The Roundup Party is over Part 2

This is what I got, with my program
Close up

A little diff angle, But it is there.

I'm not coming up with a 'logical' explanation... It's just so cool I can barely breathe. Now I need to go and closely examine all the other photos.
Julie, how old is the dog?

This message was edited Sep 9, 2009 9:35 PM

Me too Pix. It is just amazing. This could be one of those things that spreads across the world. Even an explanation wouldn't change the mystery much.

Yep, cool-lookin' dragonfly, fer sure.

Sure. That looks like all of the dragonflies I've ever seen. Even my 17 year old son said, 'Hey, is that a fairy?'. I don't know for sure that it's a fairy, but I'm fairly certain it's not a dragonfly, hummingbird, or moth. Not to mention that it's the only thing in the photo that is a bit out of focus. And since I feel certain we can trust that Mary and Julie haven't tampered with the photo, thus far the mystery remains unsolved.

Pixy, Hunter is 6 1/2.

I have honestly tried to think of a cause for the "fairy". As you all know, I have bunches of garden decor, but nothing in that area that could have reflected unless maybe it was a reflection coming out of the pool that they were drinking in. I would also explain away the body as Hunter possibly laying down on a spent bloom on the deck, but just can't figure how that would explain the "wings" that appear to have motion. I think that it is just one of those things that I will enjoy and probably never know the true "how" of it.....

Well, I've run that thing through every filter I could think of in Photoshop, and nothing sheds any light on what it could possibly be. Pretty trippy.

WOW, Mary, you caught that with my camera? I am going to go look in the file and see if there is anything on any of the other photos.

Thank you everyone for posting and narrating the photos. Mary, you did an outstanding job.
I, too, hate to see them end.

Jan, what is going on? That did not sound good. Mammo? D-mail me, if you prefer to not talk publicly about this.

All right, seriously, I'm sorry -- I was making light of something that you all actually believe in?

Fairies, really not on my radar. But I'm so fascinated by the size of the PNW escargot -- now I can kind of see little fairies, noses turned up mightily, riding these monster slugs like slow, elegant Pegasi.

I hope they have slime-proof saddles... eww.

WOAH! Look what happened when I ran it through the "Alternate Reality" filter! o.0

A haiku:

Undulating grace
Muscle for fine fairies
Steady, sticky steeds

Poor slug-slimed fairies
Gastropods do not gallop
Molluscs make slow mounts

mine's better

Your has only 6 syllables in the second line. Haiku Foul. I win. Thppppppppt. :p

WHAT?!
Crap, yer right.

Wait, what I MEANT to write was "fussy fairies."

Makes more sense.

Yes, Dear. *pat* *pat*

(Way to derail a thread... Go US!)

grumpf. returning you all to the regularly scheduled programming. which was ... lessee ... fairies on the dogs? or purty gardenz?

You say grumpf? I say grumph.

Tomato Tomahto.

Go here and yammer merrily: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1036938/

Sorry to worry you all. I just am going through physical exams that I have put off for too long. It's been over 2 years, so I 'm trying to get caught up. My mom's RN took my BP and told me to go ASAP. Turns out menopause is doing a number on me as well as being mom's caregiver 24/7 for almost 2 years. Anxiety/depression, hormonal changes messing up physical activity(if you get my drift) wink, wink. Getting a Dexascan - bone scan cuz mom has osteoporosis pretty severely, as did my dad. Thanks for your concerns. ((HUGS)) to you all.

Haiku jousting! Now that's more like it. I bow to both of your superior ways with words! Must go to the new thread as it sounds awesome!

So here's the question: Does one have to believe in fairies for them to exist? Sort of like the sound of one hand clapping in the woods. Really too deep for me at this time of the AM. But if our beliefs define our reality and what we put out into the 'universe' manifests itself, Julie's place would be the place where fairies would exist. Her garden pays homage to the second plane of existence both in form and in feel. Let us all remember the lesson of Tinkerbell - everyone who believes in fairies - clap your hands! It was the collective belief and focus that saved Tink from an untimely death.

Believe? Hmm. I'd have to say that I believe that there are all kinds of things that live in a dimension other than my own and that if I am lucky enough to catch a glimpse of something, right on! I prefer mystery to concrete linear thinking. It makes life sooo much more interesting. Summerkid, I cannot imagine you NOT believing in fairies! Methinks you have more than just a little bit of the 'fairy' energy in you yourself. Summerkid not believing in fairies? Are you even kidding me? Accept and embrace the fairy in you. It's definitely there, wings or no wings.

