A week of accomplishments

Good morning folks I hope today's Blog finds everyone well.  This last week we have had very mild winter weather with warm sunny days and cold evenings with lots of dew, there have been a couple of really windy days / nights but nothing too dramatic  although having said that, one morning we woke up to a clatter in the bathroom, on investigation my cotton towel had been blown off the shower (we put towels over the shower doors at night to dry them)  and was lying in a heap on the shower floor

eeeuuww, and the brass curtain rod had been blown right off hence the clatter 🤷🏻♀️ what can I say when I can't figure it out myself hehe? 

This was certainly a week of accomplishments Hubby dearest found the most gorgeous wooden windows for the side of the deck, they are not what we originally had in mind but are absolutely perfect, made from a very heavy thick wood and along the lines of cottage windows but with bigger panes and all glass is intact whoop whoop.  He also sent some of the other glass off for cutting to size, this will go above the windows along the braai wall and then that side will be completely closed in, it really is coming together now and I am beyond excited about it.  

We also received an urgent order for four Embroidery Lap Stands on Thursday which was a bit of pressure, we sat and stained them yesterday and they will go off today.

I managed to finish a couple of projects I had on the go, unusual for me to have more than one thing going at once but, on unpacking all the dog jackets two weeks ago I was missing one so, after much looking for patterns I took a bit of this and a bit of luck and knitted one out of my head.  It turned out really well and Charlie seems to be very comfortable wearing it 🐩.  The other project which I finished was the knitted ottoman or pouf, again after loads of deliberation and research I decided to fill it with foam chips and spent Saturday doing just that.  One of the things I have learnt especially over the past few years is that, instead of going out to buy what I need very often I can utilize what I already have.  Many people especially overseas, seem to fill their ottomans with old duvets and blankets, I don't have spare of those but what I did have was the two back cushions from the long couch we bought a couple of years ago.  The cushions never seemed to fit properly and were just downright uncomfortable, I thought they were filled with Corifill but when I opened up the inner bag it was chock full of foam chips 👏🏻👏🏻, between that and two foam bolsters I had previously made I topped up the couch cushions on the smaller couches.  For, some reason all the animals like to sleep on the back of the chairs and the cushions subsequently sag, not any more 😁.  First of all I under estimated the size of the ottoman and made the inner bag too short so had to add on to it and then began the process of stuffing it - goodness me it was easier to knit the ottoman than to stuff it but, ventually success and I presented it to Hubby dearest who voted it a success, although having looked at it for two days I am going to change the inner bag to a dark grey.  The second ottoman is already on the needles and I'm  a little wiser on some aspects but I am really chuffed with the result.

I have also been looking at various means of carrying Charlie when we go out, after awhile he gets heavy LOL.  I was considering a doggie 'bag' and used an old tote of mine to try out, he seemed very happy in it and it was way easier for me, even being able to go into a number of stores previously forbidden.  I then  happened to see a post on FB by a lady who is able to take her Toy Poodle with her into her local Spar because she's carries him in a sling, similar to a baby sling, after commenting on her post and asking where she bought the sling we got to talking and she said that she actually makes and sells them.  The price she mentioned was way out of my range so after congratulating her and saying it was just too expensive, she replied that she would like to give me one for Charlie.  I was so blown away by this and ended up telling her the story of how we got him, she was so touched as she has a very big soft spot for rescues she then said that she would give it to us and even though I had offered to pay courier fees she insisted on covering those as well, I received a message on Thursday evening that it should arrive Friday or most likely today and can't wat to see and use it, in return he will be an ambassador for the slings down here in the Western Cape, just so very, very blessed.

Yesterday morning sitting in the lounge I noticed a few leaves from my love palm which is in the terrarium, it would seem that Zeepha was bored and decided for some unknown reason that it needed to be pulled almost completely out and then left alone grrrr,  it is not the easiest of spaces to work in but hopefully I have managed to save it and 🤞🏻she leaves it alone.

The family are all doing well and are all healthy Praise God, Princess is still writing mid year exams AND will be turning 18 this coming weekend, where has the time gone ? I remember her birth as if it was yesterday and now she is tall,  beautiful and about to be 18 😍❤️

As you can see folks, it has been quite an eventful week added to which I am still finding my way around the gluten free and meat free eating, truly there is gluten in almost everything good grief.  There are many substitutes but generally they taste awful so there is a lot of trial and error, strange meals (for me) and research going on.  I baked some Biscotti which are lovely then I decided to up the  ante a little and covered one side of each with melted dark chocolate ...... I'm spoilt forever haha.  The one thing I would dearly love to know is how to cut the Biscotti without them breaking and crumbling, if ANYONE knows that trick please will you share it with me?

For those of you who, like me are resisting the ability to go completely grey I have something to share.  I have tinted my hair for more years than I can remember but over the last few years I've noticed an annoying and increasing itchy scalp, no dry scalp or dandruff.  So, I figured that seeing as I'm busy 'going natural' from the inside out I may as well investigate the natural, chemical free hair dyes.  I did my research and very tongue in cheek ordered a box which, when it arrived was a packet of powder which gets mixed with water.  Memories of henna flew through my mind and being me I did not do a strand test (typical).  Anyway this week I took the plunge and set about following the directions, apart from the smell which is earthy and the consistency which is like pancake batter, I applied half of the packet mixed with water. I was more than sceptical and really did not expect a good result but comforted myself with the fact that at least in trying.  With the same scepticism I pushed the time to as close to there maximum suggested ....... well  folks, believe it or not, a Herbal hair dye WORKS on 100% grey hair with excellent coverage, better than the chemical dye BUT it covered so well that my hair is a generous tad darker than I expected, who knew ???? Next time it will be a shorter application time but the best of all is an almost no itch scalp.  Next is to find a chemical free shampoo and conditioner.

Well folks I think that is enough rambling from my side, I would like to wish each and every one of you a truly wonderful week.  May you stay safe and healthy, may business be good and find it's way to you and may peace fill your hearts and homes.  Ciao ciao.

First Ottoman/pouffe.