August High-lights

        Autumn is evident in the air today, chilly, breezy, yet sunny.  We might have a few showers this afternoon—as the United Kingdom often gets remnants of the storms that blow across from American, thanks to the jet stream.  Autumn is my favourite time of the year, because of the colours, the harvest and the sun that warms, yet doesn’t burn the skin.  Deep, satisfying sigh. 

        Since my last blog, there has been turning of colours.  For instance, My Midnight Man’s eyes are healing well—the bruises are now turning that greenish colour that happens as the days pass.  Four times a day, I clean his eyes with sterile cotton wool pads and cooled boiled water.  After the cleaning, I administer liquid antibiotics into each eye.  On the table two boxes sit—one marked “R” and one marked “L”.  I have everything organised so that I can open the correct bottle for the correct eye.  So “R” sits on the left and “L” sits on the right.  That is backward to me, but in the right order for Midnight Man. 

        One thing that My Midnight Man struggles with is fighting the impulse to rub his eyes.  It is inevitable that a person becomes aware of the inadvertent actions done through out the day when suddenly one is not allowed to do it.  MMM often stops his hands mid-lift as he remembers not to touch his eyes.  In a few weeks, touching them will be okay—but due vigilance is required for now.  My Midnight Man sees the doctor again on Friday, 9^th September for a check-up and to remove stitches.  Overall, My Midnight Man is handling the situation well.

        Stepping out onto the balcony yesterday I saw that the tomatoes are increasing in size, and another one seems to be a brownish orange—on its way to ripeness.  One or two days of warmth do make a difference.

        The geranium has bloomed now.  How brilliant and deep the red is.  Once a frost is in the forecast, I will have to cover the plant for the winter.  I’ll set the box onto layered newspaper for insulation and use a black bin liner (garbage bag) to cover it.  I have been surprised by how big the plant has become.  I think it has doubled in size! 

        The month of August got by me without much of anything productive happening—no writing, no sewing, no reading.  However, on 3^rd August, step-daughter “Chantilly” and her family came for overnight.  We have a three bedroom flat.  Trying to find space for five children, four adults and two dogs was quite a challenge.  Thankfully we have a single fold-up bed, a double size futon mattress we can put on the floor, and a single bed in our guest room.  I did enjoy having them here and made a large casserole for dinner. 

        I layered pre-cooked potatoes, cheese, celery, onions, courgettes (zucchini), and ham in a large baking tray, and then baked it for 45 minutes.  They licked the pan clean!! 

"Mr. Biz" with Alfie

        I really enjoyed having the dogs around, as it gave me an idea as to what it will be like to have my own dogs here one day.  I am hoping that by our tenth wedding anniversary our finances will allow me to get them.  Alfie is a male King Charles spaniel.  Shiloh is a miniature female dachshund.  I had just crawled back into bed after having my medicine when I looked over My Midnight Man to check the time.  Two furry heads were looking at me with hopeful eyes—morning walkies were needed by two eager dogs.  I immediately thought, “This is what I have to look forward to!”  “Mr. Biz” was awakened and he took Alfie and Shiloh out.  They didn’t take long as it was rainy!

        The purpose of the visit was to keep an appointment for our grandson, “Jay” (aged 10) to Wexham hospital.  As a baby, “Jay” was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.  “Chantilly” and the family have been working and praying for a miracle and healing.  We do see God at work through this process.  But “Jay” had outgrown his leg splints that he wears at night to help stretch his muscles.  His appointment was to be fitted for new splints.  After the appointment, they came back for a cuppa and then headed home. 

        On 10th August I went to see the nephrologist (kidney doctor) due to having protein and blood in my urine.  As some of you may know, I have been struggling with fatigue since at least 2008.  Seeing this doctor is the most recent step in trying to find an answer to the problem.  The doctor did a thorough exam and sent me for blood tests, as well as taking a urine sample from me.  I will be seeing her again on 15^th September.  I hope the results of the test reveal some sort of answer.  I would certainly appreciate your prayers. 

