Things are looking up!

Thank you for your kind and thoughtful comments about my need to rest my hands.

I've done a lot of research and have been following some new strategies to alleviate the swelling in my hands as well as the tirggering of fingers. 

It's amazing to me that this seems to be working! I have completely quit all caffeine, stopped taking the Remifemin tablets (black cohosh to alleviate the menopausal hot flushes) which have been making me retain lots of fluid and affected my liver, and stopped all dairy and wheat.

To help rid my body of the excess fluid I now drink Dandelion Tea as my coffee replacement, make and drink glasses of parsley/celery/beetroot/ginger/apple juice every day, make cups of Red Clover Tea for the hot flushes, and drink soy milk in blueberry/banana smoothies each morning and afternoon.

The excess fluid is leaving, only one finger is still triggering on my left hand, but I can bend all the fingers on my left hand into a fist once more! \o/\o/

I cannot change the bad result of my surgery on the right hand middle finger last month - apparently the scar tissue has grown in such a way that it has 'bound' that finger giving it limited movement. That's ok - I can live with that. I just spent $2000 on the operation (money we did not have to spare) and I won't be having another. I will accept my hand the way it is now and work around it. 

~~~~~

Now for some more lovely news! 

My darling husband had a birthday yesterday, and instead of a birthday cake he wanted my cheesecake.

Filled with in-season fresh strawberries, he was a very happy chappy last night!

This morning he took me out for breakfast, just us, alone. It was very special as normally the kids come with us everywhere...but now they are in their late teens it seems more and more we have opportunity to do things just as a couple. After 30 years of constant parenting, this is a new path - a lovely path.

This is the card Blossom made for her dad. It's from a photo she took of he and I walking Bob-the dog when we lived at the school earlier this year...

Yep, me and my man. :-)

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I also wanted to show you some sneak peeks of one of my new designs, a French inspired 4 piece set I have been slowly stitching....

I think you'll love it! Another week and it should be all finished with the pattern ready! I can't wait!!

~~~~~

I was blessed to be the recipient of Vickie's RAK this month, and her parcel of lovely things arrived to make my day...

The fabric is very *me*, and I love the runner pattern with the birds! Thank you so much dear Vickie!!

~~~~~

Now, next weekend is the -

Have you started making your birds yet? Will you be making a cage or using a birdcage you already have??

Next weekend is the time to finish putting it all together, and then Wendy and I want you to email us your photos. We'll have a wonderful time sharing all the photos on our blogs!

Wendy is coming here to visit with me on the 26th, so I'll be sure to take photos for you of our birds too.

Have a lovely weekend!

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

PS: Australian ladies, I have 10% off most fabrics, pre-cuts and quilt kits in my Ebay Shop HERE until midnight on the 20th!

Need to rest my hands...

Dear friends, I just wanted to let you know that I'll be away from the computer for the next few days to rest my fingers and hands.

My post-op finger is no better, in fact it is worse than before, and now every finger on my left hand is triggering too...there is a lot of fluid build up in my hand and fingers so I am sure these are related. 

I'll not be sewing or cooking or typing...just resting these very needed fingers and working on ridding my body of the excess fluid build-up.

For this reason I may extend the Zippper-me-up challenge into next month, and I will avoid having a Friday Show and Tell this week. Sorry about that, but my hands take priority at the moment.

Take care of yourselves, and be sure to look after your own health this week. Maybe you've got some resting to do too?

I'll leave you with a photo of what Lily Rose did to one of our banana trees on Sunday. She jumped up until she could grab the bunch of bananas and broke the tree to get them. Mr E had to remove the bananas from the tree, and now we'll see if they ripen ok...

Today she's eating mangoes that have fallen from the trees. She loves fruit apparently....

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

Whiling away the time....

That's what it feels like.

If I was wanting to be a lady of leisure I'd be in 7th heaven, but alas I am a doer not a watcher, so being idle is not fun.

Over the weekend Blossom and I played countless games of...

...and watched numerous episodes of -

- and -

...whilst Mr Elefantz hovered close by to be of assistance in any way he could. I was very well cared for. 

A wonderful new book arrived for me to gush over, and as I slowly took in every wonderful photograph a list of things to do in our new home once I am recovered began to grow...

Today Mr Elefantz, Blossom and Slicer are all at work, and a call to the surgeon was made to find out 'what' next with my post-surgery dressings. I was not given any information on leaving the hospital. The news was good - I was at last able to remove the cumbersome dressings of HERE, and have a look at the wound site...

It's very swollen and quite sore, but I redressed it with a clear wound cover, and then a smaller bandage. I still cannot use the recovering finger, but now my other fingers can be used to grip things (and type a bit easier)..

Finally the 'tattoo' is removed as well - I laughed so hard at some of your comments with regards to the permanent marker the surgeon left on my arm. Bless you for all the lovely comments, wishes, prayers, and hugs. You are all angels!!

