Woman's Health Awareness and MASSIVE Garden Picspam
First off, the TMI necessity. (Not really TMI, but it involves bewbage.) Yesterday morning I had my very first mammogram. With all the breast health talk I've given over the years (newbs: I'm a 3-Day walker and proponent for self-exams, healthy living, etc. And the FIRST PERSON that jumps down my throat for saying self-exams save lives is going to get my foot up their nethers. *smile* Not to mention that my posts about self-checking resulted in a reader finding tumors and having a radical mastectomy to save her life within days of self-checking. IT WORKS, it really does. <3)
So with all that talk, I've not walked the walk. Except for how I have. Literally, just not figuratively. :) I'm finally old enough to get my bewb smashed and have pictures taken. Yay? I was very brave and smiley and not freaked out. On the outside. For those of you that have yet to have one, I'll say this: it freaking hurts. BUT. It only hurts for SECONDS and then it's over. I was not fortunate to have an MRI-mammogram available to me, but if that's something YOU can do, I highly recommend it.
The Procedure:
A very kindly technician tells you she's going to be "handling" you. They place your breast on a tray and try and spread it out. Then, a plastic rectangle is lowered onto it, making a bewb sammich. Just when you think it can't be smashed any more, they smash it more. OUCH. My technician was very sweet and ran back to the equipment to take the x-ray, then ran back to release me. So you have a horizontal smashing of each side, then you have a diagonal smashing of each side. It literally took four inhales and exhales for each picture, so that's not too shabby, say the person that has had natural childbirth, a fractured patella, and passed kidney stones. If you go in knowing it's not going to feel good, but that it's over very quickly, I think that does wonders for your psyche.
It was cute how all the people at the facility were making "yay, you!" faces at me, saying how proud they were that I was so young and being pro-active with my health. (I look younger than I am, I suppose.) I'll have some preliminary results tomorrow at my OB/GYN appointment, but I'm not expecting anything negative. I really am good about self-checking, and you should be, too. it's a preliminary warning detector, and if you have any history of cancer in your family, you'd be a fool not to make it a habit. (I have no cancer in my family history. I mean, I have NONE. I'm lucky, I know.)
In conclusion: it's not the most pleasant experience, and I've been told that the "meatier" your breasts are, the more it hurts, so you gals with smallish chests should be happy to know that you've got one over the "big" girls. :)
And hey, if you don't want to self-check every month (try and do it the same time every month - you know that your chest changes on your period, right?) get help from someone else. Hee.
And now for the (post) Earth Day picspam! I spent yesterday lazing about in the sunshine, no peripherals on, and digging in the dirt. So for me: perfect. MASSIVE picspam under the cut.
I put in some fun annuals this year that keep everyone (meaning me and small children) amused. They're Gazanias and they roll themselves up at night. Here's what they look like in the sunlight:
And as the sun sets, the petals roll up inwards, then the whole flower closes up tight. Here's a picture of it rolling up:
Cool, huh? They come in all sorts of bright colors (and some faint pastels.) They'll need hand watering for the first two weeks until they're settled, then let them get what rainfall you have. Awesome. My veggies are starting to really take off, now that we're out of cold weather. My first tomato is juuuuust about ready to be pulled (there are a good ten weebabies inside the plant, too.)
My sugar snap peas are away and running. (The white blossoms at the very top are about to become pods and I will om nom them)
I tried something new this year: potatoes! The idea is this: you grow them on top of your soil for ease in picking. Make a cage (or buy one) and surround the plant. As the stems get longer, pile up compost, mulch, shredded leaves, what have you. Keep doing that until the plant is done growing and begins to brown. Then all you have to do is lift the cage, let the mulch/leaves spill away, and there are your potatoes - no digging. :) You'll notice the chicken wire surround I made - set into the garden soil at the bottom. There's still another foot or two of cage extending up at the top. This is nestled in by my house and garage - it's not noticeable from the street.
Some strawberries getting ready to ripen. I have these tucked in all along a retaining wall. This is their second year, which is their better year. If you've recently planted strawberries, just know that NEXT year they'll go crazy nuts in a good way. (And invest in some netting if you have bunny issues. Just lay it over the plants. They'll still get sun/rain, just the buns' teefs can't get their tasty goodness.)
This is a beautiful plant when it blooms. It's just now rocketing out of the ground, but I love the contrast in new growth. This is a penstemon - hummers and butterflies LOVE this. Also, it's drought tolerant. Stick it in poor soil by your driveway, rocks, etc. and it'll thrive.
