Sunday, September 9, 2018

SPRING


Hello
Springtime in September has arrived, and it is over a month since I blogged!

My father's King Orchid has bloomed again this year.
We divided his huge orchid into six portions for his six children in 2012.
So far, so good;
It has done well in our garden..


It is ten weeks since we returned from Europe and Mr Red Cardinal broke his hip.  He was a good and conscientious patient, did everything medical as instructed.  Over the past fortnight he has been able to use the stairs and begun driving his car again.

We marked these milestones with lunch at the Wild Canary Garden Cafe:


Mr C no longer has to spend his life on one level of our house, and his office has been relocated back downstairs to its usual spot, overlooking the back garden.

The dining room has returned to being a dining room.
And cutting out table for sewing, and other crafty activities as required...


I can't say I am a great success as a carer.  
While perfectly happy looking after his needs while he was healing and was unable to weight-bear) after a while I began to feel as despondent as he undoubtedly did.
We have been severely restricted in where we can go, and due to loss of condition it will take a while for him to regain the stamina to walk very far.
We are looking forward to a return to the cinema and concerts.


It was wonderful to return to my Ladies Choir last week, after a four month absence.  What a joy to sing with a group of like-minded and feisty women, and exercise the cogs of my brain at the same time!

While in the city, I enjoyed the Spring floral decorations in the Brisbane Arcade:






I bought a delicate pink orchid -
because flowers always lift the spirit, and beauty in the home is mandatory...


Can you see the lorikeet?
They love to feed on the bottle-brush nectar..


Our cold bulb garden has produced two daffodils this year. 
Well done Garden of Neglect.


The crazy cockatoos visit every day.
Possibly just to fight with the lorikeets, who usually win.


After an extremely dry Winter, we have had a few days of rain showers -
but not the promised thunder storms.

I love how the lorikeets huddle with their mate when it rains...



Our grandson Little Aussie has been to visit, on the Father's Day weekend.
It was also his ninth birthday (and his Dad had a birthday too).

This was cause for a little celebration...


Aussie has learnt to play Monopoly, and we gave him the original version, with the new playing tokens:








May your trans-seasonal week be beautiful:
Spring or Autumn, both are a delight.

XXXX









35 comments:

  1. What a, we would say ´gezellige´ = cozy post. You father's orchid is a beauty and I'm sorry for Mr. Cardinal's broken hip, but fortunately he is moving around again. Also a wonderful tablesetting and the lorikeets are amazing birds. So nice to see them free as a bird as a bird ought to be.

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    1. Thank you, it is good to be 'gezellige' - I like that! I am so proud of the orchid, having no previous orchid experience. It seems to love being here. Hi from the lorikeets, who are out there chirping as I speak...

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  2. Such a cheerful, colorful post this morning - thank you Patricia, I needed that!
    Awoke here to what feels like the first day of autumn - very dreary, misty, and yet still so hot and humid. Hurricane Florence, the first of the season 'tropical storm' is heading our way so we are nervous about that, especially for the North Carolina coast, but it could also come inland by Thur. Always seems to be something to get concerned about - weather can drive one crazy!
    Glad to hear Mr. Red Cardinal is doing so well, just being able to drive makes a huge difference I'm sure. I know it's been a lengthy recuperation - but I'm sure you've been a great carer because you always sound so nice on your blog, and in your generous comments!

    Love the garden pix - that white tree orchid is amazing - and the Frida Kahlo pillow is really lovely. I recall the colorful lorikeets from my time in Australia - they were fun to watch on my friends' deck feeders at their lovely country home outside of Brisbane.

    Hope things continue go well for hubby - and lovely to know you are singing again!
    Hugs - Mary

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    1. Oh dear Mary, fingers crossed that Florence goes another place. We have cyclones here which are a worry too. Thank you for you kind comments, you have brightened my morning. It is wonderful to know you have been over here - and met the lorikeets. We are also in a semi-rural area, on the western side of Brisbane. I wonder if you came near us :) That is a sweet idea..

