute and cheeky. That only leaves me one to do. I havent ordered anymore.

Ohh we enjoyed the steak last night.. It was the last lot.. And I cooked it perfection if I do say so myself.

Well I better get done on here and doing my work for the day...

Have a fab day everyone

popeye333 - 2020-06-21 09:31:00

Morning ladies, a fabulous day here, sunny, not a breath of wind and not cold. I should be busy in the garden but I'm not going to be as I've had a bad back since I got home from my travels. A couple of nights before I came home I got up during the night to spend a penny and tripped arse over head on the very deep pile rug that my friend has on the bedroom floor - not beside the bed where you would expect it but over against the wall and I tripped on the edge of it, in the semi-gloom. I crashed into the chest of drawers and hurt my upper arm and tweaked my back. It got gradually worse and by Thursday morning I was in tears when it kept going into spasm. It's just about come right now. I had a Thai hot stone massage on Friday - not the usual dainty little lady but some bloke - that was a bit different! Anyway it seems to have done the trick, and I'm out for lunch today with a couple of friends. I was invited out for tea yesterday but turned the invite down and spent the afternoon in bed - so the weeding can wait a few more days. I'm not risking hurting my back again just yet.

I've been busy sorting through cupboards and drawers and finding stuff that I had forgotten I had and which can go to the op shop. I have quite a pile, well several piles actually, so it will be a bit of a mission taking it all in. I'll do it bit by bit in the next few weeks.

So today apparently is the shortest day, which means we can look forward to the worst (coldest) of the weather - followed I hope by a long hot summer.

Right, time to have a coffee and then find something to do till it's time to go out.

Happy crafting.

Edited by kuaka at 10:38 am, Sun 21 Jun

kuaka - 2020-06-21 10:36:00

morning ladies :) I hope your back is on the mend, kuaka. You have all my sympathies, I know how awful it is.

This morning I'm mowing the lawn, and yes, it is wet but it needs mowing. I will just have to empty the catcher more often. And the longer I leave it, the worse it will be.

This afternoon we're having another go at putting underfloor insulation in. The guy last year was hopeless, didn't send the info like he said he would and lost it with me when I asked for it (so I told him to stick it where the sun don't shine). This time, a guy from Auckland is coming so we will see how it goes. There are government subsidies and we qualify so might as well make the most of it.

Almost finished the rose petals, can't believe what a difference new lenses in my glasses make. The best $$$ I've spent for ages.

Better move, coffee is finished and the day is marching on.

Happy crafting :)

kiwimade64 - 2020-06-22 07:55:00

Morning everyone
The sun is out but breezy.. I'm working inside so no problems for me.

Joint effort and we already have a nice irish stew cooking in the crockpot. Three oddly cut bits from the mutton pack we got. a badly cut shoulder chop, the very end neck chop and one Unidentified piece lol. its not tha tail cos that was on the roast lol.

My room and en-suite today and I will make a start in the kitchen if I feel up to it. I actually enjoy having an inspection now lol.. cos I know we havent damaged anything but its nice to have a far better clean than I normally do too lol And I normally know when its due cos Izzys Mums house is about 10 days before us as a rule..

Did lots of pretty colours on the monkey yesterday.. I should finish him today.. Then I will get the wool out for the blanket, and will leave my last picture until I can stand it no longer without doing any. I need to order some more. but I still have 12 unframed.

Hope you are feeling better today Kuaka, falls are nasty..

Ohh Yesterday a zebra finch didnt notice the ranchslider door and flew straight into it.. poor little thing, So I picked him up, put him in a shooe box with an old teatowel and covered him with an old net curtain until he got over his shock. I wish I had taken a photo, but about 30 minutes later he was raring to go, so he flew off out of my hand.. beautiful colours.

Have a fab day everyone

popeye333 - 2020-06-22 09:35:00

morning ladies :) I wonder if you could put one of those removeable transfers on the ranchslider door, popeye. The birds will see that rather than the reflection they think is garden. Am glad the little guy was only stunned, they are very pretty birds.

I noticed a fantail/piwakawaka flitting about the garden yesterday, we've had a pair of them so they must have a nest somewhere around here.

