Where has the week gone! and yes, I say this every week! so here's Thursday's rambling(raving)

Thursday ,how  the heck did it get to be Thursday? I'm actually trying to recall what I did yesterday???? guess it's because i haven't been feeling too great (again)  a bit nauseated ,and the usual tiredness and PAIN ,yes it's in capitals because i was knocked sideways by some sort of blimmen pain ,deep sharp and blimmen horrible. immediately the thoughts of "is this it ? is this the dreaded Big C pain ,etc etc ,I don't know but it brought me almost to my knees ,and I cried ,I don't usually cry and I guess it was because of the suddenness of it .,but it  passed almost as quickly as it came ,so I'll live in my world of Denial ,I  guess it's denial ,and not think about it! I yelled at the pain though ,told it to bog off and please don't come back ,Felt good the bit of yelling !! ,good time to do it is in the car ,What people must think of me when they see this slightly deranged looking women with facial expressions that would horrify normal sane people  , never fear I drive safely ,just a lot of grimacing and talking/shouting to myself.   I have a new relaxation though  ,I started crocheting again ,I haven't crocheted for years and I'm not very good , but I'm so enjoying it ,Mum had to give me a quick refresher course ,but I've done three squares!! all different tensions etc but I'm sure I'll improve!??? (please all nod your heads enthusiastically ,thankyou)  so just watch my pile of squares grow for my new Blankie .  I added yet another sign to my sign collection (all of two now) but it will be yet another collection to add to all the rest ! It's gorgeous ,hope I can find a semi decent photo. .. Sorry not  a close up ,it says Grandma's Kitchen Memories are Made here ,cute ! and we now have a notice board that , hopefully I will actually notice the notices! (what are my chances)  I think it cost about $3.00 all up ,got the board for 50c and I put a few stickers on it!  Haven't the energy to do much else!

 I found another bottle for my little garden too ,looks like an old whiskey bottle ,or reminds me of one anyway.  Oh and I made a cake this morning ,long story short ,T had a cake stall this morning and as I was too tired last night to make it , I whipped it up this morning to be ready In time for the stall , poor J offered to take it for me ,well the thing was still warm when I iced it so the poor woman had to take a dripping cake to the stall for me ,she hastily explained and apologised for me, she told the cake stall ladies that the cake was made with love, lots and lots of love!!lol , well guess what My cake sold like hotcakes(pun intended!)   T said it was yummy and lots of people said so !! I have a photo of the whipping of cake (long story too) and please all remember I am not Nigella! and No that isn't a empty packet of cake mix that you see ,it's um a decoration . yes, well ,they said it had to be Homemade so I figure Made at Home is the same thing! and the icing WAS made from scratch!!   Well must get to bed ,here's hoping for a good day tomorrow .

Warning ........ This post could cause itching ....Argh!!!

Yes, today people we are going to talk about NITS !!! (yell and stamp feet more like!)  You know my wee mention of the child needing a haircut ,well I thought I'd check his hair(as you do)  and yep,  you guessed it (gosh wonder how)  the child had the little blighters .... I 'm from the old school where NITS were talked about in that hush hush sort of way ,well actually my Darlin daughter got them years ago but that's a whole other story (about a certain mother on the rampage threatening mass delousing at her school,but we won't go there)  anyway I was actually quite calm this time ,I felt guilty of course, because the poor boy had mentioned his head was itching like crazy a couple of days before ,but as he tends (well always actually ) to be a bit of a drama queen ,I blithely said "oh don't be silly , maybe your hair actually should be washed tonight instead of pretending to do it while singing phantom of the opera loudly at the top of your voice.(yes he really does sing the phantom in the shower)  .anyway off I trotted to the pharmacy and got into an intense nit discussing  conversation with another mum buying the treatment as well ,we had a right old yarn about them ,she was in a real bad way as she was onto her child's third lot of the stuff! .So that was my day ,I kept him home from school ,when I rang the school the lovely lady in the office thought that was the best thing to do, while assuring me 'No names would be mentioned' but she would inform the teacher to circulate the notice. Well hello? he wasn't there today and knowing my boy he will loudly inform everyone as he walks into class that he spent the day at home getting de-loused .  I love that child.  I wonder if the irritation got to his brain today actually ,his behaviour today had me thinking he had one of those defiant disorders that one reads about ,I sure labelled him a few things, most unprintable!   Still he's tucked up in bed relatively nit free ,takes a week to do the full treatment apparently ,and then we will shave the lot off again!! no4 here we come.   I felt a bit mean actually because I wasn't his usual serene sort of mother today(?)  so I got on with his pencil box I have been promising him for weeks ,he chose his design so hope he's pleased with it in the morning! he loves houses (so like me!) . It should be all varnished by after school tomorrow. Shoot loaded the wrong ones these are very fuzzy(mind you nothing new about that!) ,too late to change them as I must get to bed.

