Spring is coming

[Wendy39]

My mum has always loved gardening, but after losing her husband 6 years ago, she downsized from the family home to a flat with no garden. So, instead, she comes and helps with ours, when she feels like it. I’m not very green fingered at all and now hide away from the sun too. But her and my husband spend hours out there, planting vegetables, trees and flowers. It’s great for my 3 children too. Mum is self isolating now and I’ve been taking photos of the pots she did for spring, to send her, as she can’t see them for herself. Let’s hope the dry weather continues, so we can at least enjoy our gardens during the time.

[Hidden]

Beautiful daffodil Wendy. I know your mom will enjoy seeing the fruits of her labors. Will she come to California? I could use help in my garden. Since this sun allergy thing (which sucks!) I’ve only been out to garden two days in the past many years. My husband tries, but is very busy and gardening just isn’t his thing. Not super meticulous when weeding, etc. But he is good at ‘Netflix’ 😆, so I’ll keep him around. 😉

[KayHimm in reply to Hidden]

Have I told you about my new hat? Check out the hats on Coolibar. After a not good sun experience on vacation, when I got home I ordered the one with a back flap and a veil. Think it will make a big difference.

😍k

[Hidden in reply to KayHimm]

I’ll check it out. Thanks K. I bought myself a horrible looking one last July when my entire family was stay at an Air BnB in Big Bear, above the lake. I knew there would be hiking and hanging at the lake. One of those ugly khaki canvas ones with the vented band. Helped with the hike (but it was a forest with lots of tall pine) but nothing helped at the lake. Two hours, clothed (vs bathing suit), SPF 70, and under an easy up. 2 hours and I was drained, nauseated, and the one piece of skin that accidentally was exposed (a leg above the ankle to under the knee) was beat red and rashy for months🤦🏻‍♀️ We can’t win, can we? 🤷🏻‍♀️

I will certainly check out the link, I’ve heard of Coolibar. Either you? Of perhaps I’ve seen them? (Idk) Thanks Kay!

[KayHimm in reply to Hidden]

Solibar has great products too. You should find some good knit tops and light pants on both sites. It is so awful to end up with a rash or sick.

[Hidden in reply to KayHimm]

It is. Thank you Kay!

[Wendy39 in reply to Hidden]

My Mum is great with the help she gives us in the garden. It's good for her too, fresh air and a little exercise. But ultimately, it's not her garden, so she can help as little or as much as she wants.

I am too photo-sensitive. I was anti-RO at diagnosis. So I am covered, top to toe when outdoors in the sun. I used to get my feet out, in sandals but even that is a no-no, now with my ugly fungal nails. So only head/face and hands see the light of day.

I am told to wear a hat outside every time.

I also wear rash vests - or SPF 50+ tops, with protection built in. I couldn't do without them. They have long sleeves and a round neck. It means I don't have to keep on worrying about burning, or re-applying cream. I have never burnt in one.

If you would like a link to the kind of top I mean, just say.

Best wishes

Wendy x

[happytulip]

I'm hoping for the same but that it isn't too sunny. I need it overcast because of my intense sensitivity to the UV rays.

I home your mum is OK Wendy. I think gardeners world is back on TV?

[ExtremeDuvetDaze]

What a beautiful daffodil Wendy, lovely to see a little bit of spring. 🌞❤️🌈 😘x

[misty14]

Beautiful daffodil Wendy and lovely story about your mum and her green fingers that you'll miss. Lovely to keep her updated specially with Mother's Day tomorrow being sooooo different for so many. Who would have thought it?.

Clocks go back next week so we'll get even more daylight to hopefully be able to go in the garden.

Hope you'll all cope with the kids being home too.

Keep well and safe X

[Wendy39 in reply to misty14]

Thanks Misty. x

Yes, we are lucky enough to be enjoying dry, sunny, warm days. I really hope this last.

First day of children working from home. They all have work set by school teachers. But luckily they realise how this is going to effect children, so they have been told to get outside for at least an hour a day. My daughter has been painting on the garden.

It was such a strange Mother's Day. We did manage to FaceTime / WhatsApp video call both Mums, though, so that is something. And the 5 of us were at home together. I think if restaurants had been open, my two boys would have been called into their weekend jobs. So nice to have them home.

How are you doing?

Wendy xx

[misty14 in reply to Wendy39]

Its certainly a year to remember already Wendy with our lives turned upside down.! I'm glad the teachers set them some work and said about going outside. That's so important for our mental health. It must have been hard to explain to your kids whats happening without scaring them too much.

Hope your toe has healed well now. I'm struggling with pain to be honest and just don't know now when op could be!. Thanks for asking.

