You can never have enough...

[popeye333]

11am it is..

And thank you Jan I will make a list and take  a pen, with my fan if its hot, water. And hopefully MrP wont be included cos he will just fly off the handle.

I better make sure I sleep well tonight lol

If you can go in on your own - you might not get another opportunity -

Yep Ill be on my own.. I dont want MrP there or he will fly off the handle most likely..

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies, another lovely, cool start to the day.

Good luck for your meeting this morning, popeye. I hope they listen and follow through on any resolutions.

Yesterday I started sewing the small pouches I've been asked to make. The first one was too small but I think I have the sizing right now. It's hard to know as I wasn't given exact measurements. It's a nice way to use up some scraps of material too.

Supermarket this morning, I always shop with a list so I can blat round and not forget anything. I am so grateful we have a vegie garden, it saves us $$$.

Pulling the denim bag apart was a great idea, oh_hunnihunni. The fading will make an interesting background to your embroidery too. It's amazing how much material can be upcycled. The vintage pillowcase I used for a lap quilt had over a meter of fabric which is a decent amount to play around with.

I'm thinking about what to embroider next, I might have another tutu with the tui I threw into the naughty corner after having a hissy fit with it. But first I'll go back to basics and reread the relevant chapter in my embroidery book to find where I was going wrong.

Washing machine is almost finished. I'll hang out that load and then make a start on moving some more mulch. Am determined it will be done this week.

Happy crafting

[Mica]

Morning all
We have sun

Our heat pump is dead, dead what a way to go 15 yrs good service and then die. Owes us nothing there is a wait 2 months for new one but at this time of the year not a big deal.

Made pair panties to match bra will post a photo when I get one taken.

Quilting group today was unsure about going but decided to  might not be on next month. 

So want to quilt my baby quilt stash is getting low, so might piece the tops so that they are ready to go when my machine is back in action.
Thinking about phoning Janome Australia and ask what the hold up is nothing like a dripping tap to get some a tion 

Coffee finished gotta make a sandwich for lunch

Have a good day

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

A very still and nice cool morning... Very little movement in the trees.

It is sad and bad that visitors notice things that aren't working properly, and I do hope that they learn from it. They are giving MrP the rare better meal.
As I said to MrP as I was hugging him before I left on Monday. Im not only doing this for Him and Bobbie, but for everyone there.. Maybe they need the shake up, they seem to be in a rut so I hope things improve.
And even he agreed he was there for a reason, and he doesnt want things to Happen to Bobbie. She has changed him for the better in my books.

Ohh Zoi is at the top of the Qualifiers for the snow boarding again. Starts at 2-30 apparently.

Have a fab day everyone

[Roma]

Good morning all. 

Quite autumn-like this morning and now sunshine.

A day of grandy minding yesterday starting early. Was pleased the 5 yo picked me out first, waiting at the gate after school ... drop off was easy! It reminded me of a flock of sheep piling out ... and needing to sort 2 of them out from the mob! The 2.5yo and I had a nice time together.

First thing, grocery shopping and then leaves/debris tidy up. Unfortunately we lost a tree in the storm ... a space to now fill. 

PS: Good luck with your meeting Popeye.

Enjoy the day.

[Lilith7]

Did the dreaded groceries this morning - $5 for half a cauli! The Scots ancestry damn near had conniptions, & needless to say, they're still in the shop.

Most of us probably wouldn't think that changing an entire supermarket layout in the middle of a pandemic is an especially good idea - but someone, somewhere clearly did because that's what's they're doing. Trying to find things is interesting to say the least & people are wandering around looking bewildered & asking strangers if anyone has sighted the soap powder, or catfood.

I do though, approve of their having moved the bread to just inside the door rather than at the very furtherest point from the entrance, where it previously was.

I only hope it stays there....

[popeye333]

Well I feel flat. Not defeated just flat.

The head office was there via video.. so that meant I couldnt hear even at full volume. But I caught snippets.

The manager is a turncoat, blaming one lot previously and another this time. .. She has said she will do what head office has asked. So im keeping a diary of everything MrP is given. They even tried to make excuses for his weight loss etc, saying what his weight was from Septemeber... I said excuse me but hes been there since May..

But we are giving them a month to improve things... Im not 100 % happy but if he's eating properly things will improve. Except Lunch was inedible for him today.

