a walkabout

I had to get bloodwork done this week at the new doctor's office and walked up there on Wednesday morning.  It was humid and foggy.  The last stretch of the walk is on a bridge over the railroad tracks, and I loved how they seemed to disappear around the bend into the fog.

It was still foggy when I walked home, but I stopped to explore some bright colors I saw across the road.

I think these ^ are cosmos flowers and have been following a woman on Instagram who does floral printing and dying with naturals, especially cosmos flowers she grows in various colors.  I may have to sneak back and get some of these to try one day, if not this summer then next.  I don't know what the flowers below are, but they were beautiful.  I saw a few wild lupines in a deep purple, but they were up an almost vertical hill that I did not want to attempt to climb.  Along the walk, there was wild honeysuckle growing in the shade and the scent was just wonderful.  It has inspired me to get some for my own very shaded side yard ... ah but next payday.

I picked up my acrylic pour project from last Saturday after it had dried, and tried several photos to capture the iridescence of the blue black paint on the right side of it.  The picture doesn't do it justice.

On a very positive note, my labs came back with exciting news and an answer to prayers.  My A1C has dropped to the point where I am not considered "diabetic" but a "watch and see" now, and have stopped taking the meds.  I've been wearing a continuous glucose monitor for over a month now, and it has good and bad points.  The good is that it has helped me to learn which foods have a negative impact on my blood sugar.  The bad is that it has helped me to learn which foods have a negative impact on my blood sugar.  Cheese, a protein I love, is not on my good list.  However, bacon and eggs are, and I'd been avoiding them because of the cholesterol concerns.  Go figure.

It is now Saturday, and I'm being very productive in spite of this brief break to finish this post.  I've already patched the holes in the ceiling left behind when my landlord replaced the single light with a fan/light fixture in the bedroom.  I've vacuumed, and am waiting now for the spray paint fumes to dissipate in the bedroom from the central air intake in filter cover which had unsightly rust on it.  Once this is posted I will finish cleaning and organizing in the bedroom, then patch the holes in the ceiling in the office and work there.

But first, more coffee.

Hope your week has been good, and your weekend will be wonderful.

Hugs, Ci

Sunday ...

 Church, as always, was amazing.  We baptized another three in the creek after the first service.  If you are ever curious to watch one of Pastor Garrett's messages, you can view them <here on the TRC website>.  The second service yesterday was a Song-Fest with several members of the church performing, including yours truly with the adult choir.  No ears were harmed from my singing.

Between services, there was the Dandelion Festival Parade in town.  Frequently, the parade participants will drive/ride/walk back down the street I live on, from the end of the parade to get back to the starting point and where their vehicles are.  Yesterday, I didn't walk into town for the actual parade but instead waited until they came by the house.  

A knight in shining armor came by looking for a fair maiden [clearly he didn't stop at my house].  He was with a group of riders advertising the [link>] WV Renaissance Fair which happens every weekend in June.  I didn't go last year since it was when I started to be sick, but this year I'd like to see if I can get a ride to go up on the 11th for their Celtic Crossing weekend.

I'm scheduled that morning to make a faerie door craft at Wren's Nest, so it will be a fun day if I can do both.  Or even if not, it will still be a good day.

One of my four surviving peonies bloomed, and it gives me hope that next year, and the years after, I will have a beautiful garden by the front door.

Finally, I won a coveted book this month, and from just the introduction, I know it will be a good read and that I will likely buy others from this author.

It is NOT fiction, but a fascinating story of birds of prey that she has owned and worked with.  As you may know, I'm an amateur birder and love all things nature.

Tomorrow we honor the memories of those who have fought and died for our country.  I have several in my family tree who fought, and a few who died in wars.  One who always comes to mind was a young pilot in WW2 who disappeared along with his airplane somewhere in Alaska.

If you served, thank you for your service.  If you lost someone, I'm so sorry for your loss.  And as Ukraine continues to fight, I pray that one day, there will be peace for them.

Hugs,  Ci

saturday ...

I love going to Wren's Nest. 

It is just so beautiful and relaxing.

Today was an acrylic pour class.

She has an amazing garden.  These are flame azaleas.

Charlie spent the day getting spoiled by his aunties and has been renamed "Prince Charles."

tgif ...

Today is the start of a thankfully long weekend, and it started off with a wedding reception for two wonderful people ...

... and I got to spend some time with this sweet boy, the nephew of one of our church members ...

It is the [link>] Dandelion Festival weekend with a lot of events planned in town.  Including several live bands that I can hear from the comfort of my back patio!

Tomorrow I'm taking a leisurely walk through town to see all of the booths while on my way to an acrylic pour art class.  I'll share lots of pictures, but first this one from after today's rains ...