Gabby wisdom

​Ana and Brianna love a show called Gabbys doll house. 

Mainly it’s a girl and her kitty friends having adventures and learning 

Remember that. 

Today I went into my art studio and decided to try “ a thing” 

It was a failure. A huge mistake 

The hardest thing to do in art, well for me it is, is to know when to stop and walk away 

I could hear my teachers voice saying” just leave it and come back “

I really should listen 

The oil paints are taking a long time to dry. So by trying to “ make it better” 

I totally just made mud. 

It was awful 

But gabby said, “ it’s an opportunity to learn”.  

And I did. 

I wiped the paint off. Carefully, 

And started at step one 

I’m now at this stage. I’ve used a trowel 

To scratch the leaves out. So I could see where I had them. But as my teacher always says. It all adds background. And it has on some of the leaves they definitely look like real leaves.  Well actually they’re going to be Lilly pad leaves 

So I’m not upset and I’m not disappointed. It’s a part of the process. 

See I sometimes am wise 

Meanwhile I was “ creating art”, hubby was moving the tap. It was in the fence between the wicking beds. But now it was behind my room. 

It’s now going to be right at the end of the rose garden. Don’t look at the garden. It’s more weeds that rose bushes at the moment 

You can see the beds in the background. They will be moved into place once he’s done 

Winter has definitely finally arrived. It’s very cold out there. I’ve put more firewood in and I’m burning it hot. Hubby will need defrosting once he’s done Winter comes in 

For those in the middle of the heatwave. Stay inside and hydrated. And maybe put out some water containers for the birds and animals. They will be feeling this heat too. 

Stay cool 

Chilly start

​this morning we woke to thick fog and very low temperatures

Hubby had the fire roaring but on its own it couldn’t hear the house quickly enough, with girls coming 

I hit the on button for the central heating and thankfully it was toasty warm when they arrived 

Now that Georgia is a bit more mobile she is becoming a better play mate for Ana.  Ana wants to cuddle Georgie but she only allows it for a minute then pushes her away. Poor Ana says I just want to love her, I had to explain it wasn’t her, it’s just that Georgia wants to explore now she can 

Georgia still doesn’t like being in the cot so I did the same as when she spent the night 

She’s very chill while she sleeps 

This was the smilie face I got when she woke up and realised grandma was still close at hand 

Today it’s their daddy’s birthday.  

37 seriously where has the time gone 

So Annie made him a birthday card 

As you can see she’s got those stick on tattoos  

Front and back 

And the inside  I wrote what she wanted to say in the inside, but she had a go on the front  

Then of course the decorating really began 

Eventually daddy arrived to pick them up  he took both girls as swimming lessons had been canceled due to a sick teacher  

I think they are going out to dinner for the birthday celebration 

Me  after cleaning up and putting everything away went into my art studio, I feel fancy calling it that, and finishing painting the part I’m on that uses a green that belongs in my art class set of paints  

Its now back in ready for art class 

It’s now just shy of 5.30pm and already the sun is down and the fog has started to roll in  

I’m going to enjoy having a sleep in while the weather is like this. 

Love being snuggly warm in bed while it’s cold and miserable outside 

Kismet

​for the last few weeks I had finally come to terms with my limitations. 

I can keep a house “ looking clean “ but I know it’s not really, as I just can’t do the bending and stretching needed to do a proper job. 

So I’ve been researching different companies. What they charge and what they actually do to earn that money. 

It was basically what I was doing. So I just gave up and decided I just needed to pull up my big girls pants and just do it. 

But then 

While chatting to a friend she mentioned she needed to earn some extra money. 

She wanted to know if anyone needed house cleaning 

Now let me tell you. This person is the neatest of neat freaks. 

She would definitely get this place all spruced up. 

I told her she could definitely clean my 

House and because she will do a bang up job I rounded up the price I was quoted and asked when could she start. 

Today was day one. 

Every thing was cleaned spotless. Obviously she can’t do that all in one three hour visit, so the bathroom and toilet got the big clean today. 

To be honest even her “ quick clean” was amazing. 

I got the place ready. Just tied up and put stuff away. 

Then I was told to just sit. 

So I did. In front of the fireplace, warming my very sore back. 

Funnily enough I had two furry princesses there with me 

Trixie on one side of me and Bella on the other.  With me in the middle they had a tentative peace deal  

Once all work had been done, to her very high standard , we sat had coffee, cake and a nice chat  

So I’ve got a clean home and she’s got that little bit of extra  Income to help balance her budget, during this terrible economic crisis 

It’s a win win. And you got to love  that 

Busy couple of days

​Friday went as Fridays go. 

Ana spent her day either watching telly 

Or dancing and doing whatever Danny go says. 

It’s her exercise during the winter. 

Georgia has now officially become a crawler. 

