Still here.

​hello all. I’ve been MIA because basically not much has been happening 

In the nest. The days have passed with me just doing the daily chores and hopping from one 

Craft to another. 

The weather hasn’t been the best and even hubby has spend more time than usual inside 

Yesterday we he. Funeral to go too. My uncle, mums brother,hasn’t been well for a long time 

It was a very emotional day. The little group of adults in that generation is shrinking fast. 

Today the electrician arrived to start the job of wiring up the new studio. 

There isn’t a cavity in the walls, so he had to do it the old fashioned way 

I will get some white paint and give it a coat or two.  Hopefully it will not be as glaring 

I obvious and will soften the look of it  

The light was positioned just over the the work area, I have the option of having warm white or bright white. 

I have no idea what is the best for painting, apparently it’s easy to change over. So it’s on just a bit brighter than 

The warm white. I’ll just have to wait and see. 

After he had left I worked on the Lilly pads. They’re looking much better now. 

Having the urge to pain. And not being able to do anymore on this. I started another 

We have been doing this at art class. We can. Work on one while the other dries 

I found a picture of a hobbit home, this is the start of my interpretation 

Doesn’t look like much now. But I hope it will look lovely once I’ve finished 

Other than that. Life is just ticking on slowly. Not that I have any problem with that 

I have jobs I need to do outside, but it’s very cold and wet. Normally it wouldn’t 

Hamper me. But the back definitely doesn’t like it. And it refuses to work. 

I’ve been having long soaks in very hot baths, trying to get it to become more flexible 

It works until I go out there for any length of time 

Oh well. More crafting by the fire it is then. 

For those in the extreme heat I really hope that it starts to cool 

Down for you.  It seems like we are all having to just stay inside, protecting ourselves 

From the extreme weather conditions.

At least we have lots of crafting to keep us busy. 

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 

It’s worked

​

It’s looking like the photo, except the pattern is for 16ply and I used 8ply.  

It would have been too heavy for little Georgia. I’ve working on this off and on all day. I’m about half way done with the cowl. I’ll also change the pattern and bind off with an icord.  It’s really stretchy and it will make it easier to pull over her head. 

And then to sew the buttons on. 

That’s going to take the longest. Choosing the best buttons for the job. 

So there you have it. If you don’t understand or it’s not working, just do it your way. 

That applies to everything, especially life 

My way

​yesterday I was trying to knit the top of the front piece of the project I’m working on. 

The instructions, or as I call them destructions, were not written well at all. 

I was flummoxed and had no idea how or where I was going to get help clarifying it. 

So I’m finally got on chatGPT and asked it. 

It went through it all with me and I kinda understood 

But it just wouldn’t work 

I’m decided to just do it my way 

I cast off both pieces, and set about knitting the shoulders 

I made them using short rows. It should work. We will see. 

And I thought the cables would be the hard part. 

For now I’ll leave it here to get it all nice and flat. The cowl neck is the last part now, and hopefully it will come together and fit. 

I’v packed away all the paraphernalia to do with the knitting into the bag that sits by me chair and I’m back on the EPP. 

Progress is slow but consistent 

I’m trying to make it a square and I don’t know if it’s working. If I can’t I’ll just make it bigger and trim it off into a square or rectangle 

For now I’ll just keep sewing 

The sun has gone away today. It is windy. Hopefully it will dry the backyard enough for hubby to mow it. 

He tried but it was way too wet over the weekend 

Slow progress is annoying but it is still progress, fingers crossed we can get the back organised for the delivery of the new “ item”. 

No I’m still not  telling you until it’s here 

You will just have to wait 

Changes and surprises

​today was our kings birthday holiday. So we had an extra day of getting things done. Yesterday after the girls all went home we headed out back to continue removing the old small flower beds 

I rescued as many bulbs as I could find and a couple of the plants 

They were all planted in these pots 

I had to put all the plastic pots on the red bark so they could drain. They were in the concrete and with all that rain were a little too wet. Hopefully this will solve that problem 

Today hubby got this machine to move the large wicking beds 

Now we have a large empty space. 

We have something that will fill this space, but that’s for another post 

Meanwhile inside I finished cleaning, organising and putting away all the things the girls used. 

Folded dry laundry and put that away. 

Then I did three loads to hang on the newly empty clothes horses 

It’s never ending. 

Bright ideas

​yesterday after the two girls were dropped off, grandma had the big idea to invite Melody and Brianna 

For a sleep over. 

They arrived mid afternoon and the place exploded 

Squeals and laughing and jumping all over themselves 

The soon settled down, kinda of.

Both the girls were absolutely lovely with Georgia 

Melody was trying to get her to crawl.  She is so very close 

Georgia loved melodys hair. She’s a hair puller. 

