Discovering new skills

These past two and half weeks I have had to teach myself to be patient. This is definitely not one of my strengths and even typing this one handed is testing my patience! But above all I now have a new respect for others, especially amputees. Two and a half weeks ago I had a thumb reconstruction which turned out to be more than that as the surgeon discovered a radial nerve neuroma that had to be removed as well. Having already had surgery on both my shoulders I was prepared for some discomfort, but I have to say this has been right up there on the pain scale! But messages and visits from family and friends has been lovely and the flowers always bring a smile......

 We even had little Wade helping with the chores I have not managed to meet.....it is such a delight when they enjoy the mundane things in life at this age!.......

When I had the first cast taken off just over a week ago I was shocked by the length of the wound down my thumb into the wrist but I've 'softened' the image so it is less gruesome (!!), and I now have a lovely blue cast for 3 more weeks instead.....

 But my goodness the respect I have for those who have lost the use of their arms or hands is immeasurable! Try putting the back of your earring on with one hand....and why are some buttons on shirts so jolly tiny??!! But for me it is temporary but poor Larry is having to do little Wade's nappy changes, pick him up and generally do it all.......and for a few more weeks yet!.....

 Beau and Maisie continue to grow so very fast too. Beau did well at his recent grading test.......

and during the holidays Maisie was responsible for caring for the kindy stick insects including hunting for the right leaves to eat..........

 As I discover new ways of performing everyday tasks with one hand I have a sense of frustration as I am missing my stitching so much.....the irony of all that is that using one's hands is probably what caused all the problems in the first place! But the front garden is now full of spring colour and we can't wait to see the rose arch in full bloom very soon......

 It is funny how being stopped in your tracks makes you spend more time thinking. For the last year or so we've been contemplating a house move looking for a slower pace of life. We spent 26 years in one home and have had two moves in the last 8 years.....this time in our current home for almost six of those eight. I've been obsessively watching the real estate and we've done lots of trips looking, but yesterday we came to realise the cost of moving and getting the same beautiful home we have now would not be financially sound. While we may not have the best postcode or the nicest street we have spent so much on this current home with new furnishings, an outdoor pergola and the garden has been transformed to make it "ours". We love our current home and we've seen nothing in comparison that would not give us more debt and when one reaches their mid 60's maybe it is time to rethink.......

 So while enjoying a coffee outside yesterday Larry and I made a big decision to just stay put. The money it would cost to move (especially the costly stamp duty), could be used to update the 10 year old kitchen and maybe even some double glazing might block out the traffic, the barking dogs and some of the neighbourhood noise! There are so many little rambling corners out the back that we would miss and packing it all up and starting again did fill us with dread......

and we need to see a few mores seasons of growth on the ornamental pears!....

 So I am sorry to those friends who thought we were coming to live closer (Rosie, Penny, Mandy!)...we are only 40 minutes away! Before my surgery I knew I had to finished Wade's 2nd birthday quilt and I am so pleased I did as his birthday is just 10 days away. I used a quilt as you go method and appliquéd all the circles by machine through all the layers (and I did not need to fuse them), and then enjoyed hand quilting more circles in a variegated thread (I can't wait to get back to that!) It is an 'I spy' quilt full of all the things Wade loves and is reversible with a panel on the back.....

 While speaking of quilts I was touched to receive an email recently from Bronwyn in New Zealand with a photo of a version of my 'Dublin' pattern that she enlarged and made into a quilt for her daughter and son in law who live in Sydney. What a fabulous quilt and I hope the new owners are happy.....thankyou for sharing it Bronwyn x

I hope it is not another 3 weeks before I manage to get to the blog again.....I guess by then I might have more than one hand working.....and maybe the brain might be working a little better too following this little story - I've been visiting the hairdresser more often than usual (because one of the things I can't do well is my hair!!), and during the week we got all the way there and I discovered I still had my slippers on!!! How jolly embarrassing but I am always good for a laugh and maybe if I tap those heels together Dorothy might take me to her Wizard of Oz and speed up my healing! Take care x

More Marvellous Morris

I think many of us are finding it hard to believe it is the last day of September and that the stores are already filled with Christmas trees and decorations! But it is so I have treated myself to an early Christmas gift filled with William and May Morris of course! Recently I came across this gorgeous site: Une Bonne Journée and as soon as I saw this I just had to have it!....... 

It took less than two weeks to arrive all the way from Sceaux, France and how beautifully it was packaged with a personal thankyou and a gorgeous button too.......

 It is so beautifully made with pockets inside and quite a firm lining as well........

 and I love the detail especially those little birds........

 Thankyou Penny....I just love it and think this might be on my wish list from the family for my birthday.....

Earlier today I also saw that a local fabric shop was stocking a new range of fabrics: "May Morris Studio", so a quick drive (and a catch up with dear friends who I used to stitch with on a Monday) and I came home with a collection of 10 inch squares (layer cake). The bolts won't be available until December to buy by the metre but how beautiful they all are (colours are a little yellow as I took some quick photos tonight under the night light)......

 So it is very exciting that both William Morris and his daughter May are still being celebrated today (what a shame I sold out of copies of my May Morris stitching book over a year ago). So while we were out and about today we thought we would enjoy the sunshine and contemplate how hot it is going to be in just a few days - Larry heard tonight that the heat this week will be 11C above average for this time of year.! So another stroll through one of our favourite places to see the Spring blooms........

 

 Beau and Maisie have kindy and school holidays for the next two weeks so I am sure we will be catching up. Maisie was so chuffed last weekend that she could finally reach the top of this climb.......

 And little Wade was also pretty chuffed with his new tractor.......

We have Wade again tomorrow so it will be lovely to explore outside in the sun. So with that I will say thanks for dropping by with the hope that all is well in your part of the world. The Dalai's calendar page yesterday was most appropriate as I am having a thumb reconstruction in two days. I have read far too much online (as you do!), especially about the pain afterwards but in the scheme of things this is elective (and will only get worse as it is bone on bone - well so I was told), and a decision I had to make to return function without ongoing pain........especially while dressing, cleaning, picking up little Wade...and of course quilting!! So I will chat soon after that!