My 45th Birthday!

Woah! I'm 45... jeez, I never thought I'd make it to this age - dunno why, I just didn't. I think it was because when you're 10 years old, being 45 is such a long way into the future, you can't see yourself as that age.

Oh well. I'm here now.

And being this age isn't that bad. 

So far, I've had my art teacher dump me from his class because of his own mental problems - which is totally all him, not me. And believe me, I'm more than happy to bugger off out of his class - I don't care. Couldn't afford to stay in his class anyway.

I've almost completed my Little Garden Facelift - and finally bought myself a Tahitian Lime Tree for the garden! It's a grafted one and will be putting out fruit by Summer - or late in the season - and I'll have so much fruit it'll be something I'll be giving away to people.

And well, I've had a good look around my house and thought 'holy crap, I have so much junk I really need to get rid of it all!' and really I do!

But I had a great birthday. 

I went out to the Hyperdome and spent the day spending my store vouchers from the places I'm a member of... like Ishka (a Turkish store I love) and I bought a journal and 3 pairs of cool socks. They were having a 50% off sale and I used my 10% off for my birthday there too. 
Then I spoiled myself and bought Season 13 of 'Supernatural' - my all-time favourite show on television! It's a great show and I've not missed a single episode since it started in 2005... now that's something, right? I had lunch at Gloria Jeans and scored my free coffee and only had to pay for my vegetarian quiche. 
And then I thought to pop into Riot Art to see if Vanda (an arty friend of mine from the Logan Artists Association) was there. And yes she was! We caught up and had a great chat! 

Before long, it was time for me to go home. I had been at the Hyperdome for almost 3 hours and I had done everything I wanted to do... and I wanted to go and get in some op-shopping and check the mail before anything before going home. 
I arrived at the Slacks Creek Vinnies and found some lovely things for under $15 and then went off and checked the mail and found a huge parcel from my Bookcrossing Birthday Buddy waiting for me! Well... it was time to take off home and unpack everything, wash the socks I had bought and make sure I had the phone on speaker when I called Mum.
You see, when I unpack my Birthday parcel every year from my Bookcrossing Birthday Buddy, I always call Mum and share the experience with her over the phone. It's funny I do this, but she loves it when I do this on my birthday! Well, I received so many things this year from my wonderful Birthday Buddy, Wendy!

Well, that night, my parents took me out to a place on Logan Road called 'Limon'. It's a Turkish restaurant I'd never been to before, but I've driven past hundreds of times. Well, as we sat down, Aunty Helen showed up! She gave me a lovely present and joined us for dinner! It was a great night out of wonderful food, laughs and company! 
I ordered the Fish Tagine - of Barramundi and a side dish of herb rice - absolutely delicious! We had a dessert choice too! I chose the Chocolate Mud Cake and it came out on a large platter with 'Happy Birthday love Limon' in chocolate icing on it and a candle in the ice cream! What a way to celebrate my day! And the cake was so rich I didn't need a cake, just that one slice, which had been heated up and turned warmed and gooey... ooh yummo!

By the time we waddled out of the place, we didn't want to eat anything else, just head back to my parents' house and have a cup of tea. I was exhausted and happy to just sit back and listen to good conversation. 

I arrived home at around 9pm Friday night and felt wide awake but still very tired... if you know what I mean... and I jumped online to find so many of my dear friends had wished me a Happy Birthday! It's been a few days now, and I'm still getting the belated ones showing up - so great to hear from friends on there. I love them all! 

So, another year is gone, and a new one is beginning... I'm looking forward to the new things and happenings which are going to be coming up for the next year. I'll be working on new art, my new garden, new paintings, new exhibitions, driving new places, taking more photographs to get in more work done... and learning more from other artists I've made friends with. Yep, when one door closes, another one opens - no matter where you are in your life or how weird the circumstances are in how it happens. For me, it's another step forwards to get my work exhibited and worked on in my own style. And it all started on my Birthday... not a bad thing, right? Yep... the glass is - and will always be - half-full.

A Busy Month!

It's been a busy month; and I haven't been in here as much as I thought I'd be. But I got a lot of things done.

The garden is coming to the end of its huge, pricey and fun facelift - now all I need to do is grow a nice new, lush lawn and get the literary characters and art theme going and I'll have the garden I've been wanting for a few years. That will take a little time, hard work and funny times with Dad... I do have the paint, just don't have the know-how.

At the beginning of the month, I joined the local, Logan City Council-run gym. Well, okay, I did a trial run of it, got assessed by the trainer there and she has set me up with a great program to get me fighting fit by Summer - and I do enjoy going. It not only gets me out of the house in the mornings, but it's making look at what foods I'm eating and I'm sleeping so much better at night too! And my stress levels are lowering too.

