First Day of July, and...

I've had a very busy day today.

First off, I cooked up myself a really great breakfast - but didn't want it. So, I tossed it out and washed the car.

Then, I cleaned the tyres, put armorald onto the important inside parts and then polished it and cleaned the headlights. 

Yep, my little car shone like a new penny! 

By this time, I was staaaarrrving! About time. But then, I thought it was a good time to take a little drive to get the water and crap out of the brakes and tyres. 

So, I took off to Simply Beans and enjoyed a lovely ice coffee and Belgian Waffles! Yummo! I read the paper a little (something I never do on a Saturday) and then took off to Bunnings and bought 2 bags of potting mix and tried to get another large $16 pot, but I could only afford the potting mix - oh well, next time!

After that, I was back on the road to Arndale and looking at Variety1. This place has a huge amount of goodies from Mont Mart... and so I bought a couple of things to send off to Mark, who is in hospital right now. I was hoping to visit him, but I've come down with a cold I caught off a 5 year old around my complex. 

Jeez, if it's not laryngitis, it's the common cold... man, where did I go wrong? 

Anyway, I'm home now, it's around 4pm and it's beginning to get cold. Last night, I was hoping to change the top sheet of my bed to another warm sheet, and when I pulled out the other sheet, I found out the hard way that I gave away the wrong bloody sheet to charity! I gave the Queen sized sheet and kept the double sheet! Damn! I knew I should never do that, give my sheets away to anyone... this has happened before.

So, now, I have to go and buy another Queen size sheet for the bed.

Anyway, I've gotten a lot done today. The yoghurt I made last night worked out - second time's a charm - and I'm looking forward to chilling out around the house tomorrow and doing some gardening in the next couple of weeks. 

Well, I'm hoping to vacuum out the car tomorrow when the car port dries out. But the car looks lovely and clean now. Well, that's me for now. 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.

Happy Easter!

Woah!  It's Easter already.  That means the rego of the Little Green Machine is up to be paid (and I've paid it... yay!) and then there's its insurance and the RACQ Roadside Assistance too...but I have until the end of the month to do the other two.  I will be doing those two next week to get them out of the way.

However, this weekend is the Long Weekend for Easter.  I spent Good Friday at Mum and Dad's place where Mum played 'Crossroads' concerts on their television for 5 hours!  

Okay, this is something Dad hates, which I didn't mind for 2 hours, but having it go on continuously for 5 hours is a little much.  By the end of it, I really wanted to leave the house... I felt really bombarded by it all.  
But I was a visitor and felt I couldn't say anything.  I did stay for dinner and ended up telling Mum I didn't like what she did with the music that day; that she didn't even notice that I went quiet by around 3pm (when I do go quiet in times like that, it means I'm withdrawing and feel really exhausted from my surroundings and what quiet time... even just an hour or so).  

Today, I was out really early to the shops to pick up a few little things to take tomorrow to my friends' house.  I'm cooking up a storm when I get there.  It's going to be fun.  I'm taking my wok and making a huge stir fry... great stuff, eh?  Well, it's going to be wonderful and I'll be loving every minute too, as Will Cornivus (a mutual friend of Geoff and Vivienne's) will be there too, and he and I haven't seen each other for yonks.
While I was out, I bought Mum and Dad their Easter gift of a cute little plant and took it over there to them.  I said that may not be able to drop by before going to Viv and Geoff's place, so thought to give it to them today; and see them on Monday instead.

Anyway, while I was there, Mum was searching high and low for a shopping list and she couldn't find it.  We searched the car, her handbag and my bag and her clothes ... and we still couldn't find it.  Well, she started writing out another one when I suggested she downloads an app from the Playstore onto her phone and she'd never lose her shopping list ever again.  She did that and started writing her list out on her phone.  I'm glad I taught her about that app.  She takes her phone everywhere... and so she won't ever lose her lists again.

Well, that's been my day so far.  I've also written out a flash fiction today too; and it got 13 hits in just 45 minutes... very cool... I'm very happy about that.  It's holding on the 13 so far, but I'm hoping it'll take off more by Monday.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember I'm always here.  And most of all, Happy Easter!

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.

It's A Heatwave!!!

Heatwave

Well, yes... there's a heatwave hitting Queensland right now and it's not going to give up on us.  Today I went out; and regretted it when I got home... really shouldn't have done that.

However, I've drunk some milk (woah!  Why did I do that?) and then made myself a cranberry and mineral water and have been keeping close to the air conditioner in my home office.  It's just too darned hot to go and do anything outside... or downstairs.

So, there's my excuse for hanging out on the net today.

What's yours?

Busy, Busy Non-Stop Weekend

This past weekend was one of early mornings, all day work and staying up way, way past my bedtime curfew.  

