A Lot Has Happened

 Well, let's see...

It's been quite a while since I last posted here, but that doesn't mean I haven't been thinking about this place.

I've been very sick. Don't worry, my Epilepsy had been fine, very stable in fact. I had my appendix out actually... okay let's start where it all did. October, when I was going to begin really talking about what I was going to get up to over Christmas.

I got my Phizer jab - the first one - and within the week of my birthday, I got my appendix out. Then, I had my second one and I got really sick with this awful bacterial infection called c.diff. It's painful, gross and just plain disgusting; and takes a long time for some people to recover from it, while for others, you take a few courses of antibiotics and - bang - you're on your way to your life again.

Me? Well, It seems that my guts don't like what antibiotics do. I don't take them anyway, unless I really and absolutely have to. And it's just that these really strong ones don't work on me. The minute I tried to ween myself off them, the symptoms of c.diff came back... and I was back in the ER at Greenslopes Private Hospital.

Jeez... not a great place to end up just before NYE. 

Anyway, I've been out of hospital just over a month, and I'm cleaning out the house. So far, the coffee table has been donated, and replaced by 3 little tables. And the white drawer has been donated too... and not replaced by anything. I'm also cleaning out my book collection. So far, I've got over 40 books I'm either getting rid of or offering up to bookcrossing friends... this is a good thing for me. I'll have more room in my office, and more floor space, less stress.

I've already gone through my wardrobe twice and it's looking good. The kitchen is cleared up and and the living room is tidy too. So, I'm good with those places. 

Volunteer work has closed for a little while, as everyone there has covid... well, except me. It was weird. I went in last Monday, worked for a few hours, came home, showered and washed my clothes (as I have been doing since covid struck), then the next day, I got my eyes looked at by an eye surgeon. Australia Day was the next day. Then, on the Thursday, I showed up for my volunteer work, and found out from my manager that everyone at that store had been diagnosed with covid on the Tuesday. How strange is that?

Well, I haven't had any symptoms. And I'm well, have been since the virus broke out. Seeing I've been staying at home isolating, I've decided to get right into the home office and really begin to clear it out. And I'm thankful I'm doing that. It's a good thing to do it while I can, and while I'm well enough to.

Anyway, I'm off to the doctors this Thursday to get myself looked as my hair isn't growing and it's thinning. I've been eating well, and sleeping as much as I can. But nothing I do is working as it should. So, we'll see what goes on after this. As for the eye surgeon? Well, I had been sent to him because my optometrist was worried I had pale optic nerves...and the eye surgeon was happy to tell me that I have the biggest optic nerves he's seen. They're twice the size of normal people... how weird is that?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and well. 

October

It's the beginning half of my birthday month; and so far it's been so busy, I've barely had time to sit still.

I've spent last weekend at my brother's house for my birthday - where we all swapped gifts. And thank goodness we did that! Because this weekend, I've begun losing my voice. On Thursday last week, I was forever clearing my throat, and just couldn't loosen up the frog from my throat in the morning, and by last night, I simply couldn't raise my voice higher than a whisper. 
This morning, I was coughing and sounded horrible. So, off to the doctors I'm going to see what I've caught. I'm feeling fine, it's just my throat which isn't.

Anyway, this week, I had so much planned to do - like heading back to the gym on a more regular basis - but that will have to be put on hold until this throat clears up. Then, my art group will have to be missed until I'm better (yeah, I'm not going anywhere near there until I'm less contagious). 

I've been decluttering my place in big ways again too. I cleared out a big space in under the stairs and it was great to get rid of things I seriously didn't need anymore and get them off to the charity stores. 

But today, I reorganised my back garden too. My Tahitian Lime Tree needs a new - bigger - pot and so does my Ficus, and I'll be buying a the new pot for the Tahitian Lime first. It's trying to put out fruit, so I'll get some citrus mix for it and then a large pot for it too, and repot it by November. Then I'll do the Ficus before Christmas.

This first half of my birthday month has been great - except for my forced silence of my voice - otherwise, I'm going well. So, how are you all? Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here. 

August Already

July was a busy month for me. 

I got the go-ahead to make as many Crazy Beanies as I could to be put into the 'Pop-Up Store' at the Logan Art Gallery. And now, these are beanies which are my own design; so I'm really stoked about this. Also, they want any baby beanies I have been making too.

Then, I'm taking part in an exhibition at the Logan Artists Association too. There's one painting which I'm due to hand in next month - as I've finished it this week and have to paint 2 more edges on it... and then? Well, that's it! I wait for it to dry completely and it's ready to take in!

