Tuesday, May 2, 2023

I received news this morning via Facebook that our quilt store is closing. I’m really sorry about it. I noticed a couple of weeks ago that she had a fabric sale going on (25% off) and I was tempted to go have a look. None of my projects needed anything though so I set aside the idea.

But today, knowing there might not be another opportunity, I was tempted again – 30% off everything. The only thing I NEEDED was some spray baste but then I thought I might pick up some other fabrics and thread at good price for a time when I did need them. And maybe she had wool for a new embroidery project.

Pat and I talked about the risk of going to the store but I felt if I went first thing or at the end of the day there wouldn’t be many people around. We even floated the idea of me driving myself. I haven’t driven since my surgery last October but this would be a short trip with a large parking lot. In the end though we decided I was so close to the end of my treatments that it would be safer not to bother.

It’s a lovely day today and we did the sea walk again this afternoon. Pat noticed that I had a lot more energy and I certainly noticed that there were a lot fewer bench stops. It is too warm these days for my touque and today on the return trip I even took off my scarf. I’d like to say that the wind through my hair felt good but I still have no hair to speak of. The coolness on my scalp was pleasant though.

Thursday, April 27, 2013

The weather has turned (again) and we’ve had a couple of nice days. I got out into the yard on Tuesday and did some weeding in one of the beds. I wanted to get the sunflowers planted because they were predicting rain for the next day. I ran out of steam before I got to the planting but Pat did that for me. I look forward to getting home from Vancouver and seeing them poking above ground.

I was out in the yard again today working on a couple of hosta beds. They were easy to do as I just needed to rake off the leaves that had accumulated over the winter. From there I moved on to clearing the patio bricks. I only got about half of one side done before I tired out.

I’m surprised at how little stamina I have; I feel fine but can only manage about half an hour of work. My knees were really hurting even though I was working from a padded bench. It wasn’t until I was putting my tools away that I saw the knee pads that Pat bought me last year. I’ll wear them next time I’m out and maybe I can last longer.

Monday, April 24, 2023

Finally we’ve had a nice day – no rain, no wind and plenty of sunshine.

My plan was to wait until the afternoon when it was the warmest and then get out and get some weeds pulled. I knew I’d be anxious to get my sunflower seeds in the ground but I didn’t want to overdo it so settled on just the weeds for today.

I did some sewing this morning – another batch of eleven pinwheels – and was amazed when Pat told me it was lunchtime. I had some papers to drop off at the hospital and Pat wanted some groceries so we did that before lunch.

When we realized how nice it was outside Pat suggested a walk. I really wanted to get at the weeds but knew a walk was probably better for me. I was surprised that after not being out for a couple of weeks I was able to make it to the end of the sea walk and back again.

The weeds can wait another day; I just hope they don’t go to seed before I get to them.

Sunday, April 23, 2023

I’m coming up on my third post-treatment week and I’m feeling good. I don’t think I felt as bad this time around, although I did have some bad days. I think having the trip to Vancouver interrupted my “usual” schedule and that may have made a difference. I had my last injection this morning.

This week I’ll be busy preparing for our three-week stay in Vancouver. I want to take some non-sewing projects with me so I’m figuring out what I might take and then doing a bit of work on each project to be sure I have everything I need. Pat suggested some knitting so I’ve started knitting a baby blanket; just a few more tweaks and it can go into my suitcase. I’ll take my next sashiko project; it takes very few supplies so I don’t think I’ll need to do a test. There are a couple of other projects I’m considering – both of them are crochet. One takes a bin-full of yarn and I still need to do some design work on the other one. There should be room in the truck if I can’t decide and end up taking both.

The weather has been absolutely miserable so we haven’t even been out for walks. I’m also waiting for some good weather to weed a patch of the garden bed so I can plant my sunflowers. Pat will take the weed whacker to the grass in the yard. Most of the weeding in the beds will have to wait until we get home.

We’ve been watching and enjoying some of the Stanley Cup playoff games. I think my new favourite team is Edmonton, although I’m hoping for all of the Canadian teams that are playing. Will’s favourite player is on the Edmonton team and one of the players that we used to see when we had season tickets to the Vancouver Giants now plays for Edmonton. There really are very few players whose names I recognize.

I had a good sewing day with Stacia and Deloise last week and I’m making progress on my monthly UFO. I hope to finish my Baubles Galore cross stitch before we leave but I’ll have to keep at it as there is still a lot to go.

I’m not looking forward to my next round of treatments but it will be good to move on and be that much closer to just recovering.