Duck!

So here's one of the best moments from my family Christmas celebrations - my sister laughing because my cousin unfortunately (but comically) backed onto the pointy beak of her just assembled garden ornament duck.

Duck!

Good fun, lovely company, wonderful gifts and splendid food.  The latter is what I'm told because sadly I couldn't partake this year but it looked jolly splendid!  More things to add to the list of foods I can't wait to eat when I can chew again.

Merry Christmas all!

Fearsome

"The benefit of makeup is that it conceals all manner of ills..."

So why is it on the one day I don't put any makeup on, I get more visitors than the last week combined?!  My good friend arrived 30 minutes early this morning before I had the chance to get ready so I had to be brave and barefaced.  Thinking I had the rest of the day to myself I wasn't prepared for the impromptu drop-in from some other dear friends who wanted to check I was okay.  That's it, I thought to myself, not expecting anyone else today so there's no point in prettying myself up, but no... one more visit in the late afternoon.  

I'm so grateful for all the care that everyone has shown but I think I will have to observe the Catherine Zeta-Jones principle from now on - makeup is a must even if it's just to go outside and throw out the trash.  

Call it vanity if you will (because that's what it is) but I think my fading bruises, which have turned a rather odd shade of green, make me look particularly frightful right now.  It did get me the sympathy vote though!

Bumps along the trail

"The road is long, with many a winding turn, that leads us to who knows where, who knows where"

From He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother (The Hollies)

The last week has certainly been full of ups and downs.  The relative position of my teeth became the least of my worries today as I consulted an endodontist for the first of what will be a year's worth of treatment.  EGADS!

Another painful hour in the chair but the good news is I haven't damaged anything beyond my four front teeth, severe though that damage may be.  I now have the start of a treatment plan but pretty much need to let nature take its course and allow my bone to heal over the next six weeks and then go from there.   Mmmmm, more baby food.... my blender has become my best friend over the last 10 days and will continue to give me succour until the blasted splint comes off.  Roll on February 6th!!

It's when times are toughest that the kindness of friends is most profound.  More flowers today from a dear friend who is half a world away.  Pretty blooms to lift the spirits and remind me to keep a perspective on things.

Find beauty in the simplest things

Thank you Myth.

A minor setback

It's Day 6 and I wake up feeling more positive.  The last week has been an emotional roller coaster but today feels good.  It's my first day without painkillers and my face swelling has gone down a lot.   I've graduated to rice pudding and very finely mashed oats so I feel like I'm making progress.  Another of our beautiful neighbours sends food to us and lots of it.  Ross has his dinners sorted for the rest of the week at least.  I don't know how we're ever going to thank everyone. 

My life defined by flowers - I feel brighter today!

Bright!

It's a short lived feeling though.  It's a little crushing to go to the dentist at midday and discover that my teeth haven't been set in the best position.  It might mean repositioning + re-splinting yet again = more pain.  The dentist won't do anything until after I've seen the specialist on Monday morning and then we'll go from there.  I leave the surgery feeling pretty gutted.  

******

My beautiful husband goes out to buy me the best possible present right now - an AirFloss!

And yet another fitting quote for the day:

"Yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory"

John Adams, President of the US between 1797 and 1801 

 

Plodding on

Some more words of wisdom from my scarily prophetic desk calendar:

"No retreat, baby, no surrender"

The wisdom of Bruce Springsteen

Funny how so much of my life revolves around flowers.  Usually they're for happy occasions.  This time they bring me comfort.  I am truly blessed that so many people care about me and I now have a beautiful garden inside my home.

My lovely garden 

And some more

Ross and I are so overwhelmed.  Everyone has been so kind.

It turns out to be a painful afternoon as my check-up with the oral surgeon turns into another trek to Royal Perth Hospital after hours to re-splint my teeth.

Hopefully tomorrow will be better.