Always the Way

Why is it that just when you find the best product around to do one thing or another, the store keeps it for about six months, the dumps it just as it become popular. And it's not just your local store, it's every store around your city, and the state that doesn't stock it.

I've noticed this with Coles, Woolworths, IGA and other small grocers as well. It doesn't matter where I go with my shopping, when I find something I like, and it works well in my home, it'll vanish from the shopping shelves within the year I've been using it - causing me to have to find another product just like it.

For example, I found that Finish put out a handwashing detergent... it came in two scents (lemon and tangerine) and you didn't have to use too much. It cut through the grease - just like the dishwasher detergents the company designed - and didn't leave a coating on my dishes! And man, I loved the stuff! I bought it in a large bottle, which lasted me around six months and I never found a fault with it. But when the time came to buy a new container of it, do you think I could find another one anywhere? No. I have contacted the company and they have yet to reply to my email about why they removed it from our shopping centre shelves. 

Another one is Buderim Ginger, Lime and Lemon marmalade.  It was the most delicious and wonderful stuff I ever found... and I went through bottles of it (around 9 bottles in the past 3 years). It was delicious on toast, English muffins and scones... and as quickly as it was on the shelves of Coles and Woolworths, it disappeared and was replaced with Buderim Ginger Jam. Now, I've tasted this, but have found it a little too gingery for my tastebuds - I'd rather the other one which is more lime and lemon with a touch of ginger in the background and not too sweet. However, seeing how the ginger jam doesn't sell (yes, I've been noticing that the shelves are always full at Coles where I live and never half empty like they used to be with the other jam from the same company on offer), it makes me wonder exactly why the company stopped making the other jam in the first place.

Why do companies stop making items and products which are making them plenty of money? Are they scared of becoming great successes; or they just testing something out first on us - the unsuspecting public first - before they put something even better on the market? If this is the case, why don't they just tell us this instead of showing us something, letting us get used to is then yanking it away from us as though they're teasing us in the school yard? We're not stupid. We're the public... can't they see when we like something, no matter how small the success is? If they can't, they're not playing the game right.  

Chillin' Sunday?

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Busy Week - With One Day to Go

I've been non-stop on the go this week. Since Monday, I've been out every day - even today, the day I promised myself that I'd stay home and chill out and do nothing; not even housework.

Yep, Monday was the day I attended my craft group. And I'm glad I went to it. My 'Aunt Pittypat's Cream Scones' vanished faster than they did last week (within around 10 minutes instead of 20) and the lady I gave the recipe to didn't get any scones at all. And the freshly whipped cream went down a treat too! 
Tuesday had me tracking all over the southside of Brisbane looking for the perfect dress to wear tomorrow night to the 'Allsorts Art Exhibition'. I looked absolutely everywhere in the way of charity stores. As most of you know, I don't shop retail when it comes to clothes, as I find they're too expensive and I really like retro styles. So, I looked around Life Line at Woodridge, The Salvation Army at Eight Mile Plains and then, finally, I jumped onto the highway and drove to Stones Corner, parked the car and took a walk around the place to find that all the one-off stores had vanished. Yes, I haven't been to this place in yonks and so I found the Vinnies there and found three gorgeously retro dresses that I loved and tried them all on! And they fitted! I bought them - and they only came to $28 all up; giving me enough money to buy lunch at a cafe down the road... a rarity for me to do. I returned home by around 2pm. What a day!
Wednesday I was out again at my folks' house to show Mum the dresses and figure out which one I'd wear to the opening tomorrow. She helped me a lot and told me that the really long one needed taking up a little - and it looked gorgeous for an afternoon bbq or something to wear on holidays. I was home in enough time to have a nice pasta dinner and an early night.
Today, I didn't want to go anywhere. I washed my hair and put out some rubbish, washed up a little, and burned some cds for the car. Then I received a text from My Optometrist telling me that my new glasses were waiting for me - yay! I got myself ready and jumped in the car to get there. They were just perfect; I loved them! But these retro frames were too big for anything they had in the way of glasses containers... nothing could take them! That really bugged me as I found some nice cases that suited the glasses but they were too wide! Finally, after looking around, the ladies found they had to give me a larger case. No worries, I'll make myself a bigger case for my glasses. 

Well, it's starting to rain... yes, rain... here. The night is a little on the warmer side because of the cloud cover. But it's supposed to be cooler tomorrow night. I can't wait until I have to  get ready. But I'll be setting my hair in hot curlers in the early afternoon. 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.   

A New Blog!

Okay... I'm a serial blogger - you all know this. I mean, just look at how many blogs I manage!!

Well, I went and deleted 'Charlie's Whispers' and then within minutes created a new blog... no not on that subject that 'Charlie's Whispers' was about. I created a new one about gardening. I love to garden and I work with container gardens the best.

So, if you'd like to have a look at it, feel free to and enjoy the first few posts - there's 3 so far about gardening. I've posted a link to a photo on Pinterest where I have a board there all about gardening.

Well, just thought to plug my new blog - that's all.

There's other blogs on a blog roll. I'll be putting up a list of books you can have a look for... I'll be talking about how to make terrariums, repotting Jades of all types, how to work a container garden into any type of space and make your garden look good... and what will work instead of lawn seed too. You'd be surprised what I use to make lawn grow. Well, there you are... I hope you pop in and have a look at My Private Little Garden. 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.