Over the last 3 months I have been in and out of the hospital for some digestive issues that have plagued me for over 20 years, the first visit to the hospital I was diagnosed with ischemic colitis an infection in the colon, subsequent testing after my third hospital stay revealed my gallbladder is no longer working and on Monday after going over the results with the doctor he informed me the gallbladder would need to be removed. I can tell you I was relieved and angry at the same time, they knew the results in May so why wasn’t the surgery done then? It would have saved me a month of suffering with unbearable pain that ultimately sent me to the ER for pain relief. Well water under the bridge I now wait for the surgeon to go over all the test results and make an appointment to schedule the surgery.
For my birthday the gift of rain came finally and believe me when I tell you it has made a difference it the air quality. My return from the post office had gray clouds over head but the day before the gray clouds passed right by so I kept saying let it rain today let it rain.
It did and my thirsty plants are quite happy because using a watering can when the temps hit 98 everyday just doesn’t soak the plants as a good rain. Since I had the first attack of pain in March my time in the garden has been limited. Bending forward causes intense pain and discomfort not to mention nausea that stays all day. So I water twice a day with my watering can and so far my plants have survived. The Mexican petunias are thriving and growing like crazy, these lovely purple flowers were planted in the bed by the previous owner of my house.
I hope I will be well enough to plant a Fall garden this year since all my plans for the Spring garden couldn’t happen. My first hospital stay happened 3 days after I bought the first of my new spring plants which luckily survived despite not getting any water for several days and the one day it finally rained 3 of the plants had fallen over. All the seedlings I had started didn’t make it by the time I was discharged they were dried to a crisp, but that’s how gardening goes some seasons things work well and some seasons you lose.
I miss getting my hands in the soil but for now regaining my health is my number one priority along with watering my few plants daily. Summertime in Florida is our rainy season and usually July is the time when those daily rains come so I am hoping this year will be a wet one.
Last month I received some lovely birthday gifts a lovely teapot for one, moon phase blocks and an edible arrangement from my great niece Tessa.
The Witches Brew teapot for one will get quite a bit of use, I love tea and my son and his fiancee gave me some lovely teas and succulent plant as well, the Muse Moon book is a journal of sorts from a friend. The edible arrangement is just lovely and those moon phase blocks will make a nice addition to my altar.
Oh I must show the panel from the lovely new fabric line by Meg Hawkey of Crabapple Hill Studios, this one is Spellcaster’s Garden.
I also bought a few coordinating fabrics to go with the panel. I love all the Crabapple Hill Witch patterns and fabric lines ever since I first hand embroidered the Hocuspocusville quilt blocks. I am hoping this new line will have some hand embroidery patterns. Since being ill I haven’t done much hand embroidery or crocheting, the pain makes it hard to hold my attention long enough for me to focus, on good days I do put a few stitches in a project or two but mostly I have been reading. Recently I have finished Waking the Witch and I’m halfway through Memoir of a Witch.
Well after weeks of illness and not being comfortable enough to sit up long enough to do any hand embroidery last week I was finally able to sit up for a little while and I pulled out an old pattern I had prepped on fabric to stitch. (I usually have a few small pieces prepped to stitch). The pattern was offered free from Crabapple Hill Studios, I just love the cute snowman and witch.
On the medical front it seems my gallbladder will have to be removed as it is no longer functioning, one of the test I had shows me at 1% normal is 35% and above, I am hoping this is the reason for the intense pain and trips to the hospital aside from the aschemic colitis. I don’t want to think about it too much until the surgery is done and that isn’t going to happen until sometime in September. UGH!
When I am too uncomfortable to stitch I have been reading a few fun light mystery books.
Well that should bring you up to speed to what I have been doing while away from my blog. I hope as the weeks pass to have more energy and feel well enough to post more A entire month has gone by since my last post it's so disappointing.
Celebrating Lughnasadh is going to be very low key I'll try to bake either a quick loaf of bread or some scones. I did add my Corn Dolly witch to my altar and as the season moves closer to autumn I will add other pieces.