On Saturday morning, my alarm woke me at 5:30am; not the most wonderful time to get out of bed on a weekend, but then, I had markets to be at by 8:30am all the way over at Murarrie State School.  So, I thought to get up early and be able to take my time, than wake late and rush through my morning routine.

Well, I was on the road by 7:45am on the dot!  I had to go to the bank and plug into the GPS the address and then?  Well, I on my way!

It didn't take me long to get to the school - actually, a shorter length of time than I thought it would, so I thought to slowly set up and then take a walk around the school and photograph the animals and other parts of the place to show off where I was for the day.  
After buying myself some coffee and a cupcake for $5.00 I returned to my stall to find the wind was picking up and it had already tossed over my easel.  Some of the other stall owners had been good enough to pick it up for me and put the magnets back on the sheet of metal.  But the darned thing wouldn't stay.  So, I had to lower it and sit next to it.

For the whole day, other things kept on blowing shut, or falling down.  But I put up with all of that just to make myself a bit of money.  It was good to enjoy the day there; it could have been worse - we could have had rain (then I would have packed up or had to put down plastic to protect my goods).  But then, I found out that some people just packed up and left because of the wind, whereas I didn't.  And you know, it was after midday I made the most of my money and profits; very cool!

Well, by 2pm, the people and crowds left and we were advised that it was okay to pack up if we wanted to.  One of my friends had arrived and he offered to help me pack up; and I didn't say no to that.  Geoff could see how tired I was too.  I drove to Mum and Dad's place and showed them the photos and told them about the day, all the while patting Jay the wonderful doggie... yeah, Gabe and Kat had gotten them to care for her for a few days.

Before long, I was off home, vegging out in front of the television munching on a snack.  I didn't want to be eating anything too heavy before crawling under the covers of my bed at around 10pm.  

Sunday was my brother's 43rd birthday.  He had had a costume party the night before... a very cool alien costume party; which was fun for everyone.  And so, I missed out due to being exhausted and Mum and Dad went to see Ahn Doh at the Logan Entertainment Centre.  They totally enjoyed themselves... it was great. 
Well, I spent the day surfing the net and stuffing around online and pretty much not doing too much.  I was just too tired; plus my right foot wasn't feeling too hot.  I had tripped down a tiny step the day before and turned it.  But seeing I didn't feel anything on Saturday, I didn't thing anything about it.  Then, Sunday morning came around and - woah! - the pain kicked in!  

And Gabe wanted to go out to dinner.  So, I asked Dad if it was sprained.  He looked at it, and thankfully said no, but it's been strained pretty badly.  So, take it easy, and put a hot face washer on it before bed to keep the bruising and swelling down.  I did that and on Monday it was far better than it was on Sunday.  But yesterday, I had to just slow down and take it easy, no fast turns or twists on that foot.

Today, it's better than ever... I still have a twinge of pain in it, and it's a little swollen still, but it's not as painful as it was on Sunday.  So, it's getting better as time goes on.  However, my chiropractor will think otherwise.  Also today, the past three days of me going out has finally caught up with me.

I've been out to the bank to pay for the rent on my last stall rental.  Then, I went to the post office to check the mail, then I came on home... yep, that's all the driving I'll be doing today.  So, how was your weekend?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Full Weekend!

Sooooo, how was your weekend?  Full like mine?  Or was it just busy around the house - like mine?  Yeah, a bit of both for everyone I think.

Well, on Friday night, we all went out to dinner to celebrate my future sister-in-law's birthday - Katrina - and had a ball!  Yes it was freezing cold!  But we all totally enjoyed our dinner, gave her gifts and loved the music at the Arana Hills Sport Club, just down the road from where they used to live at Keperra.

On Saturday, I had a full day out and about.  First off I was late for my Sci-Fi Writer's Group at the Hyperdome, but only by around 20 minutes... yeah, ran myself late.  Silly me!  It does happen, but not often.  I slept in by accident and that's why I was late.  Anyway, we all got chatting, Debbie Behan commented that Renee and I both definitely dress like writers and we all had a good giggle about it.  Before long, midday had arrived and I couldn't join them for the lunch at the food court because I had to do my volunteer work at the Logan Art Gallery.

Well, once there, I found the place was set up for an afternoon of a demonstration.  Donald James Waters was showing up to demonstrate the way he does paintings.  Seats had been lined up and plastic laid down ready for him to use the space.  It was great. Once he arrived, I made him a nice, strong cup of coffee and had set up his stuff ready to go.  People came in late and he was happy to see everyone... then he started on a blank canvas!  Well!  What a wonderful thing it is to see an artist at work!  I took a collection of photos to see how he went about making a painting, and found it was filled with just imagination, lines and he took it in all kinds of directions and kept on turning the canvas around to see where he could take the painting!  

By 5pm, the whole thing was finished, the money was done and signed for and I was ready to go home.  It was the end of a busy day... and I made pasta to eat for dinner once I arrived home.

