You can never have enough...

[Mica]

Morning all
Overcast at moment

K9s had lo ely day yesterday as DH spent the afternoon gardening, it seems that means ball throwing

Got alternative cardi drafted cut out and sewn up, pattern needs couple of tweaks before I use it again but the purple velvet is definitely a wearable toile now I just need something nice to wear it wih  ha any excuse
Finished cardi last night, will start the hat tonight.

Appts for me this am but the afternoon is mine.

Have a good day

OH we posted same time you might be interested in this Kenneth King article and You Tube https://www.threadsmagazine.com/2022/05/18/what-kenneth-d-king-and-fit-students-are-wearing-now

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

A stunner of a day here. I snuggled down and didnt wake up till 8-45 lol..... Very late for me.

I figure plants are living things and deserve to be told they are beautiful, or norty like aggies lol.

Read a story yesterday that Prince Phillip left nothing to Charles. but left it to the Queen, and as they give to the next in line Phillips plan to exclude his son Failed Big time. Cos the Queen has to leave everything to Charles. Phillip didnt think that one out very well. he never liked Charles but I expect it was more that he didnt understand him.

Ill be sitting with the hot and cold Hottie today. Missy slept on my bad knee and its rather sore, in a different way to the normal.. Glad I dont have to do anything today unless I want to lol.

Have a fab day all

[Lilith7]

I'm in favour of talking to plants, & once had a stern word with the plum tree which I'd had for years with no sign of fruit. I told it that if it didn't at the very least have one blossom next spring then it would be firewood. It was covered in blossoms & hasn't stopped fruiting since.
Mind you - I have been know to talk to a worm as I was helping it into the compost...

We can look forward to at least 24 hours of warm, sunny weather; I've clipped on the second duvet inner & Murphy's law usually kicks in when I do that.

Doing the dreaded grocery shopping this morning, they'd only gone & moved more stuff about - apparently 99% of the shop wasn't enough so they had to move all the butter/cheese/yogurt etc. etc. There may have been some swearing behind the mask...

[Oh_hunnihunni]

There certainly some swearing behind my mask today. $217 to Countdown delivery for tomorrow and then another $91 to New World for the fresh stuff that I don't trust CD to supply in decent condition. Mind you there is meat in there, both lots, as my freezer has got low, but even so that hurt a lot. Was a time when $140 was my total fortnightly spend - but not anymore.

Still, I did score two punnets of ranunculus, four plants in each, so those have gone into the long trough with last weeks cyclamen bargains, with luck they will not argue with each other and provide me with hours of pleasure come mid winter. Nice bright colours are so needed then, before the peach blossom comes out to reward me.

Click and collect at the library, hand over the book bag and get a full one handed back without even getting off the scooter! Now that's what I call service. Pity it has to be at the expense of those staffers in isolation or down with the virus. Touch wood, pass the hand sanitiser...

[Mica]

Morning all
Nippy start to the day but will be sunny

Ground hog day here ie more of the same.

Plan o  brushing the k9s this morning and will be plotting and scheming what to do with piece of fabric that need to be made up. Running short on storage space here 

Off to gym soon looking forward to my one coffee a day when I get back.

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies A foggy start to the day.

Yep, OHH, you weren't alone with the swearing behind the mask yesterday. It's getting harder and harder to stay on budget. And it's not just us. Over the last few shops I've had complete strangers tell me over the dairy fridges how angry they are at the prices. At least we have the vegie garden in so that's a saving. But I'm finding instead of shopping at one place, I'm spreading our shopping around. We have a lovely local vegie place that sells gorgeous jumbo eggs for $6.99 a tray. Pack 'n Save had 10 eggs for the same price.

Ranunculus will look lovely with your cyclamens too, OHH. Gorgeous colours for dull winter days. I have three spots in the garden that need serious attention over winter so will start over the next few days. One is evening out the curve of a garden to make it easier to do edges and mow. The other is being ripped out and left for lawn and the third is planting the hydrangeas along the road frontage. Our (using the royal 'our' here) long term plan is starting to take shape. Then in the spring I will put some fresh soil onto the new spaces and start planting. There is no point putting fresh soil on until I have it all done as I will be buying it by the trailer load.

My sister-in-law is coming for lunch today so a quick blat around to tidy up. The Furry One will be one happy dog as she is bringing two dogs with her. The Dalmatian (the one I embroidered) is a young dog and races round madly with our boy. The ridgeback is old and just wants peace and quiet. I must pick the Furry One's teddy bear up and put it away. He loves that bear lol and snuggles up to it every evening but the Dalmatian loves it too and is still at the shredding stage with soft toys. I didn't realise the Furry One was in the background of the pin cushion photo lol. He sits on the back of the couches so he can see the comings and goings on the road without poking his nose outside. And it gets nice and sunny there.

Will work on the butterfly hopefully today

Happy crafting

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

We did have some blue sky but its also kind of dull too. And Chilly..

I must take a photo of the Jonquils.. Crazy things but they are bright and cheerful.