Then, my decluttering is working out as well! I sorted out a huge lot of crap from the home office, and tossed out 3 rubbish bags of paper, shredded a whole lot of stuff at Mum and Dad's place and sorted out what was shredable and what wasn't there too! Strangely enough, putting stuff through a shredding is kinda soothing - I know that sounds weird, but it does! 

Anyway, I'm knitting away some more dish cloths - as people online are enjoying the fact they're so pretty and I've sold some in the past month too! So, I thought it'd be a good idea to keep going with them... after all, they're cotton, and they'll break down in landfill. 

So, that's my month. We here at the unit complex have had some ups and downs. There's been an ice addict who caused a lot of people to move out, and then he's moving out. My next door neighbours are moving out next week - and going to miss them terribly; as Vanessa and Matt have become such great friends to me. I hope to not lose contact with them; no matter where they live. But isn't that always the way? You find a great set of neighbours and they move too soon... oh well, can't have your cake and eat it too. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Other Plans And Life

Things have been really happening around here. I'm busily writing a new book - offline in a notebook I bought last week. I'm finding it easier to write it this way, instead of on the computer somehow. I don't know why, but I am.

Then, Spring sprung onto us. We've all changed our bedding onto our Summer sheets and put away our winter clothing as the temperatures changed almost overnight. Speaking of night-time temps - they are still a bit coolish, but they're nice. And we're getting rain again too.

I'm still working on pin cushions seeing a majority of mine are at the Logan Art Gallery. I can't wait to see them in the store. I hope to sell plenty of them over the next three or four months... and I also hope they become something of a permanent thing there.

Otherwise, I'm still cleaning out, cleaning up and working on my place - as usual. I bought some nice Corning ware from Vinnies and had to clean out the kitchen cupboards to make it fit. Otherwise, I'm happily making sure I have all the things I want in my kitchen and home now. 

Just recently - as recent as two weeks ago - I have been here for 14 years. I feel as though my life has been in two places at the same time in this time. I'm either standing still or going forwards; either way, it's something which keeps me thinking about what I wish to do with the rest of my life. I know I'm not a spring chicken anymore, and yet I'm not so old that life has gotten away from me.

So, what to do with myself? I'm still working on Crafty Pegs and getting in new things which may - or may not - work at the markets. And I'm hoping to get in and sell some of my work next year. Otherwise, this year has been busy with me figuring out what I want to do in the next three or four years of my life.

This week has been busy, though. I've been catching up with laundry, making pin cushions and watching the results of my garden since I fixed it up during Winter. It looks wonderful! I can't wait to see it in Summer at its height. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Only Thursday

It's Friday ... no hang on, it's Thursday!

Yep, today, I forgot what day it was!

I've had one of those weeks where I've been so busy over the last week or so that my brain hasn't kept track of the days.  Sometimes this is good, and sometimes this is bad.

For example, this morning, it almost slipped my mind that I have been living here in my townhouse for 14 years. It's been that long to the date and it's gotten that way where nothing surprises me anymore. Yep, no matter what people do, I just don't feel that shock anymore.

I'm looking at doing new things though.

Today, I was very busily driving around and getting things done this morning; then came home and vegged out with my next door neighbour who was figuring out her phone and stuff before she took off to do some shopping. Meanwhile her two darling cats were lounging around us getting a pat from both of us. 

I dropped of a collection of pin cushions to the Logan Art Gallery which are going to be in the store there from October to December. Then, I bought some tiny sinkers from BCF and half a metre of size 18 tapestry from Spotlight. I checked the mail and bought some calcium pills (which I normally take at night before bed) and then scored a cute notebook and two purple ink pens from Office Works before I headed on home.

On the weekend, I'll be doing some work on pin cushions and writing. Otherwise, not too much in the way of going out. I'm hoping to get more work done on a book where the character falls in love with the reader - which is a difficult thing to do, but I believe it can be done. So, there was my day today. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Brisk Winter Days

School holidays are almost over and the days and nights have turned lovely, cool and windy.

I love this time of year because of these days.

I cook so much lovely hot, stodgy food and drink so much hot chocolate it makes me go out and buy another tin of Milo. 

But this Winter, I came down with Laryngitis, causing me to hibernate more than I usually would - and I don't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. I did get a fair bit of reading and writing done. And a huge painting is a quarter way through; and I watched around 8 movies that I haven't seen in yonks! All in the complete silence of my house. This meant I got pretty darn sick of my own company really darned quick!

So, I started looking at the garden and thinking about what to do with it to make it more private; and once I was better, I started moving things around again. This was great to do - and I hope to do more of it, as I'm hoping to get in and do more planting. I've bought a Ficus and am going to put into a large pot and let it take up the side fence of my garden.

I so do enjoy this time of year. I'm still getting into my craft as it's such a joy to do. I've begun knitting a throw as I have enough yarn to do it now. It's looking good - even though it's just the beginning of it. Well, that's all the news for now. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Catch Up

It's been a busy couple of weeks. I've been dating a man - which hasn't really worked out. I've been at the Logan Art Gallery working my shifts and I've also been working on new work - a new painting - for the bedroom as well.

