June update

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It’s the middle of June and it’s been an up-and-down month.

I started on a high; the HRT patches were working well and everything was coming up roses (literally in my garden as we head into winter). But I have one side effect. I am so itchy as soon as I get under water! I’m not sure what to do as it’s much easier to have this than to feel like driving off a cliff. Honestly that black dog was right on my shoulder, and it’s nice to not feel him breathing down my neck.

Craft wise, I am firmly in my own space! We built and had a sparky come set up the power safely so I can run machines, iron etc as needed. I am slowly cataloguing all my charts and Theresa, I clearly wanted to stitch The Castle as I am the baffled owner of FOUR leaflets. Hope you get a snigger from that!

Starting the sort. Love the wall colour.
Lots of Teresa Wentzler’s

On Kings Birthday Si & I went to do the backstage tour of the museum. Big disappointment. No where near as cool as the UK ones and not a lot to see that isn’t already displayed elsewhere on the floors. I did learn that Tyvek is not only a good building wrap but it’s also acid free so used as protection around artefacts and on tables tho.

I’ve had a massive flu, days in need and on my sixth day with little voice. Am over it, frankly, but did get stitching done as I couldn’t concentrate on the M1L etc increases in the slipover.

Needlelot Designs
Lola Crow

Both SALs are currently up to date. This is in itself a small miracle as I have also been spending a lot of time doomscrolling, but I also got over 600 stitches in Museum After Midnight the day I met up with Zeb & Leigh. Release 2 had far less confetti than the first and my needle glided thru it.

Anyway, I should really be working, so off I pop…

Here We Go Again 🎶

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I’ve been journalling analogue style in my second Archer & Olive travelers size notebook but I’ve decided to continue this blog also, with some weekly highlights and gratitudes.

It’s a beautiful day here in Tāmaki-makau-rau, just in time for football season to kick off. Mase is looking forward to the games, I am just here for transport, encouragement and the “yes I saw that, it was wonderful/terrible/I don’t know what” comments. The fellow parents are a good bunch, there’s something I’m grateful for!

After much procrastination, I cleaned my stitching chair with the Bissell today. Mostly because one of the fur babes chucked on it. Can’t believe I have been making this a much bigger task in my head than what it turned out to be.

If you are here reading this, sorry it’s been so long! Hope you are all well and happy.

Five for Friyay #12 (maybe?)

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This week’s been heavy at work with the boys away. Today’s day 6, and I have tomorrow off, then another 6 days straight. And ridiculously I have injured my wrist bringing one of the store flags in… That’ll get me a second look at the physio!

So on that note, here’s a link to 5+ great exercises for your hands, wrists, arms. Enjoy.

https://www.newwaveknitting.com/blog-posts/the-best-stretches-and-strengthening-exercises-for-knitters

Five for Friyay #11

Posted in family, Five for Friyay, grateful, me, work by

This week has finished with a wee party for a wee man who turned one today. Happy birthday Keakea!

So there’s a couple of things to be grateful for here – inclusion in a family that’s chosen us as much as we have chosen them, and also not having to cook/do this dishes.

Third on my list this week is a job to go back to. And Aircon! This was installed and turned on this week, and it’s made a huge difference to the environment.

Forth is FINALLY having a new microphone in my car. It’s only been waiting since June! Called Si straight away after it had been installed and he’s amazed at the difference. No more crackle or missed words.

My stitchy spot this morning while waiting for Kia to install the new microphone.

Fifth would be Elise. Her latest quirk is to enter the shower when we are done and wash herself. She’s so entertaining and clever with it. It’s lovely coming home to her conversation and snuggles.

Elise in the shower.

Hope you have a good week too!

Five for Friyay #10

Posted in Christmas, cross stitch, family, Five for Friyay, grateful by

Hello! Six more working days, one more stitch group meetup (seriously love those moments tho) and it will be Christmas Day! I am starting to rediscover my joy, thanks in no small part to Si, who put up the most Charlie Brown tree we’ve ever had.

Clockwise from top left: Elise is tolerating Peanut more, even to sharing a food bowl; Si brought me a cordless trimmer, that uses “keys” instead of stupid wire; the tree is almost smothered in tinsel; bookends! Charlie Meowse and Elise are birdwatching; I found the stitching I’d done for a present LAST YEAR and have laced it up; I finished the pattern bit of the babies jumper I am making for work; I brought and kitted up the Union Jack (Si’s choice) for next year’s SAL. With any luck I will hold off until Christmas Day to start…details for this can be found on instagram at the hashtag #2024QuakerFlagSAL or by shopping with Vivsters on Etsy.

Also Tag finished for the season. Hooray.

On a sad note, Uncle Ivan was farewelled at church in Judea last Saturday. He was a fantastic man, a strict father who set guidelines but was also there when all you needed was a quiet hug and to be told he had faith in you. His faith in God was higher and he will be missed.

Five for Friyay #9

Posted in cross stitch, family, Five for Friyay, grateful, me, stitch from stash by

Here we go. December already? My not-so-little Miss is 29 tomorrow. Time flies, I still remember that little button nose and the sweet new baby smell. Awww.

My week.

So..The carrot experiment was an abject failure.

Ray’s made some amazing pen holders/ort containers. I’m keeping a grey one and the other four are for sale.

