Early "Christmas Eve"

It was a delightfully hectic, whirlwind visit, and I loved every moment of it. Our daughter, son-in-law, the three-year-old and four month old grandsons came to celebrate an early Christmas with us.

Everyone had presents for everyone. Toys were spread across the living room floor, wrapping paper was flying everywhere, gifts were admired, and the baby smiled through it all. Perfect.

Our traditional lasagna Christmas Eve dinner made way for the ease of frozen stuffed shells with a jar of marinara sauce, topped with green pepper rings and a little extra Provolone cheese. Perfect.

The three- year- old, we were told, has had some fears of real dogs. However, it wasn't long before he and Stella became friends. He even shared his gift and a toy with her. When the family was ready to return home, and the kids were tucked into their car seats, I leaned into the car and said to our grandson, "We love you!" He looked at me with a big smile and said, "I like Stella." Perfect.

Again...

Cancer is again rearing its ugly head. Ugh! You go through the usual emotions. First is somewhat of a disbelief - "This can't be happening; I've gone through this already." But you know there is always the possibility of a recurrence. There's disappointment, some sadness and worry, with a little anxiety around the edges. Never anger. My friend is angry. I said, "I'm glad you've got that covered."

Then there's some physical discomfort that tells me, yes, this is really happening.

I've had some time to process my thoughts before the upcoming surgery. I remember that just over two years ago, when I was going through chemo, I felt I needed something in my life to reach into the future, kind of a new goal. For me it was running.

Today I went out for a run. It wasn't long and it wasn't far, but it was a real run. And it felt soooo good. So I know that running better and stronger continues to be my goal.

I reflect on all the good that has happened over the past few years - people I've met, new experiences, new events.

I learned first-hand what chemo is all about with an amazing staff at the Medical Center who made it feel almost like spa treatments.
I went to oncology rehab. That was a real game-changer for me. That is where I began to believe that I could be a runner.
There are the 5Ks I ran, one with our daughter Addie (who did a 10K).
There were the cancer conferences I attended with other people battling this disease and with medical staff and various support groups.
There was the Weekend of Hope in Stowe that I attended with Geo that was just fun and entertaining.
Knowing friends and acquaintances who have had cancer... Well, there is something of a bond there, an understanding. I've heard it said that it's like belonging to a club no one wants to join.
Then there is growth in faith. One learns to reach really deep to find an inner basis on which to stand and thrive.
Most of all, there is the never-ending love of God and of family that continually astounds me. How can we be so blessed?
And right up there is the support of friends and of people I hardly know, and even may not know at all, who are praying up a storm.
I have met so very many inspiring people through this journey. 
Truly I am grateful.

So I am as ready as I can be to move ahead. I am hopeful and confident. As one of my friends said, "We'll get through this."

#CancerBeGone

Cook the Book

Our local library has a monthly event called "Cook the Book." One cookbook is chosen from the shelves from which anyone can select a recipe to prepare. On the scheduled day and time, each one brings the prepared dish to share with other participants and to discuss the recipe and the experience of making it. 

In the process, we not only eat tasty food, we learn about different ingredients and methods of preparation.

This month's selection was the Eating Well dessert cookbook. Yes, we feasted on desserts! 

Rhubarb Custard Pie

Raspberry Cheesecake Bars

Maple Glazed Apple Cider Donut Cake

Brandy Raisin Bread Pudding
with whipped cream

               
  

Gingersnap Baked Pears

                                                                                     

      Orange Scones                                                                                               

                                                                                               

Lemon Pudding

Blueberry Coffee Cake                                                                                            Biscotti

For December we are selecting a Christmas cookbook, soups for January, and anything Chocolate! for February. 

This program for the community is becoming one of our favorites at our library. 

Update: In 2022, this program is still going strong!

If you found me here, please check out my newest blog: Resolutions.

Thank you!