Today, I made a stack of thin pancakes and scoffed them all down - I must have been hungry - while reading the paper.  Then, I jumped online and sussed out my flash fiction to see who said what about it; as I had uploaded it last night.  People loved it, as I had hoped, and I suggested they looked at the other one I did last week - as it still hadn't had anyone looking at it.  A few of them have looked at that one, but not many.
Then, I made a move on cleaning up the home office.  It was a pigsty.  I moved all the synthetic bags into the bedroom and pulled all the books down off the saggy bookcase to go through them all.  I am giving away a bag of books I'm not going to read; a lot of them are thrillers by James Paterson, Mills & Boon romances and other types of books I've simply lost interest in.  Then, I just restacked the books and made them sit better on the bookcase.  And to make it better and easier to see my books, I changed the Mt To Be Read by the door into a book stack like the ones around the room.  It looks good too!  There's still a lot of work to be done about the books, but I'm happy with what I've done with them.  They're going to be put into the car tomorrow and taken to my craft group to be given away.
However, I wasn't done.  I had the synthetic bags to work through.  So, seeing I had over 10 bags sitting around, I went through them all and moved any of the stuff that seemed like little, small stuff into one bag.  All my knitted stuff went into one bag, the bag with my life history stuff went into one bag too... now, it's all just 5 bags of stuff lining the front of the bookcase I have to work through and throw out.  This won't take long seeing I'm good at doing this now.  There is still a fair bit to go on this room with charity bags and rubbish, but this is a good start - a big start - but a good one.

Tomorrow, it's craft day.  I have to take the car to Mum and Dad's place to get the oil looked at then I'm off to the Queen Beez Craft Group up the road at midday... I have a lot of work to get done in those few hours.  I hope to get it done.  My Tie Cushion is coming along well, and I'm happy with it.  I still hunt around for good ties - nice ones with funny stuff on them - but I'm working on it bit by bit.  And I'll have it finished in time for Christmas.  Well, until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Busiest Week Ever!

Since last Friday, I've been so busy I haven't had time to scratch - no really... it's been that busy in my life. This is a good thing and a bad thing.  For people with my medical condition, it's good to keep busy, but then, it's also not good as well as we can burn out easily.  And this is what I've done.  I've burnt out; feeling it around 10pm last night... not fun.  So, I caught an early night and slept in this morning.

I did have some plans for today and wrote them down on a notepad and slept better than I have in months... must be because I had them running around in my head for that long.

This morning, I got up at around 8:30am and did 3 loads of laundry, put out the rubbish and recycling and then made a terrarium for the hall table.  It's a desert one; so it doesn't need any light, very cool!  I put shells I had collected from the beach the last time I was at Gabe and Kat's place. 
Then, I moved the brown converting chair downstairs and sorted out that awkward corner next to the stereo system so it will never get messy again.  That chair will house only two boxes of my sewing and knitting gear and that's it.  I can open the cabinets and get in there if needs be... not too bad.  Then!  I moved the big armchair from my bedroom into the office so I have somewhere to sit and read if I want to, instead of my office chair.  It's a comfy chair and I don't want it to go to waste.  I do have some nice cushions from the next room that I'll be using to make it nice and comfortable as well.  It's a nice 1960's type chair too. So, it won't be going to a chair place... very nice, and it suits the room and isn't too big.

Then, I decided that it was time to get in and check my mail online.  So, I jumped on here and did just that.  It's been a good morning of work, sorting out and making sure I start on cleaning out this room.  And I've done just that with the chair.  I'll begin throwing out other things soon... it's July, and I have until Christmas to have this room in the shape I want it in - and that's useful and not a junk room.  And I believe I'll get it there.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Saturday.... Already?

Man, oh, man!  What happened to this week?  On minute it was Monday, and the next?  Well, I opened my eyes to my alarm on my phone and it's Saturday again!  Woah!

Is it me or is this year zippin'  on by faster than I want it to?  

Well, I've gotten a lot done this week; and today was no different.  Yesterday was fun though... trying to find my way to Mt Coot-tha to meet up with Susan - a friend from college - and the GPS telling me to take the round-a-bout when it had been dug up by the Brisbane City Council!  Um... yeah, real smart move there!  Plus getting there is a lot more complicated than it used to be when I last drove there.  I mean, it is a tourist destination, right?  We are trying to get tourists to actually go there, right?  Okay... then why are we making the roads completely impossible to use?

Anyway, it's just how things are I guess.  Susan and I had a wonderful lunch and we hung around, took a lot of photos and enjoyed ourselves completely before she saw my car (as she had only seen photos of it on Facebook) and then we had to take off to do our own things.  For her, it was to pick up her kids from school; for me, I had a chiropractor's appointment on the other side of town... which took almost an hour to get to because of roadworks, bad drivers and people texting all the time while they were driving (jeez, if the adverts on the tv and the net aren't bad enough, why would you even think about texting in a massive huge truck of a vehicle in peek hour!  It's beyond me!).  

