Update

We've survived Hurricane Kyle - rain is coming to an end and winds weren't as high as predicted. It did motivate us to get the lawn furniture off the deck, which it was time to do anyway. And the cruise ship scheduled to come in today is going to Bar Harbour instead.

My appointment with the radiation oncologist was rescheduled until next week. Shingles rash is healing well, although it is still rather painful, especially at night.

Picked a few blackberries, but they are done now. Rose hips still to pick, once we've had a good frost.

Wendy

Sister Visit

We made sure that my sister Joyce's recent visit included sightings of various New Brunswick icons, including:
Covered bridge
Lighthouse
Fishing boats and lobster traps
Caves at St Martins
Fundy Trail Parkway
Reversing Falls (and the paper mill) at several stages
Ferries - across the Kennebecasis and St. John rivers
Fog
Frenchy's
Uptown Saint John, including City Market
Rockwood Park walks

It also included a variety of New Brunswick tastes:
Fish and chips at St Martins
Wild blueberries in muffins and pancakes with maple syrup, on their own
Harvey's cranberry theme dinner, with ratatouille, salmon, a blueberry experiment for dessert accompanied by cranberry sorbet
Fresh Digby scallops
Stir fry with vegetables from the Kingston Peninsula

She was forced to play Cranium and listen to political discussions.

The visit did not include:
Perfect September weather
A cruise ship in the Harbour as scheduled (unable to come in because of winds)

The sun did come out a couple of times and, since previous visits featured snowstorms, ice and rain, this was the best weather she's experienced in Saint John. New plan is that next time we badly need precipitation, we'll get her here for a visit!

Wendy

Another Learning Opportunity

My only post-surgery complication (knock on wood) has been an outbreak of shingles, an ugly skin rash extending from the middle of my back around the right side of my upper body. It was intensely itchy for a couple of days, but a prescription and good old calomine lotion did help. It stopped spreading and is starting to heal up.

I've learned that shingles is caused by the same virus as chickenpox. If you had that as a child, as I did, the virus stays in your body and can recur as shingles, usually not til you're over 50. They think it can be triggered by things like a weakened immune system, cancer treatments, stress or physical trauma (surgery!?) An old name for it was devil's whip, because of the way the rash curves around the body. The rash normally clears up in a few weeks, but in some cases becomes something more long lasting. Hopefully I'll avoid that part of the experience.

Wendy

Blueberries - The Sequel

Wild blueberry picking has finally come to an end here. Also picked a few rock cranberries in the same areas, and Harvey is experimenting with some recipes using them. Here's another blueberry one we like.

Lemon Blueberry Loaf

1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup yogurt
2 cups flour plus 2 Tbsp
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp vanilla
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
juice from half a lemon
lemon zest from half a lemon
1 1/2 cups blueberries

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and cream again.
Add yogurt, lemon zest and lemon juice. Mix well.
Add everything except the blueberries and 2 Tbsp of flour. Mix well.
Coat blueberries with flour and gently fold into the batter.
Place in greased loaf pan and bake at 350 F for 1 hour or until tester comes out clean.

Adapted from Flavours of New Brunswick by Karen Powell

Post-Surgery Update

Last week had my follow-up appointment with the surgeon. Healing is progressing well, with some fluid still to drain. 8 lymph nodes were removed and 5 were cancerous. The margins are clear and the tumor was Grade III.

Also had an appointment with the oncologist - the xray of my neck she ordered after my last visit as a follow-up to bone scan showed no abnormalities but some thinning of bones. She wants me to avoid hyperextension of the neck and to wear the hard collar for protection where there is a possibility of sudden movements, like in the car. (Bungee jumping and using pogo stick would be out too!) I'm also continuing to get a drug which helps strengthen bones, every 4 weeks through my pic line.

The physiotherapist paid me another visit. She thought I was making good progress with rcovering shoulder motion - I think flexibility from yoga helps. We reviewed one of my yoga books and she helped me figure out poses I should avoid in order to protect my neck.

I have an appointment with the radiation oncologist in 2 weeks: typically its 5 to 6 weeks of radiation treatments to the breast, to help kill off any stray cancer cells there.

My sister Joyce is coming for a visit later this week - we are hoping that she will finally experience some good weather in Saint John, which was absent her 2 previous visits.

Wendy

Another Blueberry Recipe

We did a "blueberries in every course" dinner the other night, with this used on the salad. It's a beautiful colour with the greens.

Blueberry Vinegar
You make this first, as an ingredient for the vinaigrette.
1 c blueberries
3/4 c white wine vinegar
2 Tbsp sugar
small bay leaf

Combine the ingredients and bring to a boil. Mash berries, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
Let stand for 4 hours, strain and chill.

Blueberry Vinaigrette
9 Tbsp blueberry vinegar
3 tsp honey
3 tsp Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
5 Tbsp olive oil

Combine vinegar, honey, mustard, salt and pepper. Add oil gradually, stirring with a whisk.