Animal footprint in the 2011 Halloween Snow

Wobbling Along

Undergoing new chemical treatments for intractable pain isn’t an easy process. As my neurologist says, “You can’t make omelets without breaking some eggs.”
Though I am receiving relief from the constant body-wide pain of Fibromyalgia, I am unable to move very well. I feel as though my body is a bag of wet cement. It shifts slowly as I try to move, but weighs me down and negates the ability to move quickly or accurately. It is dangerous when walking past the top of the steep staircase when you have a wobble in your step.

I haven’t felt confident enough to drive while on these meds, and when I do get out I am quickly exhausted and grateful to get back home. Being home hasn’t hindered my skin care project until now.

At the point where I have product to sell my body needs down time, and I am lost just before Christmas with no way to sell my products or even to catalog my products in a price list and information list form with photographs.

My hope is that those who have shown interest in my skin care project will still be interested in learning about better skin care after the holidays.

This batch of first recipes will be significantly cut down to a hand full of products, and my glass jars will change when The Kitchen Witch Creations skin care line hits shelves in January.

I had missed being able to post…

…while I had technical difficulties with WordPress and GoDaddy issues. Hopefully that is done now that I have upgraded my hosting plan. It’s all Greek to me, but now I am back at it.
The last month or so I have spent day and night at my wood stove stirring up some wonderful creams and butters for face and body. Now that the creating part is done, I am switching over to photographer. I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to photography. I do take all the photos and process them for this site, but now I have small bottles and jars to capture through the lens…

The Kitchen Witch Creations

For a blog project I began researching herbal skin care making six months ago. That led to me creating my own recipes for a line of skin care products made with fine oils, local wildflower beeswax, organic herbs and flowers, and essential oils.

I wanted to make my own moisturizers as I have tried so many drug store and department store brands and still could not control dry patches and fine lines on my face. My throat was aging even faster. It also seemed that available products for sensitive skin still retained the overly long list of ingredients unknown to the average consumer.

I ordered bottles, jars, labels and took a walk through my herbal cabinet for ingredients the average housewife would have on hand. I spent day and night in my studio mixing, infusing, and packaging a product line  now called Five Element Arts The Kitchen Witch Creations.

While in small talk with my hairdresser I mentioned my latest endeavor and she now wants to carry my line of skin care products. BOOM! Business begun.

Everyone Is Haunted These Days.

I grew up with your basic long-term live-in ghost in my parent’s nearly 200-year-old house. Long before the explosion of ghost hunting, I grew up scared of the unseen around me… Continue Reading…

Alone

For the first time, I am completely alone. I have always had a cat or two, and after the death of a four legged friend, I always had another animal to take care of during the grieving process. Sammy helped me through the loss of our last cat, Vincent.

Sammy, my poodle friend, died recently, and I am alone with no one else to care for.

It is a process that encompasses every aspect of my life. I always had to think before moving, before leaving the house, before taking a step.

It is strange to wake up and start my day without my dog at my side.

I am now free to leave the house without consideration for anything other than my plans. I can stay out as long as I want without having to return home and let the dog out.

Today I went out shopping with no time constraints to return home. It was freeing, yet sad and lonely when I returned to the house, now empty without Sam.

My Friend Is Gone

My sweet friend, Sammy, has passed away unexpectedly after a short illness. With me only seven of his fourteen years, Sammy was my best friend, my nurse, my clown, my every moment’s thought. My love. Life without him is unimaginable at this time. I miss him terribly. Continue Reading…

Holiday Animal Prints In The Snow

These animal prints in the snow were found in the same place I photographed prints last winter.

This is the first snow of this season to stay on the ground and it is a pleasant addition to the holidays.

My photographs of animal prints have been the most popular item on my web pages. I hope you enjoy these prints.

Top Five Best Spoonie Gifts For The Holidays

Spoonies, or chronically ill people, are all about comfort. Helping a loved one in pain to stay comfortable and stress free is a great way to show your support and concern. These are my top Five suggestions for this holiday season. The prices range from $20 to close to $200. Most items can be found online at Amazon.com.

1) Silk Chiffon scarf.

Chronically ill people can have difficulty keeping their neck warm to avoid tight muscles, tension and migraine headaches. A soft squishy scarf that does not irritate the skin and can be wrapped around the neck twice is a blessing, especially when you wear a scarf to bed to avoid stiff neck muscles. Personally, I’ve learned to wear a scarf all the time. A colorful chic scarf can add a glow to otherwise pale and wan cheeks.

2) Coconut Water.

