We were able to proceed with chemotherapy today; one more treatment to go, hopefully next Monday. Then I'll go for CT and bone scans again, so Dr. Burnelle can determine what's next.
It's been very humid with occasional rain the last few days. We can see fog down below but it usually doesn't come up the hill this high.
The neighbourhood deer came for a visit sometime late Saturday night - lots of hosta leaves on the sidewalk when we got up the next morning, but the hostas seem to have survived. The first of the peony buds have come into bloom, despite the cloud.
Wendy
Monday, June 23, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
This Week's Events
My blood counts weren't quite high enough to go ahead with chemotherapy as scheduled this week; the doctor has prescribed self-administered shots again, to stimulate white blood cell production. Also found a sequence of postures for the immune system in one of my yoga books, so I'm trying that too. So we should be able to proceed next week.
Earlier this week I attended the second afternoon of a two-part art therapy workshop offered by the Cancer Society. The instructor is a former RN who is just completing an art therapy program offered at a college in BC; she needs a certain number of working hours to finish, so we were part of that. The first afternoon we worked with watercolours on canvas, on the theme of what we are thankful for. In between the 2 sessions she made these into a wall hanging for the Cancer Society offices. This week we used either watercolours or oil pastels, and, because we'd gotten to know each other a bit, there was a lot more sharing of our experiences as well as painting/drawing.
I've also been part of some public input sessions on the upgrading of Reversing Falls - and yes, the point was made that Reversing Falls Rapids would be a more appropriate name.
And Harvey's son Matthew, who's a long distance truck driver again, stopped by for an overnight visit, enroute from deliveries in NS back to Montreal. He parked at a truck stop, assuming that his truck wouldn't be welcome in a residential area. There was a taxi there but when he asked the driver if he wanted a fare, was surprised that the answer was "no". Another man overheard this and offered to drop Matthew off where he was going (turned out he was an off duty cab driver). Matthew was quite impressed; said "that would never happen in Ontario."
Wendy
Earlier this week I attended the second afternoon of a two-part art therapy workshop offered by the Cancer Society. The instructor is a former RN who is just completing an art therapy program offered at a college in BC; she needs a certain number of working hours to finish, so we were part of that. The first afternoon we worked with watercolours on canvas, on the theme of what we are thankful for. In between the 2 sessions she made these into a wall hanging for the Cancer Society offices. This week we used either watercolours or oil pastels, and, because we'd gotten to know each other a bit, there was a lot more sharing of our experiences as well as painting/drawing.
I've also been part of some public input sessions on the upgrading of Reversing Falls - and yes, the point was made that Reversing Falls Rapids would be a more appropriate name.
And Harvey's son Matthew, who's a long distance truck driver again, stopped by for an overnight visit, enroute from deliveries in NS back to Montreal. He parked at a truck stop, assuming that his truck wouldn't be welcome in a residential area. There was a taxi there but when he asked the driver if he wanted a fare, was surprised that the answer was "no". Another man overheard this and offered to drop Matthew off where he was going (turned out he was an off duty cab driver). Matthew was quite impressed; said "that would never happen in Ontario."
Wendy
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Fiddlehead Soup
I can understand why fiddleheads became such a popular food. They would have been the first edible green thing anyone had seen in months. To me thay have an odd 'mouth feel" but not an unpleasant flavour. For this recipe you can easily substitute asparagus.
500 grams fiddleheads
1 medium onion, cisler (chopped)
100 ml white wine
1.5 liter chicken or vegetable stock
15 ml Herbes Salee*
lemon juice
butter
sour cream
*Herbes Salee is an Acadian or Quebecois perserve consisting of carrots, parsely, onions, leeks, savoury and a great deal of salt. I bought some on our last trip to Quebec, thinking it was a pickle, but it turns out to be a garnish. It has a much sharper flavour than dried herbs.
Pick through the fiddleheads and choose a dozen or so small, tight attractive heads for decoration. Trim them and put them aside in the fridge.
Sweat the onions in butter until they are soft. Add the white wine and reduce to a glaze. Add the chicken stock and fiddleheads and Herbes Salee and bring to a simmer. cook until the fiddleheads are soft.
