SONG FOR SUNDAY

Song for Sunday here (Isaiah 30:41)

Photograph taken a number of years ago when Aaron made origami birds for Emma's Christmas tree.

DAVID'S MANTRA AT THE MOMENT...

Do you want two Panadol?

BIRTHDAY BOY!

C'est moi!  Holding his big sister while he cooks!

At his Aunt's wee hoose in Cawdor

In Arnisdale

With his 'love'

Have a great day Aaron!

READING

David went off to return books to the library when I suddenly remembered I had wanted to blog a bit more about Paul Kalanithi from his book WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR.  Quickly hobbled to the telephone and left David a slow message which I was assured by the recording would be relayed to him as a text.  "Bring   back    the   Doctor   book!"  And brought it back he did.

My little torn paper bookmarks were still in the book so here's the first one.  I'll do the other one another day.

His wife writing the poscript to the book.

"I expected to feel only empty and heartbroken after Paul died.  It never occurred to me that you could love someone the same way after he was gone, that I would continue to feel such love and gratitude alongside the terrible sorrow, the grief so heavy that at times I shiver and moan under the weight of it.  Paul is gone, and I miss him acutely nearly every moment, but I somehow feel I'm still taking part in the life we created together.  "Bereavement is not the truncation of married love," C.S. Lewis wrote, "but one of its regular phases - like the honeymoon.  What we want is to live our marriage well and faithfully through that phase too."  Caring for our daughter, nurturing relationships with family, publishing this book, pursuing meaningful work, visiting Paul's grave, grieving and honoring him, persisting...my love goes on - lives on - in a way I'd never expected."

And the beautiful quilt above?  It's me reading with dear old Dougal beside me.  The little girl, bottom left is my earliest memory, standing at the gate telling everyone who passed that I was going to start school soon, Scottish background top left. Summerfield barn and red bench which we scattered everywhere we lived after a visit to Switzerland, Glasgow University where I started and didn't finish an MA - but developed a strong interest in Scottish Literature and Economic History, the beautiful MacIntosh chair made by David, the roses he has given me, each of the past forty seven years, the gum tree, symbolizing my new home which I love and the bluebird representing David, always at my shoulder and always full of love.

And the quilter?  My dear friend Robyn who is, at this time travelling the same road as Paul's wife.

BROKEN BONE AND CHRISTMAS

I broke a bone in my foot the other day and I'm in plaster up to my knee.  By the sound of everyone's advice I will probably be like this for a few weeks.

"Give me your Christmas quilt Connie, and I'll baste it for you!" said my dear friend Robyn.  Here it is on her basting frame where I am sure that everyone who quilts in this town has at one time or another had their quilt tied to it with Robyn helping baste it with them.

Looking forward to sitting, leg up, and quilting while David runs around at my beck and call!

BEFORE AND AFTER...

Oh dear!  I can't find any BEFORE picture of the bathroom, so you will have to put on your imagination glasses.  The floor was timber and wasn't very friendly with the water from the shower and the walls were completely white with no picture rail.   We are very chuffed with the finished product with thanks for the many hands who put it all together;  ma boy, Alan who laid the base for the tiles, the man who regrouted the shower walls and base, the amazing tiler who, when I gave him the picture I had printed off Pinterest shook his head and wondered how he would ever get out of the place in time to pick up his children from school.  He did it!  Started around 8.00am and was gone by 2.30pm.  Also thanks to the plumber who had to initially uninstall the toilet which sat in all its glory on the front verandah for a couple of weeks and of course returned to reinstall it.  And again, ma boy who did all the woodwork and painting.  "I'll do inside the linen press!" (which is behind the door) I said, knowing it would be a very awkward (don't you love that 'awkward' word written down, very awkward!) job and who had already done it when I was ready to role up my sleeves.

Click photograph to enlarge.  

SIGNS OF SPRING

The beautiful magnolia in the background and dear Hamish in the foreground.

IT'S GREER'S BIRTHDAY TODAY!

 With her Mamma in 1978.   

And not so long ago....

Hope you have a wonderful day Greer.  

IT'S HER BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday beautiful girl!

  I can almost put myself back into the photograph, standing at the door watching you write in your journal, taken, what, over twenty five years ago!   

Have a wonderful day!

HUGO THE DOG

This is Hugo!  And he belongs to Sarah who lives in Tasmania and I think that Sarah loves him very much.  Liliane!  I think you need to look for a dog like Hugo to add to your collection!