TAKE CARE all of you and be SAFE and WELL Xx

[Wendy39 in reply to misty14]

Bless you Misty. With no end in sight to this crisis, goodness knows when your toe op will be. There are clearing the desks for months ahead now. It's doesn't help mentally when dealing with the pain, if you don't know when it can be treated and the pain will end. I hear our local hospitals are very quiet right now. Eerily so. The calm before the horrendous storm that is no doubt on its' way. Our little hospitals aren't big enough to cope. They've erected marquees outside one of the hospitals - I know because my brother-in-law works for the marquee company and has been there. They've made cubicles inside with curtains. Also, in Llanelli, they are going to use the local rugby team's indoor training barn as a field hospital, (the Scarlet's rugby team) it's nearly done. Hate seeing all of these preparations....The children are coping OK. We had tears from our daughter when she realised that she wouldn't be seeing her friends for at least a month. My eldest got upset when he realised that his last day at school had started when he walked down the driveway. It was all so sudden and rushed. As for our middle boy, who suffers anxiety anyway, he has had a few wobbles. We're trying to limit how much news we have on. Watching TV together and playing board games. I can't imagine how they must feel about this, as we as adults feel very unsettled and vulnerable. Anyway, I hope you are coping OK. Thinking of you and your toe. xxxx

[misty14 in reply to Wendy39]

Dear Wendy, Thank you so much for your lovely, understanding replies. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to reply!. Better late than never I guess!.

I bet you are relieved your not on MTX because of the added risks for yiu as already on one. and monitoring needed. I don't think any clinician would have put you on it with this virus coming!. I almost wish I hadn't been put on it because of the worry and I'm not now getting the monitoring bloods so things coukd change and they won't know and then you worry about that if you don't feel well. I've been on it three months and bloods were fine!. I'd got to the monthly stage for tests but now because of the virus they've put everyone on three monthly!.

It's so hard for us all but specially for yiu with families!. It's very upsetting and unsettling for the kids isn't it?. Difficult for yiu to explain to them as well. There seems to be more online now for the kids to do, lessons and activities as it must be hard keeping them occupied. Thank goodness the weather has changed and helped us!.

Thank you for understanding perfectly my toe situation. I really appreciate it as I'm struggling with it to be honest. It's been 11 months now on a worsening basis and I just don't know if I can cope with another three months with tighter restrictions!. I'd only been going out weekly and now not at all so I've done my own isolation for a long time!. Also hard hiding it from loved ones isn't it ?.

It's weird as yiu say the hospital's locally are quiet till the crescendo happens but what if it doesn't happen and the lockdown measures work and they're sitting there twiddling their thumbs and dealing with emergencies only?. Wouldn't that be funny?. I truly hope that's the case. Our hospital at the moment has just one case!. How about yours?.

Do take care Wendy and all your family. Keep safe and well. Xx😊

[KayHimm in reply to misty14]

Misty - that is an interesting thought. Would that mean the precautions worked, that they prevented the surge like we are seeing in many places now?

If that is the case, could they not start doing elective surgeries earlier than expected? And you should be the first case!

😍k

[DJK99]

That's so lovely Wendy. x

[Wendy39 in reply to DJK99]

Thank you.

[honeybug]

Hi sweet Wendy 😊🌿🌸🦋

Love this pic. Beautiful flower.

I’m like you Wendy I’m not gifted with a green thumb as we say in the USA 🇺🇸 but my late mother could take a tiny pinch off of any plant and WOW what a beautiful results she’d have.

I developed deadly allergies to many things but mold/mildew are my killers as I have to have steroid shots and tablets and I’m infected within 24 hours. So I haven’t been able to do any indoor plants for over 40 years and had to give up my rose garden 45 years ago.

Soooo having said all of this whenever I get the chance to see beautiful pics like yours it really makes me so happy.

I send you/your mom and everyone Spring wishes.

Stay well...be careful.

With prayers love hugs and loving thoughts.

EJ. 😊🙏🤗💗😘🌿🌸🦋😇🕊

[Wendy39 in reply to honeybug]

Thank you so much honeybug.

I am far from green fingered!

My mum spends hours outside in the garden but I just can't now, even if I was so inclined.

Wishing you a good day.

Stay safe.

Wendy x

[honeybug in reply to Wendy39]

Welcome sweetie.

Hopefully your garden days will return soon.

Take care and be safe.

Love hugs and prayers.

EJ xxx 😊🙏🤗💗😘🌿🌸🦋😇🕊

[svfarmer]

That’s a beautiful picture x