Number 5

This morning we welcomed our 5th ‘pool guy’ through the gate.

Dave.

Every pool guy in the past has guaranteed that they would return every month to maintain our magnesium filtered pool but none of them ever returned.

Dave has made the same promise and he services three of our neighbour’s pools as well so we are hopeful that Dave will be our guy.

Fingers crossed.

Magnesium is very hard to come by at the moment and very expensive so that could be bothersome in our future.

Before the pool guy arrived, I finally put all the market gear away.

When we arrived home from the markets on Saturday afternoon, Adoring Husband had piled everything onto a folding table in the carport for me to sort through and put away.

It’s taken me until today to do it! I’m surprised Harley didn’t find something interesting to steal and chew up.

My next decision was to make some apple and cinnamon muffins. I chopped up a whole apple and added it to the mix - delicious!

Lasagne for dinner tonight.

Lots of play time with Harley as well as cuddle time on the couch.

It’s been a good day.

Nite all.

The Magic

Today was fabulous because I received this …

I’ve waited weeks for it to arrive and when I finally got it in my hot little hands, I didn’t want to open it! I wanted to savour the moment. I kept rereading the handwriting and held the envelope close to my chest for the longest time before tenderly peeling it open to reveal the magic inside.

The letter was only half a page long, beautifully and carefully written and I think I’ve read it ten times already.

Receiving this letter today is better than all the christmases and birthdays I’ve ever had and my heart is full. It’s very special.

This morning I was preparing for a visit from Miss Maggie when I remembered that BGWLBH was still sick and I shouldn’t be inviting elderly people to share the germs!

So I phoned MM and suggested that we meet at the park or at her place instead.

I pedalled to her house for what I thought would be an hour over coffee and cake (I took some of my banana bread with me) but it turned into 3 hours 20 minutes of non stop chatter and it took all my effort to drag myself away and head home just after lunch.

That’s when I sent AH to the shops with a list which included checking the mail.

I got adventurous for dinner and made spinach, feta, ricotta pastries to have with our sausages and salads. I used pre-packaged gluten free puff pastry and they turned out ok but I think I could have rolled the pastry a little thinner. Still tasty.

Harley has been a good boy today.

Now I am off to reply to Chicklet’s letter.

Nite all.

Rest Day

Saw this today and it resonated …

The Lie said to the Truth, "Let's take a bath together, the well water is very nice.” 

The Truth, still suspicious, tested the water and found out it really was nice, so they got naked and bathed. 

But suddenly, the Lie leapt out of the water and fled, wearing the clothes of the Truth.

The Truth, furious, climbed out of the well to get her clothes back, but the World, upon seeing the naked Truth, looked away, with anger and contempt.

Poor Truth returned to the well and disappeared forever, hiding her shame. Since then, the Lie runs around the world, dressed as the Truth, and society is very happy...

Because the world has no desire to know the naked Truth.

After yesterday’s big market adventure, I slept soundly last night for a solid seven hours and woke feeling quite refreshed.

Until I had to water the garden, because BGWLBH is still too weak to get about, and after almost 90 minutes out in the morning sunshine, I once again felt drained and in need of rest.

I changed into my swimmers and slid into the cool water of the pool and spent an hour swimming and playing with Harley, listening to Adoring Husband carry on about unexpected water that he found in and on the kitchen cupboards in the pool kitchen (until he realised that he’d accidentally done it himself about a week ago).

I gave up on any further conversation with him and returned inside to make banana bread - gluten free of course - because sugar helps everything feel better.

After I served BGWLBH a cup of tea and a still warm slice of banana bread, I planted my butt on the couch and watched part of a movie before the football started. 

Needless to say, I fell asleep on the couch for about an hour!

I cooked chicken in a tomato base with baked vegetables and greens for dinner and of course, some more banana bread for dessert.

It’s the MAFS finale this week so naturally, I watched that tonight.

I’ll be having a visitor tomorrow morning so it’s time for me to sleep now.

Real places …

Nite all.

Too Much

I was out of bed at 4.35am 😳

I showered and dressed while Adoring Husband kept an eye on Harley who was a bit confused about being woken so early.

AH finished packing the car while I finished gathering the loose ends.

I decided to ride the trike and take Harley for the day so I packed plenty of water, food and treats to keep him happy. 

The car was packed to the brim, including the passenger seat so AH went on ahead to find our site and start unloading until I arrived.

It was a pleasant ride at 5.30am. The temperature was mild and it was the first time I’d ridden the new path that stretches from the service station to the bowls club. The markets were held in the field beside the bowls club so it was easy for me.

