What's outside of your picture window today?

Birds in the snow ! I find them a wonderful distraction for whatever ails me. When they fly away they take a little bit of my anxiety away with them into the sky.

Saw this House Finch checking out the food lineup and was wondering how the birds are doing at your place Elizabeth @ess77. Hope it's warmer down your way!

@johnbishop Hello, John, my friend. It's been a very long months since we've been in contact. Let's just say 2025 was a tough year for this Florida lady. In and out of Mayo Hospital and hospital and NH rehabs 3 times following infections, sepsis, extremely high - coma level- diabetes from steroid usage, followed by muscle paralysis several times unable to move from waist down. That's not the list but gives you a bit of idea how the year went!

I moved temporarily to my son's condo upstairs while my condo is renovated and repaired. It's needed it for years and I took the plunge. Interesting timing... led to my body giving out and more weakness and muscle issues. It seems the muscles reacted to the diabetes emergency and several sepsis infections by the auto-immune illnesses I have causing the muscle to forget how to work and turn against me. I couldn't move at all from waist down for several days until put on high dose of steroids. That was May. Have been unable to reduce steroids without flaring and becoming paralyzed full body at times.

What a crazy series of events and how wild and crazy is the body at times!

Anyway, going through the packing up and estate sale, moving to my son's temporarily, was too much for me so I kind of shut down for several months. Am now, first time in a year, walking sort-of, limited activity, total isolation re infections and immune system yucky, infection free now for 3 months!!!!! No pool therapy or PT due to need for isolation and limited exertion, etc.

So, my friend, my birds have been abandoned. I am full of guilt and sadness at leaving them so suddenly and without a goodby. I miss them so much. They were my friends for years. I knew the families and they knew me... Cardinals especially.

This is also why I've not been online with you folks for months. I was struggling for survival. It's been a very long, difficult year but 2026 appears to be determined to be a huge improvement.

I'm down now to 15mg Prednisone! Holding for 3 months at 15... now beginning another slow reduction, hoping to get to 10 in a few months more. Then hold there for maintenance. Diabetes is severe. Insulin use since May 2025 and now, with added Mounjaro for leveling the insulin, reducing insulin dose a bit with that addition, my diabetes is much improved and I'm seeing the light there! Wow! That was scary and a long learning experience... Yes, I've let the Power that is know I really don't want any more learning experiences, please. I'm learned out!

Just simple, easy, peaceful, calm, no crises living is my hope and prayer for the next months/years on this crazy earth! I hope to move back, slowly, to my 'new' home, all repaired and looking beautiful as it will for now. Love the new kitchen I'll never use, love the new ceilings and walls and colors I chose. It's perfect for me now.

Walk-in shower with marble look slabs, marble tile flooring that's cool and easy maintenance. Yes, it's hard on the feet and legs, but I won't be walking on it much anymore, so it will be lovely. New vanities. sinks, toilets, tub in one bath, pedestal sink in downstairs bath, pretty nice place now. Kitchen is black granite counters, brown cabinets, soft mediterranian gray-blue walls- kitchen and den. Not light blue. Definitely a good color... Florida sky with blue-gray undertones... deep enough to have real color, but not navy. Rest of downstairs and up to the bedrooms is a blue undertone gray! Definitely a color... not neutral, not gray, but comfortable and looks good with my dark wood furniture white floors with area rugs in deep, rich colors. I am so pleased... now just have to get myself back over there without another collapse!

Thanks for thinking of me, John. Feels good to have my Connect Friends remember me after this time... I shared a bunch, as I tend to do at times, but hopefully will help you know I've been busy and missed you all. My love to you and all the Connect folks. I'm coming back...
Yes, a promise and a frightening thought!!!!! Blessings, Elizabeth

@johnbishop Hello, John, my friend. It's been a very long months since we've been in contact. Let's just say 2025 was a tough year for this Florida lady. In and out of Mayo Hospital and hospital and NH rehabs 3 times following infections, sepsis, extremely high - coma level- diabetes from steroid usage, followed by muscle paralysis several times unable to move from waist down. That's not the list but gives you a bit of idea how the year went!

I moved temporarily to my son's condo upstairs while my condo is renovated and repaired. It's needed it for years and I took the plunge. Interesting timing... led to my body giving out and more weakness and muscle issues. It seems the muscles reacted to the diabetes emergency and several sepsis infections by the auto-immune illnesses I have causing the muscle to forget how to work and turn against me. I couldn't move at all from waist down for several days until put on high dose of steroids. That was May. Have been unable to reduce steroids without flaring and becoming paralyzed full body at times.

What a crazy series of events and how wild and crazy is the body at times!

Anyway, going through the packing up and estate sale, moving to my son's temporarily, was too much for me so I kind of shut down for several months. Am now, first time in a year, walking sort-of, limited activity, total isolation re infections and immune system yucky, infection free now for 3 months!!!!! No pool therapy or PT due to need for isolation and limited exertion, etc.

So, my friend, my birds have been abandoned. I am full of guilt and sadness at leaving them so suddenly and without a goodby. I miss them so much. They were my friends for years. I knew the families and they knew me... Cardinals especially.

This is also why I've not been online with you folks for months. I was struggling for survival. It's been a very long, difficult year but 2026 appears to be determined to be a huge improvement.

