Faith Magdalene's Sundrip

Red Sunflower Progress

Posted on July 10, 2025July 10, 2025 by F.Magdalene

My nurse asked how often I cry when I paint. I told her there are tears of emotion in about 90-95% of my art pieces.

I usually paint on a flat table starting out then graduate to the easel close to the end. The tears have to do with the music, the mix of color, the glide of the brush, spread of bristles and color, all to music, all forming an image from my imagination to life. Yes, there is emotion. It’s not sadness. It’s beauty sometimes.

When the yellow and red sunflowers touch one another in this piece l listened to opera then Janis Joplin. A few tears hit the canvas. It was a nice moment. Art provides many peaceful moments as well as soulful moments.

This is the progress of the red Sunflower. There’s a lot still to be done. I’m taking my time and enjoying the ride.

Please feel free to visit my Etsy shop for original art that is ready for adoption. Www.Sundrip.etsy.com.

Faith Magdalene’s Sundrip

Three Shots

Posted on June 21, 2025July 6, 2025 by F.Magdalene

Kiss kiss

Art on a white T-shirt

March of Clowns

Faith Magdalene

Amish Antibiotic Made for the First Time

Posted on June 15, 2025June 15, 2025 by F.Magdalene

I over used Listerine and disrupted the natural balance of bacteria in my body. This caused oral Thrush. Immediately I began my home based care which now includes the Amish Amoxicillin.

So called Amish Amoxicillin is a combination of natural ingredients that I refrigerate upto two weeks. I can, but don’t have, to take up to three tablespoons a day inside food products such as tea and soups. A tablespoon at a time not 3 at one time. So, what’s in it?

Apple cider vinegar, pineapple, whole peeled lemon, garlic and ginger, ceyenne pepper 1/2 teaspoon, black pepper 1/2 teaspoon, yellow turmeric, onion, honey. Below is the recipe.

Just a note. When it comes to peeling veggies, spices, roots, herbs, etc, I’m all for the skin unless it’s going to alter the taste of the dish. Leave the lemon peel off. Benefits don’t justify it’s use. Time doesn’t permit explanation.

I leave the skin on for the ginger. Take it off of the turmeric. I run my garlic through a press and add a tad more apple cider vinegar and honey. After everything has been cut up I put it all in a bullet to blend. There’s no cooking.

This can be used as a tea or in food.

There are many Amish Amoxicillin recipes to choose from. For instance Recipe Realm on Facebook offers a wonderful version. I’m going to give it a try next time.

The good thing about this little antibiotic is that it’s primarily kidney friendly. I say primarily because garlic and turmeric can be an issue for people with type two diabetes who take medicine. High doses of it can interfere with your skilled doctor prescribed medication. This is a helper for the doc not a replacement. It won’t help some.

Be smart

Faith Magdalene’s Sundrip

Basil Tea and Kidney Disease

Posted on June 13, 2025June 13, 2025 by F.Magdalene

My friend in Arizona suggested Basil tea to help with kidney disease so I listened but I thought, will basil tea be tolerable? How do I make basil tea? With these questions in mind I set out to my favorite tea blog. I searched and read about mint, because basil is in that family, but I was unable to find anything about how to make basil tea. The best information about basil tea was Google itself. I began to ask it questions.

What’s the best way to make basil tea taste better? Some Answers are? Use various types of basil such as cinnamon basil, Persian or Blue spice basil.

How do I give it body? Answer: add tea leaves, green or black.

How long should I steep it? 3-7 normal 10-15 long 30 deep

Here’s what my friend and I finally came up with today!

You’re going to hate my measurements but remember it’s my kitchen not a restaurant.

Clean Green Basil – (24oz) 4 large basil leaves rolled, mint, lemongrass, black pepper, gunpowder green tea, honey

Basil Tea Black – (24oz) 4 large basil leaves rolled, mint, ginger, black pepper, black tea, honey

We even added cream for chai which was amazing! We were able to re-steep the leaves of the black twice, the green once. Steep 3-7 minutes being the preferred time. Roll and crumble the basil leaf to let the oils out before the steep. Add pepper, you’ll benefit.

All these teas have been on my radar because they are either anti inflammatory or they support kidney function. Recently my kidneys have given me so much pain I’ve been doubled over. I’ll see the doctor on the 25th. Hopefully progress can be made. I’m in constant pain and I’m tired all the time.

I’m never too tired for a good cup of tea. This is good tea but is basil tea safe? Google says people with bleeding disorders, diabetes and high blood pressure should not regularly consume basil tea. In other words, I personally shouldn’t use basil tea medicinally as intended because I’m on blood thinners.