Today, I was out and gone early - by around 9:15am - to get to Vinnies along the service road to pick up some ties there.  I'm making a craft thing for a Secret Santa gift for my craft group.  It ought to be great, I can't wait to start on it.  But I'm hoping to get into it this afternoon while the sunlight is good before I start hand-stitching the ties onto a large cushion.  
After I bought the ties, I was off to the Logan North Library where Karen Tyrrell was launching her book titled 'Stop the Bully'.  It's about how to put a halt to schoolyard bullying early so it doesn't carry on into high schools and adult life.  It was a great and wonderful launch with quite a few spokespersons talking for her cause; as so many people are affected by bullying in their lifetime and nobody ever helped them.  

Anyway, I'm home now, and am hoping to get in and work on a few things around the house soon.  The computer is slowly getting back to normal and working its way through the configurations as it settles into its new tower and programmings.  I'm being patient; and when it does work well, finding it's very fast, but it does have its moments where it's slow... but right now it's scanning the whole hard drive to make sure there's nothing untoward hiding in it.... and this will help it along to work better.  Well until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

A Catch-Up Weekend

Wow!  I've had a busy old week, which I've happily left behind me... and now, I have two days to myself - totally to myself.

What the hell am I going to do?  

Okay, I've done some laundry, and hung it up on the clothes horse - as I don't trust the weather today.  It said showers on the radio and it rained all night, so I don't think I'll be hanging it outside seeing my arthritis is playing up today.

I need to catch up with my reading... and have a few books to read today and tomorrow.  So, they're there to look into.

And I have some housework to jump into as well.  You know, clean the bathroom, vacuum and dust... it's all very basic... but it's gotta be done.  
Then, tonight, it's Movie Night here... and 'Bed of Roses' is next on the list in my massive index book of dvds.  I watched this around Christmas Time, but I will watch it again because Christian Slater is in it (mmmm... yummo!).  Otherwise, it's a nice little chick-flick movie and not too hard on the senses, and it's about love too.

Anyway, besides all this, I've finished up my work for The Creative Markets and now I can have a week to look at what I need to get done around the place... like the shopping, going to the chiropractor and attending my writing group as well as my volunteer work next week - yep that's all next week.

Sooo, what's on your plate for the weekend?  A lot or not much?  Do tell.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Today...

Today it's Saturday - all day... and it's been a long day for me.

I woke at around 7am and didn't really go back to sleep.  I kinda just flirted with going back to sleep, when really my brain was acting like a child on Christmas Day... so I got up and going.

I had a book launch to be at and so I boiled 6 eggs while I ate breakfast.  Only 5 of them worked out... they're for a salad for tomorrow's lunch at Gabe and Kat's house.  This ought to be great!  I can't wait to be there.

But today, I was in the car, and out and about.  I had to get some money out of the bank.  I had to check the tyres on the car.  I had a few other things to do before going to Logan North Library... yep, I had to leave around 45 minutes early just to get these things done.

I got them done... and then I was off!  I was at Sanet Smit's book launch - her first! - and I loved it.  She had a gift to give away and did a reading - which got everyone to buy a copy of her book... so cool!

Then, after 2 hours, I was off again.  I went to Mum and Dad's place and found there was barely anywhere to park!  The Well-Being Centre down the road was having an Open Day - and so it was crowded around my folks' house.  We shuffled the cars around and I parked mine in the front yard where Dad and I fiddled with the left side mirror (as it still wasn't working right!).  Well, while he glued something, I kept feeling something crawling up the inside of my jeans... then I realised it was something big!

I shook my leg and jeans too ... and a massive big ant fell out onto my shoe!  It didn't stick around for long as it flew away!!! Eeewww! Ick! Ick! Ick!  Dad didn't see it... neither did Mum... but I did!  It was a huge ant!  Bigger than a Green Ant! And since Dad didn't see it, he didn't worry about it... but me?  I raced upstairs and wanted to know if it had any friends wandering around my jeans hem I didn't want to know about... and so did Mum.

Well, once we found that ant was on his own, I was okay... but I was careful about walking around on the lawn out the front.  And Dad had a careful and long look at the ants nests around the yard, saying he'd better have a better look at them all.

Not too long after this - and after figuring out how much petrol my car drinks (as it's been 2 weeks since it was bought), I decided to take off.  I had some things to do.  There was some charity stuff to drop off and some cds to buy at K-Mart.  I needed to burn some music for the car.  

And tomorrow is going to be a busy day... so tonight, I'm going to be making a very cool salad... a big one, but very cool one too. 
And speaking of tomorrow, what are you all up to?  Whatever you're doing for your Mums - here or in their memory - drive safely, take care of each other, love your Mum for now as you never know what's just around the corner that will change how you see them and how their lives will change.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

Four Days of Sheer Laz-y-ness

Yep, I've done pretty much zero around my place... contemplated the fluff in my navel and have done just enough to make the house look and feel reasonably, passable as tidy. 

