You can never have enough...

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I found a great trick with freezing zucchini was to grate them into a clean teatowel, then wrap and wring that out to remove as much liquid as possible, and then freeze that shredded 'cake' in a flattened ziplock bag. Easy then to add to soups and stews or as the base for fritters or stirfries, and it isn't as soggy as the slices can be when defrosted. Sometimes the zuc harvest can be a bit over the top, so these days I buy one when I fancy a bit rather than grow plants that might prove overwhemingly fruitful, lol. They are wonderful quick sizzled with onions and tomatoes, but too many is just a pain...

[Lilith7]

I found a great trick with freezing zucchini was to grate them into a clean teatowel, then wrap and wring that out to remove as much liquid as possible, and then freeze that shredded 'cake' in a flattened ziplock bag. Easy then to add to soups and stews or as the base for fritters or stirfries, and it isn't as soggy as the slices can be when defrosted. Sometimes the zuc harvest can be a bit over the top, so these days I buy one when I fancy a bit rather than grow plants that might prove overwhemingly fruitful, lol. They are wonderful quick sizzled with onions and tomatoes, but too many is just a pain...

I might try that if these aren't successful then. I've had the same roblem with growing them - too many & the entire whanau don't want any more.

[popeye333]

I have my pretties out and that's pretty much all I've done today.

I dragged the recycle bin out to the road. Wayyy shorter than living down a shared driveway but its a hill too.. But its seldom it will ever be as full as it is now.

My trusty Postie left me a message on FB today to contact her. Which I did. she knew I had moved and had what she said felt like a credit card. So I told her where I was and she will deliver it tomorrow.. Shes a lovely posty that I have known for nearly 21 years.. she is older than me too so I found out today... gets to drive around on one of those flash motorbike scooter thingees.

I think it will be my new community services card.

Shopping tomorrow, and Im going to spotlight which can be norty. but Ive decided to get some cheap dinnersets, $11 for 12 pieces.. They dont have mugs... Which while it might be odd for some people its perfect for me lol.. And I want to look at smaller towels for when I wash my hair. Finding red is difficult so it will be white. And they have some of them on special too.

Am I enjoying having a bit more Money YES.. but Im not wasting it. Just getting what I want/need. My determination to be red and white just needs a few twitches.

You be Careful Hunni.... Hehe pot kettle black much.. I think we are similar in not totally listening to our Bodies, or we think we know what it can handle but think wrong lol.

Im stopping in at Dianne's tomorrow on my way home to Pick up Missys litter box house.. Its meant to keep things enclosed.. but it looks like a dog kennel. Di found it in the innovations catalogue.

Not looking forward to doing my bloods tomorrow... The Girls both know Im moving but they will see all the bruises.. Cos both arms are a mess. Leanne does the right arm and the other one who I can never remember her name does the left. So they will tell me off for not being more careful.

[Mica]

Morning all 
Wild and windy storm

Feline woken us early  at 6 am seems her food need replacing  so DH kindly got up  bought me a cuppa so now I plan to snuggle down  and read 

Going to be fold at warehouse this morning layers merino me thinks

Keep warm and dry

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Couple of degrees cooler here, after a wet and windy night, more plane trees leaves down I suspect. But there are patches of blue sky out there so maybe I'll get a bit more gardening done.

The police turned up last night laden with paperwork about the drunk driving incident, and we are informed the driver had exceptionally high blood alcohol, is being charged, and there is every chance he will get a custodial consequence this time, taking his past history into account. All the women tenants are reassured by that news, we are all a little hypervigilant about locking doors and situational awareness because of his behaviour, and it is no fun living like that. But we will see what the court decides. Meanwhile rumour has it he plans to have a holiday in the near future, back in India. Either way, we won't miss him.

I am very pleased with my muscles this morning, no stiffness after yesterdays jaunting, and the new hip stood up to the exercise really well, which is reassuring, so I am going to add some gentle round the block strolling to my weekly routine and see if that improves the lung function. It would be good to be a little less puffy under pressure...

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

She's wild and wooly out there.

Glad the fellow is being dealt with Hunni, no one should have to live with that danger nearby.

We used to have an alcoholic nearby in Mangakino. and when he was drunk, which was most of the time he would grab his shotgun and roam around his house yelling and screaming, threatening anyone that went near.. I remember one morning waking up to heavy foot steps running through our yard as we lived on a corner., it was the Armed Offenders / defenders running through. Rang my neighbour and she came over and we watched from safety. I dont know what happened to him but I dont recall seeing him after that lot.

Im off to town today.. Yeah nuts I know But if I have to go out to do my bloods then Ill do the rest. Only four places to go into..

My Girl just threw up her breakfast. I suspect she ate too quickly.. She is actually eating more since we have moved too so that's a good thing she was too skinny.

Stay warm and dry everyone..

[Lilith7]

Not much sleep to be had here last night, howling wind & heavy rain; not looking forward to the daily dog walk but we'll do the shortest one again.
The bin hadn't been collected till late-ish & was going to just leave it till this morning but once the wiind started, thought better of it & turned music up loud (so madama le Dog didn't bark at me going outside without her) & very quietly sneaked out the back door & grabbed it.

I was very glad I had in the early hours, the bin would probably have ended up in Hokotika.
Also very pleased I was lucky getting the dreaded groceries done before it all kicked off.
Managed to get birthday gifts for youngest grandson wrapped up, will post nearer to his birthday; they're in Brisbane so won't see him this year.

[popeye333]

My recycling bin was laying flat when I went out this morning. But it was packed soo tightly that only a couple of lose pieces of paper were wet.