I've emailed the photo to a couple of special friends of mine to see what they think. Will report back.

So jan, not to get too far off topic, but be sure they check your vitamin D level, especially if mom has osteoporosis. I just hate the hormonal shift thing myself. Bleh to hormones.

Will do, Pixy. Is that an extra thing I should ask about or is it included in the normal bloodwork?

Jan, My Dr. just had my vit d level checked, and it wasn't included in the normal bloodwork, so you may have to ask for it.

(Btw, You're not the only one to get behind on this stuff either-I just got caught up this summer as well. :) )

It's an extra thing - but your Dr. should have it on his radar. It's not uncommon to have a low level of D, especially if you're disciplined about putting on sunscreen.

Also, I had terrible joint pain that went away with a very low dose of estrogen. Turns out there is such a thing as "menopausal arthritis" and that's apparently what I had. I'm not sure that my doctor was even up to speed on that. Turns out that estrogen is a natural anti-inflammatory as well as a substance that makes you able to tolerate pain.

So be sure to tell the doctor about all your symptoms

This message was edited Sep 10, 2009 4:34 PM

Good to know about the estrogen and pain. I just went through all my yearly stuff also. I think I will hit my doctor over the head with that info. I take Caltrate + D with minerals for osteoporosis. It's been three years now and my hair and fingernailsgrow like crazy. And my bones are much better

Good fairy discussion and good poetry

That fairy pic is awesome!

Thanks, SusyB and Katie59. Good to know.

Pixy, Your comments about "believing" are so right on. In my opinion, a world without mystery would be just plain boring. I also believe that the ability of something unexpected and unexplainable to open minds to the "possibility" of unknown wonders is a form of magic in itself.

A wonderful quote on magic by Roald Dahl:

'And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.'

I find joy in anything in this world that makes me say "WOW!"

Jan, hope all of your tests come out fine. I agree with the Vit. D check...although deficiency in our PNW climate is probably more common than in yours. I too have recently started taking a calcium with D supplement for healthy bones, and in a relatively short time it has made a big difference in my energy levels.

I am finally back home from San Francisco and so happy to be here. WOW!!!!! I am having so much fun looking at the photos. Thanks to all of you who took and posted them. Tills you have gone to such great lengths to post all those. FAIRIES!!! I wonder if that fairy has a special liking for that dog.......

I will comment more after reading more posts. I am so glad all of you had such a wonderful time, and thank you for sharing your experiences with those of us who were unable to attend. I like being able to put faces with names. I have lots of questions for the philosophy thread.

Welcome home, Judi.

Thanks, Julie. It will be interesting to see. Gotta go take my evening calcium. Thanks for reminding me,.

This message was edited Sep 10, 2009 5:57 PM

Welcome home Judi. Missed your sparkle.

rarejem, excellent quote! So true that people who do not believe in the mysteries will never notice them since they are not looking. Boring. Very, very boring to consider. I think a little girl I know, age 17 months, says it well as she discovers the world around her: Wow! Wow wow!

Welcome back Judi. Can you believe that photo? Yes, I do think the fairy has watch over that dog. That's why I was asking how old the dog is, wondering if the dog is getting older and needs extra assistance. That does not seem to be the case. But I was looking at some of the other photos of the dog and, I have to look again, but it does seem like there are areas of the dog's body that look a little 'fuzzy' in terms of focus (not fur). Other people need to look and see what they think.

I am now a true true believer in the fairy world, was kinda but now totally. I just wonder if it was the Hunters personal fairy. Or was it a message to me and those that disbelieve, as I did take it. And she is there for all to see.
And I do not have any, to invite them in to are gardens. I am amaized.

Pix, I love the pic of the fish and the Lily, how long did you wait for that right moment.

Jan, hope all is well, I know the feeling. I think I would rather be pregant than go thu this LOL it takes longer.

Welcome back Judi

Beautiful rose, Tills. :)

Nice to see ya again, Judi!

Jan, best wishes for good health!

Where the heck is redchic01?

Thanks, all. I'll let you know when all the tests are done and if and when the meds kick in.

I was wondering the same thing. Maybe, she's involved with the fires.

Jan, Lexapro is very effective for someone who is dysfunctionally depressed because, say, she is getting a divorce & has dropped to 109 pounds or someone whose kitchen floor is covered with dirty dishes & she can't quite figure out how to fix that, or for someone who suddenly understands why people kill themselves.