So, what have I been up to otherwise?  Well, researching a little online and reading books about Angels and Archangels.  Then, I washed up everything, put out the rubbish, searched the place for some photos of mine and then searched the place for my Peace Flags - couldn't find either of those things.  I'm concerned but not too worried... I'll find them, they're here.  It's just a matter of knowing where to look.

Then, I packed the car for the markets yesterday, made sure I have enough money for the float and organised myself for it.  I have planned out what I'm going to wear and have it all hanging out on the doorknob next to my wardrobe along with the jewellery I'm going to wear and shoes too.

Yeah, I'm prepared completely.  I'm just hoping tonight the place stays a little quiet... so I can get a good night's sleep as I have to be up at 5am to get going.  I'll set the table and be ready for it all and have everything ready to go; no worries.  I've even charged up the tablet to take with me too; in case the crowds don't happen again or it's raining.

Today, I had pancakes for breakfast.  They were lovely.  Then, I mowed the lawn, took photos of my plants - as they've shot up since the rain a few days ago - and then kept looking for the peace flags and photographs.  Still no luck.  it looks like I'll be looking for them again properly... pull this place apart properly bit by bit.  I really do know they're here.

Well, so much for a laz-y-ness time... my mind is on finding these silly things. Until my next post, take care, stay safe, and remember I'm always here.

I'm So Very Tired.

Tonight, I'm really tired.  It's because I've had a very full day... and after such a full week too.  I've been out almost every day this week, and today I was hoping to have this morning to myself.  But it wasn't meant to be.

But let me start on Wednesday, where the busyness really picked up some momentum.  I went out on this day to pick up a bigger box for my stores stuff to the Creative Markets; as the new stands Dad and I built don't fit in the other one.  And I've been using the smaller box for my stock - which all fits in there, along with another box for the Itty-Bitty Jugs.  Sweet!  
While I was out, I bought a lovely pair of glasses from Life Line.  They two BIG pints!  I love glasses like this because if you want a mammoth glass of water or ice tea, you can have one, instead of refilling a small glass over and over... it's great.

Then, on Thursday, I into it with my work on new products.  On Thursday, it poured rain.  So, I stayed home for most of the day while listening to the radio and worked on some new stuff I was experimenting with.  These new things are called 'Magna-Pegs Bon-Bons'... they are 6 pegs that have the same design, different colours and are all magnets.  They are all clipped onto a bon-bon centre and then wrapped in celophane and the ends are tied in silver or gold twine.  Very pretty.  I gave Mum the prototype and she loves it!
I worked from around 2pm until about 10pm... yep, all day and most of the night.  I was stuffed!  But I slept really well.

On Friday, I went out.  I had to go to the chiropractors and drop into Mum and Dad's place to update my price list for the markets.  It's just something I needed to do so I had the price list on hand for customers.  I also gave Mum the prototype of the Magna-Peg Bon-Bon and one of the new Beautiful Hangers before either of them hit the markets... she loves them, but hasn't taken them out of their wrappers yet.  I don't know if she wants to use them.  

Today... well, today, was a very full one from beginning to end.  I was up at around 8:15am and didn't seem to stop until - well - now.  I had to use the Tom-Tom GPS to find my Romance Writer's Group at Waterford (I can never find my way there, only my way home... strange that). 
But on the way there, I was doing a little loop through an industrial estate near my house when I passed a car with the driver's window smashed.  Glass was all over the ground next to it and the car was just sitting there.  So, I turned the car around, parked behind it, and called the police on my mobile.  They happily too the vehicle details and where it was exactly from me and I was on my way.  Sure, I was 15 minutes late for my group, but it was for a good reason - and my friends thought it was for a good reason too, saying what I did was right; as I'd want somebody to report that kinda thing to the police for me even if I didn't know them.

Anyway, after the Romance Writer's Group, I found I was running a little late for my volunteer work.  So, I jumped in the car and drove there... I was 20 minutes late, apologised and found the guy who usually rubs it in that I'm late hadn't shown up yet.  Actually, he didn't show at all this time - again.  This was the third time he'd skipped it. So, Jillian called him and he said he thought it next week - whoops! - oh well.  Just as well, we had nobody come in or any phone calls. 

So, how was your week?  Busy, busy like mine?  Or average?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.  

I Found The Kitchen Counter!

Yep... I found it!  My kitchen counter has been hiding under a whole pile of junk for years and today and tonight, I found it!

What happened was that I lost power while I was online this morning.  Fortunately, it was after I did two loads of laundry, saw the skies and pulled it all in from outside and put it all on the clothes horse.  Then, two lots of electricians showed up to check on it and it turned out to be something really expensive that had to be done; as half the unit complex had power and the other half didn't... damn!