I Had A Fab Weekend !!

I am so happy and content tonight  ,I really did have a Fab weekend ,I have to use  all the superlatives like Fab and Awesome ,and Amazing ,etc etc etc lol ,as I can't think of any better words!  ,The weather was lovely esp Sat ,T ,Mum and I went to BHB market ,I only got a book and T a couple of matchbox cars .We then had a coffee and slice at a nice cafe ,it was a lovely morning.  In the afternoon just pottered around ,J (my friend and flattie  ) and her daughter were bringing some of her daughters things to store ,and we are also babysitting J's daughters kitten for a couple of days ,what a lot of fun that has been as Jude our boy is so jealous of course! .so we have to keep them separated ,but T picked them both up for a photo (excuse his PJ's )
he'll hate me putting this up so ssh!  our Jude is on the right ,not impressed !. Then a bit later on J took T to see some old cars up our street, the owner was getting them removed that day and said that T could have a look ,T was in heaven !! his favourite things ever are old classics . I was having a nap when all this was taking place so I'm so glad they took the camera. .  A great day ! .Sunday,  T again went with J and her family to the Derby held at the Domain ,they forgot the camera tho!! but T had another good day . I spent the day , first weeding my little garden and tidying up my pots ,with the help of Jude who thought it was a great game jumping on the pile of weeds and attacking my hands !!

Then I went to the supermarket to get a few thing s and home in time for a lovely visit from my cousin and friend ,it was so nice to see her ,she is a fab artist and was so encouraging about the decoupage ,even showed her my bread bin ! which I'm not that happy with ,but as she pointed out decoupage can be over the top and elaborate ,so that made me feel better and a bit inspired again ,I have two other things on the go so must get stuck in to it this week.   I don't usually buy flowers from the supermarket (heck that a long winded word !! lets just say, Countdown which is actually nearly as long but easier to type (but i digress(as per usual)) anyway....., I got a couple of small bunches that were reduced and they are quite lovely ,they looked a bit bedraggled earlier and oh  I 'ain't no' flower arranger!! but they are lovely to look at on top of my highly polished table(yep I'm still a bit crazy with my pledge!!)  some would say I need a life whilst rolling their eyes he he ,believe me, my friends do look at me at times as if they are wondering 'why is Kim channeling Martha Stewart!! (oh and no offence to Martha either lol)  .   Then this evening   I even cooked my so called' Famous Chicken Fettucine '  for dinner which we all enjoyed ,I must admit it's nice to enjoy cooking again .  So, I must get to bed as I am rather tired ,but it's a good normal sort of tired today which is a bonus too.  Have a great Week .  Heck just looking at T's photo ,he sooo needs a haircut!!  he decided he wanted to grow it a bit ,but I think it's time for a tidy up!!

An Afternoon with Maia and no Cabinet arranging !!



My Girl



This is my gorgeous, adorable, grand daughter ,she has just turned one and is the light of my life ,a cliche maybe but so true!! . She was toddling around the furniture picking up 'things " (  read breakable!) ,so I led her towards my sewing box ,a treasure I picked up a while ago,  (do you like how I say' my sewing box' -I don't sew!) anyway here she is .

She really looks the part doesn't she!!  unlike her Grand mother , I don't think the lace has seen the light of day since I put it in there!  I would love to be able to turn bits of lace and things into something, I am looking at borrowing a sewing machine and having a go at cushions ,so here's hoping!! .   My daughter (Maias mum) has the Baking gene, (which I don;t have) ! I'm not a baker ,but A does lovely baking all from scratch too! a lot of it egg and dairy free as well ,she amazes me,but I can't brag that it comes from me!!