The guy came for the insulation quote. OOOMMGGG!! Am so glad we told the guy last year to buggar off. After dealing with this chap, we saw just how much of a cowboy the other guy was. There is no way they could insulate under part of our home as it is too low and we have no doubt, we would have been charged for a job half done. Anyhoo, the government is paying 90% (yep, you read that right!) of ceiling and underfloor insulation if you have a community services card. Another reason we're glad we waited lol, last year was 67%. And we would be mugs not to do it so it should all be done in a couple of weeks. Another thing we can tick off the house renovation list. If you are interested, the EECA website has the details.

While the guy was in the ceiling checking on things he found some old empty boxes we had no idea was there so I burned them late afternoon. So not much embroidery done but I am getting there.

Happy crafting :)

Edited by kiwimade64 at 7:46 am, Tue 23 Jun

kiwimade64 - 2020-06-23 07:46:00

Morning everyone
This morning I spotted a very Obese waxeye lol, he was way bigger than any of the others, greedy little man lol.. We have fantails too. yes I will have a look for some transfers.. When Bobcat was little I put stickers on the ranchslider in the other house, he kept running into the door. Often wondered if he was partially blind but he was just in too much of a rush.

OMG Kiwimade thats disgusting about the other insulation man.. So pleased you did leave it now.. hes probably the sort to be getting the age subsidies and not passing them on too. It will make a huge difference in the warmth of the house and the power bill.

Taking MrP up to the oppy today. Our house lady said last week that they have some cool belt buckles up there.. and I need to get some sachets for Madam.

I finished my monkey yesterday and so very happy with it.. Im going to get a bigger frame than needed cos I want a white border around it before the frame.
Then I did some "housework" on the left over diamonds etc.. Ive got a massive stash now. but I'm in a couple of face book groups and if people run out there's generally someone with spares.

Only have to spruce up the kitchen now and do the floors and Im done...

Have a fab day everyone

popeye333 - 2020-06-23 08:52:00

morning ladies :) It's a wet day here but not cold.

Yesterday the garden centre phoned to tell me two of my roses had arrived, one is for my sister-in-law, so I'm a happy camper. There is one more to come and one she couldn't get for me. The new one is Lady of Shallot and the second rose I am waiting for is called Ash Wednesday. I will have to find Charles Austin somewhere else. And I think that will be it for a while with roses in the garden.

This weekend we are having an all day power cut (again) while they do maintenance work. Will have to put some water aside for the day and make sure there is gas in the BBQ. No power = no water here. It's district wide so everyone is affected. Power goes off at 8.00am and back on at 6.00pm.

I have finished the 'thread painting' of the rose petals on my embroidery and have done the couching for padded satin stitch for the outlines so almost done with the hand embroidery on the cushion cover.

Happy crafting :)

Edited by kiwimade64 at 8:29 am, Wed 24 Jun

kiwimade64 - 2020-06-24 08:28:00

Afternoon everyone

Had trouble and couldn't get online this morning, which is a bummer cos I found out we were getting a new dishwasher, at 1pm, but we had to confirm, and of course we didn't know.

Still waiting for someone to turn up for the inspection, so Ive contacted them re the dishwasher but will tell who ever turns up too. So its nice to know we are getting a new one, and hopefully it will be more economical to use.

I started some squares last night, but wasn't pleased with the variations of the thicknesses of the wool, so dug deeper and am happy now. I'm using what Id call strong pastels and edging them in white.. I tried another square but couldn't get it to work, but it was due to the way I go up to the next row. So Ill try and read the pattern, and give it another go or try and find a way away to get it to work.

Kiwimade have you asked Smithies on FB about the rose you cant get? Ive known them since we went to college, they might be able to help.

I hope everyones day is going well

popeye333 - 2020-06-24 13:19:00

Mike Roach at Morrinsville has roses as well! He used to be at Tamahere! Knows his stuff and has huge variety!

pamols - 2020-06-24 14:33:00

Thank you ladies :D :D I'll sort it all out and will find it. And that will be the last rose for a while.

We went to Tauranga today to help my sister-in-law with a few heavier things she couldn't do on her own so not a lot done garden or crafting wise so far.

Time for some cheese and crackers and some stitching I think. Has definitely been earned today!

kiwimade64 - 2020-06-24 17:00:00

Morning everyone
Was a strange night, it got quite warm at one stage and gone chilly again this morning.
I feel like my cold is breaking so thats good... Starting to get sore from coughing lol.

Well we got a nice new dishwasher yesterday. A chrome one.. will be a couple of days before I have enough to put in it.. It only uses 12.3 llitres of water per wash. Im going to test the water at the kitchen sink cos it comes from so far away that Im pretty sure it would be at least the same if not more that that to get hot water to the sink.

