Yesterday Geo, Addie, and I took a drive to Waterbury Center to the Waterbury Reservoir. It's one of my favorite places - so scenic and peaceful. The water is calm and it's a great place for swimming.
Addie went swimming and I took a walk along the trail. I am eager to return and, next time, I'd like to go for swim, as well.
I took a few photos with my phone camera.
I joined the Women's Walk/Run fitness program First Strides which I had done in 2017 and 2018. It's interval speed and endurance training with each participant placed in a group of about 10 others who work out at a similar pace. We do a timed mile for group placement.
This year I am in group 5, in about the middle of the number of groups. I'll admit that, to me, this is a little disappointing; I had expected to be in group 3 with a few of my friends from previous years.
We've met for a few weeks now. During the week we do First Strides homework, which is a repeat of the routine we do when we get together. This week it was "3 minutes push, 3 minutes easy for 4 reps."
As I'm getting into the program, I find I just don't seem to have the stamina I had a few years ago. It takes me longer to recover from a run. With a few more body aches, the agility just isn't there. As I started my homework for the week, I just felt tired. I said to myself, "Why am I doing this? Why do I think I can do this? Am I able to do this?..." And serious doubts came to mind.
Why am I doing this? I say I do this because I can do this, and out of gratitude for the level of fitness I do have, especially after years of cancer treatments.
So I am trying to "listen to my body" and to pace myself while challenging myself. I need to trust the process. I will improve. It will get better.
I find I have trouble breathing while running. We just received a First Strides video to watch about breathing exercises. I will take this seriously. I do want to improve my lung capacity and breathing efficiency.
I've said I do want to do another 5K. Although my body wants to resist and at times my mind is doubting, I will still keep this as my goal.
In the meantime, it is still "left foot, right foot." Focus. Persist.
Enjoy the run. Enjoy the people I am meeting along the way.
Today is another First Strides homework day. One, two, three, Go!
This was a great day. Today for the first time - without masking up - we went to a real sit-down restaurant with service. It's been a long Covid time and we are just beginning to feel we are being restored to "normalcy." It was fun dining with friends and lingering over coffee, sharing stories and actually seeing smiles.
What better way to top off the experience than with a Vermont creemee. Today it was not to be a regular creemee, not even a "twist," but we ordered creemee sundaes. Oh, so good! Looking forward to many creemee days ahead, and many more times of restaurant dining with good friends.
For one, my most recent PET scan showed no cancer, and the Doctor made the decision to discontinue immunotherapy treatments and simply to monitor me every three months with CT scans. This is huge. Treatment was not only successful without serious negative side effects (for nearly 2 years!), but that it resulted in a complete response. I am praising God, thankful for the prayers and support of so many people and for the excellent care I've received from my medical team.
Then yesterday, the CDC advised that masks are generally no longer needed for those of us fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Whoo-hoo!! There's a new sense of freedom being able to go about in a more "normal" kind of way, being able to interact with others and actually see smiles.
And this is the time of year when the trees in our front yard are in full bloom with white and pink blossoms. To me this is the definite sign that - yes- Spring has truly arrived with the promise of long warm summer days ahead.
I've joined First Strides once again, the women's walk/run group that meets in our town. I've begun interval training with a goal of doing another 5K. As I look forward to this, I also look forward to other new adventures and achievements.
I feel as if another new beginning has begun. I am ready for it. The best is yet to come.
With the family coming to visit on Saturday, I wanted to make a special cake. I'm always on the lookout for something unusual and easy. When I saw that the recipe for this cake included using a box mix and that the frosting was actually baked into the cake, this was one I had to try.
There are several versions of this cake, all basically the same except for varying amounts of pecans, chocolate chips, and flaked coconut.
There are three steps to making the cake:
1. Spread the pecans, chocolate chips, and coconut in a 9 inch x 13 inch greased baking dish.
2. Beat together the eggs, oil, water, and German Chocolate cake mix, and then pour the batter over the bottom layer.
3. Melt butter and cream cheese on the stove, whip powdered sugar into this mixture, and lightly blend it all into the batter.
Bake for about 35 minutes.
It's called an "Earthquake Cake" because when it comes out of the oven, it is supposed to have a crack in the middle. Mine had several small cracks.
The result is rich, moist, and delicious. The cake is even better when refrigerated overnight.
I enjoy experimenting with recipes, so next time, instead of German Chocolate, I plan to use a Carrot Cake mix. An Earthquake Carrot Cake. Watch for an update!
After an overnight frost, it turned out to be a perfect Spring Day. I took a slow walk with Stella over the bridge and on the Rec Path.
We passed by my
favorite birch trees
along the path.
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The other day it was unseasonably warm in Vermont. I took a walk outside to look at our gardens.
What a joy to see signs of new life, after a long COVID winter. By mid-May, this tree will be covered with white blossoms.
I've learned not to pull out the last of the kale plants in Autumn. So already I am beginning to see new growth this season, way before I'll be getting new kale seeds in the ground. The first kale leaf is emerging.
Daffodils have a way of increasing and multiplying. Each year I have more of them from the few I've planted years ago.