However, this week, I came down with a slight cold and so made myself a huge batch of my 'Cold Buster Soup' - which you can find on the labels 'Recipes' on the right hand side. It's a great soup to have; especially during the colder months of the year - I really count on it.

I'm also writing another book - this is a part of a bigger book on writing and collecting and life. It's all going to be hand-written and then typed up. I hope it ends up to sound as good as I'm planning it to be.

There's been plenty of rain around lately and so I haven't done anything with the back yard lately; the lawn mower hasn't been out of the shed and so the lawn has gotten long. I hope to get to it after the rain goes away. But then, isn't that what Winter is for? The rain to come and feed the plants while it's cold?

I'm also saving up again to get into the markets next year again; which means I'm also working on more over-sized pegs and other things to get it going again. It ought to be fun to get back into my routine of that again. Well, there's not much more to report... seeing I've been just catching up on everything around here. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here. 

Chillin' Sunday?

I thought today I would chill out, relax and do not much at all - except maybe wash the car, yes my very dusty, dirty car - but that didn't happen.

As I opened the back door of my place, I saw that the possums had been at my back yard. They had been swinging on the newly potted Frangipani; making it tip out of its pot and fall! So, I rushed out there and dig a deeper hole in the pot for it, use up the rest of the potting mix and make sure it was in the pot better before I went out into the car port and grabbed my gloves and some really tall stakes to support it. I seriously didn't think it would need this, but it looks like it does for a while. I also had 2 pairs of panyhose I was going to take back to Big W, but thought to reuse as ties for the plant instead. They are kinder to plants than wire and last longer than anything else... plus plants don't have to grow around them. Now, the plant is secure.

I looked at the time and it was 8:45am... jeez... I hadn't even put on the coffee! So, I rushed around, locked up the shed and put the coffee on after I washed my hands. By the time I had gotten my pancakes made, eaten and coffee drunk, it was getting onto 10am. I needed to wash my car - so I did. This took me about an hour. 

By the time I hung out the cloth and sponge, I noticed that my Large Leaf Jade was putting out little buds - the beginnings of flowers - for the Winter! How cool is that? 

However, I was hoping to chill out today... relax. After the last week I've had... I think I just want to sleep. Last Monday was craft day. My home made scones vanished within 10 minutes ... everyone loved them. 
Tuesday had me driving around half of the south side of Brisbane looking for a dress to wear to Friday night for the Allsorts Opening. This turned out to be harder than I expected. Woodridge Life Line didn't have any dresses I like - or fitted into. So, I tried the Salvation Army up on Logan Road (near Hume's House) and then finally, I jumped on the highway and headed off to Stones Corner to get myself into the clothing district there - only to find it had vanished over time! Damn! So, I headed off to Vinnies there. And there? Well, I found three gorgeous dresses for under $30 and they all fitted me! I love them! The decision now was... which one to wear on Friday night.
Wednesday had me at my folks' house asking my Mum which one to wear... she thought they were all lovely; and she didn't know which one was better either. So, it was up to me. But the longest one needed taking up.
I picked up my new reading glasses from the optometrist on Thursday and bought some stockings and small things on the way through, then on Friday I went to the chiropractor for a morning visit, only to have to return because she didn't do a good job on my back. She had worked on only half my back; and the lower lumbar region pinched all my nerves.  I was in so much pain I almost couldn't walk. But she fixed it and I made it to the Allsorts opening; only to find out my piece was the only needlepoint piece in the whole exhibition! Very cool!

Well, that was my week... very busy, no stopping and every day filled up. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here. 

May Already?

It's quickly becoming cooler and the days are shorter, and I'm busier now than I have ever been in Summer. 

Isn't that always the way when you lose track of time? 

The garden is beginning to go through its Winter changes. I've been repotting plants and upgrading the cuttings into largers pots. This is going well seeing Brisbane has had some great rainfall lately; but it's brought out the midgies and mozzies - which made a right meal out of my feet last week! And just today, the itching has stopped without the used of the medicated 'Soove', so that's a good thing. 

I've been hanging out with a great artist friend of mine and today we had lunch at Springwood... and this morning, I freaked out thinking he might drop me at my house, expecting to hang out at my place - and I realised I had let my living room become so messy (this happens when I don't get regular visitors) and I raced around and cleaned it up, washed up and was in a panic! But then, he ended up not coming in... phew! Oh well, my place is nice and tidy now and I'm going to see if I can keep it that way.
This afternoon, I did two loads of laundry, cleaned the coffee pot and put it away and sorted through more sewing stuff to put into a new sewing box I bought on Wednesday at Spotlight while it was on sale.