I survived the Black Friday fortnight sale and it was with a lot of glee that I grabbed balloons and popped them. In a box, so I didn’t have to clean up. I’m not a complete idiot! It was actually very therapeutic.

Geraldine’s now got a wreath crown, I’m thinking of adding battery powered candles. Isn’t that a tradition somewhere?

I finished a pair of earrings for my Secret Santa recipient. I now need to FFO the stitched item and get it all out in the post. Deadline is next week.

I found Coffee Quaker when cleaning up. Thanks to pattern keeper, I’m now just over 50% even tho it’s over one. What was I thinking?!

And the end pieces are Peanut. She had a vet check today, her second vaccine shot and to see if she’s gaining weight (half a kilo in 3 weeks) but her urine is abhorrent. We have a special litter to use and to get a sample out, but do you think she’s using it??? She is letting me touch her again tonight (I thought she would be awful after the vet) but she’s stubbornly holding it all in. What’s the bet she’ll pee as soon as I go to bed??? Oh, and they think she’s only 6 months old. That seems awfully young to have gone thru all she has.

Five for Friyay #8

Posted in Five for Friyay, grateful, growing, me, Mirabilia, sport, stitch from stash, stitching patterns, work by

Hello everyone

“There are times to stay put, and what you want will come to you, and there are times to go out into the world and find such a thing for yourself.”

Lemony Snicket, Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can’t Avoid

Sorry for the long delay in writing – life has been a bit chaotic. I can’t remember if I mentioned before, but we (Si, his mate Dave & I) got roped into running a Tag module at the local league club (it’s like rugby league, but without the tackles. Look up NZTFI on youtube or google). Honestly, it’s like hearding cats, except my cats are better behaved. There’s also the new software learnings, and one thing I have definitely learnt is that my teacher doesn’t understand it either. Never mind, this is what Google is for, #amiright ?

I am in a period of going out into the world, and this too is hard work. I hate having to sell myself and interviews and all that. Loathe it. But it has to be done; you can’t moan about something and expect change if you are not prepared to work for it.

But onto the YAY for the week. I have used Duolingo over 100 days consecutively, and am in the Amethyst league. I got nearly 400 stitches into my Princess Elliana (Mirabilia) conversion, but boo, still haven’t found the colour change notes. The babes reached 18months, so I wrote a wee love note to Charlie Meowse on my IG feed. And I cast on a new project for work, and have learnt that I am a yarn snob as acryllic is ick. The end result however will be so freaking cute…

So there’s my five. Hope your week was good, and your week ahead is even better.

Five for Friyay #7

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hello it suddenly became Saturday! Where is my week going? Apart from work, and tag admin?

#1 is the incomparable Nalini Singh on Fated Mates podcast. I have heard Nalini speak before, but this was a really interesting insight into the world of publishing and also her world building processes.

#2 is a little gift from my SIL, a dutch biscuit tin with a cute phrase. I mean, I knew this about myself already but it’s still nice to see it confirmed!

#3 is nostalgia – this is the same type of bus ticket I used from about 1985 to 1989!

#4 is FINALLY the physical magazine arrived in stock.

#5 is the ease at which that little Fire has fixed our streaming issues. I get to kick Sky off my little island as it’s not been functioning properly since February and has been a real headache.

Five for Friyay #6

Posted in family, Five for Friyay, grateful, growing, me, travel by

This week’s ending on a high! We are currently in the capital, having a lovely reconnect weekend.

I finished Barry the Puffin from Knit for Victory (Etsy and Ravelry). He’s cute! Lessons learnt include going down a few needle sizes to tighten the knit up. I’m using 3mm on Sirdar Saltaire worsted in the current piece.

Barry

Last night in Taupo…bagged a really good motel that was right on the waterfront!

The steps down to the unit

Waking up this morning….

A gorgeous Taupō day

Ending up in Te Whanga-nui-a-Tara

Have a lovely week and if you’re in Aotearoa, VOTE! Just not for National/Act/Winnie, thanks very much…

Five for Friyay #5

Posted in Five for Friyay, grateful, me, stitch from stash, work by

This week has felt heavy. I feel like there are so many things that I *should* be doing, and instead am doing nothing. So here’s a list of things that I did do, just to balance out that feeling.

Check out the bod on Bazza!
  1. I went to work, and did a bloody great job of it too.
  2. I learnt to combine colours in a knitted piece, and along with that, mattress stitch and now a Russian join. I’m knitting Barry the Puffin, from @knitforvictory on IG/etsy/ravelry. He’s so freaking cute. I’m using Toft charcoal and cream, and the blue/yellow/orange are from Leith’s stash as I only need tiny bits.
  3. I found an app that lets me load my ravelry purchases (yes, multiple purchases) and include stitch counters for each part. Row Counter on my android phone, but it’s also available for iOS here https://rowcounterapp.com/
  4. The Sky receiver is fixed (hopefully for good, as I’ve had 4 techs out now) and they gave me a decent credit for the time without the use of the service.
  5. Voting is now open in the General Election! I am hoping that the polling is wrong, as I do not want a National/Act government. While our family would in theory be better off with the tax cuts, it’s scary what public services they will cut to fund this AND I am worried about the families and those in the low income brackets. I find that the older I get, the more left leaning I am.