Random things

 

Hello, dear friends.  How are you?  I just realized my last post was in August...how did this happen? ~ I guess time flies when we're having fun.  And here it is fall already.  Don't you just love all the warm autumn colors?  I bought a big orange pumpkin today for the front step and yellow and red mums for pots.  

We have had quite a lot going on lately.  September is a big birthday month for us and we celebrated our granddaughter's 2nd birthday with family at Galen's mother's house in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  It's a good central meeting place for all of us since Amy and Bruno and the kids live in New York.  What a great time we had!

And our other granddaughter, Maddie, here in North Carolina, just turned 15 in September. It seems like only yesterday that she was just a toddler, and now, here she is getting her permit for driving!  

Also, in September, I had my  6-month follow-up appointment at UNC Cancer Center.  Everything is good!  A little osteoporosis setting in but that is treatable.  I feel great, and this will be two years cancer free!  I am thankful everyday for my health and that I can garden and do all the things I love to do.  

And speaking of the garden, I planted kale, broccoli and spinach for the winter months, and have harvested quite a few tomatoes and peppers.  I've been cleaning up the flower beds, too.

Just to let you know, I may not be posting on my blog as often as before, but I am still here and will check in occasionally.  

Enjoy this wonderful fall weather! 

'till next time, 

A year ago today.....remembering

A year ago today...  

I was diagnosed with breast cancer on February 10, 2012.  A very long year I would like to forget, but will always remember.  

It's hard to say what gets a person through something like this, maybe faith, determination, love of family and friends, hope.  I would have to say all of these, for me anyway.  It's a good feeling to know the ordeal is over and life is looking brighter.  

Happy times are ahead and I intend to enjoy every minute.  Not being able to enjoy spring and summer last year, I am looking forward to planting the garden this year and putting in lots of flowers everywhere.  I have so many plans.

Galen and I would like to take some trips this year, too, which we put off.  It seems like everything was put on hold.    

So I want to say thank you again to my dear family, Galen, especially, and to my daughters that were always there for me.  
And thank you to all of my blogging friends for your love, concern, kindness, and understanding.  You kept me going.    

I now move forward with a happy heart.  

I know I still have a few more years before I am in the clear but I am staying positive and I know I will make it and be just fine.  

I am a survivor.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Forever on Thanksgiving Day  

The heart will find the pathway home. 

~Wilbur D. Nesbit 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  

~ so much to be thankful for...  

Welcome sunshine

I love the early morning sunshine coming in our kitchen window.  

I love the shadows it makes on the floor when I open the back door.  

I am thankful for little things these days.  

Sometimes I find myself thinking ahead to the day when this long journey will finally be over and feeling that that is when I will truly be happy again.  
Then I tell myself not to think ahead, just enjoy this day.  Today I will be happy.  Today I will enjoy it's beauty.  


I have one more chemo treatment to go.  I'm feeling pretty good right now, almost normal.  My taste buds have returned and I can eat everything I used to.  My fingers are a bit numb but I am thankful I can paint and do my regular housework and gardening.  My toes are numb but at least I can walk.  


Often times it's hard to focus on the right now and enjoy what we have.  I will do that today and enjoy this lovely summer morning.  

Onward we go

After a really good and enjoyable week (thanks to my chemo being cancelled last week), and my neuropathy has gotten better with the medication, it's now time to head off to the cancer center tomorrow for my 7th chemo treatment.  

Ugh, I'm not looking forward to this at all.  I'll be down for about 5 days.  The good thing......after this one, I only have one more.  Thank Heavens!  


I cut some yellow day lilies and brought them in from the garden this morning to brighten up the dining room.  The garden is filled with these big yellow blooms, it's like sunshine everywhere.  


I picked the first of our "Better Boy" tomatoes today.  I think we're going to get quite a few this year.  Tomato sandwiches, yum!  

I'll be back soon.  


Thank you again for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers.  
It means so much to me.  

Round 3

Hello everyone!  Once again, tomorrow I head to the UNC Cancer Center in Chapel Hill for my third chemo treatment.  Ugh.  I guess I shouldn't dread this so much, but I do.  I should be thankful that I haven't been getting really sick.  Just some nausea, weakness, a bit of anxiety and depression and a few other little issues.  It knocks me down for about 10 days but I guess it could be worse.  

