I Made It!

 Hey everyone!

I just want to touch on the last four months.  I have really been struggling with my health and at times it felt like it was about to do me in.  But I made it.  I am thankful for my natural state of stubbornness because that is what got me through ... pure will power to not give up.

My Lupus pain levels have been under control for the last 9 years.  

In March I began a Lupus flare that is just now ending.  I have experienced the worst pain I have had to endure for 10 years.  On a pain level of 0 thru 10 (10 being the worst) ... my pain levels these last four months have been 15 to 20.  Because of chronic Lupus and Fibromyalgia, I have a very high pain tolerance, but those levels have put me in the hospital before.  It was sheer stubbornness that got me through the last four months.  I am happy to say that my pain level today has been 2 to 3!!!  I have been absolutely miserable.  I am SO happy to be feeling better.

Today I was able to hold my arms up long enough to color my hair.  I didn't change the color ... just refreshed it.  I was able to play Irish Music at the local Pub tonight.  I was only able to hold my fiddle up and play it for about an hour total.  The rest of the time I played my Irish Whistle/Penny Whistle.  I have so much fun playing it!!!  I am thankful for music and the joy and healing it brings.  Music can be lifted like a prayer.  Every time I play, I am playing with a grateful heart and with joy.  There was a point and time when music saved my life.  Now I play for others.  You never know where people are in their life in any exact moment or what they are going through because a lot of people hide it well and when they are suffering ... they suffer in silence.   

Today was a good day.  Today was a joyous day.  I am celebrating life.

I signed up for an art class.  

I signed up for a piano course to learn something new for me.

I am back to playing classical piano ... which I love.

I am accepting additional music students for piano, guitar, violin, mandolin, tenor banjo and D/Irish Whistle.

Today I did two loads of laundry.

Today I was able to hug my husband without sending my pain through the roof.

You don't realize how much energy it takes to do the daily things ... until you have no energy ... until you're in so much pain that it hurts just to be awake.

The next time someone calls me stubborn ... I am just going to smile the biggest smile.  Why?  Because I know that it is my stubbornness ... my inability to give up ... that got me through these last four months.  

If you are struggling right now ... you're not alone.  You can do this ... whatever you are struggling with ... never give up.  Cry if you have to ... drag yourself along if you have to ... but never give up.  Hang on with all you've got.  You matter. 

Love and Blessings,

Ava

Hello there!

    Hello everyone!

    I hope this finds you all doing well and happy.  It has been a rough while here in our household with my multiple health issues.  I am happy to be able to do things again.  The weather is fantastic and I am enjoying getting out ... breathing fresh air ... feeling the sun on my skin ... flower gardening (which you all know is my favorite) ... getting the vegetable garden planted FINALLY!!!  We plan to do some camping this year and we are looking forward to that.

    We have a new family member named Buddy.  He is our joy!  We rescued him from the side of the road ... it's been a while now ... and he fits in perfectly.  He was running in and out of traffic, almost getting hit a few times and we could tell that something was wrong.  He kept running into things and we could tell that he was scared.  When we walked up to him we discovered that he was old and blind.  He was a bit bloodied up from running into things and in true Chihuahua form ... was shaking like a leaf.  It was a cold day in the 30's and we didn't know how long he had been outside so we took him home.  Wrapped him up in a warm blanket from the dryer and hugged on him until he got warmed up.  That was on a Friday night.

    On Monday we called the Animal Shelter and left his info with them as well as our phone number and address.  We already had a dog, Scooter, who was elderly and blind ... I told them we would keep Buddy here so he would be comfy since I knew how to care for him and didn't consider it any extra work.  There is always a 7 day hold before an animal is put up for adoption.  On day 8 I called and no one had called looking form either there or with animal control ... so he was ours.  He has been a joy that we didn't even know was missing until he moved in.  What a blessing he is.

There he is asleep in his bed with his blanket.

I will talk to you all soon.  I hope that you have a great day and I will be back next week to the blog if not before.

Until next time!

    

     

Good morning!

 Good morning!!!

Well, it has been a minute!

Just wow.  This past year has been ... just wow.

I had a bad fall May 2022.  Hit my head on the edge of the fireplace.  Stitches ... bruises on my face and shoulder.  Memory loss ... vision affected ... balance issues ... a concussion.  I have always been the queen of multitasking and that came to a firm halt because of my inability to concentrate for very long.  It's been a very hard time for me but I have overcome.  I am still healing.  My vision is still healing.  I can multitask again.  My words still come out wrong sometimes.  I know it as soon as I hear it come out of my mouth.  I usually correct myself but there are times I have to ask, "am I using the wrong word?" I have tried to stay positive about it.  But I just want to say it out loud ... just once ... so I will do it here.  It's been hard. 

I am here.  I survived.  I am smiling the biggest smile as I type this.  I am happy to be here.

We just had a Super Moon at the end of August.  I will share a few photos with you.  It feels so good to be getting back into moon photography.  It has been a passion for so many years.  I am thankful for music and for my cameras because they bring me so much joy.  I am thankful for my sweet husband who is the most wonderful thing that has happened to me.  I love him so much.

I want you all to know that even when things are hard ... you've got within you what it takes to get through.  Even if it is one baby step at a time.  Never give up.

I will talk to you soon.

Ava

Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

                 We are enjoying a nice warm day 13F!  Warm you ask?  Well yes, after the week we have had ... 13F seems warm indeed! 

