Living with Ourselves

[Adge]

Hi @Sophia1 

Yes, unknown Dogs jumping up at me gives me a terrible Scare (too).

Being bitten does sound very scary - I'm so sorry to hear that happened.

I don't remember a dog actually attacking me - Yet my worst traumas are Blanked out.

Amnesia due to intense traumas - So I don't remember the worst of them.

Though I do know enough about what happend - & some people who saw things happen (who were there), told me exactly what they saw.

I don't get any Singing Birds in my backyard, though Honeyeaters coming to the Grevilleas I planted is Lovely...

So my own Bird Chorus of Canaries etc Singing is the Best Thing, Lovely to Hear - Couldn't do Without them....

I've not had any Diagnosis for Raynaud's Disease - Yet:

"However, the most common symptom of Raynaud’s disease is color changing of the affected areas. Hands can turn almost blue in response to the poor blood circulation, which decreases the amount of oxygen being distributed to the affected areas."(From your Article/ Link)

 - Fits me on a regular basis.

Several times this week, in fact.

Virtually all of my fingers (on both hands) turned Blue, & lost circulation & any feeling sensation.

Usually it's exposure to the Cold outside that does it.

Sometimes it's clenching the Steering Wheel of Car, whilst Driving that does it.

I had to go to some efforts, for 20 minutes or more, to restore circulation & feeling sensation in fingers.

Warm water on fingers works best & fastest - Yet not too hot, or that makes it worse, maybe causes a burn.

It has been worse recently, much harder to restore circulation (fingers very blue) - I don't know why.

Busting a blood vessel, that hurts, not nice at all - Ouch....

Adge

[Sophia1]

Dear @Adge 

So sorry to hear that you experienced trauma on more than one occasion.

Your mind and body was in the fright/fight/flight mode and decided to go with the flight taking the details away from the conscious part of your mind.

This was the safest path for you  at that time.

You might never remember and if that is the case leave it be. Your mind and body are looking after you. 

Trauma can dissipate slowly after time. 

Learning to trust this process helps the healing.

Look after you.

Yes my fingers can become blue or white and numb. Moving around often helps getting my blood circulating.

I try to drink ginger tea and turmeric tea. Hands on the warm cup find some relief. Gloves, scarves, jackets, hats. 

I was taught to dress in warm clothes having lived in very cold countries.

Finger is still swollen and blue. Can move it now and pain has eased. I shall survive.

Stay warm Adge and enjoy those birds.

I have several grevilleas that I have planted along with buddliea.

Do you know much about bromeliads?

I have some under the gum tree which are not as happy now that the cold winds have arrived along with some frost.

The ones that I have potted in my garden house are thriving and twice the size.

I will keep an eye on them once spring comes to see if they are happier.

Enjoy your day

Sophia with more sunshine for you 💛

[Adge]

Hi @Sophia1 Your fingers are still blue, that is worrying.

Yet pain has eased, so that's at least some comfort.

I'm in Damage Control Mode over our Restrictions (1st) then total Lockdown.

Shock at only discovering, almost 24 hours after it had already come into effect.

Then not so much the Lockdown itself - The "Flow-on effect" of all of my Exercise (Physical) + Social (Group) Activities being suddenly cancelled.

Plus a total barrage of needless sms & emails (communications) about it.

Unhelpful to me, receiving them - Triggering Overwhelm, because of the sheer Volume of Communications all at once, all Marked/ Publicised as "Urgent".

When they are irrelevant, unhelpful, & a painful nuisance.

Yes I need to wear more warm clothes too - Gloves would be a good idea, I never think of wearing gloves.

Buddlieas are lovely.

Grevilleas are fairly hardy once established - Attract Honeyeaters & Wattle Birds, which is great.

I love Bromeliads, yet have not had any for years.

Tradesmen stomped over my last surviving Bromeliads, & killed them all.

Bromeliads are a Tropical Rainforest plant, mostly from South America (I think).

They need a lot of warmth, yet maybe filtered light (Shadecloth?) - As direct Summer Sun here is Very Hot, & might burn them a bit.

They need wet conditions, or to be kept moist.

Hot & totally Dry here in Summer.

Bromeliads expect/ need Summer Rainfall - So they don't like that at all.

Your Bromeliads under Gum tree may be too shaded (not enough Sunlight) - Or Gum tree's roots (being a tree with extensive roots) may be sucking all the nutrients + moisture (water) out of the soil.

So maybe not enough moisture or nutrients (or Sun?) left for the Bromeliads.

Thanks for your Sunshine.

I'm very Achy (sore) in neck, shoulder & joints, plus feeling cold (semi-numb fingers & toes) - So I do need some Sunshine.

Have a Lovely Day (if possible).

Adge

[Sophia1]

Thank you @Adge 

I am about to log off and head outside to follow the sun.

The bromeliads were doing well even though I only planted them from pots into the ground last summer.

Still learning what grows best, where.

I had not thought about the roots of the tree taking all of the moisture and nutrients.

