Joanne's Cottage Garden: WINTER WONDERLAND

Saturday, 16 January 2010

WINTER WONDERLAND

I had to post these photos of our winter wonderland even though at last the snow has gone. We are so lucky to live so near to the woods and to be able to go out and enjoy their beauty.
All these photos were taken on automatic settings.

My faithful friend always stands where I want to take a shot.

For once Beth decides to look at the camera, probably rather inpatient with me keep stopping to take photos.

I hope you enjoyed our walk. These woods are frequented by deer but also pheasants which are bred on the neighbouring estate (competent hosts for Borrelia infection, Lyme Disease).

I still enjoy my walks in the woods where I would probably have contracted Lyme Disease but I go well booted and not in flimsy sandals or shoes as I had been known to do.

I just uploaded an excellent video to my side bar which I would recommend everyone watch, Seven Facts about Lyme, you never know when that information may help you or someone close to you.

15 comments:

Bangchik and Kakdah16 January 2010 at 12:30
Even when its all gray and white... this wonderland is absolutely beautiful. Soon things will change as the snow melt and flow to the sea... ~bangchik
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Carol16 January 2010 at 14:49
Enchanting wood all dressed in white... I love it when the snow blasts upon the trees ... it shows off their lovely forms! Beth is sooooo sweet! It makes me long to have a doggie. I now dress more carefully too! Socks over my pants and light colored clothing ... I don a hat too. Lovely walk Joanne... thank you! ;-) Carol
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Tatyana@MySecretGarden16 January 2010 at 15:13
It is a wonderland, indeed!We are still waiting for our snow...
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Alison16 January 2010 at 15:34
Hi Joanne
I have been showing your blog to a Canadian friend, she says to let you knows she thinks your photos, both the topic and talent for catching the "mood" are incredible!
It is still raining here in Seattle!!
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Dee/reddirtramblings16 January 2010 at 15:44
Very, very beautiful. Thanks for stopping by the blog and commenting. I so appreciate it.~~Dee
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Joanne16 January 2010 at 15:55
Thanks all for your comments.
Alison thank your Canadian friend and hope you both enjoy Seattle even if it is raining. Looking forward to seeing the photos, time you started a blog of your travels.
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Autumn Belle16 January 2010 at 21:56
Wow! Your photos are fabulous. The place here is so very very beautiful and there is snow everywhere!
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Carolyn16 January 2010 at 23:04
Love all those beautiful shots- you must be a little sad to see the snow go?
Have a good weekend,
Carolyn
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Artist17 January 2010 at 00:10
I like your photos - and the cute dog.
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Iowa Gardening Woman17 January 2010 at 01:02
Great photos, and Beth was posing so nicely for you.
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Carrie17 January 2010 at 08:13
Granted Beth is gorgeous. However I actually gasped and said 'wow' out loud to an empty room when I saw the 2nd photo down!! Great walk xx
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Noelle Johnson 17 January 2010 at 20:00
Your snowy pictures are so beautiful and this desert-dweller enjoys seeing something that is quite rare here.
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Anonymous18 January 2010 at 21:16
Oh sweet Beth. These scenes are marvelous, right out of a story book, Joanne. How lucky you are to be close to such a woodland.
Frances
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Catherine@AGardenerinProgress19 January 2010 at 17:20
You've taken so many pretty snowy pictures. I still love the first "curly" trees so much covered in snow. I love how the snow really shows the form of the trees.
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Rothschild Orchid20 January 2010 at 08:59
Gorgeous pictures Joanne. Just stopped by to wish you a Happy Birthday, hope you have a special day, RO xx
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LYME LIFE written 2009

I started suffering with arthritis in mainly my large joints especially my knees 6 years ago. The symptoms varied and I remember saying that every joint was affected except my elbows to one doctor. I was told it would be hormonal and to take the usual supplements cod liver oil or glucosamine ( I would certainly recommend buying shares in the companies producing these supplements) They had no noticeable affect.

