DO WE HAVE BLUEBERRIES?

Late last summer (about March I think) I planted two tiny blueberry shrubs into pots.  No specific reason to do this except that I wasn’t willing to pay the exhorbitant price for a tiny punnet of the fruit which was being sold at the time.  I felt sure it would not be a short term exercise as having done some homework on the ‘net’ found it could be 3 to 4 years before these tiny plants were able to bear fruit.

Think I did the right things by making the soil acid for them and giving them ‘treats’ of seaweed tonics and the like and watched with interest as one of them in particular grew new shoots at a very quick rate.   The notes on the ‘net’ which I’d consulted indicated that blueberries didn’t mind a bit of frost in the winter so I knew they’d be OK being left where I had them. (Incidentally we’ve only had about 3 frosts so far this winter but we could get a few more into August).

I was rather surprised then to find little buds forming and the prettiest little pink ‘bell’ flowers breaking open all over the plants. Dozens of flowers and so tiny and petite. Saw a few native birds trying desperately to hang on to the flimsy twiggy branches to reach the nectar they obviously produce and wondered if the little shrubs would even survive the onslaught! LOL

To my great surprise on a recent morning when I was wandering in the garden having a look to see what was doing, I noticed what I think might be tiny berries.  I guess time will tell – and because this is my first experience with growing anything in this line – but it looks at present as though there’s quite a crop there.  If they survive to ripeness then I suspect they will be ready long before the autumn season 2010  I had thought they’d be.  In any event, we are looking forward to enjoying some home grown blueberries on our cereal if that happens.

Have a blessed day!

 

 

 

MEANINGFUL VERSES from Sunday

Meaningful verses I have brought away with me from attending worship at my church this morning.

 

 

 

 

 

Psalm 77 verses 11 to 15a

Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people.

  

Philippians 1 verses 3 to 6

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

 

 

 

  

A lighthouse in Sydney Harbour lighthouse

BIRTHDAY BOY

Family birthdays can be such fun. Last week our littlest grandbaby turned 4. Such a big boy now!

We helped celebrate with a BBQ lunch yestereday. A beautifully sunny day with a temperature of 20 degrees. Perfect for winter bbq-ing!

What did he want to decorate his cake? Spiderman or Lightning McQueen! Well Grandma chose the easiest one.

Pure concentration to blow out candles. Wonder what his special wish was?

Wonder why little boys love the creepy crawlies? This remote snake was not given by his grandparents. LOL

JUST FELT LIKE KNITTING

The last two months of almost inactivity for me kind of ‘got to me’ a couple of weeks ago and I felt like doing a bit of knitting. I thought that even though I was sitting so much, I could get my hands busy. I don’t really mind too much if I don’t get enough squares to finish a rug this winter – that’s the beauty of knitting squares isn’t it? Doesn’t matter how long it takes, eventually if you keep it up, there should be enough to put a rug together. I’m thinking I’ll need at least 35 to make a smallish size but I’d prefer to do one a bit bigger than the last one I finished a couple of years ago. So… I’ve finished 12 with another more than half way done. The squares measure 10 inches each way (15 cms) and are so very easy to make.

With double knitting yarn (I think in the US that’s Sports) and my needles are 4mm. Start with 1 stitch. Next row increase into that stitch then knit those 2 stitches. Turn. Increase into first stitch and knit across the row. Keep increasing one stitch at the beginning of each row until you have 60 stitches on your needle.

then

Knit 1, slip 1, k1 and pass slip stitch over (psso). Continue knitting till the end of the row. Turn and repeat until you are down to 1 stitch again. Cast off.

See? Easy Peasy as the kids say (or used to).

I can’t say I’ll post a pic of the finished rug yet as I’m not sure if the warm weather will turn up before I’ve got enough squares done (I don’t knit much in the summer). But here’s hoping that at least by the end of next winter I’ll be able to show the finished product.

Have a blessed day!

 

 

I can hardly believe its 3 1/2 weeks since my surgery. It has been slow and quite painful so far but I kinda knew it would be. I’ve been taking it easy, resting lots, reading, watching awful TV shows, doing crossword puzzles, watching a few DVD’s and generally trying to take things slowly.

It is frustrating though when there are things I’d like to get on with. I get sudden urges to get out my scrapbooking stuff and do a couple of pages, but then I lose enthusiasm. Same with cross stitching or knitting. Anyway, I’m not stressing about it. I guess all too soon I’ll be back in the thick of all the activities I’m normally involved in.

I do have to be careful though, how long I sit for. I haven’t found a chair yet that I am really comfortable in – so I’m just doing it in short bursts – then go back and lie down on the bed again for a little while.

Well – that’s my life just for now – I am grateful for a really supportive DH and family who have given me heaps of phone calls, flowers, cards, and attention and generally looked after my every need.

And thanks everyone for your cheery notes, thoughts and emails. They are certainly appreciated.

I’LL BE OFF THE AIR FOR A WHILE

While I’m not necesarily anxious to announce to the world, I wanted to let those of you who read my journal occasionally know, that I’ll be having surgery to my lower spine next week.  It’s a kind of ‘repeat performance’ if you like, having similar 5 1/2 years ago – this time it’s just in a different part of my spine.  I have a very good surgeon and I have faith in my God that He will be with me and guide the minds and hands of all those who have responsibility for my surgery.   It means though that apart from being in hospital for about 6 days, I’ll not be tapping away at my computer for a bit after that.  The rehabilitation is lengthy and last time I found it rather slow but sitting for long periods of time is a ‘no-no’ until my back gets a bit stronger. 

