Last night it was a significant movement day. Sixteen Gnomes were ready for adoption. Yes, sixteen. I was ready to let them go. Armed with their Certificate of Adoption unlike the Citizens of Gigglesville who have passports for migration, the objective is the same though. To spread love and giggles.
You’ll be amazed the things one can find from shopping online. Just about every week or every other week, I would buy something from my favorite online site. Initially, it was a lot of purchases pertaining to carving to assist my hobby.
Then when my setup was complete, I was still doing online shopping but the purchases became toys for official pet number one, health related items and useful household appliances among others.
Recently, I bought these colorful rubber devices. Have a guess of what there are. You’d be surprise to learn that these things are not toys but actually umbrella holders!
It’s quite amazing how it works, utilizing the law of Physics. From now on, going out on rainy days and wondering where to put the wet umbrella would no longer be a problem. I love online shopping!
Yesterday, I was at a new hospital for my annual checkup. The doctor whom I see annually has relocated to this new establishment and as such, being a new patient there, I had to register. He’s a good friend as well as being our doctor, hubby and I would consult him on health matter wherever he practices.
To get my record started up, my vitals had to be taken. And as I stood on the weighing scale, the reading showed an additional five kilos, I was horrified!!! I’m like, “Whh-aaattt?!” Not only I am heavy, I am obese! Just earlier in the morning, I stood on our bathroom scale and the reading was definitely five kilos less.
How could I have put on five kilos when I fasted the night before and during the hour-long journey to the hospital with a rumbling tummy, obviously empty and hungry? A discrepancy of a kilo or two may be possible but five? Unbelievable. Or has my bathroom scale been lying to me all these years? Hmm.
I’d like to believe the clothes are the culprit here. But then again, are my clothes that heavy? They’re Uniqlo jeans and a Liz Claiborne shirt, both light material and comfy wear. I did not remove my shoes though but the light weight Skechers can’t be that heavy too. Maybe I shouldn’t be too upset about the whole thing because I know I certainly ain’t heavy nor obese.
Sometimes the itch to buy something from online is very strong, I’d just do it. Nothing exorbitant but satisfying to indulge.
Several weeks ago, I bought a mini drill tool set which has been totally awesome to use; and I also bought two types of nose clips–supposedly capable to reduce or even eliminate snoring–to try. Who might it be for? The person in bed who snores of course!
The first package, five pieces of silica gel anti-snore clips, came in a little container, and I must say, it does work! The nightly loud snoring is now a thing of the past and sleep can be achieved peacefully after several trials and error.
The user would just have to get used to having something up their nostrils on a nightly basis and the person sleeping next to this person will and do appreciate their willingness to use it. The sleeping position is important to have the maximum noise reduction because at certain angles it loses its effectiveness.
The second package was of a more elaborate and bigger contraption because it also acts as a filter but looking less comfortable. Then again, it may be okay for others. However, it remains unused for now, so we will never quite know its effectiveness.
But I don’t think it’s a waste of money buying both clips for if we don’t try, we’d never know which works and which does not. And still have to deal with the nightly loud snores.
Tiny nose clips and big nose filter to suppress the snores!
My physiotherapy is coming along fine despite it being just once a week. The therapist said there’s improvement but I must continue with the home exercises and she even added a new routine for me to do to strengthen the area which is still weak.
I have been mindful not to exert too much and strain the wrist and thumb when I carve. With two more sessions to go before the year ends, I think I should be fine by then. Otherwise I may have to extend another round of treatment. We shall see.
Plastered with orange KT Tape
Hubby and I are on a box challenge again! It must be some bug that bites us to want to buy stuff online.
Within two days this week, there were several deliveries. He had a box of plants (of course) that came on Monday and another on Tuesday while I had two boxes delivered on Tuesday itself. This is not counting two other soft packages for me and him, a box full of tissues protecting some air plants not too long ago.
Maybe I will ‘win’ the challenge this round because my third parcel came yesterday. Then again, he may be expecting a box too before the end of the week. We shall see.
So what did I buy? Nothing to do with art or carving this time, but something for Mom and the house. Useful purchases in other words.
M2’s SPM exam feels like an eternity even for us! Thank goodness, she is almost at the tail end of it. There’s one subject today, two more subjects to go and then we are so done with it.
M2 is managing well, so are we. I think the three of us deserve a little break once the final paper is finished next week.
When I carve my pieces using Meranti wood, the wood blocks are all at different sizes. As such, I have to cut them to the proportions I want and there’ll be wastage. Hubby felt that it’s such a waste to throw away all those excess odd pieces.
So he experimented with the leftovers, using them as a prop or base for his air plants. And with just coat of acrylic paint, no gesso, they became simple and eye-catching tabletop pieces.
I wonder if the next piece should be a bit more elaborate. Hmm? Well, there’s plenty of wood to fine tune the overall look. From balsa where the odd ends become little Gnomes, and now Meranti as props for air plants certainly nothing goes to waste.
I have been monitoring the stag horn in front of the house, taking its picture every two or four days apart. And it has flourished to become a beautiful shield. Hubby concludes that the spot is perfect for growth despite the wonky weather.
Two weeks ago, it was very wet with a lot of rain just about every day and strong wind on occasions. Then the weather changed, now it’s hot and not as wet.
Nevertheless, the spot is good. So he decided to place another fern behind the existing one. Let’s hope the relocated fern will also bloom well in this unpredictable weather condition.
A couple of weeks ago, the effort reworking the second Gnome Home sapped me and I left it unattended for days after the first coat of colors. Eventually, despite a gruelling gym session where—in my trainer’s words “She went mental and gave it to us”— we were depleted of strength, I somehow managed to muster some energy to apply the final coat of acrylic to the roof and chimney.
The Fire Engine Red is obviously darker than the Cadmium Red but I think there’s character as well. I think the Gnomes like it.
Now in between mulling another home but a towering one for variation, I carved four phone holder whales, seven Gnomes and a Monument. So much carving to do, so little time.
The Gnomes standing proudly in front of the two new Gnome Homes.
Angieneering 
Remarks