Anyway, in the two hours I had to myself, I cleaned up the area near the fish tank, and put away a lot of stuff next to the pantry, photographed my Crafty Pegs stuff and put that away.  Then, I put all the photographs on the set of drawers I have sitting at the top of stairs that I'm using as a hall table right now (as I'm saving up for a real hall table).  
I spent around 3 - 4 hours painting; even after the power came back on.  I just got into a groove and didn't wish to leave it. 

Well, before long, it was time to take a break and so I sat down and did some proof-reading for the romance group I'm taking part in tomorrow and took some notes for it.  Then, I was back at it for a little while and made a pizza dough for dinner.

Now, it's late, and I have to get to bed as I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow.  I have to learn to program the Tom-Tom to get me to Waterford tomorrow; and back.  It's going to be an experience.  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

A Lot Done In One Day!

It's Saturday, and I thought it was going to be a lazy day... but boy, was I wrong!  I was out of the house by 10am and off to Mum and Dad's.  I had their mail to drop off and they were happy to see me; besides, we had to get the code into the radio.

Well, on the way there, I bought 2 boxes from Sam's Warehouse to keep on organising my home.  One was for the party stuff and the other was for Halloween gear.  Anyway, I bought some milk and was off to my folk's house where the birds were hanging off the kitchen screen the remind my parents they were still around... how cute can ya get?
We tried to make the code work in the car, but it didn't go in.  Weird but true.  So, we're taking it in to the manufacturers to get the code on Monday.  Strangely enough, the day I took it in, the guy didn't notice that the rego on the papers and the rego on the car didn't match...hmmmm... not very observant.

Anyway, I was at my folks' place for a while and ended up at Centro for a bit to buy some birthday presents for my second cousin, Arabella.  Her birthday party is tomorrow and she loves My Little Pony stuff... well, seeing I don't have children, I'm a little out of touch with what kids like.  But I found a cute little lunch box with learn to read books inside.  I also bought a container of 50 colouring pencils... very cool.  Mum wanted her to have the My Little Pony gear, whereas I wanted to get her something a little more original... and have added a couple of my hand-painted pencils to the colouring pencils.  It think she'll like them as they're pink and purple with gold on them too.

When I arrived home, I got organising again!  I used the boxes for their intended purposes and found they looked great - and I'm using the cardboard box which held my Halloween stuff as a charity box. 
Well, to start off that box, I went through my utensil drawer in my kitchen!  And I have so much crap in that drawer... like 4 sets of measuring spoons!  How and why I have this many sets is beyond me, but it's funny how one collects something like this without actually knowing they've done it!  I also have 2 pizza cutters - one works, while the other doesn't.  And I have an ice-cream scoop which I don't use; and I don't think I ever have used since I bought it.  I also found 3 tea-strainers of varying qualities!  Again, amazing how somebody gets to collect things like this, don't you think?
Well, I kept the tea-strainers and the measuring spoons (they're funny to keep) and then, I tossed out one of the pizza cutters, the ice-cream scoop and a few other items out of the drawer and into the box, and hey!  I can find everything in there!  How cool is that?  And I only spent the very famous ten minutes looking through that drawer!  I'm so proud of myself!  So, what did you get up to today?  Organising your house or was is a cool Saturday to hang out and chill at your place?  Until my next post, take care, stay safe and remember, I'm always here.

It's A Heatwave!

Yep, here in Brisbane - and in fact the whole of Queensland - it's a heatwave! Today, it's supposed to reach over 40 degrees Celcius here in Brisbane alone... while out west in Roma, Chinchilla, St George and other country towns, it's supposed to reach over 45 degrees Celcius!  We're breaking records that have been set way back in the 1940's this year!

And so, today, I was up nice and early at 6am to get the laundry done, swept out the car port and then, put the wiping up away and opened up all the windows of my house... then?  Then, I found it was 30 degrees and only 8am.

Crap!

So, I made my drink, turned on the air-conditioner in my study and have been hybernating in here since.  But I'm still sweating badly even though it's the coolest room in the house.

Wow... eh?

This afternoon, I'm hoping to get my butt downstairs to work on the some pegs when it does cool off a little - well let's hope it does.

So, what are you getting in to do over this stinking hot day here in Brisbane?  And if you're not in this uncomfortable stickiness, and is caught out in a snow storm or ice storm, what are you doing with yourself elsewhere in the world?  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and remember, I'm always here. 

And here's some of 'Heatwave' by Martha and the Vandellas to get your toe tapping.

 

Tomorrow is My Day Off

Yep, tomorrow is the day where I sleep in, eat pancakes, do pretty much nothing at all but contemplate the fluff in my navel... it's also the calm before the storm of the Creative Markets on Sunday morning.  It's the day where I'll be organising what I'll be eating, drinking, wearing and doing at 6am on Sunday morning.

