158-162 Days Gone By

Wow it's hard to believe that five days has passed since I have posted here.  I have been taking photos each day but then just sometimes if I'm honest can't be bothered to post here.  It is so easy to get all caught up in being on the computer or instagram which is my case and it really is important to take yourself away from it more often.  I so often here how much people achieve whilst giving themselves a bit of a tech break, and I would love to get back into more creating and less screen time.  Anyway my photos for the past five days are all about birthday card making, new plant and pot purchases, visits to the city and my usual Monday baking.  I made these yummy Cherry Ripe Bliss Balls which I didn't end up making last week but I did today.  How has your week been?

156/365 Reconnecting

Today I caught up with a friend that I had lost contact with for a few years.  Life got busy for her and I didn't hear from her.  But a surprise card in the mail and a phone call later and we were arranging to meet up like old times again.  We went and visited this lovely nursery, I ate cake she ate slow roast brisket, drank chai tea together, chatted and chatted and wandered around the nursery.  It was so lovely to reconnect, lovely to see each other, to be thought of by another.  We are already organising our next meet up for my birthday.  

The Return of blogging

Well hello there.  How have you been?  I have been good.  When you have been away from a space it's hard to know where to start.  What has been happening?  To be honest just life.  I had mentioned that we had been having issues with my Nan's estate, well I am happy to say that has all been finalised which is a big relief.  The big stressful part is over which I am grateful for.  My big girl finished school and is at uni so life is looking a little different now.  I am a Mum to a school girl and to one who is almost an adult and needs to spread her wings which is hard for this over protective Mum.  We have been doing a little bit of renovating which has been nice, it's been a while. It feels nice to have a few projects that have been on our list for years getting checked off. We are still to paint the house but that will happening soon.  And there has been some holiday planning too, which is exciting. I think that pretty much sums up life for the last few months.  

On Sunday it was Mother's Day so I asked my family to take me to Toowoomba for a picnic and a walk through the beautiful parks they have up there.  It is always nice to explore and to continue with our traditions too. It is nice to experience a little Autumn close to home and to enjoy it with my family.  So here are some photos of Mother's Day I took as we wandered around exploring our favourite spots.

Well thanks for stopping by and for sticking by me in this little blog of mine.  I hope to see you again soon, certainly not months like it has been.  I hope you are all well.  💙

Life Right Now

Where do I start? I can start with the gorgeous blooms I took photos of when my hubby, my youngest and I went for a walk around Mt Cootha botanical gardens a few weeks ago.  It was a very warm Spring day, much warmer than I expected so our walk wasn't too long.  I do love how my family will entertain me and my desire to take photos.  I was expecting a few more flowers in bloom. I'm not sure whether that was because we were a little early... Anyway there was still blooms to find and enjoy.

I am feeling the need to get out and take some photos lately.  I think I have mentioned before though my computer is getting full of photos and I am quickly running out of space and there is becoming a more urgent need to upgrade my computer.  I think that is partly the reason and the other is the ongoing issues with my Nan's estate just when we thought things were resolved.... Today it really seems to have gotten on top of me.  I had a bit of a cry actually.  I have been trying to do my best to stay positive but never did I see this next hurdle come our way in getting things finalised. All I want is for my Nan's wishes to be met and for my family to have the sun shining in their faces.  The woe is me feelings have gotten to the best of me.  I have much to be grateful for and so much exciting change is happening with my oldest's schooling years coming to an end.  What the problem is my thoughts.  I need to be mindful, not allow them to drift to the past or into the future which is only causing me angst. So how can I shake this feeling off?  Take a deep breath, go and pamper myself with a fresh coat of nail polish on my toenails and go and cut out that purse pattern I have meaning to do.  Yes that's a good start I think.  How do you get past those overwhelming feelings and move forward?  I would love to know.

Helloooo

Gee where do I start.... I didn't mean for it to be so long in between posts.  My goal this year was to be more focussed and place importance on things that matter to me like this blog.  Life though can throw some curve balls and attention needs to be focussed elsewhere. 

 I have mentioned how my Nan was ill when we last spoke.  She went to hospital and got tests done and all was ok, she was on the mend which was great.  Then a couple of months down the track she woke with a terrible pain in her tummy, something wasn't quite right.  She was rushed to the hospital and after some tests they discovered that her bowel was full, something that can happen, I didn't think it was anything to be concerned about at the time.  But as you age and with other health complications it mean that it was very serious.  Sadly my Nan did not make it and she passed away in hospital just days later from a blood infection and her body becoming toxic.  It was such a shock to us all.  She had been unwell but was in great spirits and we thought that we would have her in our lives for more years to come....My Nan, Ivy Bertha, passed away at age 88.  Following her passing in March life has been a bit challenging.  There is certainly the loss to adjust to, the finalising of her affairs and the family dynamics that have also changed as a result.  I just haven't felt up to doing much of anything really.  I have done things of course but it has been an effort.  In time things will improve and this week has been a good one, I'm just taking each day as it comes and feel blessed to have family and friends to talk to and lean on when I need them.  

I post on instagram often but if you aren't there I have put lots of photos up here to catch you up on what I have been up to this last couple of months.  I hope to be back here more regularly now as things are slowly returning to a new normal, sharing a bit of crafting and gardening which I am planning on doing on  Monday as we have a long weekend here.  I hope you are all doing well those of you who still like to visit blogs.  

Chat soon.

Catherine xxx