On my 5 really good days when I feel normal and my energy returns  that's when I catch up on whatever was put on hold while I was spending time on the sofa for a week.  Oh, by the way, you know what a big coffee lover I am, right?  Well, coffee just doesn't taste the same to me anymore and I seem to be drinking more tea.  Tea and Gatorade....strange.  

Galen has been my rock.  He does whatever has to be done.  He cooks and bakes, he does laundry, he vacuums, takes care of Otis and Riley and does all the yard work. I don't know what I would do without him.   

He's going to need a nice big vacation as much as I will when this is all said and done!  

So here I go again, Round 3, 

5 more to go.  

Thankful for the little things....

 .....like this mourning dove that is building a nest in the hanging ivy pot outside my kitchen window.  I was thrilled this morning when I saw the two of them,  

fluffing their nest.

What a joy it will be to watch them every day as I embark on my journey in fighting my cancer.  

It's the little things that make us happy.  

And I want to thank each and every one of you for your encouraging words and your thoughts and prayers.   I was overwhelmed with emotion when I read them.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  

  

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Our youngest daughter is flying in from NY this week. We are all preparing for a feast to enjoy at our oldest daughter's home on Thanksgiving Day. I hope all of you have a good week and I'll be back after the holiday.

Happy Turkey Day!

Thought for the day

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was "thank you",

that would suffice.

~Meister Eckhart

Thank you

Thank you so much for all of your support during this difficult time. Your kind words, thoughts and prayers are a great comfort to me. Thank you for stopping by to leave a comment, I truly appreciate it.

Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

Holidays

We enjoyed a wonderful, relaxing Thanksgiving day at our daughter's home this year. What a treat! We had the traditional dinner with a big juicy turkey and all the tasty trimmings and it was SO delicious! ~ I think I won't be able to eat for a week!

I am truly thankful for my family.

~~~~~

And now that Thanksgiving Day is over we move on in a flash to the next holiday. Isn't it funny (or sad) how there are Christmas decorations, Christmas trees and even Santa in the mall before Thanksgiving.


In the past we've always put our tree up about two weeks before Christmas. This year I'm in the holiday spirit early. I've been dragging things down from the attic and started decorating.


Below is a small tree I put in the study on top of the desk. It gives such a warm glow to the room at night.



The mantel is decorated with garland and our granddaughter's Christmas stocking.




Some old Christmas song books on the coffee table.

A little sparkly decoration for my paperwhites. The paperwhites are budding already!




And some new little holiday projects for my etsy shop.



Only 26 more days till Christmas!

Thankful for friends

I was recently the lucky winner of Deb's 2 year blog anniversary give-away!

Her beautiful blog, Posted from Home, is a place I visit often to enjoy her stories, her quotes, her garden and home, recipes, and crafts. I know you will enjoy your visit there too!



So today the package came in the mail. I was so excited to open it, but first, grabbed my camera so I could show you too!

It was wrapped beautifully and there was a sweet note inside from Deb.




The first thing I opened were four beautiful hand knitted dish clothes. Aren't they wonderful! I love the colors and the shapes. They're almost too pretty to use.





Then I found these great refrigerator magnets. How fun!

Next, was a lovely delicate button bracelet. Beautiful! I'm wearing it right now, Deb.

A Maya Angelou sun catcher ~ I love the quote.

A mail-a-magnet photo frame. How great! I already have an idea for this.

And, a fabulous Martha Stewart "good things" book. I'm looking forward to sitting down with a cup of coffee and enjoying each and every page!

Oh, but wait...there is something else. It's for Otis and Riley!

Look, Otis and Riley. It's a doggie calender! How cute...and there are doxies just like you.

Otis and Riley would like to thank you.



And I would like to thank you too, Deb. What a very kind and generous giveaway.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

And now, I'd also like to mention two awards I received.



Protege at Life Work and Pleasure gave me the Kreativ Blogger award. Thank you, Protege! She writes about her adventures of life, work and pleasure and has a beautiful blog. Be sure to go and visit her.




And I was given the ~ fabulous fall decor ~ award from Kim at Happy at Home. Thank you, Kim! You'll want to visit Kim's blog where she shares her lovely home, garden, decorating, books and recipes.






"Friends are the sunshine of life." -- John Hay (1871)



Thank you, my dear friends!