Time to Burst Outdoors!

 It feels like autumn at last! I step onto the back deck, feel the gusty, cool breeze, hear the leaves rattling lightly, smell the damp rain ... and I'm so happy! Summer is over, finally! Now life and joy can begin!

(I deeply apologize to those who cannot identify with this feeling against summer. I know I'm outnumbered.)

I've been physically active recently. My doctor told me that my pre-diabetic situation remains unchanged since last fall, but that my vitamin D levels were very low; this deficiency was likely causing my fatigue and achiness. She gave me a prescription for D2, and voila!!! I'm feeling so much better!

I've been clipping shrubs and suckers on trees. Totally cleaned and rearranged the guest bedroom after our daughter moved out to the Little Dependency. Dismantled a huge drafting table for Adam and cleaned said Dependency. Finished knitting my homespun sweater!! (It's a bit wonky, but I think I love it.)

Loose ends still need to be woven in. The neck opening remains too big in spite of my cinching it up along the back. The bottom hem curls up. (sigh) But it's still a very fun sweater, and I'll enjoy it. I'm working on another mitred square blanket: 

This one will be smaller than the last, and will have a diagonal pattern.

I've tried to keep walking each morning when I'm not doing other physically-challenging farm or house work. Next, I want to paint our front door a bright teal/blue.

Here's a video I made yesterday -- short and sweet. My favorite poem.

Here's another video of ambient music I've been listening to lately. Very soothing.

In two days I'll drive up to West Virginia to see my dear mother, plus son and daughter and baby grandson will be there!!! I can't wait to hold and play with him. I'll be sure to take photos and make a video.

Okay, all you lovelies, venture forth into the brisk beauty of fall and think of all the fun things coming before the year's end. Thank you, Lord!

A Limited Garden Tour

I am utterly put to shame by the gorgeous gardening I see on some of your blogs and online videos. I am no gardener. As soon as the temps get above about 80 degrees ... I'm inside in the AC. I spend the summer mostly sitting, waiting for autumn. 

But I decided to carefully photograph the few things blooming in my yard to show you, so you'll get the impression that the yard is amazing, haha! No ugly photos allowed! (Scroll past the plants if you want to see watercolors.😃)

I had no idea I had any gladiolas by my front steps, but there they were a couple of weeks ago. Here is the last bloom.

A fuzzy photo of the last yellow rose bud:

The fuzzy theme continues with the

 last of the gardenia blooms. I love them.

These darker elephant ears are 

flourishing this year! Hooray!

I worried about this clump of ears too, 

but they are doing well.

The bed of tiger lilies (doubles) is weeeeeedy,

 but they're still pretty.

Gazing across the dill heads into my herb bed.

I even weeded the grass out of my basil 

for about 5 minutes, so I was proud of me!

My creeping fig (not a fig) plant by the front steps is doing what I wanted: creeping and wandering.

These two hostas shaded by 

the Japanese magnolia tree are just huge.

The lantana is beginning to bloom. 

I'm always happy when the well-established plants get big in late June. They kill off the weeds underneath and make the beds look like they are kempt.

Little elderberry in a pot. I am too afraid to go visit the other elderberries in the veggie garden across the pasture. 

With Adam's illness and the summer heat, we have mutually agreed to give up on the veggie garden and leave it to its own devices.

My lone geranium is happy!

And this lovely hanging basket, a thirsty girl, is still alive! Yay for that!

Our latest addition is a new young rooster (AKA, a cockerel). He is a silkie, which means he should be very docile and not aggressive. He's been here nearly a week. For the first time ever, I have appeared to integrate a new bird into my flock without the hens killing the bird. So far, I'm calling him Roo-Roo:

He'll look better when he's older.

Lastly, here are a few watercolor cards. A friend asked for a bunch of oyster shells, and I did another rooster for another customer.

And I painted a couple of these large sunflowers. 

This is the card.

This is the 9x12 piece.

One is a card; the other is a 9"x12". It sold at the market. I'm painting another one tomorrow for a friend. The more I paint it, the better it will be :)

That's all, friends! Thanks for reading all this mess to the end! God bless and keep cool :)

Watching Figs Ripen

Warm summer has arrived. I await ripe figs and the making of fig preserves.

They're spilling onto our deck ramp.

Today I acquired a new white silkie rooster.

I have difficulty keeping roosters; either they get aggressive and I rehome them, or they jump the fence and Ned ... well, Ned.

Adam acquired a used, dead jacuzzi tub that he is determined to repair.

He wants this in winter for his arthritis. I wouldn't mind it in summer if the water is cool. It will sit in the corner next to the ramp.

We'll step into it by opening the deck, removing that seat.

I've sewn four new cloth masks for us.

I think mask-wearing will increase and will be around for a while. We also bought a box of surgical masks, which we'll use sparingly.

50 of them cost $60, not chump-change! But I'm thankful for them, and at a little over $1 each, that's not bad.

After all the kids left, I got back to painting. I decided to make a few bookmarks.

And this sweet little red-breasted bird:

I also finally got more printed cards made and have these poppies and geraniums for sale in packs of 5 (with envelopes) for $10/pack.

I was amazed when the last print packs sold so quickly, and these appear to be selling fast too.

Yet another rooster -- he is quite popular!

I'll end with two sweet pics of Kara with baby Isaac. The house is so quiet without them all.

Oh, I meant to mention Adam's illness. The steroids he took helped tremendously, but they wear off and then his symptoms reemerge. It's disheartening. He'll go back for more steroids tomorrow. In July he'll begin his rheumatologist appointments. Maybe that doctor will get to the bottom of things. It seems less and less likely to me that the mono and adenoviruses are the primary cause of his mucositis. I think his immune system responded to them aggressively, causing these symptoms. Many thanks for your continued love and prayers! It's been a long road.

Keep On Keeping On

I toyed with titling this post "Struggling Along," but I didn't want to be too depressing! Adam is home from the hospital, and his medications helped so much. He did a little video thanking the hospital staff for his good care. (He's kind that way. They were not always eminently competent.) 

But as the steroid doses have tapered down, his symptoms are returning. His tongue is swelling; his pain is increasing. He's had much difficulty swallowing and especially eating. He is "soldiering on," as they say. 

The new ENT in Greenville said his symptoms are not a result of allergies. Good to know. He also refers Adam to a rheumatologist. The opthamalogist on Wednesday confirmed that Adam still has active Adenovirus in both eyes. A long regimen of steroid drops will keep his eyes under control. We just need a doctor for his mouth/throat to do the same! He returns to our P.T. today, and we hope she will prescribe an ongoing dose of steroids to manage his pain and symptoms until either 1) a diagnosis is found or 2) both viruses run their course and his symptoms go away.

Phew! What else have we been doing? Honestly, we've devoted so much of our time to his health, we haven't done much else. I have been painting, however. I've sent out many packages in the mail to customers! Very exciting. If you want to see my M.K. Christiansen Watercolor facebook page, click here. If you want to see what cards I have right now, click here.

I loved painting this rooster.

The chicken cards were requested by a friend.

Lavender:

Geraniums:

This is my favorite of the orange tulip buds yet.

The piece below is larger, 9" x 12". It was a commission for a friend, for her husband. A bit tricky, but I enjoyed it.

Adam has worked on his youtube video channels whenever his speaking voice has allowed him too. He taught Bible study on Tuesday night and met some workmen at the church today. Life goes on.

Guess what happens tomorrow?! Baby Isaac is coming for a visit! His parents are coming along too (heehee!) We are so very excited. Next week will include a lot of family vacation time. I'll check back with you later!