Reconstruct

I'm heading back to hospital tomorrow for more surgery.

Time to 'reconstruct the reconstruction' and hopefully repair some of the radiation damage on my right side. It should be an easy procedure and I'll be discharged the following day to recover at home.

 

I've been feeling anxious all day.

 

Not because I'm worried about the surgery itself...I trust my surgeon, he's always done impeccable work. I've just developed an aversion to hospitals in general. I have too many memories tucked away that I fear will bubble back up to the surface just as I'd worked through the emotional fallout of my last surgery. So very glad its only an overnight stay. I am really hoping this procedure works and that will be that. It's the simplest and least invasive option. If my scarred skin doesn't stretch enough to be plumped up with fat taken from my stomach, we'll have to go back to the drawing board and replace the implant with a new one. Fingers crossed for success first try.

 

 

 

 

I took the boys to the Arboretum for a play after school yesterday. I wanted to break out of our midweek routine and do something fun before I'm sidelined for the next few weeks. We played in the acorn playground and ate icecreams in the afternoon sun. It was a completely gorgeous day.

 

 

 

 

Because there was hardly a soul there, Harry was able to take his time and conquer his fear of the tall slide. He was bursting with pride when he shot out of the bottom. It was one of those golden moments.

 

 

 

 

Speaking of golden moments...

 

 

 

I'm archiving the memories of sunsets like these in my mind for future daydreams.

 

Wish me luck xx

 

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Happy Days

 

I've so much to share from the past week so forgive me for the autumn photo overkill... #sorrynotsorry

 

My aunt, aka Queen Kathleen, came to visit last weekend. We had such a lovely time and packed A LOT in...from the very special ANZAC Dawn Service at the War Memorial to tea & scones at Lanyon and a leaf fight at Cotter Dam. We played at Weston Park and the Arboretum and walked along Lake Burleigh Griffin. We warmed up with coffee at Farmers Daughter in Yarralumla. We enjoyed lazy lunches and beautiful breakfasts at ONA Fyshwick and Me & Mrs Jones in Kingston. We cooked up a Moroccan feast at home for dinner with my dear neighbour Holly. We found some bentwood chairs while antique shopping. We talked and talked and talked.

 

 

 

 

Happy days!

 

xx Em

 

 

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Fig & Vanilla Bean Jam + Slow Roasted Peaches

Hubby visited a friend's farm on Sunday and came home loaded with a gorgeous Autumn bounty of figs, peaches and quince.

 

 

 

 

I love how the sweet fragrance of the fruit permeates the house. Very grateful for our generous friends who give share their beautiful produce with us throughout the year.

 

 

 

 

First up....preserving these luscious ripe figs before they have a chance to spoil. There's no better way to capture their flavour and make it last through winter...it can be used in pork dishes, cheese platters, sweet pastries, scones and plain old toast.

 

This great recipe comes from foodie blog Dish by Dish. I put my own spin on it by adding the seeds of a vanilla bean and doubled the quantities to make enough for five small jars.

 

 

 

 

 

Second up...slow roasting peaches with butter, nutmeg and brown sugar to be served warm with cream and toasted almond flakes.

 

 

 

 

 

The taste of Autumn.

Bon Apetite

xx Em

 

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Book Launch...This is Captain Cook.

The boys and I had a lovely morning at the National Library for the launch of Tania McCartney's latest kids book...This is Captain Cook.

 

 

 

 

Despite having known Tan for some time now, this was the first time we got to catch up in person and it was lovely to give her a hug hello.

 

 

 

 

The book is a gorgeous foray into the life of Captain James Cook, illustrated by Christina Booth.

 

 

 

 

The boys loved it.

 

 

 

 

After the reading, the kids got creative making paper hats, boats & telescopes.

 

 

Aye Aye Capt'n.

 

 

 

 

Tania is someone who I look up to as a creative mentor. She's vibrant, passionate and willing to put herself out there, all the while inspiring people the world over to develop their own creativity. Not only a great author, I'm smitten with her amazing illustrations which you can check out here.

 

She started the 52 week Illustration Challenge last year which was a huge success culminating in an exhibition earlier this year in Perth. I didn't contribute any images to last year's challenge but am working on submitting some this year. It's been so long since I've dabbled in illustration...am inspired to do some short courses in watercolour and drawing to boost my confidence and refresh my skill set. I need to find my creative footing in this world and start turning long held dreams into reality.

 

 

 

 

Cheers Tan, you fill my world with pretty and whimsy and inspiration to take a leap of faith. I'm looking forward to seeing what other beautiful works you've got in the pipeline.

 

 

"Others inspire us, information feeds us, practice improves our performance, but we need quiet time to figure things out, to emerge with new discoveries, to unearth original answers."

― Ester Buchholz

 

 

xx Em

 

 

 

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