mudpies's Blog

Hi, All
Sep 6, 2011 | 7:26 PM PST

I'm afraid I haven't had much time for blogging this summer.

Late in the spring C was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer that affects his bone marrow.  Fortunately, his doctor sent him to a specialist right away.  From there he was sent to a cancer treatment hospital for further follow-up.  After numerous tests, we learned that the cancer is in the 'indolent stage' and no treatment is indicated just now.  Apparently, treatment would kill too many healthy cells to justify the killing of the cancerous ones.  Except for tiring more easily and feeling the cold more acutely, his health doesn't seem to have changed much.  He doesn't have to go back to the cancer treatment hospital for another check-up till February.  In the meantime, he's been very involved with two of our grandchildren who compete in western riding competitions.

 

1
1 year old Christine on Darcy - keyhole competition - she invariably wins this one

 

13 year old Tori on Star preparing for one of the performance events

 

Christine
has been riding since she was six years old and loves the 'games' events.  This is Tori's first year.  She has entered only the performance events so far, but wants to try 'games' next year.

 

My eldest daughter who lives in Georgia has some sort of disease that causes her muscles to ache and results in a loss of mobility.  She's had every test known to mankind (sometimes I tend to exaggerate), but her doctors and specialists haven't been able to come up with a diagnosis.  Thank goodness her husband has excellent health benefits through his employer.

 My mom, who is 92, has been hospitalized twice this summer, so I've been been running back and forth to be with her.  She's currently well, if more than a little frail.  It's lucky that I have two sisters and three brothers.  Between the six of us, we've managed to keep her in her own home.  She doesn't want to be in a facility.

 My middle daughter has had a reaction to an antibiotic that was prescribed to deal with an infection.  The reaction was considerably more harmful than the original infection, but she's finally on the mend.

My youngest had surgery early in the summer and was in hospital during a c-difficile outbreak.  Her recovery has taken a long time.  She will go back to work next week after being on sick leave for nine weeks.

I feel as though I've been the only healthy member of the family during this summer of illness.

Although council meets only once during July and once during August, and all of my committees adjourned for the summer, my flower beds and veggie garden are a mess!!  I haven't had time to deal with them.  I'm too embarrassed to photograph any of them.  The vegetable garden has been productive, though.  I've frozen a lot of stuff and made two kinds of pickles and a batch of salsa.  C picked some of the pears from our tree and there's currently two bushels full in my cellar waiting for me to can them.

C wanted to grow giant pumpkins this year, and grow they did!  He wanted to enter one in our fall fair, but for the first year in several, there's no category for giant pumpkins.  I don't know what the heck we're going to do with the monsters.

I hope that each of you is well and happy and enjoying your garden.

English Country Garden
Sep 6, 2011 | 11:25 AM PST

http://www.jvanders.com/Fla
sh/englishgarden.swf

Sor
ry I've been away so long.  Will try to catch up shortly.  I just came across a lovely website and wanted to share it, but couldn't figure out how.  Cut and paste the website address above into your browser.  You  won't be disappointed.

Hugs to all,

Mudpies