Ha Ha, I found them on another thread, I am not that clever. I have just got a few minutes so I thought I would wish you all the best, Jo

smartgirl - 2009-12-25 09:35:00

Hi girls. Had a great day yesterday and have pressies galore. Went to some of the sales today for 2 hours and came home exhausted. Spent the arvo in the lazyboy with my foot on ice. Lol. Drove up to Orewa to stay the night. Everyone else is away except for K 8 months, his Mum and I. Fantastic. We are going to watch a movie as bubs is asleep. Yeepee.

makerealbany - 2009-12-26 20:00:00

Smartgirl those posts are so cool.

makerealbany - 2009-12-26 20:01:00

What a great day it has been today. There are lots of visitors up here at the beach and the downside is the supermarkets are always packed. Spent the day maxing out after the chores were done. Went up to Whangaparoa and got some bargains this arvo. Had the pool up for little K. I have just had tea and my daughter cooked a lovely Pav. I can see the kilos just lining up to jump on me. Lol. Leg still darn sore so did the ice trick again. I am going back home tonight and will sew tomorrow. Have logged that in and barring unexpected visitors expect to acheive some actual work tomorrow. Hope you are all having a great family time during this holiday season.

makerealbany - 2009-12-27 20:07:00

Hi M and all, I hope you've all had a good Xmas and are looking forward to the New Year. Our Xmas was quite indulgent foodwise (at least, I indulged mercilessly!). Both sides opted for the buy-for-one-other option presentwise and it worked out gr8 I think. I know I was not so stressed in the leadup. I did miss the whole "that will be a good one for so-and-so", it was more like "WOULD've been a good one".

I have made 6 felties now, including 3 different sizes of Babushkas. These things are gr8! ... http://tinyurl.com/yetctxl ... the other three are Retro Alien, Cute Chihuahua and Little Lion. I didn't have proper stuffing but heaps of compressed wadding and I found a couple of layers works gr8 in a sandwich and sew around. I think Sleepy fox or Sun-Loving Rat will be next - I don't think the rat would be happy today tho! I have a few more clay things to get onto too, but we might brave the shops today and start chipping at those gift cards! :)

bll - 2009-12-28 07:14:00

hi bll nice to hear you all had a great time. My grandchildren have been shopping madly with their xmas money. I have only spent half of my Vouchers. Must peek at your felties. Just sat and knitted today. Dranks heaps of non alcoholic drinks as it is so hot. I have had one third of a glass of wine over the whole festive period. Does not mix with meds. Lol. Never mind. Oh and K who is 8 months old has his first tooth. Little darling. Forgot to sharpen my scissors and have been looking for tinfoil at home. We always have something to recycle and I cannot find a thing. So easy to sharpen the scissors with.

makerealbany - 2009-12-28 19:44:00

I cannot view that page bll. Is that the correct link?

makerealbany - 2009-12-28 19:51:00

um ... its working for me ?? It an amazon page so you can look inside the book I'm using. Saw it when we were in Adelaide, ordered it while I was getting some books for xmas presents.

I don't usually drink much, but had a couple of wines at lunchtime on xmas day.

Spent my Warehouse vouchers pretty easy - got some bits and pieces for the garden... including some marigold seeds, gonna plant them with the veges to keep bugs away... we'll see if it works.

bll - 2009-12-28 20:57:00

Cute felties, but I don't have that much patience I'm afraid. Love your Xmas messages, smartgirl whether they were originals or not!! Have just got back from Blenheim visiting my Mum & Dad since Sunday. Had a great family Xmas and needed time away for a rest. Trouble is there is no where quite like home to completely relax so I guess my holiday starts from now!! It is so hot down here I'm melting away.

grizzly4 - 2009-12-29 16:36:00

Grizzly! Patience?!?!? are you kidding? Start to finish in a couple of hours in front of the tv. I made sleepy fox last night. so cute and teeny!
It has been pouring with rain here since last night. Bit muggy too.