A case of Coconut Water – I prefer with Pineapple – is a perfect gift for spoonies who need to stay hydrated and need to keep foodstuffs close at hand when bedridden and perhaps alone for many hours. A bit pricey for an individual Tetra box, but by the case – don’t make the spoonie carry it! – it is an affordable and valuable gift. A better choice for natural hydration. Great for IBS sufferers.

3) Kindle.

Books are heavy and cumbersome for people with chronic health issues. A Kindle is a great way for a spoonie to keep up with the world without having to leave the house to get a book or magazine. When you are  awake at three am and are looking for a particular style of writing to help you through the pain, the lack of sleep, the loneliness of a sleeping house when you are trying to keep The Birds calm…curling up with the perfect good read is possible with a Kindle. Update: What a difference a year makes. Now the Kindle Fire is available. Regrets…I’ve had a few…

4) Gift cards for Amazon.com, iTunes, etc.

These are a great way to provide hours of distraction from the pain and isolation of chronic illness. The gift of choice is a help to a chronically ill person. To choose movies, books, music or perhaps a therapeutic device or comfort item is a wonderful way to show you care.

5) Soup

Soup is the universal gastric hug. Check with your spoonie for ingredients that should be avoided, but making a batch of soup and freezing it in individual portions in disposable containers will have your spoonie hearing the voices of angels. Not a cook? A box of ready to make vegan soup will be appreciated by any spoonie who needs quick and easy meals.

Don’t forget the caregiver(s): Recognition for a difficult lifestyle can give a boost to a frayed husband/wife/lifepartner/buddy/parents. They didn’t sign on for this. A night out with friends or family for a few hours can invigorate the soul of a caregiver. Laugh. Play games. Take their mind off of the weight of caring for a chronically ill loved one.

The Birds for Spoonies

Trying to explain to a close friend what it is like to be chronically ill, predominantly with Fibromyalgia and related conditions, brought me to a road block. How do you explain to people who get out of bed in the morning with a full day planned that I can’t even plan when I’ll be able to get my feet on the floor and get up out of bed each day.

I haven’t had the words, and as I try to wrap my brain around the question, another question comes at me. Then the questions are repeated with more intensity closer to my face and all I can do is stammer and cover my face; protect my brain; try to stop the overwhelming feeling flashing through my brain cells. The longer it takes to respond the more it looks like any response is dubious, at best. I’ve had to turn away from these situations before it flairs through my spine resulting in cramping of muscles, pulling on my skull, burning pain through my brain that fights relief. As long as I can keep meds and a bit of food down, I’m okay. Being an hour from home..not okay.

This most recent encounter with my friend took place in 32 degree F weather with a brisk wind off the Maine water. Between the questions and the weather I was stopped cold in my tracks, so to speak, and I refused to walk further. I’m not used to standing up for myself. I tend to be a people pleaser, at my detriment, but this lesson has been hard learned – listen to my body and respond to it’s needs.

I’ve been accused of running away from people. I haven’t been running away from you. I am running towards relief. Running towards a chance of catching the pain before it settles in and takes over. I am running towards relief. I am in plain site – in my bed – awaiting visitors. Where have you been?

This episode brought about my chance to learn about Spoons as they relate to chronic illness. The Spoon Theory was a great way to visualize my day and I left the theory out for others to read. Asked them to read it. I put out a jar with the used Spoons for the day with the remainder beside the jar. Near the door. You’ll know as soon as you walk in how I’m doing for spoons today.

As great as The Spoon Theory was for me and thinking about my activities in a different way, it didn’t cover the mental toll that pain and other symptoms takes from us. When confronted on the windy street all I could do was wave my arms around in front of my face, trying to clear my brain, trying to communicate when systems were failing, trying to keep the birds from pecking my eyes out.

That was it. My metaphor. My visual tool for my chronic illness control.

Alfred Hitchcock’s movie The Birds with Tippy Hedren.

I googled for a picture of the birds in the face scene, and I also found a beautiful photo of Tippy Hedren in a classic little black dress with a Raven sitting quietly on her arm.

She looks so elegant in this shot. So in control of the moment. Unafraid. Poised. Calm.

She may be gorgeous in this photo, but you can’t forget she has this huge bird on her arm.

That’s how Fibromyalgia feels. I clean up well and I know how to wear 3 inch heels and put on Mascara, but no matter how good I look ( but you don’t look sick?!) Fibromyalgia and other chronic demands are holding onto my arm with claws. Always.

Now add other stressors. Other symptoms. Take your pick. About anything will do it. Before long you are fighting off the crazed birds. They want you taken down and all you can do is hope to reach the safety of your meds, your TENS unit, and anything else you count on to get through a spell.

I’ve printed out 8 x 10′s of each picture and I’ve hung them beside the bed. Anything that helps you is worth putting near the bed.

Now I have a way to convey my struggle. How many birds are after you today?