Seeing I've been kind of slowing down with my cleaning up and my friend has kick-started me into it again, I'm hoping to get into working on the lounge room and seriously tossing out what's not needed and what will be worked on sooner - rather than later - is the rest of the wash table for my bedroom. It's been far too wet lately to get in and do it. After that, I have to get in and door the chest that I picked up as well and redo the whole veneer on it because it got wet at some stage and it's all peeling. I'll need Dad's help on that one in a serious way. I'll be storing valuable things inside it - things that are going to be held for a later date... things that nobody will know about it. So, I'll be putting a few boxes inside it with things inside it that I have had for a long time. This box will be a special box - to me anyway.

Well, I'm hoping to save more money soon... sooner rather than later... to finish up the garden in June/July. There's still a lot of repotting to do and I need to get in and do it, one pot at a time. Well, until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.   

Busy Week

Today is the only day I've got to myself.

Yep, this week has been busy as hell; and next week isn't going to get any better as it's going to be shopping week. 

On Monday, I had craft day and I could sit and do my pin cushions again. After working on a larger needlepoint for so long it was a relief to get my mind onto smaller things than a larger item. I had put the larger needlepoint into the framers to get worked on. 

Tuesday had me picking up the needlepoint - and did it look lovely! I'm so pleased with how it worked out and hope it is accepted into the gallery. There are a few little things that I have noticed about it that aren't up to scratch, but that's all just in learning about how to get things framed... otherwise, it's well done. And the great thing is that I provided the frame and glass; all I had to do was pick the matte for it. 

On Wednesday, I was at the Logan North Library showing it off at the Embroidery Guild. The ladies were very impressed by it; and spotted the same things I did when they inspected it up close. But when they looked at it from a distance, those little things couldn't be seen. So, that's a good thing. I'll be taking it with me to my to the regular craft group on Monday so the other ladies can see it too. 

Tomorrow, I'm off to the doctors to get my right hand looked at, my medical certificate looked into for my driver's licence and then to the bank to see how much money I have left. Yeah, it's just little stuff, but the devil's in the details - and these details don't take long. 

I'm hoping to get my house cleaner than it has been over the last few weeks, so I started today with cleaning up the piano - dusting it from top to bottom - and putting back on the top only the things that make it look lovely and retro. Before I did that, I went outside and mowed the lawn, pulled the weeds and cleaned up the back yard. It all looks so very neat and tidy now... well, until the next time it needs a trim. The flowers on the Moch Orange are now starting to drop and I can then trim up the shrubs for Winter. That will be next week.

Anyway, I have some more tidying to get done around the place: laundry to put away, the bathroom to clean up, the living room and lounge to tidy and the lounge to find (again!)... and then I'll be cleaning out some bags of stuff I have had around the place to see if I can donate them or throw them out in the bin. I'm in my 4th year of declutter, and must say that as the years have passed, it does get easier. I'm onto the smaller stuff now and so I've become better at this. Mum is just beginning on the journey of decluttering and she's finding it harder as it's a big thing to do still; however, it took a good year and half to get through the big stuff before I got onto the smaller stuff (I call it stuff and not junk or crap as a lot of it is just stuff and only a small percentage of it is junk). I have found that it's best to look at something quickly and know if I'm going to keep it or not, put it into the 'Keep Pile' and move on. If I'm not going to keep it, it gets thrown out or donated... I'll look at my 'Keep Pile' more intently when I have time later on in the day; otherwise it will hold me back from doing what I'm supposed to do.

Well, that's my week. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

A Busy Day

Over the last few days, I've been at Mum and Dad's place helping my Mum with cleaning out their house. for the first day, I just waited to see how she'd do it; but realised that she was moving things from one place to another - without any real progress.

Yesterday, I went to Bunnings and grabbed 2 cardboard boxes and took them to her place to start her off on the Peter Walsh style of decluttering. She was impressed on how it all worked and took to it quickly; and amazed herself on how quickly she filled the Donation Box. 

Today, I was there to help her move a few things around the house while Dad was out. We had our laughs and enjoyed our time of working together. I got some needlepoint done and came home around 6pm.  It was a good lot of work done within a few hours.

Tomorrow, I have to do some work around my place and so I'm staying home to clean my house - yep, it's not a tidy place. I've been working on a piece of artwork so much the housework (except the laundry) has been mainly neglected. Well, until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember I'm always here.

Getting Busy Again

I've decided this year to not do the markets. The reason for this is because I didn't make any money last year; and I want to figure out why. I also want to make new things to add to it when I pull the old gear from it. I'll be saving my money for this year until I have enough money to work with. 

So, this year, I'm going to work on my Bucket List and get in some reading, lose a bit of weight and get my butt back into working on myself. I'm not fat, I've just put on a bit of weight that's all; and I want to look after myself better. Yeah, life is getting better, but I do have a few little things I wish to get done around my place which seem to be held up by my landlord.

