Pink Heart

Today is National Breast Cancer Awareness Day. For those new to The Hedge, I posted the story of my own darling Mum's journey with the disease here. That post received the second highest amount of comments ever, pipped only by the Our New Bathroom post, when the Bathroom-From-Hell became the Bathroom-From-Heaven. I reckon Mum would have had a good laugh about coming Runner-Up to a bathroom!

While I support the work researchers globally are doing in finding a medical breakthrough, my heart & dollars lie in assisting those women who have been diagnosed & are trying to find their way through the myriad of treatment options & support services. The McGrath Foundation continues to do superb work in fundraising for the money to place specialized breast care nurses in communities across Australia. The Foundation now has 64 nurses who have helped support over 10,000 Aussie families.

Breast care nurses are specially trained registered nurses who act as patient advocates, coordinating care for women experiencing breast cancer, their families and their carers. They provide accurate information, support and referral to services. The Adelaide Hills area has just been fortunate to have an application for our own BCN approved & funding granted. Kylie Campbell will be based at the Adelaide Hills Community Health Centre in Mt. Barker.

Thinking of Mum today & the mightly battle she fought. And thinking too of the 12,600 Australian women who in the next 12 months will hear those words 'You have breast cancer.' And to dear Jane & Jill & Jillie & Margie who have heard those words....stay strong.

Posting Pink

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. I posted a tribute to my darling Mum last year here.

Mum had to put up with a lot of dodgy kitchens over the years. We moved around South Australia with my Dad's job & his employer always provided us with a house. All well & good, but the kitchens were generally well past their use-by-date & Mum struggled. The bench tops were the problem, as Mum was very tall at 5'11" & of course, they were always too low. So Mum always left a session in the kitchen rubbing her back & voicing her 'displeasure' at the 'One Size Fits All' mentality of cabinetmakers.

Many years later, towards the end of her life, she was able to fulfil her dream of the perfect kitchen. She remodelled her own kitchen in her own home & made sure the benchtops were built to her exact height specifications. I don't think she stopped smiling once it was complete! So, while this pink kitchen of Mal Corboy's is a probably a little OTT for your simple taste darling Mum, I know it would have made you smile!

Mum's breast cancer was well-advanced by the time she was diagnosed & her subsequent surgery very radical, with extensive lymph node involvement & wide excision. The effect this had on the lymphatic drainage to her affected arm was dramatic. Breast Care Nurses were non-existent then, but in her post-operative recovery, Mum was very fortunate to be cared for by an RN who had developed these skills informally. She was an angel & I will never forget the loving care, support, wise counsel & advice she gave Mum in the ensuing years. Today I want to highlight the work of these dedicated nurses, their essential work is now recognized & acknowledged globally. In Australia the Jane McGrath Foundation has championed this cause - breast care nurses are specially trained registered nurses who act as patient advocates, coordinating care for women with breast cancer, their families and their carers. They provide accurate information, support and referral to services. Along with her 2 precious children Holly & James, the McGrath Breast Care Nurses Foundation has been Jane's greatest legacy. Thank you Jane & Glenn for making a difference to the lives of hundreds of women with breast cancer & their families.

Images: Mal Corboy

Mother's Day

To my 5 little cherub blossoms - thank you for the pleasure of being your Mum, it's been an experience that truly defies description!

Image: Twigg & Blossom

Of Love & Loss

For dear Amanda @ Oliveaux

We do not have to rely
upon memories
to recapture the spirit
of those we have loved and lost -
they live within our souls
in some perfect sanctuary
which even death
cannot destroy -

From The Thoughts of Nanushka Vol VII-XII - Nan Witcomb

Image: Twigg & Blossom

My Mum's Pink Post

Darling Mum

21 long years have gone since you softly smiled, closed those amazing deep brown eyes & left us to be with Dad. It's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & so this post is for you. You weren't really a Pink girl, but you loved pretty things & I'm sure you'll find these images fun . Even though this horrible disease had ravaged your body, you quietly supported newly-diagnosed women through the Breast Cancer Network, and I know by the letters we received from so many of them after your death, your gentle & loving care helped them more than you ever realized.

Even though we knew you were struggling in your quiet & dignified way, the end of your life came suddenly, you were too young & we weren't prepared. For 3 years we thought all would be well, you decided that radical surgery was your best option when you were diagnosed, so we supported you as best we could. I know the disfigurement & subsequent discomfort was far greater than you'd expected, but you accepted it & continued on. You embraced life & developed a spiritual pathway that bought you incredible enlightenment & strength, although remember us worrying that you might go all 'Alternate' on us & move onto an Ashram!