This won't take long.

Seeing I've spent the last 3 weeks organising myself to the last little letter, little bit and every little piece of thing I have ever needed in between, I have all the stuff I want in the car.  My two boxes filled with stores and items for the table for the market.  I know exactly where my stall is at the market (as I was sent an e-mail of where it was in the hall last Monday - and it is subject to change on the day).  And I have bought every kind of food I've ever loved to eat from the Big Apple and at Coles - which is snackable and tasty... so there's nothing that can go wrong.

Unless I accidentally go back to sleep and forget to get up, dress, scoff down breakfast and race off to the markets in a huge rush, I don't think anything will go wrong.

Last week I did have a horrible nightmare though.  I dreamt that the markets were moved to Dreamworld; and so we all got there and the organisers wanted us to haul all our stuff onto the train there and we had to set up at Koala Town (is that still there?).  Then, at around 8:45am, they just went around and told us that it wasn't any use and we had to pack up and leave the premises before the themepark opened... at 9am!  I had to pack up on my own and nobody would help me drive my Kombi van out of there.  I was being glared at by all the people walking around the theme park and I felt terrible and didn't sell a single thing or get my money back.  I was thankful it was a dream.

I know that was down to stress... damned thing... but I think it was because I'm walking a road I've never traveled before and it's scary and weird.  And once I've done this and know it's not that bad, I'll do it again and know it's fun and stressful and exciting... so, I'll make a little money and enjoy it. 

So, I'm looking forward to the Creative Markets at Springwood State School on Sunday.  I'll be stuffed when I get home, but it'll be worth it when it's done.  Dad's worried about how much money I've put into the Crafty Pegs venture... but I do believe it's the setting-up costs and the first year that actually does cost the most in a business; after that, it does start paying itself off little by little.
But I have noticed that I'll never get my time back from my Crafty Pegs.  It's just how it goes.  I enjoy painting - fortunately - and it's something I will be getting back into again and again.  

So, tomorrow is a day of double-checking that I have everything.  That I have enough money for a float... that I have my outfit sorted out, the right shoes for the day, that I get enough sleep the night before and make sure I secure everything right for the drive over and back.  I know that sounds basic - the last one - but I don't want something to be smashed in the back of the Pajero when I'm not going too far for a market.  Well, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Woah! What a day!

Today, I looked at my list of things to do and knew I wouldn't have time to scratch - well, okay, maybe an hour - but I was going to be busy!

I went out to do the big shop for Mum and Dad before they return home from overseas on Tuesday morning.  Now, normally, it's just milk, bread, some eggs, bacon and a few little things.  However, with them being away for so long, I have had to rethink about how to approach this.
So, I made proper shopping list a few days ago, organised myself some serious money from their account and took off soon after 9am - and after making sure I ate all my breakfast and wished my brother a happy 42nd birthday.

Shopping took me 3 hours to do.  I went to The Big Apple down the road and then took off to Coles, parked as close as I could to the Coles end and did a huge shop for Mum and Dad; buying all they'd need in the first week of arriving home.  
I got them ice cream, chocolates, ham, bacon, organic chicken thighs, chips/crisps, corn chips, milk, butter and... well, everything else I could think of they'd want to use.  I know they have a shopping centre down the road from them, but when they arrive home, they'll be thinking about washing their clothes and unpacking, not wanting to shop for essentials.  So, I've done that thinking for them.

Once at their place, I unpacked everything and put it all away, then sat down for an hour... I just had to because I needed it.
Then, I back into it.  I washed the kitchen floors, along with the bathroom and toilet floors, then vacuumed and dusted everywhere.  It was all done within a couple of hours.  After that, I washed and wiped up, after changing all the towels in the house, and then packed up all my gear and took off home.  By this time, it was around 3pm. 
On the way home, I spotted that petrol was 147.9 for unleaded; so I put $30 into the tank and now... now I'm home - thankfully.  I'm so tired!  All I want to do is crawl into bed and go to sleep; yep, I'm that tired. 

And now, this leaves me open for tomorrow to be a day to myself.  Then, on Monday, I'll pack up the car, take all Mum's gear to her house and unpack the car totally at their place, go to Craft Group and have a clean car to take to the airport on Tuesday morning... well, until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Back Home Again

I came home yesterday.  I miss being in my own place, my bed and doing my own thing.  Besides, my house was pigstye and really needed cleaning up because Gabe and Kat were coming over to visit.

Anyway, I arrived home and found the neighbours were very quiet.  They didn't use their taps unless they really needed to and she did a laundry run at around 4pm instead of midnight.  I'm happy about this, but how long it'll last for is something to be seen.