I forgot to show these cute little nursery rhyme dishes that I also found yesterday , there were only two of them ,but they look like they are part of a series they say on the back 'Midwinter Stylecraft, Staffordshire . I will probably put them in Maias' room when she moves into her own room at home.









And  ....it's alright I'll stop soon! Look at this, all you lovers of  Vintage ' Ladies Accessories ',a vintage travel case , I was amazed at the fabulous condition of it ,I wish I had found out more of it's history.













Have a great weekend !!!!!!!

Time for a cabinet re-arrange and 'Cute Mice"

I am going to attack this tomorrow !! ,it's bugged me for ages and I'm going to do it!! (and find something for the shoes!) 

Here is a couple of cute finds I got today  ,a cute little print of an old Tobacconist/Confectionary shop and meet Maude ,Molly ,Thea ,and Jeronimo ?(Mr T 's  contribution)  (yes we named them) the lady at the op shop insisted I have all 4! for the grand total of $2.00 and the little print was also $2.00 . Cute aren't they (I think!) I know Maia my grand daughter will love them!! Please excuse the over use of 'Cute"  the detail in them is quite something.

All of a sudden it's Wednesday!

I've not been very well for the past couple of day's and now it's almost Thursday!  Feeling much better now though .  I've still managed to pop into the op shop today though on the way to school ! got these cute little books,another tin! and a cane basket .  On Saturday T and I went to the blockhouse bay market ,we got there too late but I got a little cottage ceramic? picture and T was beside himself because he spied a couple of vintage matchbox cars so he was allowed an advance on his pocket money!   Also I made a start on my newest collection of retro spice sets. Yes another new collection!! I need help lol .  T and I have a date for this Saturday ,off to the Blockhouse Bay market then Looking around Dominion Road and having a nice lunch somewhere ,he's not been very happy today  ,lots of missing his Dad,(18 mnths today since he died) and his big brothers who live in Australia ,so we rang them and he was much happier ,he breaks my heart tho ,he said 'it's a pity I can't ring Dad though aye mum'  . Ironically he brought home a form from school about doing a course on grief for children called "Seasons" ,so he will be doing that next term ,I was so pleased ,I have tried to find something like this for him before but I didn't think of asking the school ,it couldn't be better timing. 

Cup of Tea anyone? - Just gorgeous!!!!

Isn't my new tea cosy the most gorgeous work of art?  I had a bit of a bidding war over this ,but it was so worth it!  I didn't actually have the right size tea-pot so Iwent to the op shop and got this one .  The lady who I won it from is so clever I think ,the detail is amazing.  I will be keeping a keen eye on her for more !! 

I hope everyone is having a good weekend ,I am  ,still feeling a bit of nausea but thank goodness for maxalon ,it's a life saver!   I have nearly finished the bread bin ,it's turned out so different to what I first had in mind ,she's just kind of evolved into this very over the top, shabby roses ,kitschy ,some would say too much kind of thing!! ,still  have a way to go till finished  so who knows how she will eventually turn out  .Ugh excuse the mess  , I'm a messy  cook too!! .                    Have a great Sunday everyone  ,I  must remember to turn my clock back ,guess winter really is on it's  way.

My new obsession - tins!!

I've only quite recently started a vintage tin collection   ,now of course I can't walk by the blimmen things . Here's one I got today  ,quite gorgeous it's a Peak and Frean &  Co  Ltd .    then a couple of  couple of tea caddy's  already in my collection and my favourite of all ,  it's unmarked but really striking  ,  sorry terrible photos ,camera needs charging I think .    I had a rest day today ,finally gave in ,and apart from going to Gp and calling onto the op shop on the way home from school, because Mr T wanted to!! he buys anything to do with old cars and New York pictures etc ,he is obsessed with New York!!   I didn't  do much at all .the was  nausea quite bad today  ,It feels like morning sickness  ,not fair !  I've been there done that!! .  I've been asked what sort of cancer I have ,it's called liposarcoma  ,those are what the tumours are called   ,latest couple are in my ovaries ,hence the need for a Hysterectomy to remove them and take away the risk of it spreading in that area.     I  also had visit from my mum and my daughter and grandchildren   ,I hate not feeling well when they come    .  Thanks to the two lovely ladies for your comments ,  Cate I hope you rest as much as you can , your illness can be  extremely exhausting .   Yay  Friday tomorrow ! means sleep ins Saturday for everyone doesn't it!!!

