Beyond Tired

Knowing that my alarm was set for 5am, I was ready to sleep at 9.30pm, which would give me 7.5 hours of sleep to help me power through a morning at the markets.

My brain decided that 12.30am was a much better time to fall asleep.

My brain also decided that 4am was a much better time to wake up.

So much for powering through the markets!

Between the three of us, we were all set up by 7am and Adoring Husband toddled off to get us some jumbo coffees.

I made a profit of $110.50, which is pretty good because I’m practically giving away old shop stock.

$23 wine glass coolers for $5.

$37 wine bottle coolers for $10.

$15 Snap jewellery for $5.

$6 snap buttons for $3 and $4.

$49 glass starfish for $10.

$40 travel journals for $10.

$109 handbag for $40.

$60 handbag for $20.

Oh and pre-loved clothing for $5.

Etc etc etc

It was a great day for reconnecting with old customers and with locals not seen for years, a lot asking if I’d consider opening another shop in town.

I’d love to, but the costs involved might be beyond my means. Rents have doubled, shipping costs have risen dramatically, stock prices have increased and I have very few shop fittings remaining in my possession. 

At my age, I’m not sure that I can make that kind of financial, physical, mental and emotional commitment. As long as there are that many doubts, it’s probably not feasible.

We were home by midday, unpacked the cars, rehomed everything and parked our butts in the lounge room.

I dozed on and off all afternoon.

Prawn Laksa for ‘fend for yourself’ dinner.

It’s Super Saturday for NRL footy. I, along with everybody else, am doing poorly in the footy tipping.

Now I need to sleep.

Nite all.

In Preparation

Awake at 7am.

Watched US Open golf.

Out of bed at 10am.

Played with Harley.

Prepped for the markets tomorrow.

Found the card reader, cash tin and the book.

Priced the jewellery.

Selected all the stock that I want to sell.

Scarves, jewellery (new, pre-loved and hand crafted), handbags, snap jewellery, coffee mugs, pre-loved clothing, wine coolers, glassware and more.

Adoring Husband has filled the trailer with the gazebo, folding tables and chairs. Most of my stock is in BGWLBH’s car and some in AH’s.

I have to wake at 5am for a 6am departure, so it’s time for me to sleep.

Nite all.

Some Quiet Time

Bohemian Rhapsody on ukelele (amazing)

My bladder woke me THREE times during the night, so with that broken sleep, I didn’t wake until 7.30am.

Out of bed at 10am to play with Harley.

Before Adoring Husband left for golf, I decided to go for a ride and grab some leeks, some berries, a coffee and a few other bits and pieces.

I planned on stopping at the local take away, for the first time in 2 years, to grab some grilled fish for lunch and wouldn’t you know it … “closed on 18th for a family wedding” … typical.

It was only short, but I enjoyed the ride and by the time I arrived home, AH had already left for golf.

BGWLBH had left for work at 7.30am, so I had the day to myself.

I sat down with my lunch to watch a fluffy Foxtel movie, followed by my quiz shows, but in the middle I had to prep dinner and put it in the oven.

I browned some lamb chump chops, and layered them in the Dutch oven with sliced leeks, whole tinned tomatoes, chicken stock and 2 of the tomato tins filled with water, rice, salt and pepper.

In the oven at 170°C for two hours, stirring once at the 90 minute mark.

The meat is beautifully melt in your mouth tender and the bursts of sweet and tart tomatoes with every mouthful - delicious.

It’s one of AH’s favourites and he’s having some leftovers for dinner tomorrow instead of his usual chicken wings.

I froze two large containers of leftovers for another night.

AH and I have been watching the lead up to the US Open golf and coverage started at 8.30pm - unfortunately, a pea souper of a fog rolled in and they’ve suspended play because the players can’t see where their balls are landing!

Bugger 😳

So I guess I’ll grab some sleep and when my bladder wakes me, I’ll turn on the telly and see where they’re up to.

Nite all.

Origin Win

Awake at 6am.

Out of bed at 8am.

Driving into the Bay at 10am.

A big food shop, appointments, fuelling up, adding to the storage shed and home just after 3pm.

Unpacking the groceries and cooking chicken saltimbocca with potato and sweet potato mash, snow peas and green beans for dinner.

Preparing a nibbles plate with cabana, cheese, dip, pickled onions, crackers and chips for the footy.

Watching the lead up to the US Open golf until the State of Origin started.

Half time, NSW lead QLD 12-8.

Full time, QLD with a convincing win 44-24.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!!

Before the match AND at half time, I was not feeling confident, so I was pleasantly surprised when QLD found their mojo after half time and provided an impressive win.

