Tuesday, April 28, 2015

IT'S BEEN A LONG SIX WEEKS!

I think I'm finally up to posting again, but it has been a long and not too pleasant six weeks.  Apart from the actual medical procedure, the worst was that the hospital doctors took me off my normal medications, cold turkey.  After I complained, they gave me something as a substitute, which was not effective and which my own doctor said was "too little, too late".  Consequently the side effects of going off my normal meds turned into strong withdrawal symptoms for about a week or more.  Not pleasant.  In fact very scary.  It has taken me about 3 weeks to begin to feel like myself again.

In the mean time I've missed April, but not completely since our lovely little new home is in the midst of trees and the creek and I've been able to recuperate by watching the baby birds, and birds passing through, not to mention the antics of the ducks, which I'm sure will be accompanied by ducklings any day now.   Everything is pretty well in full flower now.



Somewhere along the line we have acquired a new all-black duck.  He is quite a bit larger than the other mallards and I have not been able to identify him.  

This is obviously not a very good shot, but I'm posting it  to show how much like a goose he is.  In some sunlight his head and neck do have the green iridescent  color like the other mallards, but not nearly so noticeable.  He has to be some hybrid I think.  He does mix with all the other ducks and they don't seem to object to him, even though he is quite a bit larger.


We have had the beautiful purple ice plant removed, because it is dying back in a quite a few places and looking kind of unsightly.  It's coming to the end of its life.


We have also trimmed back the large Lantana bush which never stops blooming, and made some major changes in the look of our small front yard.  These should be finished in a day or so.  I will publish the photos soon.  I know I'm going to be pleased.  As much as I liked the ice plant, it only stayed looking beautiful for about a month.

I don't think I will get back into ABC Wednesday this week, but hope to be back to this and Creative Tuesday next week.

I am to have exploratory laparoscopic surgery in the next three weeks or so, but I am hoping it will be no more than a 48 hour procedure and not involve cutting out my medications.  You can be sure I will be letting my needs be known long and loudly after the last fiasco.  The next major hurdle will be if they find anything and what they (I) will choose to do.  Will cross that bridge when I come to it.

Hope to be blogging again soon.  See you then.



8 comments:

Gill - That British Woman said...

good to see you back. Hope everything goes well for you.

Terra said...

Welcome back to the land of blog. It sounds like you have been sojourning in the land of Oz, or some similar place as you recover.

Black Jack's Carol said...

I am very happy to see this post, though sad that you have been through such a difficult time. Enjoying the birds (the black duck is amazing) and appreciating your beautiful garden are great signs. Your faith in God and your resolution to let your needs be known "long and loudly" give me hope that the laparoscopic surgery will go more smoothly than this past hospitalization did. Will be sending lots of positive thoughts your way.

Wanda said...

Oh Chris you have really been through a tough time. So sorry. Meds can really take us for a loop if taken away too fast. Sorry you had to experience that.

Hope they can solve your problem without too much surgery.

I could only think of the story of the ugly duckling...in my little children's book, he's black. haHa.

Your yard looks lovely. Hugs and Prayers

Mersad said...

I hope you will feel better soon, and that those procedures will go through well. Thank you for sharing your lovely images with us, and I hope you get to enjoy some of the spring time as well.

Kay G. said...

Hey Chris,
Hang in there, girl, you have that British blood in you, right?
It sounds like a tough time with those meds, hope it is getting better for you now.
Lovely photos of your garden and that black duck, amazing!

snafu said...

Glad to hear you are feeling well enough to blog again. Hope you can keep on the up. Your yard is looking good. I suspect your black duck is some kind of goose. Its beak is not very duck like and it stands like a goose.

Alan Burnett said...

It is a pleasure to read your posts again. Take it easy, grow stronger and keep on watching that wonderful wildlife.