Dear Everyone

I am still here...

I know it has been a very long time. That was certainly not the plan all!! I haven't touched a needle in almost 6 months. My embroidery has been quiet  - my needles have been idle. No new kits or projects. No news or emails. No teaching or classes and for a few weeks the online shops were temporarily closed. 

It has long been my intension to write, to let you know what was happening. Why I was not sharing any embroidery news. If you have followed along for a little while, you would know that I don't often share much about what happens in my world outside my embroidery. That is not because I don't want to, I guess it is just how this blog has evolved and the embroidery is what is important in this space. Many of you have supported my stitching adventures for a very long time, and I want you to know how much I appreciate that support. 

My winter garden putting on a show.

Life happens. And with that also loss. A few weeks ago I lost my Love, my husband, Adrian. He had beaten cancer almost five years ago and was so close to being in the clear. He was fit and healthy and there was absolutely no signs or reasons for us to worry... then came January 2022. It reared it's ugly head, suddenly, out of the blue and with a vengeance.  It took only 5 months - possibly the longest and hardest, and at the same time quickest 5 months of my life - and then he was gone. It was a shock to all of us just how quickly it consumed him.

Our Beautiful home that Adrian built for us.

As well as all the practical stuff that comes with loosing a loved one, I have to sell our property. That is another big thing. We have lived here for close to 20 years, built the vineyard up from almost nothing - Adrian built the house. We thought, and hoped, he had more time, and set to work on getting the property ready for sale together, but we just didn't quite get there. So I am busy packing, sorting and cleaning.

Our amazing view - one I will most certainly miss.

Family and friends, and in particular our sons, Esben and Lucas, have been, and still are an amazing help and support through all of this. There are so many jobs to be done around the property, most of which were completely Adrian's domain. I helped, but he was the driver and I have no idea how a lot of things work and am having to learn quite a few new 'farm-girl' duties. Every time we solve a new puzzle, like pumping water around (we are not on mains water and collect it in big tanks) or getting the slasher hooked up to the tractor and working, it is a little win. 

I am afraid Tilly knows how to ride the mowers, bikes and tractors - I don't.

And then ~ In the middle of all the sadness and chaos ~ I became a grandma. Baby Oliver arrived just over a week after his Pa died. I like to think their souls hung out for a bit somewhere. He is the sweetest wee thing. You forget just how tiny they are at first. Like a little fragile baby bird.

I am slowly finding my balance, finding my new feet, some kind of new normal. There is a million things, I have to do, decisions I have to make and things I have to deal with - I have lists everywhere. It is not all things I want to be doing or have to think about, but in some strange way it works - it means I have to get up each morning and get things done each day. It keeps my mind distracted from the gaping hole of what was....

I am not entirely sure what will happen next. I am slowly getting back to my embroidery. For now though, it is mostly just restocking kits and getting back to teaching my regular class. It feels nice to be doing something familiar. I am not sure how much actual stitching I will be able to do until I am settled somewhere. I am lucky to have a place I can stay while I am finding a new house to call home. It is small and most of my embroidery stuff is packed away, so being super creative might be tricky - but then again, one never knows...

I will keep you posted. 

Hugs Anna X