Using an immersion blender, stand blender or food processer blend the soup as thoroughly as possible. No matter how well your equipment works, there will be lots of detritus left in the liquid. To eliminate this, work the liquid through a seive. It will take some effort to work the liquid out of the solids, but it will be worth it. Gently work the solids with the back of a spoon until you've extracted all the liquid. Dispose of the solids.
Put the liquid in a pot, taste and add some lemon juice. Just enough to brighten up the soup. To serve, bring the soup to a simmer, add the fiddleheads you've set aside and cook until just tender-crisp. Serve with a dollop of sour cream.
For asparagus, cut off the white parts and dispose of them. cut off the tips and set aside. Chop the stalks into one inch pieces and proceed as above.
500 grams fiddleheads
1 medium onion, cisler (chopped)
100 ml white wine
1.5 liter chicken or vegetable stock
15 ml Herbes Salee*
lemon juice
butter
sour cream
*Herbes Salee is an Acadian or Quebecois perserve consisting of carrots, parsely, onions, leeks, savoury and a great deal of salt. I bought some on our last trip to Quebec, thinking it was a pickle, but it turns out to be a garnish. It has a much sharper flavour than dried herbs.
Pick through the fiddleheads and choose a dozen or so small, tight attractive heads for decoration. Trim them and put them aside in the fridge.
Sweat the onions in butter until they are soft. Add the white wine and reduce to a glaze. Add the chicken stock and fiddleheads and Herbes Salee and bring to a simmer. cook until the fiddleheads are soft.
Using an immersion blender, stand blender or food processer blend the soup as thoroughly as possible. No matter how well your equipment works, there will be lots of detritus left in the liquid. To eliminate this, work the liquid through a seive. It will take some effort to work the liquid out of the solids, but it will be worth it. Gently work the solids with the back of a spoon until you've extracted all the liquid. Dispose of the solids.
Put the liquid in a pot, taste and add some lemon juice. Just enough to brighten up the soup. To serve, bring the soup to a simmer, add the fiddleheads you've set aside and cook until just tender-crisp. Serve with a dollop of sour cream.
For asparagus, cut off the white parts and dispose of them. cut off the tips and set aside. Chop the stalks into one inch pieces and proceed as above.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Treatment to Proceed
We enjoyed the rest of my sister Diane's visit, which included a trip to St Andrews where we vistied the first farmers market of the season, shopping at Frenchy's and introducing her to Quiddler, a card word game we're fond of. We knew it was time for her to go home when she started to beat us! She also helped me plant grass seed in the many bare spots on our front lawn; the birds enjoyed some but there are new green shoots coming up.
My white blood count has improved so we should be able to go ahead with chemotherapy next week. I see my oncologist again on Monday, delayed from this week because she was grounded in Toronto by the thunderstorms.
Had a chance to see The Stone Angel, at a sold out screening as part of the independent film series. It was very well done; now I want to reread the book.
We had friends over for dinner last night and Harvey made his fiddlehead soup, which we've decided is the best way to serve fiddleheads. The only complaint was there wasn't enough for seconds. I'll ask him if he'll post the recipe.
During the Kings County studio tour on the weekend we visited 4 or 5 studios, enjoying the great looking gardens as well as interesting art. A great day for a drive through the river valley, with the sun shining and the lupines in bloom.
Wendy
My white blood count has improved so we should be able to go ahead with chemotherapy next week. I see my oncologist again on Monday, delayed from this week because she was grounded in Toronto by the thunderstorms.
Had a chance to see The Stone Angel, at a sold out screening as part of the independent film series. It was very well done; now I want to reread the book.
We had friends over for dinner last night and Harvey made his fiddlehead soup, which we've decided is the best way to serve fiddleheads. The only complaint was there wasn't enough for seconds. I'll ask him if he'll post the recipe.
During the Kings County studio tour on the weekend we visited 4 or 5 studios, enjoying the great looking gardens as well as interesting art. A great day for a drive through the river valley, with the sun shining and the lupines in bloom.
