Art for Heart's Sake

Hoddy Estuary Park

Hi on a beautiful Autumn morning AGAIN, giggle.  No rain in sight but the light is just beautiful, as is the feeling of freshness in the air.

Yesterday pm we went to the opening of this very special park that has been a long time in the ''opening''.  A friend of ours Peter Owen, first had a vision for this special piece of land that used to be part of a Research Orchard for apple growing, in 1998.  It has taken 15 years and lots of blood, sweat and sometimes tears for it to finally come to fruition and be handed over to our local district council.  All of the work to turn this into a beautiful space for the public to enjoy has been voluntary and a lot of the funding has been donated.  How wonderful is that.  The Waimea Estuary (the tide was out so no water in the background) is an incredibly special habitat for lots of reasons so it's great part of it has been preserved forever.

This photo only shows part of the area, it is pretty big and includes a large pond with a boardwalk and picnic tables right down on the estuary edge.  We are going to enjoy having picnics there in the future.  It is about 4 minutes drive from here.

Today I'm going to go down to my nursery to check out my plants and I hope to do one or two other things including some watering. 

BIG NEWS - one of my elbow crutches in now officially in the wardrobe, not to reappear for many years I hope!  Yay is really all I can say!!  Smiles.. I'm off outside, yippee!!

Yikes, Where Did Yesterday Go??

Oh Crikey and heavens.. I've just realised it's Sunday morning and I didn't post anything yesterday!  I'm sure you didn't miss me, giggle, but I still feel bad!

Yesterday started with a bit of a rush and a roar.  We were out the door by 10am to go and get our vegetables at a local stall and then went on to a gorgeous! little shop at someone's property called Beacon Hill.  It did my soul the world of good to be in amongst gorgeous things including pieces of glorious antique lace!

From there we went into Richmond and got some petrol and then I had a fairly decent walk on almost-flat while John walked Chester.  We got home late morning and then in the early afternoon my neighbour phoned me to see if I wanted to go to her daughter-in-law's house for afternoon tea.  To be honest I was pretty tired but I agreed to go because I knew it would do me good.  I got home at 4.45, pretty exhausted.

Today we are going to an opening of an Estuary park that is just around the corner from home.  I'm hoping I won't have to stand for too long or walk downhill too far - we shall see!

I fed the ducks yesterday morning and today so I am feeling as though I'm getting back on track.   Everything is very slow but sure which is wonderful, if a bit frustrating!  I WILL GET THERE!!  Smiles until tomorrow.. I need to go and record my radio show now. 

Morning!

Hi, on this lovely cloudy Friday morning.  The cloud was unexpected because the weather report had a big, fat sun (AGAIN.. BOTHER IT).  I love that the garden is getting a rest, no matter how briefly.  There is no rain on the horizon anytime soon which makes me grinchy.  How dare it not rain, giggle.

 

This morning I went for a walk out into the paddock and took the chooks some greens, I then carried on and went to say hi to our copper beech tree.  This is a very special tree - it was the first tree I planted in our paddock and it sat there for a few years looking just the same as when it was planted (i.e. small!!!).  Copper beeches don't like clay soils much and I remember saying to it ''it's okay, I'm not going to get rid of you because you can't grow, you can just be my dwarf copper beech''.  Shortly after that it's roots obviously took hold because away it went.  It's still not huge but it's grown about 8 feet in three years and they are very slow growing.  I love it!!

I'm off out to my studio to play with some paint.  Smiles..

Once More Into the Paddock!!

Hi there on a rather chilly but lovely autumn morning.  The temps have been quite low the last two mornings, around 7 degrees C which is wonderful in some ways.  Our house doesn't get the sun until mid-late morning now but this will improve a bit when we put our clocks back on the first Sunday in April, even if ony for a couple of weeks.  This means our house feels pretty cold for a while and I am starting to think about lighting our woodburner.  We need our chimney sweep to come and do the chimney first though. 

