Rest in Peace Myra

Yes, sadly dear Myra passed away yesterday after a 2 year battle with cancer.  The last 2 weeks have been a struggle not only for Myra but her family and myself too, watching her in pain and discomfort.  Yesterday I was with her and the Nurses kept checking on us in case I missed something and should have rung the family who were having a much deserved night off.  But she went too fast to get anyone even the nurse.  I am so relieved for her and all of us that she had gone to rest but it is still so painfully hard to lose such a wonderful friend and 'sista'.  The funeral is going to be a quilt exhibition of Myra's quilts before they get distributed amongst the family.  She wouldn't have liked that because she didn't like a fuss but we've had them on her bed in the hospital and the nurses have been admiring them.  I know she will have heard the praise.

My old posts will have photos but as I'm not on my computer I cant download one.  I thank you all for your kind words and support over the last few months.  I am privileged to have had a true and loyal friend for 8 years and I will miss her terribly.  And to all of you who made Healing Hearts blocks for Myra Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Her intention was to make 2 quilts - one of the NZ blocks and one of the overseas ones.  she finished the NZ one but the overseas blocks have been in a basket pinned to their envelopes and fondled often.  So it will be my pleasure to put them together and make a beautiful quilt in memory of her.

Here's to all of my good friends.  I don't feel alone without Myra.  Though I will miss her so much I know I'll always have a shoulder to cry on... for a little while  ,,, Myra said if I cry too long she'll push me over in the street!!!  Yeah right.  

While the cats away the mice will play UPDATED

"Sista's Forever - Myra & Me"

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter break.  My holiday with Myra was wonderful, so rewarding and lots of fun.  Myra is managing well with a bit of help and I am so pleased she isn't in the rest home.  She is an amazing independant woman and I love her heaps.  She's an awesome friend or sista I should say.  One of the nurses in the hospital thought we were sisters so we've decided we are 'sista's" hence the name on my quilt above. I did finish my quilt with Myra up to the binding.  I am just sewing the binding on and embroidering the label and then I'll post more photo.  It's not perfect but it's finished and will look lovely on my bed.



Angelina at the Family Court because she's been abandoned

Meanwhile here's a little story.  My colleague Tania has gone to Sydney for 3 weeks.  She has a doll? that has some sentimental attachment and "Angelina" sits on her window sill at work.  While Tania is away Angelina sits in her chair and 'minds' her desk haha.  Well, this time she hasn't been very obedient and has been running away.  I've caught her in all sorts of places......

Partying up with NZ Tui Beer and smoking.  Naughty Angelina!



Fish and chips in the park at night.  I caught her chatting up the security guards.



Wow, at last she's behaving.  I took her to sewing last night and she was very happy

Down at the dairy getting into the lollies. 

Getting tired of her behaviour so I took her to the op shop to teach her a lesson

Tania's back on Monday so this weekend I'm making Angelina a pretty  purple dress with lace and trimmings because Tania doesn't like purple or lace haha.  She's a really fun lady to work with so I'm sure she's been enjoying the daily updates of Angelina's pranks.

And here is Angelina today in her beautiful organza frock, with button bracelet, heart necklace and camelia in her hair and for Tania.  Tania loved it and enjoyed the updates on Facebook.  It's great to have her back at work, Tania is a really happy personality and lots of laughs.  So today the office has that gorgeous hum again.  What a difference one person can make.

Happy Easter to all my friends and family

The photo above is my eldest daughter Annette at 11 months old with her first Easter egg.  We were outside and she was in her highchair.  Really clever idea, especially after she'd finished it .. the chocolate baby!! 

I'm off first thing in the morning to Myra's.  I'm really looking forward to seeing her again and being there with her to keep her company.  I'm told "You're not my Nurse when you come up, you've got the sack!!".  Haha.  In other words Myra will do what she can do in her way and no fuss!!!  I am so thrilled she is sounding better everyday and the hardest part of having a friend who is not very well, is being so far away and not knowing. 


So Happy Easter to everyone.  A huge thank you to my lovely friend Martina for the parcel I found in the letterbox tonight.  Another gorgeous German Patchwork magazine and a lovely card. 

Love and hugs to everyone

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who has spared a thought, a prayer or sent a hug to my dear friend Myra.  Last night I got a call from her and she sounded fantastic!!  Wow, I said - it's the old Myra!  Today she is going to her home with the Occupational Therapist and the Physio to see what aids she needs in the house to keep her safe and enable her to achieve independance.  I AM SO WRAPPED... I HAVE BEEN SO WORRIED SHE WOULD HAVE TO STAY IN THE REST HOME.  

Myra is finding it a little easier to put her 'dead' foot on the floor and is walking with a walking frame.  Yesterday she needed some washing done and decided to do it herself.  When I asked how she managed carrying washing and a walker she just said "I managed".  haha.  that's my friend Myra. 

Hopefully if all goes well she may go home this weekend.  Just depends on how long it takes to put rails by the door steps etc etc. 

But thank you.  I know the power of thought and prayer works and I totally believe sharing has helped me and Myra.  And in 9 more sleeps haha I'll be up there to help for a whole week.  I can't wait. 

Life is so precious. 

Hugs Hugs and More Hugs

This is the lolly jar - the 'not so collectable' but pretty buttons  to play with?

