Tuesday, May 30, 2017

MAY


































Snapshots of May - most taken with my phone as my shoulder continues to heal more each day. One  major events was our daughter Grace being local support and opening singer for a wonderful James Morrison concert. It was a special night to remember. James is amazingly talented musician and very entertaining with his jokes and stories throughout the evening. 

My husband and I had a 24 hour visit to Sydney for a specialist appointment regarding his complex health issues. We are little closer to resolving things but every piece of the piece ought puzzle helps. (He attempted a graduated return to work early this month but he wasn't successful. He has been unable to work since early October, and has been healthy enough to work only seven months in the last three years). 

While in Sydney we had the great pleasure of catching up with both of our Sydney-based daughters. Miss N collected us from the airport and we enjoyed a meal together near our accommodation. After my husband's 90 minute morning appointment we met Miss E and had a leisurely afternoon around Circular Quay before we headed back to the airport.

While waiting for our evening return flight I noticed the last remaining Simply Mini quilt in my Etsy shop had just sold. A very pleasant surprise. The first thing I did at home the next morning was go to the cupboard where I keep all my ready-to-sell quilts to parcel it up for shipping/posting. I looked and looked, pulling all the quilts out - twice - but the littlest quilt of all was nowhere to be found! I searched in every other likely spot but still no Mini quilt! After a couple of hours I decided I may as well spend my time sewing a new one. Thankfully I had enough of the same fabrics to create a replacement. I had not tried using my sewing machine since dislocating my shoulder five weeks prior, yet here was an ideal small project to test the shoulder. Over the next 24 hours I slowly and carefully worked through each stage of production in small bursts, with the last hand stitches on the binding completed at 9:03am! A quick hand wash and drying flat in the fresh outdoors before it was packaged up and sent on it's way that afternoon. I didn't mention this story to the buyer, partly out of embarrassment. One day I may well stumble upon the original in a most unlikely location!

It's very satisfying to pick and eat fruits from trees we have planted. This year the avocado, lemon and orange tree are each bearing more fruit than in previous years. The orange above weighed over 550g/19.5oz and was sweet and juicy. 

Sunset walks are now comfortable again on the shoulder. Loving the colours and flocks of birds which make every sunset special. We have a pair of White-headed Pigeons nesting in the tree outside our bedroom window. My husband told me today he saw a small single egg in the nest. This variety of Australian pigeon only lay one egg and share the incubation.

Having a couple of hand sewing projects on the go have made my non-machine sewing weeks much more pleasant. I do love to be making something with my hands! Last week I slowly recommenced quilting the queen size quilt I had been working on before hurting my shoulder. My shoulder lets me know when I've pushed it too hard, like today. So tonight I rest it some while putting well-overdue words to my ever growing collection of photos.....

* If you hover your mouse/cursor over the photos above, some will have text details to accompany. *** You can read more details about most of these photos on my Instagram feed which I add to several times a week. You don't have to join Instagram to view either - just click on the little blue square camera logo under my blog profile (top right hand corner). 


16 comments:

Joyful said...

Wow, Karen. You have a great eye and take fantastic photos!

I haven't read any posts from you for long as I've been away from blogging. I am sorry to hear about your husband's health challenges. I do hope you find some answers as I know what this kind of stress is like. I think you are a very strong and amazing woman going through life with grace and contentment (as per your blog title) and you are an inspiration.

Rick Forrestal said...

I love your work.
p.s. I've had such great luck
shooting flowers from underneath.

Preeti said...

Whew, close call with that mini quilt!! Lovely round up of May :) Glad to hear that your shoulder is feeling a bit better.

Julie said...

Wow, you have some amazing photos and memories for the month. I always love flying in as the lights are on, cities look so pretty then. so pleased your shoulder is healing too.

Sue said...

Wow! that first photo is fantastic, they're cut and in water right? Hope your shoulder continues to improve.

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Yes Sue, that’s right. They were floating in a large spherical float vase and I used my phone to capture them from table height - cropped and edited a little.

Thank you - my shoulder is slowly but surely healing, making good progress.

Elizabeth said...

I always look forward to reading your blog. It's filled with such beauty.

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

That's lovely to hear Elizabeth, thank you for leaving a comment. Have a beautiful day!

Karen

Let's Get Sewing said...

Lovely photos, they are so calm. Your English Paper Piecing is beautiful!

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Thank you Let's Get Sewing.

Unknown said...

I just love the mini quilt, Karen!
I think that is such a wonderfully unique idea.
Congratulations to Grace!! What an honor for her.
Wishing you a fantastic weekend, my friend.

diane b said...

Beautiful photos of you May activities. Hope your shoulder continues to heal and that the specialist can help your husband. Congrats to your talented daughter.

Karen Lakis said...

This is a beautiful set of photos to recap your month! I hope you shoulder continues to heal and that you're able to find some answers for your husband's health challenges. I enjoyed your story about remaking your mini quilt!

Saija said...

Lovely pictures! What phone do you have? I want the same :)

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Thank you Saija. My phone is an older iPhone 5s and I edit the photos a little either in the phone or in Photos on my laptop (I don’t have any added software).

Karen

Liz said...

What a lovely recap of May! I'm not sure how I missed it. Beautiful images of family, wildlife & of course your quilting!

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