Addie's Run

Addie won a free entry for a 4 miler race in Stowe. If it were not for that prize, she may not have even known about that race. She asked if I would go with her on that day. It meant leaving around 7:15 AM on a Sunday morning to be there on time to sign in and pick up the bib. I agreed.

Little did we know it would be a cold, windy day for October and with snow flurries! Not used to running in the cold weather, she had some reservations about the run. She signed in and picked up bib number 1101. We walked across the field to a coffee shop where we warmed up before all the runners would gather at 9:30 AM at the Start. I learned that there were 1600 participants AND a waiting list for this race.

And they were off! I stayed in one of the warming tents together with other family members and friends of the runners. Everyone was so friendly and happy to be there. After thirty minutes, or so, I walked up to the Finish to watch Addie come in. Somehow, I missed her! She later found me, still waiting for her. She was all smiles.

She reports that the route was very scenic, mostly flat with one minor incline. Part of it was along the Stowe bike path.

I couldn't help but catch some of her enthusiasm, and all the positive vibes of the crowd around us. I missed being able to run. I could do this!

A few weeks ago I developed a knee injury. It's not healing as fast as I would like, even though I am going to PT and doing the recommended exercises. I've been discouraged about it. Being at the run today inspired me once again to do whatever I can to get back on track. I feel a little more hopeful that if I really focus on recovery, eventually I'll be able to run again. 

My new goal is to do the 4 miler next year. (You heard it here.)

Congrats to Addie for a great run. And thanks for being an inspiration to me. Next year, God willing, we'll do this together.

Weekend of Hope

At first, I really didn't want to go. This was not something I like to focus on, especially for a whole weekend. Cancer is something I prefer to keep behind me. This would be a weekend for cancer survivors and for those in treatment. 

Then I thought that maybe I could share with others about some of what I've gone through, and maybe this would be helpful. Besides, Geo and I could use a weekend get-away after a very long winter. So we signed up and packed our bags.

There was a huge banner over the main road in Stowe, VT to welcome the participants. There were many signs in town about the event.

I learned that the Stowe Weekend of Hope has been happening for 18 years and draws people from many states and even Canada.

After registration, we checked into our hotel. Our room had a deck with a view of the river. Wow!

The schedule, beginning early on Friday, included a selection of presentations, activities, and entertainment. 

I chose an art activity that was held up the road at the Von Trapp Family Lodge. We were shown how to do an etching with a pencil on styrofoam, color it with markers, then transfer the picture to dampened water color paper. This was a fun project that anyone could do.

While I was here, I took a walk to enjoy the views. I had been here before, but I had never seen the grave site where the Von Trapps are buried.

Back at the main venue, there was a group gathered for hula hooping. I was surprised I could still do this after all these years!

Entertainment during the day included The Boobie Sisters, and they were hilarious. From New York state, they are all breast cancer survivors who share their stories with song and a lot of humor. They had everyone smiling and laughing about a cancer diagnosis and the changes it brings into patients' lives and of their families.

The keynote speaker was Tim Kavanagh and "The Shit Show." Yeah, I thought that sounded pretty gross. I found out that he is the owner of an award winning entertainment company, including TV, film and variety shows. He is a survivor of rectal cancer. He gave a light-hearted, comical presentation of what he went through, and a lot of one-liners, that had everyone in the audience laughing. Speaking so openly brought out a lot of "me, too," reactions, helping others to share about their own personal experiences. 

Another event I truly enjoyed was the "Survivors Walk" on the Stowe Rec Path. The views along the way were stunning, and it was an opportunity to meet and get to know others. We shared about where we were from, the diagnosis we had and the treatments. I found there were many similarities in how we felt about it all, even though diagnoses were so different. And it was so good just to be out in nature and enjoying the fresh air, the fields, the river, the mountains. The signs of Spring are finally happening here in Vermont.

Would I do this again? Absolutely. And I think I'll invite other cancer survivors I know. It was an opportunity to continue to process what can be an overwhelming experience, to meet new people, and just have a lot of fun along the way. 