Thank goodness for no shortage of teas. There are so many beautiful combinations to create that perfect moment in a cup that I can’t be disappointed that there’s one I occasionally have to sit out.

Until soon

Faith Magdalene’s Sundrip

It’s Hard to Talk

Posted on June 10, 2025June 10, 2025 by F.Magdalene

There are many things to say but it’s so hard to talk after being stalked. It’s hard to to just say forget him! I’m safe! You know, whatever. I can just move on now. Because I can’t. Nor can I say much else. I do feel safe in my home though. Just not on this blog anymore.

He had a camera in the kitchen light overhead. It was an efficiency apartment so he had a view of everything. I still have the tapes of some of the issues there. Reports from Detectives, all that!

This is excruciating and hard to explain and something I don’t want to explain. I’d rather just paint sunflowers, and clowns.

I’d like to write on WordPress or just paint on Etsy and Redbubble but advertise new pieces only on Facebook. I’ll have to see the most stable course of action.

Faith Magdalene’s Sundrip

Sunflowers: Breaking The Mold

Posted on May 29, 2025May 29, 2025 by F.Magdalene

I went outside the box and made her a red sunflower. I’m still working on the shape and size of the flower.

Going from yellow to red – black is a major “out of my comfort zone” type of sunflower, one I rarely do. I believe I’ve painted one single fully black sunflower but no more. I usually paint bright yellow sunflowers. While Mammoth Sunflowers are my favorite there are so many others to explore. I need a new short term art interest and finding new sunflowers to paint is it.

Sunflowers make me happy. Right now my heart is less than happy. I need to do something about that. I need sunflowers, lots of sunflowers. Bring on the sunflowers!

Faith Magdalene’s Sundrip

Steady. Unsteady. Park.

Posted on May 24, 2025May 24, 2025 by F.Magdalene

The paint brush is steady.

I am not. So I keep painting.

Part of the problem is I really need a service dog. I’m willing to try again, even after the disaster that was. I said I’d give it a month to see if I still pine for a dog. It’s been a long month. I still need a service dog that doesn’t bite!

I just keep painting.

I’m working out some of the issues and planning the background and color scheme. I’ve revisited Little Black Bird as well as a few other bird related pieces.

Tomorrow I’m going to breakfast with a friend but most of the day I’m painting and working with the collection of plants. I named my home “Austin Park”. I suppose I should paint a nice little sign. I’d like that.

Until soon

Faith Magdalene

Paranoia, Fear, OCD and Art

Posted on May 18, 2025May 18, 2025 by F.Magdalene

My caregivers take me in the community regularly. They assume their presence is enough to keep me calm and feeling safe and grounded. I’d say the statement is 75% true. My anxiety after being stalked has risen. It wasn’t a joke. It wasn’t a game. It was a lot longer than a year! And it was violent and intense! I’m happy to be safe now.

I’m not paranoid in my new home any more than I’ve ever been paranoid. I don’t think being stalked changed that level. I’m back to my old fears, obsessions and compulsions in the new place. Like always I’ve kicked into my coping skills.

Reality check – Can I validate my fears? Are they in the realm of possibility?

Grounding. Remind myself of who I am and that I’m safe. My name is XYZ. I’m X yrs old. I’m safe now! I have an friends, an apartment and most of all a future!

Stimulation / Distraction. It’s time to switch the channels. I have a small vile with me that has the tiniest little bit of lavender in it. It’s my on the run aromatherapy. I also carry a small scratch pad to sketch in because art works for me. Earthing, sitting by the fan or just going outside can help eleviate stress and get it back down to a manageable level.

I would not normally suggest using a tablet at the table in a restaurant but I do it regularly now. I’ve done it in line at Ross because the line was long. The new Five Bellow needs to open more registers but this entry isn’t about that LOL. I sketch at any time, any place in order to control the anxiety, especially if I’ve already tried lavender.

Usually by this time the CNA has picked up on my sketching and starts to ask questions. She kicks into CNA mode and we move to the side for just a bit.

There are times when I can catch my breath and we can proceed but other times I just want to go home. In the car my pen moves like crazy.

OCD Getting all my teeth pulled was the single best thing I could have done. The tooth brush was simply too much.

Bidet. Yeah, should have done this a long time ago, too. It’s difficult to use the restroom. Difficult to clean up especially if there are issues.

The disorder is not fun. I’m trying to manage. I see the new psychiatrist August. That feels like… is... forever.

Faith Magdalene