bethsblog

rrrrasberries

Here's a little video of Cassidy and Sophia playing with their food:

"Breathe."

Grampa Gary's Girls

Reading to Cassidy


"Smooshing" Sophia

"Breathe."

A Memorable Memorial Day Weekend

We spent a little time with the grand kids in Ann Arbor this weekend. Two highlights were new dresses courtesy of Grampa Gary and a new cherry tomato plant in a pot by the back door. The kids are patiently waiting for the little yellow blossoms to appear.

In a couple weeks I'll be returning for a slightly longer stay with Amy, Steve and the girls. By then there will surely be some baby cherry tomatoes.  Remember... don't pick the green ones!


"Breathe."

There's light at the end of the tunnel.

It's been nearly 3 months since the endocrine meltdown that sent me to the ER and eventually landed me in the capable hands of a new endocrinologist and a psychiatrist. My thyroid levels are now stabilized on levothyroxine and I have experienced a steady decrease in my anxiety levels along with less need for psychotropic medication. Last Wednesday, I saw my psychiatrist who said he is very pleased with my progress, as I have gradually been weaned to lower and lower doses of Klonopin. He gave me a schedule for one final dose reduction after which I will be free of the drug. 

It has been quite a roller coaster, this journey back to mental wellness. I have blogged about it ad nauseam, but writing has been therapeutic, so I'm grateful to my readers for bearing with me. Hopefully there won't be too many more posts on this topic because it will be ancient history... soon!

"Breathe."

WHAT was I thinking!

So yesterday I went down to the Muskegon Museum of Art to pick up my rejected Zodiasol and one other mixed media piece that didn't make the cut. Over the past 15 years I have had many of my traditional watercolor portraits accepted in the Muskegon Regional, and have a friendly relationship with the curator, so I didn't feel out of place asking him what his brutally honest opinion was... i.e. why my  pieces were not selected. I wouldn't ordinarily do such a brazen thing, but since my two puppies that got kicked to the curb were such a dramatic departure from what I usually do I just wanted to know if I should retire them. If I believe in a piece, I refuse to be discouraged by one rejection... often the same piece will be accepted in the next exhibit I enter.

He said that my Zodiasol is a little too whimsical... a little too decorative and that the Zodiac theme is a little trite... definitely not serious enough for a BIG IMPORTANT EXHIBIT like the Muskegon Regional which seeks jurors that will select a show that would hold its own in any big city venue.

So in my mind, the piece was a total success... it's exactly as he described it and exactly as I intended it. Guess from now on I will keep my whimsy to myself, or at least not put it out there where it won't be appreciated. And I will keep doing art for the fun of it... with beads and glitter and collage, and maybe even a Japanese umbrella or two. Fortunately the gallery that I work with is firmly dedicated to whimsy. Where would we be without it!

Zodiasol has happily taken up residence in my family room.

And there's another one of my SERIOUS WATERCOLORS  in process.

Better Luck Next Year!

"Breathe."

serendipity

Got a pretty nice honor last night; a first place award in a local art show and a nice check that makes up for the teaching income I forfeited while I was recovering from my thyroid illness. The award winning painting is this one:

Funny how things have a way of working out!



"Breathe."

My Sign

Been working like a fiend for the past few days to get my Zodiac cards ready for sale. So if you'd like to order 1 or 2 or 12 visit my Zazzle site by clicking on the Libra Card image below.

 

Coffee mugs and T-shirts are in the pipeline.

"Breathe."

So Far So Good

Happy to report that yesterday I got the go-ahead from my psychiatrist to begin another dose reduction of Klonopin. So this morning I cut the half pills I've been taking into quarters and took one of the quarters... and I'll take another quarter tonight.

I was once again experiencing the symptoms that prompted the last 2 reductions: grogginess, brain fog, a sense of unreality, and a bad taste in my mouth that's a cross between burned tongue and rusty nail. Delightful!

I have felt wonderful all day... alert, energetic, and in reality. If things are going to get bumpy, i.e. an increase in anxiety... which happened for a few days the last 2 times I had a dose reduction, I probably won't notice anything until tomorrow. Both times I have shored myself up with ice cream, crossword puzzles, reruns of old sit-coms and stepped-up use of my  anxiety bustin' flash cards.

I am so looking forward to being done with Klonopin entirely... maybe in a few weeks. It will be great to be back to my good old-self again without the mind/body altering effects of psychotropic medication.

"Breathe."

Back on the Bike

Today was my third time out on my bike for the season. Was waiting for the weather to get a little warmer, and for my Klonpin dose to be reduced enough so that I feel safe and stable riding.

I rode for a good 40 minutes. Glad I took that extra lap over by the woods on my way home, because I was treated to 2 wild turkeys in full display... undoubtedly for the benefit of their lady-friends.

Lucky me!

"Breathe."

"She was looking for ham on rye and I'm a peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat."

Sadly, my lovely Zodiasol, was not selected for the Muskegon Regional Annual Art Exhibit. I was sad, then I was mad, then I gave myself about 10 minutes to stomp and storm, then I went out to the garden and planted my zinnia seeds.

In my business, rejection is just something you have to get used to. Except you never really do. I'm getting better, however, at getting over it pretty fast. Acceptance in a juried art show is a total crap-shoot, and in this case, there were over 700 submissions which had to be whittled down to around 100.

When I get that little self-addressed card in the mail with the "declined" box firmly checked, I always remember the quote that I used for the title of this post... I got it from a therapist several years ago and it has served me well.

Let's hear it for P B & J!

"Breathe."