Stella - In Living Color

 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!

Winter to Spring

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.

Inspired by A. P.

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.

Springtime

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.

Pecan Dreams

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? 

By the Sea

It's very early Sunday morning and I'm sitting on our deck watching the birds at the feeder, a chipmunk, and a bunny or two in the yard. I began thinking about Jesus and how he must have been a great observer of nature - his Father's creation. 

I pictured him sitting by the Sea of Galilee watching the water at the shoreline and at the horizon. He must have been observing the fishermen who were nearby, so intent on mending their nets with great skill, working side by side. Were these men talking together about their day, their plans, about fishing? 

Jesus saw them along with their father, working with him. Was Jesus attracted by what he saw? Their skill? Their focus on the job they were doing? Amiably working together? He went up to them and said, "Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

What was it about Jesus that would cause them to leave their life's work to follow him? Where was he going? Where would it take them? Was it the glint in his eye? His bearing of authority? Was it a glance from him that pierced their hearts? Whatever it was, they were drawn to him, became his followers, and their lives were forever changed.

Soup of the Day

With fresh organic beans in the fridge and one large leftover potato, today is the day for Old Fashioned Green Bean Soup.

While the cut beans were simmering and the potatoes cooking, I sauteed sliced onion in a lot of butter. Then I added the beans and potatoes and a small amount of beef broth made with bouillon and water from the beans. Next came just enough milk to cover the veggies and a little salt and pepper to season. Heat and serve. So simple, so good. 

Only one variation would take it to the next level - bacon! Old Fashioned Bean and Bacon Soup. Either way - delish. 😀

Christmas

Babies are not found in mangers. According to Luke's Gospel, an angel announced to shepherds in the night that the long-awaited Messiah was born! They would find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and in a manger. The shepherds could've said, "This can't be. Babies are not kept in mangers." Instead they believed and they hastened to look for the stable with the baby lying in an animal's feeding trough. They hastened with faith.

When they did find him, as the angel had said, it was a sign to them that what the angel proclaimed was true - that this baby named Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, the Lord whom so many generations were longing for. They returned to their fields praising and glorifying God for what they had witnessed: Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in a manger. 

Jesus was found at a time and in a place not expected by the shepherds. May we, like the believing shepherds, hasten to find him in our lives, even in ways we would not expect.

Advent By Candlelight

Advent is a time of spiritually preparing for the Christmas season when we proclaim the historic coming of Jesus into the world. We welcome him and glorify him who remains with us. 

To celebrate the beginning of Advent, on Monday evening nearly 100 women from our community, along with our parish priest, came together for an event called Advent by Candlelight.

The evening began by meeting and sharing with one another. We met friends, we met acquaintances, we met new people. We then gathered at beautifully decorated tables, each prepared by a "hostess" who had invited seven other women to join her. A variety of desserts, hot cider, and coffee were served.

Next we dimmed the lights and lit one of four candles at each table. We listened to selected Scripture readings from the Old Testament beginning with Genesis and leading up to the birth of the Savior. After each reading we sang an Advent carole and lit one other candle, symbolizing light coming into the darkness. Finally we lit each of the votive candles at each place setting and sang "Christ be Our Light." The room was aglow with candlelight.

It felt good to take time at the beginning of what can be a hectic season, just to reflect on its real purpose and to do so with others in the community. Some women have already volunteered to host a table for next year. 

Christ be our light,

Shine in our darkness...

New Camera

I splurged on a new camera - another Panasonic Lumix, an upgrade. Lots to learn about this one. Here are some of my first shots.

I'm loving the camera. It's a keeper.  :-)

Chicken Piquant

I happened to be at a friend's home when I noticed a delicious aroma from the kitchen. I took a peek to see what was cooking and I saw that she had something in the slow cooker. It was a meal she was preparing for a dinner meeting that evening. "That's Chicken Piquant," she said. 

I knew I wanted that recipe. She generously shared it with me. From all her notes on the printed page, I could see that she made several variations of this dish. When I made it a few days later, I stuck to the original recipe with a few variations of my own. It was really good and really easy!

All the ingredients are in the Slow Cooker

and the cooking temperature is set on high.

After about 4 hours I dished out the chicken

and served it with egg noodles and peas.

I had all the ingredients on hand, except the rose wine that I needed to buy. I used two packages of organic chicken breasts that I had in the freezer and then thawed in the refrigerator overnight. After about 3 hours, I added chunks of carrots to the simmering chicken. I also used reduced sodium soy sauce, a scant 1/2 cup. Her recipe suggested four whole chicken breasts, but any part of the chicken would work. It was recommended to serve with rice, but all I had were the egg noodles.

So here are the ingredients that went into the slow cooker with the chicken:

1 and 1/2 cup rose wine

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup salad oil

4 Tbsp water

2 garlic cloves, sliced

2 tsp ginger powder

1/2 tsp oregano

2 Tbsp brown sugar

I am also thinking sliced onions would be a good addition. 

Just for fun, I added a splash of maple habanero sauce (totally optional)! I cooked it until the chicken was just about ready to fall apart, so it was very tender.

I'll definitely be making this again. Thank you to my friend Rita for sharing this with me.

Autumn Lily

For Easter this year, our daughter's mother-in-law sent me a gorgeous lily. It had lots of buds, and we enjoyed it for several weeks.

After the final bud opened, I put it out on our deck, then eventually cut the plant down to the soil to replant it in our garden. After many weeks it grew and thrived. I was expecting it to flower by the end of summer. I put it into the soil late in the season, however, and when Autumn arrived, there were still no new buds.

Maybe, just maybe, new buds are beginning to form?

So I dug it up and put it into a new flower pot to bring into the house.

Here's hoping for Autumn lilies. Thanksgiving? Anticipation...