Last year I had a "mystery plant" growing in the garden, something I did not plant but somehow sprung up from the soil. It turned out to be a hybrid of delicata squash. This year there's another mystery plant. There are about five of them in the bed. To me they look like strawberry plants, but could be some kind of weed. Time will tell. Maybe strawberries were in the compost? or the birds dropped them on the soil last year? Mystery!
Yesterday I had another appointment for an infusion at the Med Center. I've been going there regularly for a few years now. It's been a positive experience. I feel so well cared for when I am there.
Yesterday one of the nurses made me a chocolate milkshake and brought it to me with a package of chocolate chip cookies. It was a simple milkshake in a paper cup. To me it was like one of the very best milkshakes I ever had, thick and creamy.
The word was out that it was soon to be my birthday. The nurses, to my surprise, all signed a card for me. They used different colored makers.
It made my day. And I feel so very grateful. Yay!
It's done! My acrylic paint by number canvas, a gift from Jenna.
This one took lots of patience and steady brush control. It was a fun project, and now it's ready for framing!
Thank you, Jenna!
It seems like it’s been a long winter. At other times it feels more like it’s gone by so fast. Spring is nearly here. Yesterday the grass was looking green and today there is fresh snow on the ground. It’s a time of seasonal transition.
It's a time of transition for me, too. I've been talking with my oncologist about how long I'll still be receiving immunotherapy treatments. "You're charting new territory," he says, and there is no definite protocol as to how long treatments are to continue. I've been fortunate in that I've avoided serious negative side effects. And several recent scans show "no evidence of disease." That's really good news.
I have a PET scan coming up in April. The PET gives a more detailed visual than a CT scan. After that, and another urology exam, the doctor may want to discontinue treatment. By then I'll have been on immunotherapy for about 2 years, and 2 years is the"standard of care" at this time for immunutherapy.
You'd think I'd be onverjoyed about this. However, I feel somewhat reluctant about discontinuing treatment. The infusions have been like a lifeline for me and I'm not sure I want to let go. Going to the med center every two weeks has been a positive experience. The staff is amazing and I feel so well cared for. By now they know me, and they welcome me with a warm blanket, a cup of coffee, and even my favorite chocolate chip cookies. They are so efficient in what they do. They are upbeat and positive and caring. I tell them that I always feel better when I leave than when I come because of the good care I receive.
Now, however, I am looking ahead and beginning to anticipate what is to come. I know what it is like to be a patient diagnosed and treated for cancer. I've accepted this as part of my life's journey. A new phase of this journey is about to occur. I will not be a patient being treated every two weeks, but one who is being monitored every three months for recurrence. Yes, I've been here before after the first diagnosis of cancer. This time feels different. I got through this in a good way, trying to put into action "going through the Bitter Valley and making it a place of springs." Now the time is coming to leave the Bitter Valley behind. This is the time to embrace health and a healthful life - no longer a patient as previously.
How this makes my life any different, I really don't know. But in my mind and in my heart, there is some kind of transition taking place. I am newly hopeful for the best is yet to come.
I am of Polish parents.
I am of paper dolls, of pretty dresses, and playground games.
I am of hopscotch on pavement and popsicles for nickles.
I am of parties on birthdays and presents from playmates.
I am of picnics at Petrifying Springs.
I am of Pachisi and Pinochle and Poker for pennies.
I am of popcorn and paperbag lunches, peanut butter with mayo.
I am of pony tails, and perms, pixie cuts, and Prell.
I am of basketball practices and music lessons, as well.
I am of prayer, of purpose, and of perseverance.
I am of partnering in marriage and parenting kids.
I am of grandparenting "little presidents" bigger each day.
I am of pizza and pineapple, of puzzles and painting.
I am of pen and paper, photography, poems, and Packers.
I am of petting beagle Pupcake.
I am of promises and plans for the days ahead.
I am of people I meet.
I am of hope for the best is yet to come.
Soil warmed by the sun,
Sandals on my feet,
Soon to be sung songs of "Alleluia."
Snow - going, going, going, gone!
Swollen, sparkling flowing streams
Wash over me, waking me from dreams of winter's slumber.
The annual Christmas Cookie Exchange did not take place this past year. So I never did get around to making our Christmas cookies. Truth be told, I really do not like baking cookies. So a Friday in Lent is a good a time as any.
I found my Mom's Pecan Dreams recipe. I had all the ingredients so these were the ones I made. She was famous for them. They used to arrive for us here in Vermont in the mail from Wisconsin. Sometimes she made them while she was here. I am so glad I have her recipe.
As I mixed the cookie dough, I was surprised how easy and quickly they came together. I ended up with about 48.
MARION'S PECAN DREAMS
1/2 pound butter
4 heaping Tablespoons of powdered sugar
2 cups flour
3 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 Tablespoons water
Mix together like pie crust. Make dough into a roll. Cut to desired length and shape into crescents. Bake for ½ hr, 275 – 300 degrees. When warm from the oven, roll in powdered sugar.
(Mine were in a 280 degree oven for about 35 minutes. I'd suggest a 300 degree temp for 1/2 hour. I let them cool very slightly, then sprinkled them with powdered sugar.)
These were so easy to make - why did I wait so long?
