It’s worked

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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 

Stupid germs

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This is me today. It started last night. Suddenly my nose was blocked and my head and ears felt like they had cotton wool stuffed in them 

You don’t realise how important breathing is, until you can’t. 

So lots of hot beverages, paracetamol and a flannel with Vicks vapour rub on it and rubbed around my neck and chest. 

I woke this morning still feeling pretty ordinary. I cancelled the weekly coffee date and I’ve been sitting by the fire keeping hydrated. 

I am feeling much better now. Hubby went to the pharmacy to get me some cold and flu tablets, and they seem to have worked. 

This germ just doesn’t want to go away. 

As soon as I get busy, and tired it comes back 

I should be fine by tomorrow, either way a bit of luck anyway 

Stay healthy everyone. It’s a real inconvenience and throws a spanner in your plans 

Kitchen day

​today I tackled the kitchen. In needed a deep clean. 

Everything was moved, benches cleaned and put back neatly 

I then removed, cleaned and put back the mugs and glasses in the two overhead cupboards 

I removed the old curtain from my kitchen window cleaned and replaced it with new ones. I’ve had them for many many years. When I purchased the ones that were on the window I also purchased these. But I’ve been washing and just putting it back. I had total forgotten about the second set. I found them looking for something else. 

Neat and tidy 

Then I cooked some chow mein for dinner 

And a banana bread 

I finished vacuuming and I was done 

I’ve had a Long soak and will now settle in and continue sewing. 

I’ve been working on the knitting but my brain is fried and I’ll just have to pull out what I knit up. So mindless sewing for me 

It’s raining outside, it getting dark, the solstice is rapidly approaching.

And the fire is burning nicely 

Who could ask for anything better 

A sunny day, finally

​I had been waiting on a day that wasn’t raining to go out and continue in the garden 

Monday, of last week, I had purchased my seed potatoes. And they were still in the box waiting. 

Today was the day 

I headed outside and started with the last large wicking bed 

This was what it looked like. 

Yup very neglected, just like the rest of the back yard. 

I weeded and used a pitchfork to break up the soil. 

I then added one packet of seed potatoes. 

This one is called Nicola 

Once I had placed the potatoes on top I then cover it all with compost mixed soil 

Now it looks like this. 

I sent hubby to start on the second raised garden bed 

It looked like this. By the time he had got through half I had finished and came over to help 

Once again we weeded and used the pitchforks to break the soil up. It have become compacted 

The two remaining packets of potatoes were planted. 

Red lady and Dutch cream

We covered them all with the same compost mix and mulched 

After watering the mulch, it’s so dry a small puff of wind blew it off.  

I then turned to the second raised bed 

I had purchased these on Monday’s fill in shop. They’re small with short handles, perfect for me. 

I was able to carefully get under the netting to hoe all the weeds that had started to sprout 

And in the area in back that has still to be planted out. 

I then just wandered around seeing all the growth. 

We even have a few asparagus spears coming up. In mid winter. This is how mild our winter has been 

Some of my Christmas cactus, happily flowering away 

We still have lots to do. Hunny will use one of his “toys” to lift the blue barrel wicking pots and will take the round poles out, replacing them with square timber. They will be easier to whipper snip around. 

I’ve been saving all cardboard boxes and we will lay them all around and then heavily mulch. 

This part of the project will take a few weeks to finish. 

Once that’s done, I’ll turn my attention to the rose garden 

Hopefully by spring we will have it all back to looking like a garden. Instead of an overgrown jungle. 

Light bulb moment

​yesterday as I was heading to the checkout I walked past a table that had lap top tables. The ones you use when you’re in bed. I’m assuming. 

I’ve been having issues with loosing all my bits and pieces when working on either the sewing or knitting. 

Clips, pen, notebook and even my sewing needle a couple of times 

And as always once I finally get comfortable and everything is organised around me, that’s when something happens and Ive got to get up 

So instantly the light bulb went off in my head. 

I grabbed one totally on impulse. 

Well let’s just say I’m extremely happy I did 

Sewing, my basket of hexies right at my fingertips and the empty basket that the paper hexies go into once I’ve sewn it on. 

