Welcome To My World!

I am so happy that you have stopped by for a visit!

It is here that I will try to share with you my creations, a bit of my home, my gardens and what inspires me.

Periodically, I will feature those dolls and creations that are available for purchase on my other blog:

EVI'S COUNTRY SNIPPETS SHOP ... click HERE

Thank you for visiting!
I hope you enjoy your stay here!


Sunday, July 6, 2014

WHAT I HAVE BEEN UP TO

It has been awhile since I have posted.
Much has changed, and unfortunately not all for the better.
Both hubby and I have been dealing with medical issues.

For me, there has been a change that right now affects my vision in my right eye.
I had to have laser surgery the middle of May, (after cataract surgery a few years ago), to remove a film that had developed over my right eye.
Had the same problem with my left eye a few years ago, and the laser surgery on that eye went very well.
Not so this time.
I ended up with what is called posterior vitreous detachment.
In plain English I am dealing with a clear gel-like mass, plus a floater in my eye....like looking thru a shifting white curtain with something black swimming in it.  Yuck.
It has gotten a little better, but I still have problems sewing and doing the things I love.
From what I understand, most of the time it will get better....question is when.
I am trying to live my life normally, but have not had the desire to post, visit blogs, etc. Too much eye strain.
We are also dealing with the fallout of this last horrible winter.
The garden is VERY slowly getting cleaned up.
So much died. It breaks my heart.
Some things will come back, others will not.
A large retaining stonewall partially collapsed. The repair cleaned out the wallet.
I took some pictures over the last month and am sharing them with you....the before and after.
Hopefully we will get back to some normalcy.
Hubby and I would LOVE to forget this last year!

So here are a few pictures........



 
We did not get to see this beautiful view from our living room
this year,
instead this.......

 
We are still cutting out the dead stuff....
carefully.
I see that some things are coming back from
the bottom.
 
 
Last year.....
 
 
...this year.
It will be awhile before I can cut hydrangea's again.
 
 
 
On the right a butterfly bush.
I loved all the butterflies that visited every year.
On the left there is a beautiful clematis...
mostly gone now.
 
 
It draped itself over arbors and fences,
 
 
and had such unusual flowers.
 
 
I spend hours cutting out the dead things very carefully,
and it is slowly coming back.
Lots of plants are gone for good,
no signs of life whatsoever.
 
 
Our big beautiful rose arbor with New Dawn.
My pride and joy.
It was intertwined with a beautiful clematis
that grew all the way up onto our front deck.
 
 
You can see the clematis to the right.
It bloomed together with the rose.
 
 
It was lovely!
 
 
 
This is it this year.
The roses suffered so much too.
Poor hubby is wearing his rose gloves to untangle and cut
the mess.
It is going to take forever to have it pretty again.
 
 
We also lost trellises.
 
 
Besides trellises we lost my beloved birdhouse that
hubby build me once for my birthday.
He is trying to fix it.
 
 
The only things that have been growing and surviving beautifully are the weeds.
It has taken me weeks to catch up, and my bad back does not help.
 
 
But I have planted things like geraniums,
and they are doing great.
I feel there is hope.

 
The one hydrangea that is doing well,
was planted two years ago close
to the house, where it got winter sun.
Just looking at these big heads makes me smile.
 
 
Here and there I tucked in herbs, but because
we have had so much rain lately,
most herbs are not at there prime yet.
I am hoping, since I use a lot in cooking.
Love this golden oregano.

 
And the geraniums on the front deck are
looking great.
So, I am living with hope.
 
 
Hope to use my new carrying basket for flowers or herbs.
It was a birthday gift from hubby,
We got it at the Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck.
My one outing.
It was wonderful, but all the looking left and right
made me feel dizzy.
Hopefully they will have it again next year
so that I can have a really good time.

 
And speaking of birthdays.....
mine was not celebrated this year.
I am sure I will make up for it next year!
But my girlfriend Debbie spoiled me, amongst other goodies,
with a most beautiful cake that she baked for me.
How sweet was that!!!!!

 
It tasted great !!!!!!
Look at all the work and love she put in for me.
 
And so I am ending this post.
Grateful to have dear, sweet friends,
a family who loves me,
and even with so many health issues going on right now,
I am grateful for what I have.
And being an optimist at heart,
I know this too shall pass.
 
I wish everyone a great summer!
 
God bless,
Evi

8 comments:

  1. Evi, it is so good to see a post from you. I have thought of you often and am sad to hear that the eye surgery did not go well. I do hope it heals quickly and your normal eyesight is restored.
    As a gardener, I feel your pain with the loss from winter and the huge amount of labor involved in cleaning up the mess that a winter can leave behind. I'm so sad you lost so many beautiful plants.
    Take care of yourself and know that you have many friends sending positive thoughts your way.

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  2. seeing flowers always gives me hope that things will be better. They have to right?? I'm so sorry about your eye, I lost most of my vision in my right eye a few years ago and it is frustrating to try and do close up types of things, like reading and sewing. But I can still see the flowers so there is hope. Best wishes to you.

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  3. So sorry to hear of your troubles. Please be well soon, both of you <3

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  4. I hope you feel better soon Evi!!!!

    Very sad to see all that you lost in your beautiful garden.
    Happy belated birthday....very pretty cake.
    Keep your chin up.
    Hugs
    Earlene

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  5. I am so sorry about the health issues. I hope it all gets better very soon. I am sure you were devastated by the damage to your gorgeous garden. I know it can take years for everything to grow and then to have one winter wipe it is hard to take. But, as you know, it will come back.
    Your Birthday cake is just incredible. I thought the outside was so pretty and then to see the inside!! WOW. What a great friend. I'm happy to see you post and have missed your posts. My thoughts are with you!!

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  6. What a gorgeous cake!...my mouth is watering at just the sight of it!
    And what lovely gardens you have created. Your photos are absolutely beautiful. I'm sure once you prune they will come back.
    By any chance were you at the Country Living Fair on Friday? There was a woman in the same booth I was in who was buying an antique child's dress. As I walked away I thought to myself that It might've been you.

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  7. My dear Evi,
    I`m happy to see you post again, but so sad for you, about the eye!! I dearly hope it will soon be better so you can use it again, without problems of gel-like masses and the black things swimming around .
    And your husbond ,is he better dear ?
    I`m happy that my last bloodtests from june were all as should be, so I`m not to be tested more in hospital. What an awfull year for both of us, Evi.
    And your poor garden, I can see how much damage you have had,- and hope it will next year look good and green again,-what hard work for both of you, it is with a heawy heaRT one finds so much of the garden damaged, and dead.
    I will have my grandkids next week, with their dad, and then later with my daughter ,-Oh Evi I want to write you again, but life has been tough here too.
    You will hear from me some time in summer dear friend.
    Love from Dorthe

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  8. Hi Evi!
    Sorry to hear about your eye, wishing you a speedy recovery. I had laser eye surgery today for acute angle glaucoma. All went well, thank goodness. Hoping your husband is doing better too.
    So sad about your beautiful gardens, let's hope Mother Nature treats us better this winter!
    Take care!!

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