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  3. Springtime is a great spirit lifter and who could not be happy to see those magnificent blooms on your father's King Orchid - how lovely it is.
    Such good news about Mr. Cardinal, I am pleased that he is now well and truly on the mend.
    It is great to learn that some families still sit around together playing Monopoly, it is a great game, and lots of fun.

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    1. Thank you Rosemary, I go out and stare at the orchids several times a day. It is a once yearly treat. Our extended family have all loved board games, and we have many of our original ones which are still used now and then. Young Aussie is young enough to still want to win every time :) He has to get used to the idea of random throws of a dice!

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  4. Thank you Valerie, it has been a weird couple of months, right after our overseas trip. How we have craved normality! I took another look at the cushion, and they do look a lot like lorikeets, however the beaks are not quite right. There must be a Mexican parrot which is very similar.

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  5. Hello Trish. I love that a piece of your Dad's garden lives on in his children's gardens....very jealous of your 5 spikes...I have high hopes for next year. So glad hubby has some mobility restored. Happy birthday to your family folk. Such a beautiful post. I really enjoyed all the gorgeousness xx

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    1. Hello Michelle - we love that orchid! Actually I think it had six spikes last year (they are supposed to add one each year), but it has been a very dry winter. Glad you enjoyed - we must have gorgeousness xx

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  6. It was lovely to see a post from you, and to hear that your husband has made a full recovery. I'm sure it was a very patience stretching time for both of you. Returning to normal activities like your choir, and being able to use your table for craft projects, will be wonderful.

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    1. Dear Kristie, so lovely to see your face pop up! Patience stretching it has become, you are absolutely correct - perhaps age is catching up with us. But we are almost good to go - and planning another trip next year. Choir is Good :)

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  7. Interesting, looks like your Monopoly has the same street names as the one in England. (Ours are different in the USA.
    Your flower photos are amazing!
    Best wishes for your husband, that he will be his old self very soon! xx

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    1. Hello Kay, yes, Australia has always used the traditional London board, but now there are many new variations available. We wanted him to have the original one, and then branch out if he likes. Glad you like the flowers - we enjoy them in Spring, before the Long Hot Summer takes over. Thank you re Mr C - he is working on it :)

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  8. So nice to see an update from you, Patricia. I've been hopeless about blogging lately, as well as reading blogs. I'm really glad to hear Mr. Cardinal is on the mend, and I hope he'll be back to his old self very soon. Your flowers are lovely. You seem very happy about spring and I hope you enjoy it a lot.

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    1. Thank you Jennifer. Mr C went to the gym today - that's a good sign - they were wondering where he went! Spring is so pleasant, best to enjoy before the dreaded hot Summer days. I have been the same re the blogs - so many really nice blogs have faded off, and I miss those people. I had a lot of flower photos in the camera before I got myself organised to write another post.

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  9. I’m so glad spring has brought so many positive developments with it, Patricia. Being a carer must be hard as you have to be cheerful for the suffering patient too. I’m glad Mr C is on the mend!

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    1. Yes, the warmth of Spring must help with healing the bones. We both feel a few aches and pains during Winter. Doing my best to be a cheerful carer :)

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  10. Hello dear Patricia...
    I am up on my Mac, so I am able to comment...
    So sorry about Mr C...sometimes Men can be hard patients to care for...not their fault tho...after all...they are men!!
    Your flowers are beautiful, and that Orchid is a showstoper!!! So wonderful to have a piece of your Dad's garden in yours ♥️
    enjoy your SPring...we are winding into Fall here...and not a minute too soon!!! Our Thanksgiving is creeping up too!!
    Enjoy your week..
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. Hi Linda, I know, Men are from Mars! I am loving Spring, the best (only) time we have a lot of flowers. Love your Fall, and am hoping to go back there for Fall 2019. Fingers crossed. Thanksgiving is so attractive - wish we had it too :) Cheers!