                We've had a cold spell that has gripped a lot of the nation this week.  We spent 3 days very cold ... 3F with a windchill of -30F ... 6F with a windchill of -20F ... 5F with a windchill of -19.  So yes, now you understand when I say we are enjoying the 13F temps outside today.  Toward the end of next week, we are supposed to be back up in the 50'sF again.  I'm ready!  It will feel like spring!

                I have been bundling up when I take the dog out.  He normally doesn't have to wait ... we just go.  His normal nighttime middle of the night outing is a 2am.  Normally I just sit up on the side of the bed, put my slippers on and go.  I mean, he is really good about taking care of his business and it only takes a minute.  But ... it isn't that quick when it's -30F windchill. 

                No ... not that quick and easy at all.  It went like this ... Dog barks to go out ... I grab what I laid out prior to going to bed in anticipation of the 2am bark and carry them to the living room so he knows that I heard him and doesn't proceed to pee the floor ... right in front of the door.  He is 14 years old and doesn't wait as easily as he used to.  I put on a pair of fleece pj pants over the leggings that I slept in ... put on my regular shoes instead of my slippers ... all while the dog is looking at me with his head cocked wondering why in the world am I doing this.  I grab my coat from the closet and put it on ... grab a hat to wear and have to explain to Scooter that it is cold outside and I have to stay warm ... as he stands there waiting and gives me a soft "woof".  Then I put my gloves on ... leash him up and out we go!  It only took one minute but I stayed nice and warm.

                Today we are staying home and cooking.  We are having ham and some fixings.  Doug is looking forward to the rolls.  He is outside shoveling snow right now.  One of the joys of winter ... shoveling snow.  I am thankful that he does it and I don't have to.  I will make sure he has a fresh pot of coffee and a snack when he comes back in.

                I know at Christmas, it can be an emotional time.  Some spend it with family, some spend it at home with their spouse or significant other while some spend it alone.  Some miss loved ones who have passed on.  Whatever your circumstances ... whether you are enjoying your Christmas or you are struggling ... know that you are not alone.  You're not alone in your happiness as lots of people and families are enjoying and celebrating the season.  At the same time ... you are not alone if you are struggling or sad.  Lots of people really struggle through the holidays.  Just remember that you are awesome, you are fabulous, you are wonderfully made!  You can do hard things and you will get through this time.  Never give up.  Know that you are in our hearts and prayers.

                We wish you all a Merry Christmas!

 Hello everyone!

I hope that you are doing well.  It is our favorite time of year.  Fall has arrived.  

I love the beauty of fall ... the smell of fall ... the colors of fall ... the temperatures of fall.

The trees are nice and full and their leaves are beginning to change colors.

The sounds of the twigs and leaves crunching on the ground as you walk.  

The sun shining through the branches of the trees with their rays softly touching the branches and reaching to the ground.

And the smell of fall ... you know it ... you have smelled it.  The leaves drying as the temperatures change.  The smell of dirt.  Good fresh dirt ... plucked right from the ground in your hand ... I love that smell.  Fall smells like dirt to me.  A fresh plowed farm field ... the dirt dropping through my fingers ... raising it to my face to smell as it crumbles back to the ground.  That is what fall smells like to me.

Oh the colors!  The trees ... the leaves ... the branches ... the surrounding plants and bushes ... all changing to their fall colors.  So much beauty ... various shades of greens ... yellow ... orange ... brown ... red ... the way they all blend together to create a magical scene.

The perfect temperatures of fall.  Whether it's short sleeves ... long sleeves ... jackets ... or even coats and gloves.  This is the time of year that you never know what the temps of the next day are going to feel like.  You are just prepared.  I like to dress in layers when I go out in the fall.  When you have layers you can take them off as the day begins to warm and you feel the sun shining on your shoulders.  Then you can add the layers back as you need them as the sun sets and the warmth of the day begins to fade.

Fall.  The perfect time of the year. 

Here's a video of one of our walks during our color drive.  

Enjoy!

** Always remember that you are awesome.  You are wonderfully made.  If you find yourself struggling, and we all do from time to time, never give up.  We can do hard things when we have and make it through to the other side.  You've got this.

27 degrees!!!!

Hello everyone!  It is 27 degrees at my house this morning!!!!  Burrrr!!!

Our son Tom started his new job this morning.  We wish him the best and great success!

Now that Fall is officially here and the cooler weather is setting in ...

That means working on original music for me!!!  I am looking forward to that very much!!!  I have flute music to get recorded.  Music and writing!  Music and writing!  That is how I spend the fall and winter time.

I hope that you had a great Halloween.  We stayed in and at Halloween candy!!!  

Here's a Halloween video for you. It's awfully scary so watch out!

Remember ...

You are wonderfully made!

You are worth it and you are deserving of all success and happiness that comes your way!!

Now ...

Here is ...

The Scariest Strawberry Ever!!!!

The Fallow Deer Are Growing!

The Fallow Deer Are Growing! The babies are growing! Look at the antlers on the bucks!!!! They are widening out!

I love the smell of the fallow deer! They smell like horses!!! If you've been around horses you know exactly what I mean. These fallow deer are the only creatures I have met that smell like horses.

These are deer that our Dad raises these out at the farm.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrsuQUR9bCZ9DiG8a40IhAQ

Thanks for stopping by today!

Come back often! 

 

Please remember to be kind to those around you. 

There is not enough kindness in this world. 

And every bit of kindness ... no matter how big or small ... matters.