Pre-Op Update

Just a quick update to let you know that I am having surgery on Wednesday so I won’t be blogging (or sewing or biking) for a while. A health problem that has plagued me for at least twelve years will finally fixed once and for all (I hope), and I am looking forward to it.

I am also looking forward to some down time. I was told that the recovery is usually 4-6 weeks; I am taking 3.5. I don’t know how I will feel but hope I’ll be up and moving around enough to get *some* sewing done. The doctor looked a bit horrified when I said I usually bike to work so I am not allowed to do that for at least four weeks. Honestly, I haven’t biked much lately, due to weather, schedule or just plain not feeling like it. But after four weeks of not moving much, i know I’ll be anxious to get back in the saddle.

I failed in my plan to eat super healthy and do yoga every day in preparation for the surgery, so I am not going into it as strong as I’d envisioned. I guess I will focus on the recovery period to get my health mojo back. I know, I’ll pretend I am at a health spa, with a regular routine of veggies and yoga!

I will be back before you know it though! Until then, Happy Spring!

Let Nature Nurture

There is a lot of pain, fear and anger in the world these days. I don’t know if it is worse than years, generations, decades or even centuries past, but it is certainly stressful. I have been avoiding the news, discussing the news, thinking about the news… I just need some time to recover from the raw emotions of the shootings in the United States, I need time to fully process and recover my strength. I don’t have time to turn to nature to help me heal, so instead, I’ve been hunting through my photos for pictures of some of my favorite healing nature places.

Water

My most relaxing place is the ocean. I love the crash of the waves on the rocks in Mendocino, which is my happy place. But there are many oceans, and rivers, and bays, and lakes, and other places that have water that make me happy.

Trees

I love trees, too. I love their huge size, the bright green when the leaves are new, the dramatic skeletons when the leaves are gone… In forests and in fields, and down the street from me. Trees are completely uplifting.

Blossoms

Any bright and cheerful blossom in the spring makes me smile – I can’t get enough of the gorgeous colors around me then. When I lived in New York City, I lived near Fort Tryon Park, and spent years wandering through the park soaking up the vivid colors. And I’ve always loved gardens – botanical gardens, gardens at historic estates, gardens of my neighbors. Bright colors make me happy!

Fort Tryon Park, in 2007

Just looking at these pictures make me happier, and perhaps more resilient. Of course, they also bring back happy memories, which probably also lowers my stress level. It’s a nice reminder to see adventures with friends and family over the years.

I hope you have a moment to stop and smell the flowers and enjoy the trees. It won’t solve the world’s problems, but it might make them easier to stomach.