        My Midnight Man went to Dorset from 22^nd August to 29^th August to visit with “Chantilly” and her family.  Walks down to the beach, a wonder into the town centre, picking blackberries with the grandchildren all contributed to his being refreshed.  I had not been able to arrange for time off work, so had a week to myself.  Also, I’d been having some “down days”, so I wasn’t sure my energy levels would be sufficient to be away for a week. 

        So now you know the high-lights of August for us.  I’ll keep you posted on the progress of things in September.

Blessings to you all.

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith,  “Lady Helene”

Unwritten pages...

                        Children of the 1950’s to the 1970’s are familiar with vinyl records that were played at 33 or 45 rounds-per-minute on turn-tables with diamond-tipped needles on the end of an arm.  If the record player got shaken, or the arm bumped, the needle skipped and skidded across the records, sometimes scratching them, but not playing the recorded material.  That’s how I feel about the days of un-written blogs—my arms got knocked and my blogging time got skipped over.  The material I want to write is still in my head, but the pages were left unwritten. 

                        In part, I have been distracted by learning my new duties as parish administrator.  Any time a person starts a new job, the learning curve is intense—learning where to look for information, methods of doing certain tasks, who to ask and establishing new routines.  The first couple of weeks the extra activities took all my energy—but it was a good tired.

Paris Market Atlas carrots

                        My balcony garden is providing me with pleasure—as the seeds have released the life within them and small green shoots are popping up through the compost.  I now have spinach, beet root, carrots, bean plants and sunflowers up.  Before Easter week, My Midnight Man brought home bags of new compost, a spray bottle, and Paris Market Atlas carrot seeds!  They are small and round, instead of thin and long.  MMM thought they were a good choice as my containers are only about 30 inches (45 cm) deep.  I will have to do some transplanting in the next day or two.

                        I’ve learned that although using cardboard egg cartons seems like a good idea, they really are NOT deep enough to use for starting seedlings.  So, chalk this up to another lesson learned and “What NOT to do next year.”  However, I am sure they would make good compost. 

                        I’ve been playing a little bit with the new “free motion” foot on my sewing machine.  It will take some practice, but I’m hoping to build my skill to proficiently write names on material.  That will be great fun for making Christmas presents.

"Seamstress Supreme" wearing an outfit she made

                        In 2008 I spent a week with my oldest sister-in-law, “Seamstress Supreme”, whose sewing and garment making skills border on professional.  The plan was that I would spend a week with her, and we would sew during the days, and socialise in the evening.  Well...we did manage to each get a garment cut out, and started.  However, we actually spent more time out and about, enjoying the weather and each other’s company than we did on our projects.  The project of my selection was a waistcoat and pair of trousers—neither of which got finished.  It’s been tucked away in my sewing box, awaiting the time and inspiration to bring them to completion.  The time is now.  Having gained some weight, I’ve had to add a gusset on either side of the waistcoat so that it will fit.  It felt good guiding the material under the presser foot, seeing the garment become wearable.  Though good progress was made on Tuesday (26^th), it still isn’t finished.  I am hoping the waistcoat will be finished by this weekend so I can wear it Sunday.  Although delayed, the gratification of a finished project is often inspiration for me to start another.

                        I really missed blogging the past two weeks—the since of accomplishment that came with posting every-day or nearly everyday.  From reading other blogs and books about blogging, I’ve learned that the more posts I write, the chances of my readership increases.  I also know that I have more readers than official followers.  I’ve had so many people give me verbal encouragement, letting me know what they enjoy about the blogs I write. 

