What it's like to wear the vest

 A vibrating vest, which has a tube where air is pushed through various smaller channels in the vest, hooked to a loud heavy machine which controls the length of time and the amount of vibration. 

Yep,, everything is out of focus while I sit for 15 minutes.

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And if you're not Canadian, you might not know of the Group of Seven. Artists I discovered thanks to  blogger "Ottawa Daily Photo" Here's the post on Landscapes.

Autumn's Garland, done in 1915-16 by Tom Tompson of the Group of Seven

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Yesterday I first read Letters from an American by Heather Cox Richardson, with my first cup of coffee. Not only did she speak of Kamala Harris' stunning beginning of her campaign, she mentioned Republican efforts to get a slamming campaign against her. Unfortunately still the country suffers from Republican lack of law making skills.

"In the House, Republicans have been unable to pass the appropriations bills necessary to fund the 2025 U.S. budget, laced as they are with culture-wars poison pills the extremists demand. Today House members debated the appropriations bill for the Interior Department and the Environment which, among other things, bans the use of funds “to promote or advance critical race theory” or to require Covid-19 masks or vaccine mandates. 

According to the European climate service Copernicus, last Sunday was the hottest day in recorded history. The MAGA Republicans’ appropriations bill for Interior and the Environment calls for more oil drilling, fewer regulations on pollutants, no new regulations on vehicles, rejecting Biden’s climate change executive orders, and reducing the funding for the Environmental Protection Agency by 20%.

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My health is continuing very slowly to improve, so I'm terrifically grateful for friends helping out with some tasks that I felt a bit beyond my energy level at this time. I am resentful that I have to spend so much time on nebulizers and the vest to shake the mucous loose, so my coughs are productive. There is no end to the coughs, but they are mostly from about 4 o'clock on. Of course if I lie down to try to nap, suddenly that makes me cough. So I take small breaks.

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Today's quote:

The whole world is a series of miracles, but we’re so used to them that we call them everyday things.

HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

New little dragon has joined the family

 

Dragon number 4

Number 3 and 4 sided by side. Dragon No. 3 is actually a Dra-duck-gon. I made that up.

Size doesn't matter until they sit next to one another!

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Yesterday morning was apparently pyramid day. Look at this chart showing how the great pyramid was structured...which appeared at the top of my Facebook page today!

And then my newsletter, Open Culture brought an interesting article about the Grateful Dead playing at the pyramid and near the sphinx. No coincidences are there? Well they gave 3 clips on YouTube of the Dead playing...which of course I'm listening to right now. These recordings are great, much better than my many-times-copied cassette tapes of the 70s. I haven't ever been to a Dead concert, so I guess I'm not a real Deadhead, but I do enjoy their music.

In September of 1978, the Grateful Dead traveled to Egypt and played three shows at the Great Pyramid of Giza, with the Great Sphinx looking over their shoulders.

Logistically speaking, the concerts weren’t the easiest to stage. Rolling Stone reported that an “equipment truck got stuck in sand and had to be towed by camels.” Because the electricity in Egypt was an “a winkin’, blinkin’ affair,” Bob Weir later recalled, the jetlagged band had difficulties recording the first of the three shows. But, as with most adventures, the inconveniences were offset by the wondrous nature of the experience.

Here I shared..."the Dead performing “Ollin Arageed,” with Egyptian oudist Hamza el-Din and other local musicians, before seguing into “Fire on the Mountain.” The clip gives you a good feel for the awe-inspiring scene. Just above, we have a longer playlist of performances that took place on September 16, 1978 — the same night there was a lunar eclipse. The complete 9/16/78 show can be streamed on Archive.org, as can the shows from 9/14 and 9/15. A 2CD/1 DVD package (Rocking the Cradle: Egypt 1978) captures the Dead’s visit and can be purchased online. 

Today's quote:

It's early for high summer

 

But even on cloudy days, it just feels so muggy out. Here over the lake you can see clearly the YMCA Blueridge Assembly building with it's red roof. That was the first home of Black Mountain College, for which this area has a bit of notoriety in art and educational circles.

