Is Tomorrow Really Halloween? And a Brief Health Update AKA Why I Haven't Been Posting Much

Much has been going on in my life with health issues so my posts have been sporadic to say the least. I mentioned in July a spot on my CT scans over the past year has shown a spot on my right kidney that has grown with each of the 4 scans so I had to see a urologist. In early August the doctor blasted 60% of a tumor and on November 5^th I will have another surgery to remove the right kidney in hopes it will contain the cancer.

I have told the doctor I won’t be having any chemo or radiation because my body could barely tolerate the 2 rounds I had after the hysterectomy in 2025. I’m still suffering the side effects from the chemo I can’t imagine if I made it through the 6 rounds they had me scheduled for, my heart tells me I wouldn’t have survived the 3^rd round. I’m not looking forward to losing a kidney at 71 but it seems all the research I have done it is the best option for someone with my health issues.

Time has moved so fast, Halloween is tomorrow, yet it seems I was just excited about the first day of Autumn. The older I get the faster time goes by, more years behind me that ahead of me and I still move forward. I may not be able to walk the 1-2 mile daily morning walks right now nor can I make it down to the corner some days yet on the days I can it feels like I walked a mile.

I know it sounds silly to fret about not being able to walk the distances I walked a year or so ago but it does bring me down. I have always been a walker and I miss it so much it often feels like a part of me is missing. The A-Fib has a lot to do with me getting so tired out so quickly, and the neuropathy in my feet makes my balance questionable at times. The neuropathy is in my hands, fingers and feet a side effect from the chemo. To help with the walking I purchased a small treadmill and walk it nearly every day. The first week all I could manage was 4-5 minutes, believe me those minutes were cherished minutes. I’ve tried to add a few minutes each week and made it to 10 minutes. My goal for the end of November is 15 minutes and hopefully by the new year I will be at 30 minutes every day.

It’s a Wellfit folding treadmill model TM037, I bought it during the back to school sale. It’s quiet, fairly lightweight and folds if you wish to side it out of the way. I leave mine out and just jump on when I’m ready.

Currently I am reading The Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman and The Long Call by Anne Cleeves.

I haven't done too much crafting since I last posted my fingers have just been too sore. I did make a set of little goddess dolls following the Celtic Wheel of the Year, since I began my Walking the Wheel of the Year a few years ago walking and observing the seasonal changes in my area.

The front and back of each of the 8 goddesses, 4 have little pockets on them I often stick a small hand written affirmation into the pocket.  

I'm planning of making a set of goddess dolls in the 7 Chakra colors and maybe the four seasons.  I am hooked on these little goddess dolls inspired by Mirjam Gielen pattern.  I made subtle changes to my goddesses.

I began making these little goddess dolls right before my hysterectomy in 2025 making myself one with my word of the year which was Tend.

I made the 2026 word of the year which is Joy, I added the little pocket and for most of the time the pocket held a little note I wrote to myself.  I clipped her to my purse and she goes everywhere with me.

I also love they are just under 4 inches and fit nicely in the palm of the hand. I add a little lightbulb pin to the top of the head for hanging.  I hung them on my Christmas tree last year and just typing this I had a thought of making a 12 days of Christmas set.  

Well that's my update on what's been going on, I wish you all a  safe and Happy Halloween if you celebrate.

Happy Autumn Equinox.

 

What I have been up to and health update.

I can't believe how quickly the Month of July seems to be flying by.  We are 12 days into the month and I swear I was just blowing out the candles on my 71st birthday cake.

It has been a rough few weeks as my health is once again going down hill.  During my last 3 CT Scans done for my Oncologist follow up after last years bought of Cancer something showed up on the scan in the kidney resulting in me seeing a Urologist, well after weeks of waiting for the Oncologist office to contact the Urology dept. things just fell by the wayside. Than as always out of sight out of mind.  Finally, after the 3rd CT scan once again showing whatever was in the kidney had once again grown the Oncology office finally moved things forward. In the meantime I asked my GP to give me a referral in January, well checking online test results in May there it was the referral, the office never contacted me to let me know.  I was fortunate enough to get an appointment the next day.  I did see the urologist, wasn't to keen on his beside manner and lucky enough the other urology office called for an appointment.  Things are moving forward and I hope to have some answers soon.