                        Favourite passages of the Bible come alive in my mind when I take time to meditate on them.  As I was reading Ephesians 1:11-12, (having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will) I had a picture of a blue print created by God, for my life.  I don’t understand why I daily fight fatigue.  Yet I do believe that the circumstances I battle through have the affect of bringing me into His design (blue-print) and bringing my life into agreement and harmony with His divine purposes.  Just like a bird that has to chip away at the shell, or the butterfly has to fight its way out of the cocoon, that which I push against will make me grow stronger.  The passion to fly creates the drive to break free.  Yet, without the resistance, little wings would not grow strong and creatures of the air would never soar. 

                        Passion to help, to serve, to write, to create are the things that keep me pressing on to cooperate with the doctors to find why blood and protein are present in my urine.  The desire to see the purpose of His will manifest in my life, keep me plodding along, resting and recharging when my body requires.     

King David wrote “...all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16.  I have many unread pages to my story, many adventures yet to be experienced.  But it is my hope and prayer that I will find a way to develop a more consistent pattern of posting. 

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith, "Lady Helene"

Dungarees and Dirt!

Christmas 2001

        As befitting a farmer’s granddaughter, and a “Wannabe Lady Farmer”, I chose to wear my dungarees today as I sat out on the balcony working on my “Farmer’s Tan” and organising my “Balcony Garden in Boxes.”  I was out in the glaring sun, mixing water with fertilizer, pouring it into dried out compost and making mud.  I reviewed my stash of last year’s seeds, deciding how much I wanted to plant, and which container to place them in.  The result is:  beet root, spinach, sunflowers, dwarf bush beans all planted.  I discovered that the packet that was labelled carrots was actually empty.  This set back the planting progress, as I need a trip to the super store to buy more carrot seeds, and more compost.  In addition, I need to plant cucumber seed, and yellow squash seeds. 

Before the planting

        My little pots of green won’t produce enough to preserve or store.  But we might get a meal or two from the effort I put in.  Having the soil in my hands was peace-giving, and honest.  There is a subtle excitement about the possibilities that exist in the seeds, satisfaction and pleasure of watching life spring forth and grow. 

        I am a little more organised this year.  I learned a few things last year and put the information to good use this year.  Like feeding last year’s dried up compost before planting anything.  Because there are no decaying bits, and no worms to help the old roots to decompose, there is no nourishment for the seeds once they sprout.  But, by loosening up the compost, making it not only moist, but muddy, with plant food diluted in water, the compost is still usable.  I will still need more compost for this year.  But I have a base to work with. 

The planting is on...

        By 4:00 p.m., the skies had clouded over, the temperature cooled and I was glad I’d gotten the planting done by 2:00 p.m. 

        Speaking of dungarees, the ones in this photo have been worn out and thrown away.  They were made of brown corduroy, very soft and lovely to wear.  By the time they went into the rubbish bin (trash), they were faded a light beige.  The blue denim pair I wore today are a Christmas present from a friend.  These are almost a year and a half old.  There is something about wearing dungarees whilst working in the dirt (making mud pies!) that make me feel authentic, uncomplicated, a little bit country. 

        Since I own only one pair of dungarees, I want to make a gardening apron.  My Midnight Man had three or four old pairs of worn out jeans he could no longer wear.  I’ve been mentally pondering the best design for an apron made from a pair of these.  I was inspired by a blog posting that showed someone else’s handiwork.  Today I opened up the inside seam of a leg and it will match the section to which I want to attaché to the front pockets.  The leg needs some trimming down to fit.  Then I have to design a way to tie it on, as well as something to go around the neck.  Once I get this done, I’ll post photos. 

        The jeans also provide enough scrape to make some pot holders, which will allow me to practice some free-motion machine embroidery. 

        As the days go on, and I’m puttering around on the balcony, I’ll make sure to prevent becoming a red-neck by using the SPF 30 sun block.  I’ll also wear my base-ball cap and sunglasses.  Oh and keep the water bottle handy to keep from getting dehydrated in the heat and sun.  I’d like to think that my Grandpa Cox would be proud of my humble efforts to honour my heritage—sowing and reaping and enjoying the process as the days unfold. 

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith,  "Lady Reed"