You can never have enough...

[Oh_hunnihunni]

You might need to start a dripping pot in the fridge, the way our Mums did back in the day. For the birds though, not for spreading on doorstop slices of home made bread!!

The big outdoor chair up against the door worked a treat and I slept like a log - 8pm to 8am in truth - after all the rose pruning yesterday. Hips aren't happy though, all that standing on concrete has rarked them up a bit so a quiet day is called for till they settle down. Looks like another quiet but dry day here so maybe some gentle exercise, having cleared that front rose garden I have some ideas around the replanting but need to boost the soil beyond the handfuls of slow release I tossed on yesterday. Some compost and some sheep'n chook should do the job, and then I can let that rest till September and maybe make that a wildflower bed. Clearing it though did let the air in and I discovered many of the bulbs I put in twelve years ago are still there, showing green, so with luck they will enjoy having some room. Wildflowers would be sensible for the future, as I age, much more easy care than bedding plants for each season. I can always have those in pots...

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

Sounds like your in for Fun Kiwimade. Gosh its years and Im thinking 38ish since I went to the Auckland Museum.. I wouldn't mind seeing the Greek's that are there.

Glad you slept OHH.. A lot of bulbs are popping up. I noticed the daffodils at the home are up, hopefully they will pick one for MrP on our wedding anniversary.

I went up yesterday. Made two stops on the way and Man Im suffering. My knee is extremely painful. I keep saying I need to go to the Drs, but honestly I dont suppose they can do anything more than they are doing now.

It may hit the Fan up there this week. Yesterday's lunch was Honeyed pork served with Rice. I had already told them MrP doesn't do rice.. So he told them to take it away without trying it.. I went to see my ladies and one was missing. But she soon returned, she had been down to the kitchen to complain about her Pork fat and rice. Cos thats what it looked like. I spoke to a couple and lady Ive not seen there before and they have tried to have meetings but nothing changes.

But there is an Area Meeting on Thursday, Im guessing the lady I talk to will be there Via Zoom. And we are thinking about Gate Crashing it. I do feel a little stuck cos the Area Manager has been good, but I guess her hands might be tied to a certain degree too...
Our other option is going to the newspapers. So we are going to talk at my next two visits. And plan.

When I got home I found a lovely surprise. One of my Primary School friends from Thames had left a message on my post on FB about my 35 kilos weight loss. She has offered to pay a hair do for me. Other than trimming I haven't done anything to my hair for 20 plus years and really the biggest job was when we got married.

She made my eyes leak lol. We haven't seen each other since we were 12-13 years old. I then had to admit I dont even know what to do and what its called lol.. I saw a photo last night of a lady with grey hair but she had what I assume is Ash Blonde Highlights ? if that's the word.. So Ive asked all my local ladies for their hair dresser recommendations. Im not to know how much things cost. And will have before and after shots. I want a fair bit cut off but still need it to be long enough to put up in summer. Its pretty much to my butt now and starting to be totally annoying lol

Today Im going to pinch a bit of the neckline lining on my wedding dress and cover a button as one lost its top. It fits nicely now so will wear it up on our anniversary.
I have a wee addiction to self covering buttons and have all sorts of sizes. Id guess that some of them are as old as I am probably lol, cos some were in my mother in laws sewing box when I inherited it.. It was like a treasure hunt in there. Including a lipstick in a metal case.. I know that's well before my time lol.

Havre a fab day everyone

[Roma]

Good morning. 

Lovely and warm with sunshine after some heavy rain earlier.  Maybe I can hang out the sheets afterall!

Exciting having your family coming to stay KM with the Ak adventure to look forward to.  We have 3 grandies tomorrow while their parents work ... eek, if it's wet all day 

That is a lovely gesture from your friend Popeye  ... grey (antique blonde, lol) hair is very 'in'. Nothing like a nice cut to show it off 

Hope the door fixed soon OHH.

Nothing planned today ... better get out now for the dog walk.

Enjoy the day.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I enjoy my long hair in Winter, but Summer has its monents! And I haven't been growing this lot for twenty years - just since lockdowns, so it is just mid length not bum yet! I had a trim just after Christmas to deal to split ends, but so far so good. I know I will get fed up with it and when that happens I want a hairdresser who can get the cut off lot to a wig maker. I know a couple of ladies who went through cancer treatment, and wigs were real life savers for them, so I would like to see mine not wasted when it could be so useful for someone who needs it.

We are very lucky here. There is a hairdressing training college in Takapuna so we can get hairdressing (and nails!) done at really silly prices. Can take ages as students are not as confident as a qualified salon operator, but they are really well supervised by expert tutors so the results are excellent. And it is fun chatting to the youngsters doing their training - and the mature students retraining for new careers. I can't justify salon prices, but at Premier rates I can spoil myself. Not brave enough for a colour job though!

