Sunday 15th of April had been a very long, stressful day leaving the holiday spirit well behind me! I felt I had flown into Perth to hit the ground running. After the disastrous flight and a delayed pickup I was exhausted and in no mood for what was waiting for me at Mum’s. I know I shouldn’t take things so seriously and just chill, but when I see the fridge full of food which has been taken from the freezer: prepared meals, pastries and the like, and the kitchen bench covered with all sorts of food, bowls of dog food and the like (a sign of a befuddled mind), I just have to sort it out and tidy it up.
Arriving home to chaos wasn’t a good start! I was tired, stressed and exhausted just looking at Mum’s place in disarray! Praise God for His strength. It was good to see Mum again. After a speedy tidy up, arranging her breakfast tray and medication, I sat down for a quick catch up before heading home to unpack and an early night.
The next day I borrowed Jan’s van to pick up my pot plants firstly from Jan’s then from Colleen’s. Praise God most of them had survived and only one of my rose cuttings at home has drowned from over-watering. I really don’t like leaving my garden in the hands of others but there is no other choice when you go away during the dryer months and I am so appreciative of those who offer to look after my plants while I’m away. Perth is predictably so dry. This year was one of the driest autumns on record which doesn’t help. We have had only one downpour since my return and one while I was away. My rainwater tank is lasting but only for drinking water. There’s not enough for the garden so I’m back to using scheme water as usual.
Since my return I have visited more residential care facilities Noranda, Wanneroo, Claremont, Balcatta, Marangaroo and Scarborough. Wow! I couldn’t believe the Scarborough facilities! It was like walking around a cruise ship, except that it didn’t sway! The luxury apartments were just amazing! To buy into them wasn’t so bad as there was a $100,000 reduction if done before they all sold. It was the $100 per day service fee that put us out of the range!
With this in mind there are really only three that I think would suit Mum’s needs. Jen, being our secretary, has collected all the data needed to fill out the request forms for the residential wait lists. I feel better now that we have finally put Mum on a few wait lists, although I’m told it’s very difficult to get a vacancy due to the high demand for aged care. Still I know the Lord has it all in control and I trust that at the right time and in the right facility something will come up.
Just over a week from arriving home was the funeral of an old friend. There was a celebration of life for Trish Evans put on by the family at her church in Gosnells. Even though it was a sad occasion it was also a memorable one catching up with many old friends from the Armadale Family Church where we had all previously attended. I was amazed to see how many faces I knew. Although the service was during the week, it was held on ANZAC Day so many were able to attend.
That weekend was Mum’s 91st birthday celebrations. I knew Trisha wouldn’t come if I was there so asked Nezka if she could please organise a get-together for fish and chips at Hillarys. She told me later that Trisha and Trevor were unable to come which opened it up for me to attend. We drove to Hillary’s, picking up a Chocolate Mud Cake on the way. I hadn’t told Mum we were going to be meeting her grand and great grandchildren for her birthday, so she had no idea the cake was for her but it was soon very obvious when she saw them all waiting for her. I must admit I was very disappointed when she was left out of their conversations as they chatted amongst themselves. I tried several times to turn the conversation around without much success. It’s so difficult for Mum to visit her grandchildren these days as the great grandchildren have so many after school and weekend activities. It’s quite sad.
Later that week we caught up with Mum’s friend Helen whose birthday was in March. We had promised to take her out for a birthday dinner so thought we would do a combined one for Mum too. This time I didn’t get lost finding her place.
I too was back in the swing of thing with our Bible Study group meeting for lunch on the first day back of the school term. I had also invited Colleen, whom was known by some of the group. I was hoping she might join our study group as she had recently lost her husband to cancer.
Then on the Tuesday our church barista team was back serving coffees to the North Beach Primary School teachers.
They say gardening can be therapeutic, it certainly is for me. It’s not only my hobby, as its part of the creativity the Lord has put within me. The beginning of May, I was back into it full swing. Having visited the doctor and discussed no longer needing to be on antidepressants, I felt energised and back on top of things. This showed with more energy to do the things I enjoyed such as gardening.