Trees fallen down on our roads here and one was down on the Auckland road by 4-30 am and they were only just fixing the power lines at 2pm

A truck versus a small car on the way to pukekohe. really wasnt a good day to venture out in really.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

We just made Al Jaz's newshour because of our weather... Stay safe down there southerners!

[popeye333]

Just checked in with a friend in CHCH.. they are ok so far.

her other half is going out to the block of land they have tomorrow to check if there is any wind damage to their orchards etc

No Kiwimade today. Hope they are ok

[Mica]

Morning all 
A dark and stormy night  at least we now down from red to orange. Definitely a stay indoors day today.

Fancy baking some biscuits today so that I havexsomething to nibble with my cup of tea. Will clear the emails while they are cooking. Will finish sewing jeans later too.
Lilith admire that you and k9 venture out our k9s would poke their noses out and not even ask
Or show behavior that they expected to go out in the rain

Hope everyone has kept warm and dry

[Roma]

Good morning.

A cold 3 degrees but the sun is out.  Snow from yesterday sparkling on the mountains this morning.  

A wild, wet day yesterday for many.  DS in Wellington bravely/stupidly still biked to work   It was probably still safer than by bus. Meanwhile, miserable and wet back home my other son says. 

Yesterday we were out and about,  the scenery stunning in the SI at this time of year especially ...  Autumn leaves on trees so bright. Yes, mostly Asian tourists fossicking for chestnuts ... I wonder how they like to eat them  

I might also do some baking  ... perhaps muffins.  GS is a good eater which makes life easier. 

Will get out and about again later ... need the layers on today though. 

Enjoy the day all.

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

I still dont tend to hear the wind. Its not raining at the mo tho.

Spoke to Kiwimade last night. They are ok.

I too may bake later.. Just to give the oven a test run. The elements on top are sooo hot that Ive nearly cremated my schnitzel and meat patties.. So Jo the Friend from CHCH said have a test run.. Not something I had thought of.

So that will happen today or tomorrow.. I also want to build Missys Litter house. Dianne asked if I would like Paul to put it together.. I said Ill have a shot first. MrP did not do kitset so I became quite good at it. if not it can go home with her on Monday lol.

Think Im going to have to leave a part of the curtain open. They really cut out the daylight to the point it was after 8am when I woke up lol.

Have a lovely indoors day everyone

---

From Kiwimade...

Morning. I won't be in the group today. There has been a nasty car accident outside our home and all the power is out. Two hurt but alive.

From me... Not good for any involved.

[Roma]

That's no good KM. We experienced too many accidents (some fatal)  when we were on  SH27. We lived on a hill though, so weren't the first port of call for assistance. 
Take it easy today.

[Lilith7]

Hope KM will be back soon, still freezing here so not fun with no power.

There was a brief appearence from a strange yellow thing in the sky earlier but it beetled off again fairly swiftly.
I haven't a choice about the daily walk; Madame le Dog has very firm views on the subject, though even she was glad to get home again yesterday.

Just posted the Friday Funny, a couple of Dave Allen bits plus Alan Carr reading a letter from Roald Dahl about a cantankerous dog..

[Oh_hunnihunni]

We had thunder and lightning, and a brief spurt of hail, skies so dark I had to put the lamps on. And the warm went to chill so I put a different top on, and that is the extent of the storm so far in the smoke. I did hear the weather guru last night say we are in for a warm winter, well, warmer perhaps after seeing the snow down south.

Very uncivilised stuff that... Stay warm!

[popeye333]

Im cold lol... The big yellow thing is just starting to go behind the tall side fence...

I did hang washing out, but late.. It should nearly be dry tho.. Might have to put the airer up cos I cant get to the dryer at this stage lol.. No sense asking Fanny to help me..

I wont ask Dianne tho cos she has some kind of infection in her one breast she has left.. Seeing the clinic on the 13th. And Im not going to ask her to lift anything with me.

I made up Missy's new Kitty Litter House.. When I've uploaded photos Ill show you.. Its rather cute really.. I put the magnet in the wrong place, but it works. She was happy to go in it, without the tray so hopefully she will still go in it.

Washed the dinner sets.. Glad the dinner plates aren't the massive ones or they wouldn't have fit in the old style cupboards. Very pleased with them all. Not big heavy things.. Well worth $11 a set.

Mum would have been 99 today. Im sure she is with her grandboy and having a ball.

Sir Bob Jones died today. One of the few people I detested... Still sad for his family and friends

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Your Mum and mine born the same year popeye...

[popeye333]

Your Mum and mine born the same year popeye...

Todays mum is Diannes Mum. 

I adopted her when I found her in the same home MrP had been in.

Had known her previously when I used to take my mother and MrP to senior Citz group.

Mum used to run it. I didnt meet Dianne back then,  Between 2008 and 20011.. 

But Im sure we were destined to meet. We have soo many things in common. 

Mum taught me what a real Mum was, and I was lucky to have had her for  a couple of years.

But another odd thing in common is My mother could very well be with her grandson too..

I very Seldom called my own mother Mum.

[kiwimade64]

Hi everyone Power is back on but my washing machine has been fried from the massive power surge from the power pole exploding. It was on at the time and the power guys said that's why it fried. Looks like I'm buying a new machine.

The van towing a trailer was 'flying' according to an eye witness. It rolled in the air and hit the power pole taking out the neighbour's fence. The passenger was asleep in the back and woke to find himself airborne. He was so confused. Luckily, they both walked away from it. And I mean lucky, if the logging truck and trailer had been only seconds closer, they wouldn't be telling the tale. I called 111 but we couldn't get to the driver as the power lines were down. Turns out the driver fell asleep. The van had no WoF or registration. So, we are assuming no insurance. It's going to take the driver years to pay of the damage.

Anyhoo am talking again to AMI now about another claim...