A tail of two days

​Thursday was wonderboys and Daughter in laws 10th wedding anniversary. 

I had the girls while they went for dinner on their own. 

I remember how exciting that’s was in days of yore 

They were only gone a couple of hours. Ana was supposed to sleep over. But wanted to go home. 

This morning they were back again 

Georgia slept on the couch for about half an hour, which gave me time to colour in with Ana 

I was sitting on the floor beside her  just in case  

I had finished Ana’s jumper and gave it to her Thursday night 

She loved it. 

Quote” it’s very colourful “

I’m so pleased it fits 

Today I got grandpa to put a play centre together for Georgia. I had to wait until she could sit in her own 

She was intrigued for a little while. But she was due a bottle and sleep 

So I got her out after a few minutes 

The days was pretty uneventful. Except for Georgia trying to bite everyone 

She has two front bottom teeth now. I’m thinking more are on the move

Daddy arrived and took Ana to swimming and then mummy came to pick up Georgia. 

Grandma has had a long soak in a hot bath. I think I might of fallen asleep 

I’m my pjs now and hopefully I’ll be in bed before midnight and fast asleep 

That would be nice for a change 

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

​

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

​

Lesson learned

​

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  

Winding down

​No. Not us. The seasons. 

Harvesting the last of the produce and processing it for winter use. 

My art teacher gave us a bag full of tomatoes, hot peppers and zucchini. 

I then got home to find this 

The market gardeners across the road left these for us. 

They also gave us some larger peppers which hubby will grill on the BBQ, and skin them. 

There might be enough to have some now and to freeze for winter. 

The peppers and tomatoes I cooked this morning 

This is what I had after doing all the prep. It pretty much filled my huge wok 

Once it was cooked down it filled all of these containers 

There is still a lot of work to get the gardens ready for winter planting 

It will happen slowly  like everything these days

Hubby also sourced some hay to feed the livestock during the winter 

The last of the sheep have been processed so it’s only two alpacas, one steer and one donkey 

I don’t know if we will get any more sheep  we will just wait and see 

I’m back to getting the hexis ready to sew into the quilt top 

It’s growing  I’m going to try and get it into one big hexagon 

I guess I’ll just keep adding to it while I have the scraps to use up 

So your up to date on what’s happening here in the nest  

The worries of the world have just strengthened my aims to grow as much food as I can for my family 

Doing this gives me sense of control  

It helps to keep me grounded and sane  

It’s so very easy to fall into despair 

We all need to work on our mental health these days 

Day two

​today was day two having Ana. She definitely was much better. Thankfully 

As Georgia was here, grandma couldn’t just give all her attention to her. 

Again this wasn’t what Ana wanted. 

Good thing grandma is an expert at this and even while having Georgia I could still interact with her. Although when getting Georgia to sleep I  really needed to be left alone 

But when she was asleep fun and games commenced 

We found, hidden amongst the stickers, some temporary tattoos. 

We set about adorning her arms and legs 

After lots of cuddles Georgia woke up 

She isn’t sleeping for long at the moment and now we know why 

She has cut her first tooth. 

I have to say, she has been the most chilled baby , while teething, I’ve ever had. 

Except for not sleeping long, unless it was in your arms, you wouldn’t know she was in discomfort 

She still loves the camera. 

She doesn’t even have the rosy cheeks or drool rash. 

Such a beautiful, sweet baby. 

I asked Ana to keep an eye on her while I got her bottle ready. 

She really doesn’t need much looking after at the moment. Basically I need to watch her with Trixie. Trixie can’t stay away from babies, unfortunately baby’s don’t know she’s a real dog. I’m sure they think she’s a giant animated teddy bear  

So Georgia just wasn’t to grab her, usually going for the ears. 

That isn’t something I want. Obviously because no matter how gentle Trixie is. I don’t know that if she got her ear pulled she wouldn’t snap. 

This wouldn’t be her fault or the baby’s 

It would be mine. 

So to avoid any dramas I stay close by. 

Ana understands this and keeps Trixie away from the grab zone 

When grandpa arrived Ana wanted him to colour in with her, leaving me free to just hold and keep Georgia sleeping 

If I can do this she’s much happier in the afternoon. 

So another week has gone. 

Fridays are the mark that reminds me of the end of the week. 

If I didn’t have grandkid Fridays I honestly wouldn’t know what day it was. And the time would just pass by. 

With me being totally oblivious to it 

Sick day

​Ana has tonsillitis and wasn’t well enough to go to daycare. 

Yesterday she stayed home with mummy. Went to the doctors and got antibiotics 

Today she came to grandmas house 

Grandma had some new crafts to try 

Ana sewed with help from grandma 

Then she got to decorate 

The cupcake icing,and bows were included in the pack 

It also came with four little gems to decorate 

Well obviously that wasn’t enough, 

So the sticker tub came out 

She has filled with bling. Inside and out 

Ana has decided this will be her makeup bag 

I also finally got a big Jenga 

We laughed so much every time we had to pull a brick out. 

The dice was rolled to tell us what colours to take out. 

We had a run of red. Five times in a row. Ana thought this was hilarious as she yelled out “red again!”

She asked me to fix this high chair as the baby was falling out 

The top had those plastic studs but were to close together and it wouldn’t reach around the bar. 

Grandma fixed that. 

Also I tied ribbons to the two bottom corners and tied them to the frame 

I placed the doll in oh so happy as I called out to Ana it’s finished 

She yells back. I don’t want it now 

Grandma mumbled under her breath a few choice words. 

After reading 

https://local-kiwi-alien.blogspot.com/

Had made a traditional Greek meal, consisting mainly of peas, I got a little sentimental so I made some too. 

I put mine into the slow cooker 

I made some focaccia to go with it 

Hubby said it was perfect and delicious 

Got to be happy with that 

Ana had a sleep cuddle me. She needed it  when she woke up  grandpa was here 

She covered both her face and grandpas face with pretty stickers 

I think this one is a 21st birthday pic 

Now they have gone home. I’ve kinda packed things away. 

Dinner was eaten and the kitchen is clean. 

Now I rest so I can do it all again tomorrow.  

This time with Georgia here too 

Wordless Wednesday

​

Comedy caper’s

​yesterday afternoon. A lovely young neighbour knocked on my front door. 

He told me that the steer had his leg stuck in the fence. 

He tried to help but the steer got his leg out in his own. Unfortunately it was on the wrong side of the fence. 

Hubby was working in the shed so the young man drove over to let him know. 

Hubby arrived with his 4WD buggy, a lead rope and some hay 

Thankfully it was a smooth process and no incident. 

Apparently, the young man said, it looked like Dobby was trying to help him get his leg out. He was grabbing it with his mouth and tried pulling it out 

They have only been together for a few days, but already they’re firm friends 

Dobby got some carrots for being a very good boy. 

I always say. There’s too much love at our place. 

Not that you can ever have too much. 

If only humans were as loving