Hello everyone , hope all is well in your part of the world.
As we are now more than halfway through the year I thought it was time to give an update on how things are actually going with my word of the year , which was restore. To be perfectly honest progress on much of the things I had planned has been a bit hit and miss.
The garden restoration is very much a work in progress that is coming along at snails pace mainly due to the constraints of Winter weather. I have been very constrained with my garden purchases this year only buying one new peony back in late Autumn. My plan is to divide some existing plants in the garden and take some cuttings from my sister’s garden.
The bones of my garden are still there, as are the roses, so my hope is come this November once again the garden will look like this again.
One of the things on my list was an overhaul of the blog , which for a variety of reasons hasn’t eventuated. Firstly I didn’t act quickly enough to change from WordPress and my subscription updated automatically so I have continued on that road and secondly the photo editor I had always used has changed and now requires a subscription that I am unwilling to do for now as my computer uses Windows 10 that expires in October , unfortunately a new lap top is probably the only answer. Any advice will be gratefully received .
On the subject of health , it has been a good year so far with good reports from my surgeon and oncologist . I have been consistent with my healthy eating and enjoyed many of the recipes in The Food for Life Cookbook by Tim Spector and Zoe that I mentioned earlier in the year. I will admit to not being consistent with my exercise programme , other than walking but have now taken things in hand and am back on track with my strength exercises .
Another part of my personal restoration was my hair and returning to the bob that I had worn for many years. Recently I have had a change of heart and am seriously thinking of going short again with a return to my natural colour . I have given this much thought as I was there back in 2023 after my chemo and decided to colour again last year as at the time I felt the grey was not me. I now feel this was me coming to terms with my new normal post cancer treatment .
I have an appointment with my hairdresser in about two weeks so we will see what happens then.
Thanks so much for reading my ramblings.
Joining Gail at Is This Mutton for Tuesday Twirl.
Hi Jill,
Your garden looks beautiful and those roses – are they perfumed?
Re your hair, go with your intuition, it’s always right, you’ll feel wonderful and
then naturally, look wonderful.
Stay warm,
Love,
Elizabeth.
Author
Thank you Elizabeth , I do hope my garden gets back to its former glory this Summer . Yes the roses are all perfumed.
I appreciate your advice regarding my hair and I think you are spot on and my intuition is saying shorter and natural.
It has been cold and wet but sunshine is promised for tomorrow. xx
That’s a great word, ‘restore’, to have as ‘word for word the year’. If I was to have one I think mine would be to ‘persevere’! Anyway enough of that! I do so love your garden and working on it must be such joy. As for the hair, I think you look so good anyway, your hair is fine either with red or grey. I too waver between wanting to enhance my hair with a slight change of colour – or not. I also have a hair appointment in a couple of weeks time. I shall see what happens then as I trust my hairdresser and love talking things over with him.
So very good to hear your health news is positive. Onwards and upwards.
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Thank you Penny , restore seemed just right for me this year. I do enjoy working in the garden and it does give me great joy even though I can’t spend as much time there as I once could.
I will be keen to see what you decide on with your hair as I always admire your silver. Onwards and upwards is the only way to go isn’t it.
I am looking forward to seeing how you garden will look in November! I always go back and forth with my hair, sometimes thinking I will grow it longer but usually go back to my bob. Glad your health reports were good!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
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Thank you so very much Mirielle . Hopefully by November the garden will look like this again. I am always a fan of a bob.
You look so elegant in the second photo. A great haircut and colour.
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Thank you so very much for your very kind compliment Barbara.
That first photo is your garden? It’s amazing! I have always wanted a garden like that but never quite knew how to do it. I’m so glad your health continues to be good. I like your hair both ways so I’m not going to be any help…hahaha! You will be glamorous either way!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Thank you so very much Marsha .The garden photo was taken a couple of Summers ago at its flowering peak , hopefully it will look like that again this Summer.
At this stage I am pretty sure the hair will go shorter and natural again on my next visit to my hairdresser.
“Restore” is a perfect choice for word of the year, even if you do not achieve everything on your list.
I’m loving that photo of your garden – the combination of lupins and roses is just stunning – and I’m sure you’ll be able to restore it to its former glory come November! xxx
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Thank you so very much Ann for your encouragement on my various restoration projects.
I am looking ahead to Spring and seeing those roses and lupins again as I,ve missed seeing them the last two years as we were travelling.