I walk quickly into air conditioning at the Lakeview Center for Active aging, for lunch anyway.

Today's quote:

We cannot forget that our real power is not necessarily to change the world, but to make a world of change to the people we encounter every day.

CORY BOOKER

A simple breakfast

 Breakfast the other day!

Not exactly my normal granola with other stuff. That day I had some potato/beet/carrot salad with boiled egg crumbles. 

I had half this slice...the thinner part on the right. Saving the rest for tomorrow!

And I had a normal serving (since I don't have delicacies like that salad slice every day!) of organic blueberries and Greek style yogurt. Then thinking I've been doing really well at managing things (why did I even think such a thing?) I proceeded to stack the blueberries on top of the yogurt container, and turn to open the fridge.

And blueberries went everywhere! I saved the little bit that remained in the container, and got out the broom, and hoped none flew under the stove. I didn't do more than run the broom across the front of it.

So that's my little world on one morning! Hope your day has started out better!

Sharing with My Corner of The World

Dragons be all around these days!

 Not sure where this first flying one came from into Facebook-land ... but what a gorgeous view.

Someone was very creative to make these dragon bookends.

My friend and fellow potter, Gary Rith made a dragon mug, and one with a unicorn!

I just put my 5th little one into the kiln with glaze on her. No. 6 is waiting to bisque. I haven't felt quite up to creating in clay for the last week or so. I have some big ideas stewing in my mind however!

I've always loved the Bosch detective stories, and listening to this one again has been enjoyable. I can stop the story any time my coughing interferes with the story. Incidentally, no dragons were harmed in the making of this book...indeed they are simply a reference to the Triad gangs from China. Those people were violent!

Dare I share dragons with Eileen's Saturday's Critters?

Hope you have a great week ahead!

Today's quote:

The history of the Universe has been summed up thusly:

"Hydrogen is a light, odorless gas, which, given enough time, turns into people."

—John P. Wiley Jr.

(quoting Edward R. Harrison)

At the Doctor's office

A view that nobody sees usually, the end of the office building. They had a fire here several years ago, and while the building was being rennovated, I was seen in some rooms that I hadn't ever visited before. Then all was refurbished and I was back into the same consultation rooms.

These days my doctor is on leave, until November. Some kind of family emergency is what people say when asked. Someone knows, but it's not talked about. I can guess.

Anyway, the office continues to work with 2 Nurse Practioners seeing patients, and their NP students learning along side of them. I also still have my Physician's Assistant as my phone consultation once a month. They all have access to all my records....such as they are kept. On this visit I found that one medication I've taken for years wasn't indicated on my list. It was one that had just been increased in dosage.

I balked last time I was seen, that I didn't want to have a student treat me. She said, ok, you'll have to wait till the NP is done seeing other clients. What, I thought? I had an appointment too! But she got the message, and this time she was there for all the things we discussed and decided.
 

I've had many a mammogram in a mobile unit in their parking lot but not this time! This time a new vehicle was a trailer parked and running on this system of batteries. Since I know it has chilly air-conditioning, that must be one drain of electricity...then there are the X-ray machines which capture the bumps and blobs within our mammary tissues on digital films. I was interested to see this is how it all is being done these days.

Well, that was the day I stopped taking one drug, and started another (antibiotic) on Tues. this week. I haven't responded with any great decrease in coughing, nor the tiredness it brings on with just the antibiotic, and wish I had the addition of a sterioid boost too. I'll call them tomorrow and see if it's possible to get that addition to the antibiotic treatment. 

Note: They couldn't find room in schedule to see me on Fri, and I found out they won't write any prescriptions without seeing someone. Grrrr.

And looking at promises of rain for Saturday, and my health issues, I've canceled being at the Tailgate Market this Saturday.

I've given lots of details of my Friday experiences over in "When I Was 69" yesterday.

Today's quote:

Nobody has the slightest idea how anything material could be conscious. Nobody even knows what it would be like to have the slightest idea about how anything material could be conscious. 

