
the aussie empty nester
living a new life without the kids while having to adjust to chronic pain.
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Monday, February 23, 2026
Cracking on
today has been a productive day
I’ve been online and through
Door dash
I’ve done an Aldi shop
And a woolies shop.

One load of washing was brought in.
I’ve got it here to fold and put away, but Trixie has decided it makes an excellent bed

Two loads of washing done and hung out to dry.

Cooking two, tiropita
Three cheese pies

And sticky chicken wings.
I have never tried cooking them like this.
Hubby cooks them on the BBQ during the summer. During the winter I cook them in the oven
Unfortunately, as you know, the oven is busy. That’s why the big idea for f using the electric pan.

And I’m still working on this.
Since the break, while crocheting, my calluses have softened.
I’m busy building them up again
I wonder what I’ll do tomorrow
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Weekend report


The weather this weekend has been very different to what we have been experiencing for weeks now.
We got a few drops of rain, we had a few shower but mainly it’s been very humid
These are my windows right now
I do not do humid at all. Which means I’ve been inside almost all weekend. I went out to feed the animals, hang washing, although I don’t know why I bothered. They’re not dry and smell musty. I’m going to rewash that load and then hang them in here.

The ugly blanket is finished. I’m glad I made it bigger. It’s a perfect size for three little girls to snuggle under.

For now I’m back onto the EPP.
I finished getting all the hexies ready and have begun sewing them onto the blanket.
That’s pretty much the extent of my endeavours
Hubby mowed the lawns
And continued filling the metal crates with fire wood.
Our motto these days is definitely
Slow and steady.
Friday, February 20, 2026
Friday fun day

My two cherubs sitting in the “ nest” Ana made
When her girls are here, that’s what she calls Melody and Brianna, they make this big nest and settle in to watch TV
Looks like Georgia is being trained for future fun days

Even Trixie snuggled in

Trixie had her spa day today. She knows when the extension cord is set up her personal hairdresser is coming.
She sat like that for over five minutes and went crazy trying to get to the lovely Maria.
She has been coming her since Teddy was a puppy. That’s 15 years!

Georgia is learning to sit. I don’t leave her as she still falls.

In the afternoon grandpa came home to play with Ana. Ana actually asked me to ring him, he was already coming over once he got home and delivered the auto parts to the boys
In the late afternoon Georgia had a big sleep in grandma’s arms. Every time I started to move she opened her eyes. She even grabbed the front of my top. She really didn’t want to be put down.
I can confess it wasn’t a terrible thing. I love holding them when they sleep. I’m pretty sure I had a few cat naps while holding her. I was positioned in a way she couldn’t fall.
Meanwhile Ana sat on the couch and became very quiet. She too had fallen asleep
After grandpa got her into a more comfortable position, he lay on the floor to look at his IPad.
Even he fell asleep and As always Trixie was fast asleep in her bed.
It suddenly became very quiet here.
Daddy arrived to take Ana to her swimming lessons and not long after that mummy arrived to take Georgia home.
This is going to be the routine every Friday. Ana leaving first with dad
And the mummy comes straight here after work to collect her baby girl
It will help dad with getting Ana dressed after her lesson
And let’s face it. More time for baby cuddles
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Changing my mind

I decided to keep going with Leann’s blanket.
The only stipulation was, she wanted it ugly.
I had made her one with our football
Colours. Her son subsequently “ stole” it
So she said she wanted to make an ugly one no one would want to take
I didn’t really have “ ugly” yarn. I’m pretty sure that’s why I put it away. Until I got some yarn to finish it.
I found some.
So I’m continuing with it.

