Making life easier

​going from the car to the painting shed isn’t a short trip. To make it a little more difficult there is a section that goes down pretty steeply. 

Going down isn’t too bad. But at the end of the lesson going back up is harder. Made even more difficult is my ever increasing paint box. 

As I slowly add to the collection, it gets heavier and heavier 

My solution 

To get a box on wheels 

You can see the tub I was  using and it work well for a while. 

But as it got heavier , making it hard to carry, it also got harder to find the paint I needed. 

So to make it easier I’ve got all the seperate colours in different bags. 

This has made it easy to do a stock take, I now know I don’t need any more whites. 

I also know I only have a few different purple colours and no pinks at all! 

It’s not vital I get those as judie, the art teacher has  many many colours in her stash 

Still, I’ll endeavour to get more colours of my own 

This is the bag with the  colours I’m currently using. The next painting is in monochrome, making it an easy choice 

Once that’s done, in a few months time I’m thinking, I’ll put these colours into bags and sort out what I’m using on the next project. 

That way I won’t have to remember what colours I used. 

Especially as I tend to mix colours to make one I like. That’s harder to work out. I have to remember two colours, which everyone knows I’m terrible at  

Remembering isn’t my super power anymore 

The little green bag has my apron, a plastic plate I use as my pallet, a box of gloves to protect my hands, and my brushes 

It all fits nicely and I can even shut the lid. 

It’s here to remind me to put it back into my car. That’s where it lives. 

Otherwise I’m absolutely sure I’d forget to take it  

Hopefully this works and I’ll not have to carry it anymore 

My back and shoulders will thank me I’m sure 

Wordless Wednesday

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Finally rain

​we have had rain. Woke up to it and it’s been raining off and on all day

It’s light so it’s perfect. The very hard dry ground absorbs it beautifully. No flooding no puddles 

Hubby must of felt the changes because he spent Saturday getting the firewood ready for winter 

He has filled three of these crates

They’re easily placed right next to the house with the forklift. Saving our backs 

I actually left the house today. I know I’m surprised as well 

I met up with Claire for coffee and chat 

Our friend Diane is in the UK visiting family. We face timed her and it was just like she was there with us 

Modern technology is truly amazing. Growing up international phone calls. we’re very expensive. We had to wait till after seven in the evening so we could get cheaper rates 

Claire helped me find some doonas for the farm house. I needed four one each for the two beds. And two for the sofa beds 

I finally got home and except for cooking dinner, I’ve been busy stitching

The quilt top is growing nicely 

I’m spending the evening looking out at the rain, well until it gets dark. 

It really is a lovely sound. 

Friday funday

​The girls arrive as usual and grandma was ready 

The morning went really well, as it usually does 

Georgia had a bottle and went to bed. Perfect 

She only slept for 45 minutes but still is was time for me to give Ana some one on one time 

Ana and Trixie. They had just finished playing chase   

When and stopped Trixie had the zoomies and kept going. 

It entertained both the girls 

The two girls watching Gabbys dollhouse. Yes it looks like Georgia is getting into it as well. I’ll be hearing those songs for a few years yet 

Someone really wants to move. Trixie was just out of reach, and Georgia really wanted to touch her. She moved off the quilt simple by rolling around 

Ana was wonderful today  she happily amused herself while I was busy with Georgia 

She was even  a great help  she’s definitely becoming happier to share grandma time  grandpa arrived and started playing with her  but she asked me  so grandma got baby duty  he fed her a bottle while I had Ana time  

Daddy arrived and he took Ana to her swimming lessons. 

Mummy texted to say she was in her way. She suggested a Friday family dinner 

Absolutely. We had fish and chips 

When my beautiful daughter in law arrived she had a surprise for me

We were talking about printing patterns. I prefer to use a paper pattern 

But to do that I need to go over to the shed. 

So her surprise was 

A printer for me. 

She even helped set it up. I use it via an app. Very modern. 

While we were playing with the printer 

Ana started to colour in 

Once dinner and setting up the printer

Both girls were changed into their pj’s 

Cars packed and they headed off home. 

It was a wonderful day  

Winter is coming

​now I know I said I wouldn’t start any new projects. 

But, I’ve got all this pretty yarn and the girls need jumpers. 

This is an all in one, top down pattern. 

But it starts a little different. You start by knitting just straight across and then turn your work and knit across again 

It’s only after about a dozen rows that you join it in the round. You cast on extra stitches and then knit round and round. This shapes the neck

No short rows or constant counting 

This is it so far. I’m working in the pattern for six year olds hoping that it will fit Ana. I’ve asked mummy to measure her and send them to me.

I’ll then decide if it will fit. If it’s going to be too small. Well it will become Georgia’s 

The yarn is supposed to be 8ply, sorry not sure what size that is in USA terms. 

But it feels a little thinner. It might be because it’s so soft. 

Anyway. I can work on this during the day when I’m home alone. So I can count and work out maths. 

I can then sew in the evenings. I don’t need to think hand sewing so I can watch hubbys shows and discuss them without making errors 

He loves sports shows and car restoration programs 

I hope the girls like the yarn. I do love the ombre look. 

Wordless Wednesday

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Lesson learned

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Yesterday when I was cutting up all the peppers I didn’t realise that some of them were hot. 

Usually I process my own, or buy sweet peppers when they’re on special. 

But as these were given to us I didn’t even think about it. 

So my hands were feeling like they’re burnt. 

Find I thought. I’ll just keep washing them and they will go back to normal 

No they didn’t 

All night my hands were burning. 

I dint sleep until five in the morning 

This morning they’re still like that. 

So  if your working with produce that you haven’t grown, wear gloves  

Pretty sure I’ll remember that for next time