Update: Please check out my newest blog Resolutions. Thank you!

The Story of Stella

It has been over a year now since Lucy is no longer with us. I've missed that little canine presence in our home. Geo thought it was too soon for another dog. We did look at a few, but none of them seemed "right" for us. I really wanted a dog, so...

I prayed for a dog for Christmas. I began watching and waiting to see if God wanted to bring another dog into our lives. It was on the last Day of Christmas, the feast of The Epiphany, that I met the little beagle. She seemed "right" for us, but was this really the right time to be bringing her into our family?

The dog rescue offered to let us foster her for awhile before we would adopt her. In the meantime, they would not advertise her to the public. So Addie and I picked up the chubby little beagle and brought her home. I thought that with the right diet and good exercise, we could get her into shape. Because she was from the South, and because she had a skin irritation, and because there was a question about whether or not she had been spayed, the dog rescue asked if I could take her to the vet. We thought that was a great idea.

The vet examined her and said, "This dog is going to have puppies." !!!

I told the dog rescue that we were in no position to adopt a dog and manage a litter of pups. The dog rescue found a wonderful family with little kids who volunteered to foster the little beagle until she delivered and the pups were weaned.

On the morning after Superbowl Sunday, I received an email that the little beagle had six puppies. Despite my calls and leaving messages, I heard little, if anything, for the next week. Then I learned that the little beagle could only nurse two pups at a time, and to keep them all alive, the foster family was bottle-feeding them formula every two hours around the clock. Now that's true dedication.

So the little beagle mix pups should be available for adoption sometime in March. And the little beagle will be ready to come home to us sometime before my birthday. What a wonderful gift. Spring seems to be the "right time" for a new dog.

I named her Stella. The meaning of the name is "star." Her story in our lives began on the Epiphany, the feast of the manifestation of Jesus to the Magi by the sign of the star. I am eager to see how her story unfolds with us.

                                                    Stella

                                Stella's Puppies

Blueberry Pie

Yesterday was Super Bowl Sunday, and I wanted to make a special dessert for Geo to enjoy while watching the game. With lots of blueberries in the freezer, I decided to make a blueberry pie. I would make the filling on the stovetop, instead of baking it in the crust.

My favorite crust to make is one using all butter. To keep it from melting into the pie pan in the oven (yes, I've had that happen), I roll it out quickly, place it in a cold pie pan, then put it into a 450 degree F. oven so that it sets quickly. When it's in the oven, I set the heat to 425 degrees F. and bake it for 10 minutes, or until done.

From the scraps of dough, I made a few cutouts that I also baked in the oven.

While the crust was baking, I made the filling. I used about 5 cups of frozen berries, added a sprinkle of cinnamon, a squirt of lemon juice, sugar, a dusting of cocoa powder (totally optional), and two tablespoons of cornstarch that was mixed with 1/4 cup water. I stirred and cooked this mixture until it thickened. 

By this time the crust was done. I let it cool completely while I put the filling in the refrigerator so that it also could cool.

Then it was time to spoon the filling into the prebaked crust.

I added the baked cutouts. 

This was the first time I made a fruit pie in this way. It was a fun way to make a pie.

There was a request for whipped cream to go with the pie. A perfect topping!

(Don't tell Geo, but I plan to make a cherry pie like this for Valentine's Day.)

Pumpkin Fruit and Nut Bread

I am always looking for new and easy recipes. When someone told me about how she makes pumpkin bread, I knew I wanted to try it. All there is to it is adding to a favorite pumpkin bread recipe about one cup of any dried fruit and nuts. I bought a package of a variety of fruit and nuts, so it was easy to measure and add to the batter after it was mixed.

Here's the finished product:

I divided the batter into two loaf pans, so I am able to wrap one loaf for the freezer. 

Geo give it a "thumbs up," so I know I'll be making it again.