Wendy
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Hosting a Visitor
My sister Diane arrived Sunday night from Ontario for a visit. Harvey is enjoying the practice of having someone to cook for whose tastes are less limited than mine currently. Yesterday we got a lovely piece of salmon which Harvey served with an interesting sauce, fiddleheads and roast potatoes, with a blueberry/blackberry cobbler for dessert. Our freezer is still quite well stocked with fruit thanks to my picking last summer.
On Monday Diane went with me to the Look Good, Feel Better seminar put on through the Cancer Society for women going through treatment. There were about 10 participants with 5 volunteers helping with the presentation. The main focus is on makeup; we went through the whole process from cleanser to lip gloss, each receiving a large package of products supplied by the Canadian cosmetic manufacturers association. A new experience for me, but it was done with quite a light touch so didn't look bad. It was particularly nice to have eyebrows again, since mine have largely disappeared; that's something I'll likely continue to do. Also a bit about wigs, hats and scarves. The whole thing was nicely done and I understand why people recommended it.
My white blood cell count wasn't high enough to go ahead with chemotherapy this week. My doctor has decided that I need to get blood checked twice a week rather than once, so I go back for that tomorrow. Hopefully we will be able to go ahead with treatment next week.
Wendy
On Monday Diane went with me to the Look Good, Feel Better seminar put on through the Cancer Society for women going through treatment. There were about 10 participants with 5 volunteers helping with the presentation. The main focus is on makeup; we went through the whole process from cleanser to lip gloss, each receiving a large package of products supplied by the Canadian cosmetic manufacturers association. A new experience for me, but it was done with quite a light touch so didn't look bad. It was particularly nice to have eyebrows again, since mine have largely disappeared; that's something I'll likely continue to do. Also a bit about wigs, hats and scarves. The whole thing was nicely done and I understand why people recommended it.
My white blood cell count wasn't high enough to go ahead with chemotherapy this week. My doctor has decided that I need to get blood checked twice a week rather than once, so I go back for that tomorrow. Hopefully we will be able to go ahead with treatment next week.
Wendy
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Treatment Underway Again
Thanks to the self-administered injections, my white blood cells are approaching the normal range, so we were able to go ahead with the next round of chemotherapy starting today.
Despite my less than green thumb, every year at this time I get the urge to do some gardening. After visiting several garden centres over the weekend, my new additions have all been planted - some perennials, annuals and a few herbs. Still need to get some grass seed on the bare spots on our lawn, before even more dandelions move in.
Last spring when we moved my intention had been to bring some of the rhubarb from the Woodville Road backyard with us, but we got busy with all the other preparing to move stuff and the transplanting didn't happen. This year there's none to be had at the nurseries, but a friend has offered me some of hers - hopefully I can find a suitable spot for it in our backyard.
Things get greener by the day, especially with the rain we've had this week - and there are lots of blossoms out.
Wendy
Despite my less than green thumb, every year at this time I get the urge to do some gardening. After visiting several garden centres over the weekend, my new additions have all been planted - some perennials, annuals and a few herbs. Still need to get some grass seed on the bare spots on our lawn, before even more dandelions move in.
Last spring when we moved my intention had been to bring some of the rhubarb from the Woodville Road backyard with us, but we got busy with all the other preparing to move stuff and the transplanting didn't happen. This year there's none to be had at the nurseries, but a friend has offered me some of hers - hopefully I can find a suitable spot for it in our backyard.
Things get greener by the day, especially with the rain we've had this week - and there are lots of blossoms out.
Wendy
Friday, May 16, 2008
Fresh Ingredients
We've discovered an organic family farm on the Kingston Peninsula that is doing Community Supported Agriculture, so we've purchased a share. Beginning in mid-June, weekly for 20 weeks, we'll get a box of fresh vegetables delivered to us (or we can go to the farm to pick them up). There will be a variety of greens, root crops and other vegetables depending on what's in season. (I'm hoping not too heavy on the green beans!) They are growing a variety of lettuces and different types of tomatoes.
Harvey may have some new cooking adventures to report, depending on what appears.
And the gooseberry and currant bushes I planted very late last fall have survived, so I may eventually be able to pick fruit without leaving our yard.
Wendy
Harvey may have some new cooking adventures to report, depending on what appears.
And the gooseberry and currant bushes I planted very late last fall have survived, so I may eventually be able to pick fruit without leaving our yard.
Wendy
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