They finished putting on all the pallings today. It is a 6 foot fence and goes all the way down one side of our property and a third across the front. Looks great and so much privacy. Cannot wait until they do the rest but little steps aye. It is so costly. Now I can sit in the main house and no one can look in. The house is lower than the road and the section slopes right down to the bottom neighbour. Things are starting to look quite nice here.

makerealbany - 2009-11-09 22:14:00

grizzly, I cannot believe your birthday is nearly here again. Where has the year gone? My kids loved it down the South Island. They sent me a lovely scenic shot of what they saw eating their breakfast.
The lucky beggers. I was so jealous. Sigh!!!!

makerealbany - 2009-11-09 22:19:00

This message was deleted.

nanaduck2 - 2009-11-11 05:24:00

Grizzly. I was thinking the same thing, this year has gone so fast. Have a very happy birthday. I hope you enjoyed the races yesterday.

smartgirl - 2009-11-11 06:54:00

Nanaduck, I dont think anyone on this thread is from Napier, good luck with you search.

smartgirl - 2009-11-11 06:55:00

The horse I picked won, haha. Made a whole $14.00!!! Spent it at the A&P Show this morning on a whitebait sandwich and a cupcake. Treating myself, girls!!

grizzly4 - 2009-11-11 16:18:00

Yes Happy Birthday grizzly. At lest you had a win. Ha ha. The whitebait sandwich sounded good. Made my mouth water. I have been buying some more cotton for next year. Ha ha. Gosh they wash well. My dishcloths I mean. Have to do some face cloths. Nearly finished another shrub for M. Going to get a few more Christmas presents tomorrow. Farmers have yet another sale. Lol. By the way grizzly, my daughter bought me some handmade chocolates from Patagonia when she was down in Queenstown. Very nice and I had to race them into the cottage before SIL ate them. I gave him one. Ha ha.

makerealbany - 2009-11-11 23:28:00

Smartgirl I am going to Hamilton on Sat week for a surprize Christmas night for my Mum. Only the 6 of us and one hubby will be there. All grandchildren and great grandchildren are banned. Sounds wierd but we have never had a lunch with just Mum and her children by ourselves. Well first time for everything. I am looking forward to it.

makerealbany - 2009-11-11 23:32:00

bll how are you? Will send you an email later. Lovely day shopping with the babies. They were little angels. Got some nice bargains so feeling quite chuffed at this time. I am knitting again tonight. Just broke a darn nail though. Yuk. My new glasses are so good. Did not realize just how bad my eye was. Can thread the needles now. Lol. How is all the craftwork going?

makerealbany - 2009-11-12 21:19:00

Hi M, I'm good. Kids are sleeping over at Nana and Poppa's tonight, looking forward to maybe dinner and a movie. We have plants in our new gardens now (have I said that already?) but I guess I should have protected them with bottles or something, the wind has given them a good bashing. Still looking out for cucumbers, zucchini and peas. Got flowers from one of my year 12 classes, so sweet. Sad to be losing them. Only teaching year 9s now, they are a lot harder to work with!

bll - 2009-11-14 05:59:00

This message was deleted.

tazzaboy2 - 2009-11-14 07:31:00

Hi tazza, I happened to see that thread. I wouldn't worry if I were you. Just an "artist" being picky about a distinction between their creativity and yours. If you enjoy doing it, it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks.

bll - 2009-11-14 10:54:00

Yes tazzaboy, I agree with bll.

makerealbany - 2009-11-14 23:22:00

bll it is a shame about the plants. I checked on mine and some were battered by the winds and the snails are at them again. I put bait all over the garden yesterday. My daughter has this cool book with heaps of hints about this and that. Epsom salts are said to be a great fertilizer and the slugs and snails don't like it. I found some in the junk cupboard( where else)Lol. I might try that out.

makerealbany - 2009-11-14 23:28:00

Hi Grizzly. I am staying the night at my son's to mind Dunhill and Lynus. Lynus came in and told me off for not putting his food out fast enough and nearly frightened me out of my wits. I was knitting away and this unholy yowl at my feet was darn scary. Dunhill is on the bed as I have already put the electric blanket on so he is comfy. Ha ha. Went to Spotlight today to get some material for miss M's Dollies cot and they never had a thing and what they did have was so expensive. Rotorua and Hamilton have better selections. Will call into the Ham shop next Sat.