Yesterday I ended up going out to the paddock three times which I think might have been a little too much.  I have weird, slightly achy muscles in my upper thigh/hip so that will teach me!  I wasn't planning on going out more than twice but we were thinking of moving Lizzie's (old small Bantam) house hard up against the main chook run and it seemed a good time to do it.  It was so funny, John cleaned out Lizzie's house and then proceeded to tell her to go upstairs.  Unfortunately chooks are creatures of very little brain so they don't take instructions too well.  In the end we decided to leave it until early Saturday morning when John won't let her out until she has been moved!  Good plan!

I was a good girl in the early pm and I lay on the bed for about 45-50 minutes reading my book.  It was lovely I have to say, especially as by that time of the day the sun is coming round and the room is light and inviting.  The couch just looks blasted depressing in the morning so I can tell I won't be reclining on it anytime soon!  Hmmm I'm just not a sitter am I??!!

I didn't end up making a gift tag yesterday, I just couldn't face it so I grabbed a nice one I've had for about 20 years.  I used to collect pretty cards many years ago and I still have a lot of them.  I'm fairly sure I'll never use most of them because I love them too much! Giggle.

I'm going to head out to my studio and I think I'm going to have to put my oil-coil heater on it's thermostat because it's not good for my paints or papers to go below 10 degrees C.  Crikey, I guess Autumn is here.  My little studio is fully insulated so it holds the heat really well and this means if there's lots of sunshine the heater doesn't go on for long overnight which is so wonderful.  More tomorrow.  Smiles.. p.s. I wanted to share my x-ray on here but I thought I'd better check that it wouldn't completely scare you silly.  Is it okay if I share it? I promise it's not gory!  I think it's amazing!

Squeeeeee I Got There!

Hi, and oh squeeeeeeee yes I made it out to the kitchen garden and the chooks yesterday.  I had a very busy day in the end and I'm feeling a bit tired today!  I spent the morning giving Benjamin bunny some cabbage leaves from the fridge, hosing off the lawn (duck poop) and doing various other things.  Lyn arrived at about 1pm with lunch and then just as she was leaving around 2.30pm, another friend turned up to look at Gertie's ''feet''.

We'd noticed that her nails (or whatever they are called on a goat's hooves) were looking very uncomfortable and so we asked Lawrie to show us how to trim them safely.  He thinks they had never been cut - poor Gertie!  She must have been so uncomfortable when she was walking.  Bless his heart he also bought some drench with him so we don't need to buy any.  We went over to the chooks too because he has some new ones for us and we really need to put Gertrude (chook) and Matilda in with Lizzie so we can get the new chooks in our main house.  There is always a chance they will fight so we're going to move Lizzie's house and run right over hard up against the other house and run so they will get more used to each other. 

Needless to say after all that walking around and talking I was pretty tired.  John went off to quiz night and I spent the evening watching TV apart from getting my dinner, the dog's dinner, closing the glasshouse and putting the dog to bed later.  Phew!  No wonder I'm a bit tired today.

I went back out to the chooks and the kitchen garden this morning and then I did my side leg exercises (for my obliques).  I'm up to 100 2x a day now and I increase it by 5-10 each day.  I need to get back on the exercycle too but I have to admit I am putting that off a bit because it scares me getting off and on.

Today I need to work on a gift tag for my step-daughter-in-law because it's her birthday this weekend.  We need to buy a gift too and get it in the mail asap.  Speaking of which I'd better go and start it, it's 10.55am already!!  Smiles..

A Happy Dance (almost!!), Giggle!

Hi on a lovely! cloudy Tuesday morning.  It makes such a change to have a cloudy sky and I have to say I like it!

Oh my word, I went to see the surgeon yesterday pm all is looking wonderful.  The x-ray of my prosthesis is AMAZING!!  Crikey no wonder my femur has been tender with a lot of titanium stuffed down it!  I can now do as much as I am able to do.. take my time and gradually increase things as my muscle strength builds up.  I can walk on slopes and uneven ground with one crutch (hmm I will use two at first around here) so YES I can visit my kitchen garden and chooks at last.  The goat will take a bit longer because I have to go down quite a steeply sloping drive to get to her.  Oh my goodness... I'm getting my life back, slowly but surely!!  Happy (almost) dance!!