The little pink container is for my waste threads. Scissors and thread are in the basket as well. 

Knitting, everything I need is right there. The pen even stays in the black strip at the top. 

So far, I’ve not lost the pen and I’m not twisting and turning trying to get what I need. It’s all in front of me 

I have to say I’m so glad I didn’t talk myself out of it, like I usually do. 

Day out

​this morning I left home around nine and headed into Cranbourne. I desperately needed a hair cut. You know when you comb your hair and it does that sudden stop an inch or so from the end. Yeah mine was doing that. And more than an inch. 

After that, I headed off to the nail salon. My thumb had lost its pretty top. 

The lovely lady who always does my nails was happy to repair it. 

No charge. Which was nice. 

All this had taken way less time than I had anticipated. I had a lunch date with some friends at 12.00. It was only 10.30. 

I didn’t want to go home only to come back.  I thought “ where can I fill an hour” 

Easy. Panda mart. I saw the other day that they had melamine plates for very cheap prices. I need to stock the kitchen down on the farm. I also bought cutlery 

And some glasses. 

The glasses are going to stay here and all the odd bod glasses from here will go down there. 

Bunnings is next door, so I popped in and bought some seed potatoes 

I’ll get them into the ground this week 

The off to lunch with two lovely ladies, who I haven’t caught up with in literally years 

We bump into each other every now and again but have not sat down, had a meal and a good chat in forever. 

I enjoyed some non alcoholic beer 

It tastes exactly the same, but without the alcohol so it’s safe for you to drive. 

The pub is right next to Aldi so a quick stop to get some pasta

When your granddaughter says she likes the bow tie pasta, that’s what you buy for her. 

I finally arrived home and have spent time sorting and putting away everything I got. 

Plates, and cutlery are in bags ready to take down.  The new glasses are in the kitchen ready to unbox and placed in the cupboards. After being washed 

I’ll get the current glasses out and pack them safely for the trip down

I’m now resting.  Hubby has sorted the firewood so I’ll clean and get the fireplace all ready to light  it’s suddenly got dark outside,  looks like more rain on its way 

All happening

​today the stars aligned but not in an ideal way 

Wonderson dropped the girls off this morning. He did a few hours of work and left for a golfing weekend away. 

Meanwhile beautiful DIL worked from home as Ana had a second day at the primary school up the  road 

So she had to break her work day to come and pick her up for that 

Meanwhile our friends had finally found a house to rent and today was moving day.  Hubby spent most of the day driving the small truck and helping with moving everything in. Our other close friends also helped. 

Let me just say I’m the youngest at 59. The five moving into the house start at 63 and go into the mid 70’s 

Obviously I was unable to help as I had the girls. Since I had that huge cook up yesterday I suggested they all come here for dinner. 

Claire and her hubby thanked me but their granddaughter was waiting for them to come home as she had cooed for them. 

Lovely girl that she is. 

Dianne and Paul gratefully accepted 

By the end of dinner we were all moving slowly and getting up provided a chorus of moans and groans. 

I was the better of the quartet. 

The girls today were a joy

Georgia was looking much better and was back to her happy self 

Playing with a paper bag while waiting for her bottle 

Having deep conversations with trixie 

And having cuddles with her sister 

While I was feeding and getting Georgia 

Ana stays quiet watching the television  

Both she and Trixie decided it was time for a lay down and rest 

Once Ana and mummy arrived back form her couple of hours at the primary school, DIL opened her laptop and finished working from home here  

They no sooner left to go home, I put the pan of pasta bake into the oven to heat up. 

By the time I set the table, made a simple salad and placed the defrosted garlic bread into the oven, Paul and Dianne arrived  

It was not a late night  

It was an eat and go home  which we all agreed was the best decision. 

Once they are settled in, and we all recover we will have a long lingering meal  

Hubby is now in bed fast asleep and I’d bet good money that the other four are also fast asleep 

I’m the only duffer that’s still up.  All going well I’ll soon be in bed off to sleepy land