[kiwimade64]

oh wow, popeye, what an awesome friend you have. I have ash blonde highlights and some 'low lights' too whenever I have my hair coloured. I'm brunette but love the streaks of blonde in it. My hairdresser is soooo good at colouring and makes some pretty good suggestions. I trust her completely and have never been let down. So I would suggest you listen to your hairdresser and allow her free reign. It's only hair after all!

[popeye333]

oh wow, popeye, what an awesome friend you have.  I have ash blonde highlights and some 'low lights' too whenever I have my hair coloured.  I'm brunette but love the streaks of blonde in it.  My hairdresser is soooo good at colouring and makes some pretty good suggestions.  I trust her completely and have never been let down.  So I would suggest you listen to your hairdresser and allow her free reign.  It's only hair after all!

Yeah she's lovely.

My problem being is I dont have a hairdresser lol.

I've had two friend make recommendations tho so Ill ring them tomorrow

[Lilith7]

How lovely for you Popeye, that should prove interesting.

I just hook my hair up & cut some off the length as & when needed, really don't bother with it - though I did have purple streaks once a few years ago.

Have made a bit of progress with paintings today & also finally got around to making a bird ball for the birds; its only been out there an hour & is mostly gone so word has spread quickly.

[JanW]

Good afternoon from a grey old day in the Bay - put the wet weather cover over my veggi pod just in case the threatened heavy rain arrives .Hope it doesnÔÇÖt stay long the Ukraine kids have all sorts of plans for the holidays to venture out on their bikes .You are going to have a great week Kiwimade - enjoy they grow so quickly - my youngest one had her first driving lesson this week just seems like yesterday she was born - she was taken on a Careflight to Wgtn just a few hours old - but a series of hospital dramas meant she was critically ill - wasnÔÇÖt expected to survive the flight .but was lucky enough to be given an experimental, drug that would leave her possibly disabled mentally and physically - thank goodness they took the risk - she has dyslexia plays Hockey at NI rep level - at 12 had a drum recital at a local pub all her own music - she is special
My husband cut my hair for years and my granddaughters even though one daughter in law owned a salon - I had a bob for donkeys years which seemed simple for him to cut - after he died I thought I would have a go myself so tossed my wet hair over my head - bent over the washbasin and thought if I cut the ends into an oval shape - the shape would be retained - well I have never yet worked out how my plan didnÔÇÖt work but I ended up with a spiky fringe - the back and sides were OK but how the front ended up like a porcupine I will never know - I sent out an SOS to my daughter in law who was very unsympathetic and told me to wear a hat - it took ages to grow back but I got quite expert at draping the sides over from a middle part - it was a oncer never tried again .Popeye if you have a colour make sure it isnÔÇÖt too drastic that you have a problem with regrowth a month or two down the line
The Irish played a great game - I have no problem with the cards the ABs should know better
- they are teaching the kids about dangerous tackles -every week kids are being sent off for dangerous play - except for the referee this week one of the kids in my grandsons team ended up with a fractured cheekbone -my grandson was lucky he only got a black eye
Was just talking to my granddaughters in Sydney - they are thankful they bought an upstairs flat - the water in their suburb is still slowly receding - But they have no regrets about making the move - both have found good part time jobs that fit in with Uni
My potted freesias are flowering - they are way out of sync
Coffee pot is calling Robie brought me some ginger kisses havenÔÇÖt had them for years - would love some of Mums ginger gems

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I agree. I went through a short short short phase which was great fun. But as I would tell reluctant hairdressers - it will always grow again...

The third bit of ill fortune has dropped for this weekend of unexpected tiny catastrophes. My quilt listing sold for a silly amount of money, and then we discovered what I had listed as fat quarters, wasn't. So I am waiting on the buyer to decide whether she wants to go ahead then tell me how much of a refund she wants, or whether she'd prefer to cancel so I can relist.

It has been a crazy weekend, I should just put wallpaper, fabric, and doors behind me and go make meatballs for dinner. Or maybe I should not risk it, and just order pizza, lol...

[Lilith7]

I learned how to cut my own hair thanks to youtube - simply put hair in pony tail close to back of the head at the base of the skull, then another scrunchie/rubber band nearer the end of hair, & cut between the bands about where you want length to be, using small strokes of scissors. Then you just take out rubber bands, check in mirror for any bits missed & that's it.

I started doing this as a result of the quakes when the $10 haircut bars disappeared & hairdressers wanted $ 40 odd for a trim - the Scots blood had conniptions

[popeye333]

I have a Monarch Butterfly.. Yippee..