I know it's been awhile since I posted on my blog but I have no excuses except being tired for the last few weeks.  I had great plans for using my time off work like sewing and sewing and reading but it was way more painful than I expected and then I fell and hurt my foot so I did get one job done.. I put all my historical buttons onto cards.  So my collection really looks good now.

Myra and I at a Button Show last October

Last week after being sick for several days Myra was admitted to hospital.  She had been vomiting non stop and after some tests the Dr's admitted her.  I flew up on Friday after the family were told the cancer may have moved into her stomach.  I was so glad to be there, it is so hard not being able to help when you're so far away.  


The Drs decided she could have a blocked bowel and it turned out to be so.  After a lot of medication and painkillers etc Myra felt a lot better but...

On holiday in Wellington in January

Because she had been so sick for a week (and been to the Dr twice in that time!) she was dehydrated and her veins collapsed.  Her left foot has not improved and she has no circulation in it.  It is very very painful.  Myra is in rehab now to regain some strength and see if she can return home to that beautiful house she moved into a few weeks ago. 

While I was at the hospital a new nurse came into the room and asked whether we were sisters or mother and daughter.  I chose to be the daughter haha but Myra "We are like sisters!"   Isn't that gorgeous.  We might as well be too.  We have so much in common and she has taught me so much over the years.  

So send your telepathic hugs please to Myra.  I'm sure they will reach her somehow.  Just knowing other people care can help sometimes and I'd love to see her back home enjoying the rest of her life if there's anyway possible.   I will be back up there for Easter for a week and it would be wonderful to help her get settled back into her home, if she can.

The little things in life

I think this one is just gorgeous.  What a beautiful wall hanging it would make.

The highlight of my days at home on sick leave has been watching the caterpillars on my self seeded swan plant outside my lounge window.

My neighbours plant was eaten in no time so she has put her caterpillar babies on mine.. It is now covered in them, and crysalis's and day to day beautiful monarch butterflies.   

Another great achievement was to put some more of my buttons on cards.  Most of my buttons I've found in cheap bulk lots of buttons from Trade Me so I'm really wrapped now that I can fill up some cards.  Here's two (just so I don't bore you all). 

Silver and Blue on black glass.

Gold on black glass. 

The photos don't do them justice. I've also spent time looking through my magazines from Germany which Martina sends me often.  They are full of beautiful and colourful projects.  So many of them I want to do.  But everytime I look through a magazine I notice something different.  Here's some lovely quilts and bags I'd love to make ONE DAY from the magazines.

 Yesterday I started feeling normal again.  16 days after surgery and no pain.  I am on the second course of antibiotics and they appear to have worked.  Touch Wood.
Last night I fell down the stairs at my friends house and woke during the night with a very sore and swollen foot.  Have had xrays but nothing is broken thank goodness.  Just a very bruised and swollen wrenched 2nd toe which is now taped and bearable.

I think I must be a Drama Queen. I have felt sorry for myself and wondered if I was ever going to feel better but I am also inpatient.  but I do realise this is nothing compared to what others are suffering.  

Please say a prayer or send positive vibes to my friend Myra and others who are suffering right now.  I wish I could do something to stop this horrid Cancer that is ruining the lifes of people I love.  But for now I can only support and love them and stay strong.  

I'm going to check my lotto ticket numbers now.  I'm sure I've won and then I can book flights to see Myra tomorrow, complete with walking stick, haha.  And maybe I won't go back to work on Monday... won't that be nice!

UPDATE:  Not even close!

Rest and Relaxation?/

Friday Day 11.  It's taken me all day to post this as I had to download a new version of Google to do it??  So hopefully this works.

Day 10 today and I'm starting to feel like I have more energy.  I've been out to a Quilt Club tonight and there's another local one on Saturday... I had the 'dangly attachment' removed on Monday so I can go out now.  Turns out the catheter was causing all the problems but now I have to heal from the damage it did!

So what have I been doing... Resting a lot.. but having a great time slowly looking through my Patchwork Magazines from Germany.  My dear friend Martina sends them to me but you know what it's like.  You can look at a magazine over and over and always see something new.  I thought I'd share some of the gorgeous patterns in them (which I intend to make one day!!).  I've also put some more of my vintage buttons on cards in themes and I'm wrapped as they're no longer sitting in a box.

I hope to be a little more energetic over the next week and go for short walks each day, AND do some more work on my quilt..a little each day while I'm off work.

I hope you've all had a wonderful week.  The days are going too fast but only 42 days now and it'll be Easter and I'll be on holiday again with Myra.  Can't wait hehe!!
UPDATE Saturday Day 12. Found out yesterday that my employer can't pay anymore sick leave so I'm faced with going back to work this week.  I don't have any Annual Leave left apart from my trip to Myra at Easter so really don't have any choice.  So I went out to Quilt Club today and had to organise names for our bus trip to Tote and Gloat in May.  I was absolutely stuffed.  Hot, weary, pain and so tired after one hour, not sure how I'll cope with a day at work.

The one thing I've learn't from this is dont get cancer or hospital infections, you use up all your sick leave at once for 10 years!!  This op was also one I chose to have done and I probably would have put it off for a couple more months.  Because there were complications I had to have a catheta in and come home with it, but it was not good because it aggravated my bladder causing it to bleed.  HEAPs.  .  It was so incredily painful. I was so pleased to have it pulled out last Monday.  But it all takes time to recover and I think I am so tiired because of the blood loss.

However, Cinderella will be back at work on Tuesday with a fudged brain and all.  haha..