I had organised tree loppers to come in to cut the height off the New Zealand Christmas trees along the footpath. They were to come before the council started on the drainage along Sorrento St. I happened to be out the front when I saw one of their trucks pull up. I was surprised they had come so soon! When I had spoken to the person who was taking the booking that someone would be coming not this week but the next and that someone would ring before they came. The workers then explained to me that they were employed by the council. They were here to trim the overhanging branches off the sidewalk but only on the right side of the driveway not my side! That sounded a bit strange as it was the same property and previously I had to pay for my own tree lopping. While on the phone to council, who had no idea what I was talking about, I saw the 
tree loppers had moved to my side and had begun to neaten my trees. I was delighted. I later found out that council had arranged for all the trees and bushes to be hedged back off the path before they start work on the drains. The following week the guys were back again to finish the job they started by taking the height of the trees down about two meters. They needed to be trimmed to allow the winter sun into my patio area. As they chopped, they mulched the wood, leaving it on my verge. The next afternoon I spread it over my garden one small barrow-load at a time. It took ages but looked so much better.
The following day I dug two large, deep holes where I plan to plant some fruit trees and filled them with the remaining mulch. I moved some plants from an area I have allocated for a raised vegie garden to a more suitable spot along the footpath where my make shift branch-fencing had been demolished by the overzealous tree mulchers. I’m hoping these plants will form a bit of a barrier, along with the prickly native groundcover, to keep the 
dogs and cats out of my garden.
Later in May the council had a free plant pickup. Having ordered ahead of time online, I now lined up with the other council residents. There were four categories; I had chosen garden plants and had five to choose from. Only three suited my need, red kangaroo paws, and two varieties of dwarf banksia. I would have preferred ground cover banksias like the one I already have but couldn’t resist the dwarf variety which grow to around a meter high and wide. Knowing they can be rather sensitive, I’m hoping they will survive, as they both have an amazing display of flowers. We were also able to collect some free herbs and a bucket of compost.
Along with these natives, a friend from church had promised me a cutting of her red frangipani but because the one she had for me had died, when she saw a similar one on sale, she bought it for me. Now that I had returned from Sydney I was able to plant it and take care of it. I can’t wait so see what colour the flowers are.
I’m not sure if I have spoken about the problem I have with no sun in my patio area where I planted a mango tree. Before I went away I had arranged a large mirror to reflect the sun onto its leaves, which I’m told will help with the photosynthesis. One day, just before the trees were lopped, I heard the sound of breaking glass. I knew immediately what it was and sure enough there was my mirror shattered into hundreds of little pieces. It was inevitable, as I often had it precariously balanced on the back of a garden chair where the wind could catch it. I rescued the largest of the pieces which I continue to move around to catch the sun, this time more securely propped up in a pot on a table. It kind of does the job. At least the lopped trees let in a bit more sun in but I’m afraid that won’t last for long as the sun tips further behind the trees as it arches on its northern solstice.
It wasn’t till the 24th of May at 7:15 pm that we received our first rains. Very late this year and so needed not only by our gardens but also by our farmers.
Photos: 1. Rose propagated from Mum’s garden 2. The flash residential accommodation 3. Carer’s dog which visits on of the residential centres 4. Mum’s 91st Birthday celebration at Hillarys 5. Helen and Mum’s dinner out 6. Before photo of NZ Christmas Tree 7. After being hedged 8. An evening out at Trigg
Prayer & Praise Points:
Praise the Lord for His ongoing strength and wisdom while assisting Mum with Alzheimer’s.
Praise Him for Kat’s return this month for 5 weeks (end of June & July) I’m going to enjoy my break and God willing work in my garden.
Please continue to pray for the right residential centre for Mum when she eventually needs to move out of her home. She is on several wait lists but a room becoming available often takes a long time. I believe the right place will come at the right time. It’s always the Lord’s perfect timing. I’m trusting Him to make a way where there seems to be no way. Amen!
Please continue to pray for Trisha who has cut herself off from us, her sisters. Please pray for reconciliation and peace between of us all.
I appreciate your ongoing prayers for the business, Senior’s Benefits and Rewards which is getting close and closer to being launched. We would still love to find someone to assist us with marketing ideas to help us move forward.
Thank you once again to all my supportive friends and prayer partners; knowing you stand with me in prayer is a real encouragement and strength.
Do you want a mirror for your garden or house? I have a heavy one 30 ins X24ins you can have it.