Meanwhile, this is my “practice piece” for crocheting tartan.
Since I decided to give it to the girls as. Baby blanket for the doll, I just sewed in the ends and it’s in the girls room
So that’s the plan.
Unless of course I change my mind again
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Keeping busy
I’ve decided that I’m watching to many reports of heinous crimes committed by deranged demons.
I took more of those jellies last night and even though it made me sleepy, I kept waking up suddenly as if I heard something frightening
I know we need to know what’s going on. That we need to shout from the rooftops that this is not to be borne
I feel like I’m abandoning those victims. They didn’t have the choice to just stop seeing or thinking about it.
So I won’t. Not totally. I’m m just going to spend only a little each day finding out the latest news. And then switch off.
This is where crafting is very useful indeed
It’s a very hot and windy day. We are all in high alert for fires. We have a total fire ban today.
NO FIRES ALLOWED
I woke up. Fed everyone who hubby hadn’t feed stripped the bed and got the sheet in the line
I then went into my craft room.
No radio
No music
And no audiobooks
Just me and the sound of my sewing machine
I continued working on the bag

After a couple of hours this is what I achieved
It doesn’t look like much, but, believe me it was very time consuming.
Reading the instructions was a no go.
I’m not good with written instructions at the best of times. I prefer pictures.
But these were particularly bad.
So I just looked at the few pictures they had and just worked it out.
Attaching that pocket was a fiddly, hot flush inducing hour of torture.
Surprisingly I did not get flustered and I did not swear at it.
I just kept going.
I know. I’m shocked too
It started to get hot in the house so I’ve pulled down the blinds, turned on the AC and after bringing in the sheets I’m sitting.
The current WIP I’m finishing is another granny blanket

I think I’ll just finish the row I’m on and it will be done.
There is one more granny square blanket and I’ll tackle that next.
It’s an easy and meditative process, allowing me to watch telly while I work.
That’s pretty much it. I hope you’re looking after your mental health. Taking a time out is sometimes very needed.
Monday, February 16, 2026
Going on
the last five days have been hectic. Well for me anyway.
Friday the girls and dinner with friends
Saturday sleep in. I haven’t been sleeping lately. I needed a sleep in badly. I had to give art a miss. It couldn’t be helped.
So because big brother is always lurking I got bombarded with adds for sleeping aids

I got this one. It’s all natural and I even know some of the ingredients, like Valerian root. I know that’s good for sleep.
I took it for the first time last night. And for the first time in a very long time I was in bed and asleep before midnight
Now even if it’s the placebo affect I don’t care. It worked. So please don’t burst my bubble.
Sunday was a day of domesticity
I carried out inside chores while hubby went outside

He is starting on the firewood supply
We have quite a bit, but it needs chopping and splitting.
All those crates will be filled and one at a time he will bring them next to the house for us to easily access them.
I on the other hand, along with general inside stuff, decided to patch hubbys work pants.
He is really hard on his clothes. So mending them helps keep shopping trips down. It’s not me. I don’t mind shopping. But you know men. Apparently it’s torture and very painful
I found some iron on patches in a mixed bag of supplies someone had given me

I cut to size and ironed them in. Now I don’t know why, maybe they’re just too old, they didn’t stick.
I decided to hand stitch around them for now. I’ve been online and ordered new ones. Hopefully they’ll be here soon and I can try again
And today, after a much better nights sleep, spent some time clearing my work table in the craft room
Now I know I said I wasn’t going to start a new project until I had finished the WIP’s I had.
Well obviously i meant yarn projects. I only have one sewing project so I’m entitled to have at least another one going too. Right?

I got this pattern a while ago. I wanted to make it from the wool blanket off cuts

Here all the pieces are cut and ready to sew together.
I’m going using up a few cream pieces of the wool for the bag and
Some cream, or off white cotton scraps for the lining
I’ve even cut the interfacing
All are clipped together with the pattern piece
This is definitely my “practice “ bag.
I hope to “ iron out” all the issues I will come across and learn from them
If the bag is a disaster it will simple become a “ dress up” bag for the girls
So that’s it. Your up to date
After being busy all morning I’m going to sit down, watch episodes of the great sewing bee and game of wool. All while continuing with the blanket on currently finishing off. It’s almost as big as I want it.
Then I’ll start on another blanket that half done.
See I am getting through them. Soon I’ll be back to the EPP.
Stay safe wherever you are, the worlds weather is kinda crazy right now