I need my kitchen tap fixed and a some power points needed around the place as well another phone line (the latter is a new thing I've only thought of today). I also want to buy another vacuum cleaner because my old one doesn't clean as well as it should and the retractable cord pulls itself in while the machine is going... yep, not safe. So, I've been hunting around for another vacuum - as my Dad's told me to, only to have him turn around and tell me that it's not going to happen.  I hope to get in and work on him to get a vacuum I want instead of one he thinks is good enough. 

Anyway, I've been working on getting back into the arts and am taking part in an art display at the gallery and I'm also hoping to get some work put in at the Logan Central Library - it's a book-based works I hope to sell some of - and then I'm going to my 25 year class reunion. Some of the people who couldn't make it 5 years ago are going to be there. It's going to be so good to catch up with them.

Anyway, I'm hoping to get in and talk to my folks about some things before next week. So, what have guys been up to? Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Rain! Time to Relax.

It's been nice and sunny and warm over the last few weeks; and I've been on the go over that time too. However, the rains have come and cooled everything down - thank goodness! - and so it's time for me to slow down a little to keep myself well enough to make it to Christmas.

Yep, I've been busily working on my Crafty Pegs gear for the next few markets, my house (cleaning it out) and the garden too. 

Man, life just hasn't stopped!

Now, it's raining, I feel as though I can slow down and watch the days go by nice and easy while I paint or read a bit. The good thing is that the weather has cooled down a little too - so that's nice for this time of year as well, don't you think?

The garden isn't completely finished, but it's almost there. Earlier this year, I scored some half-finished steps for my garden and stored them at my parents' house to be completed. In the last few weeks, Dad completed them and now they're at my place. They look great! I can fit in another 10 or so plants in my garden and it looks wonderful. Just yesterday, I went out to Bunnings and bought some Mondo Grass and planted it in the half-pot I've been trying to grow something in for the past year. Now it's got longer hooks to hang from, I'm sure it won't be having any problems with the plants surviving.
Then, I divided up the Agapanthus into separate pots. Instead of buying new pots and waiting yet another year, I recycled some pots I already had. They look great! And hopefully, they will all flower this year again too.

This Friday is my Mum's birthday. I went out yesterday - before going to Bunnings - to buy her present. When I arrived home, I found I didn't have any wrapping paper. So, I found one of my book bags I had made for the stall, and thought her Kindle would look great in that, and put her present in that. Very cool. 

I've also been working on Riley's 16th Birthday present. Because it's a big, major birthday, I'm making sure she gets something important and wonderful. Her next one will be her 18th. I just hope she likes what I've made her and bought for her. 

Well, that's all there is from my life. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Wow! What a Weekend!

This weekend past has been huge! 

On Friday, I washed the car and began to pack it for the upcoming market. As I pushed the back seats down,  honey bee zipped in and started pollinating the back window... I'm really not fond of bees. I think it's from my Dad being a beekeeper and him being around the little things for most of my life that I don't like them.

But anyway I got a neighbour to help me get the little worker out of my car so I could finish on packing my car. However, the bee wasn't too happy about being handled and so I headed inside and prepared my lunch for the next day. 
About an hour later, I was outside again and working on the packing again. It didn't take long and pretty soon, the car was ready to go, my lunch and snacks were in the fridge and all I had to do was pack my esky, fill the thermos and take off.

Saturday wasn't busy. But at around 10am, I was quickly packing things and getting my shit together to go. And seeing there wasn't that much to pack, I was going to be okay about everything that day.
I arrived early, unpacked my stuff, found a good park down the road and stuck around until the doors opened and then - seeing I was an hour and half early - I was able to set up without rushing. Yep, my stall looked great! However, on packing up at 6pm, I realised I had forgotten all my medication. So, I rushed it and smacked myself in the head with my large folding table (yeowch!). 
I ended up being 40 minutes late for my medication and copped a very sore forehead. But I got in an unpacked the car and put everything away while I was thinking about it - as it was Father's Day the next day, and I didn't want to be stuck with the unpacking in the morning.

So, I kicked back and didn't do too much but some colouring in with 'The Secret Garden' while 'Supernatural' played on in the background. Yeah, I was very tired and couldn't wait to get to bed.

Sunday morning was good. I got the paper, made some really great pancakes and called Dad for Father's Day. Then, I organised to take some food over to Mum and Dad's place to make a morning tea for them. On the way over there, I went to Bunnings and bought Dad two $20 vouchers and packed in a bottle of chocolate coated nuts and saltanas (the latter being an old favourite of his). I arrived at around 9:30-10am after telling a little fib that I'd be there at 11am... he was surprised and they said they hadn't eaten breakfast yet.
Oh well... I got to feed the wild birds, read a bit of my 'Good Reading' Magazine and have something to drink while I was waiting for them them to have their breakfast. 
Anyway, Dad loved the vouchers and bottle of goodies. He said he hadn't had those for years; and loved it that I remembered he likes them. It's always the simple things that make people the happiest. Well, he loved the morning tea as there was three types of cheeses, three types of biscuits, cashews, dried cranberries, blueberries, grapes, carrots and other goodies too... he was so pleased I had organised it all and brought it to him; and said they might not need lunch, there was so much food.

