Catching up

I've been taking time lately to work on books I've already reviewed.

My BF was recently diagnosed with MS, and we have been dealing with that, the craziness that brings with his meds destroying his immune system and our need to isolate due to that, and then the added necessity due to covid.  Every person has different symptoms as well as experiences.  His has been very trying for us both.  His vision completely going was what eventually led to his diagnosis, and while it's come back somewhat, it varies from day to day, which is frustrating for us both, because sometimes he can see, sometimes not, and I try to share this or that with him not knowing when he is able to see things.

He is in constant pain, and his hands and limbs do not always obey him.  It makes it extra hard to keep him occupied with things he is capable of doing, with his hand and vision issues, playing video games etc is a frustration for him, and he often gets VERY negative.  We finally decided maybe getting a HUGE smart tv might help, though our apartment is not large.  That way he might be able to see and enjoy shows, and may be able to try games on days when his sight and hands are behaving somewhat.  I've suggested things like books on audio etc, but he doesn't seem overly interested in that.  I think at this point he is mostly just trying to keep what senses he does have, and fighting to make them work the best he is able.

With his medical issues and my PTSD and anxiety, it's quite difficult at times to get along.  I do my best to be supportive and encouraging, but it's definitely difficult when his anger, frustration, and depression takes a turn for the worst.  There are times he talks about not wanting to be here, and since I watch him daily struggle to walk, try to keep entertained, frustration over being isolated at home, and more so since people won't follow directions during this whole covid thing, I understand.  I know me, and I'd find positive things or at least look to keep me going.  I also don't suffer from clinical depression though, and so I know it's a larger struggle for him to get to that same point.

I watch the insanity of the present goings on in the world and think that people don't understand that all of this, makes it more difficult on those of us who are stuck in isolation for medical issues already to heap on the issues of people meeting for these politically charged riots etc and not following the recommended courses of action to keep the spread of covid down.  All it does is make us less able to go places safely due to added issues.  I won't even touch on the current insanity of people rioting and thinking that they are within their rights to protest, when clearly they are breaking the law, causing harm, death, destruction, and chaos rather than peaceful protest.

Either way, I'll still be sharing my art I've been working on to try and keep my own PTSD/anxiety in check through all of this.

As you can tell, I've been busy with art, hopefully you have some awesome coping mechanisms for this current insanity as well!

Lots of pictures

I can't remember what pictures I have saved that I've already posted so I'll just pop them on here since I've been remiss in sharing lately.

I've had tons of sleep issues, but it's ok, the world's been going nuts and I've been just using my relaxation and experimenting with mixed supplies.  I've also got a few pictures to share that I didn't do.  The koi pictures were not mine, but she had a lot of fun using water color pencils with me for the first time.  I think she did a heck of a job on them.

I started a review on a Johanna Basford book, and didn't get far because my bf's niece saw it and asked where I'd found it, she'd just graduated from H.S. so I gifted it to her.  The book is similar in format to Johanna's other books, and the page density etc is very similar, so perhaps I'll review it at a different time, if I replace it.  It was the World of Flowers book.  I know I have shared the benefits of coloring in the past, but I want to again state that the benefits are wide ranging.  They range from creative problem solving to anxiety control etc.  It's also a wonderful time to spend the day with friends or loved ones.

I do think there are a few new books in the pictures I'm sharing, and also examples of what bleed through is for those that don't know what it is, and why you should be careful if using thinner paper, or double sided books etc.  I'm getting better with some of my more troubling types of art mediums, and I'm getting a bit more brave at mixing them for different effects.  One such example, I tried to used one of my pencil sets to have a sort of chalks effect.  I think you'll be able to pick it out.  I don't currently have that medium among my supplies, but I think it turned out as a similar effect.....in fact, I think I'll put that picture on here first.  It's mixed with glitter gel pens, and crayola 120 color set.  The details with the pens took far longer than it took to try for a pastels/chalk sort of effect from the pencils.

I also learned that some mediums don't layer over others as easily, for instance, gel pens can be a bit finicky when you attempt to layer over colored pencils.  At any rate, enjoy!!