The US Open golf is on this weekend.

Wimbledon starts the following weekend.

I’m excited.

Now it’s time to sleep.

Nite all.

Kitchen Marathon

Awake at 7.30am.

Out of bed at 10am.

Adoring Husband had already left for golf. BGWLBH was emptying the dishwasher.

I played with Harley for 30 minutes.

I made myself presentable for going out in public and rode my trike to the shops where I bought enough meat for a marathon in the kitchen, some goodies for BGWLBH, some vegetables, some cheesecake ingredients and a coffee for me.

Of course, upon my return home, I headed straight for the kitchen and made -

• 24 sausage rolls
• 8 meals of spaghetti bolognese sauce
• 4 meals of creamy chicken shepherds pie
• 4 meals of chilly chicken to be served with pasta

I had planned on doing curried chicken and vegetables, but I ran out of space in the freezer, so I need to do a reorganisation of freezer drawers before my next cook up - tomorrow or Thursday.

I also plan on doing Mongolian Lamb with Leek and Rice for tomorrow nights dinner.

My Apple Watch tells me that I did 5000 steps today! Most of that was in the kitchen!

AH and BGWLBH selected sausage rolls for their dinner, so now I only have 12 left (they are small sausage rolls - about half the size of the ones from the bakery). I had one of them.

I have to say, that after the trike ride and four hours in the kitchen, I am exhausted!

So it’s sleep time for me.

Nite all.

A New Week

Awake at 7am.

Out of bed at 10am.

BGWLBH was doing the ironing, so before Harley play, I made her a smoothie with frozen fresh pineapple and mango, fresh passionfruit from the garden and fresh mandarins from a friend’s garden + coconut water and a light sprinkle of sea salt.

I actually made enough for all three of us.

Harley play, watered the garden and then brought the clothes rack out from the spare bedroom with the pre-loved clothes that I’ll be selling at the markets this weekend. 

BGWLBH added her clothes and we priced them all accordingly.

I needed to finish another bracelet and do a stocktake of the jewellery that I’ll try to sell at both the local markets this weekend AND the art & craft expo the following weekend.

I have 30 pairs of earrings and 18 bracelets. Six pieces of art.

For the local markets, I still have lots of old shop stock to sell too.

I made a late lunch and sat down to watch the second half of the movie “Little Women” and one of my quiz shows.

Dinner was chicken and vegetable stir fry with mashed potato, followed by apple strudel and custard.

Farmer Wants a Wife interrupted by a 40 minute phone call with No 1 Son. He is well and had some exciting news about a new job.

Now it’s 11pm already! Sleep time for me.

Nite all.

Found Some Mojo

I was awake at 7.30am but did not rise until 9.30am - you know why (refer to yesterday’s post).

I took Harley straight out to play.

He is so patient with me in the mornings. We are usually in bed between 7.30-8.30pm so that means he is in his bed for 12-14 hours and never complains, just waits patiently for me to get moving.

As a reward, we go straight out to the pool area for at least 30 mins of play. It’s his favourite thing to do.

I watered the garden and checked to see if I had any potatoes growing in the basket. I found a good sized potato near the top, but they won’t be ready for another 4-5 weeks. 

I can’t wait!

The trike was calling out to me, so once again, I made myself presentable and off I went, running into the same neighbour as yesterday!

I rode for 45 minutes, inspecting one of the new estates on the other side of town and enjoying the gale force conditions - it’s so much easier to pedal against the wind when you have power at your feet!

I stopped at the shops to order coffees and grab some chicken thighs because I was going to spend time in the kitchen making chicken parmies.

It was exactly an hour after I left, when I rode through our gates. 

After Harley cuddles, I went straight to the kitchen where I crumbed 12 chicken thighs to freeze for future meals. There were 12 nuggets of chicken that I removed from those thighs and I crumbed and shallow fried them for my lunch.

I enjoyed 8 of them and generously offered the rest to Adoring Husband who had been mowing lawns all morning.

I also stewed some apple, fresh ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice and maple syrup to make apple strudel for tomorrow nights dessert.

AH and I watched the Clint Eastwood movie “Pale Rider” while we ate lunch. An oldie but a goodie.

There were two hours to kill before the football, so I got productive in the artspace making earrings and finishing one of the extra large bracelets.

I watched the football and was grateful that Tigers helped partially rescue my footy tipping week by defeating the Titans 36-28.

It was ‘spaghetti Sunday’ so spaghetti bolognese sauce out of the freezer - easy peasy.

Farmer Wants a Wife and then bed.

Time to sleep now.

Nite all.