Storm clouds are a reminder of how small we are in this world. They remind us that we’re not in charge. They also remind us that we can witness their gift by standing in awe of its power and beauty. But first we have to stop and look.
Stop and Look
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Storm clouds on the open plains yesterday -
Look with open eyes
“Zen is less the study of doctrine than a set of tools for discovering what can be known when the world is looked at with open eyes.”
Jane Hirshfield, The Heart of HaikuI was surprised to see the dusting of snow and fog this morning. So I took the long-cut to the coffee shop via Stuart Street to visit the cottonwood tree at the Fisher Nature Area Trail. If you look closely you will see a red tailed hawk in the top of the cottonwood. Fog has burned off as blue sky and sunshine make their appearance. Have a wonderful Saturday and look with open eyes!
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Post Surgery Update
A cold blue sunset back in February 2021 Overcast skies dominate and it’s windy, definitely a bad hair day. Want to update my status after surgery. The TAVR procedure went well. They were done in just over an hour. Surgery started at 7:00 am and I was home about 5:00 pm. They fractured the original valve that was installed back in 2018 and inserted a new valve inside of that one. All done through the arteries. Amazing! My body seems to know nothing about a new aortic valve being installed. However, my groins are well aware of the three catheters invasive entry into my body, one in my wrist and one in each groin. I walk with pain, bent over like an old man, slow and deliberate, one foot in front of the other. Getting up and down from a chair is a slow process also. All tests done so far show the valve working perfectly and the gradient numbers of 40 we saw before surgery are now below 20. That tells us the heart is not working as hard pre surgery. I cannot say enough for the care I received from the medical staff and all the support and outreach from family and friends. Now comes the slow recovery process but this is nothing like I had with my open heart surgery four years ago. More to follow. Hope you are having a wonderful day!
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Update
The Cottonwoods on Stuart Street a week ago The true purpose of art then is to expand our consciousness, enlarge our perspective, and evolve our understanding of the world and others. And, as consciousness transforms through making and viewing art, so do our actions and interactions with life leading to greater empathy, justice, and enlightened decision-making.
David UlrichHave pretty good news after my appointment with hematologist yesterday. The JAK2 test they did was looking for mutation in the bone marrow cells. They were all negative. So no bone marrow cancer! The doctor thinks I might be iron deficient and the bone marrow is just not able to keep up with cell production due to lack of “building material.” So he’s going to try giving me a couple treatments of iron viA IV. If that’s the core issue we should see positive results in a couple weeks. Very low risk with the procedure and minor side effects of low energy and achy for a day or so. I also have an angiogram on the 13th then meet surgeons on the 15th. We will discuss the possibility for another valve replacement which would include a root enlargement to fit a larger valve. And, Happy American Heart Month.
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This way…
“When we allow ourselves greater freedom in space and place than has come to be the norm, we create our own pathways of meaning and knowledge upon the land where we dwell. Wandering freely, we garner landmarks, presences, ecological awareness, a sense of kinship. Our brains and our hearts alike gather this knowledge as we become intimate with the paths that speak to us most strongly. Our footsteps in the outer world create an inner, wilder cartography that whispers, This way, this way…
Lyanda Lynn HauptI drove by these trees the other afternoon when it was cold and overcast. I vaguely remember how different they looked in an image I took this past fall. Not quite the same perspective and the change of seasons is quite obvious. Yet, each time I pass by I have an opportunity to draw more intimate with these trees and if I listen closely maybe hear their whisper, This way, this way…
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Shadows and Tracks
Shadows and tracks in the snow from Thursday It’s been mostly gray skies today. The sun tried to make an appearance as I watched from my bedroom window but to no avail. It has been cold also and the reason I sit in my bedroom, much too cold to be on the porch. I’ve not had much energy or ambition, although I did get things done and accomplished. For those on the east coast and the Great Lakes area, stay warm on this cold Saturday!
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It is within…
The ancient rhythms of the earth have insinuated themselves into the rhythms of the human heart. The earth is not outside us; it is within: the clay from where the tree of the body grows.
John O’DonohueSorry for another quote by John O’Donohue but he is one of my favorites. Yesterday was a fairly good day for me, I rested well and the energy carried through the day. We have been in a cold spell the past few days. We received about 1-2 inches of snow a week ago and it still is on the ground. Overcast skies and the cold temperatures have kept the Colorado sun from melting the snow and warming us up. However the weather app says we can see sunshine this afternoon. Anyway, here is an image from a cold December sunrise in 2011. Have a great weekend!!!