Over the next 3 months, I'll be cleaning out my home office and searching for a new desk and a new bookcase for it. The old desk and bookcase (the brown one with the badly sagging shelves) will both be tossed out in the recycling bin and I'll be reorganising the whole room to cater for me. There will be more room as well.

By November, this office will be completed and then I'll have a few things ready on the car too, and the garden as well. I seriously can't wait to get it all done. It's been a long time coming when it comes to this kind of thing too... and I'm also going to look into op-shops and see what kind of desks they have too. So, I'll be driving out to places where they'll have furniture and be able to deliver too. This is going to be a fun thing for me.

Well, the garden is going to get a clean up too... just a little one. I need to get in and spread the lawn seed out, and fertilise it too. And I'll find some garden lights as well. Seeing I got the Agapanthus all split up and organised into bigger pots, I'm sure they'll be flowering this Summer - all purple flowers, how pretty is that?

It sounds like a lot, but it's not really. I'm really just staying home and going through a lot of junk here and throwing out things I no longer need. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Changing Seasons

It's finally beginning to look like Autumn/Fall... and I'm really happy about that! I'm beginning to really enjoy the gym; and getting back into the garden again too.

The first members exhibition at the Logan Artists Association is finished and I picked up my paintings and bought artworks for the house... and I'm getting together some of the things I'm giving away tomorrow on my day out with Elisabeth while I'm hanging out in the living room this arvo.

But today, I went to the gym, chatted to my next door neighbour and then after a shower, I repotted some of the plants in the backyard to get in and start on my maintenance of the garden. It's not going to cost me as much as it did last year - you know, over $300 - but it's just the finishing touches of the whole thing really. I'm looking forward to getting it all done. 

I'm also still knitting the beanie scarf. I'm up to the 3rd colour and; and it's looking great! And man, it's really long! I can't wait to get it finished and wearing it... but all good things take time, right?

Anyway, I'm reading and writing again. I don't know why I was in such a slump, but it's all worked out well. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Another Year Here

My 8am alarm woke me this morning, and I found there was the lovely, sound of rain on the roof. I didn't want to get out bed because I was so comfortable - and the rain was so calming, and it was 8th, September. 

This date may not mean much to you guys, okay a birthday, anniversary or the date of when somebody passed away maybe, but for me, today is the day - to the date - that I moved out of my folks' house and into a place of my own, on my own sixteen years ago. 

It was daunting, scary and weird... and I didn't have much in the way of possessions, just a folding chair, a plastic box, a bookcase and a little black television set (which my brother lovingly called 'the porthole' due to its size). The room with the most furnishings was my bedroom and the kitchen didn't have much either - thank goodness I had a Glory Box with items in it for when I either moved out or got married. 

But the first two years were the hardest for me. I was scared, nervous, intimidated by everyone, and not knowing how to be friends with anyone. I didn't want to get involved with my neighbours, but somehow did and regretted doing so. 
And over time, I eventually made up my own mind over who to be friends with, who to talk to, what I wanted to do, where I wanted to go, who to have at my place and who not to invite over. It was all a matter of not trusting anyone but myself. Sounds harsh but it's true.

The older I got, the less I trusted people, the more next door neighbours who came and went. Some of them stuck around for a few years, while others were gone in a blink of an eye; and then there were others still who were evicted and then there were the ones who could smell the eviction notice coming and vanished into the ether.
I have seen all kinds of things happen around here and have often talked with the police, who have become harder to talk to as their jobs have become more difficult to do. At times, I've found myself hiding from the noises around the place in the middle of the night, instead of being in my comfy bed with all my lights off wondering if it stop - while most nights I've slept the night through and we haven't been bothered by anything. 

Every couple of years, I've changed something about my townhouse - be it the garden or the interior - and it's looked and felt different each time. In the past few years, I've made a big change to the furnishings, giving it a 70's theme and it's really gone well! I love the feel it gives off and enjoy the warmth of the browns and earth tones... and yet, there's the modern technology mixed into it as well. 
This year, I changed up the back garden completely renovating it over the past 3 months; and it's going really well! Just as I've put down grass seed, it's begun to rain and the sun has started to shine into the back garden in the afternoons, thus it'll all started to become lush and green again. 

Yes, sixteen years in one place has made my little townhouse look not so different from the outside, but feel like a castle on the inside. And that's the thing: your house is your home and your castle. No matter where you lay your hat, you make your place feel the way you want it to. I've seen the inside of many townhouses here at the unit complex, and there's not much going for them inside; simply because the people aren't putting in the effort. 