Keeping grandma on her toes 

And here is the little munchkin wearing her new warm vest. 

The arms are a tad tight. So I’m going to reposition the buttons, 

Never again will I just do what the patterns say. I’ll measure and make the button holes 

Where they will fit. 

Saturday the other two girls had their cheer competitions 

This year Melody has moved up a level so the girls comps 

We’re at different times. 

Briannas was at two while Melody had to wait until seven 

The awards were about two hours after each girl had performed. 

So for Melody they started at nine and went in until 

Almost ten, it was a very long day indeed 

But Brianna's team came in first. 

And Melody’s came second. 

That next level really went up a notch 

They were the littlest of that group. 

So coming second was a huge effort and hopefully next 

Year they’ll improve even more and maybe get a first. 

As well as the girls parents, their other grand parents were also 

In attendance.  So at least all that waiting went quickly, as we all 

Just chatted. We even went to the pub across the river 

To watch the football game. 

So after all that we got home just after eleven. 

And fell into bed. 

And finally today is the solstice 

The summer in the north and the winter in the South. 

From now on our days will grow longer and longer. 

Getting your art on

​today was moving day. I needed a couple of things and then I could move all my art paraphernalia. 

I had one rug that I washed and now is under the easel’s but I needed another. These rugs make the place feel comfortable but also protect the floor. 

A carpet is easier to replace. 

I also needed a couple of those wire shelves to keep everything right at hand 

The last thing I needed was a comfy chair, where I could sit and contemplate

The disaster I’ll be working on 

I’ve gone through my oils and kept any doubles for the room. I’m very also taken half the brushes. 

This has made a huge difference in weight 

I have purchased a set of oil paints so for now I have plenty to get on with. 

One side will be oils the other acrylic 

I still need to get those from out of the shed. 

I don’t have any black canvases which is why too finished paintings are on the 

Easels. 

So that’s where I’m at for now. 

As soon as I get those canvases I’ll be able to start painting. 

Hopefully this room will inspire me 

A new week begins

​

Buttons on. It was a difficult choice but in the end I went a little psychedelic 

They stand out that’s for sure. 

I’ve started on the dragonfly squares. 

The existing blankets have 11 rows by 9 squares 

This is ten. So I’ve only got 89 to go! 

Today is vacuuming and dusting day. I do one area then sit and rest. 

I won’t be breaking any speed records but it will be done by the end of the day 

If I get a chance I’ll start taking all my art  supplies to the new room. 

I hope your energy levels are higher than mine. If not just go with the flow. It’s not a race 

At the nest

​well I finally finished the wool top for Georgia 

I did the bind off using the icord method 

It rolls and it’s stretchy so perfect for this top. 

I’ve got it back stretching it out. I’ve got these buttons out but I’m not sure 

I’ll think about it a bit and make up my mind. 

Now I needed a new yarn project.  I’ve still got the EPP. and I’m adding to it 

Constantly. But I do like having a yarn project going as well. 

Back when Carron cakes were all the go. I made three of these blankets

One for each granddaughter. But as we know. Life gave us a surprise and 

I needed another one of these. 

I looked everywhere for the graph I used to make the squares. Do you think I 

Could find it? No. So I just grabbed one and just recreated the square. 

I also wrote down what I did, and how many stitches I made on each row. 

I’ve almost finished the first square 

 But I was needed outside 

I had to help hubby place the new surprise in the perfect spot 

He worked the crane and I gave instructions. 

It took a little bit of time but now 

It’s on the ground and ready for me to kit out. 

It’s my new art studio. Sounds more fancy than art room lol 

As you can see we moved the wicking beds to make room for it 

We can now put them back along the side of the very weed filled 

Rose garden. 

I’m very excited and hopeful I’ll be able to start painting at home again 

We will organise getting power to it. So I can have lights, heating and a fan for summer. 

No rush now. It’s here and it will be filled with my art paraphernalia in the next few days 

Right now it’s pouring rain. I’m going to wait for a nicer day. 

And finally yesterday he girls had a very calm relaxing day 

It has been a very busy week for the girls.  Georgia has been waking up 

At night due to more teeth and even though Annie doesn’t actually 

Wake up, she does stir.  

She wanted to lay on grandmas lap. And I was happy to have her there. 

Meanwhile I was trying to get Georgia to sleep somewhere other than

My arms. I came up with this 

The little pull out couch on the sofa and I was sitting right next to it. 

She did open her eyes a few times. But as she saw I was there went back to sleep 

Doesn’t she look relaxed.  Not a care in the world 

The big news of the day was she finally has started to crawl.

Her mummy was here picking her up when we finally got her to 

Move.  And I videotaped it. I’m glad she waited for her mother to be here 

Being a working mum she misses out on lots of firsts  

So your now up to date  

It’s been a very eventful few days. 

I’m exhausted, but very happy   

Even with all this rain