A Marsh Morning

FarmBoy and I took our Saturday morning walk into the marshes again this morning, and we were delighted to find a path we had not been on before. As soon as we stepped onto it, we realized we had disturbed two little brown rabbits. One darted immediately into the bushes alongside the trail, but the other scurried for many feet down the middle of the path ahead of us, in full view. I am pretty sure that was so that we would be certain to acknowledge that he was sporting a truly fabulous and unusually large white tail, which was worth risking all to display.

Before turning around at trails end, which was a sidewalk and a road, we breakfasted on wild blackberries, which were growing so high as to look more like a blackberry tree than a bush. Then, on our way back from where we had come, we were surprised to realize, in the lowest-lying part close to the marsh, that we were walking among numerous shiny yellow-green frogs. There must have been hundreds of them, thumbnail sized, springing like popping corn for several yards, among the tall grasses on either side of the trail. We walked ahead single file, with our eyes fixed on our feet, to be sure we didn't step on any of the little guys.

Back in the woods closer to home, we saw a tiny squirrel, gnawing away on a nut as he perched on a tree branch. Nothing surprising in that, but a joy to witness all the same.

Health Update

So, what is my life like these days? Here is a little of it. I have wanted to post something about this for a while, but couldn't figure out how to do it just right. The bottom line is that in getting help for my daughter's depression, it became clear that both she and I have bipolar disorder. We are both being seen by a psychiatrist and a psychologist, and we feel very hopeful about getting healthier in the days and years to come. (After all, we didn't just get it, we have had it, and will now get help.) Anyway, as I am pretty mind-numb just now, my daughter agreed to tell you what having bipolar disorder means for her. (I am sure I will have more to say in future posts.)

Here she is:

Uhh.. okay.
Bipolar, for me, is a fluctuation between four different things: a depressed state, a manic state, an anxious state, and a "normal" state. Then there's also differences and fluctuations in physical, emotional, and mental energy.

I'm pretty sure my mom and I are fast-cycling in our Bipolar. For three or four days we will have a baseline of one of the four states. Then within those days, there are other, maybe "mini states" that happen. For example, I'll be feeing a baseline depression, a manic state on top of that, and have low physical energy. I think I go through three different cycles within a day. Usually normal in the morning, anxious in the afternoon, and manic at night. Depression just likes to turn up whenever it can.

I have no idea if I'm explaining this well. Umm..

When you're depressed, you feel hopeless. Everything looks dark. You can't possibly feel happy, and when you do, it's extremely short-lived.

My manic state is usually what people would consider "hyper". I have fast moving thoughts, and I'm generally pretty perky. I laugh a lot. The downside is that I am agitated. I twitch and move a lot. I'm also quick to anger and I lash out without thinking.

Anxiety is just that fluttering, scared, unsettled feeling. I guess that could be part of manic, but it gets so extreme for me, I put it in a different category.

And normal. ♥ Normal is when nothing is really taking you over. You are generally in control of your emotions and impulses. When I'm normal I'm at peace and pretty happy.

A couple weeks ago I had a baseline normal state and I'd go through mini cycles throughout each day, but life was much more manageable. I'd feel anxious, but it wasn't overwhelming.

I guess the big sucky part about bipolar is that you're REALLY overwhelmed by any type of emotion. It's like you're feeling it as strongly as you possibly can, and there's nothing you can do about it.

I'm on a medication called Lamictal. It helps to keep my lows and highs at a less extreme level. Instead of constantly switching above or below the line, swinging like crazy, I can stay pretty close to that happy medium.

But I guess.. even though I'm feeling bitter about it today, bipolar is also a really cool thing. Since you experience all type of emotions and fatigue, you can really empathize with other people's problems. I think there was also some study that bipolar people are more likely to be creative, but I don't know about that.

That's enough. I tried, mom.

Wall Hanging Revisited

I got the wall hanging back and quilted it with quilting thread. I am renaming it. It is now Ethan's Quilt. I feel much better about it.

Never Give Up

Sans Auto's post today has a link to one of the most moving videos I have ever seen. Proof that things are never hopeless, when there are others who care (as there always are). Follow the link to the video here.

A Favorite Quilter and Mommy

I just love Amy (and her little Bea). Here is her latest post, with a great new quilt to love.

Fairly Inspired

The Texas quilts are in the mail. FarmBoy and I visited the Western Washington Fair in Puyallup yesterday. We ate scones and checked out the quilt displays, and I couldn't wait to get home and get started on this next project.

Conviction

Bryan posted a very moving passage from a book today, about a young man who stood by his convictions in spite of intense persecution. Perhaps you will be touched by it, as I was. See it here.

The Texas Quilts are Finished

Homemade Crunchy Wheat Cereal with Flaxseed

I have been making my homemade cereal with flaxseed added. I simply make the cereal, as shown here, but I stir in a couple of cups of flaxseed meal before the final baking. When the cereal has been transformed from a "cake" into "nuggets" by the blender and are on the pans ready for the oven, I pour some whole flax seeds into the blender and let it whir them into meal, which I then stir into the nuggets before baking. It works great and the flaxseeds are a very healthy addition to an already healthy treat. I eat a cup of the cereal with yogurt every morning.

Inspirational Decorating

Jane Brocket continually amazes me, and now she has shared some photos of her beautiful home. Wow!

Three Shirt Quilts

This is where I have been lately. Whenever I have had a moment, I have been working on these three quilts, each pieced together with different shirts once belonging to FarmBoy's father, who just passed away. I made one for each of my husband's siblings, and hurried to get them finished in time for his sister's visit from Massachusetts. Tonight we all shared a meal at a brother's home, and I surprised the family with the quilts, which were tied and laundered in the knick of time, just this afternoon.
As shown in the close-up, I left labels on some of the shirt pieces, and used the buttons from the shirts to embellish the spots where the quilts were tied.

Fun Stuff

Here's a link to Allsorts for a silly name-generator game. Have fun!

Sweets in the Air

I love September! The weather here is perfect. Today as we took a morning walk, a breeze rustled in the leaves of the trees, making the most calming of music. But the highlight today was the smell of the forest. Something happens in September to make the air smell like spun sugar at a country fair. Except, this sugar is colored gold.

Collection Complete!

Today my husband gave me the sixth plate (upper left) to complete my collection of Villeroy and Boch Cottage salad plates. I am delighted to really have all six for my very own! Thank you, FarmBoy!