Spring

Spring, oh spring, please come quickly!

Time to start planting the seeds indoors, and getting the garden prepped outside.

I'm ready for sunny days, warmth, and being able to sit outside without shivering.

I'm ready for pretty flowers blooming, butterflies, birds flocking, and hikes again.

I am done, done, DONE with snow.  I am done with bitter winds.  I am done with raw noses.

Ok spring, I'm ready for you.  Bring it on!

I've got the fever -- spring fever

I hope that groundhog Phil is right -- early spring!  I'm just itching to get my hands back into the soil outside in my garden.

Nine more babies to catch -- then I need to finish up some odds and ends in the office setting, then I am DONE with clinicals.  I can't wait!  I'm hoping to have everything completed by the end of March.  Babies, please come earthside when I am at the hospital, ok?  Thank you.

In general, I am just ready to be done.  Done with cold weather. Done with clinicals. Done with school.  Done with work (just kidding!).  I feel the need for a serious vacation.  Something warm, tropical, fruity drinks in hand, lounging by a pool or on the beach somewhere.  Who's with me?

Spring break!

And here I thought I would be in a frenzy of blog posts to catch up for not posting as often as I used to..........and I was instead actually relaxing and enjoying my spring break from school instead.

Just one more term of didactic courses before I start clinicals. I cannot believe how close I am to that! Wow! The time has certainly flown by. Not necessary a fast "flown by", but nevertheless.

I've actually gotten a bit of my creativity back over the break. My youngest and I have been creating masterpieces (ha ha, just joking!) with paints. I found this technique for crackling using Elmer's glue and we tried it out several different ways. Not too bad with the results. Some sites that have "inspired me" to try new things with paints:

Geraldine Newfry

Creative Edventures

Nina Ulana

Watercoloring Painting Tutorials ---- SO MANY great techniques here!!

I've also tried my hand at watercolor paints. Anything with color and paint has been a challenge for me. I tend to usually just do black and white in pencil or use colored pencils. The whole watercolor thing - I've found that the more water you add to the color, the easier it is to work with. Oh, and proper loading of the brush with the watered down paint helps too. See the 4th link above this paragraph for free tutorials that I have used. So many different ideas, not enough time to try them all!!

Happy spring everyone :-)

Pretty flower goodness

The season....for allergies

I can, without a doubt, tell you that my allergies get worse every single year. I have them 24/7/365. Spring, summer and fall are definitely worse than winter. I can always tell when the seasonal outdoor allergens are peaking. My eyes itch and water, my skin breaks out and itches, my chest gets tight (with lovely asthma exacerbations), and my nose runs/sneezes.

Those allergens listed in that picture above? I can tell you that I have hypersensitivity reactions to almost everything listed. Everything except bees and shellfish. Thank goodness for small favors right? 'Cause I love eating shellfish, and goodness knows, bee stings are just my favorite thing in the world. (Just kidding on the bee stings there.)

I'm the freak who tests positive to almost everything on the skin testing for allergens. I even tested positive on the negative control. Go figure! I warned them not to use the cat dander and saliva allergens. Can we say major hypersensitivity response........hello Miss Ana-Phyl-Axis! Yeah, that was good times.

I'm also the weirdo who the ER nurses hate, for all of my allergies. Let me pull out my list here, so I don't forget any of them. Don't even bother putting in my food allergies. Too many of those to list too.

The eyes are really bothering me for the past week. Itchy, watery, edematous. I changed my contact lenses out to a new pair today, hoping that it would help. It helped very minimally. The more time I spend outside -- which I love -- the more intense the reaction to my eyes. I'm guessing that the grass is pollinating, and also the flowers are starting to bloom, which leads to most of my spring time outdoor allergic responses.

Mowing the grass? Forget it. Must seal the house when the grass is cut, and don't even THINK about stepping outside while it's being done. Yeah, that sure is fun when it gets warm outside!

At least I never have to mow the grass.........there is a bright side to all of this!

One more day until....

My lovely spring break from school is almost over. Tomorrow marks the first day of the spring term for my courses. This time I'll be taking "Nursing Theory" and "Decision Making for Primary Care". Sounds exciting, right?

While on break, I certainly did live it up with some fun and relaxation! I'm almost finished reading the 3rd book in a series of (so far) four books taking place 12th century England. Ariana Franklin is the author.

Book #1: Mistress of the Art of Death
Book #2: The Serpent's Tale
Book #3: Grave Goods

I also took several hikes on some old and new (to me) hiking trails. I did some photography along the way.

I have another trip planned for hiking and photography, and hopefully, I'll get to go do that this upcoming week. Hint: it's wildflower season!!!

A-CHOOOOOO!!!!!