~~~~~

The mailman brought me a gorgeous parcel of fabrics today, and while I'm unable to stitch I am thinking of projects to use them in over the months ahead. They are fat eighths from Australian Lynette Anderson's 'Stitches' fabric line - I love them!

These two are my favourites.

You can purchase the fabrics HERE, or go HERE to Lynette's blog for more information.

~~~~~

The new Homespun issue is out and this gorgeous birdcage captured my eye immediately.

Can't you see this hanging from my ornate pressed tin ceiling and white walls?

The designer is Sarah Saliba and you can see more of her creativity HERE.

Don't forget that Homespun can be purchased through Borders in the US now, or go to the Homespun website for information on subscriptions. 

I can whisper to you that I'll have two projects in Homespun early next year...

If you haven't already done so, take advantage of the beautiful free 'Stitch-a-long" on the Homespun website HERE. All the blocks are up now, with the final quilt assembly instructions due up on the 11th. The quilt was designed by another talented Aussie, Sam MacKenzie. You can visit Sam's blog HERE.

~~~~~

Time to boil the kettle as Mr Elefantz is on his way home from work. My favourite time of the day!

Hugs

Jenny

xxxx

The doctor's results, some Challenge projects, and books...

Hi dear friends!

It's winter here now, but only at night - the days are lovely and warm and we're still wearing t-shirts. The downside of the cold nights is the effect it is having on my 'trigger finger'. All the tests for my joint problems have come back and I do not have any of those nasties I was warned about - thank you Lord! We did however discover that my medication for hypothyroidism (I have been hypothyroid for 15 years) needs to be substantially increased. My dosage was cut in half last year by a doctor I was seeing, and ever since my TSH levels have risen, meaning I am not getting enough medication - this in turn has caused a lot of health problems, one of them being 'trigger finger'. The lovely doctor I have now had never heard that hypothyroidism and 'trigger finger' were linked, but they are.

I can't get in to see the ortho surgeon for another 5 weeks (he is on holiday) and it may be weeks after that before the surgery can be performed, so I'm having a cortisone injection in my hand next Tuesday to tide me over until then. Now that the medication for my thyroid has been increased again, I should see some relief in my other symptoms over the next 6-8 weeks.

All this means that I need to cut right back on blogging (typing) and emails. I'm sorry, but I won't be replying to comments or private emails for a while...this finger must be rested or it may become permanently locked before I can have that surgery. 

I can still do lots of photo posts, with minimal chit chat, and some gentle hand embroidery is good for me to keep the joints flexible, but that's about it. 

Thank you all for your concern and caring comments over this issue of late. {{{hugs}}}

~~~~~

I'll try and share all the bits and pieces that need to be shared in this post today - then I'll give my finger a holiday.

Here are some denim challenge projects. All are amazing!!

From Kris...

 

And check out Sheila's HERE and Teresa's HERE!

Make sure you click on all the links in the sidebar to the other bloggers that have taken up the challenge! You will be inspired! :-)

A few bloggers have emailed me this link to another denim Challenge, and I am so in love with these slippers! Have a look HERE. There is also a page of 25 things to do with old jeans HERE.

~~~~~

For those who love Tilda fabrics but have trouble purchasing from sites that are not in English, Lone sent me a link to THIS online store in England.  Thanks Lone! 

You all sound like you would have loved the new Tilda's Summer Ideas book I gave away recently? Katrin sent me a link to look at all the pages - it's beautiful! I cannot wait for mine to arrive in the mail. I purchased my copy HERE, and you can look through all the pages HERE. Thanks Katrin!

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In this month's issue of Australian Patchwork & Stitching magazine you will find an article about me in the 'Getting To Know' section. 

...and you'll find the pattern for my 'Snail Trails' baby quilt. The writer did a wonderful job of the article! I was a bit teary reading back over it.

~~~~~

This is my latest book buy, from the talented girls at Prints Charming!

 I bought it HERE at Book Depository. (It has a different cover depending on what country it is published in) They teach you how to screen print your own fabrics, and have templates you can use to make some gorgeous designs!

I'm also making a project from this book that I got at a clearance sale last month at Dymocks Book Store...

I love this bag but I am using seeded homespun for mine, with a deep blue thread for the emboridery. 

~~~~

Now, what have you been up to this week??

Hugs

Jenny

xxx