2024 – Page 3 – SUNDRIP

Chatter – Rip The Heart Out

Posted on September 19, 2024September 20, 2024 by Faith

CONTENT – My cat Joe is dying. Friend always contradicts me. (Changing meds.)

It’s been difficult watching Michael Joseph become weaker and weaker, sleep more and more. It’s tearing me up. I don’t know what to do with the anxiety sometimes.

I’m working on several art projects. I’m successfully working with my CNA. I’m successfully writing letters. I’m holding up my end of things and I’m proud of that. But I’m anxious as I watch my little guy grow weak and cry out in pain. He literally sounded like a cow mooing. It tore through me! My baby Joe Schmoe isn’t well! I can’t take it.

It’s interesting, the very first reaction is to distrust my instincts and listen to others but I’ve thrown that away. I’m his mother. I clean his litter box every day. I brush him every day. I feed him every day and remind him that he’s the mascot of Sundrip so act right little king! lol I hold him. I cuddle him. It’s me he sees day in and day out. We went through the lock down together. I KNOW JOE SCHMOE very well. Seeing him deteriorate is heartbreaking. My God!

Faith

The Deluge – Now in Etsy

Posted on September 16, 2024 by Faith

The Deluge is complete and is in my Etsy shop. One of the things I point out about the balance. The woman standing has legs and feet that are wound around. Each foot meets a tiger lily, a child and a purple flower in full bloom.

It is haunting in some areas. Those are the areas to leave behind. Those are the areas of the past that I can’t take with me to the future that I am building here. I’m not going to another planet. I’m right here. But some of these things need to swim free because they no longer have a place here.

If you visit my Etsy it’s worded better 🙂 You may also purchase through PayPal. Please see appropriate email address on the contact me area.

Thank you for listening,

Faith

To Jorge II, With Love

Posted on September 13, 2024September 13, 2024 by Faith

Remember the brown Dr Martens I was super in love with? I purchased them after someone gave a surprise donation via PayPal?

Well, I had to go back for the black ones 🙂

These shoes are very amputee friendly. I can dress myself which is huge. I feel so normal and like myself in them. There’s nothing about them that’s been altered to fit that ever changing stump. I now have two really cool shoes that expand just right.

I even got the black shoes nearly half off.

Dr. Martens for the win, again. I swear I want to write him a letter and tell him how his shoes make me feel normal. I wont cause that’s weird, but I’m really happy this style hit the market.

I’m also grateful for fun compression socks 🙂 Fun compression socks and these shoes? I don’t know what to do with myself!

Faith

Rough Start. Grace to End.

Posted on September 6, 2024September 7, 2024 by Faith

When all else fails, buy flowers.

My CNA and I like each other very much. She said she’s here to stay. I believe her. But today was rough. She’s got a personal crisis. Instead of continuing to argue, right in the middle of the situation I said, I call grace. I choose to give grace.

I know something isn’t quite right. I’m not going to argue or raise my tone or question you. It’s over. I choose grace. She said nothing and got in the car to take me to the store where I found these beautiful discounted flowers.

Something very bad has happened in my aide’s life. I think I know what it is. I pray it isn’t. That’s way too hard to deal with. No flower can cover it.

Today I reassured her that I enjoy her company and like working with her. She smiled and said, I’ll see you tomorrow.

She doesn’t need nearly as much reassurance as I do.

I have a certified nurses aide with 30 years experience. I actually have quality care.

She’s African American, my age. We mesh well. We are polar opposites. My goodness she’s unorganized. Her car is so unorganized it makes me suicidal! I’ve never in my life… oh the chaos. The odd couple. But it works and it works well. I’m grateful for that.

I have prayed that I will learn a little more about humility * each time * I visit with my young Bible student or my CNA . Six days a week I’ve got an opportunity to mold myself into a better me by seeing my CNA.

I will style myself to be more gentle, slower with the heavy sarcasm, listen more, ask deeper questions, pause before I speak. I’ve got six opportunities where I can learn new skills.

My CNA may be professionally unorganized but she’s got humility down pat. There is much I intend to learn by her her. I won’t waste this opportunity.

Faith

The Southeastern Blue Bird

Posted on September 4, 2024 by Faith

“The Southeastern Blue Bird Learns A New Song” is a folk art original painting by Faith Austin. At 6.5×4.5 inches it’s miniature stature delights you with her song as she sits on a stick in the forest.

The song is new; it’s the song her father once sang. The young Blue Bird has yet to master it but she will, before the day ends.

This whimsical, folkart piece includes faux blue and orange features, music notes, flowers, branch, acrylic on paper, ink, water, wind and hope. She is signed, sealed and unmounted.

Etsy You can find me there.

Faith

Face It: The Advocate

Posted on September 4, 2024 by Faith

Many years ago I painted with a computer program. I painted stroke by stroke instead of with filters, making each line very personal. I printed off postcard art and offered it under my name, Sundrip. It was many years and many experiences ago.

Recently I found a stack of the post cards in an old box and began doodling on them. The Advocate came about, so did the idea to continue to mark up, up cycle and alter my own art piece.

I’ve created a section in my shop called Face It. You’ll find just a few original postcards offered for a short time and the altered Face It pieces. The piece that’s in there now is called The Advocate. It’s different from the original in that the colors are deeper, the walls are fuller and if they could talk, they’d have a lot to say.

