Yesterday I had to have an MRI because I’ve been getting headaches that often wake me in the middle of the night. I was quite sure I was fine, but it’s a precaution and being an adult and all, it seemed the responsible thing to do. So off I went feeling I’d prepared myself adequately. I don’t care for small, enclosed spaces, so I knew I was going to need to practice breathing and asked for something to put under my knees so my back didn’t begin to hurt. I believed I was on top of the situation and lay down, dutifully putting the ear plugs in and began counting my breath. Except once I was in the machine, I could feel my jaw shaking. As in uncontrollably and I was so freaked out that my jaw was doing this weird thing that I seemed to have no control over, I became convinced that it was so bad it would make my head move and ruin the imaging, which only made it worse. It took everything in me to breathe in and out, count my breath and eventually my jaw calmed down.
The upshot of the whole thing is that I’m fine. Perfectly fine. My neurologist called yesterday evening to tell me all looks well, “for someone your age” which of course gave me pause. “What does that mean?” I asked a bit defensively. He explained that you expect to see a few tiny white dots in “someone my age” and that this is also common in those who experience migraines. Evidently I have a couple of those white dots and also a tiny cyst, which is not in my brain at all, and is about 4mm. So another MRI in about a year to make sure that doesn’t grow. All in all the news is excellent and blood work is all good too. Whew. I knew I was as healthy as a horse.
After I returned home the skies opened up and the rain came down like some sort of end of the world scenario. That was when I decided to do a livestream, which you can see here if you care to.
And then I had to do a lot of work on my website, so I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening writing copy, learning how to input new workshops into my workshop schedule and create images for the workshops.
Every now and then when I needed a break I’d work on the piece below, which I’ve fallen in love with and that is inspired by plant and human cells. Pinterest is great for finding amazing images of organisms, cells and plant life that have been put under a microscope. I have a whole board where I’m saving such images.
My mother and two of my brothers are scientists: a chemist, an astro physicist and a bio-chemist. I was never very good at science, but I do love looking at the microscopic images of organisms and cells. They are things of such exquisite beauty.
The photograph below is of a coronary blood clot, horrible, but if you remove what it IS and just view it as an image, it is incredible.
Which took me to viewing images of brain cells. Talk about inspiration!
There is beauty in just about anything if looked at through a different lens. ❤️
Hello Ariane
Enjoy your stitching videos so much! Thanks for sharing your talent.
Just finished watching the video that you did after your MRI where you were “stuck “ as to what to do with your abstract. I totally agree that it feels “finished “ but LOVE how the seed stitches add subtleties in colour and texture. Think that if you did the whole thing in just seed stitching (save your creative urges for your other linen pieces) using your amazing selection of variegated threads, you would end up with a fabulous “pointillism-like” fabric artwork!
Just a thought,
Barbara
(a fan from Ontario, Canada)
Thx so much Barbara. It may indeed be a less is more piece ❤️
I am so happy that your brain is happy!!❤
Thank you! It’s a BIG relief. ❤️
I’m glad you are OK. Don’t you hate the phrase “:At your age” closely followed by “As you age”? I just keep hearing it. I’m healthy too and it’s the greatest gift there is.
Love the microscope images.
So sorry you had to go through the MRI experience but very happy to hear you’re okay! Thanks for posting those photos of the coronary blood clot & the cactus! Wow! Those brain cells & neurons photos are amazing! So cool they can capture them in real time!
Thx so much. Pretty much anything under a microscope is cool looking!
Sorry about your MRI scare; I’m claustrophobic, so understand the chin quivering! You said you would.post a link where you get your big brownish card thread winders, but I don’t see anything. Apppreciate all you do for so many of us! Even though the vaccine is out there, this feels like a “pandemic pals” group of stitchers. Love it!
Hi there, yes! I posted the link in the description section of the Youtube video. In fact I posted lots of links to all the various things I talk about the cardboard winders, the smaller white plastic winders, the refrigerator shelving, the art bins for the House of Embroidery threads etc. So go take a look. If you still can’t find, I’ll find the link again and post to you, but everything is over there on that video.
Glad you are OK, love the photos
Thx Belinda! ❤️