I started out with nothing in my house... and now it's built into a place I look forward to coming home to. I enjoy being at home on the weekends. I love sitting out in my back garden at any time of the day or night. Once the doors are closed and the curtains are drawn, the outside world not longer exists and I'm in my own world - and that's what a home is supposed to make you feel like. And when I move from here, and take my things with me, I'll be able to do the exact same thing with my belongings to the next place I live in for however long I'm there for. 

Where Do I Start?

Well, so much has gone on this month, and in the past few days that I'm not sure where to start. At the beginning is a good place I guess.

My Little Garden Facelift has come forward in leaps in bounds since I installed the greenhouse; and the things I've been growing in it - and want to grow in it - are great! I've got a flourishing black cherry tomato vine in there and some herbs I'm using all the time. I want to get in a good salad tomato for this Summer - one which isn't acidic (as these things often make me feel sick in the guts from the acid in them) and seeing I'm growing basil, I'll look into growing more than I have now. 
Then, I put down 4 big bags of cheap potting mix on my big dip in the lawn. It just wasn't working out properly and I had to level out the ground before putting down new lawn seed again. I have done that but the seed came up too fine and I found I had to get better seed - which I did, and now it's a waiting game.

Over the month of August, I've been working on shutting down 'Crafty Pegs'... but not in the way people think. Every time I've said I'm closing it down, I'd gotten the look of horror from my friends. I'm attending a market to get rid of excess stock and I'll be working on a commision; so people can order things from me and I can make them as they're ordered. It's easier for me and I'll have more room in my house too! 

Well, it's also been a great month for me to work on not only my house, but also myself. I joined a gym at the beginning of August - and stuck with it - but I'm continuing on with my membership for the next 6 months! I'm feeling wonderful, working out twice a week and enjoying the difference in how the gym is making me feel. 

I did a little op-shopping, cracked my pinky toe on my right foot (and it's still recovering) and then before that I decided to get myself a new toiletries bag from Priceline - and it had to be purple, didn't it? Yep, it did. And it looks just lovely! I'm so happy I bought it! 
And then, my brother and his family were by Mum and Dad's house one Sunday night and I came by too... Ellie, their dog, was there too for a few days and she was just lovely to hang out with and pat. I'm looking at the photos from Project 365 and I had a big month last month; and well, this month started off big too.

We lost two family members - one of them was a lovely lady who had been in our lives for such a long time, I do think it's going to take a long time for us to grieve. Oma, Aunty Helen's step-Mother-In-Law, passed away on Sunday - Father's Day here in Australia - aged 99. What an age to reach, and such a day to leave us so suddenly as well. She fell ill that morning and was gone before the sun set. 

The next day, I found out that my Dad's cousin from up north passed away on Father's Day as well. I didn't know his cousin well, but she wasn't well for a long time with Breast Cancer; and she was around Dad's age. 

So sad over the past few days. I'm only hoping the next month picks up for us all in my family. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Stress Relief

It's been almost 2 months since my friend Hannah died, and almost a month since her service; and I've gotten right into fixing up the garden in a huge way. I've spent every pay packet on something big in it and normally I wouldn't. 

I think this is way to deal with my loss, and it's also a way to deal with my stress as well.

What do you think?

Over the past month, I've installed a greenhouse, repotted a lot of plants, given my folks two Agapanthus (they flower purple, so that's going to look wonderful this Summer) and I've dug out my late-Pop's tomato seeds to plant before Spring.

I haven't spent this much time in the garden since Little Miss Stevie died in 2012; so really I think it's my way of dealing with a great loss in my life. And my garden is looking so much different now things have been moved around and the greenhouse has been installed as well!

Also, I haven't been posting in here as often as I want to; but things will be changing soon... I will be getting in and talking more about life, how much it's changed and what I've been up to - as my social life has changed a lot as well. 

Anyway, if you'd like to see a more detailed post about my garden, you can go to the blog about - as I keep a blog about my garden now, and there's a good album about it on Facebook as well on My Private Little Garden. If you're not currently a member on that public site, just ask, and I'll let you in - no problems. Well, until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Little Bits and Pieces

I'm coming to the pointy end of my Christmas shopping... yep, I'm still going with it; but as promised, I'm not going to the big retail stores.

And you know something? 

It's really become a relaxing thing for me this time around! 

Honestly, you have to try op-shopping for your family next year... and hand-making things as well... it's not as bad as you may think.