AH had just removed the gazebo from the car, so I kept Harley in the trike while I helped open and set up the gazebo and tables then AH emptied the remaining paraphernalia from car and kept Harley happy while I set up the tables with old stock from the shop and some of our art.

I didn’t take as much art as originally planned because with just me to serve the customers, I didn’t want to overdo it. As it was, there was more art than I had space for anyway.

Nobody looked at the art. They just made a beeline for the stock that I was selling for half price.

I got to chat with lots of people who I haven’t seen for more than a year so I really enjoyed catching up with them.

The weather was comfortable for most of the day, with a nice breeze blowing to keep the temperature down. Sometimes the wind got wild enough to knock the art over and I was worried that the gazebo might take off because it wasn’t pegged down so AH tied it to the hubcaps of the car!

From about 11am it started to get uncomfortably warm and by the time we were packing the car and pulling down the gazebo and tables, it was pretty horrible.

In the full heat of the midday sun and with no shade for protection, the last 15 minutes was almost unbearable.

Worst of all, I then had to climb on my trike and ride home against a head wind with 20kgs of Harley in the basket.

The path had very mall rises in patches, which under normal circumstances, aren’t even worth mentioning, but in 30°C humid heat and under the midday sun with a strong wind trying to blow you backwards, those small rises felt like steep inclines!

By the time I arrived home, my face was glowing red and the perspiration was dripping from me. Poor Harley was panting like he’d just run a marathon himself, so I unhooked him from his harness and leash and led him directly to the pool where he slid straight into the refreshing water.

I only went in up to my knees and Harley shook all of his excess water over me, which was cooling and helpful.

AH brought out a large bottle of ice cold filtered water for me and then demanded that I go directly inside where the air conditioning was cooling the house. He was very concerned that I was suffering from heat stroke and kept feeling my forehead and the skin on my arms.

I was fine. Exhausted from the days activities which was much more than I’m used to but I just needed to rest a while so I lay on the couch and closed my eyes for a bit of a nap.

Sales were good for the day and I made a tidy profit so it was worth the effort.

Harley was exceptional considering it was his first market and he was tied to his leash for almost 7 hours!

It was the first time that he’d pooped away from home and I needed to use the tidy bags to remove his waste from public walkways!

He loved meeting new people and he got tangled in his leash a few times but mostly he found a comfortable spot to sit or lie down and was as quiet as a mouse. He got excited seeing other dogs walking by but didn’t make a scene at all.

It was a good day.

AH is exhausted and has already gone to bed before the football has even finished.

BGWLBH was too ill to join us but she has improved considerably and ate some food for the first time since Wednesday so that’s a good sign.

Unfortunately, I was so busy setting up, serving customers, chatting to old friends and pulling down, that I completely forgot to take a photo! I’m very disappointed in myself for that, being our first market and all.

Ah well.

We had a blackout last night! Just as I was about to turn out the light to sleep, everything went black. It lasted for about 90 minutes apparently.

Time for me to rest my weary bones now. I’m getting too old for this s#*% haha.

Nite all.

Stress Levels

I’m watching the Dolphins vs Broncos game as I write this and Dolphins have just hit the lead. I tipped my team - the Broncos. 

Ugh.

BGWLBH is still very sick in bed so I’ll be doing the markets by myself tomorrow. That will be interesting.

Adoring Husband has filled the back of the car with the gazebo, three folding tables, 2 x big tubs of stock and a few bags of goodies, BGWLBH’s art (not all of it), plastic bags, tissue paper and sticky tape.

I’ve charged up the Square reader so that people can use their card to pay. AH went to the post office and got some cash to make up a float and I’ve put it all in my leather bumbag.

I still have to make a couple of signs and grab some table cloths.

I do my best work under pressure.

So between the football, caring for and worrying about BGWLBH and then preparing for the markets, I’m feeling a little bit stretched, stressed and pressured.

Broncos have just won!! Wahoo!!! Winning!

Time to do the signs now. I’ll post pics of the stall tomorrow night.

Nite all.

Sickly Patient

BGWLBH is very unwell.

She began feeling poorly on Tuesday afternoon, feeling progressively worse each day and today has been horrible for her. 

I’ve given her two juices (pineapple, mango, orange, passionfruit and coconut water) and two bottles of water. I offered her chicken and vegetable broth for dinner but all she wanted was a bucket.

Poor thing. I wish I could fix her.

I wasn’t motivated to do much at all today.

Swept the floor. Watered the garden and the plants that didn’t get rained on. Played with Harley. Cooked dinner for Adoring Husband. Watched a movie. Watched the football. Phoned Vegan Chickie for her birthday - 43 today! I had a nap on the couch.