But the look they gave each other just made my heart melt. 

Melody is so great with her. Watching her for me while I had to leave her to 

Do anything 

Brianna was playing peek a boo with her and the giggles were I infectious 

Everyone ended up sitting on the floor with Georgie 

Giving her all the attention 

Even Trixie. 

Grandma was sitting in the chair having a rest. 

While organising the three older girls, grandpa offered to feed Georgie her 

Bottle 

I think there was a magic sleeping potion in with the milk. They both went to sleep 

After putting the younger two to bed. The place calmed down 

Melody was happy drawing on her iPad and I was feeding Georgia 

Her final bottle before sleep. 

Soon Melody went off to bed, grandpa went off to bed. And grandma,

Well grandma had to organise the little fold out bed on the couch.  The chaise

Lounge. Then she put Georgia in the little bed and slept right next to her. 

I had to have my arm around her all night. If I moved it away, Georgia would open her eyes instantly 

Grumble at me and give me that stare, until I put it back around her. 

 then she promptly went back to sleep. 

So grandma had a night of half sleep, the other half watching her to make sure she was safe. 

But in the end she slept in till quarter to seven. 

She woke happy, which was great. 

Then Melody came into the lounge followed by the other two. 

Then it was changing, feeding and organising for the day 

They have now all gone home 

I’ve started cleaning up all the chaos,  it’s spread all around the house! 

I’ll get to it all eventually.  Even though it was very tiring, I wouldn’t miss it at all 

To see them all having fun and interacting with each other just gives me a feeling of bliss. 

I know these days will soon be over. They will grow up and they won’t want to sleep at grandmas 

House any more. And that’s just fine. They need to grow up and find their own lives. 

But I will have these wonderful memories to cherish. 

Fun day

​this morning the girls arrived very happy. Grandma was ready having all the snacks and toys all set up 

Georgia is so ready to crawl. She gets up but then decides it’s easier to lay down and roll. 

If she crawls here it will be to catch Trixie. Once again Trixie has bonded with the baby. It’s getting hard keeping them apart. I’m actually worried Georgie will pull her ear or tail and then her react to it. Much better to never leave them alone. 

Ana asked if she could do some craft. I saw this on an advertisement that comes up when scrolling through the reels. It’s something she can do with minimal supervision 

It makes flowers. 

She was arranging them in the plastic vase that came in the pack. 

She was very proud of her blossom’s. 

She was sad that they didn’t smell 

Pretty, so I gave them a spritz with some perfume. 

Georgia had a play in this play station. 

The seat actually moves round all the way. So she can reach all the different gadgets. 

She’s got a mouth full of teeth, and it looks like the back molars are coming through. She loves chewing on these. 

Grandpa came over around lunchtime, giving me a chance to rest. 

Mummy is with her sister, the bride tonight. So Georgia stayed here while daddy took Ana to her swimming lesson 

When they came back Ana had her dinner before going home. 

I had fed Georgia her dinner, made sure she had a fresh nappy,(diaper) and was giving her a bottle when they arrived back from swimming. 

He’s got the girls tonight on his own. 

Tomorrow they will come back mid morning and stay  the night. 

I’m a little anxious, but this will be the second time Georgie has a sleepover. That night she slept through until

Five in the morning  

If she does that again I’ll be very happy  

Ana is easy. She falls asleep cuddling me on the couch, and then I put her in bed with me.

Fingers crossed I get some decent sleep tonight 

The unseen

​this morning I woke up feeling a little better. Basically I can’t breathe 

It was a slow start. I wasn’t rushing with anything. 

But I did have to fold the washer that was days past dry. 

I then put a load in the washer. While waiting I pulled out the very bottom of the pantry. I had excess stock in there, it had to go into the cupboard for easy access 

I put everything back, and added two tins of olive oil 

I buy it in a big tin and fill the bottles. It’s way easier for me to use. Normally once one has been decanted, I had one ready to go.

I ordered one on the next door dash. 

Imagine my surprise when they delivered two cans. 

The shaking hands had obviously hit the  the button twice. 

I had them in the laundry, along with a bag of food. Now all that is gone and nicely packed in the pantry 

Then hubby asked for more jam 

So I made jam 

I bought a small bag of frozen mixed berries, added some of my frozen strawberries and fresh blueberries 

Once it was defrosted and smooshy, I added half a teaspoon of this. Just to make sure it sets 

Into jars and then a water bath 

Three new jars of jam. 

It’s very yummy on toast or crumpets 

After all that. Had worked up a sweat. 

I’ve showered, the last lot of laundry is in the machine, and I’ve just had lunch. 

Once that last load is done I plan to sit and sew. 

At least until it’s time to cook dinner