He's a big boy to... Well I'm calling him a boy lol...

I need to find out if its safe to let him out in a cold or not, then Ill be defeated cos I didn't save him to kill him.

I used to cut my hair, well trim it really. Ill put a couple of pics up

https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/...702013.jpg

And I like this ladies hair. Mines super fine so think It could be persuaded. Its the blonder look I like to along with the grey and white, But mines not grey or white enough yet. I saw the picture somewhere last night, haven't a clue who she is

https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/...702590.jpg

[Lilith7]

Love the butterfly, gorgeous.

I've got awful fine hair too, it won't do anything required of it for more than about 30 seconds.

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

Nope didn't wet the bed lol..

I need to take my knee to the Drs.. Its not behaving. I do feel there wont be much they can do, Other than chasing up orthopaedics.

Then Ill decide if it will make it to MrP.

I wont be having my hair cut into a Do that needs to be constantly cut, cos I simply cant afford the upkeep. But some shape that will grow nicely and stay healthy will be fine.

Didnt do the button yesterday, kind of got Side tracked going through the sewing box. I have lace from my grandmothers wedding dress and stuff from MrPs mum in there too. But I did get the right size button out and have the dress out so its a start lol..

Have a fab day all. I suspect mine will be resting for a while

[Roma]

Good morning. 

A quick sign in before the troops arrive. Wet and miserable looking outside,  so it looks like a day of books, games and lego/duplo with a dollop of TV if/as needed! My cat and dog also get a fair amount of "attention" ... fortunately both mild mannered and reasonably tolerant  
There will be a lot of parents/caregivers in the same boat, I'm picking!

Popeye, perhaps you could have sugar water on offer for the monarch, if it's too horrible to release outdoors just yet?

Enjoy the day all.

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies We're in for a rough day weather wise so baton down the hatches.

One more sleep and the whanau arrive. Am pretty excited I must admit lol. The grandies haven't been told they are all coming partially to keep it a surprise and partially in case the trip had to be cancelled thanks to Covid or other bugs. Would love to see their faces when they are told lol.

Popeye, I hope your doctor's visit works out. We are pushed through so quickly now with our doctor your bum barely brushes the seat before you're out again.

If it insists on being a rubbish day weather wise I'll be working on the butterfly. At least I can still be productive. MrK won't be able to work in his man cave but he is planning a free standing set of shelves for inside the wardrobe I cleaned out the other day for when he has finished the cabinet for the laundry.

Happy crafting

[Mica]

Morning all
Bleak day here too


Enjoy your family visitors KM great memories for GK.

Made leek and smoked chicken pie for tea last night we will be having it again tonight so thats dinner sorted.

Plan on sewing up a dress for me today, don't know when I will get to wear it as I live in jeans ha!
 DH has followup dentist appt this afternoon .

Popeye I hope you get your knee sorted.

Have good day

[Oh_hunnihunni]

There are monarchs fluttering around the garden and the reserve right now as I look out the window. I have even seen them checking out the flowers on my deck, must be the milder winter helping them survive, though I believe they roost under sheltering trees when the weather turns foul. If your big baby has a dot on the hind wing he is definitely a male. The females though can be larger, and appear a bit darker, they need to be stronger than the males to be good egg layers. Beautiful creatures, I love having swan plants in the gardens so we have plenty of them around.

Locksmith and carpenter coming today to sort out the back door for me. I wonder if I could get one of them to restick my wallpaper drops...

Better not ask!

[Lilith7]

I hope your knee gets some helo, Popeye & your grandies visit is brilliant, Kiwimade.
I'll be having a visit later because today is second eldest great grandson's third birthday, so he'll be calling in to pick up his loot.

Cold here but every so often the sun nearly comes out so I'm hopeful of a slightly-drier-than-when I-put-it-out result for the washing.

[JanW]

Popeye - maybe give your butterfly some sugar syrup to give him a boost before he heads out into the big wide world - the tree that blew down behind me in the last storm was a well used shelter for monarchs - sometimes there would be hundreds sheltering .

[popeye333]

Thank you everyone

Yes have done the sugar Water..

Will have a look at the wings and look for a dot.

Dr said she would ring the orthopaedics and follow with a letter.. And told me to increase my pain meds... I try and not take too many cos I dont want to end up like my twin who ended up hooked on them. I had to go to see MrP and then pick up my script so I feel like I've run a mile today.

Kiwimade I can imagine in years to come M&M will tell their kids that Their Nana and Poppa Took them to see the Dinosaurs lol.. I already know they are both hardcases but I can imagine them saying it to their own kids lol

Its got cold here and there's a wee hint of rain, But Im indoors now and will be staying in.