This morning I have walked a bit further than usual down a slight slope and back up again.  I was hoping to get out into the paddock but brief rain is forecast and I've done quite a lot this morning so maybe it will have to wait until tomorrow.  I am determined to not rush things too much, as tempting as it is! 

I managed to bend down (with my leg poking out the back) to turn the timer on the hose which is fabulous and I walked with one crutch while I hosed the duck poop off the lawn.  This is one of my daily ''housework'' tasks and I can't tell you how much I've missed doing it.  It's weirdly satisfying!

I feel so much brighter in myself just knowing that all going just the way it is meant to.  I do have a lot of muscle tone to build up and he has told me to keep trying the exercycle.  This I'm not a fan of because I feel very precarious when I'm getting on and off it.  We need to raise the seat a little because my muscles are just inflamed and tight still.  This will make it harder to get off and on though.. hmmmmm ugh!

My friend Lyn is coming round to pick up the title page today and she is bringing lunch with her.  It will be good to see her - I've had no phone calls or visits from my friends other than dear Caroline for three weeks now. 

Last night I got rid of the raised toilet seat (oh bliss!!!!!!) and also the uncomfortable outdoor chair I've been using with a stool, plus the table on wheels that was so wonderful when I was sitting in that chair.  My laptop is now back on the dining room table and this is good because it means when I'm not on here or doing some exercise etc I will be sitting on the couch with my legs up - i.e. RESTING.. something completely foreign to me!  Speaking of which it's time I went and sat down.  Smiles...

Swap Packages!

Morning on this magnificent autumnal Monday morning!!  Crikey, giggle!  Blue sky and sunshine again (oh my, boring.. but musn't complain must I??!!) and lovely cool temps.  It's going to warm up to 22 degrees C which is the perfect temp for me - not too hot!

Yesterday I spent some time in my studio putting together some stamped book pages and other bits and pieces for 4 packages I'm sending to various people in the States/Canada.  I am part of an art group on Facebook and we decided to hold a ''swap''.  It's the first one I've ever been part of and it is lovely getting surprise packages in the mail from overseas.  I've only received one so far but wanted to get my four in the mail this week because I'm a bit behind time for obvious reasons.

This pm I'm off to have an x-ray and then see my surgeon for my four week check up.  I feel a bit nervous for some reason - not sure why!  I think it's seeing my new hip joint for the first time on the x-ray that's giving me butterflies.  I have a list of questions I want to ask him and I'm praying he will tell me I can walk out and about in our paddock now (i.e. on uneven ground and slopes). 

The one thing I have realises is I NEED to have at least a 30 minute rest on the bed or the couch EVERY afternoon.  I tend to keep going, even if it's just sitting in my studio doing something but I can tell my body needs me to rest a bit every pm.  I am so determined to get back on my feet totally, I tend to forget that resting is a big part of my recovery.  I have a bit of a sore throat at the moment, caused I'm fairly sure, by a tiny ulcer at the back of my mouth.  I am going to have to be stroppy with myself and just STOP occasionally!!!  Good grief woman!!

I'm going to go and spend a little time in my studio this morning because we will be out from about 1pm until 3.30 or slightly later.  Smiles...

A Full-On Day!

Hi on this lovely cool start to an autumn Sunday!  The sun is shining, the sky is blue (yet again, sigh, giggle) and the birds are singing. 

Yesterday was a pretty busy day and I have to say I was exhausted by the end of it.  I have a bit of a sore throat today which I'm hoping is just an ulcer right at the back of my mouth.  The last thing I need is a bug!  I've chomped on a vitamin C tablet just in case!  I still have this silly niggly cough too which is worse when I'm talking to anyone.  At least I know it's not my lungs!

