BLESSED SPEEDY

Sorry for the lack of blog posts - and the ones I have posted lately seem to be about someone dying! I also personally have had a huge scare.  Ive had pretty bad pain in my lower right side for 2 or more weeks and it was getting worse and worse.  Finally went to the doctor friday afternoon and to cut a long and complicated story short - ended up in St John of God hospital in Bendigo on Monday morning via ambulance. Ended up having an op and am now home recuperating - to be told you cant drive for a week is really frustrating and that I need to "relax" is a bit hard to take as well. Although I must say yesterday, being my first full day at home, I did have 3 naps but managed to do a little bit of embroidery -something I havent done for quite some time.

My stepfather (who I consider my father) passed away Friday 20th July. For those who couldnt attend the funeral and wanted to read the eulogy that I read Im pasting it here. Photo is of him and Mum at Aimee's wedding a year and a half ago. Eulogy – Maxwell Austen Brown Austen was born in Bendigo to parents Maxwell & Jean and had one sister Judith who is here with us today. Austen’s father was in partnership with his 3 brothers in the running of S. Brown motors and when he was old enough, Austen entered the family business in the spare parts section. When his father died the business was wound up and Austen moved onto Lapco, again as spare parts manager. Austen always loved children and young people and because of this he was very involved with the YMCA boys club for many years. It was something he really loved and something he often reminisced about.  He went to the Lord Mayors Camp in Portsea as a leader 3 times with different groups and was also a Sunday School t...

On Thursday we had to send our lovely and much loved cat Speedy over the rainbow bridge. She came to us as a kitten and Megan was only 2 years old - 15 years ago actually, so a good and long and well lived life. Speedy has seen us all through our ups and downs and was the holder of many secrets and confidences.  Always ready for a cuddle and to keep you warm - and she always seemed to understand. Unfortunately due to her age she developed cancer and although she was not in pain she was hardly eating and getting thinner by the day.  So we made the choice to send her on her way. It was a sad day, and I still miss her - keep looking for her and hearing her bell ring but its not to be. Vale Speedy - you were a great cat and we miss you greatly.

We have been very blessed the last week to have an artist - Trevor Flinn - stay at our home as part of an arts project called "twig" which is funded by Acre and Regional Arts Victoria. Trevor is staying at four different properties over 4 months and each week he is at a property he is to create "something" with what he finds around the place.  On the Friday night he hosts a "twig" at the farm and the works are shown as well as a fire and food. Ours was last friday night and it was great - great friends, not that great weather but there was a lovely warm fire as well as soup, fresh cows milk in champagne glasses as well as a green drink in shot glasses. Here are two of the things he made - the first is from ibis feathers which he wove into the mat that usually sits on the back of the ute.  The second is from old ear tags from the cows - very creative!

Here's me at Melville Caves yesterday - we had a leadership programme day with the Loddon Murray Community Leaders programme and half the day was spent abseiling - lovely day too to top it off (except when the wind blew and you were in the shade)

Goodness its hard to believe that Gary and I have been married for 6 years! We've had our ups and downs in that time but somehow we have gotten thru - drought, flood, you name it we've had it Hopefully the next years will be less stressfree! And yes I still love (and like!!!) him

Look who is now 5~oh how quickly the years go by!