solitude

 I've been back at the villetta since Monday afternoon enjoying some solitude and visits with my Mom. The days have been lazy (for me) with a few walks with the dogs, lots of naps, and slogging through the latest book I've been reading. It's been restorative :-) There's nothing like some time in the villetta to recentre and recover.

The weather has been ‘variable’... from beautiful mornings, rain, cold and windy days, and more rain… no worries about watering the plants :-/ I've been in the pool several times, but not yesterday as it was barely 20C with a wind chill! This morning I squeezed into my new bikini and took a quick dip after walking the dogs! It's not hot and the water was bracing and oh so refreshing :-)

The dogs have been good and are enjoying their 3km walks twice a day! They are getting better at walking on their leashes, not so much criss-crossing now! My left arm is now fully functional which helps with excited dogs on leashes - the doctor gave me the go ahead for normal use on Monday.

Back to Monday, I had the followup appointment with the surgeon. She was pleased with my recovery and said that it was fine to go back to normal activities… including planks (which I have not started up again yet…). I've had no trouble hefting hay nets or buckets of water :-) Dr. Davey has referred me to the Cancer Centre for the next round of care.

The hospital called me Wednesday, (2 days after the referral!) to set up 2 appointments - the first with the medical oncologist - that will be on July 8th. The second is with the radiation oncologist on the 16th of July. I'm looking forward to getting the next stage of treatment going.

Oh! We booked a Caribbean cruise for November! I've been dithering but decided that I really want a few formal nights so that I can wear my newly fitting sequin dress and golden gown :-) And Carm will fit into his suit… It's a crazy reason for going on a cruise, but I suppose any reason is a bit nuts. 

Yesterday, in time for supper, Olaf, Steph, and Freya arrived to stay for a few nights.

I've been eating like a horse and am scared to step onto the scale tomorrow… it will be back to salads and beans tomorrow!

Awesome!

“getting a good result at the doctor's - no second surgery required”

“a few good nights of sleep”

“walking on the road with the dogs”

“music on a lazy afternoon with rain pitter pattering on the roof”

“time with my Mom”

victoria quilts

 Just as the heavens unleashed a torrent of rain there was a soft knock at the front door… Yikes - it had totally slipped my mind that a lovely lady was dropping off a special gift for me. We ushered Anne into the house, dragging the dogs back, inviting her and her chauffeur in for tea.

Anne brought a beautiful quilt that Jo Ellen arranged for me to receive, hand-made by the Russell chapter of Victoria's Quilts. I don't really feel worthy, but will enjoy the comfort that it will bring me through the next stages of my treatment (which aren't yet known! Will know more on Monday.)

The heat dome is still baking us with unbearable heat and humidity - with the humidex it was 111F/44C yesterday! I drove to Kirsten's in the afternoon to spend a girls night - when I got there the villetta was at a balmy 94F/35C! I got the fans running but it was slow to cool down… after a few hours it had cooled to 88F… I couldn't get the AC running (bad switch on the thermostat), but Kirsten had the magic touch and got it running by bedtime! It was still a bit of a sauna all night - I was glad that I had left the dogs at home!

Kirsten and I had a sweaty in-person walk this morning - we only managed 40 minutes as it was already sickenly hot… Kirsten could have gone longer but I'm a weakling in the heat!

I remember what a huge sense of accomplishment that I had the first time I drove there by myself - now I've driven it so many times that it's almost like going to the corner store :-)

Awesome!

“first outdoor shower of the year!”

“in person walking”

“supper on the patio by the pool”

“a quilt!”

“scoring some great planters at liquidation”

steam oven

 Yesterday felt like the first day of summer! The air was, and still is, heavy with perfumed air and the heat is almost oppressive but gosh, it feels good! Looking back, it seems like I've been in some sort of cocoon for the last few months, but yesterday, I had a strong 70 minute walk on the treadmill and then wandered around outside with the dogs for a while, actually taking note of my surroundings, breathing in the wonderful scents of summer. There is no commercial air freshener that rivals what Nature herself produces in the summer.

It was also my first day in the pool since mid May! It was an honest 72F/23C when I finally immersed myself and GOSH it felt so good! Then I puttered around setting up the deck for company (Trudie & Leo came for supper - we haven't had them over since mid April - life really got in the way for a few months!). My crazy plant-based anti-cancer diet makes it harder to come up with company ready meals… so I  threw a few sausages into the instant pot and there were lots of leftover salads from the weekend… easy, and I could stick with the healthy stuff ;-)

There was a brisk breeze that kept it from getting oppressive but even still, the sun was strong, but that doesn't keep Adia from lying in the sun - there's lots of shade but she is a sunbather through and through! Kabira was the same - she loved soaking up the heat. Lupa keeps to the shade, mooching around looking for something to do or eat…

Speaking of eating, the dogs tricked me into second breakfast yesterday morning! Carm has been remembering to shut the dogs out of the bedroom when he leaves for golf (I flipped out at him last week, and by flipped out, I mean yelling and screaming F's at him 😱 - I was pretty sleep deprived at that point and it showed!)... anyway, when I got up, they acted like they'd missed breakfast and were starving, it was so late! Ha! More fool me!

This morning the weather is much the same - hot and humid. I did 70 minutes on the treadmill with Kirsten but not at as high an intensity as yesterday - I was boiling - hot flashes and humidity slowed me down. I've ordered a clip-on fan for the treadmill which should ease the heat a bit :-) After the treadmill I dunked into the pool - oh bliss!

Awesome!

“swimming!!!! hurrah!”

“sleeping in”

“company on a beautiful evening on the deck”