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@Faith-and-Hope::

@Former-Member A big brown would keep me out of the garden too!!!!! I was visited by a blue tonged lizard a few months ago, he just wondered across the road to greet me, I must have disturbed some free lunch. Your front garden is beautiful. Everything here is stalks at the moment, very sad looking.

-10, WOW that's cold even for me.

I cooked my wheat bag just last week. A few flames. The microwave is still working thank goodness. I have a new one now and watch it go round, just in case. Lol.

200 roses would be a beautiful sight in bloom, but so much pruning. I have a daphnie bush in a container at my back door just about to flower. The smell will be beautiful.

Sorry to hear about your friend. Life throws some difficulties in every life. You are a good friend to her.

I hope you are doing ok today. It's raining here, very grey and bleak looking.

I can smell the beautiful scent of those daphnes already @Maggie. It doesn't get much better. Reminds me again of the garden I had down rural south - I clearly remember the hyacinths sweet perfume and the colourful array of bulbs and roses 🌹 Some of my favourite roses were "Seduction" and "double delight". I had a couple of tall long flowing standards that were scrumptious - but was heart broken after the winds snapped them in half. So I start planting rows of low growing roses out the front. Yes, 200 is a lot of pruning but I use to thrive on this about 13 yrs ago. When I stopped because of the snakes my fitness did decline. I miss my gardening there. But the cold is not for the faint of heart. We would be forever chopping wood to keep a indoor fire going 10 months of the year. I am beyond that now lol.

I love doing the fairs, garden shows and the community where I use to live on property. So different to the sea. But suits us at this stage of life now.

Its overcast here too - not cold really but looks like it is going to rain. We never got that 26 degrees that was forecast here. Just as well as that would be the precursor for a heatwave summer. Each year the temps keep outdoing the year before. Certainly concerning. I will appreciate that sea breeze....

I woke up this morning feeling quite lousy. Did not sleep that well and have a mild headache. But what is weighing heavy is that my husband wasn't well and has to do most things. He won't slow down. It's making me uncomfortable with worry - and frustrated I can't do much. It really is getting to me. I have to figure out what I can do to fit a reasonable fitness level also - all I would need is heart problems or a stroke. I am working out how to avoid it. Very difficult seeing my husband struggle so am feeling down today.

Plus side is it's peaceful and I have been reading abit and doing word puzzles which I enjoy. Keeping the mind at least somewhat active. But have to fight the crying urge and be strong. I keep seeing a better future, even if against the odds, and this helps. I also still worry about the situation with my daughter.

I was surprised to see my friend so down. She never gets depressed (lucky). But she is now - possibly understable going through major surgery and she is climbing the walls like me. Being inactive and physically u well certainly can trigger depression. Any tips on keeping fit when injure (bruised left side ribs and cartilage possibly torn a little). But I am on the improve (not as painful).

Its hard to do anything when it's raining - are you cross stitching at all today? (I am missing mine so much but don't want to risk reinjuring myself again through stretching). Must be lovely to listen to the soothing sound of the rain making everything afresh again. Lovely.

Are the maintenance men for the heat pump coming tomorrow still? Best thing if you can is to keep yourself distracted and busy while they are there. Will be thinking of you my dear friend.

How are you today @Faith-and-Hope@Zoe7@Adge@Former-Member? 💜❤️💜❤️💜❤️💜❤️🤗xx

Hi @oceangirl

Sounds like a good week ahead for you 😊 Let me know if you find a good comfortable bed - mine is on the turn. I nearly roll off it each evening - it's starting to dip 😩 Doesn't do my poor injured side much good. So if you know any top brands for comfort and support let me know. I like those lift/massage beds - I looked quite a sight trying them out in the bedding department 😝 Yes, I have no shame 😚

Sounds like the trip did you the world of good - have to do some more therapy and plan more trips very soon 🏄‍♀️✈️xx

@Former-Member

@Former-Member I'm having a downer myself today. Just can't get going. My dog company is on her way so I think I'll sneek into bed with them both and try to block out the world for a while. My concentration isn't good when I feel this dark, so cross stitch gets left till the cloud lifts again.

Your daughter weighs heavily on your mind, also your husband. I understand that as I've always been very independent. To be honest, I couldn't get my ex to do a thing!!!! Now I do what I can and leave the rest.

Yes the heatpump men are coming tomorrow, so hopefully no rain or it will be cancelled again. I will work in the garden while they are here, keep well,out of the way. Just make a coffee if they want one.

Do you paint??? You are gifted in many areas!!!

I have one of those shaking machines.....

Hi @Maggie

So sorry you feel down - the bleak weather wouldn't be helping. Hope you feel better snuggled up with your dogs. Is it cold where you are? It did reach about 24 degrees here to my surprise in the afternoon and is quite warm 😯. A worry for just coming out of the midst of winter. It's usually windy and cold in August. I will be whinging more in the midst of summer no doubt lol, so might as well make the most of this "spring" weather.

I did end up doing some housework. Light duties using only my right arm whilst trying not to jolt or sprang my left side. Feels okay so far. And the top half of the house is tidy. Now for the bottom. Feels good and the warmer weather is helping. Hubby will have to do the heavy work like washing floors and vacuuming. A team effort. Sounds like your ex was a bit useless inside the house like my first husband. Although he was handy outside of it fixing things. Did you have children with your ex @Maggie? My husband now is really tidy - a plus from serving in the army for so many years 😊

I can do folk art where the picture is traced - but can mix paints etc. I am okay with painting but I can't draw a stick man unfortunately. I would love to be able to paint landscapes, modern art etc. Haven't ever really tried as I figured I was set up for failure because I couldn't draw. Do you do art @Maggie? Is that shaking machine used for mixing interior/exterior paints? I have seen them in hardware stores. You are independent- a good way to be. I rely on my partner for some things but am a very independent person/thinker myself. Always have been. But I do rely on my partner for emotional support and advice at times.

When you feel down my friend think of your garden and the joyful times you will have in creating, working and enjoying it. Smell the aroma. See the smiles of delight of the people who pass by whom sight it (I use to love watching this). A positive activity all round. And I am here for you if you need to talk.

A friend of mine from down rural south that I use to be close with rang us today. She wants us to go up there for a music festival and stay with them on their farm for a week in November. Problem is it's a 5 and a half hours drive getting there. I am not one for travel anymore. But would like to see them. They came down to visit us in June and they stayed in the golf course resort on the ocean where we are going to build our new home. They didn't have a clue to our intentions there. Quite a coincidence. We reunited as we had a fall out over 14 years ago which she has struggled with and regretted to this day. She wants to rekindle the friendship (long story - she put money before our welfare). A lot of people with a lot of money fall this way. But she was a good friend in the earlier part and my husband was close to her husband - so we may make the effort too. She worked for Lifeline for years too which I respect highly.

Well I better leave off here before it turns into a novel lol. Hope you are feeling a bit better my friend - here if you need me. Hugs 🤗❤️xx

Good to see you around the forum my dear @Zoe7 Hoping today is abit lighter for you. Will you be getting out at all during the upcoming week? Thinking of you 💕xxx

@Faith-and-Hope - thinking of you also. How is your son today? 💕🌹

Hi @Former-Member So far I have an appointment tomorrow, Thursday and Friday. Other than that - pretty much the same - rest and more rest! I went out this morning to the shop - wasn't gone long but fell asleep not long after I got home. Just getting a few things from the shop from tiring enough

I hope you start feeling a little better and more able to do things soon.

Love and hugs

Zoe