I started the second Missy picture yesterday. Pretty much to keep me off the net lol.. I just carried on using the same diamonds from the previous kit. But I will have to set up some more this afternoon. I was going to do it last night but ended up texting with a friend and her hubby. She ended up at the Tauranga hospital. She is her own worst enemy and really needs to lose weigh as her body is breaking down. But sadly she wants the easy way out... Either the new pill Im on, the new insulin her Hubby is on or a Gastric bypass. But if shes not careful she will end up needing emergency surgery and not coming out of it.

Off to see MrP this morning. He had a snappy day yesterday. And apparently they took photos of his meal again. And he doesnt want that. So I have to stop and ask why.

Missy is full on lap sitting now thats its cooler...

Have a fab day everyone

[Roma]

Good morning. 

A bit nippy here but a nice day expected.

Just listening to the tv on the current 'Push Play' initiative, with people having got a bit lax over the course of the pandemic/lockdown  ... have to say am trying to get a bit more exercise in my day with some more walking added. DH home yesterday,  so we enjoyed a walk around Mauao, that walk is never boring   

KM, I have to remember to pick my dog's favourite soft toy up when son's pup visits ..  funny how they make a beeline for a toy, not their own! 

Have to agree with the depressing grocery shop now ... try to target in season produce and like others,  don't eat nearly the same amount of meat anymore, but still a scary account at the end each time.

Ranunculus a lovely (old fashioned) flower to have in the garden.  I have a few packets of various flower seeds (zinnia is one of them)  that I must get growing. Some of the old varieties never date.

Must get going ... hairdresser visit on the agenda, plus I suppose the unavoidable grocery shop.

Have a good day all.

[kiwimade64]

I've hung washing out and thought I would warm my fingers up by typing I love that walk around Mauao Always something to see and great for photography.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I love zinnias. There is a lovely lime green one that always sparks up other colours simply by being in the vicinity. I love the old forms in the garden, probably because they remind me of other gardens, other times.

[JanW]

Good morning chilly but going to be a beautiful day for the arrival of some of Robies Ukraine family - he is picking the wife and children up from the Auckland airport today - unfortunately her parents were not allowed to come with her - the family have to be living in NZ before the parents can come -the husband is still recovering from three gun shot wounds so who knows when the parents will be able to join her but the baker had everything set up for her and he is on salary so his pay has gone in every month and will continue to do so - the children speak very good English so they should settle in quickly .
Had a huge tree come down in the reserve behind me lucky it fell sideways as it would have demolished my fence and garage - sad it was a huge beautiful tree that was filled with birds every evening
Had real progress with our motel kids - had a meeting with the motel owner he has allowed our families we are helping use an air fryer so Harvey Norman gave the 9 families on each - the motel owner has arranged for the local laundromat to pick up their laundry if they buy a pre paid ticket and best of all we found out the ministry are sitting onmany millions of dollars that the govt have given them for teacher aids for these kids our headmaster has been suspending as a last resort - still along way to go but itÔÇÖs a start
I rolled Dr Seuss up and stuffed the blanket in my craft room in the pile of things that need to be forgotten for a while -itÔÇÖs looking really good but itÔÇÖs just so damn difficult
My veggie pod is going really well - should have planted more bok choy - my freckles lettuce are a winner - the twisted cauliflower is perfect for my small garden it is growing upright
Strap yourselves in there is going to be another big jump in prices right across the board this month as electricity charges have just risen 25% right across the board for food manufacturers and supermarkets- the government legislated to stop power companies giving the prompt payment discounts because they considered it unfair - Robie has just paid 270,000 extra for his power this month so imagine how much extra a bread factory or Fonterra are paying and its just increasing the power company profit - good to see Warehouse getting themselves up and running with groceries they are proving the suppliers will supply anybody who can pay their bills - the tax payers do not need to subsidise an overseas company
Rant over

[Lilith7]

Good news about the Ukrainian family Jan W, & also some progress on the motel families.

Cold here but sunny, ventured out earlier to post off birthday parcel for youngest granddaughter & had to pass one of those fancy cake places - can't remember their name - would you believe they have 'designer cup cakes' for $9.99! I nearly had conniptions & there was definitely a bit of swearing behind the mask.
It really does sometimes seem that 'some folk really do have more money than sense.'

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Oh well, it won't hurt me to eat less...

[Lilith7]

Sharing this for anyone interested:


https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-17/a...mL95Jsz30I

"Like the famous artist Christo, who wrapped some of the world's most iconic landmarks in silk, an Australian artist wants to wrap the bombed buildings and muddy graveyards of Ukraine in fabric.

But not just any fabric. It will be a quilt of sunflower patches.

"It's like a giant hug for Ukraine, especially for the children," artist Janno McLaughlin said as she sat in her WWII army depot home in Scone, in the NSW Hunter Valley.

McLaughlin, who has connections all over the world, said her heart shattered as the news of Russia's invasion reverberated around the globe nearly three months ago.
"Because I had that little connection with those Ukraine kids that I worked with, my mind went straight to them ÔÇö how are they, where are they, are they OK, are they alive?"