I did 6 squares yesterday, was sitting there and said to MrP I need an apricot colour, looked in my pantries and couldnt find any.. and I was thinking Id thrown a complete black sack of wool away by mistake, then I remembered I hadnt looked in the scotch chest. So I found one..
Im thinking of doing diagnonal rows of colour, I want to look at a friends version she did, before I go any further cos one colour will only need 2. And Ive done one of everything now lol

Have a fab day everyone

popeye333 - 2020-06-25 08:20:00

afternoon ladies :) What a miserable day but Aucklanders should be happy, they had two weeks worth of water overnight.

Lovely to have a new dishwasher, popeye and it will be interesting to compare running it to handwashing. I'm the dishwasher here lol.

I finished embroidering the rose on the cushion cover this morning, now to finish the leaves then I can sew it all together. My fingers get sore even using a thimble so have breaks in between.

Gull have their special on petrol today so have filled the car up as we have a couple of trips to do over the next week.

Time or lunch, then hopefully the weather will clear so I can plant my rose and a chrysanthemum I bought to fill in a gap.

Happy crafting :)

kiwimade64 - 2020-06-25 12:37:00

MrP said it rained all night. I didn't hear a thing lol..

It takes 4.5 liters to get hot water to our kitchen sink, but the sink is soo big it seems to go cold fast so 9 / 10 I do two lots of water.
I opened the dishwasher and pulled the top drawer out and a bit fell off.. and when you pull the drawer out it pulls a piece out where the water comes through.. So I'm going to email the property manager and see if its normal. I'm not tying it until I know..

Was busy in town today, the roads were good but I just had several places to go, in the end lol..
With all the buzzing about and the cold I'm feeling rather worn out.. I guess its just cos I was run down to start with... It wasn't as cold in puke as it is here tho.
I was going to crochet this afternoon but Izzy and her Mum came around as Id got some things for her in town.. She ( Izzy) is shooting up and her hair is darker for winter..
And we have our First Loose Tooth... lol Its got a slight wiggle lol.. I saw a post on FB yesterday with a picture of a child holding a $100 note, with a big smile with one missing tooth and the father sitting behind her holding his head, and at the Bottom it said Drunken Tooth Fairy lol.

Cant wait to see your flower Kiwimade... I must remember to look at the photo of a blanket I have seen and see how many squares they used. The ones Im doing are 5 inches square, and I have 6 colours at the mo.. I only want it basinet or car seat size so at 30 inches it might be a handy size.

popeye333 - 2020-06-25 18:16:00

morning ladies :) Better safe than sorry, popeye with the dishwasher. I'd take a pic of it too just to cover your back.

Another wet day today but I don't mind. Have housework to do today and while it's overcast, do the windows.

The postie has just been, never had her this early before. Usually rural deliveries are closer to lunchtime. She must have a busy day planned lol.

Yesterday I finished scanning old photos so I have the best of them all digitalised. I can give my sister back her scanner now and tick a job off the to-do list. Was a good job to do on a wet day.

Coffee is finished, time to move and get things done.

Happy crafting :)

kiwimade64 - 2020-06-26 08:33:00

Morning everyone,

Yeah Ive taken photos and sent them to the property manager. MrP was annoyed all night. So didn't sleep well but I told him this morning he gets no sympathy for that.. no sense worrying all night over something can cant be done at the time.

I didn't crochet or anything last night. but I did sit snuggle in bed with Missy as my own personal hottie to keep me warm lol and finished a book I have been reading.. It was a book that you couldn't guess how it finishes..

I was going to be pumpkining today but Im having a lazy day.

Have a fab day everyone

popeye333 - 2020-06-26 10:37:00

morning ladies :) Another wet and wild day out there, even the Furry One refuses to go outside to pee. He's going to have to go sooner or later!

I have a tiny bit of embroidery to do and the hand stitching is all finished on the cushion cover so will get that done today and sew it all together. Then I might go back to the iris I was stitching beforehand.

Our districtwide power cut is tomorrow, from 8.00am - 6.00pm. It was to be during L4 lockdown so was postponed until now. I'll organise water, there is gas in the BBQ gas bottle if we need it and we have a little camp cooker we can use if we want to heat soup up and make a cuppa. It's frustrating we have these days but I suppose they pick the quietest day to do it.