In the meantime I signed up for Ink and Page Junk Journal July.  I made my first 2 pages, was planning to work on the 3rd page but my energy level dropped I at least cut all the pieces for the page and will get to it soon. Then as I was getting ready to start the next page my printer decided to have problems.  Ugh! but it was just in need of replacing the ink because all of a sudden the printer didn't like the ink cartridges I was using.  The new ink arrived and I managed to print all the pages I need to catch up.

Day 1 the prompt was Library Card

Day 2 Prompt Ledger Paper, I made my diagonal cut in the wrong direction but it works so I left it in. The second photo shows the other side of the pocket.  Debbie of Ink and Page provides all the papers free if you are signed up to take part.  I have been following her for about 2 years and each month she does a new project, again providing the papers free each week. There is also a YouTube tutorial for each project.  https://www.youtube.com/@inkandpagejournals

I have also been crocheting two shawls over the last few weeks, because of the neuropathy in my hands from last years chemo I am slow at crocheting and stitching. I don't think the neuropathy is ever going to subside.

This the the 1st shawl I started using Lion Brand's Mandala baby yarn in the Narnia colorway.  It's a very simple one row repeat pattern, open and airy.

I'm doing the same pattern using Lion Brand's Ombre yarn in the Mantra colorway, I had about 12 rows when I didn't like how the piece was draping so I pulled it all out and then decided to rework it using a larger hook. 

I'm still not sure how it feels but I'll keep going at least until I get to the end of the ball.  The pattern is from Fiber Flux on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@fiberflux/videos 

The pattern is Beach Morning Walk.

I did manage to stitch the little hoop embroidery for the 250 year celebration of the USA.  I finished it off with a piece of white felt and some red and white trim.

That's all I have for now my energy is low so let me post this.  I want to say I will post again soon but this year has really gone down hill.  So I will post when I can and wish you all a wonderful week ahead.

I will be linking my post for Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts here: https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2026/07/slow-sunday-stitching_01094560537.html

It's the first day of Summer!

 

Update on What I have Been Doing

 May 11th, another hot and humid day here in North Central Florida.  Yesterday was Mother's Day and I spent a lovely afternoon with my son. We had lunch at Cheddar's, I had the lemon pepper chicken which was quite good.  After lunch we headed to Sholom park here in Ocala, it's one of my favorite parks though I haven't been in a year or so.  This year they had a find the gnomes and fairies in the Enchanted forest.

Except for last year when I was in the hospital on Mother's day with complications after my first cycle of Chemo I usually chose to take a long walk, visit a Botanical garden and one year I went canoeing on the Rainbow River.  I miss those days when I could just get out and take long walks without a struggle.

This year my walk was accompanied by a heart monitor I have to wear for a week due to some severe lightheaded and dizziness not to mention shortness of breath.  My cardiologist has been tweaking my medications, starting new ones and stopping older ones.  On the upside since lowering the meds for my A-Fib my blood pressure is rising, not too much, I say upside because it was quite low for several months.

I had an adverse reaction the CT Scan I had, terrible itching and rash over my chest and back of my head.  It the 1st time I had this happen, was quite surprise since I have been having them every 3 months since the cancer diagnosis and surgery.

I discovered I can't take Repatha it makes me so sick and the Lasix I was on for two weeks which was helping with the swelling in the legs and feet may be the culprit for the lightheaded and dizziness.  Not sure yet.  I was disappointed stopping the Lasix because it actually helped with the neuropathy (a side effect of the Chemo) in my hands and fingers and feet.  I'm still hopeful the neuropathy will go away for good some day until then I have to work around the pain (the meds don't fully take away the pain) when I want to stitch or crochet.

STITCHING UPDATE

I made another little goddess doll, this one I fussing cut so I could get those flowers just right for Spring. Making these brings me such joy and comfort.

I started to make the 1st of several hand embroidery pieces for the 250 year anniversary of the USA.

This is a pre-printed cloth, it's one of those Jack Dempsey pieces I purchased from Ben Franklin Crafts online store.

I won't say how many hours it took me to stitch the flag, I will say I spent nearly an entire day stitching it while recovering from the reaction I had to the CAT scan I mentioned above.

The reason I went with this little printed kit was back in 1976 I made one for the Bicentennial.  I thought I would make a two sided pillow or frame them side by side.  

