Grateful for

- positive news at my check up at the eye clinic 

- a small area of focus in my vision

- friends and family who have taken over the reins of cooking, cleaning and child wrangling while I recover from surgery

- happy yellow flowers on my table from a friend

- towels straight off the line, still warm, and so fresh smelling

- how a shower can make you feel better

- babies laughter - arguably the best sound in the world

- audio books of 'Cloud Atlas', 'The Great Gatsby', 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy' and 'The Happiness Project'

- the entertainment afforded by a four year old's imagination

- garter stitch - as soon as I had approval from the specialist I cast on my next project, with 7mm needles and 10 ply wool, which I can work on for short periods of time before my eye tires

- so, so very grateful that my friends and family are safe after the floods that Queensland experienced again recently

Hoping you are all safe and well, dear readers, with much to be grateful for too.
I'd love for you to share something you are grateful for in the comments.

One week on...

It has been a week since retinal displacement surgery on my right eye. Everything is still a blur. My eye throbs, waters, and has lost focus. My left eye sight is partially veiled by a grey curtain, beneath which it looks like Vaseline has been smeared, this is a result of the retinal detachment (yet to be operated on). My right eye remains sensitive to light, blood shot, and swollen. I've spent a week in bed while the world went on without me. I've been listening to audio books and pod casts, but I still feel at a loss, as I cannot read or craft. It will be some weeks before I can again. Tomorrow I have my second check up at the hospital, and the second surgery should booked then also.

Thank goodness for family, friends, and audio books (Fiona had to type this for me).

3/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013." Che and Fidel.

Cohen: Buried in the sand by Dada and loving it. "Let's do it again!"

Emerson: Our little sand eater. She can not be deterred. 

For Dave's last day off work we went to the beach. It was cool and windy, the sky full of clouds. I kept thinking we should have brought the kite. There were sprinklings of rain as we made our way to the surf club for lunch. The next day it was business as usual, and the sun came out.

-

PS. The winner of the giveaway, care of random.org, is comment four - ErinGain. 
Erin please contact me with your address so I can get your beads in the post! (christina-lowry (at) hotmail.com)

Suddenly

Knitting in the waiting room

In one moment your life can change dramatically. One unexpected moment. And as you will be reminded it could always have been worse, and it will get better. Statements which both comfort and frustrate. Though I am grateful. There is still the shock of it, the why me moments, the acceptance of it, the plan of treatment. The questions, concerns, hypotheticals. Quite simply, the retina has detached in both my eyes and they require surgery within a month of each other. (Those readers who are less squeamish may be inclined to watch this You tube clip of a Scleral Buckle.)

I noticed on the weekend that when I closed my right eye the vision in my left eye was blurry. I'd had floaters for quite some time, but this was not uncommon for me and I always mentioned it at my yearly optometrist appointments. Monday morning I rang the optometrist and couldn't get an appointment until Thursday afternoon. At my appointment I was diagnosed immediately with retinal displacement of my left eye. Within minutes the optometrist was on the phone to the hospital, inquiring whether they could operate on me that night. It was frighteningly sudden. In the end, I was expected at the hospital first thing this morning, with the possibility of surgery today.

I spent much of today in the waiting room at eye casualty, my sister beside me. Six pairs of eyes peered in to mine and it was confirmed that both eyes were affected and required surgery. The right being less damaged needed repairing first to ensure it torn no further. The left, the damage being done, will be improved by surgery, but will never be the same again, I will have permanent vision loss. The first surgery is now booked for Monday morning.

From Monday I will be stepping away from the blog for an undetermined length of time. (I have portraits to post on Sunday.) My vision is not expected to return to normal for up to six weeks. (No knitting!?!) So dear readers let me ask of you, if you have floaters in your eyes, or flashes of light (whether your eyes are open or closed), or see grey curtains across your vision please see an optometrist and mention them when you book your appointment. I will check in when I can to update you, here or via Facebook and Instagram.

Yarn Along

I have been adding rows to this stripey blanket when time allows. I'm at that point where it doesn't feel like it is growing, in spite of the many stitches I have added lately. My logical brain says it will be finished soon. However, my eyes insist that the ball of wool hasn't been getting any smaller, despite my best efforts. A knitting black hole perhaps?

 In terms of reading I am more than half way through Life of Pi for book club. I am reserving my judgments until I have read further. The reading material above was waiting with our mail upon our return from camping. A flick through Country Style always gives me the itch to rearrange the furniture and nick knacks in the house, browse the aisles of ebay for a vintage treasure, or else book myself in to a B&B in some far away country town. Those urges have been lessened this month as we have (finally) purchased curtains for the lounge and master bedroom, as well as a ceiling light and two rugs. I am pouring over the pages though as we plan our kitchen. Those two beautiful books were won in a giveaway hosted by the lovely Jodie at Ric Rac. They are very sweet looking books and I must admit I've not read I can jump puddles. I believe it is next on my list.

And you? What are you reading and knitting?

-

Joining in with Ginny.

Raverly notes here.

-

Don't forget to enter my giveaway in the post below.

500 Giveaway - Closed

I would never have guessed, when I started this little craft blog, that it would one day have 500 followers. I'm so pleased to be able to share this space with you. To be a part of this community. To be able to document and share the things I've made, moments from our days and my growing children. (And a photo of myself from the weekend, at a children's party, holding a crocodile!)