Happy crafting :)

kiwimade64 - 2020-06-27 08:29:00

Morning everyone

It is handy that we can have gas cookers etc for these times Kiwimade.. I know when the Whakamaru dam blue a huge piece of the works it was just under a week before it was fixed. Typical community tho, those of us with gas BBqs etc looked after the oldies etc so they had hot water and food... It turned what could have been a hard time into fun.

Wet here, not cold by anymeans.

I heard back from the property manager, its all good to use the dishwasher, so Ill will be loading it this morning. And we will attack the pumpkin.. I must weight it tho cos its huge lol.. well to me it is.

I think I did 5 squares yesterday. Now that Ive sorted my colours I know how many of each I need. will need a total of 49.Im enjoying doing them again.. Just wish I could have sorted out the other design, but Ill try it again once the blanket is finished.

I hope everyone is warm and dry.. Have a fab day

popeye333 - 2020-06-27 09:14:00

Good Morning Ladies, Not so sure why I have said Good Morning as this is our 4 day of rain. So over it! Wet weekend great to finish my knitting.

Just finished a two day Screen Printing on Fabric workshop.We created and printed our own designs at our Regional Learning Centre. It's so handy about 8 min walk for me.At present doing a computer course as well.
Time to get some housework done as well as it too wet to work out in the gardens.
I'm going to prepare some meals for the week and pop some in the freezer as it's looking abite low just now..
We use to have district wide power cuts in Morrinsville when I was at High School.You could always go visiting for the day kiwimade.
Popeye, how did you get on with your dishwasher? I have one but does not get alot of use.
Hope everyone can stay warm and dry. Yes, ladies I know it winter but it's been so long...wet and cold. May need to top up my firewood,LOL
Have a great day.
Time for me to move now I have had a coffee.

sunflowers28 - 2020-06-27 10:39:00

Afternoon ladies, pleased to hear I'm not the only one who has had enough of the rain. Now that the weather is stopping me from gardening I feel more inclined to do some. Contrary Mary my mum would call me. All the time the weather was good, I didn't feel like doing it.

Well apparently the dog bed that I made for my son's dog was a huge success. This is the third one I've made him. The first one was covered in a nice ufpholstery velvet and he ripped it to shreds in a couple of days. So the second one was made with a really heavyweight teddy bear fur type of fabric and it has survived. The third one was in a similar fabric. Son wanted one for upstairs and one for downstairs so he didn't have to keep lugging one up and down. Seems the cat has commandeered the first one I made with the furry stuff, so now son wants yet another one, this time a smaller one for the cat. I should go into business!

Got my sewing machine back on Thursday from it's service. Haven't used it yet, plan to later this afternoon. Also managed to pic up a paper shredder at the op shop, and it works very well. Course I managed to knock it over when it was full, the lid came off and the carpet was covered in tiny little bits of paper. What fun!

The sun is finally shining but the grounds are absolutely sodden so I won't be mowing lawns for a day or two, but tomorrow I might pull some weeds.

I have a dishwasher but rarely use it. Takes me forever to fill it. I have thought about replacing it with a dish drawer but it's a big three bedroomed family house and I figure that when I sell it, it will most likely be to a family and a dish drawer won't be much use to them, so my dishwasher is just an ornament most of the time.

Right, think it must be lunchtime.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Oh yes, TV aerial has shifted in the wind, so no signal again. How frustrating.

kuaka - 2020-06-27 13:14:00

Hiya Ladies.

Well i was nearly ready to ring them and tell them to come and get the dam thing.. Eco mode is 175 minutes.. rediculous... So I stopped it and put it on rapid mode.. BUT Yay the dishes are clean unlike the previous one that never did a good job. I haven't unloaded it but wanted a pot lid out of it and that was clean ( glass).

We Have Pumpmkinned lol.. it was exactly 8 kilos... MrP sawed it up for me into manageable pieces. Ive put a chunk into the fridge to use and the rest I am steaming and mashing to put in the freezer. Its very moist so I'm also draining it.. Have one lot to finish cooking and Im done. Thank goodness I kept my stepfathers enormous metal mixing bowls.

So a short play on here and then Im back into the crochet...

Lol Kuaka at all the animal beds, good that they like them tho..

popeye333 - 2020-06-27 13:36:00

Morning everyone
Its very very calm here, not a breath of wind, and the sun is out for a change.