I haven't made much more progress on my slow stitched pocket treasure/pocket altar, all of the pieces are now stitched down and I just need to finish the vertical running stitches then work the backing.  

I did some stitching on it Saturday afternoon and made quite a bit of progress I think maybe 3 more vertical lines of running stitch and onto the back piece.

One of my favorite parts of the Sholom Park is the Olive tree grove, looking down from the entrance to the olive grove.

Looking at the Olive grove from the enchanted forest area.

This is one of the most peaceful parks I have ever visited and plan to come again sometime.  I did overdo it a little with the walking and today my body feels like it was hit by a bus.  I am not complaining though I have missed these long walks and I am still determined to get a one mile walk in before the year is over.  And then maybe get back to a daily mile and working up to the sadly missed 2 mile walk.

 

Welcome Spring!

 The first day of Spring 2026 is on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 10:46 a.m. EDT. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, 93 days or roughly 92 days, 17 hours, and 39 minutes.  

I am going to attempt a daily stitching project from the Spring Equinox to the Summer Solstice, it's 93 days, just 7 short days from the 100 day projects going one all over the internet in stitching world.  I say attempt because of the neuropathy in my hands and fingers can be quite painful at times making it difficult to stitch.   

I always love the 1st day of Spring it's always so full of hope for new beginnings.  On the 18th of March I have been cancer free for 1 year.  

Here are a few Spring slow self care things to do just for you.

Happy Spring!

One Year Ago Today!

A brief talk or a bit of a personal rant with photos tossed in to soften my thoughts On 1 Year ago today.

 On March 18th 2025, 1 year ago today I had a total hysterectomy for Endometrial cancer that was diagnosed several days before, after the surgery it was confirmed I also had Ovarian cancer. I'm in a recovery period. I stopped Chemo after 2 rounds because it made me so ill I lost a significant quality of life. During this time I realized March has not been a very good month for me for a few years. It all began in March 2011 when I had my 1st heart attack, this took me by surprise because I was eating a healthy diet, I exercised daily as well as walked 2 miles every day. I took my blood pressure medication so when I felt that awful pain in my arm I knew. A trip to the hospital ER confirmed it. During recovery I once again revamped my healthy diet and exercise routine.

Rosemary plant.

For a few years things went rather well. Then in March 2020 when Covid crept into our lives I became quite ill with abdominal pain that had me hospitalized several times over the course of 18 months. All the testing done came out negative which was a good thing but no one could find out where the pain was coming from. On a whim I called the cardiologist I saw when I had the heart attack in 2011 test revealed several clogged arteries in the abdomen. After 2 years I had answers. New medication, an attempt to stent the arteries failed and life went on. More stents in the coronary and carotid arteries were done. Improvement to my health was minimal but I kept at it hoping one day things would go back to normal.

Breakfast cereal affirmation.

Last year the cancer diagnosis and surgery felt like a mere set back to me but in reality it had taken a lot out of me knowing when I had the surgery I wasn't in the best of health and recovery is slow and the aging body doesn't help matters. So far I have been cancer free since the hysterectomy. My stress test I had this month came back normal, I had worked on getting my cholesterol lower and it dropped 70 points from August to Feb. Without the aid of medication, I can't take Statin drugs because the side effects. The cardiologist put me back on Repatha for awhile to get the cholesterol lower. Even though 209 seemed great to me I agreed only if I could get the medication through my insurance which has turned me down twice, at over 600 dollars for 2 application I wasn’t having it. He managed to get me through a program offering it free.

Repatha 2nd injection completed

There are days when I want to stop all of the medications just to see how I fare but so far I haven't had the courage to try. I'm happy the doctor took me off of 1 medication and changed another which actually helps reduce the swelling in my legs from one or more of the meds I take. This March I haven only had to see a few doctors and have a few test. So far so good. I long for a Doctor free month but I think I have to wait 4 more years to meet the 5 year cancer free point.

Word of the year goddess dolls

So each day I face with a smile on my face or maybe a grimace. I get out of bed, start my day, no longer able to get down on the floor to do some yoga. I know Tai Chi and that keeps me moving. I walk whether I am up to it or not, I haven't done 2 miles yet, I haven't even done a mile but I walk and I have Hope that one day I will once again find my Joy.

And Spring is on the way.