Then the disease came back with a vengeance & all that invasive & debilitating treatment began again. You didn't want us to come with you, saying you needed to do this alone. Although we respected your decision, it broke our hearts to see you so ill again. Your quiet acceptance that the inevitable would happen & that you were prepared, has given me the strength to carry on without you. It wouldn't have been your style at all to rage & fight until the end, your beautiful soul had reached a place of tranquility & peace that allowed you to let go with such dignity & elegance, just as you had wanted. You always laughed when I introduced you to people as 'This is my Mum, she's a class act!' - but oh you were!

You would be The Hedge's biggest fan, encouraging me to write & express myself at any given opportunity - always the school teacher. So enjoy this Pink Post my darling Mum & if there are any spelling errors, I'm sure you'll let me know.

Image 1: KMH Image 2: Angel at my Table Images 3,8,20: Architectural Digest Image 4: Robin Stubbert Images 5,7,19: Southern Accents Image 6: Villa Anna Image 9: Brides Images 10,16: Coastal Living Image 11: Debi Treloar Image 12: Victoria Image 13:Yanconyung Image 14: Decorpad Image 15: My Life as A Reluctant Housewife Image 17: Prairie Roses Garden Image 18: Crowson Fabrics Image 21: Moberg Gallery Image 22: Mulberrry

Known Unto God

Image Temple

"Should anything happen, Mummie, don't grieve for me because it is His will and That is always best. To the best of my knowledge I am pretty well prepared to go and face my God, but of course I have no particular wish to go yet. Somehow or other I feel firmly convinced I will survive and so I do not worry at all.
"Should this be my last letter, dearest, remember I will always be waiting and watching for you and praying also, darling Mother, for your spiritual welfare ... Oh, Mum! How I wish I could have one farewell kiss before going into battle."

Words from a letter written by Lt. Leo Corrigan to his mother in Sydney as he left for Gallipoli. He was killed 2 years later in action at the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium on September 20,1917 aged 22. The following day, he & five other Australian boys were hastily buried in an unmarked roadside grave, their bodies were wrapped in blankets and tied with signal wire, their hands clasped in prayer. Back in Sydney his father received his war service medals & his mother his prayer book & rosary beads. As a devout Catholic, his mother Sarah had hoped Leo would become a priest after the War. In 1919, when his grieving mother wrote to authorities to request details of her son's final resting place, the reply was 'Place of Burial: Not Known'. Living to her 90's, she always longed for a photo of her son's grave & never recovered from her loss. 91 years on, Leo's grave still remains unknown.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

LEST WE FORGET

Pink Rules The Day!

OK that's it! I love all my 6 boys dearly, but this past couple of weeks, I've had an absolute overdose of the boy thing. Them, their mates, their hoon-mobile cars, their parties, their empty stubbies, their disgustingly dirty work clothes, their muddy boots, their loud raucous laughter, their beer & footy nights in front of the telly - it's all become a bit much, & that's only MOTH!! The air is positively thick with testosterone and don't even get me started on all the blokes at work! So I need a cloud of pink & pretty in my day - quickly. (With apologies to dear Fifi Flowers the Queen of all things pink!)

So let's start the day the PINK way!

Out of my lovely pink bed......

.....mmmm, let's see what yummy things are in my cute pink refrigerator.

A pink raspberry smoothie will be perfect.

Now I'll just wander into the charming pink breakfast room & enjoy coffee in those pretty pink mugs.

Getting ready for work, I can't resist putting my pink bag down for a minute & gathering my thoughts on this chic pink sofa.

Now off to see some clients in my cute little pink car, won't they be surprised to Miss Millie arrive in this!

On the way back home, I'll pick up some gorgeous pink peonies.

I guess I should do a couple of hours work in my very cute pink office.

Oh, it's time for afternoon tea, what about some sweet pink treats......

....and these pink macaroons are too delicious to leave!

Now I'll take my treats into the elegant pink salon to enjoy in peace. Table for one please.

I'll do my afternoon's reading in the pink living room, such a soothing colour to surround myself with.

Well, that's work done for the day, time for a glass of my favourite Billiecart Salmon Brut Rose - love those pink bubbles!

I'll wander out to the Terrace & enjoy the pink champers watching the pink sun go down. Doesn't the table look wonderful all dressed in pink!

After dinner I might even spoil myself with a slice of frozen raspberry layer cake - so pink & delicious.

And I'll eat it in the formal pink sitting room - no boys allowed here!

Now for a luxuriating soak in my divine pink bathroom.....

....and off to bed with some delicate pink roses to put by my bed. Sweet pink dreams to me!

Image 1:Christian Louboutin Image 2: Chic Shack Images 3,15,16: Country Living Image 4: NZ House & Garden Image 5:My Home Ideas

Image 6: Voyage Decoration Image 7: Auto Fashion Image 8 & 11: Brides Image 9: Country Home Image 10:Nordiljus

Image 12:Homepoint Image 12:Pink Is A Religion Image 13:The Wine Country Image 14:Debi Treloar Image 17:Angelique Interiors

Image 18:Rose Story Farm