Detour Diary

I do hope that soon I can offer more to you the reader apart from life here at home! But I fear that will still be a while away both with my current status and the world in general. I cannot imagine that travel is on the horizon beyond our own patch and I for one look at things so differently. Over the years I have enjoyed sharing our travel journeys with you on this blog but now I have had this health scare including a DVT, I think my fear of long flights is warranted - we have so much in our own country that we have yet to explore. But we are making progress despite battling the post-chemotherapy fatigue. My blood levels are still out of kilter but I'm hoping some B12 injections might assist with that. I fill lucky we don't have a young family so I have an excuse to spend the day in my nightie (or even bed!), if I feel like it which is exactly what I did these past two days! But I did make myself useful and started sorting small squares to make into kits for charity quilts. Each kit needs 296 squares and with so many generous donations each square should be different.......

The weather has not been conducive to exploring the neighbourhood and I do worry that the less one does then the less one is motivated! The garden is desperate for rain and the plants are still struggling with what I assume is climate change issues. Our neighbours peaches that hang over our fence are very small this year and are also later than usual but Topsy seems happy and settled........

The hollyhocks are also quite small (and late blooming), and the hydrangeas are either suffering from overwatering or not enough.....and a few pesky critters that we can't find have had a nibble on some plants as well........

But Rachelle's stunning orchid is now completely open and brings such joy......

I am fascinated how plants intuitively do what they do like this climbing jasmine wrapping itself exactly where I want it to......

I had a visitor drop by a couple of weeks ago with another lovely surprise.....more William Morris pleasure to add to my collection! Thankyou Deb......I love the purse the creams came in and that is now filled with needle and thread..........

I am still somewhat overwhelmed and embarrassed with the gifts and thoughts but it has carried us through this difficult time. While one of our daughters tries to find peace with mental illness it reminded my of how sad it is that she hasn't been flooded with the same attention. The community stigma is still there. I finally packed up all the get well cards and counted 92 of them and 16 records of flowers that I received - Thankyou all.......the cards and memories are now packed in a box to treasure......

During this time I completely omitted another large gift that came in the post some time ago......I think we were so awestruck that we immediately put some of it to good use! This came from a lovely part of our country - Corowa. We met Leanne and Derek in 2016 after Leanne had invited me to teach. It is wonderful to go back through the blog and read about it all here on my post Quilting on a Farm and we are hoping to visit them again soon. And what treasures in their gift box - treats for the tummy, Corowa brewed whiskey for Larry and thoughtful treatment for me... and as you can see by the dent in the tube the cream has been used regularly.....thankyou so very much Leanne and Derek........

Back in the cooler months Tim at Lloyd Curzon Textiles noticed the rugby top I was wearing - an Out and About Clothing piece, one of my favourite outlets that is made in country South Australia. Tim commented that he supplies them with the fabrics so behind my back he arranged to have a new one made for me! Thankyou once again Tim and I look forward to wearing it. During that same week we also enjoyed this delicious platter and I finished the binding on a quilt to be gifted to my breast surgeon. Thankyou to Faye for the wonderful Australian indigenous fabrics and for quilting it for me too (and cutting all the fabric as well! xx)............

And just a few days ago I was gifted with this stunning piece of local glass art made by Glass Hearts.......thankyou Kay and Simon......

I love glass pieces and it is very special that it comes from a studio in our beautiful Adelaide Hills. But tragically during the last 12 hours we have been watching with horror a bushfire in the region. Yesterday was 42C and an awful day and Kay and Simon live in these hills as do other friends. So I was up until 2am watching the updates and hoping they were all safe. Today is windy and unpredictable so we can only hope the predicted rain actually comes later in the day. This photo shows how close the hills are from our city.....

Photo Source

Receiving this beautiful glass heart reminded me of some more local glass art that I saw on Instagram during the last couple of weeks. I love these pieces as they remind me of the style of the Arts & Crafts Movement....along with a view of snowdrops pushing though the ice in the UK!.......

Also on instagram we've seen a lot of images of this event that raises money for the Cancer Council of South Australia. It is still surreal that I am now in the category of someone with cancer so it means even more. It is such a fun way to raise funds in the middle of our hot Summer. Participants dress up as Marilyn Monroe and will be making the big splash on February 7th. In just 6 years half a million dollars have been raised and the emotional story behind the event can be read HERE.......

