238-247/365 Food, Friends, Celebrations and Spring

The days seem to get away from me lately.  At this time in my life getting through daily life moments is taking more mental energy from me right now.  Being a mother to my teen daughters and helping them navigate life as well as me working through this new season has brought with it times of change.  Nothing that many other parents haven't faced I am sure but new to me to work through.  For now that seems to be consuming my mind which I am learning to let go off a little each day.  When you are so used to being your child's primary source of many things and then things change, as they should, it takes a period of adjusting.  They seem little for so long but really they aren't and before you know it they are grown with their own opinions and purpose and personality and boy can these new times be fun to watch them explore.  Anyway that's where I have been for a while now, I suppose that may explain my more haphazard blogging.  I know that seasons come and go, and I admit I miss my sweet little ones but life must change and so must they and so must I.  I hope all is well with you.

Life Right Now

Where do I start? I can start with the gorgeous blooms I took photos of when my hubby, my youngest and I went for a walk around Mt Cootha botanical gardens a few weeks ago.  It was a very warm Spring day, much warmer than I expected so our walk wasn't too long.  I do love how my family will entertain me and my desire to take photos.  I was expecting a few more flowers in bloom. I'm not sure whether that was because we were a little early... Anyway there was still blooms to find and enjoy.

I am feeling the need to get out and take some photos lately.  I think I have mentioned before though my computer is getting full of photos and I am quickly running out of space and there is becoming a more urgent need to upgrade my computer.  I think that is partly the reason and the other is the ongoing issues with my Nan's estate just when we thought things were resolved.... Today it really seems to have gotten on top of me.  I had a bit of a cry actually.  I have been trying to do my best to stay positive but never did I see this next hurdle come our way in getting things finalised. All I want is for my Nan's wishes to be met and for my family to have the sun shining in their faces.  The woe is me feelings have gotten to the best of me.  I have much to be grateful for and so much exciting change is happening with my oldest's schooling years coming to an end.  What the problem is my thoughts.  I need to be mindful, not allow them to drift to the past or into the future which is only causing me angst. So how can I shake this feeling off?  Take a deep breath, go and pamper myself with a fresh coat of nail polish on my toenails and go and cut out that purse pattern I have meaning to do.  Yes that's a good start I think.  How do you get past those overwhelming feelings and move forward?  I would love to know.

Helloooo

Gee where do I start.... I didn't mean for it to be so long in between posts.  My goal this year was to be more focussed and place importance on things that matter to me like this blog.  Life though can throw some curve balls and attention needs to be focussed elsewhere. 

 I have mentioned how my Nan was ill when we last spoke.  She went to hospital and got tests done and all was ok, she was on the mend which was great.  Then a couple of months down the track she woke with a terrible pain in her tummy, something wasn't quite right.  She was rushed to the hospital and after some tests they discovered that her bowel was full, something that can happen, I didn't think it was anything to be concerned about at the time.  But as you age and with other health complications it mean that it was very serious.  Sadly my Nan did not make it and she passed away in hospital just days later from a blood infection and her body becoming toxic.  It was such a shock to us all.  She had been unwell but was in great spirits and we thought that we would have her in our lives for more years to come....My Nan, Ivy Bertha, passed away at age 88.  Following her passing in March life has been a bit challenging.  There is certainly the loss to adjust to, the finalising of her affairs and the family dynamics that have also changed as a result.  I just haven't felt up to doing much of anything really.  I have done things of course but it has been an effort.  In time things will improve and this week has been a good one, I'm just taking each day as it comes and feel blessed to have family and friends to talk to and lean on when I need them.  

I post on instagram often but if you aren't there I have put lots of photos up here to catch you up on what I have been up to this last couple of months.  I hope to be back here more regularly now as things are slowly returning to a new normal, sharing a bit of crafting and gardening which I am planning on doing on  Monday as we have a long weekend here.  I hope you are all doing well those of you who still like to visit blogs.  

Chat soon.

Catherine xxx

21/365; 22/365; 23/365; 24/365

 Blooms in my Father's garden.

 Sunset on the way back home from visiting my parents.

 There's been lots and lots of driving this week.

Ahh it's that time of year again, almost finished….