Edited by bll at 6:40 pm, Tue 29 Dec

bll - 2009-12-29 18:39:00

Here are my efforts. Had a bit of a glue disaster on the babuskas' hair.
http://tinyurl.com/bllfelties

bll - 2009-12-29 19:08:00

bll, they are just beautiful, my granddaughter would love the 3 babuskas. welcome back grizzly, I love the heat I just hate the humidity. Hows the foot makereal, I forgot about the anibiotics and wine and slept for the next two days. Feel good now.

smartgirl - 2009-12-29 22:06:00

Very cute, bll!! Thats a clever method of treatment, smartgirl! How is your foot, makeralbany? My Dad has B12 deficiency and can't walk at all because of the burning sensation in his feet. He is on monthly injections but they say it will take about 2 years to correct itself. Dreadful for him, 'cos he was very active.

grizzly4 - 2009-12-30 10:15:00

Hi bll those I can view. Really cute too girl.

makerealbany - 2009-12-30 15:04:00

Kia ora smartgirl. The kids have just left until the 12 th. Yeepee. Lol. I have just finished cleaning my cottage because everyone had lunch in there and outside. The cleaner was in the house. My little nest was overflowing ha ha. My son and his kids had rushed up to give their Aunty her Birthday present before she went on holiday. M had been drawing and painting whilst her Mum packed. Note I said Mum. I think her dad packed about 4 things which naturally included the fishing gear. Ho Ho. I might meander down there to Raglan for a day. They return there from Wellington on the 7th. That is if my foot is okay.

makerealbany - 2009-12-30 15:09:00

Raglan sounds great. One lot are away till the 5th and the other till the 9th. Miss Holly turns 4 on the 10th.

smartgirl - 2009-12-30 15:14:00

My darn foot has limited me these holidays again grizzly. That is awful about your poor Dad. My foot burns like hell too. Going for more bloods next week as I have to fast, etc and I refuse until I have eaten my share of chocs and Pavlova. Lol. Oh yeah I think smartgirl's treatment is a ok. I have friends coming over tomorrow night so I just might indulge in that treatment girls.!!!! I need the drill to drill holes in the tiles for the wallhanging I am making and I have pulled the shed to bits looking for it. Duh, grrrr. I have to make this by the 5th which is my daughter's and SILs wedding anniversary. Also M's birthday but she is away.

makerealbany - 2009-12-30 15:17:00

wow we are online together smartgirl. Was santa nice to you?

makerealbany - 2009-12-30 15:18:00

Don't you just hate being in the mood to do something and then not able to find what you need. So frustrating for a crafty person. Had a nice lie in this morning and even read my book for awhile. Unheard of!! Today I have some book work to do this morning (Yes I know I am on holiday) and friends for dinner this evening. Nearly finished a crochet blanket for the shop so will be able to start a new project soon. Trying to get my stock up in time for autumn. Always plan to do that each year but never happens. Always end up knitting for my wee boys instead.

grizzly4 - 2009-12-31 10:05:00

I have had a good day so far. Had another haircut this morning as the last one was awful and dearer. Went back to my hairdresser who was so busy but she got me in. Only went to someone else last time because I could not get in. She asked me who was it that had hacked my hair. Sigh. Did some shopping and then had a lovely lunch at my son and DIL's. I have friends coming tonight bringing tea with them. I have not seen them for 15 years so it will be a great catch up.

makerealbany - 2009-12-31 16:40:00

What's with the bookwork grizzly. Naughty, naughty. You are relaxing remember!!!!! Still cannot find the drill so I will take the stuff up to Orewa tomorrow and use my girl's drill. I am searching my patterns this arvo for a cotton top for little K. At lest all the patterns are in the same filing cabinet so it makes it easier to sort them. Ha ha.

makerealbany - 2009-12-31 16:45:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

bll - 2010-01-01 07:17:00

FILING CABINET for your patterns!!!! My goodness thats quite a stock pile, makerealbany. I nearly choked on my breakfast. See I am resting, it's 10.15am. What fun it would be to go through that cabinet!! And your cupboards of wool. I'm really itching to go buy some but money's a bit tight after CHristmas so will have to make do. Finished the blanket so a new project is in the wings today, could be baby sox or a cardy or maybe a vest.....