My Coles delivery arrived with an extra item that I hadn’t ordered! Unfortunately it wasn’t something that we can use - ravioli that isn’t gluten free - bugger.

I’m still desperately awaiting Chicklet’s letter in the mail. Proof that she mailed it …

That was on Monday. Parcels seem to arrive faster than letters.

Harley during play today.

Now it’s time to sleep.

Nite all.

Delete Delete

I deleted my old weather app - because it told me that today would be fine and sunny! It wasn’t! It rained a lot!

I now have a new weather app which had excellent reviews and more than half a million users. It’s telling me that it’s raining right now … which it is.

At least there was a long enough gap in the rain for Harley and I to ride to the Lions Park, spend 90 minutes with my people and then ride home.

Harley was very good at the park and was excited to see the girls, greeting them with cuddles and a waggy tail.

Bonanza Man joined us and now our group is no longer the intimate little art group it once was. I don’t think it will survive now. All it took was for somebody to invite one outsider - who then invited another outsider and so the domino effect is set.

Time to branch out. Perhaps invite the original girls to my art space once a month so that we can be ourselves and just relax together.

Harley loved riding in the basket. He’s so good. I don’t think it’ll be too long before I can let him sit without being attached with the the harness strap.

This afternoon he and I played in the rain. I sat under the Bali hut throwing the ball while the rain got heavier. It was quite pleasant and Harley still swam in the pool in between fetching.

I did a Chicken Tikka curry for dinner - I was hoping the hot food would help BGWLBH sweat out her illness. It may be just me at the markets on Saturday.

Adoring Husband saw the doctor today to get the results of his tests - which were all clear. Just a couple of minor issues that can be easily fixed. Good news.

Now it’s time for sleep.

Nite all.

Quietly Does It

While BGWLBH was attending an appointment and Adoring Husband was out mowing lawns for work, I had two hours of quiet time.

It was the second time in a year that I had time all alone just for me.

It was lovely.

Harley and I had lots of play time today, mostly around the pool playing fetch and we had lots of cuddles, sometimes dripping wet cuddles and sometimes dry fluffy cuddles. I love Harley cuddles.

I did a couple of loads of washing, bagged some bread, started prepping Harley’s food for the week, watched a movie, had a short nap, cooked fishnchipsnasparagus for dinner.

I wrapped king salmon fillets with lemon slices, salt, pepper and butter in baking paper and cooked them in the oven for 30 minutes. They turned out great. I did sweet potato and plain potato chips as well as buttered asparagus with garlic.

It’s now almost 11pm and I’m tired so …

Nite all.

Unexpected Wet

Our weather apps did NOT predict rain for today.

Despite this, it rained softly for most of the day.

After gardening, playing with Harley and cooking breakfast, BGWLBH and I decided to drive into The Bay. Our original plan was to go tomorrow because she has an appointment, but the weather lured us away from home.

We had a list, which we checked off. Tinkerbell’s, Bakers Delight, Nana’s Pantry, supermarket, butcher, post office, bank.

We arrived home around 3pm.

Harley play again, with a big yoga ball!

Bangers and mash for dinner

I feel so tired now. I think it’s the weather.

Nite all.

To Market

BGWLBH and I left home just before 7am to drive to Nikenbah for the markets.

Besides stocking up on fresh fruit and vegetables we found some colourful, comfortable hippy pants and tops. All items were 2 for $35 which is pretty good value for a complete outfit.

My top is a black a-line singlet with a floral peace sign on the front and my hippy pants are green bell bottoms with a floral tie-dye pattern. They are a heavy flowy material but very cool on the skin. I didn’t even try them on but they fit perfectly and are sooooo comfy.

We also bought a few small crystals.

Halfway through the markets, a huge black cloud filled the sky and a short sharp heavy downpour had everyone scattering for shelter!

We happened to be near the food tent so we grabbed a seat under cover and ordered coffee from Dani and Tracy in the little coffee van nearby. It was nice to sit out the rain with a delicious beverage under shelter.

We filled our granny trolley with loads of fresh fruit and vegetables and just as we were leaving stumbled upon a seafood van so we bought 2 x snapper and 2 x king salmon fillets.

The mango van was set up so I purchased 3kgs of frozen mango cheeks for our smoothies.

The fridge needed a solid clean out to fit everything we’d bought so I was busy for a while. I also had to cut open all the passionfruit to freeze the pulp.

Before I sat down, I filled the slow cooker with organic chicken carcass, celery, carrot, onion, garlic, kale stalks, him salt and acv and set it to slow simmer for 20 hours. I can’t wait to enjoy a cup of broth in the morning.

I am leading the footy tipping comp by 4 pts! It won’t last so I need to brag right here, right now!

Time to sleep now.

Nite all.