Standing Into Danger: Surprise! And a Surprise Shot!

Friday, August 19, 2022

Surprise! And a Surprise Shot!

The surprise is on me.

I waited so long for our trip to Canada imagining all the fun things

we would be doing in with our families in Ontario and Nova Scotia.

I had fun speculating what I might be doing on August 3rd,

the Insecure Writer's Support Group Day:

kayaking on the Sissaboo River,

hiking across the sandbar and around Bear Island (if the tides cooperated),

enjoying scrumptious snacks and drinks on one of the family decks.

or watching whales out on the Bay of Fundy.

Watching Whales On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved

What I never imagined was sitting at our kitchen counter at home in Aurora.

But that's exactly where I was.

Terry and I had to cut our trip to Nova Scotia short and fly home early,

and we arrived home very, very early on August 3rd, sick and utterly exhausted.

Cloud Deck Out of Philly on the Long Trek Home

August 2-3, 2022

Terry had a mysterious medical issue flatten him during our brief week in Nova Scotia,

one that caused him severe pain and immobilized him at times,

and I had extreme fatigue from what I thought was long Covid.

We made the difficult decision to go home before the situation deteriorated more.

Later on the morning of the 3rd, I sat at the kitchen counter

and tried to answer a few comments on my IWSG post.

But I couldn't manage it; my fatigue was crushing.

I'm still experiencing fatigue, but it no longer feels like ten Earths weighing on me.

Over the next ten days, Terry was diagnosed with

and started treatment for an inflammatory attack on his muscle system.

Things are going much better for him now!

The moment Terry could play pickleball, he was back on the courts.

All the horrible things I thought might be wrong with him are not!

Terry with His Sister Maureen

Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

July 23, 2022

Terry with Chilling with His Side of Our Family

Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

July 23, 2022

As for me, I don't have long Covid.

I have a worsening response to the steroids treating my double vision.

A high dose of prednisone over a couple of months

turned me into a bloated, exhausted, and raving maniac.

Someone who could threaten to thunk her poor spouse

over the head with boxes of ice cream minibars

yanked out of the freezer section in the grocery store.

She didn't want the Dove minibars he was choosing.

No, she wanted Häagen-Dazs.

Things are looking up.

My doctors have a plan for me moving forward, so I am encouraged.

Just a bump in the road.

The important thing is both Terry and I had some fun times in Canada,

and we got to hug and spend time with family members

we had not seen since the beginning of the pandemic.

Can you believe it?

I was so worried about Terry and I felt so miserable in Canada

that I only took a few photos on our trip.

Me, who can shoot fifty shots of Queen Anne's Lace in five minutes.

I'm going around begging the Fam to send me copies of their photos.

Me, My Cousin John, Donnie with Her Grandson, and My Sister Barb

Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada

July 31, 2022

Spending Time with a Very Special Guy

Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada

July 31, 2022

We spent part of our sudden and unexpected last evening

in the Cove on my sister Donnie's deck.

Everyone came to hug us and give us a good sendoff.

It was heart-shredding, but greatly appreciated.

I was wondering if Terry and I would ever sit together on that deck again.

Silly me ~ Terry is happily planning trips to various places right now.

Chilling on the Deck ~

I love my b-i-l Martin's Goofy Smiles and the Yummy Gin Tonics He Mixes.

Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada

July 31, 2022

Even Daisy Loves the Sunset

Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada

July 31, 2022

Watching the Sunset on Donnie and Martin's Deck

Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada

August 1, 2022

Watching the Sunset on Donnie and Martin's Deck

Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada

August 1, 2022

And the surprise shot?

I hope you laugh when you see it!

I've been calming my steroid-induced agitation and irritability
by doing repetitive, mindless things in recent days,
like deleting not-so-great photos from my gigantic collection on my computer.
I came across some pictures of a beautiful prairie falcon on my deck in 2017.

It's one of the four kinds of falcons in Colorado,
the other three being merlins, peregrines, and kestrels.
I'm sharing them so I have something for my friend Rain's Thursday Art Date.
Her theme this week is Figure Drawing,
and I think this falcon cuts a fine figure!

Prairie Falcon

Aurora, Colorado, USA

August 29, 2017

Prairie Falcon

Aurora, Colorado, USA

August 29, 2017

Prairie Falcon

Aurora, Colorado, USA

August 29, 2017

A Surprise Shot You Can't Plan For!

Aurora, Colorado, USA

August 29, 2017

Thanks a Lot, Buddy!

Aurora, Colorado, USA

August 29, 2017

Prairie Falcon

Aurora, Colorado, USA

August 29, 2017

Adios!

Aurora, Colorado, USA

August 29, 2017

Have a great weekend!