Be aware, though, that antidepressants in general wrap you in a cocoon of nonfeeling (that's how they get you through the lows, by killing the highs) AND completely kill your libido. You do lose a part of yourself.

So you need to balance what you will gain with what you will lose. Lexapro helped me find the mindless ability to achieve tasks that was required to dig myself out of the mire & make this move. I went cold-turkey last month, figuring now was the time to face the world on my own 2 feet. And I am thrilled to be off the pills & be myself again.

You will be fine. This is an incredibly hard time for you, but it is just part of life & I think you are doing swimmingly, far better than most would. Honestly -- please believe that. I don't blow smoke.

Caution: Large and dramatic soapbox ahead. Informational services rendered. Breakthrough 'bleeding' of my professional persona manifesting...You have been warned.

You went cold turkey, Summerkid? I hope you were not on it very long. If so, you could be in for serious rebound effects. Seriously, it's not a good idea at all to go off of those medications suddenly. I've had patients hit a wall a few weeks after going off medication precipitously. Watch yourself closely. Wouldn't want to see the summerkid hit a wall.

Those meds should not make you into a non-feeling person. If they do, you should be on something else. Also, the libido issue is very true for about 40% of the population; certainly way higher a percentage than the informational inserts admit to, but also not everybody. When those meds are working correctly and you are on the right one, the goal is to allow you to be your best self, not make you lose a part of yourself. Here's the advice I give my patients: if you don't like how you feel on the medication after you've given your body time to adjust, it's not the right one for you. Go back to the doctor and ask to try something else. Don't settle, because there are lots of choices out there.

Also, there are very nice supplements sold in the healthfood store that, for mild cases of depression, can totally do the trick with minimal to no side effects, and no rebound effect if you go off of them. 5-htp and St. John's Wort both effectively increase serotonin, and St. John's Wort increases other neurotransmitters as well. Don't take them with anti depressants, though. And if you are on anti depressants and you drink at all, keep your alcohol intake to the absolute minimum. Alcohol is a system depressant, so you're just fighting the effects of the medication. Most regular MD's are not going to know much about treating with supplements and might even be a little suspicious of them. Mostly that's because there is no money invested in this country to research products that cannot be patented. Supplements are natural, generally extracted from one plant or another (the Griffonia bean, in the case of 5-htp), so the pharmeceutical industry pretty much ignores them, except to use scare tactics and lobby to get our right to buy them in perfect freedom compromised. So doctors don't generally get any training on using supplements medicinally. However, a psychiatrist friend of mine used to give his patients 5-htp all the time until Prozac came along. If you lived in a different country, you would likely be given these treatments, especially St. John's Wort, first rather than going straight for the medication. That doesn't mean the meds are not good. They are good for most people, and if someone is seriously depressed they should pass by the supplements and just go for the medication. It just means that there are alternatives and that they should be offered as well.

In addition, one of the best treatments for depression, with no side effects at all, is a treatment light such as this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Philips-GoLite-Spectrum-Therapy-Device/dp/B000C1946S

Originally designed to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder, they are now being used to treat regular depression, as well as bipolar disorder (under a doctor's care for this please), sleep disorders, and biorhythm problems. This is the same price Costco was selling them for last year and this is an excellent treatment light. I recommend this one to my patients, and I have one of these in my own home. My son and I both use it in the winter. I believe they should be issued at birth for anyone in the northern latitudes.

supplements for anxiety include GABA (which works in the brain the same way Xanax works, without the side effects and possibility of addiction) and L-theanine, which is extracted from green tea. Use Google to get more info about these supplements. For people who have been under long term stress and have adrenal deficiency because of it, and where anxiety is part of that manifestation, Catecholecalm is excellent. Going to a good naturopathic physician would be the thing to do if one really wanted to get a good assessment of which supplements would be best.

Seems like I've been on this soapbox before, so I'll get off it now and get back to the fairies. Any questions for me, just dmail to keep it off the thread.

Melissa is now 'out of the office'.

So Mary,, I waited about 2 minutes with the camera at the ready and in focus to get that shot! Here's another fish photo for you. This is Gumbo. He started out life as a walmart fish living in a small aquarium at my sister's house. I couldn't tolerate it. I invited him to the pond. She brought him in a bucket, sat the bucket down on the deck by the pond and in 2 seconds he had jumped out of the bucket and directly into the pond. He never looked back and now he is one of the prettiest fish I have.

Has anyone heard from Thistledown?