That's it for now, looking forward to seeing everyone else's creativity as well!!

I call her my little Angel

My little Annabelle Lee...

I've talked a little bit about what the difference is between a pet and a therapy animal.  The end of last month through a good bit of this one, I learned just how amazing my little lady could be.  We had an unexplained and urgent medical issue, which I won't discuss here because 1. it's not my story to tell, and 2. this is about how amazing a little 5 lb girl less than 2 yrs old was during all of it.

Meet my beautiful little angel, Annabelle Lee.  She's always very affectionate, but her patience was put to the test when she was asked to go from doctor to doctor and sit patiently on a lap through so many visits and then during a hospital stay.  Always on her leash, even during the hospital visit, her ability to roam was seriously limited.  I had brought puppy pads in case she needed to use them, but she instinctively knew what kind of place we were in and refused to use them.  I took her out a few times where she did go number one, but again, refused to go number 2 in a place of healing.  On those few occasions, I allowed her to walk through the hospital halls where she was on her lead that does stretch out, to give her some freedom from the confines of a lap.  My little lady was SO amazing, she walked beautifully, responding to me locking and gently pulling right or left to indicate which direction to go.  She didn't bark at the doctors, nurses, maintenance staff etc.  Everyone that met her either on the floor where we were or walking through the halls seemed so amazed that a chihuahua wasn't yippy, and for her size how amazingly well behaved she was.

Well, yes, she does have chihuahua in her, but she also has rat terrier, I think they also tend to high energy antics.  I've never had one so I can't say for sure.  I wish I could take credit for her amazing performance, but honestly, I think she simply has an innate ability.  I've taught her some things, which she's still learning, she is still a baby after all LOL not sure any other 18 month old babies could have withstood all of this.  She is typically very good at knowing the difference between her indoor voice and her outdoor voice.  I have been telling her since she was small, thank you for letting me know you hear a noise or see a person, but please no shouting, we can use our indoor voice.  She IS talkative, and I think some people mistake her talking for aggression, because when she uses her indoor talking to people voice, it sort of sounds like rrrrrrrrrr but with very little mouth opening so I think some people think it's a growl.

She doesn't talk to everyone, but people she REALLY likes and wants to pet her she talks to, to let them know she'd like pets and that she's not done with them yet LOL.  She has been going everywhere with me ever since she was very small, so part of all of this is that she knows she must behave to be able to come.  She also knows that MOST places she is carried from entry to exit.  The ability to walk the hospital corridors was a VERY rare occasion, to let her take a break from her work.  The only issue she seemed to have with all of this was people just coming and going from the hospital room.  She would get louder than normal for indoors at times, though I'd say about 90% of the time she maintained her indoor demeanor and showed off her abilities beautifully.  Of course, in her defense, her person was not well, AND she'd never had people coming and going without being permitted in.

I can not imagine how, even though she's gone everywhere with me since she was little, she knew how to be SO amazing and patient.  This was not her normal run about town, to a doctor appointment, grocery shopping, etc.  This was SO much more difficult and stressful for everyone, and being someone who can't verbalize her concerns, or how she was feeling, she truly, truly showed me just how amazing a little girl she is.  People that knew what happened, and how amazing she was through it all, just broke down in tears because she's just such a special angel.  They were touched, as I am everyday, to see what a loving, supportive, and patient little girl she really is.  She's never received formal training, she was picked for us by my sister who saw her nature, and knew what type of personality was needed.

Honestly, she was so in her element, and walked through the hospital so naturally, that I may have to get her a doctor's coat and stethoscope, just so she's properly attired.  I was thinking of combining this with some reviews of books that were long overdue because of all that's happened, but I think, this post should simply remain about her.  I can't thank my sister enough, nor those who had her in the litter of puppies and gave her to me.  If only you all knew JUST how amazing she is, you'd cry too, just like I do when I stop to think of it.  I can't help it, it's not because I'm sad, it's because she is just so amazing I can't help but to be touched by her generous nature over and over again.

My little angel, My Annabelle Lee.  A tiny dog (and my lovely daughter) with a LONG name, and possibly the biggest heart it's been my privilege to know.