Mid 50s out there, overcast and damp, dreary. Saturday was nice enough that i got out there and started cutting back some of the dead stuff; the lantana, the yellow butterfly ginger that hasn’t bloomed for a couple of years and probably won’t get any this year, the pink butterfly ginger at least what’s left of it, picked up the orange cosmos I had pulled out the week before, worked more on clearing out the overgrowth at the end of the shop. That five feet or so of cleared ground on the left is what I’ve done so far plus some behind the air compressor that was completely engulfed that you can’t see. That area used to be a nice patch of dewberry vines until the virginia creeper and wild grape vine took over.
I uncovered the ponytail palm and it looks good. Uncovered the other plants that always freeze to the ground and they did but I think covering them helps protect the roots. Took the larger pots out of the house and the smaller pots out of the garage so they could get watered by the rain predicted on Sunday.
I’ve declared this first part of the painting done, 4" x 4", and removed the blue tape
and penciled in the shape of the zucchini below.
I figure if I don’t like the way the zucchini comes out I can just cut it off. I’ve sort of picked an image for the next painting. I saved a photo of a landscape with the moon, all fading deep dark indigos. It will be another technique/skill building exercise. Not sure I can pull it off.
I had the TEE yesterday. I’m getting to be an old hand at this joking with one of the nurses that I could tell her what to do. I got the results today via the patient portal: “The WATCHMAN device is in good position; there appears only very trace leaking between the device and left atrial appendage (with maximal diameter of 0.2 cm). No evidence of any thrombosis in this leaking area or left atrium.” So, no change in the Watchman, the heart tissue did not heal over the leak in the last three months. No sign of blood clotting but I am on low dose aspirin and plavix so I wouldn’t expect there to be. I want off the plavix, the whole point of getting the Watchman was to get off the blood thinner and since this very small leak is within the normal range I expect to be able to stop taking it. I haven’t heard from the doctor yet about what the results mean and probably won’t until the end of the week.
So the Watchman is stable but there were some other notes concerning the aortic valve that were not noted from the TEE three months ago. One that there are mildly calcified leaflets (part of the structure of the valve) meaning slight hardening (I looked it up) that can be a result of age but not necessarily. The other note was mild aortic regurgitation, meaning a slightly leaky valve. I have no idea if these conditions are newly developed from three months ago or just not noted previously or something to be concerned about. The third note was concerning the size of the ascending aorta, the value increased from 27 to 30 and while 30 is still normal the increase seems worrying. Anyway more stuff to talk to the heart doctor about. So that’s my health report for today.
Excellent pistil image here. How big is your actual art work? I will from now on look much deeper into our zucchini flowers.
ReplyDeleteI am sure you will have your list of questions ready when you see the doctor. Maybe bring someone along to help you remember afterwards what was said. Aging regretfully comes with physical changes we never expected.
the painting is 4" x 4". It's from a series in glass I did that I refer to as botanica erotica, close ups of the reproductive parts of plants or opening buds or seed pods that suggest sensuality or voluptuousness.
DeleteI talked to the nurse in the doctor's office about the items noted on the report and she told me he wanted to look at the actual images instead of just the report and they would get back to me next week.
Good news on the medical front for you - or at least not bad news. I had to visit a dermatologist yesterday to have a few spots and blemishes checked, the result of a lifetime spent outdoors, I suppose. Nothing was threatening at all. The doctor, a friendly, appealing fellow told me that I am like a rusty old ship, still operating at full speed, with engines chugging away, but the hulk has attracted a few barnacles! I’m happy with that!
ReplyDeleteA life outdoors, yes. I need to visit the dermatologist for my yearly removal of actinic keratosis.
DeleteGlad the TEE procedure went well and hope you hear soon from the doctor about the results so you don't have to worry.
ReplyDeleteDoctor wants to look at the actual images instead of just the report so he can address my questions about the report.
DeleteI need to get out in my yard too. So much to be cut back, cleared away.
ReplyDeleteYes. Keep us posted on the cardiologist report.
Talked to the nurse about my concerns re the items noted. The doctor wants to look at the images instead of just the report and they'll get back to me next week.
DeleteI quite like that watercolor/drawing.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I'm pretty pleased with it.
DeleteI like getting results quickly on a portal, but really hate it when the results don't indicate if it's a bad thing, and if bad, how bad. Here's hoping none of that requires fixing.
ReplyDeleteOf course the first thing I do is consult doctor google which gives me basic information and explanations. Mostly it's aging. The increase in size of the ascending aorta, so says the nurse, could just be seeing it from a different angle since it is still in the normal range. But the doctor is going to look at the actual images before he gets back to me on that.
DeleteCodex: most of the results are due to ageing
ReplyDeleteRight. And I already knew about the leaky valve. And the change in size of the ascending aorta could be simply viewed from a different angle. The doctor is going to look at the images and then get back to me.
DeleteCodex: do you want any tips or I struction?
ReplyDeleteYes, of course. I still have a lot to learn. I did combine the ultramarine with the green that you previously suggested even if it's not very apparent. I probably won't make any changes to this painting as I'm happy enough with it but the more tips and instruction I can apply to future paintings.
DeleteIt's been fun to follow your process with the painting. I've photographed squash flowers before, but I can't remember ever seeing a zucchini flower. I'll have to find some growing this year and take a look. The way the greens and yellows intermingle is just perfect -- good for you! Good news on the medical front, too. I hope you get some firm information on those small changes sooner rather than later. I've spent enough time trying to figure out acronyms and initialisms on lab reports to know how frustrating it can be.
ReplyDeleteThe center of the male flowers look different, more like, you know, males. And yeah, I'm pretty happy with this one. I talked to the nurse and most of it is just due to aging and not concerning at this point. He's going to look at the actual images instead of just the report about the other and get back to me next week.
DeleteIt's good the medical report is decent and even better the plants are in good shape.
ReplyDeleteYeah, all good. The nurse alleviated most my concerns but the doctor is going to look at the images instead of just the report before he gets back to me.
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