I've found some great things; and today I'm planning on getting in and finishing up on some housework, then popping out and catching up on checking the mail, going to Bunnings and buying a few things there, then getting in and finishing up with a spot of op-shopping at Vinnies to buy a couple of picture frames - one of them has to be really big to fit something in it.

It's the bits and pieces part of the shopping; and I'm looking forward to doing this part.

When I returned home from the coast, I got in and did a bit of grocery shopping, two loads of laundry and put away the wiping up on that day... then the next day day, I was out to get more food, the paper and to check the mail before coming home to weed the garden, water the lawn and gardens (as it's been horribly dry here) and then wash the car from it being at the coast for a week. 

Today, I'm washing my sheets - well, it's been hot and sunny... and I'm sure it'll all dry in the sunny conditions.

While the housework is being caught up on, I'm making sure the presents are being taken care off too... yep, a busy time for me all around. 

So, how is your Christmas shopping going? Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Catching Up

As you all know, I've been crook as a chook with laryngitis... but then, a youngster coughed on me as I was getting over that and I caught it again! Well, a cold attached to that darned laryngitis anyway.

So, off to the doctors I went again and I was giving more antibiotics again and I was stuck at home - again - with a horrible cough, sinus and unable to sleep at night. 

Thank the Gods that happened before it got really cold!

Now, I'm catching up with the vacuuming, the housework, the gardening and the cleaning of the car. It's all slow-going, but I'm happily just doing a couple of loads of laundry, putting it outside in the hopes it'll dry (and it doesn't) and then pulling it in and putting it all on the clothes horse, once I pull the last lot off there. It's a never-ending circle of damp laundry in the house where I'm constantly running into the clothes horse.

I can't wait until it's all under control and I don't have to do so many loads of laundry every week. This is what happens when I get sick, everything gets so set back because I become lazy.

Anyway, I'm also working on the garden after the Logan City Council killed off most of my lawn. The lawn food hasn't done anything to fix it; so it looks like I'll have to get in and buy some lawn seed and work on it before Spring comes by. Jeez, I hate that... just when I thought my lawn was going well, somebody comes by and kills half of it off. 

Well, I've been reading again too - mainly in bed just before I turn out the light. Yep, I've gotten into the habit of not being on the computer late at night because it's causing sleeping problems for me. So, once I've finished watching television at around 10pm, I'll turned it off, clean up the living room, wash up the last of my tea and teapot and make sure everything is locked up. Then, I'll turn out the lights and get ready for bed (aka: P.J's, brush my teeth, put on the coconut oil and brush my hair and take my calcium pill) and then read a book for around an hour; and this is a real book, not a kindle. I don't like those things. They're too delicate for me. I have a tendency of throwing a book onto the floor before turning out the light. A kindle will only put up with being tossed like that before it breaks... so a real, paper and cardboard book is for me. I sleep better when I don't hit the computer at night; especially if I'm not feeling all that great and am battling a cold. 

So, it's been been three weeks, of me reading a couple of chapters of a book and so far, I've read one book, started another and am well on the road to my recovery of my reading slump. Not a bad run really. I'm starting out small and am building up to bigger books; all at around 11pm at night. 

Well, that's what I've been up to lately. I'm also catching up with my letter-writing. I'm writing a nice newsy letter to a friend in Toowoomba; and including photographs too. You see, she's an elderly lady I've known for years, and she doesn't like the internet or have a Facebook page. So, I've been writing to her twice a year or so and sending her lovely photos of my garden, my house, and my car, and where I go every few months... she loves it all, as it's just such a lovely way of keeping in contact. And besides, there's nothing like receiving a letter in the mail, is there? Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Busy Weeks

It's always good when life gets busy, isn't it?

I've been trying to work on my decluttering more again and it's working out for the best. I've gotten rid of 5 drinking mugs and replaced them with a set of 7 Mexican Glass wine glasses. I fell in love with them at Vinnies; and knew they'd look great in my kitchen... and I'd use them as well.

Then, I've wrapped up and gotten rid of some smaller glasses which I don't have a place for anymore. I just simply don't use them for anything; and so I have given them to Mum to give them to the right people. Anyway, I didn't know until it was almost too late that the set of 5 glasses with apples on them have a large jug that goes with them; so I'll have to get that to Mum as well (and thus freeing up more of my cupboard too). 

Otherwise, I'm painting, creating and getting into my gardening again. With Summer on the way, everything is growing faster in the hotter weather. And the best thing is that there's been some rain hanging around too; which means the gardens are getting fed too. I'm still watering, but with the rain coming at the right times, this means I don't have to water so much.

