It hasn't been the best of times

I will be quite glad when this month is over.  I know I shouldn't be wishing time away at my age but it really has been a horrible month.

Boris, our loyal and great companion of nearly 12 years crossed over the rainbow bridge on Monday. He became really quite poorly very quickly.  A lump came up almost overnight on the back of his left back leg.  I thought it was another abscess and took him straight to the vets.  They told us it was a mast cell tumour.  We had arranged surgery for this week to have it removed but he developed some serious neurological problems over the weekend.  We took him back to the vet on Monday and he told us he was very ill and dying and to let him go would be the kindest thing to.  So we hugged and loved him and said our goodbyes and held him while he went to sleep and crossed over the rainbow Bridge.  It was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

Added to that, my dear brother Lyn who had been battling diabetes, cancer and heart problems died on Tuesday.  He fought long and hard but it was his time to go be with God. He lived 2000 miles away and so with his health issues and my husband's we hadn't seen him for a few years but always kept in touch by phone.  I spoke with him on Sunday and we had a lovely talk but I think we both knew it would be the last time we talked in this life.

As for health issues, it seems I have some severe problems in my neck causing nerve compression which is why I have been having such problems with arm weakness, pain and numbness.  I had an MRI which confirmed it and I go back to see the surgeon on Monday next.

My husband is hanging in there but is still having bad episodes at night and his BP and pulse rate keep dropping.  It does go back up though.  He sees his cardiologist again in a couple of weeks.  They did manage to get his heart out of atrial fib and back in normal rhythm by shocking it about a month ago but now his heart rate is very slow.

And if all that wasn't bad enough, on Tuesday when we were stopped for a bite to eat on the way back from his neurologist appointment at the VA, a woman reversed into our vehicle and crunched the back bumper.

So now you know why I am wishing this month away.

What a gloomy post but I am hoping my theory of getting things out of my head and into print will help.

Latest knitting project finished, some summer blooms and my next sewing project

It has been a busy couple of weeks.  It is mowing season and it seems never ending.  The rain keeps coming and the grass keeps growing......you know, like it is supposed to so I am not complaining.

some of today's mowing

more mowing

Also I have been having some health issues that finally took me to the doctors.  At night my arms and hands have been getting really weak and painful and going numb.  I ignored it as long as I could but common sense prevailed.  It seems that I have some issues in the spine in my neck which are causing it so I have an appointment next week to see an orthopedic surgeon to see if surgery is required.

I did finish the little top I was knitting and I am happy with how it turned out.  I used some more of the variegated yarn as I really think it is pretty and perfect for a two year old beautiful little girl.

And my next project will be a sewing one.  I found this pattern and so I am going to make a long sleeveless summer dress with some black gingham fabric I bought last year on sale.

I am going to do View A but make it full length.

Finally, this is what is blooming in the yard right now:

These Tiger lilies appeared a couple of years ago from who knows where

These I believe are Adam's Needle yuccas and Boris is checking that all is well on the homestead

And to get a sense of how tall they are 

I think all that is left to bloom are the gladioli.  last year I planted a lot around the front of the shop area in the photo above. The problem I have now is that there are also a load of weeds in that patch and I can't weedwack them without damaging the gladioli so the weeds remain for now!

And finally,
sweet Maggie out enjoying herself