Today, Gabe and Kat arrived here and they were really impressed at how much I've gotten done around here.  Gabe loved the shelving unit I bought at Sam's Warehouse and Kat needed a rest so caught some zeds on my bed; which she loved!  She said the mattress was so lovely and firm and the blanket was nice and warm as was the duvet.  
But I also let them into a project I'm getting done here with the plumber.  I'm getting all my plastic taps replaced with chrome ones because the plastic ones are old and cracked.  And then he's also fixing up sewage venting hole in the backyard which has been left open for the last 7 years; and isn't meant to be like that, so he said he'd fix that too.  Gabe reckons it'll give the place a little more class and make it easier to sell too.  Also, he's happy that I've gotten out in the car a lot too - more than he realised I would. 
Then, while we were at lunch at a Turkish place at The Underwood Marketplace, he commented that he hadn't realised how trapped I had been without a car.  I said that before I began driving again, it would take me 4 - 5 hours to get one thing done; if I was lucky.  I'd have to catch the bus to where I was going, make sure I could do what I needed to do, or get what I could get, pay for delivery if needs be, and then catch a bus - or 2 - home.  By that time, it would be late afternoon and I'd only just beat the delivery of my item home... he shook his head not realising things took so long.  I said that with a car, I could get 4 or 5 things done in 3 hours and be home and have the afternoon to myself to wash up from the morning, pull in the laundry and pay the bills.  It made life so much easier.  And grocery shopping has been cut in half because I get my fruit and veggies on the way to Coles, and I'm home a bit after midday.

Before lunch, we were at IKEA.  Man!  I truly hate that place.  It's so full of crap and things we need - and yet don't - and then we all get lost on the way out that I don't go there very often.  This was first time in over 2 years I've been there and I nearly got lost twice.  Gabe and Kat were looking at buying a new lounge, but they have to measure their old one first as there were so many to pick from.  Then, I was there to chose a chair for my art area - one which is swivell and is on wheels for easy movement, and it doesn't take up much room.  Well, I found my chair and then, a new strainer for my washing up for my knives and forks.  Then, I found a small sifter that was perfect for when I make pizzas.  All up I spent around $35.00... not bad for a day out at a massive Danish furniture store full of crap I don't need.

Well, how was your Saturday?  All good I hope.  Mine was good and full of visitors, shopping and new things from IKEA.  But we had fun while we were there.  Until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.

Last Minute Stuff

Today, I was out to Garden City for a few hours.  However, it was a cold day to do it.  I found myself walking around getting things I needed to get and making sure I had everything before coming home.  

Now, I had to get my prescriptions all done up, buy two pairs of track pants - for when I leave hospital and for recovery - and then, I had some general shopping to do for the house.  I bought some flour, steel wool and some picture hooks to use in the bedroom for the paintings.  
Then, once I had all the gear I needed and wanted, I stopped by Gloria Jean's Coffee House and bought myself a bagel and a hot chocolate.  When I settled at a table, I found a book on my iPod and started reading for a while... it was nice to relax for a bit before I took off again to go home; because once home, I had more work to do.

When I did arrived home, I had to put the two pairs of track pants in the laundry and do my hand-washing and hang it all up on the clothes horse to dry.  Then, I washed up all the new stuff I bought for the kitchen, and then I folded up the clothes I took off the clothes horse that was on there first (and was dry) and put it all away in my bedroom.
Now, I have this new bedroom suite, everything fits in it.  All my clothes can be put away and I am able to fold everything and put it all where it's supposed to go.  It's so nice to have a bedroom suite where it has enough room for everything!  And it's made sure I can put my laundry basket where it's supposed to be: in the laundry!  So, I'm glad I have an organised bedroom now; which in turn has gotten me to organise my living room and dining room too, because a few things used to overflow into those two rooms from my bedroom.  Now this doesn't happen anymore.

This weekend, I have a whole lot of last minute stuff to do before I go to Greenslopes Hospital for my operation.  Yes, my surgery was moved to that hospital but it's for the same day - Tuesday - but I have to find out what time I have to be there the day before.  So, I'm still getting the ovarian cyst taken out and everything is going to plan, but I've been sent to another great hospital... and I've been to Greenslopes Private Hospital before.  So, I'm not worried about being there; especially as a day patient.

Well, I still have a few things before Mum shows up and then, I'll be set.  And the best thing I've done ever to date is getting myself a new bedroom suite.  I bought it for two reasons:  firstly, I wanted to get myself something big and major for my 40th birthday; which is a big turning point in my life.  And I normally get myself something big for my birthday every few years.  Also, because I'm going into hospital, I needed something where I'd be able to be comfortable to rest on... not just a new bed, but a lovely new suite where I'd be able to sit comfortably during the day and sleep during the night.  And the firm mattress is doing my back wonders!  I haven't slept so well in so many years!  Buying an expensive mattress was well worth the money!

I better be going.  I still have a few things to get done; and besides, I'm making pizza tonight and I have to get the dough made and wait an hour for it to rise... sounds great, eh?  Well, anyway until my next post, take care, keep safe and warm and remember, I'm always here.