makerealbany - 2009-11-14 23:34:00

Smartgirl how are you? Are there any other material shops in Hamilton? Have to visit another friend on Sunday before I head home. She stood on a stonefish in Rarotonga. Just got out of hospital. Poor beggar. I stood on one in Tuvalu years ago and I was in a right state by the time I got back to New Zealand. Nasty B-ggers they are. Look just like stones. Mine got me in the back of the heel and I was wearing plastic shoes at the time. P has had a rough time of it. Takes awhile to get over it.

makerealbany - 2009-11-14 23:51:00

Haven't even thought about the crawlies yet. Will have to have a hunt around the garden shed for the bait. Got some seeds today - more carrots, red onions, zucchini and lebanese cucumbers. Not a lot of craft happening!

bll - 2009-11-15 18:49:00

I did not do much today either bll. Did my other son's shopping and then came home. My seedlings are up. Got them under a glass pane and they pop up pretty quickly. Found a whole shoebox with seeds in so will put some more out tomorrow. I want a raised garden just like my daughters. She has been picking lettuces and chinese cabbages already. Plus her tomotes are bigger than mine. The shame of it. I always have the best tomotoes. Got some strong competition this year. Ha ha. I have a stack of Peaches and Cream dishcloths knitted now for pressies. I got a bargain at Spotlight. They had these cute heart shaped iceblock trays made of that soft stuff. Normally $15 I got them for $2. I have had to buy presents for my siblings for Mum's Christmas surprize. We were only to spend $10 per person. I managed to get a some really cute gifts for my 4 sisters but am still looking for my brother. Running out of time.

makerealbany - 2009-11-15 22:48:00

Tomatoes. What is up with my spelling today!!!!!

makerealbany - 2009-11-15 22:49:00

The internet is an amazing tool. I got some really cool knitting patterns and it is so interesting to see what people are making in other countries.

makerealbany - 2009-11-15 22:51:00

My computer crashed on THursday morning so my lovely weekend off was tainted slightly by that worry! Back today but not sure for how long. Darn computer is only 4 years old and I don't get any sympathy from computer experts 'cos thats considered old!!! You all sound really busy, I am having to fit what I want to do around providing childcare at a moments notice. It's not working very well.

grizzly4 - 2009-11-16 08:18:00

I can relate to that last comment grizzly. I have to check on who I am minding and when. I try to fit my own stuff in but it does get hard at times. Little M threw up all her breakfast this morning. What a shambles. I had to wash and change her, scrub her highchair and sterilize it and then soak everything. I had just finished all our washing too. Never mind. She has a bit of a snuffle but is now sleeping peacefully. Poor little darling. Touch wood my computer is okay for awhile. I have been there and done that. Got some mending to do for her Mum until she wakes up. Hope the day goes better for you.

makerealbany - 2009-11-16 13:26:00

Hey Grizzly. My suggestion (as a childcare requester) would be to, very nicely, say that you're finding the situation difficult and that you will love to carry on sitting as long as you get x amount of notice. I don't think that's unreasonable. As for your computer, sounds like you need to call friends and relatives to say their last goodbyes. I was in denial when our computer started crashing. One day it just wouldn't wake up. Turned out the drive (newer one!) fried. Lost a whole lotta stuff. That's the other thing: backup backup backup! External hard drives are getting quite cheap now and you can set them up so they automatically backup new stuff and changes every day.

bll - 2009-11-16 18:35:00

makerealbany wrote:

I can relate to that last comment grizzly. I have to check on who I am minding and when. I try to fit my own stuff in but it does get hard at times. Little M threw up all her breakfast this morning. What a shambles. I had to wash and change her, scrub her highchair and sterilize it and then soak everything. I had just finished all our washing too. Never mind. She has a bit of a snuffle but is now sleeping peacefully. Poor little darling. Touch wood my computer is okay for awhile. I have been there and done that. Got some mending to do for her Mum until she wakes up. Hope the day goes better for you.

UM ... eww.