Very pleased to say the dishes were clean and dry and no water marks. So it can stay.. lol.. I got the dinner plates of a spare dinner set I keep if we have more people for dinner etc. So they are in the drawer.
Years ago MrPs father gave us a pyrex pie plate as our engagement present. We still have it along with 9 others.. We have always used them as our dinner plates as we dont sit at the table and its better for MrP with his shakes.. But cos of the sides they dont stand in the dishwasher trays. so we will only use them if its something that can run.. Then Ill wash them by hand.

I did 5 squares last night, Im a 3rd of the way now and very pleased with the colours Ive chosen. Im not missing the diamond painting at all yet.

We might go up to the Junktion for a nosey today.. Im not really looking for anything but its nice to have a look.

Have a fab day everyone

popeye333 - 2020-06-28 09:14:00

Just wondering if any of you knowledgeable ladies in here can help. I would like to buy a printed canvas for a hooked rug - does anyone know where I can get one in NZ?

shortsbandy - 2020-06-28 20:16:00

morning ladies :) I'm sorry, shortsbandy, I can't help you there. Spotlight or Lincraft come to mind but I'm not sure if they sell them now.

We ended up in Rotorua with MrK's sisters for the day. Had a great day gasbagging lol and I was able to give my sister-in-law her rose she ordered. As usual, I came home with more plants from her garden. We were home by 5.00pm and the power had just come on 20 minutes beforehand so the house was toasty warm with the heatpump on (I 'forgot' to turn it off before we left). The Furry One was pleased to see us and so was our neighbour's pup who dug under their fence and had squeezed through our gate. She will be too big to get through our gate soon.

This morning I'll plant the new plants from yesterday while the weather has calmed down but this afternoon will be sewing. I only need to sew the top of the cushion cover to the bottom now so all going to plan, shouldn't take long.

We're expecting nasty weather this arvo and for a few more days.

Better get moving or the weather will beat me. I've missed being outside and feeling a bit cooped up.

Happy crafting :)

kiwimade64 - 2020-06-29 07:50:00

Morning everyone,
We are having 50/50 rain and sun, did have a mix of both last night, which hasnt happened for ages. I like sunshowers.

Had a lazy day yesterday, catching up on recorded tv.. but I managed 8 squares so I have done 24 now, so Halfway.. Im pleased with my progress and its sooo pretty. Ive always wanted to do a blanket with white around the squares..

I just saw the other post about the price of wool. I am soo pleased I have a very good stash. It means I can generally go and get what I want to make something.. Im thinking of doing another jacket for MrP... I have alot of different browns.. And his old faithful zip up cardys/ jackets are getting a bit too ratty now.. They will probably be at least 20 years old.

But for now its the blanket and then straight back to my cardy.

Have a wonderful day everyone.. at least with this weather we have things to keep us busy

popeye333 - 2020-06-29 09:35:00

morning ladies :) Another wet, stormy day coming up. Yesterday I planted the plants as well as moved a daphne bush. It wasn't 'doing' where it was so decided to dig it out. Then I noticed it had some new growth so thought maybe a change of scenery for it. Not sure if it will survive, will just have to wait and see.

I finished the cushion cover yesterday, only have to buy the foam inner. Will take a pic later and post it. And the ironing got done too, so a very productive day all round.

Today I might have another go at the iris I started, but I have some ideas swirling around so may even start planning one.

Happy crafting :)

kiwimade64 - 2020-06-30 08:00:00

Morning everyone.
Currently the sun is just starting to come in the front window, its beautiful.. but I suspect it will be another mixed day.
I went out to pick the rhubarb and a sudden shower hit.. but I did get it done in the afternoon. 11 healthy stalks. Its just going crazy. Thats about 18 stalks and its only been in since a day or two before Lockdown I think.

I am over half way now on the blanket, Ive done 29 of the 49 squares. not bad for 6 days, not counting the two I did the night before and didnt like.

MrP is still in bed, so no tv blaring away. Sometimes I wonder who is the deaf one in the house lol.

Have a fab day everyone

popeye333 - 2020-06-30 09:12:00

Morning ladies, a beautiful sunny day here but it feels cold, I suspect the wind is a bit nippy. I should be gardening but I will be sewing instead. I made the cat bed to take to my son, but somehow I made it twice the size I wanted it - don't ask how I did that, but it was easy!!! So now I shall cut it in half and Sid will have two. Yes, his cat is called Sid. Then I need to make him yet another pair of curtains and last night he asked if I can make some blinds for his kitchen and laundry. I shall be pleased when he finally gets the whole house the way he wants it - then he will probably sell it and buy another one and we'll start all over again.

