To Market

I am completely done in.

At 2am I woke up and could not, for the life of me, get back to sleep.

My alarm sounded at 4.45am so that I could leave for the markets at 5.45am.

Adoring Husband left at 5.15am and by the time we arrived, had selected a site and had the gazebo set up ready for us to help with the tables.

It took BGWLBH about 20 minutes to set up her art on one table.

It took me quite a bit longer to display my array of goodies and finish pricing everything.

Thankfully, AH bought us coffee before he left and by the time the markets officially commenced, BGWLBH and I were settled in our folding chairs ready to make great sales.

The temperature was quite mild, but only because of the gusting winds that blew over all of BGWLBH’s artworks.

I had a stand full of preloved clothing that almost took off a number of times. I was grateful that AH had tied the stand to one of the gazebo poles, but I still had to rescue clothes that blew onto the ground and the stand almost dislodged itself a few times.

I had good sales for the day and considering how few stalls were set up, there were a lot of visitors walking through the grounds so I had a lucky day.

Unfortunately for BGWLBH, she was not so lucky. There were plenty of tyre kickers and lots of positive comments, but no sales. This surprised me because there are a lot of new residents in new homes that I expected would purchase art for their new bare walls, plus, it’s getting close to Christmas and her artwork would make beautiful gifts.

I am feeling disappointed for her and she is feeling discouraged.

It was the longest five hours ever and we were so relieved when it was time to pack up, both of us deciding to give future markets a miss.

There’s just too much effort required, by all three of us, to make it enjoyable or worth it.

It’s currently 8.15am and I am in bed.

I napped with Harley on the couch this afternoon but it wasn’t enough to make up for the lack of sleep last night.

I had purchased a pack of shelled and deveined raw prawns at the markets and I found enough energy to crumb them and cook them for my ‘fend for yourself’ dinner.

I’m not sure if I’ve timed this well or not, but I’m leaving Harley’s bed cage door open tonight to see where he chooses to sleep.

His options are … in the cage, on the floor beside my bed, at the foot of the bed or ON the bed.

So far he has dropped beside the bed, then moved into his cage but is now asleep at the foot of the bed! I guess he’ll figure it out eventually.

If he disturbs me too much during the night, I’ll just direct him back into his cage and shut the gate. It’s not really a cage, because there’s no lid OR floor. It’s more of a rectangular fence.

Anyway, as I said, I’m done in.

Nite all.

Still Motivated

I tidied up some loose ends after my cleaning frenzy on Thursday because I’d left a few items in the hallway outside the bedroom so I decluttered, tossed a lot and found new homes for the rest.

I pulled apart my pedestal fan, cleaned it and put it back together. 

More decluttering of the wardrobe, all of which I will attempt to sell at the markets tomorrow. Some I’ve never worn, most I’ve worn just once and all good quality.

I spent the afternoon pricing the clothes and filling my market box with things that I plan on selling.

BGWLBH has her art all packed in the car to sell and Adoring Husband has filled the car with our tables and the gazebo and other paraphernalia.

The weather is going to be cloudy and windy. Let’s hope there’s no rain!

Now I need to make a list of things I need to remember in the morning, like taking the square reader off the charger, water, snacks, hat, sunglasses etc.

Need a decent nights sleep so …

Nite all.

High Motivation

Today was very productive.

I was up at 8am.

Made my cup of tea to take out to the pool area with Harley, where we played until 9am.

I decided on prawn dumplings for breakfast.

Before he left for golf, I watched The Great Pottery Throwdown and The Great Australian Bake off finale with Adoring Husband.

As he left, I made my way into my bedroom with the vacuum cleaner. Like a good removalist, I took everything out of the room (except the bed, the side tables and dressing table) so that I had a completely clear floor to get on my hands and knees and vacuum with the hose only.

The combination of Harley hair and my hair in the carpet was a nightmare! It took a while.

I then washed the inside of the six windows followed by washing the plantation shutters.

I emptied out the four side table drawers, washed them out, decluttered and then swapped them over - I am changing to the other side of the bed and putting Harley in the opposite corner of the room so that I have easier access to my ensuite.

I washed my very large bedside lamps.

The previous day, I sorted through my journals. I have two shoe boxes of unused journals and two boxes of journals currently in use …

All of the jobs today took three hours.

I got to watch half of my quiz shows, took Harley out to play in the rain for 20 minutes and came inside to prepare dinner - nice and easy nachos made with turkey mince.

The new series of British Sewing Bee started tonight and when that finished, I could hear my bed calling.

I’m certainly feeling weary.

Nite all.

Huge Day

My ‘to do’ list did not reduce in size today.

I spent most of the day with The Gypsy, starting with meditation, hoop qi gong and then four hours under the shelter outside the hall.

I rode home at 2.20pm feeling mentally and physically exhausted.

Food was my priority because I’d only had 600ml of water all day, so I mashed up some avocado, tuna, lemon juice, salt and pepper and grabbed a handful of GF Jatz. It took the edge off my hunger.

Next, Harley got my attention for some play time.

For dinner I cooked up some capsicum, celery, shallots, finely diced carrot, diced mushroom and chopped up leftover roast chicken meat. I added the chicken juices from when I roasted the chicken, garlic paste and crème fraiche, then wrapped it all in GF puff pastry.

I didn’t eat dinner and Adoring Husband did NOT go back for seconds so I’m guessing it wasn’t to his liking. I’ll taste the leftovers tomorrow.

We watched the MKR final after dinner. The predicted winners won. 

Right now, I’m watching my guilty pleasure. Love Island.

Definitely need to get some sleep now.

Nite all.

Two More

Surprisingly, I crossed two more items off my ‘to do’ list today.

I’ve mentioned it before, but to remake my bed after washing everything - two sheets, six pillow cases, two body pillow cases and a coverlet - takes 35 minutes. It is utterly exhausting!

My king sized mattress weighs a freaking ton and the bed frame fits snugly around it, so I have to squeeze my hands between the frame and mattress to attempt lifting it high enough to tuck the sheets under it.

I almost busted my fufu valve!

Two of my pillows are very thick memory foam and trying to slip pillowcases over them is like putting on a pair of spanks two sizes too small. It’s a struggle.

Body pillows are also a struggle.

I just needed to announce it loudly to the household when I’d finally finished!

Adoring Husband suggested that I call for his help next time, which is a lovely gesture, but it would take longer if he assisted.

I’m getting too old for this $#1t!

In between hanging wet washing, folding clean washing, making the bed, partially decluttering my wardrobe and playing with Harley twice, I also coloured in and watched plenty of TV.

AH put some effort into a lasagne for dinner tonight. It was from a 1970s Women’s Weekly recipe book and quite delicious.

Meditation and hoop qi gong tomorrow, so I’d best get some sleep in my lovely clean bed.

Nite all.

A Start

There are 17 things on my ‘to do’ list.

Today, I did one of them.

It’s a start.

I slept well last night. It made up for the lack of sleep on Friday night.

Adoring Husband and I watched two movies today. “Upgraded” which I enjoyed and “Puppy Love” which  was ok.

I cooked a whole chicken tonight and served it with coleslaw, a strawberry and broccoli salad, a pumpkin, spinach and pine nut salad and fried rice.

That filled everyone up.

The weather is very warm.

The pool water is delightful.

I’m ready to sleep.

Nite all.