[JanW]

Oh Popeye - disappointing- but donÔÇÖt give up - catch a breath for a day or two - it didnÔÇÖt happen straight away with Mums home either but we got there in the end sort of - we ended up buying a little desk fridge and she kept a little bit of jam and cheese wedges and things to fatten her up - she was about 50kg and they were basically starving her because something came from the ministry to cut calories - she was very active but we sure had to fight about not only her meals - see what happens over the next month
Market price for cauliflower today is $14 each thatÔÇÖs before it gets to the supermarket - the costs of transporting is so high and the growers crops are so reduced I hate to think where it is going to end - problem is frozen veggies are also slow coming off the production line - my sons supermarket freezer space where Tip Top products normally are is completely empty - ice block production is held up because they canÔÇÖt get sticks - we import ice block sticks ! Hopefully one good may come out of this covid pandemic kiwi factories might open up again and we make more stuff here - maybe community gardens everywhere could be encouraged -

[kiwimade64]

$6 for a cabbage and $3.89 for a half cabbage! And $5 for a leek! Needless to say, they are still sitting on the shelf. I wasn't the only one looking and walking away either. I can't believe we import iceblock sticks when we have a timber industry of our own. That's nuts.

Hang in there popeye. The manager is going to twist things her way as her job is on the line. Keep notes and records of what's happening and review it after a month.

Must be getting close to Zoi doing her thing. You go girl!

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies The morning mist has gone so I'm heading outside to finish moving the mountain of mulch. Am determined it will be done today (or tomorrow lol). It must be cold this morning, the Furry One hasn't moved out of bed lol.

Yesterday I bought some fabric is various tones of blue for MrK's masks. He asked for blue, I don't care what colour he has as long as he has masks. I visited David's Emporium, haven't been there for years and years! Omg they have a huge selection of buttons and haberdashery and I love how their fat quarters are hanging on hangers so you get to see the whole piece of fabric.

Mica, can't wait to see pics of your latest sewing. I would never have thought of sewing a bra and knicker set.

happy crafting

[Mica]

Morning all,
Cloudy with patches of blue here.

It was nice to go to my quilti group yesterday, we all wore masks and socially distanced and of course all with vax passes.

Didn't have any quilt stuff to do so took my knitting. There are some very talented ladies some beautiful quilts were shared.

Got home and both DD and DS were visiting with GC 

Got to go collect some printer ink this morning not sure what I will get up to possibly make DGD a new sunhat as she has lost the one that is kept in the car. The bamboo fleece arrived yesterday so I can make some dibble bibs as well. Always something to do.

Hope things improve for MrP document and photos always good to keep

Have a good day

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

Well I totally crashed and had a warfarin coldie on top of it all. All I can say is Ive done alot of thinking and I have to sell up to be able to sort out the financial mess. And then downsize into a smaller house if I can find a cheaper one.

I have to keep on at them to make sure MrP is fed properly.

And I have to eat.. I didnt eat anything after breakfast yesterday...

He wont like me selling up but , he doesnt understand how hard it is out here..

Our local new world has half a cauli for $4-99 a couple of weeks ago... Thank goodness I dont like them lol. Its disgusting and no wonder people are living on junk food. And it was no larger than a bread and butter plate.

Its lovely and cool.

I have stuff to do.

Have a fab day everyone

[Mica]

   

on my laptop so can add bra photo 

Thinking I might get some navy fabric and pretty lace and make another one sometime

[popeye333]

on my laptop so can add bra photo 

Thinking I might get some navy fabric and pretty lace and make another one sometime

Looks Perfect Mica.. you would never know it was made at home

[Roma]

You are very talented Mica, that looks so good and nice fitting ... the amount of $$ I spend on a good fitting bra in the brand that I like (and at sale price), it has to last years to get good value out of it! In my younger days I have made a few bikinis (draw string type top) but I could never tackle anything like a bra!

Good to make decisions Popeye and have a plan going forward.

ETA: Eeek at today's omicron cases. Time to go and visit our elderly parents again this weekend while we are 'healthy'.

[Lilith7]

Popeye, at the very least they now know that you're aware of their shortcomings & won't hesitate to raise any problems. I don't know, but wonder if it might be worth your while to contact Age concern, if only to get their view on the situation.


Mica, that bra looks brilliant - you could perhaps sell them, there must be plenty of people who'd be happy tp buy one or two.

Tied up the tomatoes so they have a bit more support, they're just starting to ripen nicely now.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

It takes courage to challenge management, they will always defend their own position and try to whitewash - it is immensely frustrating.

As for the hard decision thing, I have been there too. It became impossible for me to maintain a property once I was dealing with physical limitations and a reduced income, and while the process itself was really difficult, once I had done it the relief from ongoing stress was fantastic. The 2am wake ups were much easier to cope with, and the nightmares stopped. I wish you the best getting through it popeye, and I hope you have someone trusted who can help with it.

As for the crafting, I am really enjoying the denim play. My test pieces are great fun, my stitching is improving, and I think soon I will be ready to start on the jacket itself. I showed a very talented friend my pieces today and she was delightfully supportive of my efforts, but I am still suffering tui envy I'm afraid. So I hope you finish it so I can turn a really good shade of green!!