Need to get this sewing done because if the weather is okay I plan to go to Auckland on Thursday and back Friday or Saturday - have to be here Saturday for the AGM of the craft group. But I'm not driving all that way if the weather is rubbish. I certainly picked the right day to come back from Papamoa as the weather was awful the following day.

Hope everyone is keeping up with their crafts and staying safe.

kuaka - 2020-06-30 10:08:00

Good Morning LadiesI had forgot how cold it can be in the Waikato. A friend rang up and asked if I wanted to go up to Morrinsville just after I had posted. Had to pickup some gear and catcup with family. What a trip, weather was not that great over the Napier -Taupo Road. Spend Sunday catching up with family, friends and keeping warm. Arrived back late yesterday. I would have liked $ 20 for every trip we made over the years. to Morrinsville and back to Napier. Enjoyed the catchup. We had a pit stop at Taupo then on to Morinsville.
Have the fire going as it's cold and wet today,so catchup on some sewing and just maybe some housework.
Hope you enjoyed your day in Rotorua on Sunday Kiwimade.
Time to move and check on the fire before I head out to check on a friend and see if she needs anything.
Once this rain stops and the soil warms up I will plant out some seedies. I have a warm glass area at the back of the carshed and the plants are look great at present.
Have a great day and stay dry and warm ladies.

sunflowers28 - 2020-06-30 12:20:00

Morning everyone

I was a right off yesterday.. Had the first flat battery day in ages, so I dozed on and off on the lazyboy with Missy plonked on my chest for most of it lol.. Good breathing exercises.

I did pack away some of the squares tho, the box was getting too full.. But I didnt crochet at all..

Have to go to the med centre and chemist this morning , the latter I'm hoping to confirm the pregnancy by someone other than the mother lol. Im pretty sure tho, I often tell well before alot of people know.

Ohh its wonderful having a dishwasher that actually cleans and dries the dishes.. lol.

Have a fab day everyone

popeye333 - 2020-07-01 08:12:00

morning ladies :) It's rose pruning season and I'll make a start today pending on the weather. Will give my secateurs and loppers a good clean first. The daphne is still standing after it was rudely yanked from it's spot and replanted the other day. Am feeling hopeful it will survive.

The tomatoes MrK has growing in pots on the front door step have tomatoes on them! So I think we can say growing tomatoes through winter can be done.

Yep, sunflowers, it's cold here. Was 11 degrees yesterday with a bitter southerly wind. You were lucky you didn't get snow on the Napier/Taupo rd and get locked out.

I must take a pic of the cushion cover, will do that today.

Happy crafting :)

kiwimade64 - 2020-07-01 08:24:00

Morning everyone
Its very cold this morning but no frost.. It has to be cold for me to admit it is lol

Shopping as normal today and then getting home before the nurse comes..

I popped into the chemist yesterday to get MrPs pills and asked if Alice was pregnant, like I thought... And yes she was, but isnt now, her little man was in a rush to arrive at 29 weeks... Still in hospital of course I didnt catch the weight but I imagine very tiny...His name is Lochlan. Hes very strong and doing well tho.

So I thought Ohh do I change the colours of the blanket to boy colours or carry on with what Im doing... I thought well I know she will look after it, so it may do other babies so Im sticking to what Ive been doing. so I got 5 done yesterday and I have about 15 I think left to do.

Amazing how our medical world can take care of these early babies.. MrPs big brother was sent home to die, he was 1lb when born.. He turned 80 in May... they kept him in a shoe box either in the oven of the coal range or on the rack above...

Well id better rattle my daggs and get to town

Have a fab day everyone and wrap up warm

popeye333 - 2020-07-02 08:39:00

morning ladies :) Yep, I would imagine that little one will be very tiny. Our neo-natal wards do an amazing job.

It's going to be a stunning day today but wow, what a frost! It's a real doozy. Even the lemon tree has taken a hit and they're pretty tough.

Dam, forgot to take a pic of the cover again. *puts on to-do list*.

Yesterday I pruned about a third of the roses, the wheelie bin is chokka again lol. I'll end up making a pile of prunings to be taken away over time. This year I've been pretty hard with the pruning but roses can take it. My rambler, Albertine, has had it's first prune so hopefully I've done it right and 'she' will flower well this spring.

