Whidbey Tulips

 We haven't made it to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival yet. We're waiting for a warmer, less muddy day, probably right after Easter. But we did make it to the Whidbey Island Reeder Tulip Fest.

Monday, April 11th was Jake's birthday. He came down from his home on San Juan Island to the Whidbey cabin for the weekend, and we met him there on Monday for his birthday. We took him out to a late breakfast and had a good visit before he took off back north. We prowled around for a while, visited with the cousins next door, and enjoyed our tulips before heading home ourselves. 

Turns out if was very good timing for our tulip display.

From the street:

From the deck above:

And from all around:

We were very happy to have made it to Whidbey for our tulip show. Some years we don't get the best time, as the cabin is booked by other family members. But the local neighbors get a show every day as they meet in groups to stroll by. We hear about it through the grapevine. 

Updates

 

I celebrated this morning. 

After waiting six weeks, I finally got to see a neurologist. 

Shortly after my heart valve replacement I experienced some troubling symptoms that required me to report in to my cardiology team. Dizziness and eye floaters were alarming enough that I was ordered to our nearest Kaiser clinic for an EKG. The immediate reaction was that I was having a heart attack. I wasn't, but  it was only after two ambulance rides to two hospitals and one overnight stay that it was decided that I had mild pericarditis. That did not explain the other symptoms. 

Eventually I had a brain MRI and I got back the results via email that I had Normal Pressure Hydrocephalies. Well, that sounded bad. I had no personal feedback, just an appointment with neurology for 6 weeks out. I checked Dr. Google and got pretty scared at what I learned. If that's what I had, the fix would involve a permanent shunt from my brain to my abdomen, if that even worked. It doesn't always. 

The most prominent symptom is having trouble walking, and also confusion. I have experienced both, although the confusion is mild and comes and goes.   Today I learned that we need to learn more. The neurologist has had experience diagnosing this rare condition and says there just aren't enough indicators yet. He ordered a few more tests, is telling me to get an eye exam, and is referring me to a movement specialist. That makes sense what with all of my back and joint problems.

So I am celebrating finally knowing something, even if it's that we need to know more. I am now on track to delve into what's going on with me. 

In the meantime, life goes on, and it's good. I made it to the stadium to watch the Sounders match on Wednesday, felt safe enough, and had a good time. I use my walking stick for stability and people see that and give me space. And we won. The Sounders are now one game away from reaching the CCF North American /Central American club championship.  

Yesterday we got our second COVID booster shots, and I had a sore arm that evening and Tom has some fatigue today but otherwise we are good. 

Outside Spring continues to erupt. The first tulips are in bloom.

The fragrant shrub Viburnum burkwoodii  is coming into bloom

Along with the native, also fragrant, Oregon Grape, Mahonia aquifolium. 

We hit 70 degrees yesterday but are back to a chilly 50 today, with sun coming and going. 

Like my life, Spring has its ups and downs, but it's all beautiful. 

April Showers

Our "April Showers" over the last 24 hours were more like April squalls. One storm cell after another lined up over the Pacific and lashed us with wind and rain, and some hail, interspersed with completely blue sky. And cold! 45 degrees in full sunshine. It's still chilly and breezy at noon here on Tuesday, but it's calmer, drier, and it has made it up to 50. That's typical crazy weather here for April. Our April showers bring April flowers, when the wind and rain don't tear them apart. 

Since things had calmed down outside I went out to get a spring update.

So much green now, and Anemone Blanda

The red trillium will be blooming soon.

Our native white trillium are sometimes know as Wake Robin and are heralders of Spring. 

Tom's three May Apples spent the winter under cover and have now pushed up up full height. 

This variety is setting it's "Apples". 

Our Forsythia has been glorious. Like daffodils, I hate to see them go. 

The leaves are breaking bud on the red Japanese maple. 

Camellias are wonderful. I wish they lasted longer as cut flowers but we enjoy them while we can. 

Mom's camelia, which I introduced you to earlier. 

The Full Moon Maple outside my upstairs window, is so fun to watch change day by day. 

Lamium makes a pretty spring groundcover. 

Tom has been out doing storm clean up. We have a lot of branches down, but no real damage.

I'll help do some more clean up tomorrow. Then I have to try out my new string trimmer. I am hoping to master the trick of edging with it so I don't have to scissor and crawl anymore. There has to be some jobs I can still do. 

Tomorrow we are also going to a Sounders game at the stadium. I probably don't have any business being there, but with Tom's help, I'll manage. When we bought our season tickets last summer, I was still much more mobile. I hope to find out more about my condition when I finally see the neurologist on Friday. 

Charlie Mewdini says "Hi".

April

 Chicks and ducks and bunnies, and raindrops and sunshine and FLOWERS! I love April. 

I decorated inside last week. This week I got outside a little bit to garden. I might get out a bit more on Saturday before the raindrops fall again. There has been soccer to watch on TV and my granddaughter to watch jumping hurdles. Spring is fun!

I picked these in the yard during the week, and I got out my chicks and ducks and bunnies and eggs and all things Easter. 

My daffodils were fading fast. They're done now, so today I bought a few carnations to add to my flower decorations. I'll get out and pick some more camelias tomorrow before the rain gets them. 

Walking is getting harder. I have one more week until I finally get to see the neurologist to find out what's going on in my head. Knowing is better than not knowing.  Pretty flowers and decorations help.