---

Did the dreaded groceries this morning - $5 for half a cauli! The Scots ancestry damn near had conniptions, & needless to say, they're still in the shop.

Most of us probably wouldn't think that changing an entire supermarket layout in the middle of a pandemic is an especially good idea - but someone, somewhere clearly did because that's what's they're doing. Trying to find things is interesting to say the least & people are wandering around looking bewildered & asking strangers if anyone has sighted the soap powder, or catfood.

I do though, approve of their having moved the bread to just inside the door rather than at the very furtherest point from the entrance, where it previously was.

I only hope it stays there....

My usual budget for a week of groceries was around $70 to $80, depending on the meat buys but since Spring it has been rising noticeably. Today I cut back on the meat, bought frozen fish instead and a chook, and the total was $123. Including that half a cauli and two heads of broccoli, ten bucks for those three. Thank goodness for my vegie garden, even though it is pretty tiny, it sure helps fill the gaps. Bearing that in mind, I have winter planting in mind now, lots of greens to replace the tomatoes, which are still producing heavily. Soon I shall have to start freezing pasta sauce to go alongside all those peaches!

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies The sun is coming up and it's just at the right angle to reflect off the moon. We live in such a pretty place and so lucky to see this sort of thing.

Mica, that is a very pretty bra, well done! I agree, you could sell them too.

I really like lilith's idea of getting in touch with age concern, popeye. I never even gave them a thought! As for selling up and moving, finding somewhere to move too could be problematic in itself. Could WINZ help you with your rent at all? I know they have the accommodation supplement for times like this. We know what it's like to carry debt. Our business went under in the 90's and left us with a load of it. The stress was unbelievable but we did repay it even if it did take us five years. When a debt collector stood on our doorstep one day because I had missed one payment, I just burst into tears. I showed him our books and he suggested I get a court order to stop the interest. Then kindly said I can see you are trying, I'll tell my boss you weren't home! The court ordered we use the Budgeting Advice (a real dent to my pride) as I prided myself on being able to do it by ourselves but that last 'push' was just too stressful. They were brilliant and were also able to stop creditors from adding compound interest on the bills and to stop businesses from going to debt collectors because of the court order. Budgeting Advice told me I should have gone to them first as they would have dealt with things earlier for us. Silly pride! They took a set amount each week and repaid creditors on our behalf and this was an enormous relief. It gave us a fighting chance to repay what we owed and we could start living. We came so close to loosing everything, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. So even if you aren't in debt, popeye, I would strongly recommend the Budgeting Advice Service. It covers your back in so many ways and sometimes can stop WINZ in their tracks too.

The garden mulch has been bucketed onto the garden. It's much easier to control where the mulch goes and saves double handling using a bucket. Yesterday I bought some silverbeet and cabbage seedlings and MrK will plant them today. We're also planning our winter crops now. I have a white Echinacea daisy and a lantana to plant today so will get on and do that soon. I soaked them in worm wee for several hours yesterday as they looked quite sad and dry. I have a neglected garden along the roadside that desperately needs weeding so will tackle that too.

I might even have another attempt at my tui today. I can't wait to see your denim piece, oh_hunnihunni. It sounds like a fun piece of embroidery to do.

Washing machine has beeped, time to put the throws on the couch into the next load. The Furry One thinks they belong to him so I wash them each week.

Happy crafting

[Mica]

Morning all
Sunny c,ear skies here

Thanks for kind comments about my bra I have to admit I am pleased with the result definitely not sewing for others they couldn't afford my hourly rate

Volunteer day today off to the gym soon for my session.

Sewed up a su hat for DGD yesterday dribble bibs today 

Have a good day

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

Its overcast and not hot, Yay

Yes Kiwimade I get an accommodation supplement. And yes I have debt. MrP was one who if he wanted something, he wanted it yesterday and didn't care how much debt we had or how I got it. And Your right it is time I faced things and went to the budget advisor. I need help.. Wow I said it ..

I sold some jewelry yesterday so I can go to Pukekohe this morning and get some more magnesium. Its my pain life saver and thankfully my cheapest supplement. I asked the Dr if you can get it on prescription, but sadly you cant. Not only has it stopped all the cramp but my muscles are far more relaxed so I dont get as much pain now.

Your right Mica the hourly rate in doing alot of pour crafts makes it prohibitive to make for others..

MrP had a terrible sleep on Tuesday night so was very tired and snappy yesterday, but I think hes starting to learn that its not all fun and games out here either. Finally

I better rattle my daggs want to be out and back before any sign of it warming up cos I imagine it could get humid again.

Have a fab day everyone