I think this might be the best flower picture I've ever taken. This is a new (to me) lily I planted a few weeks ago. That color!!! Lilies = easiest bulb there is. Stick them in the ground (the trick is to plant them twice as deep as they are wide. If they're an inch wide, they go down two inches, see?) Then they naturalize and spread. <3
I found an eggplant calla lily the other day. This picture really doesn't do it justice. It's so dark it's practically black. <3!! These also are perennial and will naturalize and spread. (This is in a shady spot, btw. Morning sun, afternoon shade.)
Why hello. It appears that you are gardening. (I'm not kidding, she'll come from a mile away if I start digging around outside. And then follow me from place to place.)
Every time I put these in I have to say lines from "300" - this plant is called Persian Shield. :D "I! AM! PURPLE!!!!!!" This will get three feet across and new growth looks metallic. It's amazing in the shade bed.
Some annuals (the Kong Coleus is the multi-color leafed plant) to liven up the perennials. (The variegated plant is Solomon's Seal, planted as a memorial for southernbangel's god daughter, the thin, strap-like leaves in the top back are an old fashioned day lily, the curled cigar-shaped plant in the lower right is flowering ginger - the best smelling plant on earth.)
A volunteer Columbine. (I didn't plant these, they just showed up. I'm not complaining. *g*)
My mock oranges are budding out. This is the second best-smelling plant there is. These are 8 feet tall up against the north side of my house. The leaves will fill out and you'll see no bricks in between in about two weeks.
THERE IS NO DANA ONLY ZUUL. (I moved to the side of the house, you see, so she's guarding me.) Here's what I imagine she's saying: "During the rectification of the Vuldrini, the traveler came as a large and moving Torg! Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants, they chose a new form for him: that of a giant Slor! Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you! "
My weeping Japanese maple is starting to recover from the Great Roofing Disaster of 2008. Mostly because of my guard cat. (You can see how I'm expanding the garden in the distance - I built those stone steps last fall and will eventually get rid of all the grass/yaupon trees in the distance and re-plant with prettier things.)
Back to the sun! This is the first blossom off a memorial rose I planted for swmbo's co-worker. I LOVE this vibrant, happy plant. <3
I took this a little too late in the day for you to see the hordes, but normally this lavender is SWARMING with bees. I might be single handedly supporting the suburban bee effort in my neck of the woods. (Mostly because I'm the only person within about three blocks that has any kind of garden. *frowny face at people*)
I'm not joking, these blooms appeared within an HOUR of me taking pictures. This is a zuchinni. One plant is all you need to feed a nation. They, uh, they do well. (You can't see all the space I've made available to the left, which is south, but it's there. It'll fill in a big blank spot with delicious foods. Mmmm.)
Again, Darthanne decided I needed watching. But first, a nap. (Note the yellow flower on the left. That's a "Sundrop" which is in the primrose family. A bigger picture is coming up, I just wanted to give you a bit of scale first. *G*)
Here's the whole plant. It's spread is a good four feet and change. Incidentally, the $60 candle friend that some of you may remember? She hated how "untidy" this plant was, ripped it out of her flower bed (and really, she planted it in a space that was 6 inches wide against my advice. Pfft.) and gave it to me after it had sat in a plastic bag for three days. I plunked it in the ground, watered it for a few days, then left it alone. And now it is GLORIOUS. <3 I have these sprinkled all over the garden I love them so.
Here's my original stone walkway planted with thyme (the small green plant with purple flowers) a few bluebonnets (they're just about done for the season - they're making their fuzzy seed pods now, which I'll collect, dry, and store) and big gulf muhly grasses in the distance.
And the other side of the walkway with more thyme (I started with small four inch pots two years ago. If you're patient, gardening can be cheap, that's all I'm saying.) and a pretty silver-green sedum. The sedum's name is long gone, unfortunately. I love this plant because it's fuzzy, unlike traditional sedums, which are glossy (like a jade plant.)
And this is a type of artemesia that doesn't get unruly (artemesias are also known as wormwood.) This is a ground cover, not a shrub, and it's so soft and fluffy and mounding and- Dammit, cat, I'm not going to mess up your garden! :D
I do have another cat, Hope. She's far less... industrious than Darthanne. I found her sleeping behind the sofa in a sunny patch. (On some of my laundry she knocked down purposely to sleep on, harumph.) But who can stay mad at that face?!?
And Sally Derg, attempting to look noble and calm. Her tail is a blur because it was thumping like mad.
