Finally, after a few days of fighting off a cold and being far too well acquainted with my bed and what I can reach from it, I set off on a walk this morning. It is SO GOOD to be back on my feet! I can’t imagine how awful it must be for those who suffer chronic illness. . .and my heart goes out to them. My last day of work on the temp job was made gruelling by the onset of sore throat and sneezing, as well as stomach ache, so I was thrilled when the boss – not knowing – said she had no more work for me and I could go at 2.30pm. NOTHING beat the feeling of stumbling into bed and closing my eyes after a bus trip home! Then there’s the joy of guilt-free hours reading or listening to all those books that have waited beside the bed. But I have to say, after 24 hours of that, I’m over it. Everyone else seems to be out enjoying the rare prolonged summer, and making the most of the weekend, and there I am, blinking painfully in the sunlight through my curtains.

BUT, oh joy! it is over. I put on my fitbit and set off in some major wind this morning. We had thunderstorms last night, and gale force winds, but my washing was still clinging to the carport lines. I brought it in and set off to blow the cobwebs out of my head.

 

It worked! Autumn leaves swirling everywhere, the sun piercingly bright behind ominous clouds, and my hair a nimbus around my head, but it was refreshing.

I’m working on some new ideas – 3-D and 2-D designs that can be laser cut. The first arrived yesterday, and is a Lallybroch key, to go on a keyring and make sure you never lose them. Hope you like. . .

It was a spectacular day for an early morning walk today – crisp clear skies, no wind, and that freshness that fills your lungs and makes you feel braced and ready for the day. I love the colours of this season. Overhead the deciduous trees all shedding their brilliant leaves, and underfoot the leaves crunching as you walk along.

I was thinking as I walked, of the things that have happened in the last year. It was on this very walk only 3 and a 1/2 months ago that my phone rang and I was told Mum had died in the morning. It being Mother’s Day yesterday, she was very close to my heart. There are so many times I think of doing or saying something to her, and then remember. And last week, my sister called me when I was almost in the same spot, to say their family pet was gone. (She hadn’t died – when I turned up there, the cat was sitting waiting. Later that day though, we brought her body back from the vet and buried her). No, I’m not changing my walk.

Life is full of all of these ups and downs, and somehow we need to face the downs with courage, and the ups with joy, and it is all part of LIVING and doing that well. I have been learning to treasure my opportunities and my environment much more as I grow older and see that what I have before me, timewise, is much shorter than what lies behind. I don’t feel that with any sense of panic, more a sense of deeper appreciation, and a strong desire to not waste my time on things which really don’t matter.

You know, it was a year ago I was packing to leave for Scotland, and the adventure of the UK Outlander Gathering, and then driving myself around. I didn’t know then what a glorious time I would have, and how easy it was to ‘follow my nose’ around the narrow roads of the highlands. Nor that I would write my first book upon my return. (That book is still available should any want to buy it. The cheaper version is black and white here, and the colour version here.)

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the year that followed my departure for Scotland and the UK. It made me realise that it is so important to dream of what you’d like to do, and then take steps towards achieving that. Don’t be limited by what you don’t know, and especially, don’t let fear rob you of the experiences that will make your life rich.

I’ve put together previous panels along with the latest eight, to take the story up to the Wedding. It makes a nice king-size duvet cover, and can be purchased here.

For those who want a closer look at the individual panels, the first three are in my previous post, and the latest five are below. I hope you like these. If you go to this link, you can see all the products for the latest eight panels.

I’m loving the look of the duvet cover. I only wish it was cheaper – price set by the manufacturing company.