Last week I had full panel blood work done and the results were mixed. I knew the A1c would be higher than last time because I ate like the worst possible foods over the past few months. But I didn't expect other things like the beginning of signs of heart disease (what my Dad had). I have glaucoma from my Mom's side, I guess it's no surprise I might have a few traits belonging to my Dad's side besides diabetes. What disturbed me was how I got here not physically but mentally. I am usually a fairly positive person but when I learned I had glaucoma I spiraled a little in realizing there would be a challenge ahead with art and my eyes. I'm not unable to create art yet, not really even close, but the thought is there. And so over the past few months, I decided to eat an extra sugar free cookie, have a little more pasta during a meal, slowly pushing fresh veggies aside and going for the potatoes. You get the idea. Bad choices happen. The good news is it's close to becoming salad season and I will enjoy more salad and will add some heart-healthy foods to the diet hopefully bringing the borderline numbers down. But I surprised myself because I thought I was handling things really well until the constant chronic pain started in my body and the feeling that it just was too much of an effort to exercise the way I like. I did spiral, as I said, but just a little. I'm trying now to get back to the exercise routine that I truly do love and reminding myself I can snack but only in limited amounts. Right now I have to wait about a month before I can talk to my doctor (lots of reasons but not important for this paragraph to make sense) and so I have time to pull myself up and start again or continue again and not try to slide back down the hill.
We'll be celebrating my oldest daughter's birthday tomorrow. I'm so proud of her and love her very much. I hope she knows how special she is. If she doesn't, it's my job to let her know!
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| First attempt with the die cut machine - pretty cool! |
Meanwhile, I have been making art. Even when I felt sorry for myself or even a little more than sad, I created art. Thank the Universe for that one!
I'm getting one more piece of furniture for the Purple Palace this month so the organization will continue.
I finished both art journals that I started last year (I know I shared them recently here - scroll down to find the post if interested). Put them on the proper shelf in the Purple Palace and called them done. Now in 6 months, should I decide to go back and look through them and maybe add a mark here or there, is anyone's guess. But meanwhile I tried to decide how I wanted the next few art journals to look. I pulled apart an old book, separated some pages and kept some pages glued together. In that way I can use some for collage fodder and some for small journals. They are very gratifying. More so than the huge books I've did last year. I like about 10 pages to a book, I've discovered.
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| Soon to become art journals! |
I've worked on cards. I want to put these in an accordian style instead of a flip book.
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| Both sides are collaged but not all the mark making is finished |
My sticker book is up-to-date!
I also did a little watercolor last week. I'm building quite a supply of cut outs for journaling and other collage.
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| I never tire of peace signs that look tie dyed! |
Enjoy your week!
Cindy, EarthMotherMosaics - Mixed Media Art
Instagram: @artbyearthmothermosaics
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Stay Peaceful and Enjoy the Journey