Today I came home to a cat sleeping peacefully on the couch ... right next to a puddle of vomit. nice.

bll - 2009-11-16 18:37:00

Poor cat bll. Once I had a slipper full. Had changed the cats biscuits. I soon changed him back to Purina. Darn cat will only eat that and Chef tin food. No matter what!!!!1

makerealbany - 2009-11-16 21:30:00

Hi grizzly. I just bid on 2 of your auctions. I have ideas of adding to the duvet for little M'S cane dolls cot I am doing up for Christmas. It is perfect for that. Plus the little short cardi is a bit different to what I have been knitting for her to go over her summer dresses. I like the colour and although she is not 2 yet. That is the size I have been knitting for her. She is a big girl for her age. I am running out of time to get everything done for pressies. Ha ha.

makerealbany - 2009-11-16 21:42:00

HI barbrose. How is the quilting going?

makerealbany - 2009-11-16 21:43:00

Makereal, went into spotlight today, they have some nice fabrics that may be ok for what you want. Have a look at the quilting fabrics as well. I made Hollys from quilt fabric last year. I havent even thought about Bellas one yet Time is flying

smartgirl - 2009-11-16 23:07:00

My goodness, makerealbany, I didn't even check to see who had bid on the auctions! Bll sounds like you are a real computer whiz. Apparently we need a new graphics card but need a new power supply to cope with the newer graphics cards and need more ram. I am just repeating the words I have been told. Haha. My concern is to get all my photos onto a disc and the accounts for the shop, although I do keep hard copies of the latter. Back to work today, haven't heard from son or DIL so must be pretty upset that I didn't race back into town to look after kids on Sunday when we were at a relatives trying to get computer fixed.It's a hard call: he is more settled staying here the more he stays but I'm not getting anything done. Spent my afternoon off work yesterday doing accounts for a meeting last night because I didn't have time over the other 4 days off. They seemed really interested in the dates of my month off over Christmas, too. Bll is right will have to set some rules before then. That month is too precious. I don't know how you keep up, makerealbany.

grizzly4 - 2009-11-17 08:33:00

Thanks smartgirl. I will take a peek on Saturday morning. Our store is pretty empty.

makerealbany - 2009-11-18 00:05:00

Hi grizzly. Just come back from Orewa again. My girl up there was so sick. She was throwing up all last night and our happy little fella was all upset because he knew something was up with Mum. I shared him today with his big brothers while Mum rested. We got a lot done between the lot of us. Lovely day for the washing. K was a very happy chappie, his normal giggly self crawling all around the house. Oh that boy is quick. He is trying to stand up by pulling himself up onto things and he is only 6 months. I am sure I have said that before somewhere. Ha ha. I get a lot more done with him than with M. She has tonsilitis again. Told me her soat is sore. Mum and Dad took her to the docs today. I have all my xmas break sorted already grizzly. I told the kids the dates and that is that. Ha ha.

makerealbany - 2009-11-18 00:14:00

Famous last words makereal. My girls would love M, its a shame we dont live closer, and you too grizzly. I have B and H today so we are going to spotlight to get some things to make Christmas decorations, that will be fun.

smartgirl - 2009-11-18 07:53:00

Had an early start this morning with a 8am supervision client! It's only 9.30 and I feel like i've done a days work already. Haha. The girls (cats) are rampaging through the house leaving their hair flying after them. It's a drizzly morning so they are inside causing havoc. I keep telling them they need to act their age 'cos they are older than me! Hard to believe they are 9 at Christmas.

grizzly4 - 2009-11-18 09:35:00

Hi Girls. We had a really fun day today. Accidents included smashing the new toilet in the house with a crowbar that was being used to rip up the last lot of carpet that was down. Who puts carpet in a toilet anyway !!!!!!! An hour after contacting the Insurance co My SIL and my 2 grandsons were felling more trees and somehow one of the smaller logs shot down the bank skidding over the other logs and went right through the bottom concrete water tank. I laughed a lot later but what a day. My poor SIL was gutted. My daughter is now calling him Bill Cosby. Meanwhile it rained through all this so the boys were wet and went through heaps of clothes. M threw up again tonight. 5 mins later she was running and playing. I wanted to go down the road but did not dare after all this. Lol.

makerealbany - 2009-11-18 23:18:00

Good grief, what a day you had. This message is as good as counselling after a rotten day, don't you think. I hope today is better for you, makerealbany. I took the risk of putting on a load of washing in my coolest (as in lightweight and probably see through in the right light) nightie this morning in front of our back door which is plain glass. Suddenly a courier arrived out of nowhere and I had to make a dash for a jacket so I could sign for the package. Must have been a sight for sore eyes with wet hair, nightie and a jacket trying to look perfectly normal. Stop laughing, you lot!!!

grizzly4 - 2009-11-19 08:05:00

I wish I was a fly on the wall at your place makereal. We have had a lovely morning at the pools, there were lots of kids there so my girls were very happy. B is in bed now so H and I are going to do some craft together.

