A Dusting of Snow

We got a little snow overnight. Nothing too serious, just enough so that the cold pavement is snow-covered. I don't know if it's slippery because I didn't go out driving today. I only went out to top up the birdbath and the patio wasn't slippery.

The female Cardinal came to the platform feeder today. Usually she's pretty good about sharing the feeder with other birds but she had it all to herself. The birds were late today. It was lunchtime when she arrived and I don't think the Sparrow horde came at all. The squirrels fought over the suet nuggets feeder, chasing each other down from the crook and around the snowy yard but they all look pretty much alike so I couldn't tell which one won.

Today's flower was an Agapanthus or African Lily, aka Lily of the Nile. I was nervous when I saw the picture that I wouldn't be able to paint it but I didn't do too badly. She didn't make it look just like the picture, just made a suggestion of the flower not a portrait. That I could do.

And for the second day in a row I drew a gratitude journal page after supper. The most fun item is the brush washer. It's very handy and it does a good job of cleaning my brushes. Thanks, DD & family!

At Friday Night Knitting I started and finished the thumb gusset on Alpaca Mitten #4 and got going on the hand. I'm not quite halfway up the hand but my fingers got tired so I slacked off toward the end of the Zoom. I might finish it this weekend. Then I'll have to go downstairs to find more alpaca yarn to knit up. I'm determined to knit down the bin full of alpaca and llama yarn down there.

 

One year ago today I was in the ER being told that I was checking into the hospital for blood transfusions because my hemoglobin (red blood cells) was dangerously low. I'd been feeling pretty crappy all year before that so I went to see a cardiologist and he ordered a chest x-ray and blood test and that's when the problem was discovered. I have something called G.A.V.E. which stands for Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia. Basically there are (or were) capillaries in my stomach that seep blood. I've had two procedures to cauterize them and so far my hemoglobin is staying in the normal range. I have it checked every 3 months and so far, so good. I was amazed how much better I felt almost immediately after I received the blood. I just hope we don't have a blizzard in three days like we did last January when I couldn't leave the hospital because the weather was so bad. It's supposed to snow on Sunday but just a few inches so, whew.

--Barbara