Friday, May 23, 2014

Radiation (:

Well, I am done!...for a while...and yes, the two radiation treatments went well, and...I am feeling fine. 
You can't imagine how good that feels, and a lot of you can. 

We all have our journeys, and hopefully we can be there for
 each other.

Thanks for your friendship, love and prayers, etc.

I still have doctor's appointments, blood tests and 
CT scans coming up...
and for now, I will keep "glowing in the dark" from all the x-rays, radiations and CT scans.   
***
The rains fell very softly early this morning, and so with my camera hanging from my neck--I looked around first to see if the neighbours where still fast asleep--I started to snap a few. I think I could have made a good picture too, walking around in my light turquoise housecoat and beige baseball cap!

And these are the ones I took:
 Campanula "Bellflower Dalmation" 
We have had these Campanulas for 17 years. 
Just the right spot. They like it on the shady side.
Peter is up, dressed, and ready to go!...transplanting the basil plant into a bigger pot. 
They need room to wiggle their roots.

Basil--smile when you say the word basil--is full of fragrance, flavour, but hard to grow (for me). So, this year, I have it sitting on the railing of our deck. 
"High, dry and well watered"
The forecast is rain for the next 6 days! 

I may even take it along camping, and not just to pamper it, but to use a bit in our salad or chopped (torn up, if you like)
 and sprinkled over a tomato sandwich. It's the best!

The tomatoes are ready in the greenhouses, and I must say,
 they taste pretty good! 
The other herb is the Sorrel plant used for making Sorrel soup.
I believe, our ancestors must have had a lot of sorrel growing in their garden and for sure in the fields... 
It's a great soup, especially if someone else makes it for you (: 
and is able to take instructions (:(:
Actually, Peter likes cooking more so now then ever before.

Here is my version--for today: 

Sorrel Soup

5 cups of water
1 vegetable or chicken bouillon
1/2 a cup of sauteed onions, sauteed--optional 
but milder than raw
 1 bay leaf
3 med. sized potatoes, diced
Cook this up, and add:
3 cups of sorrel, chopped
2 cups of beet tops (if you have some)
A few sprigs of parsley, chopped
A few sprigs of dill, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste.

If you like the soup smoother, you can use a hand blender--that's what we did. 
There is that word "we" again...! 
Have you noticed that as we age we use we more and more!

And, to continue with the soup recipe, no, I did not forget the ham with bone, or the cream in it. Each to their own. 

It's a nice rich red colour because of the beets (:

To your health!
Enjoy!

Hilda






Saturday, May 17, 2014

To de dump...

Hello, again...
 I have to share some of the photos I took today:


 Wisteria
 Golden Chain Tree
 Rhododendrons, a Maple Tree that grew from seed and the Golden Chain Tree
 Rhododendrons and a log we found at the edge of Harrison Lake many years ago. We dragged the drift wood across the sand and into our car trunk. Oops! Can't do that now. 
 Sure, sure, some don't care if it's their front profile...
 ...while others make sure it's their side profile (:
Oh, yes, shoes from Payton and Buckle (: (: Very comfy.
Irises
Even the Buttercups look lovely!
 Azaleas 
   Rhododendrons. That's right. And if you still don't know how to spell Rhododendron, well...then, just copy and paste! Like I did! 
And then it was time to go to the Bailey dump with our load, Bill's load and Bill's truck. Hey, no way I want to get my truck dirty...
 We have arrived...
   Perhaps I could find a freezer here...mine is about as old as these.
 Today was a very busy day here. This guy will show us where to go...?
 Guess who is doing all the work?
If you look far, you will know where the crows go--when they are not at our place or yours.
 They give you a card like this just in case you get lost (: Actually it identifies our vehicle which is weighed on the way in and out.
Time to go home now...we are done.
 As you may know, I love old barns and... 
 ...not so old
 What a beautiful time of the year...
 Close to our place
  And, here is Rita Oosterlaar. She loves gardening even if her back hurts. She tripped on an inside carpet and fell backwards. Her doctors advice: Get rid of those carpets!
I am still working at getting my iron intake, and a whole box of spinach should do...you'd think.

Those green clops that you see in the frying pan, we call them "frogs"

Here is the recipe:

1 small box of Spinach--steamed, cooled, drained
Add:
1 egg
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 tsp. onion powder

Chop the herbs. 
(I add as much as I like). 
2 T. dill 
      2 T. parsley 
    2 T. chives 

Wishing you a wonderful evening (:

Hilda

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

2 Radiations!


Hello my friends from far and near. 


This morning Peter and I went to see my radiation oncologist, Dr. Atrchian, a very nice person. He told us that I would need only two radiation treatments! That sounded like very good news to us.


Thursday, May 15--Marking the spots 
Tuesday, May 20--Radiation

Wednesday, May 21--Radiation


      Keep smiling...Hilda

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Health Update

Okay, now that I have had my lemon water and a "craving" for one more glass coming up, and believe me, I have had stranger cravings due to the chemo, I am ready to let you know what is ahead for me/us.

I wish I could tell you that the results of the last 6 chemo treatments went well, but that is not case.

Our journey is not over...

The last CT scan showed that there are two spots that the chemo did not get, so I will have to have radiation
My first appointment is next 
Wednesday, May 14 at 10:00 a.m. 
It is a 60 minute consultation with the radiation oncologist.

We all hope for the best.

I see that some of you are having a birthday this month, and we wish you a good one ahead of time.
My gardener (ha, ha) is walking through the garden, and deadheading the tulips. 

And now for some iron--mashed potatoes with kale. Believe me, this tastes a whole lot better than liver!

Take good care...
Much love,
Hilda