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.

Cuddled Up

Harley had a very restless night and moved around so much in his cage that he moved it forward more than 30cm until it hit my bed, which is timber, so it made a hell of a racket.

I moved it back to where it started but a couple of hours later it was banging against the bed again.

He was awake and ready to start the day at 5.15am.

Begrudgingly, I dragged myself out of bed and took him outside.

I’d be happy to get out of bed early if it was because he had a full bladder and desperately needed to evacuate! But he doesn’t pee for a good 15-20 minutes after we leave the bedroom!

What’s that about?!

Anyway, we had cuddle time on the couch, I gave him breakfast, made myself a cup of tea, prepared bacon and eggs for breakfast and ended up in the pool with Harley.

Almost 90 minutes later, after more cuddles (wet cuddles) under the Bali hut, we reluctantly left the pool area.

I put my painting overalls on and did some more of my art …

Super Saturday football took my attention for the remainder of the day. I am 5 from 6 with my tips.

It’s now 10pm and it’s time to sleep because we are leaving for Nikenbah markets at 6.30am.

Also, my eyelids are sinking closed.

Nite all.

Summery Autumn

I was too tired to post last night.

Between Harley, the heat, my kitchen duties and the effort required to find motivation to do anything, by the end of the day, I’m worn out.

I’ve been able to do a little more on my art each day. So far, I roughly calculate that this one has taken me 23 hours. I’ve probably got another 4-6 hours of work remaining.

It’s both therapeutic and draining at the same time! BGWLBH has completed about 18 pieces of art in the equivalent amount of time. Less intense, but simple and effective beautiful pieces.

We will be doing the local markets next weekend where we hope to sell my old shop stock, BGWLBH’s art and some pre-loved clothing.

Tomorrow, we’ll set up the gazebo, plan how our tables will fit and work out how to display our wares.

Let’s hope that weather is kind to us on 25th March.

I spent about an hour in the pool today, which was lovely and cool in this hot humid weather. Harley enjoyed it too.

So far, I’ve been very successful with my footy tips correctly tipping 3 from 3 this weekend. Five more games to go.

Now it’s time for me to sleep.

Nite all.

Showing Gratitude

I felt the need to thank my Wednesday girls for their support and friendship over the past year.

For a lot of the year, it was tough going for me and for a lot of Wednesdays, I really had to force myself to make the effort to attend the catch ups. 

Thank goodness they were there because getting out was so good for my healing process and if Wednesdays were not an option, I’d have locked myself away and fallen into deeper, darker territory.

At 6am I was in the kitchen baking a chocolate cake and preparing a cheese ball and crackers. I packed a table cloth, paper plates, serviettes, a knife to cut the cake and cheese knives to scoop the cheese onto the crackers.

I asked Adoring Husband to look after Harley because I knew I couldn’t fit him, the cake and the bag containing everything else in the trike basket and also be able to carry my tea.

BGWLBH decided not to attend so I had no choice but to carry it all myself. Harley was not an option.

I arrived about 5 minutes before everybody else which gave me time to lay the tablecloth and set everything on the table. 

The immediate comments were “Whose birthday is it?”

So I explained to them how grateful I was for their friendship during my lowest times and thanked them all for ‘being there’.

They were surprised, especially because they hadn’t realised that I was struggling so much, and they all hugged me and then chowed down on the food.

Surprisingly, it was a three hour morning so I didn’t return home until just before midday!

It was nice.

The rest of my day was lazing in front of the TV until play time with Harley and I cooked a chicken version of shepherds pie for dinner.

It felt like a good day.

Nite all.

Digging It

We had an early and noisy start to the day when a team of men with a noisy piece of machinery came to level the ground beneath the carport to lay some concrete.

So far, we are very impressed with their work ethic, their communication skills and their kindness and empathy. 

They are doing everything in their power to do the right thing by Adoring Husband and getting specific with drainage, increasing the distance from the slab to the roof and doing some added extras.

Even though they were fighting among themselves briefly, we are happy with the job so far.

Harley was excited to see some men and went in for the waggy tail pat. He was very well behaved. No barking or whining and just allowed the men to get on with the job.

Harley and I had some fun today and he climbed all over me after he’d been swimming in the pool, then lay across me to prevent me from leaving. He makes me laugh.

I did a little bit more on my art.

A few hours of TV.

BGWLBH drove into The Bay.

I cooked lamb rack with buttery potato and sweet potato and stir fried beans, broccoli and carrots for dinner.

MAFS

Now it’s 11pm and it’s time to sleep.

Nite all.

Blacked Out

I couldn’t post here last night because we had a huge storm and a 3 hour blackout including 2 hours without even phone reception.

I was asleep by 8.30pm. I woke at 10.30pm needing the toilet and found a lamp on, the outside light on and the TV blaring, so I turned them all off and returned to bed where I fell asleep instantly.

Last night and today, we’ve had just over 60mm of rain. We’ve had more big storms today but thankfully no power outages.

The heat and humidity has led us to the pool often over the last couple of days. Harley has especially found refuge in the cool water because his body runs hot at the best of times.

I’ve done some more to this piece of art …

I’m surprised by how long it’s taking me.

I watched the movie “Where the Crawdads Sing” and enjoyed it very much.

Swimming, playing with Harley, cooking and a bit of housework has filled my days.

BGWLBH took these pics of Harley today …

Time to sleep now.

Nite all.