I'm down now to 15mg Prednisone! Holding for 3 months at 15... now beginning another slow reduction, hoping to get to 10 in a few months more. Then hold there for maintenance. Diabetes is severe. Insulin use since May 2025 and now, with added Mounjaro for leveling the insulin, reducing insulin dose a bit with that addition, my diabetes is much improved and I'm seeing the light there! Wow! That was scary and a long learning experience... Yes, I've let the Power that is know I really don't want any more learning experiences, please. I'm learned out!

Just simple, easy, peaceful, calm, no crises living is my hope and prayer for the next months/years on this crazy earth! I hope to move back, slowly, to my 'new' home, all repaired and looking beautiful as it will for now. Love the new kitchen I'll never use, love the new ceilings and walls and colors I chose. It's perfect for me now.

Walk-in shower with marble look slabs, marble tile flooring that's cool and easy maintenance. Yes, it's hard on the feet and legs, but I won't be walking on it much anymore, so it will be lovely. New vanities. sinks, toilets, tub in one bath, pedestal sink in downstairs bath, pretty nice place now. Kitchen is black granite counters, brown cabinets, soft mediterranian gray-blue walls- kitchen and den. Not light blue. Definitely a good color... Florida sky with blue-gray undertones... deep enough to have real color, but not navy. Rest of downstairs and up to the bedrooms is a blue undertone gray! Definitely a color... not neutral, not gray, but comfortable and looks good with my dark wood furniture white floors with area rugs in deep, rich colors. I am so pleased... now just have to get myself back over there without another collapse!

Thanks for thinking of me, John. Feels good to have my Connect Friends remember me after this time... I shared a bunch, as I tend to do at times, but hopefully will help you know I've been busy and missed you all. My love to you and all the Connect folks. I'm coming back...
Yes, a promise and a frightening thought!!!!! Blessings, Elizabeth

@johnbishop Hello, John, my friend. It's been a very long months since we've been in contact. Let's just say 2025 was a tough year for this Florida lady. In and out of Mayo Hospital and hospital and NH rehabs 3 times following infections, sepsis, extremely high - coma level- diabetes from steroid usage, followed by muscle paralysis several times unable to move from waist down. That's not the list but gives you a bit of idea how the year went!

I moved temporarily to my son's condo upstairs while my condo is renovated and repaired. It's needed it for years and I took the plunge. Interesting timing... led to my body giving out and more weakness and muscle issues. It seems the muscles reacted to the diabetes emergency and several sepsis infections by the auto-immune illnesses I have causing the muscle to forget how to work and turn against me. I couldn't move at all from waist down for several days until put on high dose of steroids. That was May. Have been unable to reduce steroids without flaring and becoming paralyzed full body at times.

What a crazy series of events and how wild and crazy is the body at times!

Anyway, going through the packing up and estate sale, moving to my son's temporarily, was too much for me so I kind of shut down for several months. Am now, first time in a year, walking sort-of, limited activity, total isolation re infections and immune system yucky, infection free now for 3 months!!!!! No pool therapy or PT due to need for isolation and limited exertion, etc.

So, my friend, my birds have been abandoned. I am full of guilt and sadness at leaving them so suddenly and without a goodby. I miss them so much. They were my friends for years. I knew the families and they knew me... Cardinals especially.

This is also why I've not been online with you folks for months. I was struggling for survival. It's been a very long, difficult year but 2026 appears to be determined to be a huge improvement.

I'm down now to 15mg Prednisone! Holding for 3 months at 15... now beginning another slow reduction, hoping to get to 10 in a few months more. Then hold there for maintenance. Diabetes is severe. Insulin use since May 2025 and now, with added Mounjaro for leveling the insulin, reducing insulin dose a bit with that addition, my diabetes is much improved and I'm seeing the light there! Wow! That was scary and a long learning experience... Yes, I've let the Power that is know I really don't want any more learning experiences, please. I'm learned out!

Just simple, easy, peaceful, calm, no crises living is my hope and prayer for the next months/years on this crazy earth! I hope to move back, slowly, to my 'new' home, all repaired and looking beautiful as it will for now. Love the new kitchen I'll never use, love the new ceilings and walls and colors I chose. It's perfect for me now.

Walk-in shower with marble look slabs, marble tile flooring that's cool and easy maintenance. Yes, it's hard on the feet and legs, but I won't be walking on it much anymore, so it will be lovely. New vanities. sinks, toilets, tub in one bath, pedestal sink in downstairs bath, pretty nice place now. Kitchen is black granite counters, brown cabinets, soft mediterranian gray-blue walls- kitchen and den. Not light blue. Definitely a good color... Florida sky with blue-gray undertones... deep enough to have real color, but not navy. Rest of downstairs and up to the bedrooms is a blue undertone gray! Definitely a color... not neutral, not gray, but comfortable and looks good with my dark wood furniture white floors with area rugs in deep, rich colors. I am so pleased... now just have to get myself back over there without another collapse!

Thanks for thinking of me, John. Feels good to have my Connect Friends remember me after this time... I shared a bunch, as I tend to do at times, but hopefully will help you know I've been busy and missed you all. My love to you and all the Connect folks. I'm coming back...
Yes, a promise and a frightening thought!!!!! Blessings, Elizabeth