We headed out at around 11am to get our vegetables from a local stall (which was PACKED with people) and then into Richmond to do our grocery shopping.  I  had a bit of a wander through the mall first and then headed to the supermarket (also in the mall).  In terms of mall in large cities of the world, ours is like a pinprick!  I found by the time we got around the supermarket I was tired and hungry so I left John at the check out and headed back to the car.  In the afternoon I know I ought to have been lying on the couch resting but I ended up changing Benjamin bunny's food (yay I can do it!!) with the help of my grabber thingy and then I went into my studio to organise some stamped pages to be sent to 4 people in the States/Canada.  I really enjoyed being in my studio!

Here is the photo of the completed title page.  The big scrapbooking album that this is going in is being auctioned off for a fundraiser.  One of my friend Lyn's friend's son (what a mouthful) who lives in Australia has a terminal illness and we are raising funds to help with his treatment so he can spend as much time with his family as possible.  I hope they like what I've done! The theme is ''family'' and it needed to not be gender specific (i.e. not just feminine colours).

Today I'm hoping to get on the exercycle again and this time I'm really keeping my fingers crossed that my leg will go round.  I've made a list of things I want to ask my surgeon tomorrow, including why I have difficulty with that.

Big smiles and off to the studio I go!  Smiles..

 

A Couple of Photos!

Hi, here are a couple of photos of me on Rabbit Island beach.  It was pure heaven to be able to walk on the beach and I'm hoping to do it again tomorrow.  The main thing I love about the second photo is I am standing up straight!!  That is something I haven't been able to do for years because of my stuffed hip joint!  Yippeeeeeeee my posture is coming back!

This morning we are going grocery shopping and I have to say I'm a bit nervous about being out and about for a longer period of time.  I haven't been near the mall for about 4 weeks and my energy level is still fairly low.  Still it will do me good and if I feel too tired I can always go back and sit in the car.  It does feel nice to be dressed in normal clothes for a change instead of those slouchy sort of pants I was wearing on the beach (ugh!).

Yesterday I managed to finish the title page I mentioned I was working on.  I'm really happy with it and just hope everyone thinks it's okay!  I'll take a photo of it today and post it tomorrow if I can.

We are about to go out, wish me luck!!!  Smiles..

Thanks Heavens for The Beach!

Hi on another gorgeous Friday morning.  The sun is out, the birds are singing and there was a slight autumn chill in the air this morning thank heavens.  It was such a hot day yesterday, oh ugh!

By yesterday pm I was totally and utterly beyond bored with myself.  I can't stand not being able to do what I normally do!!  I'm okay in the morning because showering etc keeps me pretty busy until late morning but my 2pm, that's it, I've had it!  I was so grumpy yesterday pm we decided to head down to Rabbit Island so I could have a decent walk on flat ground.  We started off going along the cycle trail above the beach for a bit and I was so desperate to get onto the beach.  All of the beach access points were either a ramp (I'm not meant to go downhill yet) or very rickety makeshift steps.

John suddenly remembered the area where we normally go to swim, a bit further up the beach had steps.  We got back into the car and drove right around the one way road system, all the way back the way we came until we got to our spot.  Sure enough I got down onto the beach there and I was so happy.  It was the perfect time to go too - the tide was going out and the sand was damp and flat.  I had a lovely walk and felt so much better for it!

Today I'm hoping we can go there again, or maybe take the dog for a swim in another area (dogs aren't allowed on Rabbit Island) and I can walk along the walkway while John throws sticks for Chester.

I worked on the title page for the scrapbook auction-thingy and I'm sort of happy with it.  It doesn't look quite the way I imagined it would but I'm not quite finished yet.   I'm going to do some more today.  My leg (touch wood) is not swelling nearly as much, even if I have my foot down for quite a long time so things are looking up! 

I'll share a photo of me standing on Rabbit Island beach as soon as John emails it to me from his iPhone.  Smiles..