My brother's birthday was yesterday and my niece's birthday is on Saturday. So, we went out last night for a seafood feast at Sandgate. It was great! My brother loved the rough-cut serving platter I gave him made from Camphor Laurel and the pressies I gave Riley were perfect for her - she just loves them all! 

Yep, it's been busy, but a good busy for this fortnight. 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.

Haven't Stopped - Until Now

Today is the first day I've stopped for over a week. I've finally stayed home to do nothing but chill out and maybe get in and do a bit of housework and some painting.

But over the last week, I've been busy as hell. 

I've recovered from the laryngitis, but there's a cough that's hanging on from it that's going to be with me for another month or so - from what I've been told. But otherwise I'm good and well. 

Last week, I started on the last part of the three-year garden fix-up. Every three years, I spend some serious dosh on my little garden to make it take a big step forward. I know that sounds like a lot to do, but during the years in between those three years, I care for the garden, prune it, pull the weeds, fertilise it and make sure it's well. I also take notes on what needs to be done, saved for and which plants need new pots, new potting mix and what I can do with the old pots - which other plants can be transferred into the old pots that I have left. 
You see, I don't use plastic pots. I go to the expense and use terra-cotta pots, so they last a long time and not go brittle. But it costs so much money and saving up for them is something I am good at when the time comes. 

So, during last week, I moved a few things around the garden and bought myself a standard Ficus. This plant is related to the Strangler Fig and it's advisable to keep it in a pot. So, I bought a pot and all the fixings to get it into that new pot. By the end of the week, the garden had been changed around. The steps by the side fence were moved to another part o the garden, where the pots there used them, and the Ficus became a focus point in the garden. This is good... and has made the garden fix-up come to an end this year two weeks ahead of schedule. This means I can start saving for other things I would like around the place if I want to.

I then went to Bunnings and found a shelf-splitter. This is a metal shelving unit you install in your pantry - or on top of your benchtop - and you can organise your space better. I have been looking for this for ages; since Bunnings advertised it two weeks before actually. Then, I showed it to Mum and she thought it was a great idea and got me to go and buy her some.

During the weekend, though, I've been doing volunteer work, knitting and at a Birthday Party at my brother's house to celebrate his girlfriend's birthday. So, I baked my famous cream scones and whipped up some cream to take with me. It was a great afternoon and we were home by 7pm. 

This week is going to be just as busy as I have to see the doctors about an x-ray I got done last week, do the grocery shopping (which isn't going to be much by the look of things) and then work on the painting I'm halfway through. Yep, this week - like last week - is going to be busy, busy, busy. 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.

It's Been A Pay Week

I never thought this week would end... but end it must - thank goodness!

On Monday, I was off to my craft group where I served up cream scones with freshly whipped cream and yummy Apricot jam. Well! Those scones didn't last 20 minutes! They were gone before we settled into our routine... it looks like I cracked the recipe well and truly. 
I scored some bread and found a few other things at the book trolley I liked and bought there. Otherwise, I had a good day doing stitching for another pin cushion. However, next week, I'll probably be doing a painting - I'm not sure.

Well, Tuesday was a nice day. I got to see a friend of mine in the morning for a few hours then I took my time and cleaned out the fridge once I got home. The next day was shopping day, so I thought to wash up all the containers I use for fruit and the grapes that day too.

Wednesday saw me out early to get petrol, check the tyres and to the Rochedale Fruit Market. I did my usual rounds of buying everything I needed at Logan Central Plaza and Triple C shopping Centre. But then I was told by Kylie at Woodys' that the kiosk they had going there was closing down next week!! I mean, what??? Where was I supposed to order in my 'Supernatural' Season 11 now? This is so unfair and everyone she told felt so let down. I paid off my 'Blackstar' vinyl by David Bowie (yes it's the second one I've bought - this one is to play, while my other one is kept wrapped up). While I was there, I also bought 'The Stand' teleseries on dvd (special edition) and a few cds of music which were about $2 - $3 each; and all without cases. 
For the rest of the day, I got my shopping done at Coles and I ended up getting home after midday. 

Thursday was another early day for me to be away from the house. I was attending a workshop at the Logan Art Gallery about fibre and string making. It was interesting and fun to do, right up until my arthritis kicked into my fingers and I couldn't get in and do anymore twisting or stripping. So, I found something else to do and made a wreath from some wool and other found objects. It's turned out to be very pretty.