It was nice we could kick back and enjoy the day for what it was... and it was a such a lovely sunny day. I didn't stay all day, though, I came home around 2pm as I could see Dad wanted to have a nap before getting in and doing other things around his place - and I had stuff to do at my place too.

It was a great weekend.

Then, on Monday, I had my Craft Day. I'm learning needlepoint... it's been a challenge, seeing I'm not a needlepoint kind of person. But, I am getting it. It's all practice and counting the threads in the tapestry. I just hope I get to do more than scissor keepers... I have asked if it'd be a bad thing to look at pin cushions - not big ones, just small ones - and my teacher said that it'd be great to get into working on them. She's really happy I'm looking at doing them, it means my mind isn't stuck on doing just tiny things, I want to do bigger things too. 

Well, that's my last few days. They were big, full-on and busy. And last night I didn't sleep well for some unknown reason; but I'm catching up with the rush and work of the weekend I guess. Well, until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

This Long Weekend

Here in Logan, we're right in the middle of the long weekend for the Royal National Annual Show - better known as The Ekka. 

Personally, I haven't been in over a decade; it just doesn't do anything for me anymore. The place is too expensive and I think I've outgrown it. But many people go each year and love it every time.

The good thing that comes with The Ekka is the public holidays - but they're all over the place. So, this weekend, it's Logan City's turn to have Monday off.  And for us who don't go into the Exhibition in the city, it's a long weekend to sleep in, get into some work or catch up with family (if they don't work or go to school outside of the Logan Area). 

Yesterday, I was out and about at the Hyperdome with The Crew writer's group. We were looking at book blurbs. We had to write our own and send them in.  I did one - a short and sweet one - and it had everyone intrigued, but it does need help with a few things in it; just some rewording.
Others had some good ones there too. One sounded like a synopsis while Shaun started us off with one from a book which had been published already... and tricked us into thinking it was his. Very subtle but very good to get us all thinking about what the public wants.

Today, I read in the paper that remote towns are going to pull Vegemite off their shelves because people are making booze out of it; and these people's kids are drinking the home-brew their folks are making. Jeez, the next thing you know, they'll be taking potatoes and rice off the shelves because people are making Gin and Rice Wine and their kids are getting into that too! Stupid!

Also today, I'm going to work on more of my stuff for the stall next month. I have a commissioned work to get done and then there's other paintings I have to get done too - I have only 3 of the miniatures happening at the moment; and I have yet to find a box to display them in. 

So, a lot is going to be done and I have only a few weeks for some things, a few months for other and a few days for yet other work. Yeah, never a dull moment here. What is your weekend like? Filled up like mine? Or chilled out and relaxed? Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

This Week of Illnesses

This week, I've been trying to shake the bug that's gone around a good percentage of Brisbane. Yep, I caught it and now the cough is the only thing I need to shake... damned thing.

It's been a good week though. 

I got my large painting finished, found an Ankh at Life Line - and fixed it up in a new frame - and then sorted out some photos today at K-Mart for a new line of work I'm hoping to get out there next year to sell at my Crafty Pegs stall.

Yes, I'm constantly planning and working on new things for my stall; and they are things to keep the money coming in and people looking at new things I've made from one year to the next.

This year, I have made the table clothes six months ahead of schedule and gotten in a Lucky Dip box.  I'm really happy about this and so I'm saving up money for the next markets in September at Logan Village - which should be good.

Otherwise, this past Wednesday I learned the intricate art of Sand Art at the Logan Art Gallery.  It was lovely to learn something which is from India... I just hope I remember how to do it while I'm demonstrating it at the Arts in the Park Festival in 2 month's time. I'm also reading again and writing again too - which I'm really pleased about, as you can well imagine.

So, how's your week going? Good I hope. Mine has been okay. I just hope I can get rid of this cough before next weekend. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Sleepless In Logan

Yep, you read right... I am having a huge bout of insomnia, and I hate it.

I'm okay during the day. I'm eating well, doing all my normal things, but when night falls, I just can't sleep well.

I'm not drinking too much caffeine or sugar before bed. Nor am I doing anything too much that'll keep me awake either... I'm not really sure what's going on, but I really hope I can get back to my normal sleeping patterns before too long.

Honestly I think it started a few days ago when my Reading Chair didn't show up on the day it was supposed to. I had rung the place and asked them when to expect its delivery and they told its work hadn't even been started yet. 