Here’s the original postcard art from 2007.

Introducing The Advocate in 2024

A figure stands on a purple platform looking down. Purple is used to advocate for domestic violence, Dementia / Alzheimers, Fibromyalgia, Lupus and other systemic illnesses. The platform symbolizes the person’s difficulties that he or she must face. Who will speak?

The postcard is original art by me but there will be many altered Face It Postcard Series pieces. Each will be a one of a kind.

Etsy is where you’ll find me 🙂

Faith

Decrystallize Honey With A Coffee Mug Warmer

Posted on August 29, 2024September 22, 2024 by Faith

I found a jar of honey in an old supplies from the pandemic era. It had crystallized.

I didn’t want to go through the trouble of doing the double boiler thing to melt it down and shake it up but I do want it decrystallized. I can’t do the dishwasher method either. That’s where you place the honey in the dishwasher for three cycles and viola, no more crystals. However, I do have a coffee mug warmer, and time.

How it unfolded

I kept the lid on the whole time.
I saw signs of movement within three minutes.
I turned it over several times so it wouldn’t get too hot on a given side.
Give it a good shake from time to time.

The full process took about 30 minutes for six ounces of crystallized honey. The honey tastes just like I remember. 🙂 I know exactly why I buy from this particular beekeeper.

There are two beekeeping families with superior products who keep me coming back.

My wonderful full-time caregiver enjoyed the cinnamon and honey I made for her. Now for lavender and honey, lemon and honey, etc. I purchased a quart and the taste sizes are only one ounce so there’s enough to play with. 🙂

Well, I’m off to do end of the month tasks. Try not to worry they say. It’ll all work out they say. I’ve got evening care added on two days a week now, due to memory issues and others from long covid. They’re making sure I eat, too.

Faith

Yes, again. Sundrip Mascot.

Posted on August 22, 2024 by Faith

I slowly recognized the symptoms then had to humbly admit I’d need assistance from friends during this time. I reassured them I’m not contagious. It’s long covid aka resident evil.

My mind was – heavy – and slow. The fatigue was crushing. The rash popped up as did covid mouth and covid toes. But the symptoms most worrisome are psychological issues associated with covid-19. I could tell my brain wasn’t working right but I’m in a different position now.

I’m in a better position now because I partly know what to expect. I can anticipate it and so can my friends. The other thing is this. I know I trust my God 100%. I trust him and his elders.

So if the elders tell me something isn’t real, I’ll readily accept it. I’ll forcefully accept their word and act on it, in opposition to what my own dilutional, psychotic brain has created.

I’ve still got the camera in my bedroom watching me at night.

I don’t remember a thing at times. Time is just gone, a lot of time. I’m on the camera acting normally but I don’t remember those hours at all. The time is gone.

Dfferent topic – –

A few years ago I purchased a pair of black shoes which were the first pair of shoes after the amputation. Well, I never really got the right side to stretch correctly so they sat in the closet unused, until now.

I’m going back to Dr Martens for the black pair of shoes like my tan ones. I need to free gift someone in order to justify such a purchase. Lol. I absolutely love the person who is taking them. They couldn’t go to a better person! Now I wait a few weeks for money and I’ll go back for the black. I’ve got a pair of solid black chuck tailors to give away, too. Size 9.

Black heal. That’s a water mark on the shoe. It’s not permanent.

I’m finished with tie up shoes. The amputated side, the stump, changes a lot making tie ups uncomfortable. I’m keeping the white and black converse 🙂

So, my lips are on fire. I’m so tired I can’t see straight. I’m going to bed now.

Something significant happened today. I don’t remember what it was.

I noticed in bed I don’t stretch out. I have to force myself to stretch out. It’s quite a challenge.

I’ve been working on several projects, some personal and some for the shop.

Good thing I have Joe for advice and constructive criticism.

Though sometimes he sleeps on the job.

Speaking oof sleep. I really should go to bed. I feel like I could sleep.

Thanks for listening (?)

Faith

Fatigue Post Covid

Posted on August 10, 2024August 10, 2024 by Faith

I’ve struggled to rebound from covid. I’m physically tired and somewhat depressed.

I was encouraged to talk to the sisters at the Hall who recently had psychosis with covid-19 and are having a harder time rebounding. It’s not just me. I’m not alone in this experience.

I think every time I smell that chemical smell again I’m afraid I’m going to get sick.

I’m sleeping but not well. The fatigue is crushing right now, so much so that I worry leaving the apartment for fear of being so tired I can’t get myself back in the apartment because I’m so tired. After hearing myself say that I realize I’m not making excuses about fatigue. I’m flat out fatigued and I’m battling it.

Shoes

Posted on August 5, 2024August 5, 2024 by Faith

Thank you for the surprise donation that came in this month through my PayPal. I couldn’t believe it! 🙂 I knew exactly what to do with it. I put it towards shoes.

I was able to find a pair of shoes that fit my needs: ankle strap and adjustable top. Having those two features means I don’t have to buy two different pair of shoes to fit my foot and my ever changing amputated other side.

Well, a great sale came around for these so I snagged ’em. I don’t have to wear them for six to nine months to break them in, either. I put them on and they are sooo soft and comfortable.