Today was a busy morning for me; and this arvo is for me to chill out here at home - seeing I haven't really had that much time to myself. This morning, I was at the optometrist to get my eyes check. With my medication, the Topamax can affect my eye sight in the long term - okay, it can send me blind without me really noticing. So, I have to get my eyes looked by my optometrist every year to make sure this doesn't happen.  I had enough money in my private health cover to get another set of frames - and I'm getting another set of reading glasses; funky 1960's ones. 
Once I finished there, I bought a big cd/dvd sleeve book which holds all my burnt and singles in one place. I'm so pleased I've done this as it stops me from getting little ones all pulled together. Anyway, after I bought that at Big W for just $28 - and it holds 200 cd/dvds - I was off to Bunnings to pick up the things I need for tomorrow's work around my garden. I got 3 bags of potting mix, 2 bags of stones and 3 little feet for the pot (matching in colour too). Then, I was off to RACQ at Eight Mile Plains to pay for my RACQ for the year. 

Now, I'm home, I am thinking about what to have for dinner tonight. I was going to use the slow cooker, but I might save that for tomorrow night. Tonight, I might pull together a lasagne ... yummo! I can't wait. Well, that's my week. Busy, yes, interesting, yep... finished? Not by a long shot! Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

A Busy Week

It's been a busy week - and has turned into a chilly one as well - showing that Winter is most certainly on its way.

Monday was my craft day where I took my lovely little Craft Box in to show it off to my friends. They all loved it; saying it was about time I bought myself something worthwhile and so pretty. I also grabbed myself some bread and a potted plant; I still don't know the name of. 
I dropped off some bread to my folks on the way home and gave them some capsicums as well - which were free - and Mum and I sat around and chatted until the sun was almost set.

Tuesday had me at my folk's place again as I had forgotten my sunglasses and so I arrived in the dull morning just in time for the sun to push through the clouds. It was a slow day and I was working on another pin cushion and we sat around chatting and catching up on things that had occurred around the place while they were on their holiday.

Wednesday had me out all day taking my needlepoint to the Logan Art Gallery, shopping around for a large pot for the garden and dropping mail off to my parents' house. It was a good day, just very busy and all over the place. I also hadn't had a full nights' sleep with some neighbours waking up half the neighbourhood by having a domestic screaming match outside my house... I mean, what the hell?... anyway, I didn't even get out of bed. I just screamed for them to shut up! After that, I heard them get into a car and leave (thank god!). 

Thursday had me going to my folks' house again. This time, it was unexpected as my Mum asked me to hang out some laundry on the line for her while she was at the doctors. I went over there and did that for her and looked for some stain to use on a little table I had found on Mother's Day. But I couldn't find the stain I had bought (it had a crunched lid). When Mum and Dad returned home, I asked Dad and he gave me another different can saying it was the only one he had. So, it looks like I have a can somewhere here at home; I'm not sure.

Well, it's today, Friday, and I've had dreadful sinus for the past 2 days. I hope I'm not coming down with a cold. Those change of season colds can be pretty disastrous for the socialising... and I have some of that to do over the next few weeks.
This morning, I got in and did three loads of laundry and sprayed Glen-20 (a disinfectant spray) around the house and on the bed to kill any germs that I might have caught and that might be around. So, I'll see how I feel tomorrow. I'm not feeling horrible, my sinus is all clogged up, that's all. 

It's been a busy week, and next week is just as busy too. 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.   

Repotting Madness

It's not so much madness - per sae - but I'm getting into the habit of buying bigger pots for the garden and repotting the plants that badly need it.

Yesterday, I bought my first larger pot and today I potted the first plant that was becoming too big for its tiny pot. It feels good to get out there into the garden and make it look better - even if it's just one plant. 

But I didn't buy the planter from Bunnings - as I normally do - I went to Masters at Browns Plains to see what selection they had and found they didn't really have a lot of planters to pick from... well, they did but they weren't exactly what you'd call packed to the roof with gardening things - not like Bunnings. I did find a nice pot to put my Cardboard Palm in, and that was the main thing - the only thing - I was there for, to find a planter for that plant. 

Otherwise, I'm looking at buying more potting mix in the next week - two more bags - and putting away more money to make sure I have enough money for new pots for out the front. These ones have to match each other otherwise, it just won't look good... and the ones from out there will be reused in the back yard for other plants there (not the Frangipanni's - they need pots with open lips, not rose planters). 

As the weather has become cooler (which I really do love so much), I can look at my garden more and get in and work on it. It's so much fun to plan on what I can do with it in the time when the plants are sleeping and dormant over the next few months... and so much easier to repot them, organise them and make my garden into something bigger and better than before. 