smartgirl - 2009-11-19 12:15:00

grizzly, you have made my day. I laughed and laughed because I could relate to it. I had a courier this morning and I was in my striped winter pjs and looked like an escapee from the prison down the road. Hair all over the place, bags under the eyes and a coffee cup in my hand. Lol. Mind you I was not as bad as you at lest I was reasonably covered. Ha ha. Yes I am going to laugh about this all night girl. Ha ha ha ha

makerealbany - 2009-11-19 20:42:00

Smartgirl. Our mate is a character isn't she? I keep visualizing her scrambling for the jacket and I start laughing all over again. I wear pjs Summer and winter. It is a lot safer. Ha ha. Mind you grizzly has a hubbie and I haven't even got a boyfriend so maybe that is why I wear pjs. Sigh!!!! of relief or!!!! Who knows. I am too stuck in my own ways now. Say hi to the girls for me and give them a hug from me too. M is still having trouble keeping her food down. She is such a bonny child and normally has a really good appetite so doc says not to worry.

makerealbany - 2009-11-19 20:48:00

Hi bll thanks a lot. Got your parcel today. So cute. See what fun we are all having. How is the cat's stomach?

makerealbany - 2009-11-19 20:52:00

Thanks M.

Nothing out of the cats since. Has happened a couple of times in the last few weeks. Might have to go back to Purina, darnit.

bll - 2009-11-20 06:37:00

I have to say, disappointing as it may be for you all, the lightweight nightie is for a reasonable nights sleep. Pjs are just too hot with hourly hot flushes!!!

grizzly4 - 2009-11-20 08:35:00

So sorry grizzly about the hourly hot flushs I mean. Understand where you are coming from. I was there for about 2 weeks and that was it. I guess I was pretty lucky. My girlfriend used to turn beetroot red and rush out of the room to lay on the closet coldest tiles she could find. I will wait until after the other auction to pay you. Going away to Hamilton tomorrow. Back on Sunday.

makerealbany - 2009-11-20 23:05:00

bll my cat does well on Purina. In fact all of the cats in our family eat the darn stuff except for Lynus who has special food from the vet. Expensive little beggars. Lol.

makerealbany - 2009-11-20 23:09:00

I have been browsing some of the threads. It was like weaving my way through a mine field. Ha ha!!!!!! Some people are so uptight.

makerealbany - 2009-11-20 23:14:00

Two weeks of hot flushes!!!!! I'm into my 7th year!!!Admittedly 'everything' stopped a year before that which was a blessed relief but you'd think I'd be a skinny wee thing with my own personal sauna going on!!!

grizzly4 - 2009-11-21 07:17:00

You poor thing grizzly, I have had none of that, but 7 years is just too long. Makereal, I see you have been browsing, thank god out thread is not like some of those

smartgirl - 2009-11-21 07:34:00

Yes smartgirl we are downright saintly in this thread. Ha ha. I have to shoot down the road to get Mum's Present. Needed a haircut but no time, there isn't any colour left here so I am going tinged with grey as well sigh. Cannot be bothered getting the colour and coming home to put it in before I go and all that jazz. lol.

makerealbany - 2009-11-21 08:45:00

Grizzly I feel so sorry for you!!!! That is forever. I thought there was something they could give you to help sort out the flushes. Doesn't it work for you? Have a nice weekend girls.

makerealbany - 2009-11-21 08:47:00

Hi Ladies - I've been away from the message board for a few weeks. Been busy trying to finish a quilt and think I am winning! The second quilt won't be ready by Christmas though. Never mind, the recipient doesnt know I was making it and will just get it next year :). In the meantime, I have found some my little pony panels I bought years ago to make into cushions for grand daughters who are now 10 but they have younger sisters, so will get them made up for Christmas as well. I'll have to do them this year, before the young ones get too old for my little pony. I found some cushion inners at Save Mart - will just take off the present covers and recover with the panels. Trying to do Christmas "on the cheap" this year.

barbrose - 2009-11-21 09:21:00

Its taking all my restraint not to start posting on other thread. Talking in circles apart from anything else. some people are just bullies with a one track mind.

Now ladies, there are some things us young'uns just don't want to know about until we get there! Bit like the goriest bits of childbirth nobody ever talks about. JK, kia kaha grizzly!

bll - 2009-11-21 10:42:00