So much for the philosophy of consciousness.

 

—Daniel D. Hutto
An Ideal Solution to the Problems of Consciousness

At Lake Tomahawk

From the Swannanoa Valley Museum and History Center;

In the early days of 1913, there were plans to create a Methodist colony just northwest of Black Mountain. Part of this plan included the construction of Lake Tomahawk. However, when the colony's plans fell through, the town decided to use the area for a recreation center instead. With funding from the Civil Works Administration and later the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), the town began developing the site. On Labor Day weekend in 1934, Lake Tomahawk and the Community House were officially opened with a fun-filled day of water sports. Unfortunately, a few years later in 1938, the lake had to be closed to swimmers due to water quality issues, and a pool was constructed to continue providing recreational activities for the community.

For my Sepia Saturday contribution (above) I show an old post card, undated. It was good to capture the history of the development of the lake. It's almost unrecognizable due to lots of bare areas without the current trees and homes. The roads ring true however. The dam is in the lower quadrant. Lakeview Center building had a red roof, and all along that north bank of the lake, a lot of little fingers of land had not yet been formed, nor the island.

There is little space in the aerial photo for the pool which was built on the landward side of the center building...but it's there now!
 

Looking up from the lake level at the bank that leads up to the swimming  pool. This bank has been planted with wildflowers. The building behind these photos is the pool house with showers.

The umbrellas and fence delineate the pool.

Yesterday while I ate lunch in the dining room on the second floor of the Lakeview Center, I saw a friend with her daughter and granddaughter at the pool. Unfortunately for them, a sweat bee got inside granddaughter's suit and stung her 3 times. It was the first time I knew sweat bees could sting when they feel threatened. Not the kind of thing one wants to learn!

I also learned that one should really not make big decisions when sick! Hey, I knew that!

I decided to use the last day of Amazon Prime's special discount days to purchase a new microwave. It's been a week without, and I really don't like living without one. So I picked one out, and a little boom box so I could play my CD's,  since all my current players have died.

I placed the order. Then when confirmation came it was all mixed up  (anything to do with my not having ordered often, or the sick brain?) There were two microwaves ordered, on two separate orders. And the boom box had been $37 on sale but I was being charged $46 for it. Not being in the mood to straighten anything out (it's impossible anyway) I just canceled the extra microwave and the boom box. Fortunately they don't place the charges until items are shipped! Then I remembered something else.

I hadn't paid that much attention to the size and they all look the same size in the photos on line. But I remembered 15 inches. So I got out my trusty yard stick, and found I barely had 15 inches clearance. Looked back at the model I'd ordered, and (you guessed it) it is 15.9"... so I canceled that microwave too.

And I checked on line this morning and there are no charges from Amazon!

Today's quote:

Everything you've learned in school as "obvious" becomes less and less obvious as you begin to study the universe. For example, there are no solids in the universe. There's not even a suggestion of a solid. There are no absolute continuums. There are no surfaces. There are no straight lines. -R. Buckminster Fuller, engineer, designer, and architect (12 Jul 1895-1983)

Sharing with Floral Friday Fotos and Sepia Saturday

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Today's quote:

The man who has begun to live more seriously within begins to live more simply without. -Ernest Hemingway, author, journalist, Nobel laureate (21 Jul 1899-1961)

Last Saturday's pottery I brought home

 That's the trouble with bringing pots to market. You have to wrap and cart them home again when they don't sell.

Here are a few that were there and now packed in my trunk of my car all week.

A simplified monarch mug

Things still have the red tent reflection sometimes...there is no red on any of these pots!

A great pot pie or soup bowl

 

I brought the Monarch wall pillow home again. I didn't feel that anyone was going to like it as much as I do.  It is wired to hang on a nail or picture hook, and of course is safe outside as well as inside.

Doesn't everyone need a blue bird of happiness?

I was happy to see how many people picked up the calico kitty, but then they put it down. I bet they think small means it should be cheap. But just think, it's wheel thrown, adjusted, trimmed, added ears and eyes, then glazed in 4 different colors all applied by hand. Is $15 out of line?

but then again, it's at a Tailgate Market!