Tiredness Can Really be a Pain.....

I am not really feeling the joys of life tonight  , I had a good day all up but the overwhelming tiredness so gets to me at times ,like today.   I know I have to expect it ,and I don't get enough sleep   ,but  I hate not doing anything I think it's a waste of a day now to give into my body and it telling me to rest .  Silly probably, stupid definitely  ,   I'm a trained nurse too and a avid reader of google about everything my oncologist has told me NOT to research!

I think too, that keeping busy is therapeutic ,but sometimes I'm sure it's a coping mechanism ,so the horrible ,dark thoughts are kept at bay .   I've been told how well I cope and have faced everything ,which I do appreciate ,  but I see the worrying looks that people who love me give me, and  I get so sad ,for them for me ,for  everyone who has this horrible thing called cancer , but the one constant thought in my head everyday is "Thank god it's me who has it and not my precious children and grandchildren , or my fabulous nieces and nephews  "  and I'm going to be around for a long   long time to watch them all grow up .  That thought I think is the best medicine I can ever have.   

Right on to the reveal  of my table and chairs   ,I'm glad I imagined the worst of everything wrong   about it last night ,because  guess what it does of course!!!   have things wrong I mean   ,no borer as such but a lot more mould on one of the chairs ,and the table is more wobbly than I remembered , but I still love it and there is nothing that a bit/lot of TLC won't fix eventually .  I gave it a good clean and a polish with good old pledge!  my gosh that stuff has improved!!     Now you all  now know I don't normally use furniture polish  he he  ,I damp dust  all the time and that seems to suffice   ,most of my furniture is a Matt white or distressed   ,anyway now I have polished everything and I feel like  I have rediscovered an old  toy!!   I tell you it doesn't take much to make me happy these days !!

So there she is  , oh and thanks all for listening ,just writing things down tonight has lifted my spirits a lot . PS as much as vertical blinds are practical and easy to look after  ,Im longing to put something else window treatment wise up .just looking at thoses photos now it  so needs something else ,I  know the landlords wouldn't mind  ,any ideas anyone for cheap and pretty??

I just knew it would become mine .......

Last week when I walked into my local Sallies .I   immediately saw a gorgeous dining suite  ,I literally went 'ohhhhhhhhhhh '  . Then I looked at the price tag and went' ...... , (insert not so family friendly word) ,so I gazed at it a bit longer and went around the shop  ,that was the day I got the bread bin .

Anyway....... (can you feel the suspense )  two days later I trotted in there again  ,  and there it still was ,just sitting there saying 'You need me ,you need me'  .  I said' Oh no ,,too dear sorry'   in a firm sort of way in my head, and wandered off  ,with only the tiniest of backward glances  .

Soooo (are you sick of me yet??)   I forgot all about it over the weekend  ,too busy with my nose stuck in a book--Elizabeth Buchan  - Perfect love   ,she's a lot like Joanna Trollope ..  .  But today I popped in there on the way to school  ,and it wasn't there  .  Or so I  thought!!  Went out to the back of the shop and there it was  ,so I  walked over to admire again ,  happen to notice the price tag and did a double take  ,the suite had been dropped in price by a lot and I mean a lot!! so I thought,  'What is a girl to do ?'    that took about a second ,and I was off to the counter before you could say table ....

I bring it home tomorrow .    I'll put some pics up  then.  Got to love a bargain  as they say, and no I'm not going to say how much because I don't think anyone would believe me !!!  and of course now I'm thinking it's got about 96 things wrong with it  that I didn't bother checking out !! and I'll be in tears tomorrow night looking at the borer holes that I thought were part of the design the day before!!  (can you see where op shopping can seem like a form of madness?   ) .                      Do you like my cute new sign?
I put it above the stove in the hope it might inspire me to actually  enjoy  cooking again instead of going at it like a wild woman throwing hunks of meat to the lions.   I must get to bed  ,just so I can lie awake worrying instead)   but hey at least it's pushed the worries about the big C aside for the day!!!!