It’s been a very busy month! I had a great time at the reception for the Birds of North Carolina: A Community Photo Exhibit at the botanical garden. In addition to appreciating my family and friends showing up for support, I met another photographer. She had several pictures of great blue herons I was admiring. She recommended Sandy Creek Park as a place to find lots of waterbirds. And so, when Tim was clear to resume strenuous activity, off we went to find the park.
Tim was recovering from two cardiac catheterization procedures this month. The first one was looking for the source of his worsening shortness of breath symptoms, and the second one was to insert three stents in his right coronary artery, which supplies blood to the right ventricle of the heart, which pumps blood to the lungs. What a difference those three stents are making.
Some of my readers may remember that Tim had a heart attack in 2007 and was flown by a medical helicopter to Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut where he had emergency triple bypass surgery. Those three arteries are still doing well, but this one had been narrowing.
Our “walks” in recent months were becoming shorter and progressively more difficult for him. In fact, we hadn’t walked in the woods together since early November and that one was very short. We’ve been spending most of our time in the botanical garden where he could sit on a bench while I took pictures. But on this lovely day it was like old times again, trekking through the woods with my sidekick pointing out many of the things he spotted along the way.
Even though everything was dull and drab for winter and we only saw three Canada geese, it was still a beautiful day, and we’re looking forward to coming back here to see all the scenery (and hopefully more waterbirds!) in the changing seasons.
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Good news, glad Tim is feeling better. Modern medicine is a wonder, isn’t it? Thank god!
Tim’s grandmother died of her heart attack at age 54, but Tim has survived 17 years past his at the same age. A miracle, indeed!
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This is a beautiful walk. Cheers to the good news of Tim’s recovery. Best wishes for the trend continually moving in a positive direction.
Thanks, Frank. We do have the sense that Tim is living on borrowed time — heart disease is relentless — so we appreciate every intervention that gives him some more of it.
Peace and strength to both of you.
Thank you, Frank. 🙏
No snow on the ground, no ice on the water, no gloves on the hands to hamper the picture taking, and your sidekick is back on the trail! Hooray for enjoying being outdoors together on a beautiful day!
Thank you, Janet! We plan to make the most of the beautiful weather for what remains of this winter and for the amazing spring which is coming right up. The light gets lovelier, and the days warmer, day by day! 🙂
Happy to hear Tim is doing so well after his recent surgery! I can envision many more visits for you and Tim at this park. The seasons will be beautiful!! And i chuckled at the tick sign, that is a good one!!
Thank you, Donna! We plan to make the most of the bird and scenery photo ops here, and get back to some of the other places we visited when we first got here. I did a double take at the tick sign and had a good laugh, too!! Time to get out the bug repellent again…
That blue is truly gorgeous, Barbara! I’m delighted to hear Tim is doing better after his procedure. My late Mom had that done as well, and it was so encouraging to witness the benefits. And how blessed you both are, being able to get outdoors and enjoy Nature again!
I hadn’t seen that perfect shade of blue in the sky for months, Debbie! What a treat it was! Thanks for letting me know about your mom having the stents inserted. Except for two of Tim’s brothers who have also had the procedure I’ve never known anyone else who has had it done. As you say, it is encouraging to see the difference it makes.
First of all this is a wonderful post, Barbara!
January has been packed of events and emotions for you, including celebration of a birthday for you!
Thrilling to have met another photographer at the botanical garden reception that led you to a new venue to explore. Yes, the leafless bare trees of winter does feel drab; yet it gives the opportunity to observe spaces, colors and things otherwise missed.
Oh you know my heart goes out to you and Tim. A heart cath procedure and placements of stents is no easy decision on so many levels. I’m glad to hear that Tim is breathing easier by your side. ❤️🍎
Thank you, Teri! Tim shares your appreciation of the bare bones of winter and often comments about how far into the woods he can see. I miss the green but it’s good that the seasons offer us each a change in what’s available to observe and savor. We’re all so grateful for the excellent cardiologists who performed this miracle, even if it is a stopgap measure. We’re all breathing easier now (pun intended)! ❤️
These are beautiful pictures from a great Winter walk Barbara, but best of all is reading that Tim’s two procedures went well and you two are back to enjoying your lovely woodland walks together and side by side. We had not yet “met” in the blogosphere when Tim had his heart attack. I know you were excited to hear about a place where shore birds frequent … perhaps a gull friend is in your future and another heron picture like your recent one you paired with the poem? That blue sky looks so pretty and I can see why blue is your favorite color. Soon everything will be greening up in your neck of the woods, much sooner than here. You’ve had a busy January so maybe have not had time to notice the sun rising a little earlier and setting later – we are getting there, albeit slowly. The Robin is doing a tiny head tilt, perhaps listening for worms beneath its feet? I like the tick sign. Hopefully most have been zapped from the brutal cold spell across the U.S. a couple of weeks ago.
It seems like that cold spell is behind us now. The high today is supposed to go to 72°F!!! Perfect! And I remember last year the daffodils started blooming in mid-February. So much to look forward to. We have so many robins and bluebirds in our yard now we just sit there looking at them in amazement. Not to mention the cardinals and juncos still hanging around. But I am hoping to see some of the waterbirds at this park as time goes on. The woman I met at the reception had lovely pictures of great blue herons. And while we were at the park I spotted a woman with a camera like mine who was intent on photographing a small bird — I couldn’t make out what it was — it was perched on some vegetation close to the shore. We’re trying to make the most of whatever extra time together for adventures that these stents will give us. One precious day at a time.
Those temps are very nice Barbara – I am envious. Perfect, like Spring or Fall. That will nudge all those bulbs to grow and wildflowers to erupt. That’s great about getting all the birds to your yard – you must be in your glory seeing them – I know I would. You have to do the Great Backyard Bird Count. It is coming up for President’s Day weekend … you won’t even have to leave your house to do it if it rains, etc. I know you’ll enjoy the venue with the shore birds. Yes, make the most of every day – seize the day!
Here is the Great Backyard Bird Count so it is handy for you. I plan to do it at Council Point Park where I usually do it; all I have is Sparrows at my house (unless you want to count the Cooper’s Hawk).
https://www.birdcount.org/
Thank you, Linda. ♡ I doubt I will participate as I have a terrible relationship with numbers – lol. I think it would stress me out. But kudos to everyone who does participate!
That’s okay – you will continue to enjoy these birds at your window, where the rest of us are just counting them and missing the joy of seeing them … look at it that way.
That’s great news to hear. The mid-50’s seems to be a dangerous age especially for men. My dad also had a heart attack at 54. He is 75 now and still doing well. Scary knowing it is in the family. Looks like a great place to walk. I’ll look forward to seeing this place as the seasons progress, and hopefully see some heron photos.
he’s 76 actually, turning 77 in May
Sounds like your dad and my Tim (72) are in the same generation that is benefitting from the miracles of modern medicine. Two of Tim’s brothers also survived heart attacks in their 50s but their grandmother died of the heart attack she had at age 54. The cardiologists have told us that it is definitely genetic. I’m glad to hear that your dad is doing well!
I’m hoping to get some heron photos soon, too!