Juggling life through a bi-polar lens. Sometimes up, sometimes down. Mostly trying to tread water in the middle. Creating a likeness to a normal life. Whatever "normal" is...

Sunday 18 October 2009

Updates..... and a bit of crafting =) and trying to draw Miss Peach!

The beautiful leaf colours around tell me that autumn has finally arrived here, yet today was like a spring day. Luvbug and I went off for a bike ride in just jeans, T-shirts and jumpers. -Still no need for coats for jackets.

This time of year has a strange light in the afternoon. It makes the late flowers glow, especially the red hot pokers, which seem to fluoresce.

It was nice to cycle past fields being ploughed- with flocks of gulls following the tractor along. And passing under trees as leaves are shedding and fluttering down.... it was all very Enid Blyton! When we got back, we worked out from the map that we'd done about 8 1/2 miles. That meant huge mugs of tea =)

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Thanks for all the messages! The cold or flu, whatever it was, is out of my system now, I think.

I saw the doc aweek ago to get my test results, which were negative for everything. So no diabetes or any further thyroid problems. Hmmm. No clearer, then, as to weight gain and strange goings on in the running-to-the-loo department. As I had already noticed that wheat and sugar seem to make things worse, Doc advised I try strictly cutting these out.

So this is what I've been doing. I did it successfully for 8 days. I did fell less gurgly, less bloated, and the route to the loo was definitely less trod.

THEN! Oh dear. The "certain-time-of-the-month" demon crept up, whispering into my ear "SHOOOOOOOOOOGAR......SHOOOOOOGAR..... you MUST HAVE IT! YOU MUST!" and so on and so on till I gave in, some time in the middle of Friday night. (Sigh). I made toast- with non wheat bread- but slavered it all over in ginger jam. MmmMMmMMmmMMmm scrummy. Then, after about 15 minutes, it was HEY PRESTO! Gurgle gurgle, then orange poo. WHAT the????? I had to retreat to bed in a jumper and with a hot water bottle, as I was so cold and shivery, too.

Hmmm. A bit of a mystery, yes?

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Here are a couple of Christmas cards I made this week. The poinsettia is an outline sticker, stuck onto coloured paper, then cut out and layered up with silicone glue.
The bear stamp was free with a magazine. Isn't it cute? I coloured it with water-colour pencil, but left a lot of it as pencil rather than wetting it. I love the way the cat is clearly happy, but the bear looks a tad annoyed with having to pull the sledge!
Here are two dragons, stamped and coloured with Promarkers. The larger dragon is a Whiff Of Joy stamp. Not sure about the other, as I bought it used, on Ebay last year. Does anyone know of a "how to" video on Promarkers? I'm sure I could get more out of them than I do, I'm not too good at shading and highlighting at the mo.

Lastly, I'm trying to draw Miss Peach:I'm not completely pleased with it yet, so I'll have another go. But as the first cat portrait I've done in a while, I think it's quite nice =)
I've also been working on tag books and I'm going to do a how-to post on them soon, but I want to send off the one I made for a present first =)

I am definitely in an 'up' in the zig zag at the moment. I am doing so many things all at once!!!

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Hope you're all keeping warm and busy!
We are finally getting our central heating fixed- yippee! They start on 2nd November. This means it will be in by my birthday, the 8th. Luvbug even suggested it could be my birthday present. HAH! Nice try, buster!!!!



13 comments:

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

I am so glad you are feeling better. You did a great jog drawing Miss Peach.

We got our bikes ready to ride. now all we need is sunshine!

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

Sounds like you are on the up at the moment. You are very talented with your cards and art work. I think the drawing you are doing of Miss Peach is beautiful.. Very lifelike and very lovely.. Keep well.. Hugs GJ xx

Luna und Luzie said...

I like all your craftings. The painting of Miss Peach is great. You are very talented!!!

hugs and purrs
Luna, Luzie and Olli

Julie said...

Oops! Sounds like the sugar thing is definitely a culprit. I'm glad you're feeling better other than this hiccup.

Glad you've got heating on the way too. Dare I say 'bout time'? Roll on a lovely warm winter.

Your sketch of Miss Peach is very good. Keep it up :o)

Feronia said...

You have been up to some gorgeous things lately, Helena. Love the drawing of Miss Peach. It does sound like some sort of food allergy you've got there. Have you tried going to a naturopath?
Take care :)

Poopsie aka Blue said...

Really pleased to hear your feeling better & brighter.

Love the Miss Peach drawing - it's her sweet face to a T - can't wait to see the completed work, know she will be tickled pink.

Love
Blue

Sandi McBride said...

Such a beautiful talent you possess Helena. The Christmas cards are just so special...and Miss Peach...you'll never be happy with a copy, the original is top drawer!
Sandi

L. Alida said...

Oh Helena, the drawing of Miss Peachie is amazing! It looks exactly like her! Isn't she just the sweetest little bit? Her mommy Karla would be just thrilled with it!
I am so very glad that you are feeling better! Perhaps you do have some food allergy issues. I like sugar far too much as well. A cup of tea and something sweet seems to make things so much better for a while at least. sigh...
How great that you are having good weather! We are finally having some here too.
Were you very cranky going off the sugar? No more chocolates? :( Perhaps a bit right before the monthly nuisance?
I have been playing with the goopy glue and the stickers. Not as nice as yours by a very long shot! But, it's fun! Paper crafting is so relaxing. You get into a "zone" and other worries slip away for a bit.
So nice to see that you will be having your heating problems fixed! No more cold hands!
I am really behind on blogging, but I just wanted to say hi and check on you. I hope you are having a great week so far!
Hugs,
Lorianna

Timaree said...

Glad you are feeling more up. I think your drawing is looking very good. Terrific really.

Your Secret Sister said...

My dearest Helena! I am so sorry to hear you might have some food related issues, and with my wedding coming up and all the good foof we will have there. I will fix you a cup of sleepy time tea made with many different mints. Cole always asks for it when his tummy hurts. OH MY GOODNESS just look at my portrait you are working on!!! Mommy and Lapdaddy love it! I am so honored that you would chose an old girl cat like me to spend your precious time on at the drawing board. You are a kind and talented friend and we treasure all the wonderful art you make for us. Just today mommy craddled the Mystic Mog card in her hands! Please pop over to see my post on the blog today...oh and bring Princess Dilly!!!

i beati said...

is Miss Peach yours?Has an interesting look about her.

jayne said...

you are very tallented. Have you ever gone over to www.fiskarettes.co.uk before? we are a craft blog where you (the crafters) can share projects,enter competitions & challenges plus much more x

Unknown said...

I missed this one the first time round....
It is great to see you doing some artwork and I am loving it. You have captured that almost whimsical expression wonderfully...

I have seen a promarker demo somewhere around *racks brains*, I will come back if I find it again. Hope you are feeling better now than your were.