I was so disappointed! I was told that it was to be delivered to the upholstery place by last Thursday so they'd get working on it the next day... then it would be ready for me the following Friday (29th, May). But when I called up, they said the job had been moved to this coming week. I explained what I had been told and the man said he was really sorry and that he'd put my chair ahead of the next job; that it wasn't right that I was kept waiting for an extra week.

This was the first night I couldn't sleep... I think it was because I really wanted my chair here at home. I know that sounds silly to be so possessive about a chair, but I worked really hard on it to make it look wonderful. And now, it's being held up at the upholsterers because of a jobsheet. Well, that just shits me off... excuse my language, but it does.

Anyway, this month, I've been cleaning out the home office, knitting bigger dishcloths, madly finding more crochet yarn and doing commission work as well. I also have had a reading slump which feels more like a decade-long drought! I have only read three books this year - three! I'm usually onto my eighth or ninth book... not my third. And as for my writing?  Well, it sucks.  There's no new books.  I finished 'Fry Nelson' and 'Angel Love' in December and .. well... that's been it, no more ideas since. That sucks too.

So, when I found the chair, I was happy.  I'm also working on other things to fix up too.  But with this week a bust - as it's a week before the markets, shopping week and me organising what needs to be taken to the markets and what stays home - nothing will be done in the way of working on the wash table or magazine rack I found for the office.

Yes, this month has been busy.  I'm not sleeping well, but I'm eating okay.  I'm not writing or reading much, but I'm buying books (how's that for irony!) and yet life still goes on... and my office remains tidy.  Now, that's an accomplishment within itself, don't you think?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here. 

A Week In Waiting

I'm in a week of waiting.

Waiting takes time... a lot of time...

And I'm not a very patient person at the best of times.

So, when I have to wait for something, I do constructive things.

This week, I've cleaned out the office - that took 2 days - it's not quite finished, but it's close.  Then, I Preened the carpet... and it's looking great!

Then, there was the wheelie bin... it was filled to top! So, I might get in and do more stuff out in the living room while I'm in the cleaning mood.

While I was out and about yesterday picking up medication and dropping off things around the ridges, I found an old late-70's magazine rack.  It wasn't in bad shape, so I bought it. Today, I started sanding off the bits that were really worn down so I can stain it and work on it next week.

Then, when I ran out of the bits of sandpaper I used today (as my other sandpaper is at Mum and Dad's place; yeah I forgot to bring home a huge roll of sandpaper for my work), I stood at my workbench and painted up some pegs, working on them one at a time.

I got two finished and moved to a varnishing section... not bad if I do say so.

By then, it was around 2pm... only 2pm!  I went outside to read a book for a bit... but I found some mud wasps having some ideas to built another nest on a tree outside my window.  So, I got an idea:  I grabbed the WD40 and sprayed them and their nest.  They didn't like it, but they flew away long enough for me to clip the tree of anything they might build on; and besides, WD40 is just fish oil, it's not really that poisonous and won't harm my tree.

I read a bit more and went inside and began to knit more of a dishcloth I was working on... a big one... at around 2:45pm.  At 4pm, I organised something to eat and watched a bit of television while I worked and then thought it was time to get dinner under way at around 5pm... nachos! 

I've been knitting since around 7pm until 9:45pm, and I'm tired as hell. The kitchen needs a good cleaning tomorrow, so does the bathroom and toilets. I have laundry to get done and some more cleaning of the office... and I have yet to hear from the upholsterers about my chair.

I guess this just gives me time to get myself to clean out the house better... to have a week in waiting for something.

Have you ever had a week to have to wait for something and gotten more in a week done than you thought possible?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

At Long Last!

Autumn has arrived to Australia - at long last!  The shorter days, cooler nights and unusual weather has begun to show its face.

And I love it!

I have been looking forward to our Wintery days as I can get my butt into the garden really start working on it as I save my money for new pots, start to divide up my plants that need dividing and enjoy the colder weather - this means I don't sweat as much I do in Summer.

Yes, I'm a Winter person, I hate Summer.  I hate Summer with a passion... it's too hot, too sweaty.  I get sunburned too easily and the days are too long, the nights are too steamy.  I do love the Winters of cooler days and nights.

Well, over the last week, I sold an old Singer Sewing Machine to a friend of mine who was looking for something like it.  When Will saw it in my car port, he took to it with a screwdriver and pulled it apart immediately!  He kept on saying that he was eager to get into working on it; and he did once he got it home!  He bought it off me for around $50 - which made me happy too!  I have put that away so I can start saving up for something I've wanted for the house for a while now: a Ryobi 30+ kit.  It's two large rechargeable lithium batteries that can run drills, torches, whipper-snippers, lawn mowers and other such appliances around the garden and house and the most expensive part is the battery and charger.  I started saving about two weeks ago, and now I have the extra money, I'm looking at getting this for myself for Christmas.