I've not been lying when I say my dergie has black knerkles.
A lovely day. I think I might spend today outside napping again. The high is going to be near 90. <3 (But let's face it: I'm going to go to the nursery and look for cleomes and another rose. I HAVE A SICKNESS.)
So with all that talk, I've not walked the walk. Except for how I have. Literally, just not figuratively. :) I'm finally old enough to get my bewb smashed and have pictures taken. Yay? I was very brave and smiley and not freaked out. On the outside. For those of you that have yet to have one, I'll say this: it freaking hurts. BUT. It only hurts for SECONDS and then it's over. I was not fortunate to have an MRI-mammogram available to me, but if that's something YOU can do, I highly recommend it.
The Procedure:
A very kindly technician tells you she's going to be "handling" you. They place your breast on a tray and try and spread it out. Then, a plastic rectangle is lowered onto it, making a bewb sammich. Just when you think it can't be smashed any more, they smash it more. OUCH. My technician was very sweet and ran back to the equipment to take the x-ray, then ran back to release me. So you have a horizontal smashing of each side, then you have a diagonal smashing of each side. It literally took four inhales and exhales for each picture, so that's not too shabby, say the person that has had natural childbirth, a fractured patella, and passed kidney stones. If you go in knowing it's not going to feel good, but that it's over very quickly, I think that does wonders for your psyche.
It was cute how all the people at the facility were making "yay, you!" faces at me, saying how proud they were that I was so young and being pro-active with my health. (I look younger than I am, I suppose.) I'll have some preliminary results tomorrow at my OB/GYN appointment, but I'm not expecting anything negative. I really am good about self-checking, and you should be, too. it's a preliminary warning detector, and if you have any history of cancer in your family, you'd be a fool not to make it a habit. (I have no cancer in my family history. I mean, I have NONE. I'm lucky, I know.)
In conclusion: it's not the most pleasant experience, and I've been told that the "meatier" your breasts are, the more it hurts, so you gals with smallish chests should be happy to know that you've got one over the "big" girls. :)
And hey, if you don't want to self-check every month (try and do it the same time every month - you know that your chest changes on your period, right?) get help from someone else. Hee.
And now for the (post) Earth Day picspam! I spent yesterday lazing about in the sunshine, no peripherals on, and digging in the dirt. So for me: perfect. MASSIVE picspam under the cut.
I put in some fun annuals this year that keep everyone (meaning me and small children) amused. They're Gazanias and they roll themselves up at night. Here's what they look like in the sunlight:
And as the sun sets, the petals roll up inwards, then the whole flower closes up tight. Here's a picture of it rolling up:
Cool, huh? They come in all sorts of bright colors (and some faint pastels.) They'll need hand watering for the first two weeks until they're settled, then let them get what rainfall you have. Awesome. My veggies are starting to really take off, now that we're out of cold weather. My first tomato is juuuuust about ready to be pulled (there are a good ten weebabies inside the plant, too.)
My sugar snap peas are away and running. (The white blossoms at the very top are about to become pods and I will om nom them)
I tried something new this year: potatoes! The idea is this: you grow them on top of your soil for ease in picking. Make a cage (or buy one) and surround the plant. As the stems get longer, pile up compost, mulch, shredded leaves, what have you. Keep doing that until the plant is done growing and begins to brown. Then all you have to do is lift the cage, let the mulch/leaves spill away, and there are your potatoes - no digging. :) You'll notice the chicken wire surround I made - set into the garden soil at the bottom. There's still another foot or two of cage extending up at the top. This is nestled in by my house and garage - it's not noticeable from the street.
Some strawberries getting ready to ripen. I have these tucked in all along a retaining wall. This is their second year, which is their better year. If you've recently planted strawberries, just know that NEXT year they'll go crazy nuts in a good way. (And invest in some netting if you have bunny issues. Just lay it over the plants. They'll still get sun/rain, just the buns' teefs can't get their tasty goodness.)
This is a beautiful plant when it blooms. It's just now rocketing out of the ground, but I love the contrast in new growth. This is a penstemon - hummers and butterflies LOVE this. Also, it's drought tolerant. Stick it in poor soil by your driveway, rocks, etc. and it'll thrive.
