Two Month Anniversary

It was two months ago that I underwent a kidney transplant. Much progress has been made since then, but there is still much to go. We were told the first three months of recovery would be the hardest. It has been an uphill climb!

Initially, each day I could see improvement...and it felt so good to be able to do a little more than the day before. At this point, the improvements have leveled off, and some of the transplant medication side effects seem even stronger than they were in the beginning, or at least they're more noticeable. Prednisone has caused significant and uncomfortable swelling in my face and belly, some of the medications cause bloating and stomach upset, and the tremor I experienced from the onset is still present, though it seems to have tapered off a bit. I still feel tired a good bit of the time, too. Slowly, I'm adding more and more activity to my days, but it is frustratingly slow. A small amount of physical exertion can be very fatiguing.

Recovery is a time of starts and stops. It's a process that's both physical and emotional. Sometimes, it's a lonely place, especially when you feel as if others don't understand what you're going through. At times, it's very important to remind yourself how far you've actually come and reignite the faith that you'll continue to make strides, slow as they are. You need to go easy on yourself and be your own best friend. And...even with the stops and starts...it's always best to look at the bigger picture and be grateful for the opportunity given - that miraculous second chance for a healthy, full life.

Brookside Gardens at Eastertime

We were so fortunate that Desirae had the opportunity to be with us over the Easter weekend!

We packed lots of fun and traditional activities into the time we had to share. We colored Easter eggs, baked and frosted Easter cupcakes, and, on Easter Sunday, paid a visit to the Grotto of Lourdes. We also went to a cat show, which was very entertaining! I fell in love with the Maine Coon Cats - so large with such striking markings and lush, thick fur coats. We saw all sorts of breeds that were new to us. One type had a curly coat making it resemble a teddy bear :)

On Easter Monday, we drove down to Wheaton, Maryland and visited Brookside Gardens. When Desirae was a young child, we lived in an apartment complex that bordered Wheaton Regional Park, and we walked through the park to the gardens many a time. So, it was like visiting an old friend - a place we both remember fondly.

The day we visited the gardens, robins were hopping about everywhere! Desirae got this shot of one spry bird that slowed down long enough to pose for the camera.

A favorite first stop at the gardens is the large greenhouse conservatory that houses many tropical plants. Here, Desirae poses in front of a puff ball flower tree.

Brookside Gardens is such a beautiful natural sanctuary. It covers 50 acres and includes a wide variety of horticulture displays and formal gardens. Another favorite stop is this lovely Japanese Gazebo overlooking a pond filled with colorful koi and aquatic turtles. There were all sorts of turtles swimming about and sunning on the pond banks.

Walking trails wind through the gardens, linking points of interest and offering a peaceful retreat for the enjoyment of the natural beauty all around.

The bright flowers and flowering trees and shrubs of the gardens attract many butterflies. In the photograph above, a Mourning Cloak butterfly gently alights among the blossoms of a flowering cherry tree.

Deer Jamboree

There is a herd of at least a dozen whitetail deer whose home range is the wooded land around our cabin. We see them out and about every day. In the morning, they mill around the woods grazing on whatever greenery they can find in the forest understory. At dusk, they come to sip water from our little pond. At night, they bed down in the leaves, often within eye shot of the cabin.

This afternoon, as I sat down at the table for a bite of lunch, out of the corner of my eye I caught the funniest thing going on outdoors. As I directed my gaze out the window, I became captivated by the antics of the deer. Single file, the herd traipsed across our driveway and collected in groups of about three. The first of the three left his small unit and raced as fast as he could down the hill into the thicket. When he had quite a lead, the second followed, and then the third. A new trio would emerge and repeat the whole process - one, two, three raced down the hill. This pattern continued until all of the deer had gathered and run downhill, one by one, but, when it was the very last deer's turn, he waited a little bit longer than the others. Then, he careened downward. His white tail bobbing, he leaped higher and dashed swifter than any of the others had before him, literally tearing down the hill. Guess he had to play catch-up! The deer appeared to have a great time with their downhill race, especially the last one who certainly made the very most of his run!

We're looking forward to seeing the newborn fawn later in the year. Undoubtedly, we'll see at least a few of them this summer with all the deer we have living around the cabin now...and undoubtedly we'll continue to be entertained by their antics for days and days to come.

Early Spring Wildflowers

Bloodroot Blossom

One of the earliest wildflowers to bloom around our cabin is the delicate bloodroot. The showy white flower heads stand out in contrast to the dusky leaf cover on the ground. It's always a welcome sight to see these pretty spring flowers, but they don't last for long. Within days, they shed their snowy white petals.