And that's just the thing. As the years have passed by here, my garden has gone from weeds and lawn, to a vegetable and herb patch and turned into a place filled with flowers, plants and greenery. It's grown so much and I've enjoyed every minute of it; watching it grow. But it's not just watching it that makes it fun, it's putting the hard work into it that makes it worthwhile. I love getting in and working on it and seeing how the plants grow so much when the weather starts to warm up - knowing that I've done the right things for them to grow so well. 

If you have a garden, what have you done to make if flourish? Have you got any secrets to share that may make a difference in other people's gardens? Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Long Weekend Ahead

This weekend is a long one - a three-dayer - where ANZAC Day is included. So much has gone on this week, I might just take it easy and get in and do some artwork, reading and tidying up of the yard; the latter of which I started on the other day.

But this week has been non-stop since Wednesday, which was a busy shopping day for me. I got out of here just around 10am and arrived home just after midday with all my groceries, goodies and bits'n'pieces just before the rubbish truck arrived. I filled that bin up on time too.

Thursday was a day where I took my time going out, as my day was going to be busy, but I wanted to make sure I had everything ready for when I did go out. When I go out, I hate to leave things at home; because if I have to return it's a pain in the butt to get back into the unit complex for just one little thing. 
Anyway, it was a busy few hours out and about around the place before I returned home. It included me going to Woody's to collect 4 vinyls I had bought from one of the employees there - and they're great vinyls too! I brought those home after going to Bunnings and picking up a bag of potting mix in preparation for this Winter and then checking the mail. 
At around 2pm, I brought the slow cooker down off the fridge and got in and put together a soup and put it on for that night. Then, washed up the yoghurt container for that night to make more later on (which I did at around 9pm). When I put the scraps into a bowl and took them out to the compost bin, I found I had a termite nest in the bin! Oh crap! So, instead of wasting my time with the scraps in there, I threw them into my regular bin and Googled how to get rid of termites in my compost bin. There were two ways: heat up the bin with green waste and garden lime (which is the slow way) or get a wheel barrow and get rid of the whole lot of the nest into a green waste bin and cart it away. I chose for the latter as it was a faster way to to it... not easier, but faster. It took an hour and three barrow loads to get rid of the nest - and the leg on the wheel barrow gave out on the last load (it was rusty as hell - that's what the caretaker gets for leaving the damned thing outside all the time). 

On Friday, I was woken by a text to tell me that Prince had died. My brother had told me and I knew he was shattered as he's a big fan of the singer. I was hoping to sleep in a little seeing what a big afternoon the day before had turned into. 
I was only supposed to be out for an hour or so from here and I ended up arriving home at around lunch time. I had left home at around 11am and it was well past 1pm by the time I came home. I had been to Bunnings - again - Super Cheap and then Mum and Dad's house to pick up something for them and then off to Aunty Narelle's and Uncle Iain's place to drop off what Mum and Dad needed... then I drove home. 

Now, I need to sell the compost bin. It's of no use to me. Dad doesn't want it either - he's got one - and so I'm hoping to sell it. Dad won't like it that I'm selling it; but I'd like to make a bit of money out of it seeing there's nothing wrong with it and no charity will take if off my hands; as it's too big for them to carry it.

Anyway, today, I'm hoping to chill out, do some reading (yep, catch up on that) and get in and do some serious tidying up. I have laundry to put away, the car to wash, washing up to catch up on, the lounge room to tidy up and my vinyls to catagorise. This is just for the weekend. I hope to get it all done by Monday. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember I'm always here. 

Big Plans

Over the last two years, I haven't done much; not since I fixed up the gardens. Okay, I did the markets, but I haven't changed anything in the house.

I still have most of the furniture I moved in with - besides the bedroom suite I bought myself for my 40th Birthday - and I have been wanting a change over the past few months. I've wanted a new dining room table and the need to get back into my garden again this Winter (which is just a matter of getting in and repotting plants that have outgrown their pots). 

The sad fact of the matter is that 95% of my furniture was once owned by somebody who's passed away or doesn't need it anymore - yes, my house hold furniture is all second-hand. All of it, except my office desk, my bedroom suite and the standing desk I built, is all second-hand or scrounged from around my unit complex or the family in some way. I don't like it that for a good part of my life, I've been living with this kind of stuff in my life; and wish to be rid of some of it. 
I've had a word with Mum about selling the kitchen table - as my late-Grandma owned it for over 40 years - and she said it would be okay to sell it. You see, it's a retro-1960's, 5-sided table with 4 burnt orange swivel chairs. I'm not just going to dump it, I'm hoping to sell it for a good amount of money and use that money to buy another dining suite almost immediately. 