I think this might be the best flower picture I've ever taken. This is a new (to me) lily I planted a few weeks ago. That color!!! Lilies = easiest bulb there is. Stick them in the ground (the trick is to plant them twice as deep as they are wide. If they're an inch wide, they go down two inches, see?) Then they naturalize and spread. <3
I found an eggplant calla lily the other day. This picture really doesn't do it justice. It's so dark it's practically black. <3!! These also are perennial and will naturalize and spread. (This is in a shady spot, btw. Morning sun, afternoon shade.)
Why hello. It appears that you are gardening. (I'm not kidding, she'll come from a mile away if I start digging around outside. And then follow me from place to place.)
Every time I put these in I have to say lines from "300" - this plant is called Persian Shield. :D "I! AM! PURPLE!!!!!!" This will get three feet across and new growth looks metallic. It's amazing in the shade bed.
Some annuals (the Kong Coleus is the multi-color leafed plant) to liven up the perennials. (The variegated plant is Solomon's Seal, planted as a memorial for southernbangel's god daughter, the thin, strap-like leaves in the top back are an old fashioned day lily, the curled cigar-shaped plant in the lower right is flowering ginger - the best smelling plant on earth.)
A volunteer Columbine. (I didn't plant these, they just showed up. I'm not complaining. *g*)
My mock oranges are budding out. This is the second best-smelling plant there is. These are 8 feet tall up against the north side of my house. The leaves will fill out and you'll see no bricks in between in about two weeks.
THERE IS NO DANA ONLY ZUUL. (I moved to the side of the house, you see, so she's guarding me.) Here's what I imagine she's saying: "During the rectification of the Vuldrini, the traveler came as a large and moving Torg! Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants, they chose a new form for him: that of a giant Slor! Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you! "
My weeping Japanese maple is starting to recover from the Great Roofing Disaster of 2008. Mostly because of my guard cat. (You can see how I'm expanding the garden in the distance - I built those stone steps last fall and will eventually get rid of all the grass/yaupon trees in the distance and re-plant with prettier things.)
Back to the sun! This is the first blossom off a memorial rose I planted for swmbo's co-worker. I LOVE this vibrant, happy plant. <3
I took this a little too late in the day for you to see the hordes, but normally this lavender is SWARMING with bees. I might be single handedly supporting the suburban bee effort in my neck of the woods. (Mostly because I'm the only person within about three blocks that has any kind of garden. *frowny face at people*)
I'm not joking, these blooms appeared within an HOUR of me taking pictures. This is a zuchinni. One plant is all you need to feed a nation. They, uh, they do well. (You can't see all the space I've made available to the left, which is south, but it's there. It'll fill in a big blank spot with delicious foods. Mmmm.)
Again, Darthanne decided I needed watching. But first, a nap. (Note the yellow flower on the left. That's a "Sundrop" which is in the primrose family. A bigger picture is coming up, I just wanted to give you a bit of scale first. *G*)
Here's the whole plant. It's spread is a good four feet and change. Incidentally, the $60 candle friend that some of you may remember? She hated how "untidy" this plant was, ripped it out of her flower bed (and really, she planted it in a space that was 6 inches wide against my advice. Pfft.) and gave it to me after it had sat in a plastic bag for three days. I plunked it in the ground, watered it for a few days, then left it alone. And now it is GLORIOUS. <3 I have these sprinkled all over the garden I love them so.
Here's my original stone walkway planted with thyme (the small green plant with purple flowers) a few bluebonnets (they're just about done for the season - they're making their fuzzy seed pods now, which I'll collect, dry, and store) and big gulf muhly grasses in the distance.
And the other side of the walkway with more thyme (I started with small four inch pots two years ago. If you're patient, gardening can be cheap, that's all I'm saying.) and a pretty silver-green sedum. The sedum's name is long gone, unfortunately. I love this plant because it's fuzzy, unlike traditional sedums, which are glossy (like a jade plant.)
And this is a type of artemesia that doesn't get unruly (artemesias are also known as wormwood.) This is a ground cover, not a shrub, and it's so soft and fluffy and mounding and- Dammit, cat, I'm not going to mess up your garden! :D
I do have another cat, Hope. She's far less... industrious than Darthanne. I found her sleeping behind the sofa in a sunny patch. (On some of my laundry she knocked down purposely to sleep on, harumph.) But who can stay mad at that face?!?
And Sally Derg, attempting to look noble and calm. Her tail is a blur because it was thumping like mad.
I've not been lying when I say my dergie has black knerkles.
A lovely day. I think I might spend today outside napping again. The high is going to be near 90. <3 (But let's face it: I'm going to go to the nursery and look for cleomes and another rose. I HAVE A SICKNESS.)