Till next time ~
Fundy Blue

My next post will be on

Friday, August 26, 2022.

33 comments:

Elephant's ChildAugust 19, 2022 at 1:02 AM
Hugs. I am so glad that your fears didn't eventuate and that even cut short you had a fine time.
And I LOVE all of the shots of the falcon.
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LeighAugust 19, 2022 at 3:40 AM
I'm so sorry to hear you both have been so sick. But very glad the docs have figured it out and you're on the road to better.

Your family pics are lovely. I have ancestors from Nova Scotia, so I was really interested in the scenery too.

Fantastic falcon photos! It's like it came by for a personal photo op just with you!
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Alex J. CavanaughAugust 19, 2022 at 4:23 AM
It's like Monty Python - I poop in your general direction! Great shots of the falcon.
Really sorry you both felt bad and had to come home early. Glad they are working to fix you both. Yes, prednisone can really mess you up. After just a week of it, I'm mean and not sleeping either.
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Debra She Who SeeksAugust 19, 2022 at 7:10 AM
So sorry you had to cut your trip short! How disappointing for you and all your family too, I'm sure. Glad Terry is already well enough to play pickleball again though. And prednisone -- it is well known for inducing roid rage. A friend has to take it periodically and when she does, she always stays home from work in case she murders a co-worker while under the influence, lol! I hope you feel better soon too. That pooping falcon is the mascot for your vacation, alas.
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TomAugust 19, 2022 at 8:28 AM
...what an unplanned shot!
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DVArtistAugust 19, 2022 at 10:30 AM
Even though there were some scary health issues going on, you managed to make this a wonderful post. Please join me in Friday Face Off. Wishing you the best of health.
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David M. Gascoigne,August 19, 2022 at 1:13 PM
Glad that all is well, but these are not the kind of scares any of us wish to have. When you were in Woodstock you were about forty-five minutes from my home. We sometime visit the Pittock Lake Conservation Area there.
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ChristineAugust 19, 2022 at 3:15 PM
So sorry you guys were not well on your visit to Canada. The falcon does cut a fine figure.
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AdamAugust 19, 2022 at 3:16 PM
I hope the health issues reverse for the better

It is something we all do when we start feeling unwell

Could it be Covid-19?

I thought once and I tested negative
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SandiAugust 20, 2022 at 6:59 AM
So many great photos. My fav: you and Donnie's grandson. 😊

The whale, though...WOW!

Sorry to hear about the fatigue and everything. Hope you are feeling better soon.
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Valerie-JaelAugust 21, 2022 at 1:35 AM
Hi Louse, good to hear from you again. Sorry you both got so ill, and glad you are both feeling better. I know how steroids can make you aggressive. Sometimes I was treated with very high doses of steroids because of my auto immune disease, sarcoidosis, and I could hardly control my aggressions. In the meaning I have a small dose daily, and this semms to work without turning me into a monster! Hope you are both really better. Love the shots of you with your family! Hugs, Valerie
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Pat HattAugust 21, 2022 at 4:09 AM
That stinks that you never got to stay as long as you planned, but at least you got to spend some time and your issues were figured out. Gotta love meds. Can fix you and screw you up at the same time. Hopefully you both are staying on the mend.

lmao guess that is what the falcon thought of having his picture taken.
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MarthaAugust 21, 2022 at 4:39 AM
MY GOSH, those falcon shots! Those are wonderful, Louise. What a great sighting. These birds are simply magnificent. I'm glad that all turned out okay. Wishing you and Terry good health! And despite it all, you put together a wonderful post. Have a terrific week ahead!
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Carola BartzAugust 21, 2022 at 11:32 AM
That must have been very scary when you thought Terry had some serious illness and you were suspecting long COVID for yourself. What a relief that none of this was the case and things look much better now. I hope it stays like this and you will be able to visit your family in Canada again soon. It is hard when family lives so far away. My daughter lives in Germany, and it was wonderful when we finally saw her again after almost two years.
The photos of the Prairie Falcon are amazing. Oh boy, I had to laugh out loud when I saw the image of the sh*t in motion! What a surprising and hilarious capture!
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NatureFootstepAugust 21, 2022 at 11:37 AM
sorry to hear Terry got ill so you had to go back home. But glad it if good now. The Prairie Falcon is a very beautiful bird. And your photos are stunning. Sharing the best of the bird :)
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L. Diane WolfeAugust 22, 2022 at 10:53 AM
So sorry you had to cut it short. At least you got a few days in.

The falcon is pretty. We get redtailed hawks sitting on our railing sometimes.
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JeffAugust 26, 2022 at 5:02 PM
I am so sorry that your time in Canada was cut short, but what incredible photos of that falcon, especially the one it left its calling card! I hope you are all doing much better.
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