It's May 17th! (World Awareness Day for Neurofibromatosis)

Today, May 17th, is the day designated for promoting WORLD WIDE awareness re Neurofibromatosis (NF), a medical condition that has affected yours truly since birth, please note the verbiage (referenced within the square) in the text-based image atop this posting.

Organizations seeking to promote awareness about this affliction are asking folks to wear blue and green as a sign of their being in solidarity with the plight of one's who have NF.

Additionally, buildings across the globe are turning on blue and green lights to to show their support; as evidenced in a posting by the Children's Tumor Foundation @ https://www.ctf.org/shine-a-light-on-nf/

Unfortunately, even though I have been traumatized by many consequences related to my having NF, I don't own blue and green clothing, so I cannot help in this manner, but what I am doing to raise awareness is working on a book which is tentatively titled, Imperfect Strangers, and its content describes some of the consequences of living with NF.

A video about "Imperfect Strangers" can be found within my Vimeo and You Tube channels. Here are the links:

https://vimeo.com/338407819

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt4SvgkRXuc&t=6s

And while I may not be wearing blue and green clothing, the European starlings who visit my garden, have blue and green features, as evidenced by the photos I'm including here in the images below:

This bird type is featured (along with many other bird varieties) in my books. You can find info re this matter within a post on my blog via this link:

https://www.thelastleafgardener.com/2018/10/one-sheet-book-series 

Not so fast, Youngquist

In my last post here on Blogger that was much overdue, (the delay was unavoidable due to my having very serious medical complications), which were mostly as a result of my having Neurofibromatosis (NF), part of what I state in this post is, "Depending on the outcome of that appointment, I'm not sure how frequently I'll post but I will begin sharing content re my amazing space and the birds I observe from my window, a nice thing to be able to do when recuperating from foot surgery and a mastectomy."

The appointment I referred to was one with my surgeon who reconstructed my foot this past August. A photo montage atop this post feature my progress. The outcome of that particular doctor's visit indicated this: 

Although I will still have to use a soft-shoe cast, I can now switch out of it and a wear a special sneaker part-time, and if I use a cane I am able to walk outdoors, albeit minimally. I will return to the surgeon in November for X-rays and hopefully bandaging can be removed and restrictions on mobility will be lifted.

"Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't." [At long last: An Update re my unintended hiatus from Blogger]

I am well aware that it has been over a year since my last post here on Blogger where I spoke about the fate of the Autumn clematis which at that time grew in my garden. I also stated, "However, given my new battle with Neurofibromatosis (NF) and the limitations this brings, it may be quite a while before I can tell my flora's stories. Plus I need to concentrate on raising awareness about NF which I hope to do through my book project, Imperfect Strangers."

During this unintended hiatus from publishing posts on my blog, I have had one trauma after another non-stop, mostly related to my having NF (multiple surgeries and treatments for which I'll spare you the details).

Please know, I've missed working on my blog and am quite humbled by the fact that people have contacted me re when, and if, I planned to return to this endeavor that I've been involved in since December 2009.

At this juncture I don't know if I'll be able to fully return to my blog for my computer is no longer functioning as it should. I was able to use a computer to create this posting but that may be an only one time deal.  

Meanwhile, I've been very involved in finding ways to get a new machine and will continue to try and make that happen, not only for my blog, but for my book project, which has been on hold due to what is going on with my machine.

This situation has also disrupted my ability to procure assignments with the on-line publication that I had been writing assignments for: narratives accompanied my photographs. 

It also has prevented me from being active with uploading new work to my venue on fineartamerica. 

In any event, I’m not particularly superstitious, but now that I'm posting this update, please let me confess, that I did find it interesting that a little bird spent time in my garden (this past December and January) as I attempted to get through these new hurdles with Neurofibromatosis.

The creature I am speaking of is a ruby-crowned kinglet, "a small bird with a big spirit." An image of my visitor visiting my garden can be seen atop this posting as well as in the copies of photos I took of him that are directly below.

Ruby-crowned kinglets are known for courage, strength, as well as determination and have been considered to be a symbol of hope and renewal. Birders concur, the ruby-crowned kinglet reminds us that no matter what challenges we face in life, we can overcome them and they remind us to never give up on our dreams and to remain positive in the face of adversity, for this tiny creature sings (as do many birds) even in the darkest times, reminding us that hope and joy can be found.

Many weeks have passed since this creature visited me, yet I'm still hoping the truism re the presence of such a bird holds, and that I will be able to return to my project. 

It was a very recent encounter that I had which reinforced what I feel is a a need for my book project to come to fruition. Here is what occurred:

One of the sons of the owner of the building where I live pointed to my face and in an unkind manner (although I've been the target of much worse comments and questions) asked about my bumps. 

This is something I "should" be used to at this stage of my life, but there are days when encounters such as this get me down, while other times I can brush off them off. As an old candy bar commerical jingle (composed by Peter, Paul and Mary) proclaims, "Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't."

In any event, a video of my book project's intent was posted last September on You Tube as well as Vimeo and the response was very encouraging as evidenced by copies of comments that are posted below:

                                   

With all of these testimonials, now, more than ever, I hope to move forward with my "Imperfect Strangers" project.

Thanks again to all my readers of this blog for checking in during my absence from posting.  

I hope to continue doing it again, but what with my health and technology issues, it may be sporadic, so feel free to check my smaller updates as well as my "stories" on Facebook.

It's beginning to look a lot like Autumn! (Tuesday's Truths WK 223)

Welcome to my 223rd episode of my Tuesday's Truths series. As you undoubtedly know, dear reader, tomorow is the first day of fall and my truth for this segment is this: 

It is beginning to look a lot like autumn in my rooftop garden (a partial view of it is featured in the image atop this entry).

The photo directly belows shows that my Crepe myrtle seems to enjoy this time of year, evidenced by her brilliant pink blooms.

This next picture indicates that my Pyracantha coccinea (AKA Orange Charmer) is looking marvelous after Juan V pruned her. She knows that she has bragging rights for she is featured in my first garden-themed movie, The Kiwi Speaks Fifteen Minutes of Fame...almost (which can be viewed on Vimeo and/or You Tube.)

My Sweet Autumn Clematis was also included in the aforementioned movie and in the image directly below, she can be found climbing up a trellis and sporting her white flowers, with many more waiting to bloom as evidenced by the many buds she is "wearing."

Another "character" in my aforementioned movie is my Japanese Red Maple who is honored to share his home (container) with pumpkins and squashes.

Not ones to be out done by others, both my Anemone and Contorted Hazelnut are flourishing (and have many buds) too, as seen in the next picture.

Up next is a photo-op of my Smoke bush who is thrilled to be sharing her container with an array of pumpkins and a few squashes.

My Beech tree  (below) is especially happy for the opportunity to share her container with pumpkins — particularly since she suffered severe trauma when my landlord hacked her back in May.

Additionally, my Coral Bells Heuchera is thrilled to stand alongside my "urban hedge" (metal custom shelving currently being occupied by a number of pumpkins and squashes).

All of the aforementioned flora and much more that grows here are featured in each version of my books which have "Words In Our Beak" in their title.