But in a bid to turn something so horrible into a bright burst of hope, she's now on the hunt for about 1,000 quilt patches to form a huge art installation.

"I want it as big as we can get," McLaughlin said.

"The more patches we can get the better."

Details to contact her:
30 x 30 cm patches to
Janno McLaughlin
P.O. box 746
Scome. NSW
2337
Australia.

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies Another bright day here today.

That's great news about the Ukrainian family, Jan. I'm a believer in taking refugees into NZ. They appreciate the chance they have and work hard to prove it. And good that things are moving along for your motel children, albeit slowly. Sometimes you have to put projects aside and come back to them another day when in a better frame of mind. For me, it's not an easy thing to leave it unfinished and it's almost like I have to give myself permission to do it. You'll get there with the Dr Suess blanket.

Lilith, I love the idea of the sunflower quilt. I bet she will receive more then 1000 patches!

Today my plan is to even out the next curve in the garden edging. I had a nosey at MrK's timber stash and he has quite a few old fence posts scattered between piles that could be used. I might have a chat with him and see if he has any plans for them. If not, then I'll stack them into a pile for easier use. I'm still getting rid of the old concrete edging from the other garden I changed so baby steps.

I spent some time on the butterfly yesterday, am working my way down it's body to the abdomen. The stand MrK made me makes such a difference and I love being able to use both hands instead of one holding and balancing the frame.

Time to get cracking, I see the bottom of my coffee cup.

Happy crafting

[Mica]

Morning all
Bright with cloud we expecting a balmy high of 11 today have my wool lined boots on as it will be nippy in the warehouse where I volunteer. Might have to pull out my fingerless gloves too.

Good news Jan on both fronts.

Got bit stuff done yesterday morning, in the afternoon made a skirt zebra print ponte knock off Paula Ryan skirt $350 mine cost $20

I have cut out a vest in the same fabric will trim with black knit today - no i won't be wearing the vest and skirt together that would be too much

KM your butterfly sounds pretty and your stand must enhance your living area too .
Like the sound of a su flower quilt hug too.

Still waiting for the importer of my table to make contact, the shop I ordered it from have been nothing but helpful and also gutted. I just want it moved out of the house as I have to walk past it everytimeI go downstairs to sewing  cave

Coffee finished must move

Have a good day

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

A foggy start here. Chilly too.

Awesome update on the Ukrainian family Jan. I hope they have the Best of lives here.

Love the idea of the huge Hug quilt.

My turn for food gathering today.. Scary thought. Its getting harder and harder. I've had meat twice in the last week, sausages and bacon.. To be honest Im not really missing it like I thought I would. And its a bonus that I've never eaten many vege's lol.

I finally managed to Nab Missy yesterday and weigh her. She's actually put on half a kilo. I thought she had but she's now still a skinny 3.5 kilos lol... Im used to 8 kilo cats so she's still skinny in my mind lol

I kitted up some diamonds yesterday and completed the section I started on the Missy picture. I've got like a flat easel to lean it on and Im using it differently to last time so the shoulder isn't complaining this time. And Loving my new pen too. I think Im actually working faster and more efficiently.

Have a fab day everyone

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I dunno Mica, sometimes a bit of matchy matchy is great fun! The other day I felt in need of sunshine, so my shoes, my earrings, and my tunic top were all the same bright mustard yellow, with my usual faded blue jeans to provide a bit of contrast. I was a bit sad I couldn't find a mask to play the game...

It was great fun and cheered the grey world up no end.

My two best friends are both into their own fashion styles. One adores making a statement, in bright reds, rock star tee shirts and outrageously high heeled boots. Everyone in the village knows her, and she stands out in the crowd! The other one is entranced by indigo, its history, its various tones, its use in many cultures and she wears nothing else but blues and whites, and has been known to hunt down and reuse antique textiles just because they are indigo dyed. I fit in rather nicely with my preference for second hand anything and handmade even better, lol! Life is too short for boring clothes indeed!

And too short for boring friends, which is another reason I like you lot...

[Lilith7]

Showers here so had another bash at sorting out the workroom & dragged out the really big folder; there was so much stuff in it & I was quite surprised to find that a lot wasn't as bad as I'd thought it was which was nice. Masses of life drawing, a few prints, paintings & some pastel drawings most of which I'd forgotten.
Dragged one out to put on the workroom wall.

I did manage to chuck quite a bit out but I may need to come up with a cunning plan to inflict the rest on unsuspecting family - don't think I can bring myself to chuck all of it up the gully after all the study & work which went into it.

Possibly disguised as Xmas gifts....

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I took all my excess canvases down to the Hospice shop, on the basis that the supports themselves could be reused by art students if nothing else. The under painting just adds to the texture lol. Apparently they were all sold within a day or so and I am welcomed to hand over any more I might have, lol! Which was a compliment of sorts. I bet they weren't priced at gallery rates though!

I keep procrastinating on clearing the second big pantry space in the kitchen. It is full of art materials I will never use again. But it is such a job I just don't want to tackle. I might ask a friend who still makes works to do it for me, and take what she can use...

I suspect it is the only way it will happen.