grizzly4 - 2010-01-01 10:18:00

Happy New Year to everyone, lets hope for a good start to this decade. It cant be worse than the last. Keep positive.

smartgirl - 2010-01-01 10:18:00

Happy New Year girls!!!! I had tea with my youngest son last night because my friends had to cancel. Then I brought my 6 year old grandson home for 2 nights. He is quite a character. I have just baked a BD cake for C who is 16 today and have a steamed pudding to cook for tea in Orewa tonight. J helped me clean my car this morning. Water and kids go well together. Ha ha. I am just waiting for the washing to dry and then we will be off. J has just shown me a long scratch he received whilst playing in the bush with the dogs. Seems quite proud of it!!!!!

makerealbany - 2010-01-01 14:17:00

Grizzly you are so creative girl. I had to put the patterns in a filing cabinet because I was sick of pulling out boxes. Tugging and shoving things wears me out. Ha ha. Honestly I hate searching for stuff. My SIL is home from Malaysia so it will be nice up there tonight. He was away for Xmas again this year.!!!!! The one down here was home but won't be next year. How nice to know that!!!! Duh, Grrrr. It is really hot here and I am avoiding the sun today. I would be cooked in 15 mins out there. Have an awesome day girls.

makerealbany - 2010-01-01 14:23:00

Smartgirl, please don't say it can't be worse, JUst asking for trouble, I think. It was a hard year but there were some great highs for me.... Hubby's new career and surviving all the stressful bits 6 months into a new job, the amazing support we received from ACC, me still working for a community group which has survived the 'recession' and of course the constant support and creative ideas from you guys in these messages.

grizzly4 - 2010-01-02 09:56:00

I'm not going to set any new year resolutions as I never stick to them any way. My hopes for 2010, however, include finding somewhere lovely to live long term with a great landlord, selling enough craft to supplement our income and still have enough time to knit for my wee boys, that my family and my 'girls' stay fit and well and that perhaps we find a miracle cure for this cough. Haha. Last one is stretching it a bit!

grizzly4 - 2010-01-02 10:00:00

Grizzly, I know, the moment I sent it I thought the same thing. One of my resolutions is to get rid of the clutter, if I dont want it, it either sell or biff. I have just gone through my wool stash and am going to get rid of what I know I will never use.

smartgirl - 2010-01-02 13:28:00

I think I had better follow suit smartgirl and get rid of stuff. I have been doing it slowly. Well girls I had a lot of positives in 2009. I got another lovely grandson, my daughter got though the pregnancy even with all her probelms. My grandchildren are all well and healthy. Ma is doing okay and I am okay. As long as everyone is healthy and happy including (those of us who have a few things not working so well, ha ha) then that is all one can ask.

makerealbany - 2010-01-02 18:04:00

I spent the day gardening with J and the dogs running everywhere. J has been picked up and the dogs are moaning already. Ha ha. They have been spoilt with him here. We all had a lovely tea last night and the sight of the week was SIL, J and little K all paddling in the babies pool. Lucky Santa gave baby an extra large Pool. lol. The sun has gone down so I might do a bit more outside. Want to clean out a garden because the Septic tank guy is coming and we have to dig around the bl---dy tank. That is one thing that pees me off.

makerealbany - 2010-01-02 18:10:00

If you two are selling stuff out of your cupboards you have to give the rest of us heads up when the auctions start!

grizzly4 - 2010-01-02 20:29:00

2 yr old L stayed overnight so an early start this morning (yawn). Both parents working today, it's about time they sorted their hours out, I think. Very cloudy and cold today after yesterdays extreme heat. Ideal day for knitting - I'm half way up the second front of a baby cardy. I'm not back at the shop till the 11th so want a nice big bag of stock to take in to start off the new year. Hubby back at work on Tuesday so will get some sewing and cross stitch done from then on. Can't believe my holidays are half over. Spend half the year looking forward to my month off and it's gone in a flash. Doesn't help whe the first week is before Xmas when there is so much to be done anyway.