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  11. Spring is lovely in your area, Patricia. Autumn is arriving here soon. Happy Birthday to little Aussie. His cake looks Yummy. I've never seen the new tokens to the Monopoly Game. I have the original version. That is such a cool pillow. And your table is pretty set in the turquoise colors.

    Happy Spring!

    love, ~Sheri

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    1. I love the flowers, and the weather, in Spring. Much better than the long hot Summer. Enjoy the Autumn which is also really nice. I had not seen the new tokens either - not sure about the dinosaur, but kids like them. We have had a very bright coloured month!

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  12. Hi Patricia,wow your orchid looks amazing,so glad to hear MR C is on the mend i know how he felt ,its all up hill from now on,hope you have a wonderful week my friend xx

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    1. Hi Shez, yes, you know what an incapacitating injury feels like - but you appear to be going really well these days. Once on the mend, it is time for looking forward. Have a great week. x

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  13. Trish, wish I could spend the next 6 months in Austrialia, then return to the Western Hemisphere for Spring and Summer here, then it's back to Australia for six months, and so on and so on. Now what kind of job should I get to put such a plan into action? Hmm ...

    Meanwhile lovely photos as always!

    Have you ever finished a game of Monopoly? I enjoy the game, but believe after a couple of hours we have always quit and counted our money to determine the winner. Highest earner is declared the winner.

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    1. Ha, maybe you could be a Royal Researcher? You are very good at that.
      We carried our game of Monopoly over to the next day, but it did take about 4 hours altogether! Little Aussie was quite tired of it by then and started making new rules for himself, he he

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    2. Ahhh thanks, I need and appreciate the encourgagement. :)

      Little Aussie cracks me up! I'm sure his ingenuity will serve him well in life.

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  14. I am your newest follower. I agree, beauty in the home is mandatory, and indoor orchids and bouquets bring that to my home too. I like the running horses with their floral necklaces. I would like to visit Australia one day. I live in California.

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    1. Welcome to my blog, and thanks for dropping by. Those horses were so charming in the shopping centre, heralding Spring. I have visited Los Angeles, but would love to see more of California, and maybe one day you will visit us Down Under.

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  15. I am so glad Mr Red Cardinal is mobile again. It really is demoralising being unable to get around, and i also hope he will quickly regain fitness. He has been conscientious about managing his temporary incalidism so is probably going to work hard at regaining fitness! Those flowers are quite beautiful - when i was laid up i got a great deal of pleasure from mine. Can not believe your grandson is 9! It is a nice age. Hope you continue to enjoy your Spring!

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    1. Thank you Jenny, recovery continues to be a work in progress. Having flowers about is so important to me too - cheers the spirits when there is not much to be cheerful about. Grandchildren grow up too fast, he will become a silent teen before we know it. Meantime I love our little chats and fun times together. Enjoy the Autumn which is around the corner over there, my favourite season.

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  16. It is great that you are blogging again and that we can catch up on your news. I'm glad to hear that hubby is recovering and that you can get back to your routines and enjoy the spring. The orchid in bloom is lovely.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Hi Amalia, we are just about back into routine now. The flowers are lovely this Spring, and I love my orchid. Hope to see some nice gardens this weekend. xx

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  17. I'm so glad I found your blog. What lovely pictures you take and the Orchid is absolutely stunning I love that it came from your father's plant and now all of you can enjoy having him in your garden. It's nice to know your hubby is recovering from surgery.
    Take care!!
    Saimi

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  18. What a busy month you've had - and full of lovely things.
    Thank you so much for your lovely comment. We had such a wonderful time with Mary. Your comment touched me, too, because of what you shared about your own experience with your parent's dementia. It's a long journey, isn't it? It's very nice to 'meet' you, and I look forward to coming back to read more!

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