Other things I need to work on is the office. There's a bookcase I really need to get in and replace with a bigger bookcase - yes it's a matter of getting one that's tall enough, big enough and will take on the weight of the books I own as well. This is so when I move house, I can just take with me the four bookcase I own and they are bookcases I use in my next place without any worries of having something fall apart in transit. This is going to take time, though, as it's a matter of saving up the money and then buying the bookcase and getting it home. Then, ditching the old one.

During this time - of about 4 months - I'll be looking at how much my stall next year will change. I'm currently working on making new things for it - like book-bags (which were things I thought would be great for kids and high school students to enjoy) and handbags, which I'm hoping to find a pattern for a simple one to make soon. But this is all just 'blueprint' stuff right now... however the stall is going to change in a way that nobody's going to see; and I'll have to make a hat stand to house the new bags I'm hoping get into - or buy one... or... well, like I said, it's still something I'm working on right now.

As I mentioned in the beginning of the post, I'm looking at my garden. I've already started buying potting mix in readiness for June/July to get myself into the saving mode to buy large pots for the garden. I need 3 large pots - which I'll buy one at a time - to repot the two plants out the front and the third one will be for the Frangipanni out in the garden; as it didn't flower this Summer past. 

Yes, there's plenty of plans I'm hoping to get done over the next few months - including a major decluttering of my house as well. This means I have to be brutal when it comes to seeing what I want and what I need in this place. It's coming to the pointy end of the whole decluttering thing - you know, the devilishly detaily part - but I'm sailing along well. The bathroom was cleaned out and and cleaned up all in two days in the last week, and I'm very pleased with that. Well, until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Back To Decluttering Fun!

Over the last week, I've had some major time on my hands; and it's been damned depressing over that time as well. I didn't have my internet and used a Hotspot Device that my Mum loaned me - so I wasn't online for as long as I wanted to be, because I didn't want to chew through the money on that.

So, once I got myself back online, I started back into the decluttering again. The top part of my wardrobe has been cleaned out and I gave away a tiny bookcase I have been using as shelves for my tiny handbags. In its place I put a basket where my tiny handbags can stay and put my 3 craft baskets up there along with 2 spare pillows that are strangely-shaped (a body pillow and a boomerang pillow). 

Then I have gotten into the habit of throwing out the rubbish in the kitchen on a daily basis and making sure I try to wash up once a day (after dinner). It's making life a lot easier for me now when I wake up in the mornings and the kitchen is so much tidier to work in. And speaking of which, I have had the kitchen pantry, fridge and under the kitchen sink all organised since January and they've stayed that way. I'm so pleased with myself that I haven't let them get messy again! 

Yesterday, I mowed the lawn, watered the garden out the front - as it's been so dry here - and out the back yard just as the sun went down, and was inside after dark and just before 'Neighbours' started (man, that show is going through so many changes... I seriously don't know if I want to see any more people leave it). 

Today, I washed the car for the first time in weeks and sorted out the vinyls collection under my stereo system. I found so many things there I didn't know where to start; but starting somewhere instead of giving up was better than nothing at all, right? Well, I found some certificates of my late-Grandpa's tests for his mouth organ exams out at Warwick inside a book for one of the 'Reader's Digest' Album Collections. They were left there by either my Grandmother or my Uncle Allan. Just as well I went through all the music album books and didn't just toss them into the box thinking they weren't worth anything... and just as well I wanted to try out one of the vinyls too, otherwise I would never have found the certificates.

Well, I called Mum and told her about them (as she's the one doing the family history and needs to know) and I put them away in a folder I've got of all his music certificates - so far - I know there's more somewhere around here. I have inherited a lot of books and things that have these hidden inside them; I just have to go through them all before giving them away.
Once I got the vinyls I didn't want anymore into the car, asked a friend online if he wanted any of them, and thought to take them to Mum and Dad's tomorrow... I packed away everything else into the space under the stereo again. There's a gap behind them, but I'll see what to do with that yet.

Well, that's my few days of cleaning up and cleaning out done for now. Two bags of Christmas Decorations are off to Vinnies on Monday. And tomorrow I'm sorting through my bathroom towels - as I have far too many for just one person. There's some there which are too tatty to be hair towels; so they're going to be stored in the shed for when I need them around the house. Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.