We've decided the next 'big ticket' item for the house will be a DVS system. We had one installed when we lived in town and it made a huge difference to the house. Slowly picking away at the renovations and getting things done.

Time to move, coffee has finished and I'm going to brave the frost and hang out washing.

Happy crafting :)

kiwimade64 - 2020-07-02 09:09:00

Morning ladies, a friend of mine became a granny for the first time recently. The baby weighed in at over 7lb and was five weeks early. Can't imagine how big she would have been if she'd gone full term.

It's a beautiful day here, bit cool, but lovely and sunny, so good for a drive south. Hope it's the same when I'm heading north again tomorrow.

Managed to get the sewing done for my son, but I'm taking the sewing machine with me as he has more sewing for me to do when I get there. Wonder what he would do without his mum????

Right, I'd better get a move on and get on the road.

Hope everyone is warm and keeping safe.

kuaka - 2020-07-02 10:18:00

AfternoonLadies, Napier hit very low temp yeaterday and today 7-10c the same as yesterday. We had the sun out for about an hour this afternoon. Snow on the ranges today.Yes, the fire has been going since I got back. Was given some farm killed meat.Pork.Beef and some chops and and a med size leg.A mixed bag of chicken pieces and two chichen. The first three are homekill. Just good timing.
I have misread a knitting pattern and casted off and could not work out what was wrong, when I went to sew it up today. . Knitting two piece for the Girl's Poncho, now have to undo it and knit 7 rows in garter stitch 0n both pieces. Told myself off !
for not having a copy in my knitting bag. So have now to get some some ink for my printer and boy that not cheap either and start printing out things.

Yes, Popeye wool has jumped up in price. We are luck to have 3 stores that sell other than Sknizs in Napier and two others in Hastings one is Knitworld.But who knows we may end with just one.
.Good to hear your dishwasher is now doing it job.

The Taupo to Napier was a slow trip fog and mist in alot of places. Glad to get over with the mad drivers with no lights and speeding.I think I will wait now before making a trip over that road. again.
Time to check on my punkin soup that cooking in the slow cooker. Think I need to get a smaller one, 6Lts for me is a bite much for me. Can get a 31/2 lt one.

Edited by sunflowers28 at 5:21 pm, Thu 2 Jul

sunflowers28 - 2020-07-02 17:17:00

We did a bit of meat shopping today, says she who is trying to get the freezers low for the christmas club meat.
But finally got some pork slices,, just pork belly cut up..and some nice pork chops too...
So we had pork chops and potato bake for tea and it was lovely.. warming on a chilly night.

MrP has now been discharged from needing the nurse. We will miss Jairus, hes a young filipino man and really is in the right job.

PnS had granny smiths for 99 cents a kilo so we came home with 4.9 kilos.. plus a bag of normal eating apples that were marked down to 95 cents lol.. We have done some of the granny smiths this afternoon.

Managed to squish in 2 squares so should get my 5 a day done today.

Im putting bread on in the morning, and the lamb shanks in the crockpot and then apples..

Will be tidying my table in the sewing room so Izzy and I can play when she comes for her sleep over...

Happy crafting everyone

popeye333 - 2020-07-02 18:24:00

morning ladies :) It's a -2 frost this morning, think I will wait for it to clear before I prune more roses. But I'm hoping we have a nice day. Yesterday was freezing and we saw the sun for about an hour, like sunflowers did.

I need to make some more bird puddings this morning, the birds are munching their way through them pretty quickly now. It's almost like they are sitting in the trees tapping their toes at me for more, more, more lol. Heard a shining cuckoo the other day so spring won't be too far away.

Better move, coffee is finished and so is the washing machine.

Happy crafting :)

kiwimade64 - 2020-07-03 07:38:00

https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/1356086096.jpg

remembered to take a pic lol. The cushion cover waiting for the foam squab.

kiwimade64 - 2020-07-03 09:30:00

Morning everyone

Oh Kiwimade its beautiful.. love the colours etc..

I saw a thing I think it was on seven sharp in the last week about them wanting people to study bird numbers for an hour and report the numbers in.. Has to be done by Sunday, I must try and find it. And yes I need to make another cake too...

Well the bread has just finished, the lamb shanks are in the crockpot, and Ive just finished breakfast.. So Ill have to get cracking soon too.

I have 11 squares to go now, two colours... not bad for 8 days, an average of 6 a day.

Stay warm everyone and have a fab day

popeye333 - 2020-07-03 09:38:00