To say thank you lovely readers I'm giving away a set of beads from my shop. To enter you need to be a follower and leave a comment below letting me know which beads you would choose if you won. I will draw a winner on Saturday, 19 January. Open internationally.

Best of luck and many thanks!

-

The winner is ErinGain! Please contact me with your details Erin! (christina-lowry (at) hotmail.com)

2/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013." Che and Fidel.

Cohen: A rare moment of quiet contemplation. 

Emerson: Too hot to nap inside the tent.

Moments from our camping mis-adventure. 

Getting back to it

Just this morning this (cheeky) little girl was standing in her cot for the first time. Cohen suddenly no longer needs the stool to stand on to wash his hands. And I found two watermelons growing in the garden that weren't there last time I looked. It feels like there is new growth all around me and I am feeling well enough now to appreciate it. Thank you for all your well wishes and sympathy on my last post. How lovely you are.

There is much work to catch up on today. A mountain of washing. An island of towels. A tower of dishes. Dirty floor and bathroom. Camping and sickness bring new challenges to the housewife! Time to find our rhythm again.

So here are a couple of inspirational links while I get to work -

Building your cleaning arsenal on Design Sponge - tips on creating a natural cleaning kit 

Reducing the cost of living - more thoughtful and practical tips from the wonderful Rhonda (who I would like to adopt as a Grandmother)

A holiday unlike any other

Coolum is beautiful. A coastal community with gorgeous beaches and a headland to explore. We were so looking forward to spending six days by the beach on our second ever camping holiday. Wandering, relaxing, swimming, fishing. Thus, it was with great frustration that we called short our trip when first Dave, then myself, came down with the dreaded tummy bug the children had had. He on the first night, myself on the second. We were home again on the third day after slowly and painfully packing up camp. We were torn as to whether to stay or go. Thank goodness we chose home. There is no place like it generally, but particularly when you are sick sick sick.

Thankfully there were some saving graces that made all the effort worthwhile, like dinner at Noosa with friends before the bug struck, flying the kite on the beach with an excited Cohen, chatting with our fellow campers about their travels and adventures. One instance brought tears to my eyes though. As we gingerly packed our belongings a Grandmother from a tent behind us took a tired and fussing Emerson from me and rocked her to sleep. She sat with her until we were ready to leave. That single act made a difficult time that much easier for us. Though I felt miserable the kindness of strangers gave me something positive to focus on.

It may be some time before we attempt camping again however...

Knitting Wish List

L - R: Damask, Autumn Leaves. Tiny Tea Leaves

Camilla babe, Immie Tee, Camilla Blanket

Larch, Cabled Vest, Imogen Cowl

Inspired by this post on the Threads & More blog, I began thinking of my own knitting wish list for 2013. There are the knits I'm currently working on - Larch and Imogen Cowl - the knits that I would love to knit again - Autumn Leaves, Camilla Babe and an adult version of the Cabled Vest - and patterns that are waiting in my queue for time or yarn - Damask, Tiny Tea Leaves, Immie Tee and Camilla Blanket. And should I get through these I believe another knit for Cohen would be in order, or perhaps another cardigan for myself. I feel as though I may be getting ahead of myself. So many patterns, so little time...

What's on your knitting list this year?

1/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013." Che and Fidel.

Cohen:  Is there anything as beautiful, or as peaceful, as a sleeping child? 

Emerson: The trials of teething. Her eyes say it all.

The first portraits. Discovering another fifty-one ways to capture my camera shy four year old may prove difficult indeed.

+

1. Making beads for orders

2. A blanket for a baby

3. A clean house for the New Year

4. Home wares shopping and a new rug for Emerson

Both my babes are sleeping and suffering from a tummy bug. As I care for them I am reminded of similar days from my childhood. I feel I am walking in my Mothers footsteps. Her careful ways imprinted on me. Little sips of water. Cold washers. Lemonade ice blocks. Gentle back rubs. We've postponed our camping adventure, but things may still be quiet around her for a few days.

-

In the meantime, I've updated my shop design. Feel free to pop over and have a look and let me know what you think.

And so we wandered

Yesterday we ventured up the mountain. I knit as Dave drove and we spoke of our plans for the coming year. Paddocks with horses and cows lined the road until we started the climb and in their place there was thick rain forest. Past the main strip, at the end of a street full of houses, we made our way to the Mount Tamborine Botanical Gardens. I love it there. So fresh, lush and green. It is a place that makes me feel at ease. The rose walk, the hill of hydrangeas, the Japanese garden. We walked the paths before sitting beneath old trees on the lawn. Emerson crawled and sat, tasting leaves and grass. Cohen made a friend and they explored and imagined together. Bush turkey's walked past, an eel swam in the pond, kookaburras laughed above us. It was simple and beautiful. 

I wish we had packed a picnic so we could have stayed for longer. That feeling of family, togetherness, quiet, comfort, I want to take that in to the new year with me. To always leave space for those moments where my children can just be themselves and I can soak them in without interruption.  

I saw in the New Year with a baby in my arms who'd been awoken by the sound of fireworks and dogs barking at midnight. I'd been laying in bed, unable to sleep for excitement at all this year has to bring. There is something about the clean slate of the New Year. Of intentions, resolutions, unfulfilled plans. Promise, expectation, possibility. I kissed both my children for the first time this year before slipping back in to bed.



Emerson's bonnet c/o Tuppenny Lane