These are the cheapest things on the table...tiny vases for $10...again thrown, trimmed and glazed!

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And for those who are interested in stopping the Heritage Foundation's influence on Project 2025 and the GOP platform for this election, I found this:

 "Did you know that you can directly oppose the Heritage Foundation? As a 501c3 corporation, the Heritage Foundation is not allowed to participate in politics, let alone publish political manifestos. You can download Project 2025 pdf from the website and attach it to IRS Form 13909 and challenge their tax exempt status.

Here's their EIN # 23-7327730

Money is the only weapon. Here is your second American Revolution. Right here. It doesn't take that long to file.

Christopher DiverThe People's Project 

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Today's quote:

I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, "Mother, what was war?" -Eve Merriam, poet and writer (1916-1992)

Some of my pottery and health update

 These are the things I'm trying to sell. At reasonable market prices at the Tailgate Market, each Sat. just for 3 hours, 9-12. (I usually post pottery on my art blog, but feel this is easier for you all to see on this one.)

A pair of brown bowls with leaf designs.

This larger  bowl has chop-stick resting grooves along the top edge.

A fluted serving bowl, with just one color. The sun reflected off our red tent.

A slightly wonky bread bowl. It's large, not perfect, but ideal for rising a double loaf...and not pink.

A white classical shape vase with red trim (no pink, remember the sun on the red tent reflecting down)

The base of the white vase....remember no pink!

Downward Cat mug

El Gordo Gato...fat cat mug...the face

And each side has a leg, with the tail by the handle.

A little sugar bowl with faceted sides

Me holding the lid and showing the inside is green glaze.

Top on the sugar bowl. 

I must mention Cathy's remaining little dishes with flowers and leaves glazed designs, and her little black bears, which bring smiles often to those who have encountered our local wildlife around their trash bins.

These overviews give better color quality. Sold the two little soap dishes at top middle.

And I sold one of the blue and white mugs in center left.

Personal note:

Thanks for all the well-wishes that I received the day before. Yesterday was more of the same conditions of my coughing, until I got to the Dr. office.

Saw Nurse Practitioner yesterday. Had a breathing treatment after she listened to my lungs. She reviewed what my pulmonologist had said last Fri when he started me on Singular, and upped the dose on my Advair inhaler. She said to try going without the Singular. 

It seems to have been an acute episode of bronchiectasis...so she's increasing all the treatments I have (but haven't been doing lately.) So nebulize not only with saline solution twice a day, but Albuterol also. And get back to using the therea-vest, which shakes my lungs to get stuff loose. I'll have to set that up again somewhere where I can sit comfortably for 15 minutes at a time, with lots of rumbling noises. And she started me on an antibiotic for 2 weeks, at which time I am to go see her again. I sure had a good thorough visit, including a student, and a couple of nurse assistants. 

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Today's quote:

There are stars whose radiance is visible on Earth though they have long been extinct. There are people whose brilliance continues to light the world though they are no longer among the living. These lights are particularly bright when the night is dark. They light the way for humankind.

 -Hannah Senesh, poet, playwright, and paratrooper (1921-1944)

By the lake

 

Lake Tomahawk may make it a bit cooler, but it was still in the mid 80s at noon yesterday, and thankfully cloudy so we weren't blasted by the sun.

These Queen Ann's Lace now exist where a lovely lavender plant once lived. 

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My coughing continues to knock me out, so I've tried calling everyone today (frustrating phone machine that just circles back to the beginning message at the pulmonologists!) Nurse at my primary doctor said if I have trouble breathing, seriously, go to ER. So far sitting upright works so much better than lying down, but eventually I'm tired, and have to lie down. Anyway I will see a Nurse Practitioner tomorrow.

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Sharing with Garden Bloggers Bloom Day (yesterday)

Today's quote:

You are the sky. Everything else -- it's just the weather. 

-Pema Chodron, Buddhist nun and author (b. 14 Jul 1936)