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The short but delightful season which passes for Spring in Southern Queensland seems to have arrived a trifle early this year.
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The Red Cardinal Garden of Neglect is doing its best ...
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Long-term readers of the blog might remember that last year we cleared out the old family home, after my father retired to live in the local luxury hotel with lots of fun outings and nice menus .... er, I mean, Retirement Village.
Anyway, at that time I brought home a piece of his stunning white orchid (other pieces going to my siblings)... tied it to a tree ..
and, Viola, look what we have today:
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It not only survived, but has produced two gorgeous white fronds!
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Michelle is continuing to wear yellow, and with the arrival of Spring I am happy to join in this fad.
Finished making my yellow dress, and found a crazy cat lady scarf to go with it:
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Then it was on to the fabric purchased recently on our trip to Emerald:
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A new season McCall's pattern, M6792, purchased from Club BMV -
{they have been having lots of sales lately}
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It should have been quick and easy, but despite checking measurements it was huge when I tacked it together.
Much later, and after taking in the sides about three times, it finally did fit!
I'm done with colour blocking and graphic prints ....
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On another subject entirely, since my surgery in 2012, at times - and particularly when flying - I need to wear a compression sleeve on my left arm.
I was measured and fitted for one last year and the only colour I was offered was a sort of bleah shade of pink/grey masquerading as 'flesh tint'.
I know the sleeve is essential and I can cope with that idea, but I really have hated the look of it.
This week I visited a lovely lady, another breast cancer survivor, who has a home business called LympheDonna - and she imports wonderful sleeves called Lymphedivas in the most incredible array of colours and designs.
I now have this:
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White lace, for Spring and Summer ...
and I am putting this one on my birthday wish list:
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Van Gogh Irises - how pretty is that?
Unless I go for his Starry Night which is also available ...
There are animal prints, denim, floral, hearts, spots, stars, paisleys, tattoo and snakes... and plain black, which could be useful.
They are not cheap, but they certainly make an unfortunate medical side-effect so much easier to live with.
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Take care, and never forget your health checks..
Enjoy the sunshine xxxx
The orchids are just amazing, they would be hot house plants here. I like your compression sleeve in lace. I think if we need medical aids they should be as beautiful as possible. I hope you get the Van Gogh sleeve too so you'll have a choice to wear.
ReplyDeleteDarla
I love the orchids, and they are a happy reminder of my parents home. The Van Gogh sleeve is so pretty, I have put in a birthday request for that one!
DeleteI'm glad the orchid made it through the winter. It looks like it is doing great!
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky to be able to wear yellow. I think if I tried to go out in public in yellow someone would arrest me. :-)
That is so great you have found the arm sleeves in such fun colours and patterns. My youngest son is a multiple amputee, and he has enjoyed having his prosthetic leg decorated with fun things like sports team symbols, etc.
Our winter is so mild, the orchid was just fine Kristie. Fun colours and patterns is the way to go, and your son sounds like he is having fun with it too. Why would be want things to be 'medical' looking?
DeleteI am trying to make out the first flower which looks a bit like a trumpet vine, but I don't think that it can be as it looks more like a shrub - wonderful colour.
ReplyDeleteI am ashamed to say, but I had no idea that the consequences of breast cancer was the necessity to wear a compression sleeve - is that when it has affected the lymph nodes? Anyway good on the lady you visited for coming up with something far more attractive to wear.
Hellow Rosemary, the first flower is Browallia, and the colours are very vivid, rather like your autumn tones. Yes, the sleeve is because of loss of about one-third of the lymph nodes in that arm. Some people have no side-effects, but I do have some and need to take care to avoid developing lymphedema.
DeleteMy, what a beautiful orchid. So glad you rescued it and it's thriving. Lots of beautiful flowers here. Love those petunias. Neither did I know of the necessity of a compression sleeve. The lace one is lovely. Nice dresses you have made!
ReplyDeleteI am very proud of the orchid Sanda. So often I bring home bits of plants and they die, but this one is doing really well. Next year, maybe there will be 4-5 fronds! The compression sleeve encourages the lymph fluid to travel up the arm as my lymphatic system is less efficient due to the loss of nodes. This is important on long-haul flights. The lace sleeve should look nice with summer clothing.
DeleteThe flowers are gorgeous....but the sleeve is amazing. What a fabulous idea. Anything that improves surviving is so important ! Jxxx
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Janice - every little thing helps, and during our hot summer is when I tend to have more difficulty and need to watch the arm. A wardrobe of pretty sleeves would be great fun.
DeletePatricia,
ReplyDeleteI have another blog friend from Australia, and it's so funny how you are talking about the spring, as it is the end of summer here. I remember the McCall's patterns. My mom used to sew all my clothes when I was growing up. How wonderful those sleeves are with different designs and colors; I like the white lace one. You did a nice job on your yellow dress.
Have a happy spring day.
~Sheri
I call this the cross-seasonal time of year, when our temperatures and the northern hemisphere's almost line up equally though going in different directions!
DeleteMy mother sewed all our clothes too - those women were amazing at that. I sew for fun and because I can, but not as an essential. Glad you like the yellow dress Sheri.
Yellow fits your climate. I too am confused every time when we talk about the weather of the different months, heh.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Obama seems to grow her bangs off, and the picture of her is so nice now.
The lace- sleeve indeed looks pretty. Could you have a similar looking on your other arm?
Very much resemblance with tattoos in the Van Gogh one, amazing!
Hi Mette, I agree, Mrs Obama quickly grew out the bangs - I guess it was one of those fashion experiments she didn't like after all..
DeleteGood idea to wear a similar one on the other arm - but I might have to win the lottery first; they cost $100 each! Hope to get the Van Gogh one as a present from HB, or maybe for Christmas.
Those flowers are stunning, Patricia, and your new yellow dress looks great with that scarf. Sorry to hear you have borderline lymphoedema, but if you have to wear a compression sleeve those beauties are the way to go. :-) I checked out negative for lymphoedema on my affected side (left here too) but still find my rings and watch too tight in hot weather. If I ever have to have a sleeve, I'll look for ones like that.
ReplyDeleteGlad you checked out negative Perpetua, and as you say I am borderline - just have to make sure I don't move into permanent lymphoedema. I also find hot weather affects the situation, and coming into summer means taking more care. These days I have to ration my time in the garden to only 30 minutes on any one day; that is frustrating, with a large garden! Think I'll wear the yellow dress to the Art Gallery this week - it should fit right in!
DeleteLovely flowers! I love the idea of an arm that looks totally tattooed with Van Gogh. It was very odd to have just spent over a month in a rainy Perth Winter, and arrive in the mist of Southern California Summer. I'm sorry to have missed the Spring. My husband got to Queensland and liked it a lot, but I'll have to wait for our next trip.
ReplyDeleteHello Beryl, sorry to hear it rained in Perth, which I have only seen as a bright and sunny place. And now you go into more winter at home. Glad your husband got to Queensland - did he see Brisbane? Hope you come here next trip..
DeleteLove your dresses Patricia. I haven't made any clothes for years but might get sewing again. Your compression sleeves are very pretty.
ReplyDeletePatricia x
Thanks Patricia, I like to sew, but did not do much for years when studying. Now I find my techniques rather out of date and am working on Improvement!
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