All my symptoms deteriorated significantly over a few weeks, 4 years ago. Hips shoulders and knees being the worst and I started with muscle weakness in upper arms and upper legs. I had difficulty standing and walking across a room. I was unable to walk upstairs and my husband was making plans to convert to a downstairs bedroom. I had seen 5 doctors and 3 Rheumatologists and put on steroids for Poly Myalgia Rheumatica diagnosis. I had been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS.

I have X rays and scans showing signs of osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis. I have been retired early from the Civil Service having lost my job not to mention my earning potential.

My illness seemed to progress through my body not affecting the same joints left to right at the same time. I had bursitis in left hip, right hip, left elbow. I had synovial thickening in both wrists. At that time I could not lift and hold a magazine so lifting a kettle I could only do if a third full and with two hands. Each joint in my hands fingers feet and toes were affected. I had swallowing difficulties and many other symptoms. None of this describes the endless and awful pain whenever I moved or the tiredness but inability to get quality sleep.

Two years ago my GP gave me Amoxicilin for a sinus/throat/chest infection. All my arthritis symptoms improved. The course ended the symptoms deteriorated I started a second course the symptoms improved. The improvement was more significant than when I had started taking steroids. This led my GP to suspect Lyme Disease. I laughed because we do not travel abroad but she said they had had other cases in the surgery in the early stages of tick bite and Erythma Migrans rash. She said, but you have not had a bite. I said oh yes I have I had two on my ankles with rashes, March 05 this was confirmed on her computer at the time I had seen a locum doctor. My worst symptoms were waking up feeling rigid and having to painfully flex every joint in my body before struggling to get up. The only other time I had experienced this was in May 2003 during a flu like illness like no other I had ever experienced. At that time I had a bite and similar rash on my right foot which lasted like the other rashes about four weeks. I had also consulted the surgery and it was dismissed as a virus. I walked our dog daily in the woods adjacent to our house where the deer roam, prime tick area.

Thus started my very lengthy search about Lyme Disease leading me through http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/ to a doctor who specialises in this illness. He confirmed my GP's suspicions. I never had a positive blood test but then they are antigen tests and there is much research that shows they are unreliable. In my case the year of steroids and many weeks antibiotics could have affected the results. So with a clinical diagnosis and following ILADS International Lyme and Associated Disease Society guidelines I continued on antibiotics for two years. Both my doctors continued to treat me despite the Health Protection Agency advising against long term antibiotics. I am now nearly 100% recovered I have no pain or muscle weakness. I can walk upstairs something I could not do for three and a half years. I can garden do house work and live a normal life. I still need to pace myself and with only a few months to 60 will not be looking to return to work.

Life is such a joy.

Sadly there is much controversy about Lyme Disease and doctors in UK are taught that it is so rare. Well where I live in Guildford I have been in contact with a dozen other people with it so perhaps not so rare as HPA would like us to believe. I am in touch with nearly 2000 other patients through a chat line Eurolyme most had been misdiagnosed with several other illnesses.

Look at UK charity http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/ if you want to read more about this illness. There are many MP's taking an interest in the problems surrounding diagnosis and treatment see above charity links into a recent meeting at the House of Commons.

Thank goodness there are some thinking doctors around who have courageously treated me against opposition and I have made such a miraculous recovery albeit rather a lengthy one.

One day there will be many more people who are helped with their chronic illnesses when IDSA starts taking note of what our courageous LLMD’s are doing following ILADS Guidelines.

ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, Poly Myalgia Rheumatica, Arthritis, Bell’s Palsy, MS,MN, ALS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Heart Block, Stroke, Psychiatric, gastric problems the list is endless. Not all suffering from Lyme Borrelia but how many are even properly assessed for it.

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Joanne's Cottage Garden

Saturday, 16 January 2010

WINTER WONDERLAND

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