Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Balcony Garden


When I was diagnosed with scleroderma just over 10 years ago I gave up a great deal, most significantly, my back-to-nature life  style, living in the woods off the grid, solar power, no running water, outhouse and so on. Unfortunately there's no going back in my present condition and I've accepted that, moved on and am enjoying my life in the city. I also sold my motorcycle and my truck, the up side of that being that I'm saving a shitload of money. My power wheel chair is my sole means of transportation now and I am grateful for that.

I also gave up walking a minimum of 5 km every day, playing guitar, photography and gardening among other things. Guitar and photography are now back on my list and this year I have decided to get back to gardening in a big way by growing my own vegetables on my balcony. In the picture above are two varieties of tomatoes, sweet peppers, basil and lettuce. For direct planting I have carrots, peas, beets, cucumbers and hope to get some seed potatoes soon. All seeds are organic heritage seeds and all are recommended for container gardening. I've planted extras for my son and daughter and may still have a few for a local plant sale in May. Oh, I also bought an apple tree, also recommended for container gardening and which I am really excited about.

I also purchased a grow light with full spectrum bulbs and it has proven to be money well spent as my plants are all looking very sturdy and healthy. I've already planted the lettuce into 4" pots and, once I am able to get out and purchase some potting soil, soon I hope, I will transplant the rest where they will stay until mid May when I do the final transplant and move them outdoors, hardening them off in the mean time.

I am very excited about this little project as it is just one more activity that I will have reclaimed from my pre scleroderma days.

Life is good. 

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Gratitude

This morning I met with family at a coffee shop for breakfast and even though I didn't eat I did have a cup of coffee. Now, to most people, this would not be worthy of a blog post. I mean, pretty mundane right?

Well, for me there's nothing mundane about it. First of all, for years now I've been hesitant about going out in the early morning because I could never be sure about my bowels. That's still the case on many days but today I felt confident enough to make the leap. And then to actually drink a coffee while out is just as scary for the same reason. But again, I decided to take a chance and it was fine. In fact I relished that coffee and the fact that I was there chatting and sharing the experience with family. So yes, I am filled with gratitude for what most people take for granted every day and I am all the better for it.

I then came home and made myself an omelet which I also enjoyed.

Yesterday, I met with my writing group, our final meeting of what has been a tremendous learning experience for me. As a result of this course I hope to publish a book. A Few Acres of Snowhopefully some time this fall (Click on the link to read excerpts.) Again I am most grateful for having had this opportunity to work with so many supportive and gracious people.

Life is good.

The picture was taken after breakfast in an adjoining park.


Monday, April 7, 2014

Spring


Sage advice. Having to give up my back-to-nature life style when I was diagnosed with scleroderma was one of the hardest things I ever did. But it's not like I had a choice. The rapid onset of this disease also meant that there was no time to think about it. It just happened. And so I transitioned from a carefully orchestrated life plan to no plan at all. I was simply in survival mode. 

That was ten years ago and I don't know that I can say that, even at this point, I have a plan. But I've certainly progressed beyond survival mode, of that I am certain. Instead of an overall life plan, I've been taking on challenges one at a time and it's working out well. I've become a semi-professional artist selling my work through various venues. In fact, I was at the library last week and someone recognized me and said "Oh, you're the artist." Got to admit, it felt pretty good. I've also come up with a way to play guitar despite my frozen hands. I currently volunteer with three organizations and have started what I hope will be a large vegetable garden - 2 varieties of tomatoes, potatoes, peas, carrots, peppers, beets, lettuce and several herbs - on my balcony. In other words I am keeping very busy and enjoying every minute of it. 

On another topic, our spring meeting is fast approaching. We are fortunate to have Stacey Gicone, an Occupational therapist, speaking on care of the hands for scleroderma patients. If you want more information, contact me and I'll fill you in on time and location.

My son hosted a BBQ yesterday, the first of the season and I was able to partake of the delicious fare he offered up. Yeehaw, spring is here.