Growing up, I was very fortunate to have woods to enjoy and explore right behind our home. I spent countless hours wandering the trails and taking in nature's beauty and surprises. Springtime brought so much new life and color. Tiny pink and white spring beauties and violets in purple, yellow and white sprinkled the forest floor with bright spots of color. One of my favorite and elusive wildflowers to see, and, like the bloodroot, one that didn't last for long, was the trout lily, so named because its spotted, waxy leaves look like a trout's speckled skin. The flowers of the trout lily in our woods were yellow, but they can also be white. Each plant has one bell shaped blossom.

As the days grow longer and the temps get warmer, more and more wildflowers will beautify the woods, but the early bloomers always are a cheery beginning to a most lovely time of year.

Celebrating Springtime

Handpainted Tile Made in Spain

The Magical World of Springtime

By Carice Williams

The magical world of springtime

Is at our door again,

With smiling skies and warming breeze

And gentle April rain.

The gladsome songs at dawning

Of small birds in a tree

Are telling us that springtime joys

Are bursting constantly.

The magic world of springtime

Has laid her bounteous store

Of flowers and trees and singing birds

Outside our very door.

The hills are carpeted in green,

And soft blue are the skies.

A magic world has come to life

Before our very eyes.

Everyday, more and more birds return and serenade us from dawn until dusk. Colorful flowers sprout and bloom. Trees and shrubs burst forth with greenery. Days grow longer and the sun warms and brightens the awakening earth. There is magic to behold in every new day.

Spring is a time of rebirth and a celebration of life.

Weekend Getaway to Gettysburg

The first weekend of spring was absolutely beautiful - picture perfect sunny, warm days with bright blue skies. Kevin and I traveled north to close-by Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to tour around and enjoy a stay at the historic Gettysburg Hotel, which was established in 1797.

Healthy Hemlock Standing Tall in the Soldiers' National Cemetery

Our first stop was the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center, a huge complex that houses a museum collection of Civil War memorabilia, a theater, the Cyclorama exhibit, and several gift shops, eateries, and offices. After viewing a film about the battle of Gettysburg and taking in the impressive Cyclorama exhibit, featuring a narrated, light-up mural in the round of the fateful "Pickett's Charge," we wandered through the halls of the museum. There were countless artifacts from the war and more historical information than could possibly be taken in and absorbed in one visit. It was an impressive and sobering display.

Abraham Lincoln's Famous Dedication to the Fallen at Gettysburg


One of Many Museum Displays


A Monument Now Stands in the National Cemetery
Approximately Where President Lincoln
Delivered His Dedication

After touring the museum and the Soldiers' National Cemetery, we headed to downtown Gettysburg. Our hotel was located across the street from the Wills House, where Abraham Lincoln stayed and honed his address before delivering it at the Soldiers' National Cemetery. After checking into the hotel, we visited local shops and enjoyed some ice cream. In the evening, we had a delicious dinner sitting at a cozy corner table of McClellan's Tavern which was located within our hotel. The tavern was named after a local war hero.

After dinner, we sat outside on a park bench taking in the scenery of the town and soaking in the ambiance of this historical place. The small town and farming community of Gettysburg was forever changed by the battle that took place here. Our country was deeply affected by the outcome of the battle that raged on for three days in July of 1863. The battle of Gettysburg is considered the turning point of the Civil War. The Union victory here slowed and weakened Confederate forces irreparibly and ultimately determined our fate as a nation that would remain united. Those who lost their lives on the battlefield fought for a freedom preserved and over time extended to all Americans.

First Signs of Spring

Early Bloomers

Such a long, cold winter we had in the east, with blustery days and so much snowfall! We've all been longing for the warmer, sunnier days of springtime...and they are finally on their way.

Today, it was up in the fifties outdoors. I decided to do a little garden clean-up. When I went outside, I discovered two crocus flowers in full bloom. What a welcome sight! Most of our crocus bulbs had been consumed by chipmunks or squirrels last year, so I was especially happy to find two healthy plants heralding the coming of spring with their colorful flowers.

After clearing off layers of crusty brown leaves from the rock gardens, I further discovered that many of our perennials are starting to sprout. The daisies, cone flowers, and columbines made it through the winter to bloom again. I look forward to their continued progress. Kevin also found that the May Apples growing along our driveway are coming up. We saw a cotton tail rabbit scoot acroos the drive the other day, too! All good signs that spring has almost sprung!

On a recent visit, my sister brought me the lovely shamrock plant pictured above. I love it's emerald green clover leaves and delicate white flowers.

Spring officially arrives this weekend...and St. Patrick's Day tomorrow.

May the luck of the Irish be with you and HAPPY SPRING!!!