So while we swelter and worry about bushfires the northern hemisphere are enduring freezing temperatures. I even saw vision of snow in London yesterday. Our friends in Canada sent us these images from their home.........I love the icicles.....

So please stay safe wherever you are and take care till next time. Thanks for dropping by x

A New Year - New Hope

There is no denying our world is a different place as we face the challenges of the pandemic and more recently watching the unrest in the US with a new President on the horizon. It is all relative depending on where one lives and one's own personal circumstances and these past 5 months have certainly been some of the toughest for our family. I still have two lots of surgery to go but I am so thankful I don't need anymore chemotherapy. The oncologist does want me to keep the portacath in my chest as I might need some infusions over the next 3 years to fix the damage that the chemo may have done to my bones, but my fingers are tightly crossed I won't need that! But we have so much to be thankful for and especially the love and support shown to us. More cards and gifts have arrived from special people that truly lifts us both......thankyou to each and everyone of you. These magnificent Christmas flowers lasted for nearly 2 weeks from the team at ........Lloyd Curzon Fabrics

Thankyou to Rachelle for this beautiful orchid that is bringing so much joy - I just hope I don't kill it!.......

More beautiful cards including a hand stitched seat belt protector made by Michele (also spelled with one "L"!!), for my fragile chest all the way from Queensland.....

Michele even bought a virtual Pink seat in my name for Day 3 of the International Cricket Test! Day 3 is in honour of Jane McGrath who sadly died from breast cancer at a young age and was also the wife of former test cricketer Glen McGrath. The foundation now raises funds for breast care nurses.....not that I have had that privilege. Not sure if it is because I was a private patient but my support has been closer to home with one of our daughters. But what a great cause and thankyou so much Michele........

I received a special package from the Breast Cancer Network Australia and Berlei and that was very touching. I am still so very sore across my chest as the wound goes from under one armpit right across to the other with an inch gap in the middle! My surgeon informed me yesterday that this discomfort will last another 6 months! I read from one lady that the wounds feel like one is wearing an iron bra - it certainly feels like a very wide and rough rope strangling the chest 24/7 and when in the car one feels every bump in the road! But is nice to have a little padding to wear where one goes out.......

More overwhelming gifts from special friends including a pamper voucher and hidden under my little bear is a gift card to purchase books for the grandchildren.......such a great idea.....thankyou all.........

Speaking of the grandchildren I just had to share these images of little Wade. It was a video Sophie took but I can't work out how to get if from messenger to the blog so instead I screen shot him as he shared his predictions on love, life and 2021.....his words were....."It is a mis-story Mummy".......a mystery indeed and maybe better we don't know what is around the corner!!.....

I came across these words recently......a timely reminder to just live for today and relax and try not to worry about what lies ahead........ 

I adore this image that Emily took of Beau and Maisie.......I am told they don't always act like this!!...

We've enjoyed some strolls in the sunshine and I couldn't help noticing how in the first image one can see new apartments swallowing the grandeur of old......

And the "THE SAND IS THE NEW SNOW" slogan is certainly Christmas in Australia.......

And I received even more William Morris hand cream! I adore these gifts and love the products with the scents of bergamot and sandalwood.  As you can see I won't run out for quite a while!...........

And the bonus is the gorgeous tins and boxes that they come in that can be reused over and over! And if you are very careful the labels peel off too..........

Morris & Co. have teamed up with DockATot and created a range for babies and children. Very bohemian and I imagine very expensive and despite what William Morris might think about all of this it is nice to see his designs are alive and well........all the images are from that link.........

I also received an extra special Morris gift in the mail from Liz.........some gorgeous Morris fabric! Thankyou for your generosity Liz....now to decide what I will do with it as it is way too special to just cut up........

So with the New Year and New Hope comes the joy of my eyelashes returning and underneath the scarf the hair is just appearing! I must admit that after almost 5 months I am a bit sick of wearing this head gear especially on a hot day! The final images are from a few days ago when we had the older two stay for the afternoon and what a help they were......we even enjoyed Maisie's 'cooking' creations! May 2021 bring hope and joy to you and yours too.........