This I will miss – I spend lots of time doing all sorts of bits and pieces – from family history, to corresponding and keeping up with my friends spread all around the world, and all sorts of other activities that internet surfing leads one to.

But I will be back!  Just don’t know how long it will take.

Meantime, take care my friend, and blessings!

THE BIG DAY AT LAST – SUCCESSFUL 90th BIRTHDAY

One week ago today I woke to torrential rain – what a disappointment! We (DH and I) had so much to do on this morning of the ‘birthday bash!’    Dashing through the supermarket, gathering all the items on the shopping list and hoping we hadn’t forgotten anything.  Then off to get balloons and back again to deliver to the venue, all we needed for the preparations to begin.

 

The ‘birthday girl’ wanted nothing more than to be involved – in fact would have been more than happy to be ‘director of traffic’ – however knowing that would have been more hindrance than help on this occasion, DIL kindly waited with her and tried to keep her occupied.

 

Preparations went well, birthday cake in pride of place, caterers arrived with oodles of food, kitchen helpers, chair movers, data projection operators, all checked out their duties and at last it was time to pick up my now, 90 year old Mum. 

 

Guests arrived – over 50 of them – and Mum was in her element – gracious and entertaining, chatting, and introducing.  It was a wonderful afternoon, an ice breaker quiz, a slide show of photographs from childhood to present and topped off by the blowing of candles and cutting of cake.

Weeks of telephone and email communication tying up loose ends from another country had paid off and all of us were extremely pleased with the way the day had turned out.  Even though the rain persisted for most of the day, by the time we were finished tidying up and leaving the venue as we’d found it, the sun began peeking through the clouds as it set over the horizon.

 

Sunday dawned bright with the promise of a beautiful day.  Dinner with 16 family members topped off a great weekend of birthday celebration.

 

Our flight home was uneventful and as always we were pleased to be back in our own beds, but secure in the fact that we have left Mum with well over 70 cards and greetings from so many family and friends, so many happy memories of her very eventful 90^th birthday. 

 

DO I OR DON’T I?

The so called Swine Flu is a worrying world event. So is world travel just at present with the possibility of passing on or picking up infection from other travellers – especially in hugely populated places like international airports.

With this in mind – and as DH and I will be using two of these facilities tomorrow – I’m wondering if I should purchase face masks to use while traveling through the massive people moving places. I understand governments around the world are ordering millions of these, but should they be used as a precaution now anyway?

Talk of world pandemics brings back memories of that almost forgotten illness polio and more recently, HIV/AIDS. Modern medicine and science have come such a long way in being able to help prevent such massive human disasters but can the experts work fast enough in this instance? There is little we as individuals can do except take precautions – plenty of Vitamin C, Garlic and Echinacea. Certainly not a cure, but helpful in building up the body’s immune system.

But in any event, although our travel is not essential, its being taken to celebrate Mum’s 90th birthday on Saturday. In these days of long-lived humans, not such an achievement some would say, however when looking at an individuals long life and all that has happened in those years, we feel it is something to be proud of and we plan to make a weekend of lovely memories for her to remember, for however many birthdays she is given in the future.

Will be back next week hopefully with a pic or two of the Nonagerian and the family celebrating this great milestone. Have a good weekend all and blessings!

A TIMELY REMINDER

I received this in an email from a friend yesterday and thought I’d pass it on.  I have no idea of its origin – apologies to the author.

 

When I was in my younger days,
I weighed a few pounds less,
I needn’t hold my tummy in
to wear a belted dress.
But now that I am older,
I’ve set my body free;
There’s comfort of elastic
Where once my waist would be.
Inventor of those high-heeled shoes
My feet have not forgiven;
I have to wear a nine now,
But used to wear a seven.

 

And how about those blasted tights –
They’re sized by weight, you see,
So how come when I put them on
The crotch is at my knee?
I need to wear these glasses
As the print’s been getting smaller;
And it wasn’t very long ago
I know that I was taller.
Though my hair has turned to grey
and my skin no longer fits,
On the inside, I’m the same old me,
Just the outside’s changed a bit.

 

But, on a positive note…
I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today,  life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.

I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as making a ‘life.’
I’ve learned that life sometimes  gives you a second chance.
I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
I’ve learned that even when I have pains,  I don’t have to be one.

I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.  

 

People love a warm hug,  or just a friendly pat on the back.
I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel.

THE MONTH OF MAY…

Follow up from specialist visit was both beneficial and disappointing. Crux of the matter is that without surgery I will continue to get pain down my right leg and which has started on occasions down the left side. 

 

He mentioned to me that as an alternative treatment, one of the drugs given for epilepsy has been proving effective against nerve pain however opposing that, my GP feels that for most people they are not all that beneficial.

 

I’ve opted for the surgery – to be next month and will be out of action for a few weeks. I’m hoping it won’t be too long though as babysitting duties will be on hold for a while.

 

Having been through spinal surgery 5 ½ years ago I know what I’m ‘in for’ and am not looking forward to the early days of recovery.  By nature I tend to want to rush things and ‘getting back to normal’ I know will be one of the things I’ll be impatient about.

 

But for now I have a special celebration to focus on. My mother has her 90^th birthday on 2^nd May and the family from this side of the ditch are traveling to be with her and host an afternoon tea for about 50 of her family and friends.  The cake has been ordered and we have caterers coming to provide the food.  Hope it all turns out OK and she is well enough to enjoy the party.  We have prepared a power point presentation of photographs from her life from early childhood till the present time and she will no doubt ‘rise to the occasion’ for the cutting of the cake.  A special family dinner is planned for the following night before we return home.

 

The month of May is going to be quite a busy one!