grizzly4 - 2010-01-03 08:31:00

I had an early start too, I have been getting up as soon as I wake up and that can range from 6am to about 7.30am, this morning it was the earlier time. I had breadfast and did some knitting watching attitude about Ben, a young man with downs syndrome. Talk about amazing. I really admire him. As far as sorting out my wool, I have a large pile of it, what do I keep and what do I sell. It might end up being eanie meanie mo. Have a good day.

smartgirl - 2010-01-03 09:35:00

makereal, yes there were lots of positives in 09 and I thank god every day for my healthy kids and grandkids, but what I was meaning in general it was not a great decade. But I am sure we have all learned a lot from it and made us look at life a lot differently.

smartgirl - 2010-01-03 10:40:00

You are right smartgirl it was not such a great decade generally. Our health system went to hell, costs went up, people lost jobs, homes and in some case families because of the stress. Talking about health C who was 16 on the first got is leg run over by a twit on a motorbike and now has it in a cast. Also my SIL's 14 year old nephew was skateboarding and now is in Wellington Hospital with a skull fracture. He is in a very bad way. Poor boy. He is a hemophilliac and the surgeons are really relunctant to operate to relieve the pressure on his brain. My kids are down there and it is a very sad holiday for them. S's Dad has the desease and the girls in the family are the carriers so C's mother who is S's sister was the carrier and her son inherited the desease from her. It is very hard for all of their family. S's parents are devastated. We are so lucky that little M cannot carry the genes.

makerealbany - 2010-01-03 19:01:00

I worked in the garden again early this morning before the sun was up. Getting there. I went to visit my son and then came home and relaxed. I am knitting Bamboo at the moment. Quite nice to knit. Do not worry grizzly I will let you know about getting rid of stuff. Lol. I have been trying to catch Mum on the phone and the little gad about is never home. I have to ring my sisters who are saying that she is well, just busy. Ha ha I love it!!!!!

makerealbany - 2010-01-03 19:07:00

Very sorry to hear about your family members, makeralbany. I can imaging it would be very hard to find a balance between prevention and quality of life for an energetic 14 year old.

grizzly4 - 2010-01-04 09:53:00

Good morning grizzly. No difference in his condition but they have decided not to operate. His mother is estranged from the family(her choice) and decided not to give him his meds for the disease which has put him in an even worse position. She is into alternative healing. I cannot understand that. I mean hemophilia is not something to ignore. Yes accidents will happen. C is brassed off because his leg is in a cast and being on crutches limits his ability to do things but he is thankful that he is not in hospital with a fractured skull. It is raining here, just drizzling now. I went down to turn the pump on at the lower tank because I thought it might pour all day. But no!!!! I will turn it off in a couple of hours. Got in the garden for 30 mins as I was already soaked to the skin. I love the rain at this time of the year.

makerealbany - 2010-01-04 10:15:00

Oh yes I picked a bucket of plums while I was down there and now I have to do something with them. Ha ha. Caught up with Mum on the phone last night. She said she was staying at home for a few days because she is worn out with all her gallivanting. Lol. She is a wonderful character.

makerealbany - 2010-01-04 10:18:00

I love how you talk about your Mum, Makerealbany. I talked to my parents about how they could move back closer to family if they decide to move into a 'villa'. Dad is very reluctant to lose his car and garden and I don't blame him at all. And they certainly don't need to make a decision until we see if he is going to recover from the B12 deficiency in the next few months. I talked to him about the Over 60's units that are springing up all over the place here in ChCh and he seemed to be a bit more positive about the idea. I hate to think of them paying for extra help like gardening and home-help in the future wehen family are willing to help down here. But fitting in regular 4 hour trips is to difficult when everyone is working or looking after wee kids. I think Mum is torn between leaving her wee house and having more contact with the great-grandsons.

