Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Winter, spring, summer but hopefully not fall(-ing)

So, it's been a while....are you still there???  It's been one hell of a ride these last few months.  Read on if you're interested.  If not, wait for next time.....I'll be back posting art stuff again very soon.

How I Spent the Last Six Months  (kind of like a school essay)

I fell ill in February with the worst head cold I have ever had, and since then I have totally lost my senses of both taste and smell.  It's interesting, in a way, but I'm ready for this experience to be over, let me tell you!  My roses, I cannot smell my lovely roses....not to mention my dinner!  I am learning to eat for colour and texture only. I had my kids over for dinner the other evening and I had to ask my neighbour to come over and tell me if the sauce was ok!!  It's a quality of life thing, to be sure!

And then, whilst recovering from that nasty bug, I was getting back into the workout routine that I do at home here, introvert that I am.  I'd finished the elliptical trainer workout and was doing my pilates/yoga thing....one of the floor exercises hurt but I pushed through the pain...it's what we do, right??? Wrong!!! Since then I cannot walk and x-rays have indicated that I need to have both of my hips replaced...they are in terrible shape.  Lovely!! It is presumed that I have broken off a piece of bone and that it is floating and dancing its way around my hip joint...perhaps it's having fun but I most definitely am not....super strong pain killers (which I hate taking) and the likelihood of at least a one year wait before surgery....gotta love our system here.... Alas, I have been unable to do any fibre art since then.  Big loss, let me tell you!

But fortunately, I had enough prepared for the Oak Bay Studio Tour in April and was once again lucky enough to show in my artist neighbours' studio.  It was a fun event and wonderful to see all the lovely folk that came out for the happening!  I'm hoping I'll be able to get something ready for next year...we'll see.



Since I am unable to stand for more than 10 minutes at a time, and that only with the aid of my walking sticks, I am also unable to do any painting or dyeing of fabric.  So then, I mean, come on, what's a girl to do.....well, online classes, of course.

So this month I have started two new online classes....one is with Susie Monday, called Art on the iPad, for which I had to purchase an iPad, what fun.  Very exciting and a lovely distraction.  The second class is with Roz Stendahl and it starts this friday.  It's a sketching class that looks pretty amazing.  I will have to go out and sketch in public (yikes!), and one has to commit to at least 30 minutes of drawing daily, but I am going to do it.  I will have to do the sketching from my car, but I can still drive (thank goodness!) and my neighbours (the artists) have chickens in their yard, so I'll be able to set myself up there and draw those little critters to my heart's content.  And I shall.  I am signed up for another course with Liz Steel this September and a course with Jane Davies in the fall as well.  Going to be busy and suitably distracted!!

I am frustrated beyond words that I cannot walk and quite frankly,  I am hoping that I can get a surgery date before a year is up for at least one of these non-functioning joints!  Imagine looking forward to surgery! And I'm using my walking sticks all the time, so I don't fall....nope, definitely don't want to fall.

So it hasn't been all fun and games around here and I admit to having been quite down for too long a spell.

But lately, I have found renewed energy for my life and for where it may take me.  I'm not going to stop doing my art....I am excited about these new courses and in fact, about all the new directions my life has given and continues to give me.  I am blessed with dear friends, lovely, kind children, my sweet daughters-in-law, my precious grandchildren and a lot of love.  Indeed, my life has always been about abundance and I see no reason for it to stop now!

If you managed to read this all the way through, yay!!!  Thanks for sticking with me!  For sure, I'll be back.....

12 comments:

  1. Dear Marny, my heart is with you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tks, dear Steph. One day at a time, right?

      Delete
  2. Wishing you a surgery date soon. Sounds as though you are making the most of your waiting time. All the best. Gentle hugs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lesley. Surgeon's office yesterday tells me that I have a 12 to 18 month wait. Lots of time to work at my kitchen table, which is where I live these days. Sigh. Drawing, painting, Netflix. Could be worse.

      Delete
  3. Wishing you a surgery date soon. Sounds as though you are making the most of your waiting time. All the best. Gentle hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wishing you a surgery date soon. Sounds as though you are making the most of your waiting time. All the best. Gentle hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So glad to hear from you, Marny ! It certainly has been a rough road for you ... I can sympathize on the hip surgery and the pain that comes prior to ! I have had my right hip done twice, once 24 yrs ago and agin 8 yrs. ago.
    This kind of pain & injury is very debilitating ... I will send my best wishes whenever I sit down at my kitchen table thinking of you ;)
    You sound like a strong woman and you will be so far ahead once your classes are done ... wish I could take 'em, too ! Keep art'ing ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sharron. I am thinking the 18 months will pass whether I do art or not.....might as well do it!!! I'm sorry to hear that you've been through this as well...not a fun thing, to be sure. Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
    2. Yep ... And both knees ... And the knuckles in my left hand 😜

      Delete
    3. Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. Isn't it awful how we keep ramping up the bar in terms of what is 'normal'? And yet you are so wonderfully productive....I am inspired...I shall think of you, too, as I sit at my kitchen table,.

      Delete
  6. I've missed viewing your posts - they're always a pleasure - and I had suspected that you might have problems. I'm sorry to hear that they include pain and limited mobility and that your health service is worse than ours for waiting!
    The best thing about our art interests is that they can, if needs be, happen without too much moving about. Nevertheless, it's all so frustrating.
    Meanwhile, I love the photo of your work, especially that large angular piece in the centre with its high horizon and strong colours - a pleasure to see!
    Thinking of you - and looking forward to the next post, Margaret

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Margaret. I am frustrated that I can't do any of my usual fibre work at the moment. My drawing and painting will have to do....fortunately they can also be very rewarding and they can happen in a small space if necessary. Kitchen table size!! And I am trying to wrap my head around doing some hand stitching....love the work you do. And I am rethinking the Pixieladies, now I know I have such a long wait time before surgery....all kitchen table stuff! Thanks so much for stopping by.

      Delete