I love intentionality as much as I love happenstance.

#intentionality #happenstance #dualities #thingsIlove

There is no such thing as an excess of books. Books are a comfortable tapestry of companionship, an invitation to exploration and contemplation, access to the thought and imagination of the past, the undemanding company of old friends, as well as the challenge to growth.

#Books #ThingsILove

Some gardening joy:

... the apples (that I don't really like) are ripening beautifully. I'm waiting a few more days to pick that one closest to the camera but the rest of them I'll leave for the birds

... yesterday evening and this morning I spent a couple of hours pulling up the grass and the dying nasturtiums. I've done about two thirds of it – it's not easy work, as the ground is quite dry (you might be able to see that in the second shot) but once it's done, I'll mulch the area and dump a heap of calls lilies along the side next to the fence. Yes, they're basically a weed but they're a much more manageable weed than the kikuyu, which I am removing with extreme prejudice wherever it may be

... while pulling up the undergrowth, I unearthed not only a legless lizard (I was expecting to see at least one, so it was with delight that I watched it wriggle away, rather than the momentary panic I've had before when I've mistaken them for snakes) but also the raspberry canes I planted a few years ago! They're a bit worse for wear due to being smothered somewhat by the nasturtiums and its evil kikuyu friend, as well as suffering from the glyphosate my neighbours use (sob) but they are still alive! I received three raspberry plants for Christmas from Dad/Kid2/Kid2's boyfriend and so I'll dig up these canes and plant all the canes together (in another part of the garden to reduce the impact of the Roundup)

... while I was out there, it rained gently for a few minutes, which was so welcome, and I also snacked on a few strawberries from the garden. This is the life, truly

#gardening #gardeningAU #joy #ThingsILove #GrowYourOwn

Well, Dad is currently back home and some relatives are staying with him but he and I have spent the last two days going back and forth from the hospital, and are still no closer to really knowing what's wrong. That's distressing. He's feeling better for now so we'll see what the specialist has to say – he may have to go to Perth but at least my sister is there.

However! Apart from all that, today was kind of great? I took Kid1 to work and Kid3 came too, then we went to the market where we got sugar loaf cabbage and some strawberries, then I picked up the library book I had on reserve, and we went to take Dad shopping. That's when we had to detour to the hospital for a couple of hours but then we brought him home, and when I took the compost out, I spotted a blue tongue lizard for the first time in years (and also the skink that lives near the old pond, who is equally gorgeous but whom I do see most times I visit).

Then we picked a bunch of roses from the garden and when my rellies arrived, we left Dad with them and went and did the shopping for him (since he missed out earlier).

Finally on the way back home, we drove to check if the Thai food van was still at its usual spot outside Officeworks, and it was, hurray! So I ordered a late lunch and when 3 and I picked it up, the business owner said she'd accidentally overcharged us so she'd given us something extra. I didn't catch what she'd said but when we got home, we discovered it was sticky rice with mango and coconut cream. It was superb.

Got to take Kid2 to and from a party later but otherwise zero obligations for the rest of the day. Thank goodness. Also there's still one serving left of mango sticky rice. Reckon I'll have it for tea 🥰

#AgeingParents #ageing #family #food #ThingsILove

The mantises hatched 🥰

#ThingsILove #insects #PrayingMantis

#3GoodThings

+ Jarrah continues to have seizure-free days. If we get to Thursday next week without another one, we can start transitioning to another long term medication...

+ Dad had to go to hospital in the ambulance but is on the mend. I knew he was feeling better when he gave a hearty chuckle after I told him that he was apparently dead (they'd not hooked him up to the monitor after his scan and so he was 'flatlining')

+ Long weekend yaaaaay. It's been such a week.

#LongWeekend #ThreeGoodThings #ThingsILove #dogs #hospital

In the past week and a half Jarrah has had five seizures. It started on Saturday 20th and we thought it might be a one-off; after speaking to the on call vet, I made an appointment for the following Monday and they took some blood.

Blood tests showed nothing remarkable so we agreed that we'd just monitor him. Days passed and we figured, yay, just an anomaly. But then on the weekend, he had another – much shorter, but still a concern. Then on Monday night, another. Then another on yesterday morning at 4am, and another at 9am. I was able to get another vet appointment and we discussed options.

We can do more extensive (and expensive) blood tests but the vet isn't sure it would offer much extra info. We can also do imaging to see if it's a tumour – however, that involves a specialist, a fair bit of travel, and lots of money. I suggested that knowing if there were a tumour won't help anyway, right? They can't do surgery and I wouldn't want to put Jarrah through surgery or chemo/radiotherapy. The vet agreed and is very supportive of low level intervention as much as possible.

So we're trying an anti seizure medicine. He's had four doses so far. And no seizures in the last 30 hours. This is good news but we're not out of the woods... But then, nothing is ever guaranteed so we'll take what we can get. If the medicine doesn't work, we have to make some hard decisions. The thought makes me cry. But also, I know I have loved him as much as I could, every day that he's lived with us, and I'll continue to do so, probably forever, no matter how long he has left. A reminder to be here now, and not cry about what's to come, right?

#dogs #ThingsILove #BeHereNow #death #illness

I have been checking the orange tree daily to see its progress and today there was an orange waiting for me on the ground! A little bit green but when I cut it open, it was surprisingly ripe and quite juicy. Not super sweet but also not eye-twitchingly sour. I'm so delighted. There are two more on the tree that should ripen within the next week or so, yay!

#GrowYourOwn #gardening #harvest #oranges #ThingsILove