grizzly4 - 2010-01-05 10:13:00

Yes grizzly it is hard having your parents so far away. Mum is about 5 hours for me on a lousy day when I have to stop a lot. Lol. She loves her little place and of course she was born there so she will never leave. Too many memories and that is her papa kainga. I worry about Mum a lot but she is happy and that is the main thing. I am off to Orewa for the kids wedding anniversary and to play with my grandson naturally. Ha ha. We are going to make some Indian Plum chutney. Was searching for my preserving pans and my naughty SIL must have stashed them under the house and I am dressed up and no way am I crawling under there today. B--gger. C is doing much better now and is talking to his dad which is so cool. Everyone is starting to feel a lot better now. Little Miss woke up in Welli at 5.30 and Said "It's my birthday Mummy where are the presents?' That is what they get for telling the clever Miss last night that it was her birthday today. She has already had a big birthday party there early because the relations from elsewhere were in Welli and when she gets home we are having one for her. Talk about having it made. Ha ha.

makerealbany - 2010-01-05 11:34:00

You girls are very lucky to have your mums still. Miss M sounds very llike my Miss H and Miss B. I would love to see them all together, I am sure they would have lots of fun. I find the problem is buying them something they have not already got. This time I am buying Miss H a handbag light from Lighting Plus. We were in there before Christmas and she fell in love with them. Have a great day.

smartgirl - 2010-01-05 12:33:00

By the way grizzly, I sorted out my wool stash again for the 2nd time in a year. I have about one and a half rubbish bags to sell. I think I have already got rid of at least double that last time. I will be doing it within the week. Also a lot of patterns. Its a bit hard to find the time to get motivated and list them. haha. I also have a box of ufo to finish and list. Lots of that is dolls clothes etc.

smartgirl - 2010-01-05 12:36:00

Yikes, smartgirl, I have to budget, you know!! This year I am getting family passes to places like Willowbank etc for the boys birthdays and just a wee pressie. These places outprice themselves for families so I though it would be a nice treat and something a bit different.

grizzly4 - 2010-01-05 16:17:00

Yes I reckon our girls would get on like a house on fire smartgirl. Had a good day and arrived home with the two teenage granddaughters. We had tea and then went down the hill to get some plums. Girls were in hysterics as they picked the plums while I was running under the trees with the buckets. Lol. They are now resting!!!!! on the tramp. It is great to hear them giggling and talking together. They are so different in characters and personalities. I had to quickly make some Gluten free tortillas for tea for A while we had shop bought. J said Nana these are so crispy but A liked them anyway even if she could not roll them up and ate 3 big ones. We had chicken enchiladas so she needed something to eat the food on. I always keep a bag of Gluten free flour just in case.

makerealbany - 2010-01-05 19:49:00

Family passes are a great idea grizzly and very practical too. I used to do that years ago but now we only have 3 little ones. I have 3 mosaic projects on the go in various stages. That means my kitchen table is covered. Ha ha. I have 3 ufos to finish sewing up and the quilt to finish. I had to pick those b---dy plums didn't I? Might just bottle them as I still have heaps of Jam, relishes and chutneys. If I run out of time I will throw them in the freezer. After a lot of Xmas functions I have room again in the freezer.

makerealbany - 2010-01-05 19:57:00

Feeling very lazy and not very motivated today. Could be the pills as I have stepped my antihistamines as a try to fix this cough. Might just sit down with my cross stitch today. Spending quite a bit of time on computer during my holidays as I have a job listed for work and I'm getting rid of some older stock from the Patch as well as cleaning out surplus stuff here before we shift again in April.

grizzly4 - 2010-01-06 10:48:00

Had Mr 2 overnight which was very pleasant. Had an early start this morning as he woke with hubby's alarm. Grrrr! Supposed to be a bit cooler so once he is at preschool I might do some sewing.

grizzly4 - 2010-01-07 07:35:00

I had my 2 over last night and I sneaked out of bed at 6.15 and miss 2 came out at 9, after nearly 14 hours sleep followed by Miss H. She had had a late night but still managed to get 12 hours sleep. We are going out to play at the park before mum and dad come to collect them.

smartgirl - 2010-01-07 09:31:00