Even though my husband has set up separate sprinkler systems everywhere, the Bromeliads love water in their funnels don't they. I would over water if anything.

I will keep an eye on them. Actually I am eyeing every single plant which is many every time I go outside.

I love seeing the garden grow  and start to take shape.

It will of course be an everchanging garden with the changing seasons.

I have just cut back strongly my cosmos which I love.

I have been spreading seeds.

They are growing everywhere now even In my husband's special turf!  There are also wild mushrooms or toadstools growing in the turf now cosmos as well!

I have some beautiful flowering hollyhocks which have new babies growing also.

Some succulents at the front of the house on the embankment which has two retaining walls, are not liking the gully winds and light frost. I am going to take them out and put them in a pot.

I have a couple of grevilleas there along with a smaller kangaroo paw.

All  trial and error.

Annoying emails. Yes I understand that being frustrating.

Interruption to classes and social groups is difficult.

Are you able to keep in contact via group text messages or some other form. I hate social media so am not the best person for suggestions there.

Do you think that you might like to be part of adding to an ongoing, not knowing where it is going  story?

We are in need of more friends of Christopher Robin. 

Have a read of letter writing thread and see what you think

An opportunity for you to show off some more of that lovely humour that you have.

No pressure though.

Sophia 💚 connecting with nature so good for the soul

[Adge]

Hi @Sophia1 Cosmos growing in your husband's special Turf - I would love that, I bet he doesn't....

Despite working on a private golf course as Gardener (not Greensman) for 7 years - I am not a fan of Turf.

Trees, shrubs & groundcovers were always my thing.

So if Cosmos or anything nice with flowers covered my front Verge/ Footpath (instead of grass) - I would be very happy.

In Bromeliad's native rainforest habitat - Many types of Frogs & unusual insects live permanently in the water pools/ ponds in the Bromeliads.

Frogs even breed in the Bromeliads.

Letter writing sounds a good idea - I don't know where that Writing Thread is.

Journal writing is about my only available Self-Expression.

The only Succulents I have are 2 large Jade plants - Yes I planted everything myself.

There was nothing here, barren like a sandy desert, when I moved in.

Plus "Ogre Ears", which is a variety of Jade plant - I've taken sprigs/ cuttings off it - Now have lots of little Ogre Ears as well.

Mushrooms or Toadstools growing in the grass - Nice! I love to see those pop up.

Not game to try eating any, as many of them are poisonous.

Adge

Adge

[Sophia1]

Hello @Adge 

I have written you an  epic reply.

I have decided to proof read it and post a better version later.

So I will  definitely be replying to your last post.

I have been on here for far too long as usual.

I need to let Winnie the Pooh and friends know that I will be over there later also.

Gosh I had forgotten how much time is taken up in responding to people on the forums.

Enjoy your day doing something that you like.

Talking to your birds, a little gardening, pruning, reading a book. A calming time.

Sending you nature again

Sophia💚

[Sophia1]

Hello @Adge 

I have not forgotten about my promised reply.

I just have not had time or headspace to proof read my saved version.

I need to check it and amend some as I believe that I might have written too much which might identify me.

As you can see on the letter writing side I am in a right pickle.

Confused, confused with who is who, confused about where a post should have gone.

Generally confused.

So am attempting the peer consult thingy. If too hard which I have a feeling for me at present it will be, I shall call it a night.

Sleep well

Here is a green heart  and I have now been taught by Eeyore how to write on here with colour.

💚

Sophia

[Adge]

Thanks @Sophia1 I'm in the Peer Chat now.

I can never keep up with the pace of writing/ posting.

I get left far behind virtually always - & cannot barely interject with any of my own comments.

I usually have to Resort to just Supporting/ Liking everyone else's posts.

When I said hello & introduced myself - as we were all asked to - there was no acknowledgement or response.

Adge

[Sophia1]

Dear Adge

How awful..

I have not even being successful in actually logging in or joining as a guest yet....2nd time last night

My head was foggier and confused.

I messed up a few responses on letter post.

apologies for calling you by wrong character name

Today not much better.

Have not had time to get to proof read my former promised response.

It is not you it is the forum technology...

Sophia 💛💛Some warm, welcoming sunshine for both of us.

[Adge]

Hi @Sophia1 I wish to affirm that it is definitely not you Re: Forum Technical issues.

I have similar issues semi-frequently - Some have Never (in 4 & 1/2 years) been ressolved.

eg I have never (in 4 & 1/2 years), despite many many attempts - Been able to Attach/ Post Any (not a single one) Photo from my Computer or Mobile Phone, that I have taken myself.

So, eg, instead of a Real Photo of my Cat Jelly (or my Goldfinches, etc) - I have to Attach/ Post a Website picture of a Random unknown Cat, or a Random unknown Goldfinch.

Because I have usually/ always been able to attach pictures off the Web/ Internet - but never my own Photos or pictures.

So for eg, even though I had taken a Photo myself of Wave Rock (Hyden, WA) - I had to Attach a Website picture of Wave Rock, because Forum will not attach my own photos.

Here is some Sunshine for you....

Adge