Anyway, on Wednesday or so, I was at a workshop I took part in the previous week, and on the way I picked up my mail.  In the PO Box I found a parcel pick-up card, and I went inside and found a 3kg bag waiting for me!  It was filled with crochet yarn for my dishcloths!  Yay!  I finished off my other  dishcloths within about a day and then started on the bigger dishcloths with two different yarns from the ones in the mail.  
Now, this week, I've got to post off some of my gear from my work of Crafty Pegs to the lady who sent me the yarn as payment.  And we'll do it again in about three months or so, or once I need more.  

Tomorrow, I have the antenna people coming out to look at the reception on my television.  Over the last few years, it's been getting progressively worse.  I told my landlord and he's getting it fixed.  So, today, I'm clearing a space in next to the television for tomorrow morning.

So, what have you all been up to?  I have had a busy time over the last few weeks; thus why I haven't kept up with my blog as much as I'd like.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Wow! What A Week!

It's been very busy this week.

Really busy.  Busier than usual.  But that's a good thing really.

I had my craft day on Monday where I sat and knitted my dish cloths and looked at a few things brought in by the ladies.  I scored myself a very cool utensil holder from Bendigo Pottery... and I've been to the place where it was made; which made it even better to own.

Then, on Tuesday, a friend of mine dropped around and picked up the old Singer Sewing Machine he offered to buy off me.  Will was tickled pink about it!  He loved how aged it was, how easy it was to pull apart and he and Viv (another friend of ours) stuck around for lunch.  They left around 3pm... a great day spent with two wonderful friends.

Wednesday was spent at the Logan Art Gallery for 6 hours... I was working on a plaster cast torso.  I sat down and worked wet plaster into the shape of a book.  This wasn't easy, but it worked - especially when I got some paint onto it and then got the shading done on the book!  It really started to take shape!
But before long, it was time to go home; and we all have to go back tomorrow to finish up our work.

Today, I paid the car insurance and the RACQ.  I went to the doctors for blood test results and to have a few things looked at on my head (it's so much easier now my hair is so much shorter!).  Then, I was off to Mum and Dad's place for a few hours of knitting and lunch before they took off to Greenslopes to visit my Dad's brother in hospital.  

Yep, this week has been busy.  I'll be happy to just kick back this Saturday and do nothing until Monday... when I have to wait for the antenna guy to show up and fix the reception on my television.

How's your week been?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here!

Big Weekend! Lots of Rain!

I had a really big weekend... well, okay, not today so much, but yesterday was really full.  It was one of those days where it started and didn't really end until I finally went to bed and turned out the light and my brain also switched off the lights too... yeah, one of those days.

I was up nice and early, ate breakfast and just chilled out for the morning.  I didn't want to be stressing out about the day - as it was a market day at Murarrie, and we were in for a big storm.  So with the car packed the day before, and locked up, I wasn't stressing about how late I was leaving it.

But I did need a raincoat in case I was caught unawares unpacking or packing up.  So, I dropped by Mum and Dad's an scored myself a Bunnings poncho... very cool, and huge on me.  And because it was in its own little case, I just tossed it into the stores box and kept on driving; making it to the Murarrie Progress Hall an hour ahead of schedule.  But there was method in my madness... I needed paperclips and the newsagents around the corner was open.  I went and bought them and within minutes of me doing that, it closed.

Well, I was set up an hour and half before I usually was, and so I sat down and did some knitting... yeah, I knew it was probably going to be a slow market day  and brought along something to do.

However, it wasn't.

Despite the storm which brought a huge amount of rain, wind, thunder and lightning to Brisbane and the surrounding areas, there were plenty of people who braved the rain afterwards to see what we had on offer. 

Unfortunately, the problem was that the outside stalls fell through and nobody was outside - not even food vendors - and that meant nobody could buy food that day.  We had nothing to eat for lunch or dinner.  

Well, 6pm came and I had taken around $30 and packed up in the dark and rain (but not so bad I needed the poncho).  I found out I won the best dressed stall and before I knew it, I was off to Mum and Dad's place, where I was just in time for dinner!  Gabe, Kat and Riley were there, so was Jay and Grand-dog and Riley's puppy, Caspian, who is only a year old.  We had a great time after dinner playing Banana-Peel (a game based on scrabble) while I waited for the rain to back off so I could take off home.  

I got home around 9:30pm and I left the car alone to be unpacked today - which I did before Geoff and his little daughter, Zoe arrived for morning tea.  Well, we gave her pancakes and bananas for lunch before Zoe needed a nap on the way home.  It was a cool morning and - before I knew it - it was raining again.  I had unpacked the car, had visitors, built a very cool terrarium and washed up about half the gear in the kitchen then watched at bit of television while I knitted a dishcloth.  

Well, that was my weekend... it's been raining, so that's why I haven't been outside in the garden much.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.